THE LAST TIME that bright neon clothing was popular, so was Miami Vice, and not the 2006 remake either. The '80s birthed Flock of Seagulls hairstyles, rolled-up jacket sleeves and neon everything, and over the course of the last few seasons, it seems all of these styles have been resurrected.

Blasting from the past, the winter 2009 collections of fashion greats like Versace, Christian Dior and Marc Jacobs are glowing with vibrant pink, electric blues and popping yellows. The world has been given a second chance to handle neons, but there are rules for any explosive ensemble.

The outfit should be limited to one neon color. At the Michael Kors fashion show, a model wore a pink dress with a silver, chain-link necklace and gold-tinted heels with a peep of pink on the tips. An overload of highlighted colors can be too much of a good thing, so one must stick to a single neon color.

Muted and neutral shades can complement a burst of neon. Khakis, whites and blacks help all shades from traffic-cone orange to radioactive green seem that much more vibrant. Whether it's adding a black belt to a form-fitting dress or black leggings with an intense cape coat (Marc Jacobs did this very well this season), the look will work as long the neon color is accentuated properly.

The opposite tactic can also be applied. When Angelina Jolie went to the BAFTA Awards, she wore an Armani Privé dress that was all black except for a slit of neon yellow. It gave the outfit a pop of color that turned a ho-hum dress into an artistic vision.

With this trend, the outfit does not have to be 90 percent neon and 10 percent neutral, or even 50/50. The beauty of it is that it is up to the wearer how much neon should shine through. Branching off of the gumball-colored phase, neon nail polish is appropriate although it is encouraged to stick with the reds and yellows. Also, accessories apply to the one-neon rule and should be minimal (one big necklace or bracelet or statement clutch). Remember that the spotlight will shine on the neon, so one must avoid cluttering the outfit with too many distractions.

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