Buckle up, everyone - the PETA train is coming to town! No, don't laugh - the people who run the famous fur-hating organization have put together their 2008 'Worst-Dressed' List - and believe me, it's not pretty. You know, I always thought that whoever is behind PETA must have a wicked sense of humor - and when I say "wicked" I mean that the literal way. As in, funny but slightly eerie - and a little too up close and personal. But I always assumed that all is fair in love and war - and since PETA claims they're fighting a war, so be it. We really don't want to mess with them. Kidding. Well, this year's list was slightly predictable - or at least some of the names on the list were predictable choices - but nevertheless, it's an interesting read. It has a little bit of everything thrown into the mix: doses of concentrated irony, milder humor, insinuations, direct personal references and imaginative name-calling. Here is the list and some of its highlights.

Topping the list is Aretha Franklin, mockingly crowned "the queen on PETA's 2008 'Worst-Dressed' List". Now I confess myself surprised by the choice, seeing how Aretha wasn't on my "usual suspects" list. But it seems that the fur coat in which she draped herself at the Grammys this year made a rather poor impression. "How 'bout some R-E-S-P-E-C-T for animals?" PETA demands. "Aretha, when you waddled into the Grammys in yet another vulgar fur, you looked as if you were going to perform "I Am the Walrus" by The Beatles. You may be a queen, but you don't know jack about compassion" they add. Ouch. However, I really don't think there was a point to dragging Aretha's weight into this matter - because I pretty much doubt it's the reason for her wearing fur.

Next on the list is Marilyn Manson, and I totally agree with them on this one. "Always draped in leather from head to toe, Manson has enough skeletons in his closet to fill a pet cemetery. As if wearing dead animals isn't foul enough, Manson says that he wears his cow-skin pants 24/7, only peeling the smelly things off to have sex. That alone should be enough to tarnish leather's dated sex appeal. Manson may just be the shock-rocker's stage name, but his wardrobe is a real-life tale of blood and guts". As strange as that may sound, I think it's actually less chilling than some of Manson's strange antics, so a full heads up on that one.

Aretha and Manson are joined by the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Kylie Minogue (this one is a bit surprising, but apparently Kylie enjoys totting around python skin purses quite a lot), Eva Longoria and Kate Moss - in whose case I also think all the harsh criticism is fully appropriate. "Nothing completes the transition from supermodel to super-tramp like a fur coat. If Kate could see clearly through those bleary eyes, maybe she'd clear her closet of those furs" they say. Ouch again - but so true. What do you think of PETA's list? Are they right or do you feel they're blowing things out of proportion? Stay tuned, and we'll keep you up to speed.