Trends in Fashion Accessories

Fashion accessories are typically the easiest and cheapest way to update an otherwise outdated outfit. For the broke high-schoolers and twenty somethings, accessories are sometimes the only fashion items that are affordable. Tried and true, incorporating seasonal accessories make enough of a different to take on outfit from bad to good. Follow our posts on the latest accessories trends here!

The Bookbag: Purses Made From Recycled Book Covers

I’m excited to learn that there is a crafty and useful purpose for all those antiquated/outdated book covers (I’m a total sucker for recycled products). Librarian Kathy Kelly from Erie Pennsylvania has created a line of bags and purses using re-purposed book covers from used book covers. Her line is called Bookbags.  The bags are pricey, I guess until she has serious competition she can afford to charge customers and arm and a leg for the bags…I’m SUPER excited for her to get some competition.  Call me cheap, but I’m not will to pay $135 plus for a bag like this…although they are damn cute!

Book Bags by Kathy Kelly 2
Book Bags by Kathy Kelly

For a complete assortment, check out Kathy Kelly’s inventory here.

Ana Locking Autumn/Winter 2010-2011 Maxi Necklaces

This nice people of the Ana Locking Team sent me a link to their Autumn Winter 2010-2011 ephemeral jewelry collection. The pieces are amazing, and in line with the last ephemeral jewelry collection Ana Locking put out.

The most stunning pieces of the collection (in my opinion) are the maxi-necklaces made with paraffin wax in Black, Blue and Pink, and set on brass bases.

image of Ana Locking Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Black Maxi Necklace

I particularly like the way the large Maxi looks on the male model Matvey. The look is totally appropriate for the runway, however I can’t imagine actually seeing, or appreciating an average man on the street wearing such a large necklace.

Ana Locking Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Blue Stone Maxi Necklace

I was unable to locate more images of this blue necklace, which is too bad because the color is stunning. I think a necklace like this would look ideal with a solid colored outfit…I’m imaging a deep tan or olive outfit would look amazing with it.

Ana Locking Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Pink Stone Maxi necklace

Who doesn’t enjoy looking pretty in pink?

UrbanOutfitters.com Shoe Haul

Inspired by vlogs, particularly ‘haul videos’, I thought it’s finally time to add one to Style Bust. I visit UrbanOutiftters.com all the time to check out their sale section. My most recent order consisted of three pairs of shoes, 1) BDG Canvas Skimmies in Navy for $19.99, 2) Dolcetta Buckle Front Peeptoe’s by Dolce Vita for $29.99 and 3) Kimchi Blue Macrame T-Strap Skimmer’s for $14.99. All the shoes were purchased at roughly 50% off – that’s just how I roll!

Special thanks to Christina at ItsChristinaLy.com who inspired me to begin making videos…check her site out, her videos are so cute!

Sara Skotte porcelain jewelry

Oslo based porcelain designer Sara Skotte is on a mission to change people’s perception of porcelain. She’s designed some beautiful animal necklaces that are selling across Norway. I can’t wait for them to hit stateside so I can buy a couple!

Rachel Gilman and the Return of Earrings

Previous seasons’ jewelry trends have been dominated by gigantic necklaces, and globes of rings and bracelets, and we’ve forgotten all about earrings.

For Fall, I’m all about rediscovering all sorts of earrings. My staples for the season will by your standard little studs in various colors and finishes. I’m beginning to branch out into bigger, and more colorful (even cheap looking) earrings for the season. The earrings featured here are purely for inspiration. They are the designs of stylist and jewelry designer Rachel Gilman. These are by far the brightest earrings I’ve found outside of Piedmont Boutique since the 80’s. I’m not sure I’d go for her rainbow bright pieces. Hell, I’m not even sure they’ll be for sale anywhere, but I thought they were pretty and unique enough to share with you!


Accessory Bust: Gold Petal Pushers

Many fashion and accessories magazines have been featuring flower rings, bracelets and necklaces for Summer 2010, so I thought I’d give my two cents.

I personally believe that flower jewelry finished in silver, colored metals and obviously plastic look cheap, and well – trashy. That being said, I am a HUGE fan of gold flowers….gold flowers anywhere looks very classy. The look is very feminine, even for those tattoo touting tough ladies. Yet the look isn’t juvenile or entirely innocent looking either, however if you are a total goody two shoe beware all flower jewelry states the obvious and in your case, you should refrain from wearing flowers at all costs.

Here are my favorite flowered pieces to get you through the summer. And hey, because the pieces are gold; they’ll totally fly for Fall 2010 as well…yeay!

  • Disney Couture, The Flower and the Lotus Flower Ring, $59.
  • Maximal Art by John Wind, Crystal Sparkling Daisy Snake Chain Collar, $89.
  • Allison Daniel, Shoe Flower Necklace, $68.
  • Elizabeth Cole Jewelry, Set of 5 Flower Hook Bracelets, $188.
  • Allison Daniel, Jadyn Ring Crisp Scroll Flower, $88.
  • Elizabeth Cole Jewelry, Bouquet Necklace with Swarovski Crystal Flowers and Gold Roses, $423.

Proenza Schouler Resort 2011 Weekender Bag

The PS1 – weekender bags in the Proenza Schouler Resort 2011 collection are ridiculous. The PS1 bag was introduced seasons ago, and it was only a matter of time before designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez expanded the runaway hit. Resort was a fabulous time to relaunch the weekender bag. Resort is the one season where designers can test new ideas, shapes and colors.

I love the shape of the bag, its also great that the bag will be released in two different sizes, medium and large this December. I appreciate that the bag looks fantastic without too much hardware. It appears to have plenty of roomy pockets. I can’t wait until these bags hit the discounters so I can actually afford them!!

Heel doggy, heel!

Shoes heel heights

When one thinks of classic femininity, high heels usually come to mind. The height that heels can add shape and elongate legs and create a kick-ass silhouette. No wonder even in modern times when ideas of femininity have been stretched to the limits women are still dying to squeeze their feet into sky-high shoes. Fashion role models, like Sex and the City’s famous character Carrie Bradshaw, glamorize tall shoes and makes it appear as if walking in them is a breeze! Us everyday women know that this is not always the case and because of that there has been an on-going debate between heels or flats?

mopo high heels

Heels are known for causing chronic back pain and knee joint problems in women who wear them regularly. These are just the long-term effects and that doesn’t include trips, falls, and some pretty gnarly spills (I recently suffered one recently that took my right ankle out of commission for a while).  Where as in the past when women were trained to wear heels from an early age, in modern times young girls usually don’t attempt to seriously wear heels until around puberty and when they finally are expose they opt for tall stilettos. These can be harder to walk in then their shorter, chunkier siblings. The heels they wear are also typically on the cheap side (gotta love Wet Seal and their low prices) and therefore cannot really offer the support needed in places like the balls of the feet.

Shoes heels

So what does a stylish girl do? Wearing heels can make you feel sexy and powerful and flats sometimes cannot offer that kind of ego boost. Also, we are now being told by sources like Cosmopolitan Magazine that wearing heels can shape our booties and calves. My advice is to stick to lower heights and keep the haute couture heights for special occasions. I also suggest investing in heels that are higher quality. You feet will thank you and plus they will remain a staple in your closet for a long time.  And follow one simple rule, if you are struggling to walk in the heels… then opt out for the flats because no one looks sexy when they are walking like a crane.

Summer 2010 heels

If you like this article, please follow my personal style blog!

Go to Top