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Fashion accessories are typically the easiest and cheapest way to update an otherwise outdated outfit.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!
Peep Toe Yellow Pump’s Made for Biking in Style by CAMPER
14 years ago
Using pedal power to get around town is as good for the earth as is it for your girlish figure. Our fashionable counterparts over in Europe have elevated bike riding as an artform: negotiating insane traffic while bumping over ancient cobblestones rodes – and all in high heels. We American’s, residing in most metropolitan areas don’t take the same risks on our bikes, and for the most part we remain less fashionable while biking. But now, the fabulous designers behind CAMPER have come to our rescue. They’ve introduced a very chic yet girly pair of Peep Toe Yellow Pump’s: they feature the brand’s signature durability and rubber-soled comfort that’s perfect both for bike riding as well as walking around once you arrive at your destination. Available at PublicBikes.com for $170.
Look fancy Biking!
Ultimate Summer Accessory: Panama Hat
14 years ago
Melissa Odabash Paper Straw Panama Hat, available on Net-a-Porter.com $130.
With the summer sun beating down against your face and the nearly oppressive warm air, the Panama hat is the perfect accessory for this time of year. Made from the leaves of the toquilla straw plant and hand-woven in Ecuador, the Panama hat is terrifically lightweight, neutral in color, and generously breathable. The hat is also ideal for traveling, as it maintains its shape even amidst the tight lodgings of a suitcase.
J.Crew Women’s Panama Hat, $58.
Aside from its practical uses, the popular panama has become a summer fashion staple, having gained key status when President Theodore Roosevelt wore one during his visit to the Panama Canal. Furthermore, stars such as Clark Gable, Fred Astaire, Paul Newman, Sigourney Weaver, and many more have popularized this hat making it into a trendy yet timeless article. Whether you sport the panama with a pair of Levi cut-offs and a loose-fitted blouse (female), don it with a pair of Bermuda shorts and a white t-shirt (male), or add it to a black linen dress and gladiator sandals (female), you can’t go wrong—it’s versatile, unisex, and will cease to go out of style.
Bring Your Own Bags By Prada
14 years ago
In a fortuitous turn of affordable fashion brilliance, Prada is launching light, perfect bring your own bags for shopping, summer beach tote or gym tote bag. The bring your own bags are produced in the traditional Prada fabric embellished with select archive printss, which you might recognize from runways past. The soft, spacious and structure-less shape is just right for your grocery store assortment of goodies, afternoons at the beach and picnics in the park.
The B.Y.O. Bags will be available exclusively at Prada boutiques starting this month for $295. Yes, this is a bit expensive for a grocery bag..we might need to stop eating for a few weeks to recoup the cost.
Erin Wasson for Low Luv Jewelry
14 years ago
After Erin Wasson’s success designing for Alexander Wang’s runway collection one of the most down to earth and well known model turned designer turned stylist now dabbles in jewelry. Her pieces are designed in collaboration with Low Luv Jewelry. The pieces are constructed from 14-karat gold and silver-plated materials. Wasson’s Spring collection was inspired by Nordic and Aztec designs. These pieces she’s made exclusively with Low Luv are much more affordable than her runway pieces, obviously.
The Bra turns 100 and now we have the Bra Dryer
14 years ago
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the invention of the brassier, I did some digging on bras, and was intrigued by this odd bra drying device properly called the “Bra Dryer.”
The Bra Dryer does exactly what the name suggests, drying individual bras using infra-red technology. Adjustable settings mean it can be used for any style of bra and it is made in a range of sizes. The woman-shaped design means this is a much better option than shoving your bra in the tumble dryer where it will probably get mangled and not last half as long.
Of course, environmentalists would probably prefer it if every woman in the world wasn’t drying their bra’s this way, but for a special occasion or a special item of lingerie, this is a nice idea.
Chain Wallet Trend on Idol this Season
14 years ago
I’m not sure if you noticed, but the male contestants of American Idol this season were loving the wallet chains (see Big Mike’s ridiculously large chain in the Idol Finalists group shot below). Big Mike, Andrew Garcia, Lee Dewyze and even Casey James have performed live, in front of all of us wearing chains, and some of them on numerous occasions.
Chain wallets, or wallet chains, or wallets with chains (call them what you want) infiltrated the masses from a small subset known as ‘bikers.’ These motorcyclists have a real purpose for the chain wallets, because without them their wallets could easily slip out their back pockets at high speeds. During the 70’s-80’s these chains became popular in the punk scene, I presume because the chains went along with their tough, obscure look. And honestly, if the chained wallets works in any part of society (outside the biker community), I would say they work best with the punk rockers. Something about the frail bodies and black clothing compliments that chains well.
The resurgence of the trend on typical American’s as modeled by the men of Idol this season can’t be explained as easily, unless of course we just blame it on the American Idol stylists. Let’s face it, I doubt these contestants rocked the chains prior to the show. What would they have needed these wallet chains for? In my opinion this look is very douchie on the average guy…and Big Mike.
Fendi Shoes Fall 2010
14 years ago
Fendi’s Fall 2010 collection, shown at Milan Fashion Week offers a unique collection of furs, suede, shearlings, organza, and velvet. Critiques are touting that this Fendi collection offers “luxe, wearable art”.
Forget about the clothing pieces, which look great, and is consistent with the brand (and therefore a bit boring to me). I wanted to cut to my favorite part of the show, the shoes! This cross between great heeled boots, athletic looking boots and hiker boots blows my mind. They appear to be great boots for all occasions because they can so easily be dress up or down.
The look was also carried over to a heeled ankle shoe…which may look event better than the boots. If the look hits mainstream, and is ripped off by less expensive designers, I’m definitely getting myself a pair. Shear genius!
One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure
14 years ago
Plastic bags have pretty much been banned in San Francisco since 2007, but we still see these totes everywhere (floating around the streets, at your local corner store, stuffed under your kitchen sink, flapping from trees). Yes, many plastic bags are reused every day (used to pick up your dogs poo, they line your trash cans, and are used as lunch bags). But they are still bad for the environment and take months to hundreds of years to decompose.
Well, having that said, Josh Blackwell (a New York based artist) sees the beauty of these everyday mass-produced disposable objects. He uses plastics bags as canvases to apply embroidery in simple patterns! Ok…so, he’s not really saving the planet, but at least he’s aware.
I’m sure most of you aren’t going to go home and embroider your plastic bags, but maybe think twice when your local grocer asks, “do you need a bag?”