Banding Together for Fall

Blair Waldorf can breathe a sigh of relief, because headbands are officially back in fashion. Straight from the  runways at New York and London fashion weeks, these longtime preppy staples will stick around for awhile. This time, they're getting a cool new makeover.

Last week, at the Doo Ri show, famed hairstylist Orlando Pita predicted that the headband would be huge for fall. He gave the trend a head start by adorning models on the New York runways with the accessory. For a cool, edgy feel at Carolina Herrera, he backcombed the models' hair, wrapping it with black skinny elastic bands. A more girlish, doll-like look was achieved by placing bedazzled satin ribbons on voluminous faux bobs at Oscar de la Renta.

Pita's prediction took flight and landed on the runways of London, thanks to fellow hairstylist Sam McKnight. Turning the classic headband into a boho-chic statement, he used black twisted bands on messy chignons at Clements Ribeiro. The style was easily transferred to Moschino Cheap and Chic, where McKnight used bands in shades of pastel over sixties-era beehives.

Fashion icon and "it girl" Alexa Chung rocked a headband for Emma Hill's Mulberry party, almost guaranteeing its style status. It's still undecided about whether Milan and Paris will jump on the headband bandwagon. Regardless, even if you're not an internationally renowned icon, it couldn't hurt to start hunting for them.


Text Esther Reisberg
Source and Image Style.com

Brilliantly Bright Shades

It's time to throw out those dull brown and black sunglasses and grab yourself a pair of vibrantly colored shades that will surely give your outfit the extra umph it needs to make a bold statement for this year's fast approaching spring season! From sultry red, to bright blue, to fluorescent pink, these strikingly colorful frames are currently the talk of the fashion industry, offering a fun and quirky twist to your classic style of eyewear. Even celebrity trendsetters by the likes of Alexa Chung, Jessica Alba, and Gwen Stefani have all been spotted sporting this lovely trend.

Available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and color palettes, you will certainly find a flattering pair to suit your personal style. Stella McCartney has a fabulous pair of Round Frame Sunglasses that costs $225 and offers a playful pop of color to any outfit. Matthew Williamson also has a pair of splurge-worthy Curved-Square Sunglasses that costs $369 and gives your outfit that cool, effortless look that we all wish we could pull off naturally.

But, for all of you money-conscious fashionistas out there, don't worry; there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives to choose from. Try Urban Outfitters' Extreme Cat Eye Sunglasses that cost only $16. American Apparel also offers an irresistibly affordable pair of Jody Sunglasses for $35. So, brighten up your look with a pair of colorful frames, and bring high fashion to your wardrobe for spring 2012.

Text Jasmine Song
Source and Image Who What Wear

Best Party Ever: Chanel in Las Vegas

Chanel's invite-only, eight day event for the Numéros Privés installation began on Friday, January 20 in Las Vegas. Guests who included Alexa Chung, Gia Coppola, Diane Kruger, and Rachel Zoe were picked up in Escalades and flown in private jets from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Clearly, our invitation was lost in the mail. (Just kidding!) But the private planes were only the beginning of last weekend's luxuries.

The actual installation, Numéros Privés, is a ten-room exhibit at the Wynn hotel in Vegas, dedicated to the house codes of Chanel. "House codes" are the timeless designs that become a designer trademark. For Chanel, codes include camellia flowers (Coco's favorite), black and white, and quilted padding. One room  at Numéros Privés was filled with carnival-inspired mechanical claws; instead of scooping up stuffed animals, guests tried to win Chanel accessories. Another room displayed a replica of Coco Chanel's apartment in Paris. A Chinese New Year-themed dinner followed the tour, complete with dim sum and champagne. Unfortunately, Karl Lagerfeld couldn't make it to the dance floor. He spent the weekend prepping for his show in Paris, which took place today.

Text Emily Thomas
Image and Source WWD, Style.com

MADE me happy

If you don't know who Alexa Chung is, I suggest you find out. fast. She is my current obsession, and if she's my current obsession, she definitely should be yours too. 25 year old indie chick, part time TV presenter, model and arm candy of Alex Turner (he of Arctic Monkey and Last Shadow Puppets fame) this girl KNOWS how to dress. It is through Chung that I discovered MADE UK

MADE is the brainchild of Christina Cisilino who after having spent many years in fashion wanted to "give something back." MADE is all about fair trade, with the emphasis on trade not aid. Accessories such as necklaces, bracelets and earrings are designed by a range of influential designers, then all materials are sourced and created within disadvantage communities across East Africa. So committed to the cause are MADE that they provide full training of craftsmanship for workers, a fair wage and even use recycled materials such as brass door handles, bath taps and padlocks to create their products. All of this do-gooding would be enough to sell me on parting withmy hard earned cash, but here's ethical cherry on the fair trade cake - the accessories are GORGEOUS. Weighty brass chains with delightfully chunky trinkets adorning them? Skulls? Unicorns? Daisies? Yes please! No wonder the Alexa Chung desgned skull necklace has been out of stock almost constantly for a year. Chaos Magazine gives these accessories a big thumbs up, I've just ordered the Unicorn Pendant I'm sure I'll be MADE up with it.