I’ve got to admit it – I’m a sucker for a designer who doesn’t take their accessories too seriously!
After all, what are accessories for if not to put a smile on your face when you wear them?
We’ve got to start with Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring & Summer 2010 collection for Chanel:

Interesting carved heels, bright colors and check out the flowers on the handbag.  If that doesn’t brighten your day, I’m not quite sure what else would…
Stella McCartney showed a more subdued collection, but check out the detail on this handbag:

I don’t know how practical that folding wooden purse is going to …read more

There’s been an interesting mix of shoes showing up on the runway during the Spring & Summer 2010 collections for Paris Fashion Week.
Candy-colored flats and sky-high stiletto heels have shared the runways with strappy platforms and even suede peep-toe boots.  Today we’re just having fun with some seriously fierce high heels!
Check out these amazing boots from Barbara Bui:

Now that’s an interesting take on the cage boot – those geometric cutouts make for a striking boot.  I think going with a neutral color is a good option for this strong of  a style statement – a brighter color could be overkill.
Loewe …read more

Designers showing their Spring & Summer collections during Paris Fashion Week have kept up the tribal feel in their jewelry that we’ve seen from other fashion weeks.
Barbara Bui used lots of necklaces to make a big impact for her runway show:

This is definitely a look that can translate well in the real world – of course, you may want to consider just wearing a couple of necklaces instead of half a dozen…
Lanvin kept to their ultra-embellished aesthetic with their lush jewelry:

With everything from peacock feathers to sterling silver motifs, semi-precious stones to antiqued metal chains, these jewelry pieces are sure …read more

Runway shows can be as much about creating a giant spectacle as they are about the clothes…
Some of the designers from Paris Fashion Week are certainly proving that!
Check out some of these extreme, um – hats?  Headwear?  Sculpture?  Gardening experiments? from the Spring & Summer 2010 collections:
How many of us played with pots, pans and collanders as kids?  I bet you’ve got a photo stashed away somewhere with a strainer on your head, right?
Do we want to wear them as adults too?

Hat by South Korean designer Lie Sang Bong.
I have to admit, I have a peculiar requirements for hats.
I need …read more

Paris is the last of the “Big Four” fashion weeks, and quite often the most extreme and avant garde of the four.
The designers have kicked off their Spring & Summer 2010 collections with a bang – so let’s get to the good stuff already… bring on the accessories!
I must admit to not having a particular theme for this post – I’m simply sharing some of my favorite early picks from the runway.  So what’s making me drool right now?
I’ve been a fan of Issey Miyake for many years now – even though the fashion sometimes takes a turn into the …read more

The Spring & Summer 2010 runway shows have wrapped up in Milan, but I just couldn’t resist choosing a few more great accessory picks from fashion week!
If you need a little more luck in your life, you might consider Frankie Morello’s generously-sized horse-shoe belt:

Of course, carrying that cute little purse might do the trick too…  Or maybe it’s the shoes that are lucky?
Anteprima also created some large versions of their teensy little glittering clutch purses:

They showed several colors, but I love this soft, minty green in particular.
Lublu Plastinina sent their models down the runway sporting some seriously chunky necklaces:

It looks …read more

Spring and Summer 2010 are so bright that they’re sparkling – at least on the runways of Milan Fashion Week!
Some designers are stepping away from the bright colors and tribal themes into something a little more glittery and feminine.
Clear rhinestones and crystals have shown up on several runways, including Anteprima:

Their models carried delicate clutch purses, encrusted with tiny crystals, and finished off with faceted crystal clasps.
Mila Schon joined the embellished tights crowd with her glittering hosiery:

And what’s better than glittery tights?  Finishing your outfit off with sparkling silver platform heels, of course.
There are some crafty fashionistas who are making their …read more

The Spring & Summer 2010 collections during Milan Fashion Week have been all about the contrast this week.
Some designers are showing very restrained collections with neutral palettes…
And some have not!
The bright colors have ranged from more traditional summer colors to some very bright neons – which look even brighter when you pair them with more neon and black.
As you can see from the Dsquared2 finale, neon is going to be a presence for next spring:

Didn’t we do that in the eighties already?  Oh well, runway looks are always more extreme than the real-life versions…
Laura Biagiotti went for bold, bright and …read more

The big, bold and chunky jewelry trend for Spring & Summer 2010 is continuing during Milan Fashion Week.
Everything from rubber and leather to more delicate beads and metals are showing up on the runways.   Designers are using tribal accents as well as more traditional jewelry motifs.
Fisico created big, chunky necklaces from carved wood for the runway:

Dsquared2 sent their models down the runway sporting some interesting jewelry:

I’m not sure if those flowers are made from leather or rubber, but the contrast between the girly flowers and the industrial materials make for quite an interesting necklace.
I might suggest leaving the trucker …read more

The Spring and Summer 2010 collections are still parading down the runway for Milan Fashion Week – and we’ve seen a little bit of everything for the next season!
I’ve pulled a few of my favorite handbag & tote picks from some recent shows – I love Moschino’s summery prints for this oversize tote:

And I’ve got to say – those bloomers are pretty cute too… although I don’t think I would wear them outside my house
Bottega Veneta also sent soft, unstructured totes down their runway:

That cheerful yellow is going to be great for summer – and the braided handle …read more