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Spring Accessory Guide: As Seen On

Every self-respecting fashionista knows to never underestimate the power of accessorising. An interesting, updated piece can transform an outfit from blah to oh-lala in no seconds. And if the budget won’t allow you to do big investments, something as simple as a scarf or a few chunky bracelets will do the trick just as fine. So has shopping spree make the top of your to-do list already? Hold off until you see our accessory suggestions for the upcoming spring feast.

Scarves
Simple or embellished, scarves are an easy way to add a punch of color and style. Splashed all over the runways, you will be amazed with the endless possibilities a scarf has to offer – wear it around your neck as a piece of jewellery or as a belt in a pair of jeans. You can even polish your look by using a scarf as an headband or tying your hair in a playful messy braid.

SCARVES

1. Bandhini scarf. Available at Toast for £158 buy it . 2. Paisley scarf by D&G. Available at Matches for £175 buy it.

Hair embellishments
From big bows to twinkling hair clips and girly headbands, you can expect to see a lot of hair teasing and ornaments for spring 2010. Our favorite? The Dolce & Gabbana messy bun, accented with jewelled hair combs. It just looks effortlessly chic, as a perfect blend of girly glamour with vintage style.

HEADS

1. Silver crystal spring hair clip by Red Herring. Available at Debenhams for £8 buy it. 2. Satin and feather hairband by Jennifer Ouellette. Available at Net a Porter for £76,63 buy it. 3. Tribal print bow headband by Benoît Missolin. Available at Browns for £75 buy it.

Cat eye frames
Like a flashback from the fifties, the cat-eye frames are the shades to be seen with this summer. Go frolic with Giles’s colorful specs or play the Gaga part by sporting Wang’s futuristic cat shape. Whatever your taste may be, hopefully you will ditch those aviator goggles. At least for a while.

CAT EYES

1. Nikita cat-eye acetate sunglasses by Tom Ford. Available at Net a Porter for £235 buy it. 2. Purple large cat eye sunglasses by Ray-Ban. Available at Debenhams for £90 buy it. 3. Cat-eye-frame acetate sunglasses by Emmanuelle Khanh. Available at Net a Porter for £425 buy it.

Lucite
This spring, it’s all about the peep-show vibe. If sheer apparel is a bit too much for your heart to handle, go for lucite bangles or choose translucent pieces as see-trough heels and transparent bags. See…good girls can have fun too!

1. Alley patent leather and PVC pumps by Brian Atwood. Available at Net a Porter for £500 buy it. 2. PVC and black leather large tote bag by Julia Cocco. Available at Forzieri for £110,05 buy it.

Small day bags
Less is more when it comes to spring handbags and satchels. The carry-all tote was nowhere to be seen during runway season, with the lady-like purse being the prima donna of the ball. When spring season rolls around, give your bulky friend a well-deserved resting time and opt instead for a stylish compact handbag. Believe us, your shoulders will throw a party.

SMALL BAGS

1. Grasshopper small leather bag by Chloé. Available at Net a Porter for £280 buy it. 2. Satchel bag from NW3 by Hobbs. Available at Asos for £179 buy it.

Sandals+socks
Can we wear socks with open sandals? Yes, we can. If some years ago we’d rather be caught dead than to be seen sporting the preppy look, today this weird combo is gracing pages of every major fashion magazine. And we dare to say, it’s growing on us too. Try the new trend with different styles of socks and pair them with stumpy shoes and wedgy heels. Add a feminine dress to the ensemble, and you got yourself a spring winner look.

SANDALS+SOCKS

1. Turnover rib over knee socks in purple. Available at Topshop for £5 buy it. 2. Strappy sandals by Celine. Available at Matches for £608 buy it. 3. Piper sandals by Pedro Garcia. Available at Mytheresa for £231,31 buy it.

Temporary tattoos
If you are a fan of the tattoo culture, but would be much happier without the needle or the “forever yours” end result, we might have what you’ve been looking for. This spring a new trend is set to lift off, as top fashion houses as Chanel and Rodarte showcased temporary tattoos on their spring 2010 runways. And even Marchesa didn’t want to miss the tribal party, bringing hand-painted tattoo hosery to the fashion show – body art without the ink, the pain or the permanent commitment.

TATTOOS

Lovers of Chanel posh tatts will be able to buy the transfers in boutiques, concessions and the Selfridges counter from March 1st. Les Trompe L’Oeil de Chanel Temporary Skin Art, a set of 55 individual tattoos, will retail for £49 (a friendly price tag for the Chanel seal).

If you’re more a DIY kind of person, feel free to mimic Rodarte’s henna-inspired body art, created by M·A·C Cosmetics Senior Artist, Chantel Miller:

PRO Micronized Airbrush in Black Black
252 brush buy it
242 brush buy it
PRO Mixing Medium/Alcohol Base
Liquidlast liner in Point Black buy it

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DIY |Proenza Schouler tie-dye look

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Proenza Schouler duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez went Urban Scuba for the spring feast – we’re talking serious Steve Zissou style here, ladies. Full of playful tie-dye prints and aqua marine shades, the groovy-surfer collection was a huge success during runway season, with every girl about town wanting her own dip-dyed vest to parade in 2010. Thankfully the fashion world runs fast and eagerly, and we won’t have to wait for the spring line to hit stores. For those who are the crafty type, here are some DIY instructions to create a Proenza-inspired tie and dye effect. We dare to say, the end result looks very similar to the original version (and we might as well face it, we probably can’t afford it any other way).

Read the full story {Who What Wear}

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Apple unveils the iPad

ipad_hero2_20100127 No, it’s not a typo. iPad is Apple’s new family member that everyone was dying to meet. Quite fit and slim (but apparently not as lightweight as some had hoped for), iPad is not a laptop or a phone. It’s a tablet that runs an operating system similar to the iPhone and sports a 1024-by-768, 9.7 inch LED multi-touch screen. Powered by a custom-designed Apple 1GHz processor, the tablet runs up to 140,000 of the apps in the App store plus the most recent addition, the iBook store. Just imagine the possibilities…
Out on late March, Apple will sale the iPad starting from around £310, depending on the storage size. 3G units will be available from April, at an extra cost of £80 per model.

Long story short, is it terribly essential for our gadgetry routine? No. Do we want it? Hell yeah.

Read the coverage at Signature9.com for more details on tech specs and functionality.

Kolor handbag for men

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Dear gents, we bring you the Kolor cowhide handbag, the latest in men’s shopping bags. Founded in 2004 by designer Junichi Abe, Kolor is already a top Japanese brand that defies the ordinary and creates statement-making pieces. So be warned, these stylish shopper bags are not for the faint hearted. They’re rather for those who have fun and live always on the cutting edge of fashion. Available in two color patterns at OKi-Ni online store, for a heart-breaking £1265.

Read the full story {The Southsider}

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The future of fashion blogging

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Should you happen to be in New York on February 15th, don’t be surprised to see a major fashion gathering near Helen Mills Theater at the West 26th Street. Together with IFB, Jennine “The Coveted” Tamm is hosting Evolving Influence, a conference for fashion bloggers to discuss the future of blogging as business and profession. During New York Fashion Week , those interested will be able to get advice from an illustrious panel of experts, including the likes of Susie Bubble, BrianBoy and Imran Amed (Business of Fashion), amongst many more. If you wish to get involved in the blogging community or simply want to understand more about today’s influential fashion force, be sure to highlight this date in your calendar. Browse here for more information on schedule, price and booking details.

Read the full story {The Coveted}

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Functional|Trendwatching speaks opportunity

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Simple, small and cheap – according to trendwatching.com, these are the three keywords that best describe our upcoming lifestyle in society. Scanning the globe with future scope goggles, this world-leading trend firm offers free of charge monthly updates on fresh ideas and consumer habits in areas as diverse as art, food and technology. Sharing their insights with more than 160,000 subscribers worldwide, trendwatching is now assembling the new breed of products and services that capture the phenomenon of functional, clear and budget-friendly solutions. For emerging markets and prosperous economies, learn here ” why simple, small and cheap appeals to all“, providing great opportunities for exploration and innovative entrepreneurship. Now turn your head to the future, and remember – if it’s functional, thumbs up.

Read the full story {Trendwatching}

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McQueen, the Snake Whisperer

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Alexander Mcqueen never fails to surprise us (or to inflict pain and suffering to female models for that matter). Adding more fierce style to the already famous armadillo collection, Nick Knight’s Spring campaign for Mcgenius brings a whole new meaning to stiletto jungle, with up to 30 brightly colored snakes curling and wriggling in a summer-hued spaghetti mess. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, that’s Raquel Zimmermann hidden under that hype and fluff. She looks…hmm, dangerously comfortable, doesn’t she?

Read the full story {Style Caster}

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Wang’s Cool Cats

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Retro goes modern with the newest trend in sunglasses. With a touch of old school glamour, the vintage cat eye frames were a huge hit at Spring fashion shows, delivering a chic update to the classic 50’s look. Taking the pointed shape to an all new level, edgy designer Alexander Wang is introducing his debut collection of sunglasses, with zipper hardware embellishments and bronzed resin edges adding just the right amount of rock n’ roll vibe to the specs. Very cool and futuristic, here’s a look at the 2010 Spring/Summer line for Linda Farrow.

Read the full story {Style Frizz}

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Bespoken For: Heels That Are Uniquely Yours

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Have you ever found yourself chasing a pair of shoes that only lives in your head? We bring you the solution for that nerve-racking quest. An Australian-based website, Shoes of Prey offers beautiful bespoke lady shoes designed by someone who best understands your taste and requirements – yourself. Using the online design service, you choose the heel, fabric, color and everything else you need to produce that perfect blend between style and comfort (or shoe torture, if that’s your thing). It will take a few weeks for the one of a kind pair to arrive and cradle your feet Cinderella style. With “over 3 trillion possible design combinations”, Shoes of Prey is set to be every woman’s guilty pleasure and every man’s nightmare on earth.