Milan Fashion Week F/W ’19 Accessory Trend Spotlight

By Paige McKirahan

 

As we have now concluded our catwalk through the third week of our favorite month in fashion, Milan emphatically reinforced its stance as one of the top fashion capitals in the world with its out-of-the-box shows. Milan Fashion Week, running from February 19^th to the 25^th, boasted its largest season to date as 179 collections were on display in this Italian favorite, closing out the month of February. Serving as the birthplace for some of the industry’s favorite family-run fashion houses (think Prada, Missoni, and Fendi), there is no doubt that this dynasty-driven capital has no problem putting the haute in couture. In the wake of Karl Lagerfeld’s death, expectations were high and undoubtedly were met with collections like Moncler taking up entire street corners and Moschino’s homage to Price is Right!

 

Moschino's Price is Right set (source)

Eclectic headwear has truly established itself as one of this season's "it" accessory as classic winter styles with a twist have been seen in collections in New York, London, and now Milan. Anteprima, United Colors of Benetton, and Fendi all presented their own variations of the Russian-style cold weather favorite complete with fur and chinstraps. Armani took a less utilitarian approach to headgear as their jewel-encrusted berets paired with their rigid silhouettes proved to be the perfect touch of femininity. Agnona's approach headwear was purely functional as their simple, beige beanies were the perfect companion to their monochromatic looks.

 

From top: United Colors of Benetton, Armani, and Agnona (source)

Moving on to eyewear, Milan boasted pieces that were far from conventional. Gucci threw their own private masquerade with a horror-themed- twist as models made their way down the runway with face and eye coverings embellished with long spikes. Looking towards a more traditional approach, Fendi, Armani, and Prada are here to prove that the age of tiny sunglasses is out and oversized frames are back in. One new variation that looks like its still here to stay? Sunglasses lenses in bright hues!

 

From top: Gucci, Prada, and Fendi (source)

Switching the conversation to jewelry, it is evident that gold is now reigning as the primary material for this coming cold weather season. Donatella Versace made this evident in her Milan collection, with gold belts, earrings, and necklaces designed with a mix of delicate and chunky constructions. Vivetta and Fausto Puglisi took hold of the single earring trend that was popular in the S/S '19 shows last year and showed that this style is here to stay all throughout 2019. Marni's jewels included a variety of chain-like motifs in the chokers seen throughout their collection worked beautifully when paired with their vibrant punk-meets-conference room aesthetic. Moschino stunned with jewel-encrusted costume jewelry perfect for their Price is Right set, with gold and silver settings pairing seamlessly with Jeremy Scott's over-the-top clothing designs.

 

From top: Versace, Vivetta, Marni, and Moschino (source)

Looking to bags, this season the universal design theme leaned toward compact and handheld. As we saw last week in London, the idea of the "it" bag is transforming, and designers may still be trying to adapt to this accessory based shift. Nevertheless, we loved this season's affinity for miniature handbags perfect for a phone and wallet but not much else, forcing their carriers into decluttering. Check out some of our favorites below! 

 

From top: Bottega Veneta, Vivetta, Moschino, and Tod's (source)

Now that this season's fashion month is almost over, have your favorite collections been in London, New York, or Milan? So far, we loved the wild look of London, but we can't choose just one as our favorite until we see what Paris has to offer!

Keep this article on hand for some great fashion inspiration for the next cold weather season, and shop our collections for some great headwear, pins, bangles, and dangling earrings of your own! For more FW coverage, be sure to stay tuned next week for our look at all things Paris!

 

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Karl Lagerfeld: Fun Facts About Fashion's Greatest

By Paige McKirahan

 

Few designers have made a mark on the industry as emblematic and widespread as Karl Lagerfeld, the mastermind behind the house of Chanel and a close friend of all of fashion’s finest. Here at Talkingfashion, great sorrow has been felt in mourning this iconic mogul since his passing on Tuesday morning, just before his final collection with Fendi made its way down the London runway. This creative mind has worked for some of the most well-known fashion houses in the world in addition to founding his own namesake brand in the midst of it all; as one of the first freelancers in the industry, he has worked for brands in France, Italy, England, Germany, and more. The designer singlehanded breathed new life back into the Chanel brand in 1983, making it one of the most iconic fashion houses in the history of haute couture. His eye for the unordinary and affinity for art allowed him to reimagine the fashion show as a boundless concept, supersizing and minimizing it as he saw fit with no regard for outside critique. Though we all know him as one of the most prominent faces in fashion, there is more to Lagerfeld than meets the eye. In celebration of his long and runway-ready life, read on to see if you knew about any of these Lagerfeld legends!

 

His cat, Choupette, is the heir to his wealth.

 

Lagerfeld’s beloved white Siamese cat, Choupette, has taken the world by storm since she was gifted to him in 2011 by model Baptiste Giabiconi. The public was almost as stunned by her as Lagerfeld was; at one point, the beloved designer even claimed that he wanted to marry her!

 

He was team Coke.

As the age old question goes: Coke or Pepsi? Lagerfeld's answer? Coke every time. He allegedly was so addicted to the product, he once exclaimed: “I drink Diet Coke from the minute I get up to the minute I go to bed. I can even drink it in the middle of the night, and I can sleep. I don’t drink coffee, I don’t drink tea, I drink nothing else.”

 

His ponytail was over 30 years in the making. 

 

 

One prominent feature of every Lagerfeld look was his signature ponytail; when the designer decided that he was tired of taming his long, curly hair, he pulled it back into its first ponytail in 1976 and the rest is history. He hated hair products and exclusively used Klorane dry shampoo to tame his silver locks.

 

He changed his name to fit the industry.

When Karl Otto Lagerfeldt first became a pioneer in fashion, he dropped the “t” from the end of his last name in order to make it have a more "commercial" sound. This set the tone for the rest of his life as he was constantly reinventing himself and the industry. 

 

He used eyeshadow to create his sketches.

 

 

Staying true to his unconventional ways, Lagerfeld had been using pressed eyeshadows by Shu Uemura for over 20 years in his design sketches. The designer and brand shared a mutual love and he even had a custom shade of red created for his use.

 

He had an obsession with rings.

 

 

Lagerfeld was commonly seen out and about with a multitude of rings stacked on every finger, upping his glamorous and over-the-top style in a subtle manner. He loved the accessory so much that he even released his own line of engagement rings!

We hope that these small bits of fun from his long and colorful life bring you joy in a time when it seems fleeting. We thank Lagerfeld for transforming the industry into the thriving market it is today because, without him, we would not have the iconic Chanel logo or countless beauty collections to reflect upon.

For more facts about Lagerfeld's life and a timeline of his career, check out this article from Fascinate.

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Presidents Day’s Presidential Jewels

 By Paige McKirahan

As the shortest month of the year with the most to celebrate, February is chock full of fun events worth commemorating. From fashion week to Valentine’s Day to Black History Month, it is easy to get lost in the sea of dedications and themed sale emails flooding your inbox. One of the biggest sale holidays of the year just so happens to occur during this festive month, and is approaching fast on the 18^th! Presidents Day, which is a federal holiday set to honor America’s long line of presidents, is more than just a day off of work perfectly suited for shopping.

At its conception, the holiday was originally designated to recognize George Washington’s birthday on February 22^nd, 1732; when it was first initiated in 1879, it was only to be observed by Washington D.C. federal offices. Then, in 1885, it expanded to include all federal offices and established itself as the first holiday formed to celebrate a president. Though it once was celebrated on Washington’s exact birthday, the date has been changed to always fall on the third Monday in February and now aims to honor all presidents throughout history.

Early President's Day Posting (source)

In addition to the celebration of our country's leaders, Presidents Day is also used as an opportunity to award those qualifying with a Purple Heart military medal. Revived on Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932, this prestigious award is commonly given out on the holiday at both the federal level and at individual military posts.

In terms of executive- inspired accessories, the most common presidential motifs are primarily seen on coins integrated into a piece's design. Coins are versatile, malleable, and easily accessible so incorporating them into accessories and jewelry has been a long standing practice not only in the United States, but all over the world. From belts to bracelets, coins offer an easy way to show your patriotism while keeping it fashion forward. For more coin accessories, check out our collections and honor our country's rich history in style! For more presidential pieces, head over to the National Archives store to shop and support National Archives exhibits!

Sources:

AncestralFindings.comWill Moneymaker founded Ancestral Findings back in 1995. He has been involved in genealogy research for over 20 years. The thrill of the hunt. “The History of Presidents Day.” Ancestral Findings, 5 Mar. 2018, ancestralfindings.com/presidents-day/.

New York Fashion Week FW19 Accessory Trend Spotlight

By Paige McKirahan

 

Though it may seem hard to get autumn on the mind when it feels like the season just recently passed us by, the collections that have been displayed at New York Fashion Week since February 8^th have us ready for September to roll around once again. Manhattan’s sidewalks have felt a little more crowded for the past week as fashionistas from all over the world have flocked to New York City for a taste of what is to come in the industry this year. From Tomo Koizumi’s jaw-dropping gowns to Ralph Lauren’s beautiful venue, we were far from disenchanted with the designs presented around the city and are now left to reveal all of the magnificence that graced the runway!

 

Tomo Koizumi fashion show (source) 

 

In terms of jewelry design, chunkier constructions seemed to trump delicate styles across all collections; Badgley Mischka’s and Adeam’s dangling, oversized earrings sparkled all the way down to model’s shoulders with gold, pearls, and fabric taking center stage. We also saw the emblematic return of stacking with everything from chokers to bangles to rings in shows like Ulla Johnson’s trouser-centric womenswear collection. R13 put a fun spin on vintage pearls and pins when they dominated the composition of the collection’s grunge aesthetic; the eclectic mix between grandma’s closet chic and street style cool makes them a Talkingfashion favorite!

 

 

From top to bottom: Adeam, Ulla Johnson, and R13 (source)

 

Similar to the looks that we saw in many of our favorite Paris Haute Couture collections from last month, NYFW did not disappoint when it came to headwear. Tom Ford took a cue from early 1990s accessories trends and made an attempt to revive the bucket hat in a big (literally) way, incorporating wild colors and materials into the design of the once unpopular style. We saw Kate Spade continue showing their love for swimming caps, with patterns consistent with the ensemble that they were accompanying. R13 not only stunned in the accessory realm, but their collection also boasted headwear that is perfect for both the slopes and the runway; their Russian- style headgear is reminiscent of trooper fashion with earflaps offering a utilitarian flair.

 

 

From top: Tom Ford, Kate Spade, and R13 (source)

 

Possibly one of the most interesting trends at NYFW both on the runway and on influencer feeds is that of the hair accessory. From bedazzled barrettes to velvet headbands, designers and fashion aficionado’s alike all raved over the fun pieces that are reminiscent of those seen in a private school classroom. Christian Siriano was one of the designers to take this to the next level when he incorporated chain-like strands into the ponytails of his models, making it look like her hair had a necklace of its own! The Blonds took Siriano's take one step further when they covered their model's head in a full gold chain, wig-like piece fit for an Egyptian queen.

 

 From top: Christian Siriano and The Blonds (source)

 

Of course, this doesn't even begin to break the tip of the iceberg on NYFW enigmatic street-style scene, though the ever-evolving Instagram style trends seem to be well aligned with the S/S '19 predictions that were made last fall. Keep this article on hand for some great fashion inspiration for the next cold weather season, and shop our collections for some great headwear, pins, bangles, and dangling earrings of your own! For more FW coverage, be sure to stay tuned next week for our spotlight on all things London Fashion Week!

 

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A Voguish Valentine’s Day

By Paige McKirahan 

We all know that Valentine’s Day, the world's most beloved romantic holiday, is fast approaching as February 14^th is less than a week away! In the midst of your mad dash to find that perfect gift for your special someone in the name of St. Valentine, you may be left wondering: who is this Saint and why are we even celebrating Valentine’s Day in the first place? 

The history behind this day of love is somewhat mysterious; there are three martyred Saint Valentines that are recognized by the Catholic church and the stories surrounding them are all enigmatic, sharing the same emphasis on the saints’ empathy, heroism, and dedication to romance. The celebration of Valentine’s Day came on the heels of the saint’s popularity in England and France during the Middle Ages. This celebration first began as a festival and feast that most think was held in the middle of February in attempt to implement Christian ideals into the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Roman gods Faunus, Romulus, and Remus. This festival began with Roman priests sacrificing a goat for fertility and a dog for purification in a sacred cave where infant Romulus and Remus were thought to have been cared for by wolves. They then took the goat's hides and dipped them into sacrificial blood, which was then used to gently slap women and crop fields to increase fertility. The women then placed all of their names into an urn for each of the city’s bachelors to pick out of, resulting in a pairing for the coming year that often ended in marriage.

 

Lupercalia celebration (source)

 

Despite the fact that Lupercalia was outlawed on the account of it being “un-Christian”, Pope Gelasius wanted to continue the celebration and declared February 14^th to be St. Valentine's Day at the end of the 5^th century. The association with love didn’t come until around the 1400s when the first written valentines began to appear. By the 18^th century, it was common for those across all social classes to exchange small gifts and notes with their loved ones to commemorate their affection for one another. 1900 brought the machine printed cards that began to replace handwritten notes as the preset messages made it easier to express one's emotions in a time where that was ultimately discouraged. Today, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged this year, with women purchasing over 85% of those pieces.

 

Early Valentine (source) 

 

While this holiday tends to be all about romance, it is also one of the year’s best opportunities to dress up and wear what you love in celebration of the day of love! From heart motifs to a color wheel of red hues, Valentine’s Day fashion may be cliché for some, but we think it’s a fun way to bring a pop of color to the otherwise gloomy February weather. One of the most popular gifts given to commemorate the day (and one that lasts longer than chocolate or flowers) is jewelry; whether it is diamonds for your significant other or a fun new accessory for yourself, this holiday is a great excuse to grab that piece you’ve been debating about buying. While simple jewels in bracelets, rings, earrings, are necklaces are common when they are given as Valentine’s day gifts, this holiday’s accessories have a lot more to offer.

 

This jewelry buying sentiment didn’t come into play until the 1930s when Hallmark, the most famous greeting card company in the world, created a line of Valentine’s Day jewelry that took consumers by storm. Diamonds weren’t a popular choice until the 1980s, which means that costume jewelry prevailed and featured images like teddy bears, flowers, hearts, cupid, or other love-centric designs. Of course, most items are red and pink in tone, but some may go for a more edgy route and celebrate Valentine’s Day in black! If you’re stuck on what to gift to your loved ones (or to yourself!), check out our collections for some great gift-giving inspo!

 

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