BubblesPop

Of course I’m going to be obsessed with this new trend for Spring 2011! Named,”Bubble-gum stripes-how couldn’t I be 🙂

Much like polka dots and plaids, classic stripes are a thing of beauty. And while I’ll always have a closet full of black-and-white or blue-and-white iterations, right now we’ve got brighter stripes on our minds, specifically the cheerful bubblegum styles shown on some of our favorite spring runways. From a cheeky red-and-blue skirt at Fendi to a sporty-chic shirt at Celine, this is definitely a bold trend, but it’s also quite accommodating too. In fact, we think you can easily adapt it for just about any wardrobe, taste, and body type, which is why we’re spotlighting it in this month’s

Runway to Real Way.

Before trying these cheerful statement pieces, it’s important to make sure you’re educated on the topic (you must earn your stripes, if you will). As such, we shall start as we always do: with the runways. The Prada S/S 11 show offered up a more formal version of bubblegum stripes with an orange, pink, and black Horizontal Striped Dress with Spaghetti Straps and Ruffle ($1860) styled with blue and white Woven Heels ($895). By pairing the flamboyant cocktail dress with contrasting shoes, the resulting look is playful, punchy, and perfect for warm-weather cocktail parties. While the Prada interpretation has a sexy samba quality to it, the bubblegum stripes at Marc by Marc Jacobs are decidedly softer and have a more relaxed vibe.
Of course, the bubblegum-stripe trend is not limited to dresses alone. I also saw it turn up on sportier separates. If you’re inspired to try this effervescent look in real life, we suggest taking a tip from Fearne Cotton and pairing your bubblegum stripes with solid separates. The British beauty was snapped in a simply marvelous take on the trend when she styled a vintage dress with a tailored black jacket (also vintage), low brown boots from ASOS, and a bright red Matt & Nat bag. Her dress has an unfussy silhouette—definitely a good thing when dealing with multi-color stripes—plus, by styling it with simple, dark essentials, Cotton makes it look a bit more modern and accessible.

When trying out bubblegum stripes at home, also remember that you don’t need to replicate the runway look exactly; sometimes just one or two bold colors are enough.

Wanted to share with you guys some of the hottest looks in NY Street fashion.  Which girl are you?

CANDY IS ANOTHER OF MY FAVORITE STORES IN TOKYO …. SISTER IS A NOT MY STYLE BUT THEY HAVE VERY CCUTE ACCESSORIES THAT ARE RIGHT UP ANYONE’S ALLEY.

A hidden alleyway in the middle of Shibuya nestled between a street crammed with cafes and the Loft building. It’s dark and a little eerie, but about halfway down you’ll see a neon sign with the word “Candy” scrawled on it. No, it doesn’t cater for Tokyo’s legendary sweet tooth – but is one of the most cutting-edge fashion boutiques in the capital. Full of edgy apparel such as chain mail vests, wild and avant-garde footwear and a small but perfect collection of clothing – Candy is the epicenter of cool. Stocking a host of young domestic labels as well as a selection of international names such as Komakino and current English fashion darling Gareth Pugh, the boutique is a regular hangout for stylists, fashion students and customers looking for something special — not just your regular throwaway fashion experience.

Sister, named after the Plastic Ono Band song “Sisters O Sisters”, is Candy’s rock chick sibling. The buyer has a love of gothic/horror and PR/Manager Fuyuri Kobayashi says that the pieces found in Sister come from the buyer’s personal choices such as Piers Atkinson jewelry which she describes as “cute but also very strange. It has an underground look but at the same time makes me feel really good.” Sister specializes in one-of-a-kind jewelry and millinery, as well as a collection of niche vintage and lauded contemporary Japanese designers such as Central Saint Martins graduate Sachio Kawasaki.

Elegant and edgy, Sister is a strangely beautiful boutique on the darker side of the fashion scale. Hats and jewelry come from some of the most creative designers around such as the legendary Stephen Jones and Erikson Beamon. The second floor boutique also plays 60s — 80s rock music and Kobayashi says that the creative team is inspired by music, old movies, books and even iconic singer and actress Marlene Dietrich.

Yanagi and Kobayashi agree that Candy and Sister are about more than just the act of shopping. It should be an emotional experience, a place where people can come to discuss and think about fashion and art. Friendly and open the boutiques are for anyone interested in a special enduring style which creates bonds between fashion and people.

 

 

 

 

 

ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORES IN TOKYO HAS TO BE HANDS DOWN SPINNS. Freshly opened in November of 2010 this store is sure to please all fashion heads out there, including myself. Located next door to Forever 21 on Meiji Dori, this large, centrally-located store is about to become a major new player in the neighborhood. While many of the big Harajuku openings in the last few years have been international stores (H&M, Nike, Kitson, F21, Tommy, etc.), Spinns is a funky, street-level Japanese fashion company. It is exactly the kind of place that puts Harajuku on the world fashion map. Run; don’t walk there. 😉