SHOES/ACCESSORIES

I unpacked my summer accessories last weekend – sayonara, North Face – and came across a bevy of lightweight, airy scarves that remain in my drawers year after year because I’m eternally lost on how to wear them in the middle of a 95 degree day.  Rumor has it that Miss Thing, Anna Wintour, always wears a Hermes scarf (or at least that’s what ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ would have us believe), whether it be around her neck, wrist, or interwoven through a purse or belt loop.  I figured, if my fairy godmother can pull it off, well, so can I.  (I hope.)

The first attempt was actually unintentional but highly successful.  I was headed to a fundraiser and stuck between two tube dresses that weren’t quite ‘cocktail attire’ friendly.  I folded a cotton muslin scarf that my uncle sent me from Paris (printed with a map of – you guessed it – Paris) around my waist, but it wasn’t quite right.  I moved it to my neck, but it competed with the statement necklace I wanted to wear.  And so it was settled:  I re-folded the scarf and wrapped around it my chest, bandeau-style, and created an entirely new dress in a single knot.  I was impressed with my creativity – and so were people who thought it came like that from the store.

A few weeks later, I had a lunch date downtown and a serious case of bedhead.  I threw a silk scarf into my hair, prairie girl-style, but it didn’t quite cut it – tufts of unruly hair poked out and were not consoled by even the strongest pomade.  I knew I needed to distract my man from the hot mess atop my head, and so I took the same scarf, rolled it into a twist, and beaded large, chunky cocktail rings between knots on the scarf, wrapping it back up and placing it around my neck as a choker.  The result?  He paid the tab and told me I looked beautiful.  Then again, it was his turn to pay.

What are your favorite ways to reinvent your scarves and breathe new life into tired accessories?

-Karyn Polewaczyk

One of my favorite childhood memories, aside from the time my mother discovered I gave my sister a haircut the day before our family photos, is the time spent cruising JCPenney for a lunchbox to start off the new school year. 

While first grade’s My Little Pony theme and second grade’s Monet-esque pastel patchwork boxes were inspiring, nothing quite held the clout of my third grade box of choice:  New Kids on the Block.  A fluorescent orange trophy, my NKOTB lunch box had, as TVC readers of that era may fondly recall, the right stuff.  Danny, Donny, Jordan, Jonathan and Joey accompanied me on the school bus each morning; each afternoon, I’d open my plastic snack case to the tune of a turkey sandwich, apple and Thermos of skim milk.  Little did I know in 1990 and at eight years old that the reusable lunch box would remake itself into a fashion statement and symbol of green nearly twenty years later.  (And there I was, thinking my double-stacked slouch socks were cool.)

British designer Anya Hindmarch caused a supermarket sensation in 2007 when her $15 “I’m Not a Plastic Bag”reusable shopping tote went on sale at London’s version of Trader Joe’s, Sainsbury’s (oh, how I love me some Sainsbury’s), selling out within fifteen minutes flat.  The same, relatively unremarkable canvas bags later appeared on Ebay for $300 to $400 a pop.  Since I’m Not Impressed with labels alone, I like Whole Foods’ variety of reusable totes, which sell for $8 to $12 and are made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste.  (Note:  Anya’s totes were “limited edition,” meaning that if you want her seal of approval, you’ll have to spend $900 or more on one of her couture bags.   That’s eco-unfriendly, if you ask us.)

If handles aren’t your thing, this strappy number from Target’s Nexxt line, $15, will do just fine.  Comprised of nylon and fully insulated, it does a better job of keeping things cold, including miniature boxes of chardonnay that are perfect for lunchtime sipping in the shade, away from the guise of your overbearing boss who wants to know if you’re willing to work on Saturday yet again.  (We kid, we kid.  Sort of.)

Whether you’re a lady who lunches or simply want a more subway-chic way to carry last night’s leftover macaroni from point A to point B, a reusable lunch sack is a fashion “do.”

-Karyn Polewaczyk

Despite being crammed onto the escalator like a rush hour sardine, I rode through the subway yesterday afternoon feeling quite content thanks to a taste of summer-like weather. After glancing down to admire my newly self-pedicured toes and to bemuse as to whether or not I deserved an ice cream to celebrate the season (I don’t, and I didn’t), I looked up, and that’s when I saw them: the heels of hell.

A well-dressed woman, likely in her mid-30s, was rocking some serious canvas wedges – and some serious strategically-placed bandages on her heels – unaware that her fellow passenger was aghast at the equivalent of bra-strap overload. There were four or five bandages on each heel – to be honest, I lost track after two – layered to cover blisters and the shame of an ill-fitting shoe.

Ladies, ladies, ladies. If you’re old enough to buy your own clothes and accessories, you’re old enough to buy properly fitting footwear. There’s simply no excuse for reverse muffin top (when toes are unceremoniously propelled forward over the edge of a sandal because they have no where else to go), a blister bonanza (go a size up! no one is looking at the number), or having to sulk in the corner on a Saturday night out while your girlfriends are dancing it up (because you bought cheap shoes with no flexibility in the sole and can’t stand for more than five minutes without becoming gripped in pain). Granted, blisters can happen accidentally and even with the most delicious Ferragamo flat by chance, but are mostly by-products of awkwardly placed heels, straps and seams.

Think about it. We all have different body types; likewise, we all have different shapes and sizes of feet. What will work for one narrow-footed Nancy won’t necessarily work for a wider-soled Wilhelmina – which is why there are a virtual bevy of styles to choose from at any given time. And don’t use a sale as an excuse to pick up a pair of ridiculously bad-ass heels that you can never wear because the straps don’t quite cover your ankles. Unless, of course, you like gazing wistfully at unworn shoes in your closet. And if that’s the case, then I suggest a strong drink and blasting some Ting Tings to shake off the discount blues.

So get out there, my fellow bargain connoisseurs, and shop until your coupons drop – and please, try before you buy.

-Karyn Polewaczyk

Adding color to you wardrobe can be a daunting task, you may find yourself puzzled. Questions like what colors work the best with my skin tone? What colors are complimentary with my outfit? And what colors are the most flattering? These are all things we as consumers ponder when making this difficult decision, but fear no more Happy Socks is here to save the day! The Swedish brand has hit the sock market with a blast of color (literally) they have developed cool socks that can spruce up a grey suit, add a splash of color  to a pair of rolled up jeans, and make any shorts lively!

The brand hosted a party this past Friday that I was lucky enough to attend. Seeing the colors of these vibrant socks up close, convinced me to become a HAPPY Happy socks customer! My favorites are the Argyle, Pastel, Optic and the Long Stripe’s. The party attracted all the happening cool crew, and trendsetters, most of whom donned the colorful socks. I even nabbed a chance to meet with the designer who informed me that the brand is moving along quite well since its launch, selling in over 20 countries worldwide.  The socks retail for $10 and can be found at Barneys, Opening Ceremony, Steven Alan and on their website at www.HappySocks.com 

With the DJ spinning Bloc Party and drinks all around, the event was a total success in my opinion. Happy Socks is definitely a product that I feel can jazz up any wardrobe for both men and women, adding color to your life can be as simple as buying awesome socks!
“Get your socks on!”

James Field