Stella & Dot Expands Into Family of Brands

Social-selling fashion accessories brand Stella & Dot is evolving into a family of brands that will include a line of charm bracelets and skin care. Launched by chief executive officer Jessica Herrin in 2007, the company targets a female demographic and currently includes 34,000 active "stylists" in six different countries, who earn commissions by hosting product parties in their homes and selling to their social networks. "Our real reason for being is as a people company. Our stores are every living room and kitchen," said Herrin from Los Angeles.

Set to launch in fall 2014, KEEP Collective focuses on leather wrap bracelets that are customization through a selection of over 300 charms. “KEEP was inspired by combining our love of jewelry with our love of living happy. [The charms] are designed to be a daily talisman of what makes you unique,” Herrin remarked on the brand, which will sell at a lower price than the accessories currently sold under Stella & Dot. The Sequoia Capital-backed company is also expanding out of the accessories realm and into beauty with the launch of EVER, a line of skin care. Pre-launch, Stella & Dot has already begun soliciting interested sales representatives and customers for both new brands through keep-collective.com and myeverskincare.com.

Read More

Olivia Palermo Designs Shoes Now, Too

Just a month after announcing her first foray into fashion design—a sunglasses collab with Westward Leaning —Olivia Palermo is at it again, this time creating a shoe capsule for Italian brand Aquazzura.

The six-piece collection will hit 12 brick-and-mortar retailers as well as Net-A-Porter.com in September, and feature over-the-knee boots, crystal-embellished sandals, and snakeskin flats. (You know, the kind of stuff Olivia might wear to the couture shows, or just to walk her dog.) Palermo told British Vogue that those sorts of styles represent a "survival pack" of footwear, while the prices, ranging from $600 to $1,625, "are meant to be relatively reasonable," according to WWD.

Must be nice to live by Olivia Palermo's mindset?

Read More

Fashion items of Kim Soo-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun auctioned off

Two cherished fashion items donated by Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun, co-stars of the mega-hit TV series “My Love from the Star,” have been sold in an auction, the event’s organizers said Wednesday.

The auction was held on Sunday at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza, where a special exhibition on the drama is under way. Some 200 overseas fans of the drama and journalists from Chinese news media attended the auction, they said.

Kim’s knit and Jun’s handbag were sold for 2.4 million won ($2,346) and 680,000 won each during the event, according to its host SBS, a major TV network in South Korea that aired the series.

The knit went to a Chinese woman who identified herself as a devoted fan of Kim, while a South Korean man bought Jun’s handbag.

“I thank the drama for giving hope and a feeling of warmth to me and hope Korean dramas would help develop friendly ties between South Korea and China,” the Chinese woman said, without giving her name.

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to a local charity, the broadcaster said.

Also hosted by SBS, the special exhibition is scheduled to last until Aug. 15.

The hit 2013-14 soap series about an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago and falls in love with a top actress in modern-day Korea enjoyed an audience rating of some 30 percent in South Korea. 

It later became a runaway hit in China, making its stars Kim and Jun household names among young Chinese viewers and reigniting the Korean pop culture boom known as “hallyu” in the world’s most populous country.

Read More

Enter the Whimsical Studio of NYC Jewelry Design Duo Peppercotton

Let's have a visit on designers Patrick Culpepper and Aurelia Cotton Brooklyn studio. As expected, the duo’s space didn't disappoint,  proving to be just as sparkly, colorful and playful as Peppercotton’s trademark designs.

Characterized by glittering crystals that are encased in mesh tubes, Peppercotton’s aesthetic is refreshingly unique.

Like living mood boards, the studio’s white walls act as blank canvases to be decorated with whatever imagery is inspiring the designers at the moment. Vintage magazine clippings and children’s toys are choice points of interest.

Read More

Gabee accessories Adds anti-RFID wallets to its range

Gabee, an accessories business that specializes in leather goods, released its latest range of safety leather wallets and purses earlier this year.

The wallets and purses have protective shielding foil that stops fraudsters from scanning the radio-frequency identification chips (RFID) on credit cards and passports.

The RFID chips can be read from a distance and criminal gangs use handheld scanners, often at airports and busy streets, to steal information.

Design and creative director Monique Arnheim said the company was one of a few selling these products in Australia and that many of their customers who traveled for business had welcomed the innovation. 

The company, in its 65th year, was started by German-born Heinz Arnheim who named the business after his wife Gabriella.

The company has been directed for the past 30 years by son Frank who has continued his father’s tradition of brining European-style accessories to the Australian market.

Now the founder’s grandchildren, Mark and Monique, are helping the business thrive into the future.

Ms Arnheim, a trained architect, came on board the family business four years ago.

She said it was a challenge to come up with new designs that would suit current trends but that the company’s customer base was loyal.

“We have customers who have been buying from us for generations,” Ms Arheim said.

Monash Crime Investigation Unit boss Mark Delahunty said the unit had not yet encountered any cases of identity theft from criminals accessing information from RFID chip od credit cards or passports.

However Detective Senior Sergeant Delahunty said that fraud with “Paywave” technology was happening across Melbourne.

Paywave enables users to simply wave their card along a card reader for transactions under $100.

He said while the technology was convenient for the owner of the card, criminals could easily get away with multiple, easy transactions with stolen credit cards.

Gabee has an outlet that is open to the public at 228 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill.

Read More

Taxidermist Creates Macabre Fashion Accessories Using Dead Animals

A London based taxidermist has given a new meaning to the phrase drop dead gorgeous with her range of animal corpse fascinators. The one of a kind accessories are designed by Margot Magpie and are created using stuffed, dead animals such as mice and birds. The 31-year-old from Battersea took up the hobby three years ago, creating pieces for herself and friends but has since seen the business gain popularity and now sells the accessories for around £60 a piece.

Far from being run of the mill, most pieces are specially commissioned by Margot's clients guaranteeing that they will not suffer the embarrassment of matching outfits at a wedding. Despite the unusual method that goes into the making of the pieces Margot says that it is the unique materials that attracts her clientele, 'They ask me to make something for a wedding or events, or just for fun as I am very creative and I tend to use different techniques and materials' says Margot who adds that, for her, taxidermy was an obvious fashion choice. She says that birds in particular capture her imagination when creating the unique head pieces.

'Taxidermy just made sense to me as something you might wear on your head or just on your person. 'I love birds and wanted to incorporate unused bits of the ones I found dead on the ground as roadkill. 'I thought that as a fashion statement it was unique as each bird wing is shaped differently depending on the bird type, and I love the asymmetry and pointy yet smooth edges the feathers create. 'I think birds are just stunning, especially when you are close enough to see the fine detail and color. Many people think a crow wing is just black, but there is so much more spectrum to the color and all birds have this.'

Margot says that she never has trouble selling any of her macabre pieces and has gone from selling exclusively online to working with individual commissions. 'Usually if I make a batch and put them online, they sell very very fast. However I have recently starting just taking commissions. 'It is more personalized and I think people enjoy experiencing the creative process with me like choosing colors, fabric, and sourcing particular birds.'

Since starting her businesses, the quirky designer has seen the interest in taxidermy grow and has started teaching a range of taxidermy classes across London. In the sessions Margot teaches her students how to gut, clean, stuff and pose mice, birds and small mammals in a variety of positions.

Margot's classes have proved extremely popular and she has since extended her tutoring to private classes where clients can specialize in guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters as well as the usual birds. Margot says that despite the popularity of her work she does receive some abuse for her controversial fashion statements.

'Sometimes I do get negative reactions, I get people telling me they think it is absolutely appalling, cruel or disrespectful. 'But I don't kill anything purposefully for taxidermy, so I don't have any issues with it. 'There will always be people who think it is distasteful or who are against it - but each to their own.'

Read More

How to Pull off Boho Chic On and Off the Festival Grounds

It used to be that what’s known as “Festival Style” was really only worn by those who were actually attending music festivals, but the ubiquitousness of music festivals in all parts of the world has turned this into a seasonal mainstay and it’s never been more prevalent than this year.

Now, whether you’re planning on attending a festival or not (Folk Fest, perhaps), it is appropriate to wear “Boho chic” out and about and to the office.

The same things that festival-goers are sporting have elements that are completely appropriate outside the festival venue.

To figure out how we could tweak our existing wardrobe and add to it, we headed to Chinook Centre, and got in touch with some of our favorite stores that have an easygoing style, and asked them to help us with out festival outfits.

• Find multi-function pieces

Our first stop was Get Plenty, a Vancouver-based chain that has easy-to-wear styles that work well when you’re going from office to musical performance.

Store manager, Sable Lanier, advised us to keep it simple, “especially if the outfit includes prints and patterns ... I would say that no girl should go without a flowing maxi dress this summer — go bold with a fun summer print all over, or be versatile with a solid color that you can style multiple ways throughout the seasons. Not a dress person? Opt for a pair of high-waist shorts for a different type of easygoing, relaxed look.”

The nice thing about maxi dresses and high-waisted shorts is that they've been around for a few seasons, and so it’s likely you may have them in your closet. Maxi dresses can work for even formal occasions with the addition of a short jacket, or a denim jacket if your event allows. Paired with different shoes (like a gladiator sandal or boots) and a hat, you’re ready to hit any festival in the city.

Layering is really your best friend this summer, Lanier adds. “I find that for festival outfits people tend to take one layer of clothing off, but for regular, everyday looks you should be adding a layer back on or swap out one of the pieces for something that covers a little more.”

• Combine new trends with closet staples

Kristi Hill, fashion director of Free People, pointed out that rompers and overalls are huge this year, and can be paired with boots which may already be in your closet (perhaps left over from an event just a week ago?).

Accessories can definitely help pull the whole look together and can add an element of festival style to any outfit. Body chains are in fashion, but if you’re not comfortable with wearing one during the day, any delicate jewelry can add something special to your look. Hill emphasizes that “the key is picking one or two key pieces that feel true to your personal style and styling them with items that exude a sense of ease.”

Lanier from Get Plenty adds, “I always think that you should wear accessories in two of three places — wrist, neck and/or ears. If you’re wearing jewelry in all three areas it can get overwhelming. My only exception to the rule is simple, small stud earrings in some sort of metallic tone or a diamond — then you can still get a little creative with necklaces and bracelets. If you want to wear longer earrings, then nix the necklace and just go for some bracelets. If you’re going for a simpler outfit, then go bolder with your accessories!”

• Accessorize thoughtfully

And don’t forget your head when you think about accessorizing for the festival season.

Read More

Chupa Chups Partners with H&M for New Fashion Range

Fashion retailer H&M has teamed with Chupa Chups to launch a range of apparel and fashion accessories based on the firm’s popular lollipops.

The new fashion collection featuring Chupa Chups’ iconic designs will hit the shelves of H&M stores across the globe at the end of the year.

“H&M and Chupa Chups are both truly international brands,” said Christine Cool, senior brand manager at Chupa Chups.

“We feel that they are a great match together to develop an original fashion style that will no doubt appeal to all sweet and fashion lovers.”

Owned by confectionery specialist Perfetti Van Melle, Chupa Chups is currently distributed to over 150 countries worldwide.

With brands such as Mentos, Airheads, Fruittella and Smint in its repertoire, Perfetti Van Melle is currently the third largest confectionery group in the world.

Read More

Pbteen Introduces New Collection With Designers And Fashion Stylists Emily Current And Meritt Elliott

PBteen , a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. portfolio of brands, today announced the launch of its second collection designed in collaboration with designers and fashion stylists Emily Current and Meritt Elliott. This exclusive collection of home furnishings and accessories is available now at PBteen.com and PBteen stores.

As the next chapter in the Emily & Meritt for PBteen story, the latest collection blends feminine and whimsical details with a touch of rock and roll. Drawing inspiration from trends in fashion, music and interiors, the collection reflects Emily & Meritt’s classic Americana design sensibility through vintage-inspired, yet modern, home furnishings and accessories. Gold is infused throughout the collection, adding shimmer and shine to bedding and accessories. Playful elements like cats, bunnies and unicorns create a sense of magic while the juxtaposition of sparkly and tough details lends just the right amount of edginess. The collection includes nearly 40 products across key categories such as furniture, bedding, lighting, wall décor, decorative accessories and jewelry storage.

“Our customers loved the first collection from Emily & Meritt,” said Sandra Stangl, President, Pottery Barn Brands. “We had fun collaborating with them to evolve the aesthetic and build on the success of their first foray into home furnishings. The new collection perfectly balances sophistication and whimsy with just the right amount of edginess. It’s designed to grow with our teen customers as they mature and express their style.”

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with PBteen again,” said stylists and designers, Emily Current and Meritt Elliott. "For this second collection we took our girl on a journey that felt even dreamier and playfully imaginative. Her world is the perfect mix of high and low, girlish and tomboy. It was fun to meld our traditional Americana aesthetic with overtly frilly textiles and whimsical gold details. We couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Product highlights include the Ticking Stripe Chaise, a nod to the Denim Chaise from the first collection. The Parisian Headboard is casual yet elegant, unexpectedly pairing denim with an ornately detailed wood frame. Gold is an important theme in the collection, reflected in bedding like the Scattered Star Sheeting and Liquid Gold Star Pillow as well as decorative accessories like the Gold Cat Canister and Bunny Ears Hand. The Emily & Meritt for PBteen collection ranges from $19 to $999 and can be found today at PBteen.com/Emily&Meritt .

To celebrate the launch, customers are invited to participate in the #DressYourDesk contest . From July 15 to August 18, customers can share a photo of their best desk vignette on Instagram for a chance to win a $1,000 PBteen gift card. The winner will be selected by Emily & Meritt and announced in late August.

Read More

Hats, Hooves and hot from the race track

As horses raise dust, invitees at derbies raise the heat with chic and classy outfits. Remember the Pretty Woman moment when Vivian transforms into an elegant lady of social pedigree at the Polo match? Dressed in a lovely polka dot dress, Vivian (played by Julia Roberts), is the cynosure of all eyes. A satin-trimmed hat, gloves, and a beige tote are her only accessories. Setting the bar high with a memorable look, the pretty woman’s elegant styling brings just the right kind of sass to an outdoor sporting event.

The Kingfisher Derby is around the corner in Bangalore and over the years the event has become many a fashionista’s day out in the sun. “Bangalore’s expat population and increasingly cosmopolitan crowd has raised the city’s style quotient and every year there is more of an effort to dress up for the derby,” says fashion choreographer, Sheetal Sharma, a regular at the event. Derby dressing is not hard to pull-off, but here are a few essentials that you need to keep in mind before going to the races.

• KISS: Keep it simple, silly! The derby is not the place to show-off fashion’s latest trends. Yes, you can flaunt your Chanel or Prada handbag, but keep it classy. Simple, hence elegant, is the key to dressing right here. Avoid form-fitting dresses, pencil heels and over the top accessories. Classic silhouettes in solid colours or bright prints look great in the day. “You can’t go wrong with a typical knee-length dress, matching heels and a clutch,” says fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla. “Keep the accessories to a minimal and don’t go overboard with your make-up either. Keep it light and not dry. If it’s going to be a hot day, you don’t want to be sweating make-up on to your clothes,” warns Sheetal. And don’t forget your sunglasses at home. You don’t want to be caught at the derby without a major fashion accessory that is also very useful.
• How do I do hats?: A big flouncy hat that adds a touch of class to your appearance is quintessential derby. “Derbies are a milliner’s dream come true,” says fashion designer, Jattinn Kochhar. But is the accessory everyone’s cup of tea? A hat can sometimes end up making you look ridiculous if it’s not the right type or doesn’t compliment your look. “Hats are tricky and don’t suit every personality,” says Sheetal. Extravagant hats with exotic feathers may not be ideal for derbies in India. Instead, opt for chic, smaller hats or fascinators. A fascinator is a headpiece that is unobtrusive and looks elegant at the same time. Take a cue from the Duchess of Cambridge on how to sport fascinators oh so stylishly.
• Maharani for a day: There is place for Indian wear at the derby too. Channel your inner Maharani and look sensual in chiffon saris. “Women in chiffon saris worn with pearls or diamond studs look extremely chic and classy,” says Jattinn. Pastel shades and non-busy prints are great choices. “Men could also try an Indian ensemble,” says Manoviraj. “But, most turf clubs insist on a jacket and tie, so it’s not always feasible,” he adds.
• Men on the turf:  As hard as women try to steal the spotlight at this event, it is not hard for a well-dressed man to get noticed. Suave and stylish is the look to go for with light-coloured suits. “Pastel linen jacket or suit with a hat and matching formal shoes is an ideal outfit for the day,” says Manoviraj Khosla. “Summer suit styles (such as the classic seersucker) or the stroller (the daytime equivalent of the dinner jacket) are great options too. One can even look at sporting an outfit from essentials that most men already have in their wardrobe: the sports coat and odd trousers combination,” adds Jattinn. Unlike for women, the hat is an accessory that men can sport fearlessly. It immediately elevates a look and can be complimented by a smart pair of sunglasses.
• Go the Duchess way: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is always a picture of perfection. The Duchess favours a minimal style of dressing and sports a soft-corner for fascinators. Take a style cue from the Duchess for the upcoming Derby.

Read More

Rent the Runway Launches Netflix for Accessories

If you've been missing Netflix's almost-defunct DVD service, with its queues and regular snail mail deliveries, have no fear: Rent the Runway has launched a new, fashion-centric version of it.

For a monthly fee of $75, subscribers can choose three designer items to rent and return at their leisure, while also queuing items they've been lusting after. Once you're tired of wearing those Balenciaga sunglasses and that Clare Vivier clutch, you can send them back and RtR will send you two more items from your queue.

It's a big move for Rent the Runway, which has raised $54.4M in venture funding since launching in 2009. For one, it's now a resource for ladies in their day-to-day lives as opposed to just special occasions. It also marks a major expansion in brands and products -- according to Fortune, they've added 75 new designers just for this service, which only provides things like jewelry, handbags and outerwear -- basically everything but dresses.

It's not an entirely new idea, though: Bag Borrow or Steal has been renting out designer bags on a month-to-month basis for a decade now. Though, Rent the Runway Unlimited, as it's dubbed, could become a viable competitor, as it offers more than just handbags and is cheaper than most of Bag Borrow or Steal's rentals. 

Plus, it fulfills our fast fashion needs without us having to buy poor quality items from fast fashion stores. The key will be offering the expensive "It" bags we all want but can't justify buying with the knowledge that they'll soon go out of style. At the moment, it doesn't have as many hot-ticket items as BBS -- the brands on offer include Clare Vivier, Elizabeth & James, Pamela Love, Eddie Borgo, Moschino and Balenciaga -- but we imagine the product assortment will only get better.

You can subscribe to Unlimited, which is now in beta, here.

Read More

Cork is Enjoying a Fashion Moment in Handbags and Shoes

Cork. It's not just for wine stoppers and bulletin boards anymore. Embraced by some progressive furniture makers decades ago and a staple in housewares, cork has found a larger place among shoes, handbags, jewelry and other fashion accessories.

Designer Elaine Turner is a proponent of cork, which is renewable, feather light and water-resistant. So is Ingrid Heinkel, who imports cork accessories ranging from men's wallets to a woman's backpack in a tiger stripe design.

Cork is popping up in umbrellas, simple apparel items like shawls, watchbands, bracelets, necklaces, hats, belts, golf bags and shoes, shoes, shoes — moccasins, flip-flops and Superga sneakers with neon flecks to Jimmy Choo wedges and Badgley Mischka stilettos.

And we're not just talking soles and shock absorbent footbeds. We're talking uppers in double straps and gold tips from Turner and vibrant colour combinations in slides, though cork is often left in its raw, recognizable state.

"I think we're in a very natural vibe right now, and a very green vibe. Cork works with that. It's just something unique. This season it has really hit its high point," said Alison Minton, who blogs about accessories at Accessorygeneration.

While Minton sees cork as a seasonal item for spring and summer, Heinkel went so far as to declare: "Cork is the new leather." Farfetched? In a recent interview, she called cork in accessories an emerging market.

"I think that it's on its way to becoming something permanent in the marketplace," Heinkel said from Amelia Island, Florida. "I used to live in Spain, and I found the handbags on a weekend in Portugal, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I used to go to the trade shows and I would have to kind of bang the drums to get people's attention and explain, but now it has its own momentum."

Spas and the shops of wineries and museums are big customers for Heinkel, but her most popular item online at Shopcorkdesign is a hobo handbag in a natural blond grain.

Turner, fond of natural materials that also include raffia, started using cork about seven years ago to further her tropical vacation esthetic.

"We started making bags and shoes out of it and it instantly was popular. It's probably our No. 1 material for spring every year," she said. "It's a neutral and very versatile."

Turner uses a manufacturer in Spain, a part of the Mediterranean where most of the cork supply comes from.

"It's very malleable so it translates easily on handbags and shoes. And it's highly durable. There are no issues with fraying or pulling apart like the raffia. People love it for travel," Turner said. "It's also cost-effective."

Daniella Ohad, a home design historian, estimated that 60 per cent of all cork production is for the wine industry, though the World Wildlife Fund has warned that plastic alternatives to cork wine stoppers may threaten cork oak forests of Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia and France.

Cork is the thick outer bark of mature trees and fully regenerates over cycles of about 10 years, until quality falls off after seven cycles or so. Cork extraction is one of the most environmentally friendly harvesting methods, and cork production provides a sustainable livelihood for people in many parts of the world, according to the WWF. Portugal is the biggest producer and the primary source of diversification of cork into accessories.

While cork may be having a fashion moment, it has lost momentum elsewhere.

Ohad, who teaches at the New York School of Interior Design, said cork remains on the outskirts of forward-looking furniture after it appeared to be resurfacing a few years ago.

"You really don't see cork being utilized in very sophisticated design in furniture," she said.

"In the '20s and '30s, architects discovered cork and it was the perfect material for modernism because it was clean and it was very different. It had a very special surface to it and texture to it," Ohad added, noting another spurt as a material in 1950s home design.

Some have likened the feel of cork to suede in fashion accessories. Patterns can be built using dark and light shades. In shoes, Minton said, the cork moment began in the wedge part of wedges, but now designers "have decided to go full-on cork."

"It's not heavy on the foot. It's great for the beach. It looks good if you're walking in the city," she said. And it transitions well, when dolled up with metal fittings and other touches, from day to evening.

The Houston-based Turner, who just opened her seventh store and the first in New York about six months ago, is considering expanding her cork offerings into jewelry.

"Cork is really cross-generational," she said. "It's all about how you interpret it. It's a revenue builder for me."

Read More

Marvelous Molds Launches New Fashion Accessory Silicone Mold Line by Elisa Strauss

Last week, Marvelous Molds launched an innovative, new line of silicone molds featuring popular fashion accessories inspired by cake artist, Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes.

The Fashion Accessory Line includes highly engineered silicone molds that have never been implemented by any mold making company. These molds are designed to be used to decorate edible gum paste shoes, handbag cakes and other fashion related cakes.

The line includes 16 new silicone molds: a Spike Strap Mold, Lizard Impression Mat, Zipper and Pull Mold set, Bird With Blossoms Silicone Onlay™, three different sizes of open link chains, three different buckles, Gathered Bow, Vintage Bow, Scalloped Insole Silicone Onlay™, Pearl Paragon Mold, Pearl Radiance Mold and the Skull Cameo Mold.

Elisa Strauss has created two videos demonstrating the use and application of molds from this new product line: Bird with Blossoms Silicone Onlay™ and Spike, Chains and Buckles.

Strauss first approached Marvelous Molds with the idea of creating a realistic alligator skin mold for a handbag cake. The collaborative effort evolved over time into a collection that includes accessories befitting any fashion application in cake decorating.

"The inspiration behind this collection came from the fabulous shoes out in the world right now. Hardware is the main attraction! I know from making cakes for over 15 years that to replicate these objects can take hours - so working with Marvelous Molds has been a dream come true. To make silicone molds that will stand the test of time and make pieces of sugar come to life resembling real fashion objects is amazing. Buckles that look like real pieces of metal, bows that have the folds found in fabric and a Silicone Onlay™ that replicates a real textile design- nothing like this has ever been done before to make it so easy for the cake designer." – Elisa Strauss, Confetti Cakes.

Silicone Onlays™ are 3D stencils made from food-grade silicone, an innovation invented by Marvelous Molds. These unique molds allow bakers and cake decorators to apply complicated designs in fondant/gum paste directly to the sides of a cake with precision, saving hours in time spent hand cutting and applying them.

Marvelous Molds strives to achieve authenticity in design when developing their silicone molds. The Lizard Impression Mat was created using a genuine lizard skin – one that was thoroughly researched for texture and appearance – to derive the most desirable impression for fashion cake applications.

"Our goal is to develop silicone molds that increase productivity while offering beautiful and unique designs that are difficult to create by hand. The immediate response from our customers has confirmed that the Fashion Accessory line is a great success." – Chef Dominic Palazzolo, Marvelous Molds owner.

Marvelous Molds, a subsidiary of Culinart, Inc., has been designing high quality, food-grade silicone molds for the home and retail baking and cake decorating market since 2010. The company currently collaborates with renowned cake decorators Elisa Strauss, Earlene Moore and Marina Sousa to offer the foremost designs in silicone molds. Marvelous Molds also produces their own highly successful line of silicone molds and patent pending Silicone Onlays™. Marvelous Molds' products are each individually designed to produce an edible decoration in the most efficient manner possible. Each design implements patent pending advancements, a hallmark of the company.

Read More

Companies Creating Crime-Fighting Accessories

They may look like attractive pieces of jewelry, but for Rachel Frederick, a bracelet is her secret weapon against crime.

 "It's very Wonder Woman-like," she explained.

Hidden underneath her cuff bracelet is a computer chip that can be activated by a simple touch and send an alert to family or friends.

"You press your cuff and an alert goes out to the people you designate as your first responders in our app, and they get your location in case of emergency," said Cuff founder Deepa Sood.

While "wearable tech" is already a hot buzzword, these wearable security devices take things one step further with functions specifically designed to help keep us safe.

For example, the First Sign Hair Clip contains sensors designed to automatically detect physical assault and send for help.

"The Smart Clip will know the difference between impacts associated with violent crimes and impacts from everyday usage. Anything that's your normal routine won't set off the alarm. But anything associated with the violent crimes will," explained Rachel Emanuele, co-founder of First Sign Technologies.

In addition to sounding the alarm, the Smart Clip will also collect data that can help in a criminal investigation, activating your phone's GPS, camera and microphone.

"Our goal is to identify, deter, apprehend and prosecute attackers," added Emanuele.

The products don't require a charge to work, but you do need to have a smartphone and a signal.

"The way that they work is, they work over low-energy Bluetooth. They still depend on your phone to send out some sort of signal or communication. So if you're in a location where you don't have a signal, it's just not going to help you," said CNET Senior Editor Brian Tong.

Tong said wearable security products are so new that the jury is still out on whether they will catch on.  

"They're going to get better," Tong added. "There's going to be a point where we can start integrating them into the systems like 911 or public services. But they're still so new. How much technology people are willing to wear and actually purchase has still yet to figure itself out."

But experts say that even with wearable security devices, there's no substitute for common sense when it comes to safety.

"As a user you can't depend on technology to keep you safe. It sometimes comes down to a low-tech solution. You have to be aware of your surroundings," said Tong.

As for Frederick, she said she's happy for the opportunity to wear something that's both fashionable and functional.

"It looks great, and it gives me a sense of security," she said.

Right now, Cuff Jewelry packages range in price from $35 to $110 and contain a smart chip that will last for a year before needing to be replaced. This will be on the market this fall.

The First Sign Hair Clip will cost between $50 and $75 with an optional $5 per month monitoring fee. It's available for preorder and will ship to customers in September.

Read More

First Look at the Accessories From the Alexander Wang x H&M Collaboration

It feels like the entire world is excited about this fall's Alexander Wang x H&M collaboration. Well, definitely the fashion world. And while I can take an educated guest at what it might include (leather, blunted spikes, sheer), we haven't had a real peek at anything—until now. H&M took to Instagram to share two sorta cryptic peeks of what we can expect.

There's what looks like a nylon and leather bag strap that says WANG. You can't tell for sure if it's attached to the embossed piece we see behind, but my money's on a tote bag.

How sweet are these little boxing gloves? If these are available in-store, they'll likely be one of the cheapest items, and I love them! The label has done a lot of sportswear on the runway, plus the "objects" section on his site that's included items like jump ropes, carabiners, and, yup, boxing gloves.

Do these pics get you more excited about the collab? Are you definitely planning on shopping? Got any strategies for nabbing something?

Read More

A Loom Band Craze! How to Make Loom Bracelets and Animals

They started as a playground fad but Loom bands have turned into a fashion accessory worn by the likes of Kate Middleton and Harry Styles.

Multi-colored elastic band bracelets have gone from a children's toy to a must-have fashion accessory. Loom bands, which come in every color imaginable, can be weaved into animals, decorations and keyrings - but it's the bracelets that are taking the world by storm.

Even Kate Middleton has been seen wearing one of the weaved rubber-band accessories. The Duchess wore a red and blue Loom after a little girl gave it to her as a present while she was on her New Zealand tour.

Since then the fashion accessories have been spotted on celebs including One Direction's Harry Styles and pop princess Miley Cyrus. The crafty toy has swept the globe and children from every country are begging their parents to buy them a lopper kit.

In fact they are the best selling toy in the world right now and more than 3million Looms have been snapped up since they first hit toy store shelves in 2011. And the global phenomenon, designed by US entrepreneur Cheong Choon Ng, shows no signs of slowing.

Learn how to get creative with the how-to videos below;

Read More

Belts one of the hottest accessories this season

If the crop top was the toast of last summer, looks like the focus on the waist will continue this year too. And tummy tuck and belt up seem to be the mantra. Internationally, designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood and labels such as Armani and Burberry brought the attention back on the feminine figure with the use of a belt — be it in its slim or broader avatar for Spring-Summer 2014. Closer home, cinched waists have been making their presence felt.

Metallic belts were the standout accessory in the collection titled “A Clothes Line” by Frou Frou, Rao’s label. Instead of just being worn the usual way — looped in trousers and skirts — the metal belts, some even boasting studs, were nattily worn over shirts and dresses making for a new look. “I contrasted the metal with the use of leather. In the past we have also made belts with woven cane and leather trimmings,” says Rao.

Designer Payal Pratap says she likes to use them as a styling tool. “I personally love belts. I think a person looks a lot more chic when they use a belt. There are so many variations of knotting and experimenting that can be done to alter the look,” says Pratap.

The designer has worked with different materials varying from leather, textured leather to jacquard, felt and satin. The Japanese Obi-style broad belt was omnipresent in her summer line and she has retained it in her winter collection as well. “I think the Obi belt, which is a rather wide belt, accentuates the waist beautifully, making one look feminine,” she explains. “It adds another dimension to the outfit with the play of colour,” adds Pratap, who suggests wearing a broad leather belt over a tunic or any flared silhouette.

An increasing number of designers are also teaming belts with Indian wear, especially with saris. Traditionally, kamarbands or gold waist bands have been a part of many bridal trousseaux, especially in south India and the belt offers a contemporary take. But designer Nachiket Barve who has paired corded belts with saris in his summer collection lists a few things to keep in mind before getting carried away with the trend.

Read More