We're Going Native...

Native American that is. It's all about the fringe. No, I don't mean going around dressed in your best Pocohantas outfit (save that for Halloween). Open any magazine and you'll see the new and hot Spring/Summer trend. But this trend, luckily for everyone, has taken many different forms. Working in a showroom with the straight off the runway William Rast collection all day, I can't help but notice the incredible use of fringe in many of the pieces. There's several different styles of leather jackets with fringe just on the arms, just on the back, on the arms and back. You get the idea. The line also incorporates chic leather ankle boots with fringe circling the rims.

But OK, let's say you're like me and you love the fringe look but would rather take it down a notch. We're in luck, designers have been using fringe not just in their apparel lines but in accessories as well. Like Will Rast's fringe boots, there are many different styles of shoes that are keeping up with this trend. If you're anything like me, I'm more of the risk taker when it comes to shoes. The more outrageous and funky the better.

This trend of fringed shoes, however, isn't new. I recently whipped out THREE pairs of Minetonka boots I bought about five years ago. They're each different styles, of course. One is brown lace up to my knees with fringes around the tops and another are black lace up ankle boots with fringes around the ankle. Not only are they cool, but incredibly comfortable. Trust me, running around NYC carrying garment bags of samples, I always rely on my Minnetonkas to keep my feet happy.

Another way designers are jumping on the bandwagon, especially because the warmer weather is upon us (Yes!), are the fringed sandals. I recently stumbled across a picture of Lindsay Lohan wearing these fabulous Madison Harding Flat Fringe Thongs. They are currently being sold in black or tan at Singer22.com for $135. But if you're not looking to spend that kind of money on sandals, don't worry. Skimming through one of the weekly magazines I found a website called Gojane.com. The magazine displayed a picture of these adorable fringe and beaded (hello, can it get any better?) sandals. The best part, it said they were only $20. Naturally I went to the website and looked under the sandals.(Above pic is a pair from the website) Rumaging through what seemed like endless pages of sandals, I found several different styles of fringed sandals, all for $20 and under. Even if you're not into fringe, there are so many adorable and funky sandals on the site.

If fringe sandals doesn't seem like your thing, there's always the fringe handbags. Even today, looking through Life & Style magazine, there was a whole feature dedicated to the hot new fringe bags. I've had my eye on the JJ Winters Suede Fringe Bag (also on Singer22.com). But recently, on my weekly browse through Forever21, I bought the Tanka Fringe Handbag in black for only $26.80. I've been using it almost everyday and everywhere I go I get compliments on it.

Fringe is in people and there are so many different ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe, just find your style.

xoxo

ChicFreak