Ashley's Trendwatch: Down the Rabbit Hole

'Alice' Inspired Fashion

With Tim Burton's rehash of Alice In Wonderland due to hit theaters in March, a tinge of whimsy has entered the realm of fashion. Color, punch, and a healthy dose of quirk make up the majority of the trend, with heavy use of luminous and ever-so-slightly off kilter shades of green, yellow, and red.

Photo Courtesy of E! Online

The film, with all-stars like Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway, promises to be a more twisted plot line than the animated gem we all know and love. However, the fantastical scenery and costuming evoke the same feelings of awe as those singing flowers and dancing dormouse did when we were young. Clothing designers like Sue Wong have embraced the idea: She will launch a line inspired by the movie later in the year.

Photo courtesy of TheDisneyBlog.com

In a slightly less blatant way, more affordable fashion lines have picked up on the trend as well:

Cardigan photo courtesy of Forever21.com. Dress photo courtesy of twelvebytwelve.com

A little ruffle in an unexpected place, a twist of slightly strange color on a neutral navy - Quirk is easily injected without being shocking. Accessories, as nearly always, may be the simplest way to inject a little Alice into your style. Check out these goodies here at Laura Bee that have Wonderland written all over them:

All available at Laura Bee Designs.
Left to Right: Lock Ring $14, Alaska Gadgetry Key Necklace $28, Luxe Clutch $48, Owl Watch Necklace $26, Rabbit Ring $16

But it's not all about color. You could also easily go the way of the White Queen with layer upon layer of texture, subtlety, and drama (Full disclosure: I may be a bit biased here - The dress is in my personal collection):

Dress: Maggie London. Anne Hathaway as The White Queen photo courtesy of E! Online

...Ready to go down the rabbit hole?

Ashley's Trendwatch: Functional Accessories-Zippers

The fashion world as we know it has always adapted to leaner times, and 2009 was no exception. While things are beginning to look up, it's still hard to part with our hard earned dollars when it comes to something indulgent. The remedy? Functional accessories.

Photo copyright Laura Bee Designs

Designers and accessory mavens have taken to this trend by storm, seizing any opportunity to make a basic part of their clothing into a stand-out feature. Zippers have been the most heavily used, a marriage of the hardware-heavy and biker-chic trends of 2009.

Pour la Victoire booties - Photo courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

More avant garde desingers have taken zippers to the extreme:

3.1 Phillip Lim - Photo courtesy of InStyle.com

Others have truly taken into account the emphasis of functionality. Artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz using over 120 zippers to create this dress of endless possibility:

Photo courtesy of boingboing.net

And just because it's functional doesn't mean it has to be black. Laura Bee carries nearly 25 different colors of zippers in stock at all times. While we usually focus on the function of the zipper, matching it to blend with the color of the bag, some customers have chosen to make the zipper on their custom items a stand-out in its own right.

Photo copyright Laura Bee Designs

Try highlighting the beauty of functionality in your own zippered items. Don't worry, there are more teeth than bite in this look.

Ashley's Trendwatch: Anchors Aweigh!

A Nod to All Things Nautical

When you think of the word 'nautical', what comes to mind? Tacky gold? Shoulder-padded thigh-length navy blue blazers? Well, at the risk of striking fear into the hearts of all those who lived through the eighties: Nautical is back. Thankfully this time, the stripes don't have to be horizontal, the gold is sprinkled rather than saturated, and the blazers are decidedly more chic.

Photo courtesy of FashionMeFabulous.com

When designers start releasing their resort wear in the gloom of January it's difficult to see the point of purchasing something you have to keep in a closet for months before wearing. Nautical wear easily transitions from winter to spring/summer. This allows more bang for your buck, and often includes staples you can use year round. This cardigan, for instance:

Beaded Cardigan - Photo courtesy of Forever21.com

Or these shoes and belt:

Seychelles flats - Photo courtesy of Piperlime.com

Photo courtesy of Heritage1981.com

Here at Laura Bee Designs, there are several ways to pay a little tribute to the sea. Include a nautical button on a handbag or clutch, add a striped ribbon to a wallet, or pick up a lucky sparrow necklace or schooner money clip to accent your look.

Clockwise from top Right: Vintage buttons, Alaska Gadgetry Money Clip - $16,
Classic Hardware Sparrow Necklace - $37, vintage wooden button.

And not to leave anyone out, even Fido and Fluffy are able to get in on this look:

Photo courtesy of barronstreasures.com

The nautical trend isn't as scary as you remember, so don't be afraid to dive in - The water's fine.

Ashley's Trendwatch: Pajama-Rama

When the designer shows hit the runway during New York Fashion Week in February, there were lots of fresh prints and ethnic influence.

But... pajamas?

Photo courtesy of Ayyyy.com

Yes, pajamas as outerwear. Highlighted most prominently in the Dolce and Gabbana line, pajamas are apparently not just for home-based lounging anymore. The idea surfaced mostly in various menswear lines - At least this trend blogger hopes that the bra-and-robe set Naomi Campbell rocked down the D&G runway wasn't actually meant for your next cocktail party.

Starlet Jessica Alba was fashion-forward when she was photographed wearing this ensemble at a winter movie premiere:

Photo courtesy of Ayyyy.com

Unless you're a college freshman with a daily 8a.m. class, this is a seemingly impossible trend to bring into real life. But even the craziest of flash-in-the-pan ideas can be turned into something classic and sleek by using it as an accessory instead of a head to toe look.

Take these Lela Rose for Payless shoes for instance:

Photo courtesy of Payless.com

Using the pajama-classic piping along the seams gives a refined twist to a hot pink shoe.

Tiny, feminine prints are also nod to being pajama-clad. This blouse from Heritage 1981 uses just such a print, as well as a button-down front, and delicate pin-tucks at the collar.

Photo courtesy of Heritage1981.com

Along with its loose fit and banded bottom, all the construction elements reflect a classic pair of pj's, while managing to look pulled-together trendy.

It's easy to bring all of these influences into a handbag - A few minutes of looking around Laura Bee brought me these inspirations:

A slinky striped silk to use on an evening clutch:
Or a nod to childhood with a funky Japanimation print on a Sophie bag:

Or, as with the above blouse, several of the same vintage button along a seam:
...Not seeming so crazy anymore? That's the idea. Taking fashion off the runway and into real life is the portion of the design process where you get to use some creativity and put your own spin on things.

So maybe looking like you just rolled out of bed isn't such a bad thing after all... Just remember to run a comb through your hair.

As Promised...

As Laura mentioned last week, here I am to share my hot-pink woodgrain fabric creation.

Laura really inspired me with her design of the zipper coin purse, and I'd been dreaming of a ruched Veronica for some time. The Veronica is my favorite shape, and while we don't offer a ruched version as of yet, it's always fun to try something new and test it out.


The joy is in the details for me:


Because the Veronica shape has a zipper closure, the lining can become whatever brings a smile to your face when you unzip your bag. Mine is aqua, and I chose to add a secondary fabric shell to my interior zipper pocket:

I loved this nesting doll print from the moment Laura brought it in, but didn't want a black-based exterior for my summer bag. The hot pink tag is a remnant from days gone by - We change our tag color every 2,000 items. This one is from about 7,000 ago, and happened to be floating around my workstation, clearly waiting for me to design this bag!

I also added two cell phone pockets, one for my phone, and one for a Laura Bee Snap Coin Purse, which fits perfectly into the standard cell phone pocket size:

The question of capacity always arises when people are choosing their bag shape in the store. For me, the Veronica shape even works as a carry-on for air travel - My snacks, magazines, and ipod all fit snugly inside along with all of my regulars:



This bag may be a little crazy for some, but to me it is a neutral, happy, summertime carry-all that makes me smile every time I see it.

Ashley's Trendwatch: Bows

Tie a Knot In It: Bows are Back

If you think the only place for a bow was those Easter shoes you wore in kindergarten, it’s time to change your mind. In recent years bows have come back in a big way, and not only in the kids' department. Sophisticated or sweet, bows have been cropping up in new shapes and in surprising places.

At Laura Bee, we love to give vintage baubles new life. Looking at this fifties-era button in our collection, I'm reminded of a modern pair of stud earrings nestled on the Laura Bee shelves:

Bow button, circa 1950's

Classic Hardware stud earrings. Available in our store for $17.

And it's not just Laura Bee Designs - Bows large and small have popped up everywhere:

Photo courtesy of Forever21.com

Shoe by Valentino. Photo courtesy of Nordstrom.com.

And of course, some designers have taken the theme over the top:

Photo courtesy of Ayyyy.com

Over the course of the last year, a bow in deconstructed form has cropped up everywhere by way of the voluminous scarf. Long rectangular pashminas, like the one below, can be looped or tied, while square scarves can be wrapped or folded in half to hang rakishly.

Pashmina by Baked Beads. Available in our store for $24.

Photo courtesy of Forever21.com

So even if you're not feeling like the girliest of girls, you can still rock a bow in a variety of ways that won't feel like a first-grade throwback. Tie one on!

Ashley's Trendwatch: Yellow

A Ray of Sunshine for a Gloomy Nation

Has it hit you yet? Spring is just around the corner, and the fever is hitting designers and trend forecasters alike. Leatrice Eisman, color-ista extraordinaire, gave ‘Mimosa Yellow’ the title of Color of the Year for 2009, and the fashion world has taken notice.

But yellow has its pitfalls. The most common complaint I hear is that it is difficult to find a shade that complements your particular skin tone. Rather than searching high and low for the perfectly flattering yellow sweater or dress, try working the color into your accessories.

Photo courtesy of Zappos.com

Treat yellow as the new khaki – A neutral that you can throw on and go.

Earrings by Lucy Blue. Available at our store for $18.

Work sunny tones into your jewelry. Natural stones offer a variety of pale yellow to nearly orange hues that can punch up any outfit.

Wendy Wallet by LBD. Available on our website and in our store. $24.

Find your yellow wallet faster in a dark bag.

LBD magnet, available at our store. $5.50.

Or perhaps most easily, use it in your home.

Photo courtesy of HGTV.com.

Yellow is the color of the smiley face. It’s the center of a daisy or the filtering light on an autumn evening. It should add a smile and a touch of whimsy wherever you bring it in to your life. Now go bloom!