Winter fashions are virtually obsolete when you live in the tropics unless, of course, you’re in a particularly ferociously air-conditioned shopping mall. While that may mean checked woolens, forties trussed-up glamour, and faux fur may be out, one hot new spring trend has Bangkok’s name written all over it: quirky accessories.
As anyone worth their Longchamp Le Pliage will tell you – on the streets of Siam Square, it’s the accessories that maketh the outfit. Over-sized bow headbands, sunglasses that wouldn’t look out of place in a particularly odd manga cartoon, and rings so huge they make your fingers ache are the uniform of Bangkok’s style testing-ground.
But, it’s not only the young, glossy and adventurous who can embrace this new trend; with backing from style giants from the four fashion corners of the world, fun and unusual accessories are here to stay this season.
Dolce & Gabbana are the leaders in quirky chic this season. The theme? Pasta shells and resin chili pepper jewelry, for a spicy, Mediterranean feel. That’s right; wearing fusilli bow earrings won’t have the fashion crowds avert their eyes and shuffle away; instead they’ll be cooing over your enviable style. Not sure what to team a macaroni bracelet with? Go bold with vibrant prints and full skirts. Accessories like this demand full conviction from top to toe. Go for exotic eccentricity oozing with Dolce & Gabbana’s trademark sex appeal – think Broadway entertainer Carmen Miranda meets fifties pin-up Bettie Page.
More retro-themed eccentricity comes from Prada, whose slickly designed 1950’s car-inspired shoes, featuring engines and lightning bolts; are sure to be one of the stand-out pieces of this year’s boom in fun accessories.
But, eye-catching accessories needn’t mean novelty. For a more subdued nod to the trend, invest in some space-age sunglasses, a’la Acne, a sporty visa, as seen at Marc by Marc Jacobs, or go for a blow-out investment piece with Chanel’s jeweled earpiece – okay, so it’s not practical, but practicality and fashion never made very exciting bed fellows anyway.
Don’t fancy investing in high end pieces for a passing trend? No problem. Bangkok’s streets are stuffed full of accessories to give your wardrobe a quick, easy overhaul. Scour the streets of Siam for copycat ballet pumps resembling shoe designer to the stars, Charlotte Olympia’s ‘Kitty’ shoes; rifle through the vintage section of Chatuchak for unusual bags and shoes from yesteryear; or rummage around on the Istanbul floor in Terminal 21 for rings heavily inspired by the gold-set Yves Saint Laurent ‘Arty’ ring, or a multitude of other weird and wonderful accessories.
Rest assured this is one trend that won’t pass before you’ve had the chance to don your pastel purple Minnie Mouse bow on a night out. Spring has a long fashion history of being accessory-eccentric. You see, no matter how much you overindulged during the festive period, your accessories will never bulge at the seams, making them a sure-fire hit until bikini season. We’ll doff our fabulously over-the-top hats to that.
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Bangkok Fabulous: Where Gaby Doman explores fashion and beauty in the Big Mango.
If it’s hot, it’s here. And it’s hot in here.
