Dutch Speed Skaters Wear Colorful WADA Hats and Scarves
These Dutch speed skaters tested their anti-doping knowledge at the
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Outreach Centers in the Whistler and Vancouver Athlete Villages. They played WADA's Play True Quiz and won the Agency's colorful Vancouver 2010 scarves and hats.
Tokujin Yoshioka's Clever Window Display for Hermes Tokyo Store
Designer Tokujin Yoshioka made an amazing window display to feature Hermes scarves at the Maison Hermes store in Tokyo. The display uses a projected video image and fans to show a woman blowing on a Hermes scarf. Take a look:
The snood is back in a big way. The Wall Street Journal even asks
"Can the snood save Christmas?" That is perhaps going a bit too far, but there is no question that the snood has made a resurgence among trendsetters, such as Lady Gaga.
This holiday season, retailers are betting big on the snood, a cross between a scarf and a hood that, when worn over the head, is reminiscent of a babushka.
The trend emerged on the Fall 2009 runways of designers like Missoni (knit snoods) and Burberry (plaid snoods) and also made an appearance in the commercial collections of Donna Karan and Yves Saint Laurent. Now it's gone mainstream, with retailers ranging from American Apparel to Zara getting behind the loopy style with snoods of varying lengths and monikers. The British version of GQ magazine's Web site recently posted a "Guide to Snoods," suggesting wearers try it "over a chunky knit or tailored jacket."
A few weeks ago Bloomingdale's urged customers to "make sure that you're seen in this lavish new accessory." Henri Bendel ranked the snood second amongst its top ten "things we fancy for fall" while Saks Fifth Avenue included it in its "Want It" fall campaign. "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively was photographed in one on the show's set last month.
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Burberry, whose chief financial officer recently cited the snood as one of the top drivers of the company's fall accessories sales, attributes the snood's rise to consumers' desire for safety in tumultuous times. "I love this idea of protection that it gives," says the brand's creative director Christopher Bailey, who was so into the look that he showed snoods for men and women on almost every model at his fall 2009 runway show. Simon Kneen, creative director for Gap Inc.'s Banana Republic brand, also likened the accessory to "a Linus blanket," a reference to the blue security blanket always carried by the Peanuts cartoon character.
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Traditional snoods, which resembled hairnets, were popular in the 1940s when women used them to keep their long hair out of the way. In the 1950s, the snood morphed into a tube, which became a ski-slope staple, says Beth Dincuff Charleston, a professor and fashion historian at Parsons, the New School for Design in New York. This time around, the style has been transformed: The creation of snoods in colorful plaids, fur and prints, as opposed to just polar fleece, renders them "new and fresh," says Ms. Dincuff.
It may be a smoking hot item, but retailers despise the name "snood" which Rachel Dodes of the Wall Street Journal says sounds more like a Dr. Suess character than a fashion accessory. That is why American Apparel calls them "circle scarves" (which sounds ridiculous) and Banana Republic calls them "infinity scarves" (better, but still weird). Burberry says the term snood is very British and they're sticking with it.
We say: embrace the term snood, which to us has a fun, retro feel.
Pictured is a fabulous cashmere Burberry snood which retails for $295. It is available at Net-a-porter.com.
Jill Martin from Us Weekly demonstrates how to tie the perfect scarf. Scarves make wonderful accessories and are a must-take on any trip to liven up basic pieces. Jill demonstrates how to take a 36" square scarf and turn it into a belt, a halter top, a purse, a neck tie and a headband. We love the purse idea: it's a great way to create a bag if you're suddenly in the need for some extra storage while out and about. The scarves Jill is using come from TheVeraCompany.com, which sells fabulous scarves. Take a look:
Hermes International reported a 12% rise in sales for the second quarter. Sales of scarves and handbags helped push sales upward.
Sales in the three months ended June 30 reached 446.6 million euros, or $607.4 million at average exchange rates for the period, from 398.1 million euros, or $541.4 million, in the same period a year earlier. At constant exchange rates, sales rose 3.9 percent.
The Paris-based company cited "persistently strong" demand for its leather goods, pushing sales in the category up 33.4 percent to 228 million euros, or $310 million.
Despite a small improvement in its perfume business, sales for other sectors declined, with watches and tableware hardest hit.
The luxury good company says it expects steady sales for the rest of 2009. Hermes is planning on renovating or opening more than ten stores in the second half of the year in Asia and the U.S. as an investment in the company's future growth.
Alexander McQueen's Earth Skull Scarf Now Available
The Alexander McQueen Earth skull scarf that we discussed earlier is now available. The scarf is made from 100% organic cotton. It shows a dying earth morphing into a skull. The scarf is a tie-in with the upcoming environmental movie, Home. Profits will be donated to goodplanet.org. You can purchase the scarf here for $285.00. Only 200 of the limited edition scarves were made.
Isaac Mizrahi Design Scarf and Tote Bag For New York Times
Isaac Mizrahi has designed this brightly colored silk chiffon scarf and tote bag for the New York Times. The tote bag carries the New York Times logo. Only 600 of each were made.
The 100% silk chiffon scarf shimmers with movement as tangerine colors gives way to a vibrant red. It makes a statement of sophisticated beauty with its delicately fringed edges and its silk threaded-knot design. 36" x 36"; dry clean only
The tote bag is made of sturdy twill and patent spatzilato leather in a bold red. On the inside, a polyester, laminated tangerine lining for durability and a 100% cotton dust bag for storage. Comes with a Times signature nickel medallion, an attention-grabbing accent. The tote measures 15.5" high, 19" wide (at top) and 8" deep, with a 4" strap drop.
A set of the the scarf and tote bag can be purchased here in the New York Times Store for $299.
Jessica Simpson still loves her Louis Vuitton Cerises Speedy, as seen here. It looks like the Cherry trend will continue for summer. But if you don't want to go for the purse, we also like the 36" square silk Louis Vuitton Cerises Monogram scarf as an accent piece, or the cute matching keychain, which are both available at Eluxury.com.
Lilly Pulitzer and Ford Announce 2004 Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf
Bloomingdales.com is offering for sale the 2004 Ford breast cancer awareness scarf, created exclusively for Ford by fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer. The scarf is 100% silk and features bright pink, aqua and green -- classic Lilly Pulitzer colors. All net proceeds (85% of each sale) go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year's scarf, promoted by Sarah Michelle Gellar in national ads, sold out early
leaving many shoppers disappointed.