FFWD Weekly
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Fashion by Carla Daluka When I was a teen (or even a pre-teen, it’s all a little vague) your "coolness" was measured by the amount of key chains you possessed. You would attach every rabbit’s foot and Scott Baio chain together, all circled around that one house key. The bulkier the mass, the cooler the person. Not since those early days in Saskatoon have accessories been such an important statement. Over the past few years, the handbag has been making a huge comeback. I adore any kind of fabulous handbag – with the exception of the "courier bag," which even Puck, the courier from MTV’s Real World, says isn’t a glamorous look. To my delight, the purses in the spotlight are literally in all shapes and sizes – Prada has even introduced their version of a bowling bag. The baguette is still very popular, with variations in beads, denim and felt appliqué – the possibilities are endless. Animal prints, straw, suede and vinyl are being offered by everyone from Kate Spade to many local designers, matching any outfit and any budget. Many trends for the summer are giving a nod to different cultures and trends of the past. The Indian-inspired glittery bangle is back and adds some pizzazz to any look – they can be picked up relatively cheap, and you need several to get the look down. And remember the look Cher had in the early to mid ’70s, before she went under the knife? Feathers and intricate beadwork are a tribute to native craftwork – necklaces and cuffs are big pieces from this style category. Cuffs are still very popular, with leather, suede, faux and real animal hair, as well as the beading, being the big trends for this Wonder Woman-inspired look. The ’80s are back, too! Chokers, studs and all things rock and roll are coming back to give you another chance to look like Joan Jett. Curiously, along with the rock look is also the preppy look, which is showing up in the form of headbands – gone is the bra-band of last year, but the classic hairband is here again with fabrics and colours running the gamut from pink snakeskin to velvets. Other heads are sporting the "Aunt Jemima" look, which seems to be gaining momentum in Calgary in terms of the head scarf. They’re perfect for those days when you just don’t want to deal with your hair. For the fellas, the most important accessory this season appears to be the aviator glasses – not since CHiPS was in it’s heyday have these been so popular. With the cowboy look making such a comeback – not to mention everyone’s desire to look like a Backstreet Boy – the straw cowboy hat is back around, too. So this summer, with all of your options, you have no excuse for not looking fabulous – or at the very least, well accessorized.

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