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Gladiator sandals are not 'fresh' fashion news, in fact I was wearing a vintage pair around this time last year, well before the trend really took off. Since that time, 'Statement Pieces' has witnessed the rise of the gladiator - yet as with most trends we sat back and tried to remain unbiased - we were not going to be swayed by a sea of masculine (yet strangely delicate) sandals, each screeching "buy me!", no - it was our job to find the "golden gladiator", and after a year of searching, I think we've found it - right in time for summer.
Now, I know what you're going to say - yes, it IS yet another Mimco product (what can I say they're THAT good!). But let me explain the full story. As loyal followers to this blog would know Mimco has only this year released a range of shoes - as a part of this range was a stunning pair called the "After-Five Warrior Heels", we at 'Statement Pieces' instantly fell in love with the shoes' gladiator-esque qualities, however, they weren't TRUE gladiators and so we could not use them to recommend to our readers - it was a shame though, their lambskin leather, military buttoning and sturdy cord made them true statement pieces. (SEE BELOW)
Fortunately for us, the shoes were such a hit that Mimco was forced to release an updated flat version called the "Everyday Warrior". The best parts of the "After Five" were kept (the leather, the colour, the military styling and cord ties), however, the impractical elements (such as the high heel and unsupported ankle) were replaced in favour of a slight platform and enclosed heel/ankle strap. The result? An absolutely stunning pair of gladiator sandals that are as practical as they are beautiful!
The shoes are incredibly versatile and can be worn with just about anything - they are easily dressed up or down - the possibilities really are endless... Just make sure those toes are in tip top condition and don't be afraid to experiment with bold nail polish colours. A quick tip from us here at 'Statement Pieces' make sure you put sunblock on your feet if you're going to be wearing these shoes outdoors as you will end up with an unusual patterned tan! (But remember to let the sunblock soak in before letting it anywhere near the leather!) They retail for $379
Our obsession with Tiffany and Co. hasn't diminished (thanks for asking), yet we still find it an incredibly arduous task trying to find pieces that embody the "Statement Pieces" mantra and are also not ridiculously expensive - once again we think we've outdone ourselves with an amazingly elegant piece you may find a little left of field...
The "Tiffany Moderne Ring" is truly a bewitching statement piece. Described, on the Tiffany website, as simply, "geometric and oh so modern", this ring oozes class. We could see it living on the end of the perfectly manicured finger of a tough biker chick - but what "tough" biker goes around sporting a $350 Tiffany ring on her finger? Either way it's stunning and has sent us at "Statement Pieces" week at the knees - our mind boggles over the masculine stylings delivered from the archetypal feminine clutches of Tiffany and Co. It's a little bit rebellious, and I think that's part of it's charm...
The ring retails for $355 which is fairly reasonable, especially considering its bulk and weight - in reality it wears a lot more like a men's ring and so you wouldn't be surprised to see a price tag up towards the $600 mark. Here at "Statement Pieces" we believe that one piece can instantly affect your whole persona - be that your attitude, your mood, or your overall look - this ring just makes us want to mess up our hair, pull on a leather jacket, skinny jeans and some killer stiletto boots. Just make sure those nails are in good condition with a slick of dark (and broody) polish. We also suggest you check out "Urban Originals" range of studded bags as they would really compliment the look.
Ok, so we know this isn't the first time we've featured eerily edible accessories (Obsessed? Us?) - but whilst Jelly's Edibles were fun and funky in a "market-stall/uni student" way today's range is definitely for more mature tastes...
Melbourne based jewellery designer Lucy Folk is hurriedly making a name for herself both here and overseas. Her delightful pieces, each inspired by the simple pleasures embodied by childhood "junk" foods manage to put a smile on the faces of all those who encounter them - without the nasty calories! The newest collection "More Nibbles..." features nostalgic favourites such as burger rings, corn chips, popcorn, peanuts and pretzels beautifully handcrafted in sterling silver and 24ct gold - they may be extravagant, but they're certainly eclectic.
At $630 AUD for one of the gold pretzel necklaces you'd be forgiven for thinking these pieces were a little luxe (think of all the burger rings you could buy for that), we at "Statement Pieces", however, are blinded by the bling and have fallen in love with these stunning yet quirky works of art. We love the idea of freaking people out and teaming the necklaces with more corporate/formal attire (you want people thinking "surely that well dressed woman doesn't have a dorito dangling around her neck!") - think form fitting pencil skirts and blouses or dress pant and jacket combos. Our fave pieces include the "Gold Corn Chip Necklace", the "Silver Pretzel Brooch" and the "Silver Popcorn Ring". Yum!
A week has past since the race that stops the nation...well...stopped the nation... That being said "Statement Pieces" were incredibly torn when we deigned to dedicate a blog to field fashion. We ended up deciding not to do it because we thought you'd all had enough of the over saturation of cup-fashion coverage - I mean, when the local news anchor gets involved it gets a little extreme (and don't get me started on ACA & Today Tonight's battle royale!) So we kept tight lipped - even though we were dying to scream from the roof tops "I DON'T CARE IF IT ONLY COST $24.99, BUYING A FASCINATOR FROM EQUIP/DIVA IS NEVER AN OPTION!!!" But this lack of race-time fun has left a void in our life that we need to fill - and fast - thank heavens we've found a cute as a button statement piece to quench our jockey lust...
Australian jewellery brand "Zoemou" recently collaborated with fashion designer Shona Joy to create a range of statement neckpieces made out of natural Australian materials such as wood and leather. Each piece is laser etched and depicts an elegant animal. We were immediately taken by the striking "Appaloosa Horse Pendant", which measures approx. 50mm in length and hangs in a "name plate" styling. This gorgeous necklace would work well with paler colourings in clothing - particularly denim - e.g. a cute denim vest would look wonderful, or for something more structured a denim jacket over a maxi dress. The light colour of the wood means that the necklace would stand out a lot better on people with darker skin tones - so if you're pale it's a good excuse to slap on a bit of bronzer. No other jewellery is needed - but a great tan bag is a must - we recommend the Mimco Mini Jetson Hip Bag or Witchery's Star Weave Bag. Get it while you can - "Daddy I want a pony!"
On New Zealand design team Stolen Girlfriends Club's Myspace they proclaim in their "About Me" section that:
"WE STARTED OUT AS AN ART BAND BUT NOBODY LIKED OUR MUSIC BECAUSE IT WAS SHIT. SO WE TRIED TO BE ARTISTS BUT GOT SUED FOR COPYING BASQUIAT. THEN WE WANTED TO BE PRO SURFERS BUT EVERYONE WAS DOING IT. SO WE TRADED IT ALL FOR HIGH FASHION/LOW INCOME."
It was a move that payed off for the brand - having since been thrust into the spotlight for their rebellious take on fashion and design unpredictability. The brand has etched its way into the hearts of the "alternate" (yet still uber chic) crowd through a high exposure in magazines such as Oyster and Attitude. The brands artistic influences can't be escaped - with each range being accompanied by an installation and gallery show. "Statement Pieces" highly recommends the brands jewelery range "Heavy Metal", particularly for readers who are looking for pieces with a bit more edge...There were a number of pieces that we fell in love with as part of the Heavy Metal range, however, our hands down favourite had to be the "Silver Bowtie Ring". This chunky statement piece was one of the more feminine pieces in the range and is something we felt you could wear on a day-to-day basis. This femininity made it perfect for work which we felt was a plus - sure the entire range is stunning - but you have to think logically, you don't want to spend $200 on a pendant if the only place you can wear it is a concert/festival (ok, maybe you do - but here we try and stay level headed and sensible).
The ring retails for $154 which is a little pricey, but once you feel its' weight you'll understand that you're paying for quality. It goes with anything - however, we think it would look gorgeous with a tailored vest + singlet, skinny leg jeans and a pair of kitten heels. Just make sure your nails are in good condition and if you're a biter (a problem I know all too well) it'd be worth getting a short set of gel acrylics to really finish off the look.Make sure you check out Stolen Girlfriend Club's Website (it's aesthetically stunning) - if you like what you see you may be interested in a campaign co-founded by the brand (in accordance with Oyster magazine) called "No Safety Helmut" in which some of Australasia's finest photographers got together for a series of shoots dedicated to legendary photographer Helmut Newton. Whilst some of the pics are visually confronting (they're almost all nudes) they are all breathtaking...
For today's post we've returned to "Statement Pieces" basics and the principal that bold colours/patterns = a winning accessory. This can't be more clearly conveyed than in Australian brand Armineé and Frank's Patchwork Folding Purse.
This cute purse demands attention and is a nod to artist Piet Mondrian's works. It is available in 3 colour variants each comprising of tonal combinations - they are:
- Peruvian - lipstick, marine, peanut butter, mercury
- Mod - chalk, black, peanut butter, mercury
- Rodeo - ochre, marine, peanut butter, western cedar
Each colour panel is made from either Italian or butter leather - they retail for $105 AUD."Statement Pieces" is particularly fond of the "Rodeo" purse as the colour combination is perfect for spring - the neutrality of the browns mixed with two of this seasons hottest hues - yellow and cyan make it a great investment. We suggest teaming the bag with block coloured maxi-dresses (bright or dark colors will suffice), or to be really on trend, multi-tonal dip-dyed maxi-dresses (think a pale blue that cascades into a deep navy). Throw on a couple of bangles (Dinosaur Designs Veneer Bangles would work fantastically with the browns tones) and you'll be looking stunning in no time.Make sure you check out Armineé and Frank's entire range of accessories - as they have some truly stunning pieces.
When one thinks of the Art Deco movement they automatically associate a decadent opulence ironically viewed from a modernist perspective. Without it we wouldn't have The Chrysler Building in New York, nor the Golden Gate Bridge - but is it relevant in 2008? Do we care about the faceted forms of cubism and futurism in fauvism's palette? In normal circumstances (barring the architecture geeks) the simple answer is - no, however, it's prevalence in the fashion world is gaining it a notable amount of 'cred'. Did we at Statement Pieces know what fauvism was a month ago? No - but we suddenly started paying attention to a close friend's wanky art rants when we realised that art deco had become chic. What better way to raise our own fashionista profiles than being knowledgeable about the amazing pieces that dangled effortlessly from our necks - "What's that? You like my necklace? Yes it is beautiful, but did you know that it's inspiration came from Picasso and Georges Braque mixed with a good dose of ancient Egyptian/Aztec influences?" A statement piece AND conversation starter - we're sold...A specific range that we were particularly endowed by is by Australian designers Cheri Uppal and Theresa Nguyen of "Lola & Bailey" called "Dial D". Each unusual necklace takes inspiration from the 1930's Art Deco movement - with a fabulous modern twist. It features a layered and sculptured pendant made of perspex (your choice of mirrored black and silver or mirrored black and gold). It features a long adjustable chain making it versatile enough to wear with most outfits. It is available in 5 different styles including the "Behind That Curtain Necklace", "The Cat & The Canary Necklace", "Murder in the Mews Necklace", "Sinister Hands Necklace", and "The Bat Whispers Necklace". Each Piece retails for $55 AUD.
When wearing these pieces we say embrace the kitsch-ness of art deco! You can do this one of two ways:- Sticking to the minimalist view - using the necklace as the statement - think block colour, straight lines, conservative, sleek, modern...
- Going patter crazy - kitsching it up - mixing bold prints (hello cubism!) with splashes of colours, maybe even layering the necklace with a few others for a more bohemian feel...
Whatever you go with just remember to use your wanky art deco knowledge gained here - and if all else fails you know where to head:Wikipedia Our Saviour - ARTDECO101
