Tampa Bay Times
Are We Out of Our Skulls?
Given how early holiday merchandise starts being hawked- if you haven’t yet noticed a Christmas ornament, please share your key to obliviousness – the world at large hardly noticed when skulls and crossbones surfaced in July. And when the world did, it wondered only where the candy corn was. But fashion followers knew the real reason skulls were dangling from Prada sandals, printed on scarves at Wet Seal and showing up on clothes and accessories in all price ranges between. Skulls are on of the season’s big trends. And by season, we mean fall and winter, not Halloween. In fashion, everything becomes mainstream eventually. Skulls, and their sometimes companion crossbones, have been there for a while, but not in a big way. They have remained primarily the province of heavy metal and punk rock lovers, Goths, bikers and people over 30 embarrassing themselves – and their children – at clubs and concerts.
(Rolling Stone Keith Richards and his skull ring get a special exemption in the over-30 category). Add their general creepiness to the mix and skulls are the most unlikely trend to break out in any season. Why would a clothing maker think that Average Woman wants to spend $352 on a pair of jeans with a skull embroidered over half of the right thing? (The Grail line produces such a thing). Not even Gasparilla inspires that kind of enthusiasm. But it was only a matter of time before skulls became considered as marketable as Mickey Mouse.
Fashion is running low on gimmicks for putting fresh twists on the seasonal cycles, so skulls were bound to get a turn. (They’re a logical follow-up to last year’s big creepy bug phase.) And two things in particular positioned them for breakout now: Johnny Depp and Mickey’s employer.
The first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, in 2003, and Depp’s portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow drove skull culture deep into pop culture consciousness and made it lovable in the way only Disney and Depp’s sex appeal could. With designers always working a year plus ahead, that teed up a skull breakout for this year, coincidentally in time for the release of the first of two Pirates sequels.
Understanding should not breed acceptance, however. For most of us, skulls should be nothing but novelty wear. If your banker, real estate agent, kid’s teacher or boss is still carrying a skull-studded purse on Dec. 15, you won’t think it’s stylish. You’ll wonder if they have a weird secret life you’d really rather not know about. Use this skull proliferation to refresh your Halloween wear, stock up for Gasparilla or channel your hopes for next year’s Bucs season. You can even get a head start on your Pirates of the Caribbean Part III premiere-party outfit (the second sequel is due out Memorial Day Weekend). By then, skulls will have been given back to their specialty groups. And fish hooks will be the next big thing. –Sharon Fink, Tampa Bay Times
Where to buy:
Hat, $4.99, Wet Seal, T-shirt, Diane Dal Lago (www.dianedallago.com), $48, and belt, $90, DKM II, WestShore Plaza, Tampa; purse, $22, and scarf, $10, Claire’s.
Lanyard, $3.50; locket bracelet, $7.50, and key chain, $5.50, both Pirates of the Caribbean movie tie-ins, items at Claire’s.
Shut Up Magazine
FLORAL PRINTS-Not just on your grandma’s dress anymore
The majority of us haven’t worn flower prints since the second grade, but fashion is often inspired by the past, whether it’s a flashback to the ‘80s or a trip back to the Edwardian era. Prints have been a trend for a couple of seasons already, but floral prints have only begun making their appearance this spring. Don’t be afraid of looking like your granny though; these prints are bold and eclectic.
The best thing about floral prints? They’re easy to find in almost every store, so you don’t have to worry about finding a color scheme you don’t like. Designers have been moving away from the minimalist mod look and aiming towards romanticism. It really is always nice to have a dressy piece amongst everything else in your closet. While the cuts of floral print tops are generally dressy, it shouldn’t stop you, because they can always be easily worn casually. The best part of spring is being able to wear dresses without needing a special occasion to attend; so why adopt the same thinking for floral print tops?
Just remember to aim for bright colors and don’t be afraid to wear floral print for reasons other than special occasions. Let’s add some color back to spring.
* Noel Duan, Shut Up! Magazine
Tampa Bay Metro
A RIBBON WORTH FIGHTING FOR
With this Diane Dal Lago tank, you won’t be able to camouflage your support. The ribbon is set in pink Swarovski crystal and adds a little sparkle to the army-inspired creation. $10 of each purchase supports the American Cancer Society. $40. Available at DKM Accessories, 813-902-0044 – Tampa Bay Metro
Impressions Magazine
Crystal-Embellished T-Shirts Feminize Female NASCAR Fans
Diane Dal Lago Ltd., a Tampa, Fla., sportswear company decorates its products with crystal embellishments, has launched Raceway Fashionista, a new line of sparkling NASCAR-licensed logo tanks, T-shirts and headwear, through its new online shopping site. The collection includes cotton-blend styles in junior, misses and plus sizes, all crystal embellished with the NASCAR Bar logo, Kurt Busch’s No. 2 and Ryan Newman’s No. 12.
The company also has designed an assortment of general race-themed designs that feature images and sayings like “I (Heart) Racecar Drivers,” “Race Diva” and “Racin’ Royalty.”
“We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring our ideas to life with a unique product for the fastest-growing sport among female fans,” says Veronica Tribulo, vice president.
