Fringe Benefits

Flapper Fashion!
Think less country bumpkin, more sophisticated 20s siren.


At left:

John Galliano fringed dress, courtesy nymag.com
Chanel Couture, via style.com

Chanel Couture flapper-inspired dresses

Photography credit: all runway detail images in this post are from style.com.

Comme de Garçons

The "fringe" on this Chanel Couture top is metal - the model is literally on pins and needles!!

Christian Dior, via nymag.com

DKNY, via nymag.com

Blue suede boots and silver fringed sleeves at Anna Sui

Fringe need not be over-the-top and colorful. It was luxuriously sedate at Gucci and Hermés:

At left:

Hermés

Below: Gucci fringed sashes, boots, and logo handbag

DSquared2 black fringed skirt

Burberry Prorsum feathered frock detail and metal fringe handbag

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Some girls are already living "on the fringe," to glorious

effect!

Just see these two Tokyo street style pictures from Vogue Nippon. Perfection!

Fringed Footwear:

Abandon those gladiators in favor of something a bit more refined, darlings!

CC is loving these L.A.M.B. Yoyo chain mail t-strap high-heeled sandals, available at shopbop.com

The fringe on these Jimmy Choo wave suede boots is understated and chic; $660 at net-a-porter

French Connection Charlston Flapper Dress; visit usa.frenchconnection.com.

This fabulous dress also comes in a white spaghetti strap version!

CC is totally enamored of this Thayer Crete miniskirt, for purchase at shopbop.com; it is available in black, navy (ppictured here), and gold!

Elizabeth and James fringe jacket. Go to intermixonline.com

Foley & Corrina metal fringe jersey top, at the Intermix, New York.
The fringe on this Viktor & Rolf silk blouse is attached, for a more subdued look. Go to net-a-porter.com.

LaRok metal fringe jersey halter cami. Visit intermixonline.com

If you are skeptical about acting the flapper, ease into the trend with a handbag. Not only will it give you a small dose of this potentially OTT style, but a fringed handbag is a tad less trendy, so you will be able to use it for years to come (particularly if it's an evening bag). For those fashionistas looking to make an investment, opt for this colorful Fendi hide hair Baguette.

Jimmy Choo black fringe hobo. This and previous at neimanmarcus.com.
Antik Batik Juddy small bag, at shopbop.

Also available in dark brown.

For evening:

Moyna beaded fringe silk purses

Visit moynabags.com
Affordable fringe? Try this ASOS red leather clutch, approximately $70 at asos.com.

CC leaves with you a lovely bag by one of her favorite handbag designers, the talented Ms. Monica Botkier (who has a line coming to Target in August - we can't wait!!).

This gorgeous gold Botkier Morgan small fringed satchel is available at nordstrom.com.

So live on the fringe, darlings!

SURRY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP

ADORNMENT, FLAPPER-STYLE

From gowns to handbags, fashion is on the fringe! The most fanciful (and doubtless, expensive) takes on the trend were those sashayed down the runway for Bill Blass's Fall 2008 Collection. The dalmatian-spotted mini-dress (left) and frilly black-fringed white gown (above) are show-stoppers! Photos via nymag.com.

A more achievable way to wear the trend? This sexy Elizabeth and James French lace minidress, for purchase at Neiman Marcus. Scandalous!

If you dare not don the fringed dress, you can carry the look with an adorable clutch. I am absolutely smitten with this silver Easter-grass strewn Roger Vivier Exotica bag, featured in style.com's coverage of accessories for Fall 2008. Even more fanciful, with a splash of teal, is Salvatore Ferragamo's tiered mesh fringe frame bag with resin barrel closure. Handbag pictures courtesy style.com. Now shake it like a Polaroid picture!

RUFFLES HAVE RIDGES

THE RUFFLE FRONT . . .

Ah, the frippery of the tuxedo shirt!

Luckily, it has been softened in recent seasons, as evinced by this delicate silver Etro ruffled silk blouse, for purchase at bergdorfgoodman.com. Perfect under a fitted blazer!

But the ruffle is not limited to blouses! I adore the bold persimmon-hued Valentino Roma mini-frock pictured at the top of this post. It has a delicate keyhole detail in back. The frilling (ha!) news? It's on sale at neimanmarcus.com!

Check out this kicky Moschino Cheap & Chic white ruffle front sleeveless a-line dress (currently fifty percent off at shopbop.com).

Not sure which came first, but it looks curiously similar to Albino's zipper-front leather version, which Couture Carrie discovered while perusing Italian Vogue online.

If you need something a bit fancier, try Valentino’s lovely ruffle and jewel-adorned gown for Resort 2009 (photo at right via style.com).