What's in your bag? The best spring accessories
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Match your pocketbook to your shoes.
Kevin German, Sacramento Bee photosA pair of great wooden wedges and one terrific handbag. Black Via Spiga wedges ($161). Orange leather handbag by Mossimo ($22.99); available at Target.
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Remember when that fashion edict was de rigueur?
Flash back to 1963, when a generation of women and girls is sporting white patent leather purses with white patent leather shoes. A roll of Pep-O-Mint Lifesavers, a tiny package of Kleenex, and it's off to Sunday school in Camelot.
Now, fast-forward to spring 2006, when accessories -- shoes, handbags, jewelry, scarves and belts -- are a $2.5 billion business.
And while matching shoes and bag isn't necessarily the must-do thing anymore, what's old is refreshed and new.
So, say hello again to patent leather, in hues beyond black and white. It's slick and shiny on handbags. Back also: hoop earrings -- preferably in gold and in styles that are big enough to toss an egg through. And, peep-toe pumps and platform shoes are walking tall.
If you're not one to overhaul your entire wardrobe, accessories are the perfect seasonal addition. And they come in a broad range of prices, depending on where you shop.
For less than $70, for instance, you can hit Target and find a pair of Mossimo metallic wedges, a leather satchel and hoop earrings. Voila! You're set for spring.
What are some other trends we can expect to see this season? We asked Irenka Jakubiak, editorial and fashion director at Accessories Magazine in New York, who says that, while it's still rather un-springlike in her city as well, espadrilles are just a step away.
"It will be all about the espadrille this spring," Jakubiak says. "And, when you pick an espadrille that's done as a wedge, you're accomplishing two trends.
"Select a shoe with a decorative jute [woven] base and pretty ribbons tying up the leg. It's not only a fun look, but it's a relatively comfortable shoe that's easy to walk in."
Furthermore, a wedge looks great with both skirts and pants. Indeed, with pant legs getting skinnier and more cropped, shoes will be shown off to their best advantage. And in the case of longer, fuller skirts, wedges work well proportionately.
Another plus: Wedges are suitable for most body types, according to Melissa Payner, CEO of Bluefly.com, an Internet shopping site.
Mitzi orange leather bag ($410); available at Franco Ferrini in Pavilions. Mix of colored bangles ($8 to $12); available at Mervyn's and Target.
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A fun idea for spring is to take a couple of longer necklaces in a mix of stones and jewels and wear them _ wrapped twice _ around your wrists. These necklaces range in price from $55 to $150; available at Nordstrom.
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"Since many of the wedges are rather exaggerated in height, they make shorter legs look longer and longer legs, well, you really can't go wrong," Payner writes in an e-mail. "They truly complete an outfit."
So, check. Got the shoes. Next on the shopping list? Well, a great handbag, of course. And, yes, in this case, size does matter: as in the bigger, the better. This season, look for brightly colored hobos and larger shoulder bags and satchels in -- shades of Camelot again -- white.
Handbag hardware will be more pronounced -- you'll see fewer embellishments such as sequins or beads, and more polished buckles and bamboo handles.
As for that other fashion embellishment -- jewelry -- Payner says this spring it's all about a mix of natural elements and bright metals.
"We're seeing wood, bone and shells in organic shapes and neutral colors as well as turquoise," Payner says. "Also, opt for silver or gold chains that can be layered to create volume." (Tip: Think Katie Couric's gold necklace the day she announced she was leaving "Today.")
Gold with wood or bright colors with neutrals will work when layering bracelets.
But it doesn't end at the wrists. Moving to the waist, the belt is getting wider -- as much as 6 inches wide, in the case of some of the season's more extreme looks. But note: You have to be really tall to pull off this big belt.
For the rest of us, Jakubiak says, most belts will be from 2 to 3 inches wide. Some will have front lacing, others will be woven or in distressed leather in natural colors. Buckles will be less showy and more polished in both pewter and brass.
The best news of all: Other than the espadrilles, most of the accessories you buy today will have a shelf life. Expect to see them carry over into fall.
Pucci-print head scarf ($8.99); available at Target.
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First Published April 22, 2006 12:00 am
