Bling it On
Market Shares
According to Accessories Magazine and the NDP Group, the projected market shares of the top accessories for 2013 are:
- Jewelry: 34.88%
- Handbags: 30.12%
- Hosiery: 9.2%
- Watches: 6.66%
- Small leather goods: 6.18%
- Sunglasses: 5.39%
- Slippers and casual footwear: 2.6%
- Scarves: 1.45%
- Gloves: 1.41%
- Hats: 1.04%
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Necklaces. Scarves. Bracelets. Belts. There are many ways to jazz up an outfit. See which fashion accessories make your bottom line shine.
Make room for accessories! The 2012 Accessories Census from Accessories Magazine and the NPD Group shows that in 2012, accessory sales amounted to $30.5 billion, and the projected sales figures for a wide range of accessories in 2013 is $32.5 billion, an astounding leap attributed to what the survey calls the “need cycle” of women who held off on buying new wardrobe items due to the economy’s pull on their budgets, but now need to update their wardrobes
“The smallest things often make the biggest impact,” says Nicole Philip-Kronenberg, fashion editor, stylist and accessories expert. “Accessories have always had the ability to transform an outfit, so one should never underestimate the impact of a statement accessory.” Here is what’s new in the major categories:
New in Necklaces
Mixed metal necklaces are in for collars and chokers, and short or long pendant necklaces are trending strong for fall 2013. Gina LaMorte, New Jersey-based celebrity fashion stylist says, “Statement chokers in modern and geometric in metals are in, as are stone collars and bibs.” Eileen Bates, owner and designer of Pretty Pretty Pendants based in Deptford, NJ says, “Long pendant necklaces make a bold statement with any look, and are an expression of individuality which makes our pendants a perfect fit for women who want “wearable art” as their jewelry statement.” Pretty Pretty Pendants suits the fall trends with their Owl on Leaves and Winged Dragonfly pieces. At Pink House Imports based in Orange, California, you’ll find colorful, strung glass and bead necklaces perfect for layering.
Since texture is a big trend for fall, Dune Jewelry based in Boston creates necklace pendants in rounds and bars made with responsibly sourced sand from customers’ favorite beaches and golf courses. “Our Sand Bar necklace is always a staple,” says Holly Daniels Christensen, founder and creative director of Dune Jewelry.
On the Cuff
Philip-Kronenberg says, “We’re starting to move toward one bold statement cuff, as opposed to many smaller, layered bracelets.” La Morte says, “Large, over-embellished cuffs with colorful gems, or geometric ‘80s art-inspired cuffs, are in, as are metal studded cuffs. Look to Atlanta-based Anju Jewelry for wide metallic cuffs. Outside of cuffs are Grantsville, Maryland-based Calypso Studios’s Glitz & Glass Wraps, made from a combination of metallic and glass beads. Each is hand-strung on waxed linen cording and features their signature metal toggle clasp. Calypso Studios also shows single strand bracelets featuring rhinestone beads on colorful waxed linen cording. At Dune Jewelry, sterling silver bracelets are accented with colorful beads in their Sandbead Collection.
An Earful
Oversized earrings such as chandeliers are back. Drop earrings will overtake hoops. Dune Jewelry’s Sand Globe collection offers pendants with personalized sand choices for an earthier feel. Tiger Mountain’s metallic earrings capture all the top fall trends.
Ring(ing) Endorsement
Philip-Kronenberg says that stacking has moved from the wrist to the fingers, with multiple rings in metals, and colors. Clea Hayes of Tiger Mountain says, “The ring category is very popular with fall, especially in metals coupled with the nature element such as in our bird rings. Another popular ring is a lotus flower since for Fall the “spiritual” symbols are really hot.” Hayes also says, “Copper color rings are hot for Fall–especially with the little “pop” of color with the turquoise. Copper is always a good choice for Fall and right now the rose gold and copper color metals are super-hot. This is a look that we see working from weekday to weekend.” Also hot are statement rings in colorful glass stones, gemstones, gold, with cross motifs, Dune Jewelry’s smart metal outlines of shapes, and rings in fall-chic green stone accents.
Pins and Brooches
Parker says that Pinterest is surging brooches as a top accessory choice, in glass or colored stone florals, in glittering pave-stone metallic and the ‘winged creature’ trend shines here as well. Philip-Kronenberg says “the special interest here is insects and animals, so expect to see beetles, snakes, and plenty of animal heads on pins in the upcoming season.”
Tote-ally Awesome
Philip-Kronenberg points to the trend of structured silhouettes as opposed to last season’s totes, small cross-bodies with either chain straps or leather straps, and especially top-handled styles. Stock up on furry handbags and clutches, since mainstream fashion is showing calfhair bags as a new Do for fall. Hot styles include quilted textures for floral shapes, swirls, zigzags and linear motifs, as well. Printed python snake was a key motif, done in neutrals or colors, and will continue into fall. For 2013, the mod black-and-white trend in optical checks, stripes and color-block is key.
Diehl of ShiraLeah says, “To go along with the metallic trend we are introducing various bags in a black/gold combination which are perfect for the holiday season. These will be shown in both totes, cross-bodies and clutches. We are also showing a herringbone and a tweed group. Both of these are shown in plum and emerald colors, which will be two trend colors of the upcoming season. As far as our clutches, we are offering a lot of our cross-bodies with stone embellishments and baroque embroidery.”
Sensational Scarves
“The scarf is seen as a yearlong staple piece. The infinity/loop is a key scarf silhouette that will continue. There are many new advancements in print technology out there and the amount of incredible digital prints on scarves is endless,” says Philip-Kronenberg. La Morte says to look for patterns, black and white check and especially scarves with fringe. The pull-through fur scarf is an easy item that will grow in importance, says Accessories Magazine’s report on 2013 trends.
Spartina 449 based in Hilton Head, south Carolina offers a fresh collection of soft scarves including new additions to the bamboo weave group, and two new collections: Skipper, and Modern Luxe. The new Modern Luxe collection is made from tightly woven, soft viscose. Each measures 78” x 23”. The new Skipper Collection is a nautically inspired line woven from soft viscose, in such colors as navy, teal, pistachio and orange. Spartina’s Bamboo Weave Collection in soft viscose includes top-sellers Tibi Soli, Veranda, Harbor Light, Fiddler’s Cove, and Martinangel.
At FRAAS, color is key. Bright accents look fresh and updated plaids, patterns and embellishments (sequins, metallic threads to name a few) are another focus for the season. Animal prints are a perennial favorite, velvet is back, and reversible is big. FRAAS offers top textures such as crinkling, fringe, boucle, loops and scrunch in their top lines, and the infinity loop will be a top-seller for fall.
A Cinch
Refreshing a wardrobe piece with a belt is a top fashion choice, especially with La Morte’s suggestions of highly embellished belts, including bead- and colorful gem-crusted styles, and with silver, punk influence. For skinny belts with metal or bling embellishment, look to BelgoLux’s collection including designs from Bruges and Cobalt.
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fashion accessories of course. As Philip-Kronenberg says, “after the economic downturn and times of cutting back in all areas of life, we have felt a need for newness more than ever; accessories are the perfect way to add a bit of newness to your life.”