Cocoa Connection

What’s New for this Fall: Belts

Fall is here and its time to accessorize your outfits for the new fall season. Belts have become another hot "must have" in fashion magazines. They are no longer seen as something you use to hold up your pants. This season, it’s all about the wide belts and the stud belts.

Wide Belts:

Some thought that wide belts would die out as soon as the summer ended, but now wide belts are hotter than ever. These over sized wide belts are worn across the stomach like a karate belt and are usually 2-3 inches wide. During the summer, they were usually worn over long tunic shirts and long t-shirts. This fall, wide belts are being worn over long cardigan sweaters. I, myself, was not a fan of the wide belts because of its lack of use. Why own a belt that was not going to hold up my pants? But once I added a black wide belt over my long sweater, my outfit instantly jumped from bland to wow. A Wide Belt adds that extra something to any outfit, from your office wear to your weekend jeans and shirt and comes in an array of colors and materials. But beware: you still need to buy a belt for your pants, if the waistband does not fit snugly.

www.bloomingdale.com

What’s Sizzling for the Summer: Part Two

"Big Blingy" Earrings have made a stunning comeback for the summer of 2006. It seems that the bigger the earring the better. Save those small studs for the fall because this summer if you want to be noticed, bring out your hoops, chandeliers and name plate earrings (well, the name plate earrings can go back in your jewelrey box).

Hoops

This summer, hoop earrings have been featured everywhere from the beach to the runway. The beauty of the hoops of 2006 is the lighter the better instead of the giant size 14 karat earrings of the 1980s. Also new for this summer’s hoop earrings: detail, detail, detail. Gone are the plain circular hoops. These hoops come in an array of shapes and sizes located within the hoop, from dangling butterflies to Indian-inspired looks. And the best part: they run as cheap as $5.99 and can be found at any of your local stores.

(Cut out Butterfly Earrings)

(Mulitple hoop Earrings)

Both Earring can be found on www.hottopic.com

Cut-Out Butterfly Hoop Earrings

What’s Sizzling this Summer: Part 1: Shades

What’s Sizzling this Summer: Part 1

Don’t Forget Those Shades!

The Summer of 2006 is slowly coming to a close but before we put away our sunscreen and move our overly expensive two-piece bathing suits into our closets, let’s take a look at what was hot this summer and how we can still remain stylish even once the temperature changes.

First things first, let’s tackle the shades. Shades are not only good for protecting your eyes from UV rays but if picked correctly, they can go with any accessory in your closet

"Bug-Eyed" Shades

The look in this summer is "Bug-Eyed Shades", which are shades that cover your eyebrows to your cheeks. Slightly bigger than the "Jackie O" shades, the "Bug-Eyed" shades are good for blocking out the sun or hiding the bags under your eyes from the long hours of partying the night before. Like the Jackie O shades, they come in a box-like lens shape around the eyes with frames only slightly smaller than the lens. "Bug-Eyed" shades often come in a variety of styles from leopard print to the classic black to all shades in between. The plastic lens and frame make it great for the occasional slip and fall, but the plastic lens scratch easily, so it might be better to avoid the super expensive brands. Here are a couple of styles that you should definitely wear at the beach or the pool.

BETSEY JOHNSON ROSEBUD SUNGLASSES

COACH SARAH SUNGLASSES