FASHION Magazine

Braces. The mere word conjures up cringe-worthy memories of adolescent awkwardness and dorky grins at best and mortifying bloody kisses at worst. Having a mouthful of metal isn’t really something you’d associate with cool, right? Except now it is, according to the New York Daily News.

The latest fashion trend in Southeast Asia, buying braces on the black market—particularly in a rainbow of colours and designs, like Hello Kitty and Mickey Mouse—is to teenagers in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia what wearing neon jelly bracelets were to Western teenage girls in the ‘80s (don’t front like you didn’t): Ya gotta have ‘em. The newest It thing a, braces are a major signifier of wealth, status and style (given that genuine braces are quite expensive, if you’ve been blessed with a temporary silver set of teeth jewellery, you obviously come from money).

Cult label Phi is another victim of These Times. The label, founded in 2003, is closing and the pre-spring delivery will be its last. [WWD]

U.S. department store Macy’s flagship Herald Square location was evacuated yesterday after an escalator caught fire. The blaze was minor and there were no injuries–except to Macy’s sales figures. [Racked]