FASHION Magazine

Just like we used to obsess over trading and braiding colourful strings, nowadays we’re pretty obsessed with Venessa Arizaga’s woven line of jewelry. Channelling the schoolyard whimsy of friendship bracelets but updating them for grownups, Arizaga makes colourful pieces that are blasts from the past that manage to look wholly modern.

Working with Tuleh and Zac Posen after graduating Parsons The New School for Design in 2003, Arizaga was inspired to handcraft colourful pieces following a trip to Puerto Rico. For fall, Arizaga’s collection nods to the late ’60s and early ’70s, offering a range of crocheted materials in contrasting colours that make up the bulk of the pieces. Browns blend with pinks, oranges, and yellows to form items with intense hippy appeal. Not to head too far back in time, bracelets and necklaces are kept current with strange charms (including Russian dolls and skulls) as well as timeless pearls. The look is fun, a bit cheeky, and made for a confident wearer.

Fans can purchase items at venessaarizaga.com. Gift-givers beware, though: unlike old-school friendship bracelets, these are pieces you won’t want to give away once you’ve tried them on.

View the collection »

Donatella Versace just wants fashion to be a fun, ego-fuelled mania again–like the good old days. To wit: Kristen McMenamy and Linda Evangelista once battled over who had blonde hair with black roots first. “I was called on as a witness to say who was the first to do black roots in blonde hair. At the time Steven Miesel was really inventing the look of the girls in this way, so I knew who was first: Kristen.” At another show, McMenamy allegedly stole one of Evangelina’s fake boobs. That does actually sound like a lot of fun. [Independent, via The Cut]

Another day, another live stream. You can watch the Calvin Klein Fall 2010 show live on February 18 at 3 p.m. on Facebook or calvinkleincollection.com. [WWD]