Recent runway shows have been fearlessly featuring fringe. Seen swaying as details on jacket sleeves, bouncing tassels on suede boots or dangling from purses and clutches, fringe is becoming the must-have trend of this season. Many New York and Paris fashion week designers showcased collections with fringe. The movement was even a huge hit with those attending this year’s Fashion Week shows. Tons of fashion savvy people were photographed on the streets of New York and Paris rocking the strands.
But what really caught my fascination with fringe was Rebecca Minkoff’s spring collection of bags and purses inspired by her fall 2015 ready-to-wear collection. The show paid homage to the late ’60s and ’70s hippie era of Patti Smith’s novel, Just Kids. Many of the looks in the collection featured dark, earthy tones of brown, black, deep red and blue. Flowing fabrics mixed with structured pieces made for an interesting combination of hard and soft. The use of suede and leather encouraged the hippie direction of the collection and embraced the incorporation of fringe into the looks.
My look is inspired by a combination of Rebecca Minkoff’s recent collection as well as Elie Tahari’s fall 2015 ready-to-wear collection. Taking full cue from Minkoff’s amazing leather fringe bags, I sport a cross-body suede purse with exaggerated fringe detail. Inspired by Elie Tahari’s deep colors and simple, effective structural pieces, I pair a motorcycle jacket with a basic ribbed gray, oversized top. An earthy tone of blue stone and a rich maroon make the simple pieces pop. Delicate rings and bracelets complete the gypsy-fringe look.
It can be hard for fringe to border the line of looking like a costume. That’s why it is a good idea to use the trend in the details of an outfit. When paired with structural, fitted pieces rather than loose fitting, flowing shapes, a fringe statement becomes less overwhelming. Switching up the material that you are using for the fringe can also be a game changer. While suede most commonly resonates closest to the hippie era, a leather fringe can become a more sophisticated take on the trend.
Get My Look: 1. A cross-body fringe bag. 2. Deep maroon suede leggings. 3. Motorcycle jacket.
