Hip Fashion Accessories in Spring/Summer 2012

A new season is here! Say goodbye to the bitter cold winds and time to greet the hot sun. But beware! Your mind and style is on stake here! The long sunny days may compel you to loosen up and fall into a routine of being lazy about your dressing. Hence, this is the best reason for you to upgrade your wardrobe. With these accessories in your hands, your summer is going to be a whole lot hotter!

Is the sun too bright? Grab a pair of Oliver Goldsmith Shades this season! These timeless design frames are a pure classic and with them on, you are bound to attract attention wherever you turn.

Tod's Canvas Belts are ideal this season for a convenient and trendy approach in accessories. These double-toned canvas and leather belts have interlocking closures in which one end simply locks into the other instead of the usual metal buckle. They are also suitable for those who want to avoid the 'bling' crowd.

This season sees the debut of a number of new, distinctive bag styles for men. Louis Vuitton introduces the new Nomade leather, softer and revisited in a rich palette of olive green, burgundy and tobacco. The features are simple yet classic and are bound to impress.

Another trendy accessory that you should not miss is the limited edition collection of bags and accessories featuring sketches done by Guinness. Thanks to the collaboration between Coach and Hugo Guinness, Hugo Guinness for Coach, a new collection of unique and attractive fashion items is born. Sketches include athlete boxers, cups of coffee and other random objects.

It is not surprising that after revamping up the whole men's wardrobe, designers would turn to the bottom of a man's feet. Colored soles are now one of the trendy things you should not miss this season. Christian Louboutin is no longer just producing shoes with colored soles for women; now, men gets to enjoy his stylish and gorgeous shoes with red soles too. Jil Sander introduces a choice of blue, pink and peach for the bottom of the shoes. Dolce & Gabbana joins the crowd too with their own line of gorgeous colored soles shoes. These colored soles are guaranteed to attract more attention and help you walk taller.

Don't miss out on these interesting and attractive accessories. Brighten up your wardrobe this season with all these desirable items.

Eco-fashion trends update in Spring/Summer 2012

With the intent of creating a large impact and inspire other designers to saunter towards a cruelty-free direction, John Bartlett, winner of the Council of the Designers of America/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge introduces to the public this summer his latest eco-friendly Fall/Winter collection.

Outdoorsy, all-American appeal with sailor stripes and lumberjack plaids defines the first cruelty-free menswear collection at Fashion Week. Bartlett, the recently vegan designer insists on cruelty-free yet sustainable materials for his collections.

The uniqueness of Bartlett's elegant suits lies in where the suit is made of conventional cotton and blends of organic and not wool. But his suits are not the only pieces with this unique cruelty-free material. Bartlett's striped Henley's, sweaters, and dress-shirts are also made of organic cotton.

Determined to encourage cruelty-free designs, Bartlett even went to the lengths of mining his personal collection of Hudson's Bay point blankets—items that were normally traded in the 18^th and 19^th centuries to First Nations and Native Americans in exchange for beaver pelts and other goods—to create some of his jackets, capes and ponchos seen in the collection.

Results from this creative and eco-friendly inspiration came pieces that are sleek, supple and infused with colors derived from nature.

Another recent eco-friendly collection to parade in Fashion Week is Jeff Garner's Prophetik collection. Dyes used for his pieces are all natural and obtained from plants grown in his gardens. Floral print and houndstooth checks are the designs chosen for his men's jodhpurs and knee-length frock coats. Garner adapted the Scottish Highlands feel to his attires without the traditional tartan. 

Another trend worth all the fuss for is the new "Bonobo" series of laptop and iPad bags by Bluelounge. Bonobo bags are created from post-consumer PET bottles. Woven from the same material plastic soda bottles are made of, the five piece collection includes a backpack, a tote, a messenger, and two sizes of sleeve to coddle your electronic gear in streamlined style. The creations are designed to provide barrier against moisture, extra protection along with ergonomic straps for comfort on the go. They are tough and sturdy yet soft to the touch. A perfect blend of function and finesse.

These designer items are fashionable, durable and with a special twist of being eco-friendly. So, what is not to be crazy about?