Top Five Fashion Accessories of 2009 Vol. 1
We all have our favorite bits of couture. Unique costume pieces that we can count on if we want to guarantee a compliment or two. Here’s one fashionista’s top five favorite fashion accessories of 2009.
El Top Hat Gigante’ was THE crowd-pleasingest item of 2009. By sewing a full sheet of thick black construction paper to an already popular gold-grommet accented felt hat, a new scale of cranial accessorizing was unleashed on the party populous. From parades to stages to fire art installations, this prop eclipsed all that came near with it’s sheer ridiculousity.
Adding a touch of couture class was the tubular crinoline adorned bow-tie (which can be seen in the same picture). A basic black strap-on bow-tie augmented by two 10″ lengths of black tubular crin w/iridescent green accent threads spiraling around. It added squiggliness, color, and interactivity to any outfit.
While more utilitarian in application, the black leg warmers with brass snaps used as arm warmers are a tremendously fashionable way to increase the warmth of whatever funky ensemble fails to cover the hands, forearms, and elbows adequately. Since the arrival of an
exceptionally cold winter season, these have been in heavy rotation complementing all manner of get-ups. The great antique color of the snaps and longitudinal ribbing create a splendid if subtle effect and they can even handle a bit of open flame which is a huge plus!
A handmade birthday gift from a friend is always wonderful. One that has been made so over the top that you are the only one who can rock it is transcendentally awesome. Such is the case with this macrame’ “necklace” that rapidly became a 2009 Burning Man Schwag-Rig. Somehow, everything fits on it … in a tangled bank sort of way. And it does have everything. The key to home, a Pi-Stone, popcorn, even a glass bauble with a magic mushroom in it among other assorted bits of gifted love.
Finally, we have the accessory that can turn any pair of boots into epic couture footwear while simultaneously bridging the gap created by too short pant legs (see pic at bottom of post). They’re a little bit steampunk, a lot of post-apocalyptic militaria, and all sorts of vintage hotness. These East German Gaiters from the 1950s have had their leather bits antiqued/distressed and a few metal accents have been added to create a potent effect. We were lucky to find the brass medallions on a vintage coin type belt. All they need now is a healthy dusting of Playa!
We’re already salivating over all the goodies we have in the works for 2010. It will be interesting to see where they stand by the end of the year! What pieces are you getting excited about?
Participate! This is Vol. 1 and if you’d like to see a Vol. 2, please email us with pictures and words honoring your favorite accessories from this last year so we can put them into a blog post! Our Email address is to the right under the follow along links 
March Fourth, Style To Beat The Band
If there were such a thing as too stylish, the March Fourth (M4) marching band would have to qualify. Instead, they remain the darlings of every town they storm into and the focus of many a band-camp urban legend.
This isn’t your run of mill radical, infectious, electric, gypsy-afro-vaudeville-multi-disciplinary marching band either, cause you see, these freaks are burners who RAWK the Playa consistently & without fail. And what’s more fine readers, they’re spreading their special brand of burning freaky-funk around off Playa the old-fashioned way traveling from town to town.
When M4’s on the scene there’s no denying it. From a distance, you can hear the sound coming your way, like your town somehow just became New Orleans while you weren’t looking. Then you see them, and your world forever changes.
Their fashion statement is Marching Band Punk meets Circus Sideshow with a little bit of Post-Apocalyptic Elks Lodge thrown in just for the funk of it. Andy Batt an award winning photographer captures the members’ individual styles at their fantastically freaky finest in a series of brilliant studio portraits.
I know what you’re thinking now, how can we be like them. Well if you don’t have any musical or circus-y performance experience you might have to just arrive on their doorstep all Fight Club style and refuse to leave OR you can choose to be happy enough just to look like they do.
The declining state of school funded marching bands in our country, while deplorable, creates numerous opportunities to purchase awe-inspiring vintage marching band attire for next to nothing. Not surprisingly, many such “Marching Band Uniforms/Jackets/Hats” can be found via simple search on Ebay.
Be forewarned, while these uniforms will arrive styled out to a brilliant degree you will want to take them even further. Study the M4 outfits closely and notice that all have been personalized. You see, it’s not just about looking cool. It’s about being radically empowered in the name of self-expression.
M4 will be at the Broken Spoke in Reno this Saturday night (Nov 7th). It’ll only cost ya $8 and I WILL BE THERE. Come on down, we can compare notes … and outfits.
