Looking Like A Fruit Roll-Up + Sexy Librarian Chic
Cargo-pants-turned-shorts because why not, statement embroidered denim, vintage Nike watches and more
Welcome to ICYMI, an ad hoc edition of the Fashion Tingz newsletter that's part curated product guide, part events you need to know about, part fashion places you should visit… but mostly it's a place to delve into good ol’ fashion lore.
So, today we’re going to try something new here on Fashion Tingz.
As an ex-fashion editor and personal stylist, I see a lot of cool fashion shit floating around the digital depths of the Internet.
And I thought, what better way to impart my self-professed wisdom and knowledge with you all than doing ad hoc round-ups of stuff I’m into?
Now, this stuff may seem kind of out there, kind of obscure, or kind of boring — it all depends on who you ask.
This isn’t your typical fashion listicle encouraging you to buy stuff you don’t need. I see this as a curated guide of products, places or events I genuinely feel drawn to whether mainstream fashion peeps like it or not.
Welcome to ICYMI.
The mood of these curated guides will ebb and flow depending on whatever’s going on in the fashion realm, and whatever I’m vibing with. Either way, it’s all that good good shit.
On today's agenda:
Banana-inspired cowboy boots that’ll make you feel like you're shedding your skin
Part slutty, part chic sheer sleeveless tops that’ll put you in your bad bitch era
Vintage sports watches that’ll transport you back to the days of Limewire and dial-up internet
Tongue pin personified sneaker game that's shouty and clouty
And a ton more.
Sometimes, you just stumble across an archival piece you know however hard you try, you’ll probably never be able to get your hands on it. Alas, this is the way I feel about this 1996 Issey Miyake Parachute Bomber Jacket ASAP Rocky has been seen wearing. But if he wants to trade, I’d be down. Or he can hit me up for some free babysitting services. Whatever comes first.
Utah-based rising label BAD SON was founded in 2020, ah, the good old days (I joke), and it’s all but popping off in a big way. The brand reinterprets staple pieces like puffer jackets, hoodies and cargo pants, and for its “VESSEL” drop they focused on creating a streamlined capsule collection that hit all the marks. My fave item was this pair of chain-link fence print and floral embellished cargo trousers that you could adapt to shorts. Mind blown.
Are these real? Are they not? Does it matter? If you want to play that age-old prank of slipping on a banana peel, then these banana boots by Charles Jeffery Loverboy are the boots you’ve got to do it in. I first saw these on Twitter (or X, I don't know what we're calling it these days) and I haven't been able to get them off my mind ever since. Have you looking like a fruit roll-up come undone? Iconic.
Ok ok ok, so Alabaster Industries has proved that watches can be so much more than a device you need to tell the time - because that's what phones are used for now, right? The US-based brand has dropped a collection of watches so cool they’ll have you thinking you walked straight off of the set of a Marvel movie, the Venom Marvel movie to be exact. Its liquid metal web-like range of designs looks like a pair of fangs have trapped the watch face, much like getting caught in a spider's web.
Ugh, this 2023 denim by London-based streetwear label House of Errors is major. Do you see the detail? No really, do you see it? It’s statement denim there's no doubt about it, but it’s also craftsmanship, a skilled design process thought out all the way through, attention to detail and embroidery on acid.
If anything was ever going to divide the fashion masses, then it’d probably be this pair of furry green Marni Maverick sunglasses. I’m neither for nor against, and if I'm completely honest I think the green furry leather would make you look like you were trying to cosplay The Grinch. But I think they are vibey because they divide rather than conform, and that's a thumbs up from me.
Everyone and their mothers have a pair of Adidas Sambas these days, and I'm not gonna lie I may jump on the bandwagon in the imminent future. One thing I find cool as the fashion crowds flock to this sneaker is how they’re levelling up and putting a DIY spin on it, this time in the form of tongue pins. Are Sambas a basic bitch sneaker? Yes. But do we care? Meh. We support basic bitches over here.
Ever since I saw Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Ama Serwah Genfi, better known by her stage name Amaarae, in an ad for that Mugler x H&M collab, I knew this would not be the last we saw of her. And thank heavens for that. Now I don't know what brand she's wearing in this shot that I saw on @StreetFashion01, but if you know then hit your girl up — and thanks in advance.
Yes, yes and more yes. This green leather bomber by Gone Homme is one of those under-the-radar fashion items you’ll be adding to your wish list like there's no tomorrow, praying to the fashion gods you can snag one on release day. It’s giving new kid on the block brand vibes. It’s giving I'm here and I'm ready.
If I continue to be really, really good until the end of the year, do you think Santa will leave me a vintage Nike Triax watch under the Christmas tree for me? Or do you think I’m more likely to stumble across one of these gems on Depop where I’ll have to haggle with an annoying clout-chasing seller who wouldn’t know fashion if it hit them in the face?
Oooo the Tabi, the shoe that has the ability to divide us all! Whether you're for or against it, the Tabi takeover has happened, is happening and will continue to happen. So get on board or get left behind. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better… this black leather chained-up blinged-out toe version graced the earth with its presence.
Have you ever seen a top that is chic, slutty, and will have you feeling like a sexy librarian? I don’t think anything captures this vibe better than the Uniqlo x Mame Kurogouchi sheer sleeveless top I stumbled across when I was going through a bit of a never-ending scroll phase on TikTok. Nevertheless, I’m glad I found this gem. I’m just gutted it was sold out by the time it caught my eye, I’ll have to live out BookTok fantasies in my dreams.
You should stop by…
New York: opening on November 18, 2023, Grace Wales Bonner is curating an exhibition at MoMA The Museum of Modern Art for its ‘Artist’s Choice’ initiative. Featuring approximately 50 different selected works, the show will be the 16th instalment in the series running until April 7 2024.
London: the streets of East London are vintage heaven, and PastDown is a by-appointment-only retail space that also consists of a growing permanent archive of over 100 pieces that are available to rent. Its become a favourite spot for rappers and streetwear enthusiasts thanks to a robust stock of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Nike, CP Company, Arc'Teryx and more.
Milan: Diesel is once again opening up its show at Milan Fashion Week to the public, and on September 20 it's returning to its open public format that it hopes to engage with a larger, diverse audience.
New York: Essx is a new multi-brand concept store where fashion and creative community co-exist. On Manhattan’s Lower East Side, it's a space that's trying to do something a little different by rethinking the retail experience.
If you're vibing with this newsletter, let me know. Or better yet, you can subscribe to get weekly doses of fashion goodness straight in your inbox — the choice is yours.