New Love.

Well, I have a new fashion love… and it goes by the name of:

RetroSuperFuture

Anyone who knows me know that I have a strong and lengthy obsession with Ray Ban sunglasses. (Wayfarers to be exact.) And while my Ray Ban shades will always be number one in my heart, I’ve stumbled across another brand of sophisticated eye wear – and I can’t take my eyes off of them. The brand, like I mentioned before, is called Super by RetroSuperFuture. The title may be a mouthful, but it completely explains the brand in those three words. They are taking classic and retro designs and bringing them up to date and into the future.

Some of their glasses and sunglasses do have a similar feel to the Ray Ban Wayfarer, however, they have many different interesting models as well. And like the Wayfarer, they are made with the utmost quality and are hand crafted in Italy. Price wise, they are right around the same price as Ray Bans, although some models are more expensive. This price depends on colors or special editions and whether or not some models are wrapped in leather. Either way, I have found myself falling in love with just about every model and frame shape. What RetroSuperFuture does best is combine great and interesting design with high quality materials and bright and attractive colors.

basic wayfarer

flat top

w

ciccio

andrea colony

lucia

Whether you like to stick with the more traditional look of the basic wayfarer shape, the more modern flat top, the bulkier ciccio, the block-like ‘w‘, the crystal look of the andrea colony or the retro chic lucia frame, the Super sunglasses line is irresistible and hard to miss. And celebrities from all

corners of the entertainment world have been seen sporting these classy shades. People like Gwen Stefanie, Rihanna, David Beckham, Katy Perry, Kid Cudi, JK Rowling and Jessica Alba just to name a few… While the brand’s popularity is still climbing, its clientele is also growing.

I know that OU students and people of Athens often buy their clothing online, and since these shades are only sold in a select few boutiques worldwide, your best bet would be to purchase a pair (or three) online at stores like 80s Purple or EyeGoodies. And don’t forget that the possibilities of color and model are practically endless, as I could not discuss all of them in just this post. Perhaps if the brand continues to gain recognition in the future, they will be easier to hunt down and purchase. Until then, be one of the first and few to rock these retro stunners.

To find out more about RetroSuperFuture and how the brand started, click here. That also connects to their blog that shows all of the new models and news.

oxfords.

While walking around campus lately, I’ve been a little appalled at the selection of footwear OU students have to offer. I long for the variety of shoes I was used to seeing in New York; where it was hard to find even two people wearing the same pair! The overwhelming majority of students prance around in foam flip flops, half-dead tennis shoes or last year’s craze — gladiators. While the latter isn’t a bad option, I think it’s important to realize that there are more shoe options than just heels, sandals and sneakers. Alas, there is another category that most Athenians seem to have forgotten: the oxford.

Whether you’re inspired by the new dandy/androgynous fashion trend or just looking for a new pair of summer kicks, the laced up oxford look is for you.

Let me be clear that by ‘oxford’ I don’t mean boat/dock shoes (which are fine for summer as well.) Instead I am alluding to a more sophisticated model. Taking after an Italian, tailored, Sartorialist style, the oxford shoe should be a staple in your wardrobe. The many different shapes, colors and versions of the shoe are flattering on almost any type of foot. Real leather, fake leather, canvas,  or crushed velvet — all fabrics can work in your foot’s favor. And if a simple crisscrossed lace isn’t good enough for you, try making the laces go straight across. This gives an overall cleaner, more modern impression. Not thrilled with regular laces? Try using contrasting colored laces, ribbons or chiffon to glam up your interpretation.

The other neat thing about this kind of shoe is that you can successfully wear it in a variety of ways. Whether it’s barefoot with your pants cuffed at the ankle, over a pair of argyle socks or with sheer black tights and a flirty skirt — this shoe can adapt to almost any outfit and occasion.

Below are some favorites that I have stumbled upon while surfing the net. I urge you to branch out and buy a pair. Perhaps you could start with a faux leather neutral color with regular black cord laces and then later on purchase a bright pink pair with black wing tips and ribbon for laces! Either way, do yourself a favor and ditch the $5 flip flips… the sky is the limit with this trend, and it is guaranteed to spice up your usual summer garb.

International Fashion

I met so many new and different people attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). From New York to California and all of states in between, the whole country seemed to be accounted for. But aside from the United States, I went to school with students from all over the world. Geographically diverse and rich in culture, we played host to a wide array of nationalities. The majority of people hailing from Canada, France, England, Italy, Germany, China, Japan, Morocco, India and South Korea were among the most popular.

And with these diverse backgrounds came diverse fashion. One of the more interesting styles came from strong Asian influences; South Korean, Japanese and Chinese students had some of the most interesting clothes and fashions and were always quite intriguing and inspiring. Their trends seemed to spawn from the streets and trickle up with people tweaking things to make it their own.

Here at OU I was surprised to see the number of Asian students walking around campus, and was happy to see that the majority of them were just as well dressed and innovative as my friends from FIT! There are multiple distinct styles within the overall general Asian influence. One style is bold and colorful, and can even be described as playful. Or on the other hand, very stream lined, minimalistic and modern. The overall aesthetic is very unique, and I hardly see anyone wearing the same thing twice.

A fellow friend and writer for Thread Magazine, Catherine Caldwell, also agreed that this niche of stylish international students at OU have a great fashion sense about them. She mentioned her thoughts to me earlier tonight and it spurred my memories of friends and acquaintances from FIT.

Although the presence of these fashion forward students was much larger at FIT, I still appreciate and enjoy seeing those trends carried over here in Athens. I have always loved ‘out of the box’ design and style, and these students, especially, seem to embody that.

Some websites and stores dedicated to these different styles are listed below. I would suggest taking a look at them and comparing them to the U.S. based styles and online stores you regularly visit. Most of these sites also have links to other new and interesting fashion related websites. You could easily purchase any of these vibrant styles for your own wardrobe.

• Zipia
• Style-Arena
• Naning9
• Apparel-web
• Street-fashion
• Asian Fashion