The Return of the Drawstring Bucket Bag

The drawstring bag is historically considered to be one of the first handbags, and now it seems to be making a comeback in yet another incarnation. The trend has been attributed to the now infamous Alexander Wang Bucket Bag, the unique shape inspiring endless creations from the likes of Marc by Marc Jacobs and Dior.

But the drawstring bag had humble beginnings, used by merchants as coin pouches to be strategically attached to the belt. In the fifteenth century, women began to favor these little bags, which were now ornate, embellished with beading and embroidery. And though little drawstring evening bags do exist today to some extent, it's the previous money pouch that's had many incarnations, from Marc by Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and Cleobella.

Credit: Shopbop

The Alexander Wang Diego Bucket bag arguably began the whole trend, bringing to mind a desert landscape with its sandy color and combination of smooth suede, lightly pebbled eater accents, and tough silver bolted hardware. True to style, the Diego features the signature Wang studded bottom, first popularized in the Coco Bucket bag.

Credit: Shopbop

The Marc by Marc Jacobs New Q Pixie Drawstring Bag is rawer, closer to it's ancestor than the Alexander Wang, but the bag is also much more casual and fun, rather than the edgy sophistication of the studded Wang version. This one incorporates pleats and big plastic baubles to juxtapose the distressed leather against the shine of the plastic and the clean metal label placed squarely at the front. The fabric handle, wide and casual, makes sure that the shoulder will be as comfortable as the wearer is stylish.

Credit: The Purse Forum

And let's not forget what the original money pouch would look like. With the Bourse, Goyard brings back tradition as it always does by looking to the past and incorporating it in designs. With its signature Goyard hand-painted design and bright leather, this pouch is sure to be as at home in a bag as it could be on a belt. After all, it's quite logical that the roots of your drawstring bucket bag be a medieval money pouch- ours are just larger and considerably more chic.

Christmas Wishlist: Snood!

Credit: Zara.com

Snood? Isn't that the computer game with winking colored shapes that you were addicted to in 8th grade? No! It's winter's latest fashion accessory! (Or at least the revival of it!)

Winter always presents fashion dilemmas for someone like me who is very sensitive to the cold. While some girls seem perfectly comfortable wearing tights and cute light jackets into the bitter cold, I usually have to be bundled up head to toe to brave the wind. Luckily, flipping through some magazines at the gym last week I stumbled upon the snood.

So what is a snood exactly? Well, traditionally it is a type of hairnet that holds the hair in place, but the evolved snood is made of knitwear or jersey and can be worn draped around the back of the neck as a type of cozy scarf, or pulled up over the head to cover sensitive ears when one has to step out into a windy or snowy day. It's a hat, scarf, earmuffs, and hood all in one - but more versatile! Unlike a hat it won't smash down your hair and give you static-y frizz, and you can pair it with any outfit, giving one the opportunity to warm up lighter ensembles in case the weather changes unexpectedly. So add a snood to your winter wardrobe, it's also a great way to mix layers! It seems that many British magazines, such as InStyleUK, ElleUK, and VogueUK are promoting them this season and I think it's time to try out the trend in the States!
VogueUK recommends to buy them in neutral tones to avoid overpowering your wardrobe, and to pair them with anything from jackets to evening dresses

Some people might be skeptical about snoods, but I say for the girl who is going to wear a hat or a hood anyway, a snood is a must-have creative alternative!

Credit: Missoni snood from Vogue.co.UK

Now let's just hope Santa reads this before Christmas...

Little Boots

Walking around looking at the ground (I trip a lot and use this maneuver to avoid falling on my face), I notice an important element of people's outfits as they pass me on the street-the shoes. It never occurred to me that this hilarious, yet dangerous, trait of mine could be so fortunate. I've noticed something in particular about the footwear of the general public. The big black work boot is on the job again.

Credit: apparelsearch.com

You see, it doesn't matter how un-workbootish the rest of your outfit may be (a flowery dress, a prim sweater or a club outfit), a pair of Doc Martens often tends to pull it all together. P.S. the scruffier the better!

Credit: sallyjanevintage.blogspot.com

There is something so chic about the contrast between the hardcore lace-ups and a dainty shift dress. May be we love the definitive quality of stomping about, making our presence known to the rest of the world. Perhaps it's just a slightly cheeky way of backlashing against the status quo of the "cute little shoe" we normally see in fashion culture. Either way, it's plain to see that these boots are exactly what the Doc prescribed. They come in awesome colors too!

Credit: collegefashion.net

Black Friday Bonanza

At Hoot, we love getting good deals -- and luckily, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer us these opportunities after we've fattened up on turkey and stuffing. Here are a few recaps of our shopping excursions after Thanksgiving:

Michele Levbarg-Klein (CC'12)

Credit: pursevillage.com

Online offers are nothing new, but I've never been much of an online shopper because I love going into the stores and (best if it's a good day) walking out toting a fabulous shopping bag with a cherished new present (even if its a present to myself)! But Shopbop.com's offer was just too good to resist. I'd been lusting over Alexander Wang's Coco Studded Duffle since it debuted back in Spring but I worried that as an uber girly-girl, I wouldn't be able to pull off the tough image. Then this season when it came down the runway with silver studs instead of gold (much subtler I think), I just couldn't take it anymore: I had to have it!

Allison Malecha (CC'13)

Credit: saksfifthavenue.com

Seeing as I was in Canada for (American) Thanksgiving and therefore eclipsed from Black Friday sales, I turned to the newer form of Thanksgiving steals – Cyber Monday. I admit that I am not an experienced cyber shopper. So, to avoid being easily overwhelmed, I set a goal: find boots. Specifically, black, leather boots. The first website I pulled up, Saks online, had just the thing: black Candela ‘Robin’ boots with gold stud accent. And 30% off only through Cyber Monday. Perfect. Great. As I was about to click add to shopping cart though, it occurred to me that a whole cyber world of black, leather boots was still out there to be discovered. I had to further investigate: Shopbop, Diesel online, Bloomingdale’s. No luck. Then I checked Bluefly, and what do you know? There was the same pair of Candela boots. Only these ones were $186 compared to Saks’ $210 – and that’s Bluefly’s regular price. This time, I do press add to shopping cart. Lessons learned? 1) Trust first instincts. 2) Online shop more. 3) Cyber Monday deals aren’t necessarily the best ones out there.

Martin Hamery (CC'13)

Credit: urbanoutfitters.com

It was my first Black Friday and I wanted to do it properly. So I got up to meet my habitual shopping partner at the ungodly hour of 6:30 AM at the Apple store on Fifth Avenue. There, I got a $101 discount off the 13-inch MacBook Pro and bought it for $1098. However, as a Columbia student, the regular educational discount is of $100 anyway, so by buying it then, I only saved $1. With it, I was able to get Office 2008 for Mac the special Black Friday price of $98.After, we hit our first and one of my favorite clothing stores: H&M. Although there were decent sales (of course, more in the women’s section than the men’s), as usual, I ended up browsing the new collection. I found myself on original, dinner party style maroon bow tie for $7.95, so not too expensive. Also, a black and white cloud patterned gossamer scarf. My best find was a black sequined vest, the exact same one I had seen back in June in an H&M in Paris. I was dismayed at not finding one my size in Paris, but finally finding it Friday gave me the satisfaction of an archeologist—having personally dug through the racks of many H&Ms in different cities since then. At the register, it turned out that until 10 AM, you could have 25% off one of any article you bought. Therefore, I somewhat did get to partake in the H&M Black Friday sales. At Urban Outfitters in West Village, there was a rack of jeans right outside the front door with pants all for $19.99. I bought a pair of Silence & Noise Black Ripped Twig Jean. I'm thinking they were originally for women, as you can see in the picture, but after all, who are they kidding? Skinny jeans are mostly unisex.

Jina Lim (CC'13)
Credit: strawberrynet.com

I have never gone Black Friday shopping before. (Surprising, I know). Despite my love of sales, shopping and good deals, every year, I would wake up at two o'clock in the afternoon to discover the stack of clothing and silverware my mom brought back from competitive shopping. However, this year I decided to break the tradition of being knocked out by turducken until late afternoon; after all, I was staying in New York City for the break and I didn't have any turkey on Thanksgiving. Woken up at 8 in the morning by a zealous friend who has already decided exactly what she was buying and where she was going, I told myself that I could only buy a nice christmas present for my dad. (I was broke, am broke and will always be broke from unplanned shopping). After getting squished by old ladies at the biggest Macy's looking for gift items, I gave up on Black Friday shopping. While my friend was buying boots at JCPenny for $35 a pair, I decided to take a break at the rather moderately-crowded stores. At Zara, I accidentally ran into, and purchased a super-oversized blouse that comes down to my mid-thigh. It is so comfortable, layer-able, covers my newly-gained "freshmen fifteen" pounds and can be used for dressing up AND down. Back at Columbia, I gave in to StrawberryNet's specials and bought Hermes' 24 Faubourg Coffret, a 4-piece set of my favorite perfume that I left at home in California with a 40% discount. It's classified as a chypre, a family of perfumes with a warm and woody feeling coming from the oak moss and amber. Unlike most perfumes, the warm aura of 24 Faubourg always stays with me for a long, long time. With just one spray of this life-completing eau de parfum, my day is warm and relaxed, no matter where I go and what I wear- hopefully even in NYC's cold weather. Although I didn't find anything for my dad, I'm glad my first Black Friday shopping was an interesting one with New York City's sale-thirsty shoppers--something that you never experience in a tiny beach town of Southern California.

Noel Duan (CC'13)

Credit: aliceritter.com

I totally didn't plan on going Black Friday shopping this year -- I was finally home in California and I wanted to stay in my bed as long as possible. However, that wasn't going to stop me from online shopping. I found the Alice Ritter June Velvet Trim Wool Coat in black on Gilt Groupe for $178 (originally $450) -- which totaled to only $57.69 for me, since I had some many account credits. I have a dashing white winter coat, but it easily gets dirty and needs to be dry cleaned frequently. Black is more mess-proof. After I showered and ate breakfast, my dear mother convinced me to go shopping with her -- at 10:00 a.m., when I was convinced that all the good deals would be gone from the stores. However, in a quick (and successful) one-hour jaunt around Nordstrom Rack (where I exercise my rummaging skills), I purchased a Nanette Lepore 'Good Time' Jacket, two pairs of lacy Betsey Johnson tights, an off-white cashmere-blend Juicy Couture sweater, and a pink Nike yoga mat (since my mother decided to keep my blue one!).

What did you buy for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Any good deals?

It's Christmas Time in the City...

Credit: Allison Malecha, CC '13

The twinkling little lights, the old guys in faux-fur trimmed red hats, the Christmas ditties sounding from every store front...I admit, I'm a sucker for all things holiday. 'Tis the season and what better place to be than NYC? There are, of course, the classic New York holiday tour stops: the towering tree at Rockefeller Center, moonlit ice skating at Central Park, and a night with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Lesser known attractions, though, are the city's grand menagerie of holiday markets. These pop-up shopping meccas can fulfill all your holiday shopping needs.

Take a ride on the 1 and hop off at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market.Winter accessory boutiques and holiday ornament vendors abound, as do mini jewelry boutiques. At Kanari Designs, you'll find statement rings with artsy gold and stone details for $50-55. Or explore the one-of-a-kind metal-dipped leaf pendants ($25-40) at Friction Jewelry.

Credit: Allison Malecha, CC '13

For the friend with a sense of humor, go for a handmade animal hat - ear flaps and all. The $30 may seem a bit over-the-top, but at least the money goes to a good cause - supporting the poor in Nepal.

Credit: Allison Malecha, CC '13

With all this holiday gift hunting, your stomach will be surely be rumbling. Stop off at Josephine's Feast for a piece of Absinthe Cake ($12/cake) or the big brown house of "Homemade Gingerbread Boys and Girls" for a gingersnap glittering with sugar ($3). You'll return to campus with a full belly and an arm full of shopping bags. An afternoon well spent.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market, 59th St & Columbus, open Mon-Sat 10a.m.-8p.m., Sun 10a.m.-7p.m. until December 24th.

For a slightly more breathable atmosphere, head down to Bryant Park. Here the vendors are the dizzying candy-striped vending stands are swapped for cool green ones and the shoppers' frenzy is broken up by a great white stretch of ice. It's also the city's largest holiday market, with over 100 vendors. While many of the 100 have similar wares to the ones at Columbus Circle, there are also a few new stand outs to add to the list. Treat yourself to a silky-smooth hand scrub at Sabon, where you can find Israeli lotions and candles for all your favorite ladies. For gifts on the cheap, find the tent filled with prints - covers from Vogue & The New Yorker, celebrity shots, New York City in every light and season. Your giftee will never guess it only cost you $5. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, btwn 5/6th Aves & 40/42nd Sts, open Mon-Fri 11a.m.-8p.m., Sat 10a.m.-9p.m., and Sun 10a.m.-6p.m. until January 3rd.

Other Holiday Markets worth checking out:

-Gifted, 20 E 4th St & Lafayette St, open December 16-24th, the go-to market for vintage items

-Grand Central Holiday Fair, Lexington Ave & 42nd St, open Mon-Sat 10.m.-8p.m., Sun 11a.m.-7p.m. until December 24th, an indoor and perhaps more elegant experience

-Union Square Holiday Market, W 14th St, open Mon-Fri 11a.m.-8p.m., Sat 10a.m.-8p.m., Sun 11a.m.-7p.m. until December 24th, a market abounding in eco-friendly wares

Starstruck study break

Photo Credit: Dara Adeeyo

Yesterday, I was wandering around the West Village with Dara Adeeyo of Secretista (on a study break in attempt to refresh myself) when the two of us saw Cynthia Rowley greeting shoppers inside her adorable boutique!

I was terribly starstruck and immediately asked her to take a photo with me, which she so kindly obliged to! She also commented on my six-inch BCBG Mendel Wedges == "You're actually going shopping in those, my dear?!" she exclaimed.

I know, I know -- she's very cute. Her daughter, who was pulling a few dance moves here and there, was just as adorable. Must run in the family.

Hoot visits 17

Credit: Anna Cooperberg-Gonzalez (CC'12)

I remember cracking open my first issue of Seventeen when I was 13 years old. I was dazzled by the fun spreads and each month, looked forward to receiving my next issue in the mail. My friends and I would tear out our favorite pages, memorizing the outfits and attempting to recreate them with items from our own closets. Although we may have moved on to other fashion publications, Seventeen will always hold a soft spot in our hearts.

Earlier this semester, members of CU Couture and Hoot were invited to Seventeen's Fashion Department to give feedback on the sections pages at their Reader Round Table. The event was held at Seventeen's office in the Hearst Building, and the girls were joined by Real Girl Models and Reader Contributors from the tri-state area. Candy was served, and there were lots of fun giveaways, including beauty products for the girls to try out.

Betsy Mullinix, stylist and organizer of the event, asked the girls to give their input on the magazine's fashion pages and online content. Girls were asked to weigh in their opinions on both the design of the pages and the clothes themselves. The consensus? Girls want to see more real girl models wearing clothes outdoors or in interactive settings, as opposed to still shots of clothes shot in a studio. While Seventeen is famous for showing girls how to create fun, fashion-forward looks on a budget, the girls agreed that they were willing to splurge, if shown how to wear an item in multiple ways.

Overall, we had a great time at Seventeen, seeing the inner-workings of a fashion publication and meeting a lot of great people. Seeing the covers of previous issues on the wall, we couldn't help feeling a little like our 13-year-old selves, giddy with the excitement of opening each new issue.