Silly Bandz - How the Big Trend Wave begun

Silly  Bandz  Craze

Silly Bandz

If you have kids at home, around or in close family, you definitely would have seen or heard about the most talked about subject at school - Silly Bandz. Silly Bandz is an invention of colorful silicone rubber bands with innumerous styles and shapes. Invented to attract the kids, these come in all different colors and every shape you can imagine that would make a kid want more. Characters, Animal, flowers, letters, numbers, you name it, you would find one. Silly Bandz have become a craze, a fashion, a style.

One newspaper post mentioned that Silly Bandz were actually banned in some schools as they were objects of distraction. Kids love to trade them and wear them as bracelets to school.

How were  Silly  Bandz  discovered ?

The man behind this school age craze is Rob Croak. It was he who started this trendy jewelry amongst kids. With a journey that was not absolutely a straight success, Croak has a lot to share for budding entrepreneurs and why they should believe in their idea and keep looking to hit the next big thing.

Croak was visiting his supplier in China in 2007 where he saw some thin animal-shaped wrist bands. He had an intuition that they'd be popular. He had innate ability of spotting trend and thought this would be a great trend setter for "idle hands" theory. He defined "idle hands" theory as people's tendency to fidget when they have nothing to keep their hands busy with. He also believed that the unique designs could make these bracelets subject of a conversation. It was only later that he saw that these bands had the potential of being a collectible among the school goers. A lot of Silly Bandz packs are created based on the feedback from fans of Silly Bandz. Listening to customers is sure way of creating something that would be accepted by them.

Silly Bandz

The aspect of trading the Silly Bandz was really a byproduct of Croak's thought process. Once he was back from China, he asked his team of designers to create some prototypes. Rest is history. Silly Bandz captured the market like fire and are now sold in all retail stores all over the country.

What  is  the  next  fashion  trend ?

The creator of silly bandz kept an eye on people behavior, what they wear and the online fashion malls they visit. For them, it was not about being a one-hit wonder. To keep launching new successful products that become hits as fashion accessories, Croak has established an incubator to develop new ideas.  

There are few businesses where time to market matters. If you miss the bus, someone else would reach before you. Fashion Industry is one such market where time is of essence.

Croak's advice to entrepreneurs is to believe in yourself and your idea and not to give up ever. Because if you do give up, you're never going to know what could have happened.

Croak and his team are planning some more products this year that would hit the retail stores and onlinejewelry stores.

Designing Trendy Asymmetric Earrings

Jewelry design is an art. Not so long ago, it was a niche skill with selected few considered masters in trendy jewelry design. Today, there are plenty of designers having their own designs and most of them have created a mark for their brands. While there are brands that are launched and have a silent death, some are here to say.

Music Notes Asymmetric Earrings @ www.mallofstyle.com

The market has become accessible to all and a lot of do-it-yourself kits are available that would help anyone to get started. You may make a few mistakes, break a few accessories, but ultimately if you have the art in you, you would design some real unique and trendy jewelry.

Have you ever tried designing asymmetric jewelry? 

Asymmetrical jewelry is obviously developed for pieces that go in pairs. Therefore, the most common asymmetric jewelry is seen in earrings. It just means that the pair would be distinctly different, yet something would hold them together and still make them look like a pair.

So what is it that you need to keep in mind when designing asymmetric earrings?

Do  your  homework

Before you get started with designing the asymmetric earrings, try some leg work. Pull out your jewelry box and try to group earrings. Do a mix match and see if you can create a few unique pairs. There is some basic criterion that you must keep in mind, when designing or creating an asymmetric earring pair. If your pair creates a nice visual, you got it!

Angry Bird Earrings @ Mall of Style

Common  Base  Material

Check the material of the earrings you are designing or pairing. The base material needs to be similar. If you pair enamel plating with silver plating, it would not be eye appealing. Have a common material and then play with the other variables – Color, Style, Shape and Size. Make sure when you are creating a pair; it makes a nice visual conversation. Anything that adds a visual interest is attractive.

Bring  harmony  &  Play  with  variations

Try doing beads asymmetric jewelry; you can play with the size, shape and color. This mismatched pair in a bead style asymmetric earring works well. Try having the beads on a small silver chain and then have some colored beads or pearls on them. Have a bead in different shapes. The silver chain makes them look like sisters and at the same time, they have a slightly different profile. These slight differences that brings in harmony and at the same time variations, add to the excitement of the asymmetric relationship.

Complementing  &  Contrasting  Colors

Initially it may look awkward to wear something drastically contrast in color. However contrast colors enhance the beauty of asymmetric earrings. As long as the DNA is to make the pair look like sisters, you would not go wrong. With a little bit of exercise, you would be able to play with complimenting and contrast color to design or pair your own asymmetric earrings. Make sure they are different enough to make a nice visual dance.

Bow & Dress Asymmetric Earrings
www.mallofstyle.com

Theme  Balance

Check for a balance between the two. See if they make a story. When you design just pick a theme. You could pick themes on fruits, dress, music notes, and characters. If the two pieces that you are picking tell a story together, they would look great as a pair. However, if you are making vague choices like selecting a treble music note with a strawberry, there would be no connect.

There are some of the key focus areas of an asymmetric earring design. Share your thoughts and let us know your experience on designing asymmetric earrings. You may also check some unique asymmetric earrings @ Mall of Style Online Jewelry Store.

Accessories to Enhance the Fashion Potential

Accessories are a great way to add to your fashion quotient. You can use accessories like nothing else to pull your ensembles. Choice of Accessories and the way you use them, changes with fashion and season. However, you may use them creatively and alter them to add more statement and give you more variety.

Here are a few ways to do that.

Stand-out  Accessories

Satin Fashion Scarves @ Mall of Style

Choose accessories smartly. Look for pieces that can help you grab the spotlight. Accessories are objects that can enhance your otherwise mainstream outfit. It can grab attention, make eyeballs roll. It can add zing

to a boring outfit. It can subtle a loud outfit.

The bottom-line is picking your options carefully: a necklace or pattern scarf, a pair of bold shoes, colored jeans, a trendy watch, or a stunning bracelet. Make the right color, texture and style choices. Do not make your outfit loud. With complex or bright color outfits, use plain accessories to avoid distractions. With plain outfit, jinx it up with a trendy jewelry or fashion accessory.

Change  with  the  season

Accessories can be worn year-round. Same accessories could also be worn year-round with a little bit of creativity. A simple accessory like scarves can be worn in more than 20 different ways. Not only does it make you wear it more often, it also gives you a new look. Carry some research on scarf-wrapping techniques. You would be amazed by everything that you can do with a small satin.

Create  Combos

Keep it simple when you accessorize yourself. When your clothing is simple, add an accessory or two to spice it up. When your clothing is complex and has wraps or fur, just keep it simple with one accessory.  Loading with too many pieces, does more harm than good and creates barriers. Hone one or two accessories that are inviting and catch attention. Pick bright colored jewelry to spice up neutral colored

clothing. Classic pieces never go out of fashion – consider diamonds or pearls, for nicer occasions.

Panda Crystal Brooch @ www.mallofstyle.com

Invest  in  Accessories

-          Look out for new style and fashion. Check pieces that intrigue you, even if that is not your style.

-          Don’t limit to shoes and jewelry. Try on belts and hats.

-          Consider purchasing a short tie scarf or long fashion scarf. Make sure the style appeals to you and that does not sit in the closet.

-          Belts have the potential to change the way a garment looks on you. They accentuate the narrowest part of the waist.

-          Keep rotating your bags and purses.

-          Buy jewelry that stands out. Go for window shopping or shop jewelry online. Go for unusual, unseen ones as long as you can carry the change.

There are ways and means you could flatter your accessories. Do it all year round and make an impression last forever.

What is your unique way of styling? 

Imagine a world without Jewelry

You wake up one morning, looked at the watch and started off your day as any other day. Brush, Tea / Coffee, Shower, getting dressed, looking at yourself in the mirror and having the feeling of pride –‘Umm, someone’s really pretty!’

And then you open your jewelry drawers to add that extra oomph factor with some of the jewelry and accessories. Something that just not makes you look more beautiful, but also something that makes you more confident and gives you an attitude. Well, coming back, to your surprise all your shiny, gorgeous, beautiful, pieces go missing. Really? Now what?

Ever imagined, what would happen if all the jewelry, real and fake disappeared from the earth one morning? What would the world be like?

Let’s see what it appears to me.

1.     Stress  Shopping

      What would women do if they would get stressed? I know a lot of friends and colleagues who shop when they are stressed. I do it too. If there is no jewelry in our malls and online jewelry stores, we would miss one of the best stress relaxation methods that have worked on women for ages. Yoga, Aerobics, Jogging are all good, but jewelry shopping is a kick ass.

Wedding Ring

2.     Wedding  Ring 

      If there was no jewelry what would couples exchange for their wedding vows? The most beautiful thing in a wedding is finding the best engagement ring on earth. So what do you think would replace the engagement ring in a world without jewelry

3.     Earn  more  and  save  more  

      On the brighter side, maybe there would be less to spend if there is no jewelry. Women would get restless during their shopping spree and men would be happy as they don’t have to earn crazy more to make their partners happy.

4.     Less  Revenue 

      Ah, I see something hitting the bottom lines of giant retailers. Retail is a low profit margin business; jewelry is a big part of it. And no jewelry would mean less revenue for the retail giants. Does not sound good to the people with business acumen.

5.     Gold  War  would  end

      That’s a biggie. Nations today are at war or war-like situation every now and then because of the power. Oil and Gold are the two key elements that make one nation more powerful than the other. If all the jewelry including fine jewelry is taken away, the world banks would not be as powerful as they are today. So there would be no rule, no war, and no power.

6.     Conversations

      Ever heard two women gossip. What do you think they talk about? Here are a few picks – men, clothes, shows, kids, pets, and Jewelry. So if there is no trendy jewelry, women would have less to talk about. Maybe they will need to talk about something else.

7.     Looking  good

      While all women are beautiful, some add zeal by fashion accessories they put on. No jewelry means just the basics. Every woman would need to look good purely on merit, nothing external.

Jewelry Sets. Courtsey  www.mallofstyle.com

8.     Get  to  work  early

      Women can reach early to work since they would save so much of time. There would be no time needed for jewelry selection and putting them on and then cleaning them and packing them and buying them and returning them. Yes returning them!!

     So while there are pros and cons in a world without jewelry, it’s very difficult to take this awesome creation away from women. What do you think could be one crazy imagination of yours, of a world without jewelry?