Midi rings
Also known as fingertip rings or tea rings, midi rings are worn on the mid-section of your fingers. These tiny rings are like gold and silver nail art you can wear every day. Popstar Lady Gaga flaunts golden rings on her fingertips. Singer Beyonce Knowles made a fierce statement in
geometric Laruicci gold fingertip rings in the video for her single Run The World ( Girls). However, it was on trendsetter Rihanna's cover of the album Rated R that the world first noticed them. It had her in a leather top, with her hand covering her right eye — each finger wrapped in an intricate set of fingertip rings. How to sport them: Stack a bunch of midi rings together to create an accordion ring. Just like you pile on bracelets to your wrists, midi rings can be mixed and stacked on your fingers. Or slide one thin ring on a finger. When shopping for one, make sure it is small enough to fit on your fingers' mid-section so that it stays conveniently above your knuckles.
The eVest
If you often worry about whether you can accommodate a mobile phone, an iPod, an mp3 player and a PDA into your jacket while travelling, then the eVest could be just the thing for you. Invented by Chicago-based lawyer-turned-technical entrepreneur Scott Jordan, the eVest (www.scottevest.com) is a lightweight, mostly sleeveless, waterproof jacket made of cotton and nylon. Apart from incorporating eight or more pockets for the storage of electronic devices, it has a unique feature — a system of fabric "channels" which allow the wearer to route wires from devices such as earphones through the pockets.
It's the kind of thing that turns dreams of luggage-free travel into a reality. Last September, three adventurous friends (British-American Patrick Marsden, and Londoners Jake O'Hear and Ed Templeton) embarked on a No Baggage Challenge across India in an auto-rickshaw to raise money for charity. There was no luggage. They only took what would fit in their eVests, and blogged about their travels on juhubeachbandits.com.
You oughta know the pickle stabber
A boot with a very high, thin heel that is, in fact, so pointy that you could stab a pickle with it! The term is based on Pickelhaube, a spiked helmet used by the German Imperial army in the 19th century.
Boho rocks
An innovation of the bohemian fashion revival is the boho rock — a temporary forehead tattoo that resembles the skinny headbands hippies wore. Its advantage over the headband is that women never have to worry about them slipping off or creasing their straight, silky hair.
The bikini
The Biniki or the "butt bra" is like a Wonderbra for your derriere. Comfortable and visible under most clothing, they shape, tone and support your derriere in an instant.
Coming soon: Colourchanging clothing
How would you like to own a shirt that turns neon orange when you're walking along a heavily trafficked road? Jonathan Rossiter and Andrew Conn, engineers at the University of Bristol in the UK, have engineered soft materials that mimic a cuttlefish's colourchanging skin, paving the way for "smart clothing" that might help us take camouflage to a whole new level.
The pelmet
It's a very short mini-skirt that looks like a wide belt. The analogy comes not from the protective helmet worn by motorcyclists but from the narrow piece of fabric used to hide a curtain pole. How to sport it: This trend is only for the bearers of great legs. If your lower half shows any sign of cellulite, avoid a pelmet at all costs.
Wedge sneakers
This style of sneakers is a cross between the typical sneaker design and the wedge heel. Ever since wedge sneakers debuted on the Marc by Marc Jacobs runway last September, hipsters have been going gaga over these high-heel sports shoes. But their success could be largely attributed to French designer Isabel Marant, a favourite with models off-duty, who featured them in her Spring 2012 collection. The shoes were immediately sold out, leaving every designer scrambling to create their own version of the trendiest sneakers. They've been spotted on the feet of supermodels like Gisele Bundchen, Miranda Kerr and Joan Smalls.
Hollywood style icons
Katy Perry, Kate Bosworth and Elle Fanning paired them with jeans, flowy chiffon skirts and baggy jeans respectively. They are coming soon to a store near you. So, put them on your wish list, pronto! How to sport them: Wear them with a relaxed blazer, a leather motorcycle jacket or a baseball-inspired tee. Feminine skirts will give your look a girly edge. Fitted bottoms will help balance out the chunky shoes and keep you from looking frumpy. Avoid jeans that bunch up at the ankle; if they do, either cuff or fold them.
