In the Middle
The Accessories Edit: What you Need to get you Ready for Autumn An ode to headbands from Anouk Sarfarti Do you recall hair doughnuts? That 2012 trend, turn fashion faux pas. And are you an avid user of scrunchies? If the answer to both of these questions is yes then you must have noticed that, nowadays, hair decoration is all about headbands. But let’s be real for a second, wearing fun hair accessories somehow always makes you look like you’re back in primary school. So why are headbands a thing? To me, they epitomize a lovehate relationship: while on the one hand they necessitate numerous trips to the toilet to tame any rebellious strands of hair, they also help you exude a feeling of power and sophistication. Historically, the Greeks used to receive hair wreaths for Olympic success – a conformational sign of high achievement. More recently, they have popped up in Gatsby galas, 1970’s freedom festivals, and of course in Jackie Kennedy’s luscious locks. So, you might wonder, how and why have headbands swooped back in to our lives? The rational answer would be that fashion is a cycle and that trends eventually come back. The answer I like to give is much simpler: it’s because they are great. You know that amazing feeling you have when your hands have just been manicured?
Well, wearing a headband pretty much feels the same. They are a facial and a blow-dry mixed into one. Two types of headbands always stand out. The first one, more than easy to spot around campus, is a thin simple loop of elastic material. It generally makes the wearer look like they are about to play a tennis match or apply a much needed facemask. Any self-respecting edgy girl will style it with Fila sneakers, wide leg trousers and a fake leopardprinted fur coat from Topshop. The second type is a padded headband, commonly called the ‘Alice band’ as a reference to Lewis Carroll’s heroin. It is bold to wear, so if you are unsure about how to style it (and are looking to awaken your inner Upper East Side), you can always refer to Gossip Girl’s Queen B: Blair Waldorf. Like any resurfacing trend, headbands taste of both nostalgia and progress… Will you be rejoining the club? Anouk Sarfarti Credit: Vogue
Writer Recomendations: Tote Bags
As Gryphon fashion writers, we‘ve got a bit of a penchant for our tote bags. The beloved accessory is rarely far from site on the Leeds campus, so we decided we‘d take you through our personal favourites and why we love them so much.
I adore my LOQI tote bag which depicts Japanese artist Hokusai‘s great wave woodcut print. I think the fact that the print is all over gives the design a real edge on other alternatives, and it makes a great addition to any outfit. The bag also comes with a little pouch, which you can fold the whole bag up into or use as a mini purse. The bag also brings back fond memories, as I bought it after seeing a beautiful exhibition of contemporary Asian art at the Saatchi gallery in London. It‘s a nice feeling to always have piece of art at your side.
My tote of choice is the Lucy and Yak Recycled Cotton Twill Tote bag in Lemon. Not only does the yellow shade provide a cheerful pop of colour to any outfit, the bag is completely sustainable, made entirely from waste fabric. The leftover material from the iconic Lucy and Yak dungarees is placed to the side to and crafted into this beautiful tote by a team of local tailors. This bag can easily fit a laptop and a few books in, therefore making it perfect for sporting around campus. I chose the soft lemon colour as it provides a pop of sunshine in the dark winter university days.
Iona Tompkins
Faye Claydon Personally I like my tote bags to show off my interests, while supporting smaller artists. My Violet Chachki tote was commissioned as a birthday present from an Etsy artist here in the UK - much better than supporting cheap and unethically produced products that have to be shipped from abroad. Tote bags are an affordable way to spice up any simple library outfit and display your personality, whilst still being able to carry all your books, and they can be a great conversation starter too! If you can afford it, you can commission an artist to make you a custom design, or even try your hand at it yourself for a great way to show off your individuality.
Credit: Lucy and Yak
Artist: @snowfoxtradingco on etsy Lizzie Wright Credit: Amazon UK
12
Credit: @snowfoxtradingco
