Posts with tag fanny pack

Super-amazing alternative blog Coilhouse loves Etsy, the online extra-supermarket for all things handmade, just as much as we do. While we were distracted by the full-sequined tea cozies or bizarre dog-hair sweaters (we don't actually know if those exist, but we wouldn't be surprised), Coilhouse compiled this handy post called "The Pervert's Guide to Etsy." It's just as it sounds, really, so it's not for the faint-of-heart or anyone that has very solid pre-conceived notions of hipster goods.

Looking at the list, we can dig what's going on. Yeah, we're hip (is it hip to use "hip" these days?), and despite the fact that latex isn't our first -- or second or third -- choice for breathable fabric, we can appreciate the naughtier side of this seemingly innocent corner of the Internet world. As for the fanny pack, there aren't enough sexy ruffles in the world to tempt us, as long as the words "fanny" and "pack" are involved.

A recent British survey asked people what they thought the worst fashion faux pas of the summer was, and the number one response was "socks with sandals." We agree -- it's a bad, bad look -- but there were plenty of other fashion tragedies this summer.

As summer comes to an end, we'd like to take a moment to find out what you think was the worst trend/tragedy of the season for men or women. Was it something people took great pains to do, or was it something that was more of a mistake?

You know how sometimes, when you're at the beach, you just wish you had some way to carry your keys, ID, money, and phone, but need to have both hands free, and you don't want to carry a bag?

Wait, you don't? Oh, ummm ... truthfully, neither do we.

Remember that month in 1988 when it was acceptable to wear a fanny pack in public? Seriously, it happened. I remember it fondly. I was in the mall and I was walking downstairs humming along to the Roxette being piped out from Miller's Outpost, or maybe it was Musicland. It's all so blurry. I was wearing a fanny pack, it was gray and it matched the big 'V' on the back of my Vuarnet t-shirt (sleeves rolled) perfectly. It was fantastic. If I close my eyes and concentrate I can go there and hear the sweet synthesizers of my soundtrack and feel the cool of my mullet on the back of my neck. I had the look. That was my day, and the fanny pack was part of it.

By the time I left the mall they were out of style. Fads are ruthless.

Flash forward to the now. It's 2008 and there isn't a fanny pack in sight. All is well. Still, don't you miss the ease of having everything right on your waist? Batman never outgrew the utility belt. Why should we?

Happy Cow has the solution to our problem. They make "Pocket Leather Belts, Belt Bags, Waist Packs, Micro Mini Skirts, Leather Fanny Packs, Belt Pouches, Money Belts, Urban Wallet Belts" and yes, "Utility Belts."

Freaking utility belts. Holy sweetness, Batman.

Perhaps you think it a bit tacky to make leather goods and call your company Happy Cow. Morbid maybe, but not tacky, you see all of the belts are designed and handmade in Australia from organic leather. According to the website, "this means that the leather is sourced only from cows that have died of natural causes." No meat-packing leftovers for these belts. These are cows that enjoyed themselves.

The products offer ample room for all of your things, cell phones, credit cards, make-up, smoke bombs. Whatever you need to carry on your person, there is a place for it on one of these babies.

The fanny pack isn't back, these are above and beyond a simple accessory. They are the focus.

Check it out, this is your day:

As we've established, time and again, there is no cooler fashion accessory on all the planet than a pea-sized pooch. Teacup poodles, bichon frises, Chihuahuas, you name it -- if it can fit in a purse, it's fashion gold.

But for those times when you need something a little less ritzy, and a tad more functional, you should try a fanny pack...for your dog.

Not only is this helpful for when you need to be hands-free, but still want your favorite fur-covered fashion accessory by your side -- some might consider it quite the statement. Especially if you believe the NY Times, who thinks that fanny packs are making a comeback.

Could the pooch pack be the perfect way to combine these two emerging style trends? Oh yes.

[via Productdose]

It's so easy to make fun of fanny packs. They look dumb, they have a silly name -- there's even a whole Ben Folds "rap" song dedicated to Those of Y'all Who Wear Fanny Packs, which isn't exactly flattering. Normally the only place you'd see such an unfortunate garment is on the waists of unfashionable travelers in family movies from the 90s (people who also wear visors, Hawaiian shirts, etc).

But according to the NY Times, the "waist pack" might be coming back, thanks to some work by high-profile, well-respected designers.

One of those designers, Alice Roi, thinks bags should go "hands free" like technology. Jordan Betten, thinks that they're only cheesy when made from cheap leather.

Maybe. I understand that they're functional, and I've seen a few hipsters trying to pull them off (as the 90s continue to come back with a vengeance), but no matter what they're made out of, I still think they look about as cool as pocket protectors, or any other purely functional clothing item.

To wit: A fanny pack by any other name would still be just as lame.

The hipster kids over at American Apparel just rolled out a couple of new pieces for spring. Mostly, it's more of the same -- leggings, t-shirts, socks, headbands -- but there is one new item I thought I would point out: the fanny pack.

AA's new nylon Cordura fanny pack takes the old tourist classic and gives it a nominal face-lift. It's sleeker, and it doesn't have "Daytona Beach" written on it, so in a sense, these bags are slightly better than the fanny packs you might remember from 1988. But be forewarned, readers, a fanny pack is still a fanny pack even if it is made in Los Angeles by the cool kids who brought cotton back.

Remember when fanny packs were the height of fashion? If you are having a hard time shuffling through the dusty Rolodex in your mind, I'll give you a hint: it was during the Reagan administration. The Reagan years might be over, but it seems that the fanny pack has crept it's nylon way back into the fashion scene.

But thankfully, the new fanny pack enjoys a few choice design elements. Instead of being cut from icky, fluorescent nylon fabric, these bags are made from soft, Italian leather or fine fabric. And unlike the fanny packs of yore, the new incarnation totally eliminates the bag bulge by sitting flat against the body. And just to reiterate the fact that these accessories aren't your average German-tourist-at-the-Grand-Canyon-circa-1987, these bags also have a new name. Call them "waist packs", "body wallets" or even the truly anesthetized "belt bags."

Are you interested? If you are, Gucci, Prada and Marc Jacobs all have the luxe versions this season.