No matter what city or on what continent Fall/Winter fashion weeks were held, there was one common thread.
The renaissance of the functional accessory. Oftentimes, the couture stands alone on the catwalk but for this season, the real story was most certainly the accoutrements. In this issue, NICHE looks at four ‘best in show’ fashion accessories — exceptional eyewear, haughty hats, glorious gloves and winter-wonderful wraps.
EYEWEAR
Through the glass of cat-eye frames and to-die-for bedazzeled sunglasses, eyewear is at the apex of fashion forward for winter 
statement pieces. From vintage inspired, geometric, extravagant or simply elegant, runways are filled with an abundance of whimsical designer eyewear for the season. Elegant 50’s inspired frames from Badgley Mishka complement the look, bringing a mysterious finish to chic daywear. Michael Cinco brought out his creative edge, presenting a collection styled with brilliant and extravagant eyewear.
Pair with an all-black ensemble and let your eyewear tell the story of the season by adding a spark of radiance to winter accessorizing.
HATS & GLOVES
Channeling the opulence of Saint Petersburg’s Winter Palace, designer, Pamella Roland styled her collection with simplistic leather headbands to complement the winter collection. Oscar de la Renta’s feminine aesthetic and heritage influence reflected into a collection of cinched-waist silhouettes accessorized with 
elongated sleek, cloche style hats. ‘Project Runway’ winner, Michelle Lesniak also incorporated a cloche inspired hat into her winter runway collection, which was paired with a chunky knit, bringing a sophisticated edge with extreme individuality.
The use of gloves this season is eclectic. From short to long, black to coloured, and leather to knit, designers accessorized down to the fingertips with spins on the classic winter essential. Designer, Charlotte Ronson styled her designs with inspiration from 90’s grunge revival with a mod-like twist, using leather and tweed in her collection. Playing on the frosty weather favourite, runway shows saw fingerless styled gloves, finger- only gloves, elbow-length and unique opera style gloves.
WRAPS
Wraps can be worn for additional warmth and top designers show that they are a lead accessory when layering a winter ensemble. Designers stay true to their aesthetic while bringing unique takes 
on the wrap in rich colours and textures. Ralph Rucci used pantone colour Acai, to add opulence and elegance into his winter collection, including a timeless wrap. Fur is no longer just for coats, it has become a statement twist in the story of the season — Vera Wang’s fur stole in her winter collection is a great example of this. Mara Hoffman embodied what a wrap should accomplish, an added personality especially achieved through her choice of leopard print. Paired with a sheer underlay on a monochromatic outfit, Donna Karan brought a sharp, chic edge to her design through the use of a black wrap coat attached to an infinity style fur neck piece. Worn as a shawl or shoulder wrap, Costello Tagliapeitra paired runway looks with knit wraps in warmer fall tones.
By Josie Saldat inside the Winter 2014 issue of NICHE
