New Balance and Staud are back with their fifth collaboration. On Thursday, the duo announced a new assortment of summer-ready styles that honors Staud’s southern California roots, while paying homage to the ‘80s and ‘90s surf scene of the Golden State.
“From the athleticism to the culture that surrounds the sport, it was a natural fit for the theme of this new collection,” said Sarah Staudinger, Staud’s co-founder and creative director, in a press release. “We accentuated the vintage southern California surf scene from the late ’80s and early ’90s, but with fresh details that bring more functionality to the pieces.”
The collection includes apparel like bike shorts, one-shoulder tops, and beach-ready dresses in bright pops of color, a nod to California’s surf culture but also Staud’s heritage. “The bright reds and pinks that emphasize our signature colorways are mixed with baby blues and bold logos for that heritage feeling,” Staudinger said in a press release. There are also two new colorways for the New Balance XC-72 “dad sneakers,” which include a white model with black ties and a colorblocked version with pops of blue, red, and yellow.
This lineup concludes the partnership between New Balance and Staud. Starting at $70, the New Balance and Staud collaboration is available now on Staud.com and New Balance.com.
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Keira Knightley during “Pride and Prejudice” New York Premiere – Outside Arrivals at Loews Lincoln Center in New York City, New York. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
If you’re cringing recalling your “bicep cuff” days, know that this piece looks nothing like the relics of the butterfly clips era. Take, for example, Blumarine which featured a bedazzled piece that tapped into fashion’s recent logomania craze. Or: Prada, which showed an elegant minimalist strap that mimicked a satin belt. On the celebrity front, Dua Lipa gave the trend her stamp of approval, wearing a silver version from Blumarine’s spring 2022 collection, paired with, what else but, a butterfly top.
From Egyptian queens to Mayan kings, the arm cuff has long been a symbol of social rank and power. It’s no wonder Wonder Woman and Xena, the protagonist of the Warrior Princess series, wore the accessory as part of their battle-ready ensembles. In the early 2000s, celebrities, including Keira Knightley and Aaliyah, adopted the arm jewelry as a red carpet statement, paired with mini skirts and jeans, as well as formal gowns, showing the versatility of this accessory. (Personally, I lived through the accessory’s early ‘00s popularity in Puerto Rico, where arm cuffs were a must-have thanks to the success of the Brazilian soap opera O Clone.)
While the arm cuff was ubiquitous 20 years ago, it hasn’t been as quick to return as other Y2K accessories like Bratz-approved platforms. Maybe because, back in the early 2000s, the accessory looked borrowed from a costume department and featured garish elements like animal heads (see: Knightley’s snake-shaped cuff above) — a look more fitting for a Game of Thrones episode rather than real-life fashion.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 27: Aaliyah attends the 2000 MTV Movie Awards at Sony Studios on June 3, 2000 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
But the newest comeback ushers in the new age of the arm cuff. For the new season, designers like Fendi and Tory Burch reimagined the jewelry piece in more minimalist designs that are worlds away from the costume-y styles of the ‘00s. If its new iterations don’t convince you, this might: The bold accessory highlights the arms, making its wearer look like a superhero in the process. Plus, it’s the perfect accoutrement to amp up even the most mundane looks, which is why brands like Prada, Raf Simons, and Fendi juxtaposed it with feminine, minimalist frocks
As summer reaches its final weeks, there’s still time to give the arm cuff a much-deserved chance. Below, styles to get you started.
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I’ve never felt comfortable wearing dresses. They feel strange and ill-fitting to me — despite the fact that I envy how other people look in them. I know this is part of a larger conversation about my gender dysphoria: I was socialized as a woman, but I’ve been questioning my gender for a while now.
But on the subject of sundresses, I know they represent charm and romantic appeal to so many people — including my partner. In reality, I’m more of a black-T-shirt-and-biker-shorts type of person. I’ve always worn classic Vans, Doc Martens, and Birkenstocks (like a true bisexual, so I’ve been told). I rock flannels, jumpsuits, and button-downs instead of skirts and floral tops. I traded in my lace pushup bras for sports bras years ago, and I’ve never looked back. So, while I might like the idea of sporting a sundress, I feel far sexier in a T-shirt.
When I’m in the clothes that suit me, I’ve noticed that I carry myself differently. I feel like I’m really inhabiting my own body — which is to say that, broadly speaking, there’s an undeniable connection between how we dress and how we feel. And even if Instagram models and sponsored ads would have us believe that in order to be objectively attractive, one must sport matching lingerie sets and little linen dresses, in reality, the things that we feel sexiest in are personal. Sex appeal is subjective — and so are the ways we might clothe ourselves to achieve it.
That’s why we partnered with AZOⓇ* — the urinary and vaginal health brand that’s all about doing away with bodily shame of all kinds — to ask seven women and gender-nonconforming folks about which clothes make them feel their sexiest and most confident. Here’s what they had to say.
Thalita F., 28, Las Vegas
“Ever since I had my first child a couple of months ago, I’ve found myself looking for new ways to feel sexy. Both my headspace and my body are changing — so, at the moment, loungewear has been a big favorite. I never thought I’d feel sexy in sweatpants and a sports bra, with my postpartum tummy and stretch marks out, but knowing how powerful my body is and seeing the beauty in how it created my daughter, I feel even sexier than I did pre-baby.”
Jamie S., 31, United Kingdom
“When I finally started throwing off the binary ideals of what ‘should’ be sexy, I found so much joy and freedom in my self-expression. As a transmasculine person, I feel most confident and most like myself when I’m wearing a binder, a T-shirt or shirt, and ‘men’s’ underwear. I feel grounded. Like everything just falls into place. Seeing my inner self expressed on the outside has given me a level of self-confidence that I didn’t think was possible in the 30 years before I started exploring my gender. Shirts and boxers have given me more confidence and self-love than any trip to Victoria’s Secret ever did.”
Kelly A., 40, South Wales
“The clothing I feel sexiest in will always be classic ‘80s vintage. Basically anything with shoulder pads. My favorite item at the moment has to be my ‘80s denim dress (with pockets) or my electric blue jumper dress with fur shoulders. Both give me a sense of power, and I feel like that’s reflected in the silhouettes of the garments. I think the flamboyant styles I’m veering toward right now link to the open nature of my sexuality. I’m not afraid of who I am and what I stand for, and I think my clothes speak that message, too.”
Taneasha W., 28, North Carolina
“I feel most confident when I’m showing off my favorite physical assets — and I’m not ashamed to say those are my cleavage and my thighs. I feel sexiest in an airy cleavage-baring sundress in a bright color that’s short enough to show some thigh.
“Because I’m a larger-bodied person, I’ve grown accustomed to being hyper-aware of what my body looks like or how other people are potentially reacting to it. I hate wearing things that make me want to shift and adjust all day — like shapewear or tight skirts. That said, one of my least favorite parts of my body has always been my belly, so I also make a point to go out of my way to wear things that don’t hide it: crop tops, high-waisted shorts, and dresses that show a little jiggle. There’s always something sexy about having the confidence to show off your body.”
Christine S., 33, Long Island
“I feel sexiest when I’m in summer clothes — mini skirts and little tops. In winter, it feels like I’m hiding my body. It feels strange and restrictive to have to do so just to keep warm.”
Tawny L., 36, New York City
“I’m obsessed with Skims — I walk around the house in my matching sets and feel sexy AF. And my partner notices, too. I can tell he sees the shift in my confidence. I honestly just love looking at myself in the mirror, and finding that validation in myself means I’m relying less on him for it.
“The dopamine-dressing trend has an effect on my confidence, too. I’m wearing brightly colored matching sets that boost my dopamine, which has a positive impact on my mental health, and in turn, helps me feel more confident with my sexuality.”
Celestina D.,pending age, London
“I love wearing anything that accentuates my body. Do I have a big tummy? Yes. Do I have an ass for days? You’re damn right. But I no longer shy away from outfits and swimwear that I’m ‘not supposed’ to wear. I will wear that thong lingerie, I will wear that skimpy bikini, and I will most certainly wear that cutout dress, because they all make me feel sexy and empowered.
“I will also say that coming out as bisexual has allowed me to express myself even more. I no longer have anything to hide, and I find it so freeing to live in my truth, from championing my sexuality to embracing my body. Accepting my curves, bumps, roundness, and femininity is the best decision I’ve ever made.”
*AZOⓇ is a USA registered trademark of DSM
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“We are excited to offer our customers new categories to invest in,” the company’s CEO and founder Charles Gorra said in a press release. “This has always been a request from both our buyers and sellers and will help us address a larger share of their resale needs.”
The new categories will offer shoes from brands like Nike and Manolo Blahnik, as well as outerwear from luxury houses like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, and streetwear-heavy labels like Yeezy and Adidas. While for now the clothing category will be limited to items like tweed Chanel jackets, Moncler puffers, and printed Gucci sweaters, Gorra says there are plans to expand the apparel offering in the future to include more products. This new launch will also allow customers to consign luxury shoes and clothing at Rebag, which, in 2020, added jewelry and designer watches to its roster.
While handbags and accessories will remain a focal point for Rebag, Gorra says that the addition of new categories will give its customers a chance to fill out the rest of their wardrobe.
“We love handbags, but if you think about it, 80% of your closet is probably not that,” he says. “We thought those two categories [shoes and clothing] are the next step to offer a more wholesome resale experience.”
Rebag’s new select clothing and footwear categories are now available shop online and in-store.
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