The Forgotten Fashionable Fan

Bright colors and floral prints are getting a lot of props for Spring '08. But one trend seems to have been overlooked: The fan. Not only does it have an intrinsic cross-cultural appeal, but it's one of the few elements that can simultaneously give fashion a timeless and modern aesthetic. (It's also the one thing on the planet that links Karl Lagerfeld, Spain’s Prince Felipe, and Marie Antoinette -- aside from their showy antics). But I digress.

And, while actual fans weren't all over the Spring '08 runways, fan elements (like fan-pleated chiffon and taffeta, multi-layered tiers of fan pleats, pleated accordion skirts, and stiff fan pleats) could be seen across collections. (Don't you just love how the aesthetic effortlessly transfers from fairy to flapper to structured to sublime? Or is that just my OCD rearing its ugly head?)

Nina Ricci & Armani Privé - Spring 2008

Richard Nicoll & Erdem Moralioglu - Spring 2008

But, for those of you who don't do pleats or can't see yourself dressing like a fan, you have another option: Fan accessories. They've been popping up all over the place (yeah!) and will be one of those accessories you can hold on to for a long time. (Or, when you no longer love it, you can just send it to me.) Here are my faves:

Japanese Silver Fan Necklace at luckylooloo.com

Black Fan Necklace at modamuse.com

Charise Randell Fan Earrings at bdina.coma

N2 Rock & Rose Fan Multi-Row Necklace at asos.com

Flora Fan Necklace by afterwinter @ etsy

Wood Fan With Bead Necklace by twinkle @ etsy

Runway Photos: Style.com