Seeing Studs

My love affair with studs began at the age of sixteen, when I took the train to Central Square's own (albeit somewhat sketchy) Hubba Hubba to collect a bag of silver cone-shaped studs to embellish my favorite black hoodie. Since then, I'd like to think that my taste has become somewhat more refined, but the rock star inside of me still loves studs. So you can imagine how happy I've been to see studded heels, belts, and handbags from reputable houses of couture gracing miles and miles of runway and red carpet alike.

While I know I've been riding the Burberry bandwagon lately, why stop now?--especially when Burberry Prorsum has embraced the effortless pairing of studs, spikes, and high fashion. In fact, I'm currently loving the Studded Ankle Strap Pumps from Burberry, a classic black patent peep-toe heel made totally fierce by the silvertone pyramid studs encrusting the heel and ankle strap. At first glance, this shoe is all demure sweetness, but from the back?--hello, vixen! This shoe is fit (pun totally intended, obvi) for the naughty and nice in every fierce fashionista.

Speaking of naughty, despite the fact that New York Magazine's fabulous fashion blog, The Cut, poked fun at Burberry Prorsum's line of overly spiked handbags last fall, I still love them anyway--The Cut and the spikes! Recently, however, Burberry has toned things down a bit, favoring more subtle hardware over borderline weaponry. The Burberry Women's Studded Plates Leather Clutch, for example, fuses the soft look of a traditional clutch with the edgy detailing of flat metallic studs along the periphery. If you're unsure about studs, think of this clutch as "studs for beginners"--definitely edgy but a bit more understated.

Seeing studs? Take a lesson from celebrity fashion plate, Rachel Bilson. Her studded Christian Louboutins add a definite punch, taking her classically pretty look to the next level. If you're from the still-unsure-about-studs camp, notice the way her fully-studded Louboutin shooties blend naturally with dark wash jeans and chic brown leather jacket, as well as her traditional black pants and blazer.

Believe it or not, there is a certain versatility with a statement piece like studded shoes, or a studded belt. In fact, perhaps the biggest misunderstanding when it comes to incorporating studded apparel and/or accessories into an outfit is the idea that the overall look will be over-the-top. While this is an option that I fully support, there are times when less can indeed be more--as demonstrated here by the lovely Miss Bilson.

We all know there's nothing like summer love, so let fashion be your guide this summer, my fearless fashionista friends--and be a stud by wearing some!

Images in order of appearance: (1) Burberry Studded Ankle Strap Pump $650, available from Nordstrom (http://www.nordstrom.com/); (2) Burberry Women's Studded Plates Leather Clutch in silver, on sale for $556, from Bloomingdales (http://www.bloomingdales.com/); (3)Rachel Bilson, photo courtest of Dress Like Starz (www.dresslikestarz.com).