Fashionable Fakes

November 1, 9:32 AMLong Island Fashion News ExaminerEliza Homelsky

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Clockwise: Longchamps totes (London), shopper in Newburgh Quarter (London), D&G t-shirt (London).

Photos by Eliza Homelsky

One of the great trends happening right now is trompe l’oeil, a technique using two-dimensional artwork to fake three-dimensional reality, deceiving the eye and creating an optical illusion. This fantasy approach in fashion has been used on apparel and accessories for a number of seasons, but it still has a strong presence in retail and on the streets.

One of the easiest ways of hopping aboard this trend is with a t-shirt. D&G has faked the perfect formal wear for kids with a screen-printed tie. On the streets, fashionistas can be seen rocking their trompe l’oeil tees with imagery of vests, jewelry, tuxedos, and even motorcycle jackets.

Another option is to accessorize with a great bag that has artwork to give the illusion of embellishments. Longchamps has some fun totes with drawings of decorative medals, and they have a whimsical feel to them.

If you are crafty and have some artistic talent, you can even make your own on-trend bag. All you need is a blank canvas tote (available at any craft store) and a permanent marker. Draw hardware, chains, buckles, or whatever fantasy elements you want onto it, and you’ll have an original fake.