Oct. 3, 2006

Marietta, Ohio may not be the fashion capital of the world, but MC students are accessorizing with some of today’s hottest fashion trends
Jessie Schmac
Schmacj@marietta.edu
Marietta, Ohio is not internationally known for its famed designers, its expensive apparel, or its acclaimed fashion shows, but the city and the campus is not out of touch with the latest trends of the fashion world. Female students all over campus are carrying and wearing the latest designs by Vera Bradley and Elisa Ilana.

Elisa Ilana is the creator of Troll beads, the Italian charm bracelets with beads fashioned out of 14 karat gold, sterling silver, glass, and precious stones. Each Troll bead has its own history, inspired by anything from mythology to everyday life.

Women all over Marietta and the college are wearing these unique bracelets. Some women are just starting out with a few beads and a bracelet for their collection; others, like senior Trisha Tallent, have completed a bracelet and are working on a second.

“My bracelet has 14 glass beads and six silver beads,” says Tallent, who also has a flower clasp to accentuate her bracelet. Where are students getting these bracelets? Well, they may now be found all over the country and the world, but Twisted Sisters Boutique carries these popular beads right here in Marietta.

“I think we were the first in the country to get the Troll beads that we’ve had for just over three years now,” says Debbie Cline, co-owner of Twisted Sisters. “It was a big investment to carry Troll, but we had a feeling they would certainly be worth it.”
Cline, whose wrists are covered in Troll bracelets, understands why the bracelets are becoming so popular among college students.

“They are just cool beads and each of them have meaning behind it,” Cline says, “They are actually something you can pass down within your family.” Cline feels that the bracelets are also a good investment because they are made to last since they are made of sterling silver and 14-karat gold.

Students see the popularity of the bracelets stemming from their uniqueness. “They are something different that you are able to create to fit your personality and style,” says Tallent, “no two bracelets are the same”. Tallent also believes the bracelets are good for students because of their ever-changing budget. “You can built the bracelets over time so there is no heavy strain on your bank account.”

But it isn’t just Troll beads that are making a name in a Marietta. Students are also carrying the wide array of Vera Bradley handbags. These often brightly-patterned quilted bags decorate the shoulders of many women on and off campus.

“Vera Bradley has had a following for 20 years, and it is just catching up with the needs and wants of college students,” says Cline, whose boutique also carries the Vera Bradley line. Each bag is designed to be distinctive and colorful, but is also functional and versatile.

“I think most women carry these bags because they are the latest fad,” says MC student Emma Anderson. “But they are also really good for carrying books and other items while at the same time remain quite eye-catching.” Anderson feels that the bags are very popular on the East coast. Her aunt, who lives in Connecticut and owns just about every bag in the collection, is the source of Anderson’s lure to the Vera Bradley design.

Students from all over the country and the world may bring their own trends to the Marietta College Campus, but the city of Marietta is also bringing worldwide trends to them.