The Cheerfulness of Pom Poms

Folklore AW15

 



 

Pom poms are on everything these days from shoes to handbags to tops they are being used as the cheeriest trim that has come along in quite a while. It is about time another captivating trim came along to stand on par with fringe for this season’s swingiest embellishment. I will never get over fringe and I even get giddy just thinking about. That is one of the reasons I have never blogged about it. Not only am I obsessed with fringe but to let loose my emotions about it might possibly turn out to be too over-the-top.

Fendi SS15 Collection

 

 

Fendi Resort16

 

Sophia Webster Heels

Gucci; Source

 

Brian Atwood Suede Pumps; Source

I will, instead, champion pomp poms. I don’t get as giddy about them but they sure do make me smile. Quite a lot, in fact. Something about pomp poms make me quite gleeful. I am not sure about the reason that propels this gleefulness I feel but it is must be catching on like fire because they have invaded the fashion world.

Celine Resort15 Collection

 

Tse AW15 RTW

 

Tse AW15 RTW

 

NYFW15

 



Ports 1961 AW15 RTW



Topshop; Source

 

Pom poms were used like tassels are now to embellish everything from pillows to clothing in the 1960s so just like so many other types of trims it should be no surprise that they are having their moment, again. They are also really cute, in my opinion.

Below  are some glimpses of streetstyle looks featuring pom poms. I will let you be the judge of whether they are charming or not.


 

From Milan15 FW

 

 

 



From the Louis Vuitton 2015 Collection

I never in a million years, as the old saying goes, would have thought that I would now be singing the praises of pom poms as a fashion item. When I was in high school pom poms were mostly associated with the girls that cheered on the football team. We referred to them as pom pon girls because of the plastic handled pom poms they used to shake during their rally cries which were comprised of rhymes they created to cheer on the high school sport teams. Even now I think of pomp poms as sort of an instrument high girls carried to accompany their rhymes. When they shook them at the same time they made a sound that I found to be somewhat of a very pleasant but otherwise indescribable sound.

You may have noticed by now that I keep using pom poms and pom pons interchangeably. There is a reason for that which you may already know but, if not, if you are still reading you will soon discover below.

Let me share a few interesting facts about pom poms (or pom pons) as a cheerleading accessory:

Pomp poms carried by cheerleaders in the 1930s and 1940s were commonly made of crepe or tissue which was not always practical because the weather was not always dry during games. As you can imagine, the pom poms would quickly self-destruct if it rained or snowed during outside sporting events.

Lawrence Herkimer, whom manufactured pom poms in 1953 when he founded his cheerleading supply company, created a handle for pom poms and also changed the name of the cheerleading accessory to pom pon when he learned that pom pom had a negative connotation in Hawaii.

Fred Gastoff, in 1965, began making pom pons of vinyl or plastic streamers to resists the weather.

Now, please stay with me, as I share the facts about pom poms as a trimming for fashion items.

Materials such as cotton, wool and even feathers can be used to create pom poms.

Other names for pom poms that are used to trim clothing are toories or bobbles. Who knew?

The word pom pom is derived from the French word pompons. This was another surprising fact for me but it makes perfect sense! The word just rolls off the tongue. I studied the French language for years and also French history. How could I not have known this? Forgive me my friends from Frances as well as my friends who may not be from France but have such a great appreciation of the language and culture.

I had best say goodbye for now as I don’t want to become a bore.

Please let me know what you think about the rising star of pom poms in the fashion world. Are they too cute for words or do you just want them to go away?

Aigner AW15 RTW

Shiatzy Chen AW15

I hope you are all doing well my friends. Thank you for your continued support and kindness. My blog has grown so much, because of you, since I started it .

Thank you so much for letting me share my love of fashion with you.

Note: Images, unless other noted, are credited to Pinterest.