It's time for a little fashion espionage. Get your go-go boots out, bob your hair, put on a pair of killer heels and swing into "control" mode. Yes, it's back to the '60s for the movie remake of the "Get Smart" TV series starring the crime-fighting duo of Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell as Agent 99 and Maxwell Smart - the two lovable misfits who created chaos out of fighting KAOS and are inspiring a few spy-thrilling fashion trends once again.
"Futuristic fashion, like the cliche spacesuits and high-tech accessories in the 'Star Trek' series, have been around since the '50s, but we now live in a world where high-tech fashion is part of our reality in everyday life," says Kim Martin, senior editor at StyleList.com.
"As technology becomes more and more integrated into our daily lives, from multifunction cell phones and laptops, and wireless access in coffee shops and airports, fashion is the latest area where people can see real benefits from integrating high-tech gadgets and devices into their everyday wardrobe," she notes.
In honor of the "Get Smart" film, the editors at StyleList.com tracked down their Top 10 Fashion Gadgets inspired by the spy series. From X-ray laptop bags to solar-powered bikinis able to charge your iPod to collapsible heels, the list has everything for the gadget lover in all of us:
- Got to have the killer heels: As a lethal beauty, Agent 99 couldn't resist Chanel's weapon-wear for the runway. Chanel's shoes with "gun heels" are fashion and function in one, if you're a spy. ( www.chanel.com)
- Skooba's Skreener Bag wouldn't fool modern-day X-ray machines, but looks like it might. Fashion is all about appearances. ( www.skoobadesign.com)
- Dr. Jenny Tillotson constructed a scent dress to mimic the body's circulation system. An interactive fabric emits a selection of scents depending on your mood to create a personal "smell bubble," probably not the most stealth of outfits. Sneaking up on a KAOS agent might be a little tough wearing this dress. ( www.designlondon.net)
- All you need is love and a big hug. The "Embrace Me" hoodie's logo pattern, made of a silver conductive fabric, is powered when two people embrace. It lights up while giving off a faint heartbeat sound. ( www.5050ltd.com)
- Cleopatra's iconic gold armband goes digital with the Nike+ SportBand. Runners can monitor distance, pace, time and calories burned and then plug into their laptop to download the data. ( www.nike.com)
- Charge your iPod Shuffle while you bask on the beach. NYU student Andrew Schneider's solar bikinis are handmade and specifically designed to fit and flatter your body. A male version, with enough voltage to keep a six pack of beer cool (the original inspiration for the project), is in the works. ( www.andrewjs.com)
- A tiny sensor strapped into the laces of the running shoes in the Nike+ Capable series makes it possible listen to real-time Nike audio feedback wirelessly through to the receiver. ( www.nike.com)
- Keep your data close to your heart and covered in bling with Swarovski's clever charm with a hidden jump drive for stealing files, or just downloading party pictures off friends' laptops, for us non-spies. ( www.swarovski.com)
- Ideal for slope-side sleuth work, Burton's Audex ski jacket is fitted with enough gear to fuel a private disc jockey station. Bluetooth technology and a control panel with caller ID are hidden in the sleeve, and speakers and a microphone are concealed in the hood. ( www.burton.com)
- Proof that the future is finally here: fashion and comfort have merged. Every dashing, sprinting spy needs these type of shoes. Mary Janes are just one of several styles with collapsible heels that have hit the market.
Go from stilettos to kitten heels in a few clicks. ( www.camileonheels.com)
Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.
© Copley News Service
Visit Copley News Service at www.copleynews.com.
