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By MARRIAM MOSSALLI, MARRIAM.MOSSALLI@ARABNEWS.COM

These days, it’s no longer enough to coordinate your purse, shoes, and belt. Now, your smartphone and laptop — plus their covers — need to be in vogue too.

That’s because our electronic sidekicks have become additional limbs, attached to us at all times so when they’re not there, we experience phantom pain.

These inanimate objects that we have come to depend so irrevocably on have become extensions of ourselves. In the 21st century, the definition of accessories has surpassed your cufflinks and tie to encompass the everyday gadgets we can’t live without — our laptops, MP3 players and of course, our cellular phones.

No longer are fashionistas asking what you’re wearing, but rather what model you’ve got. A trendsetter is not the person wearing next season’s army green and military jackets, but rather the woman with the newest applications on her iPad, deluxe DEOS Diamond earphone covers, and a designer laptop cover!

Your style is not just reflected by the clothes you wear, but by the gadgets you own. Now you must surf thoughtfully, and decide accordingly.

For example, a trendsetter is going to have an application-heavy iPhone 4 and a cool Incipio dot cover to go with it, while men and women of a refined, classic style might be more inclined to become Nokia N9300 smartphone users because they’ll feel at ease with its interface and prefer to type with an actual keypad. Vintage lovers show off old school first generation iPods — we’re talking black & white LCDs with only 5 GB of hard drive storage!

But its not enough to have the latest model. Customization is what is key here. Everyone has an iPhone or Blackberry, it’s like the technological equivalent of a woman’s little black dress, or a man’s business suit. We all have one, so what ultimately makes them unique is how we wear them!

For instance, this Gossip girl might pair her dress with hot Dolce and Gabbana fuchsia pumps and a matching clutch for some eye-grabbing attention. This same girl is the kind of technology-savvy fashionista who sports Monster HeartBeats earphones by Lady GaGa and a Built laptop case to show off her fun, playful side. She has the theme song of Sex & the City as her ringtone and she changes her phone and earpiece covers daily to match her outfit.

The sophisticated businessman-type who prefers to show off his success with a Hermes tie and Mont Blanc fountain pen needs to do the same with his gadgets. That means having BOTH the latest Blackberry Storm and iPhone 4 — with different international chips, of course! But remember, it’s easy to be all labels and no substance, so he’s only as stylish as the applications he has on them!

The same goes for the graphic designer. Besides showcasing his work through personalized skins from zagg.com, his iPad has to be equipped with Sketchbook Pro, Layers, iDesign, Brushes, and other creative applications. But, he’s not a pro unless his look is complete with a Pogo Stylus pen!

The man of music is easily distinguished by his Monster Beats headphones by Dr. Dre. This guy knows the importance of sound and shows it with his investment in high definition quality ear gear. This must-have accessory not only has a sick bass, it also matches his street wear style. His iPad is saturated with music mixing applications, like AC-7 Pro, MixxMuse, GrooveMaker, and StudioTrack, which he messes around with on his commute to work.

But don’t take my word for it. Hit up your closest I.ZONE — an official Apple Premium Reseller in the Kingdom — for the latest in what’s hot and what’s not. Their I.ZONE bar provides a menu of must-have apps, while the store is the shopping equivalent of Base Miami or Kitson Los Angeles. These guys are your personal electro-stylists when it comes to fashionable technology.  

As Heidi Klum famously says on her hit show Project Runway, in fashion, one day you’re in, then next day you’re out. And the same goes for the world of technology.

Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace that trends seem to change from one season to another. This spring, Apple’s iPad conquered the technological catwalks, while the iPhone 4 has become this season’s must-have! But could the fall be seeing the emergence of Research In Motion’s Blackpad? One never knows in the world of gadgets because as easy as it is to be fashion-forward, it’s even easier to be oh-so-last-year!

Comments

HOSAM

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More eloquent advice from Arab News's resident fashionista. I'm all for the Hermes tie and Mont Blanc pen, but I'm not much of an Apple person. This would be an interesting piece for CNET to pick up.

GREEK GEEK

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This article is incorrect. Not "everyone has an iPhone or Blackberry." A report in July stated that "the total number of iPhone users in the world today is about the same as the number of people holding a Polish passport." Is that everyone? RIM's marketshare is somewhere around 3% of the global mobile market. Again, is that "everyone?" The emerging winner is Android - which you never mentioned. Was this article an advertisement for your favorite brands?
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