‘lil Smarty Style Trend: Trip.i.t.s.

Watch out bottlecap necklaces, there is a fabulous new trend in the tweens, teens and young girls fashion market, Trip.i.t.s., personally inspired trinkets to share. Tripits were designed by local mompreneurs, Kara Larson and Cathy Hines. Smarties, these are going to be B-I-G and we can all say “we knew them when…”

Tripits were inspired by Kara’s daughter, Chloe, who thought it would be super cool to have a necklace that turns into a bracelet that turns into a hair tie, all in one fell swoop. That’s when Tripits were born. With patented clasps that unscrew to make a 3-in-1 necklace, these Smarty Mamas took this concept to the next level and they hit the Charlotte market this week.

Tripits are sold as necklaces for $15.99, the perfect birthday party gift pricetag. They are also sold as bracelets (I think these are $8.99, but I’m not 100% sure on that one) so you can add to your collection. Each necklace and bracelet comes with a hip charm and a message that screams girl-power with phrases like “Peace on Earth”, “Stand Tall”, and “Smile” to name a few. The concept is for girls to trade pieces of their necklaces or charms or bracelets as each component screws and unscrews and is interchangeable. Think of this as the hippest new version of “be fri” and “st ends”.

My girls were invited to the focus group party the weekend before the necklaces took the Charlotte market by storm. We all fell in love with these gems the first time we laid eyes on them and the girls have been wearing them ever since. I say with conviction, this necklace will be the new Plym go-to girls birthday present on the 2011 party circuit. I knew I needed a new go-to gift when Isabel bought the exact same gift for the same little girl two years in a row (umm, can I just say bottlecap necklace, again!). Horrifying – totally worse than a regift for sure!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can find Tripits locally at Toys & Co in Cotswold, Learning Express in Stonecrest and Surroundings in SouthPark. Best of luck to Kara & Cathy, we’re so proud of you, girlfriends!