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What to Wear: Back to School

By Ann Binlot Published August 6, 2021

Yes it’s September and for those of you who are in college, that means you’re probably back to school. We know how tempting it is to just roll out of bed and throw on a hoodie, jeans and a pair of sneakers, but do you think that’s really going to impress that pretty sorority girl in your economics class that you’ve had your eye on? Stop kidding yourself and clean up your look.

First thing’s first, you’ll need a nice backpack to carry around all those gadgets you need for taking notes and keeping up your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter feeds. Oh yeah, and for all those books as well. Then go for a nice yet cool button-up shirt a pair of fall appropriate corduroy pants, slick shoes and a hip jacket. Throw on a watch so you’re not late to class and glasses so you can see the chalkboard.

Now go see if you’ve caught her eye.

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Biography Wear Bio-Canvas Pack, $80 at karmaloop.com; Nooka Zoo AL Blue Watch, $225 at nooka.com; Minimum Shirt With All Over Pattern, $106.69 at asos.com; Jack Spade Slim Fit Corduroy Pants $195 at shop.nordstrom.com; Macbook Air, starting at $999 at store.apple.com; Drift Eyewear The Caulfield, visit drifteyewear.com; Acne Brando Jacket, $763.14 at farfetch.com; Bass Burlingon Plain Toed Shoes, $84.99 at macys.com

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…

Outdoors

I tested the Arc’teryx Vertex Speed in the mountains — here’s what stood out

Arc'teryx Vertex Speed

Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is a playground of rocks, roots, boulders, and dirt. There, a trail run can involve hiking, striding, and scrambling over tens of miles and thousands of vertical feet. Bear and snake sightings keep things interesting. It’s truly a place for mountain running.

With these attributes, the park was the perfect place to test Arc’teryx’s latest mountain running shoe, the Vertex Speed. It’s a shoe that blurs the lines between running and climbing, with features catering to each activity. But does the formula work? Here’s my take.

Fashion & Style

New Balance is bringing back the beloved 992 “Mint Green”

New Balance unveils the return of the "Mint Green"

pair of new balance 992 sneakers

As many brands look to their archives for fresh iterations, none have a more impressive portfolio of favorites than New Balance. Whether it's retro silhouettes or cult-favorite colorways, the athletic company is home to many nostalgic designs that fans are yearning for a return. While New Balance has recently incorporated many of these old favorites into new designs, such as the recent 1000 model, the brand is also reviving some of its most popular color combinations. In a new release, New Balance unveiled the return of its beloved “Mint Green” shade, now dubbed “Mint Gum.” While the minty shade is a favorite to many, it’s also a perfect shade to celebrate the upcoming fall season, when it’s expected to arrive in stores. To complement this classic color scheme, the brand has paired it with another crowd-favorite, the renowned 992 silhouette.

New Balance goes back in time with the 992 in “Mint Green”

Fashion & Style

Casio brings back its impossibly small ring watch

Second chance: Casio's miniature ring watch returns to American market

Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1

Casio announced the US restock of its Ring Watch CRW001-1 on July 1st, bringing back the small timepiece that sold out quickly after it came out in America in late 2024. The restock follows successful lottery sales in the UK and Japan, showing that people around the world want this digital watch that goes on a finger.
The Ring Watch CRW001-1 shows Casio's bold way of looking at wearable technology—it shrinks standard digital watch functions into a ring that measures only 25.2mm across and weighs 16 grams. Even though it is small, the timepiece keeps necessary features, including support for two time zones, a stopwatch that measures 1/100th of a second, and hourly flash alerts.
Casio US confirmed the July 1st restock on Instagram, saying the watch would only be available through the brand's online store, not in physical shops. Compared to the lottery systems in other places, American customers will buy the watch in the order they arrive—this might cause a lot of competition among people who collect things and those who like technology.
The small digital screen has a backlight so you can see it in different light. The stainless steel build makes it sturdy, even though it is small. The ring fits size 22 fingers (US 10.5, EU U), and you can adjust it down to size 19 (19mm inner diameter) or size 16 (18mm inner diameter).
The engineering needed to put normal digital watch parts into a ring shape shows how well they made it. The 1/100th second stopwatch is as exact as bigger Casio watches. Travelers who want to check the time without others knowing will like the two-time zone feature.
Casio did not say the exact restock time but told interested customers to sign up for email notifications about when it would be ready. That way may help manage the internet traffic while making sure serious buyers learn about buying chances in time.
The Ring Watch's appeal shows more people are interested in other types of wearable devices, not just ones worn on the wrist. Casio's good result with this unusual approach shows that people want new watch designs that question common ideas about what a watch should look like.
The quick sellout after the US launch, along with international lottery systems, suggests that collectors are very interested and that the watch might sell for more later. Casio has not said anything about more restocks in other places after the July 1st US availability, keeping the watch special.
This restock gives American buyers a second chance to get one of the most noticeable wearable technology releases of the year, bringing together Casio's history with digital watches and its push to make things very small.