Designer Handbags

The New York Times On the Street reports that red handbags are the color for spring. Brilliant red leathers, patent, canvas, and other materials have been spotted on the chic ladies of NYC recently. Not rouge, but vibrant red. I am on the outs, only owning a fall-rouge Chloe Paddington, but maybe I need to invest in the color of spring. Can you name some of the bags shown in the picture?

Via NYT

(Row 1, L-R: Betsey Johnson, Gucci, Gucci, Versace)

(Row 2, L-R: Fendi, Chanel, Fendi, Emporio Armani)

Metallics have been totally hot for a few seasons now. From matte metallic to bold metallic, another metallic is here for spring, only this time, it is silver rather than any shade of gold. Not a brushed silver, a shocking, bold, in-you-face, look into my mirror and see your reflection, silver. We all know the Louis Vuitton Miroir handbags have made a huge hit, and now many designers have followed with the new mod color for spring and are implementing them on their handbags. What do you think? Totally yay or nay? Where would you wear this bold silver color?

Thanks to Fab Sugar for the picture and silver bag breakdown!

Hermes signifies classic style and elegance. Yet on the Paris runway, I was thinking that JCrew was there rather than the iconic Hermes. The Hermes Spring 2007 collection hit the boardwalk-like-runway of Paris and delivered a less-than-stellar line up of beachy wear, and casual kickbacks, along with tracksuits. Yikes. What I paid attention to closely were the bags of course, and these bags were collapsible Kelly Bags that were strapped together to look more like a large clutch than a bag. Upond first glance, I like the bag looking this way. Then it occured to me that this bag is so impractical all tied up that it now officially has no use. Our Hermes enthusiasts can be the judges of these bags, a big Yay or over powering Nay?

{via Style}

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When it comes to Jean Paul Gaultier, you never know what he may have up his sleeve. Celebrating his 30 year anniversary he made his prescense more than known on the runway of Paris. The Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2007 close up collection was fun and quirky and totally over-the-top. I will leave it to Style to discuss what happend on the runway 3 days ago.

This is Jean Paul Gaultier’s 30th anniversary year, and after Janet Jackson and other tardy celebs had finally taken their seats, he started a celebration that will continue at a big fГЄte Saturday night by recapping his greatest hits. He began with a man’s motorcycle jacket with “76″ and the French flag painted on the back, breezed past the bustier dresses with cone-shaped busts that Madonna made famous, and finished with a trompe l’oeil sheath with just one built-in jacket lapel. Together, the 30-plus pieces-some of which looked broken-in, like his friends had just pulled them from their closets-showcased Gaultier’s incomparable visual wit.

It’s a gift he made liberal use of in the new clothes he showed for next spring. With Jane Fonda on the loudspeakers asking, “Are you ready to work out?” the curtains parted to reveal models sweating away on glittery gym machines. But his sport references went beyond jokey visors, wristbands, and tube socks with heels. Satin baseball jackets came in countless color variations, some with Japanese embroidery, others with “30″ emblazoned on their backs, and yet more rendered in sequined mesh. For day, these might be paired with leggings striped at the side or shorts; for night, piping was replaced by seams of crystals and cutouts at the shoulders and back. Pushing the concept to the limit, he closed with a halter gown cut to reveal a bikini top underneath, veiled by a sheer warm-up jacket.

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Right when you arrive at a hotel, you expect the bellhop to be at your service. As a child I remember thinking it was really neat to have the bellhop take our bags to our room. If the bellhop was really nice, he would let me ride on the bag carrier. Louis Vuitton had an ad in 1921 that inspired their new Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Collection. After all LV has been a provider of luxury travel gear from the start. At the top left we have the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Pochette Cles. The groom screen print is placed on top of a two-color yellow and white stripe. The golden chain and hook can be used as a key holder or bag charm. The cles is available via eLuxury for $200. Top left is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Agenda PM which sizes up at 4″ x 6″ and has a golden snap closure at the center. The interior has three credit card slots, a leather pen holder (which of course fits an LV agenda pen), and holds the small ring agenda refill. The agenda PM can be bought for $300 via eLuxury. Bottom left is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Compact Zipped Wallet which brings a cute vibe to your money holder of choice. There is blue colored grained calf lining along with a zip change purse, three credit card slots, two slot pockets, and a bill pocket. The wallet is available via eLuxury for $540. Lastly, we have the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Porte Monnaie Rond which pairs its circular shape with a golden zip closure and golden chain and hook. The rond is ready for you to snatch via eLuxury for $245.

So there you have the LV Groom Collection for now, what are your thoughts?

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I have never talked about Henry Beguelin here, but today I shall. While browsing the Neiman Marcus website I came across a handbag by this designer. Upon researching the brand a little, I learned in the early 80’s this brand was born by a group of friends creating belts and bags out of natural cowhide and recycled materials on the island of Elba. Now if you are not familiar with Elba, it is a beautiful island off of Italy (the kind of place you dream to go). There Henry Beguelin was born and today I bring you the Henry Beguelin Star Tote. This tote is roomy and emanates the idea of practicality using lush natural dark brown cowhide. Back leather trim lines the outside of the bag along with silver metal hardware and top handles with a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is really great (especially if you are on an across body bag fix like I am). The horn closure and keeper adds detail to the bag. Finishing the bag off is the signature hand-stitched stick figure on front, which is so tiny on the bag but really adds a cute touch. Buy the bag via Neiman Marcus for $1195 and tell me if you think this new designer is a Yay or Nay.

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Fashion Week in Milan continues and the Missoni graced the runway with its memorable prints and sleek style. As described by Style.com, Missioni “reinterpreting and updating her own vocabulary, rather than grasping at flighty notions of retro futurism”. While the big bags with their exotic skin and colors makes me happy, the big shoes make me cringe. I would love to wear huge heels and platforms, but at 5′10 (really pushing 5′11) it just makes me too tall (and too tall for Vlad- BOO!) So I will stick to my lower heels and envy all of you that get to wear the big heels.

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To all the mothers, people with younger siblings, and people who have babysat before in their life: what does this bag look like to you? If your first answer is what you see when you open your baby’s diaper… then you will be on the same page as Vlad and I. I am all for exotic skins- in fact, I really love exotics. But this bag is just the wrong color scheme and the marbleizing that occurs from the python just looks wrong. The Marc Jacobs Python Chain Satchel is described as cinnamon/dark brown python leather bag with golden hardware. I did not realize that anyone actually calls a snake that can weigh up to 300 lbs and be as long as 33 feet cinnamon in color. Maybe it is just me, but I find it highly comical. Chain shoulder straps are a huge trend right now, so I do appreciate the shoulder strap with multicolor ring insets and clips. Close up your dainty cinnamon bag with a push-lock closure on the front. $2500 at Neiman Marcus- I soo will pass this bag up, it needs a Huggie!

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Many associate Stella McCartney with being the creative director of the house of Chloe in Paris back in 1997 or have visited one of her flagship stores around the world or know her as the vegetarian who refuses to use leathers or furs in her products. No matter how you know Stella, from a young age she has been a blooming fashion designer. The Stella McCartney Large Traveler is animal friendly being made with 60% PVC, 20% polyester, 15% cotton; 5% polyurethane fabric. Antiqued golden hardware combines perfectly with denim blue fabric. Casual chic adds shoulder straps with rings, buckled sides, and a zip top closure with logo-embossed pull tabs. Stella McCartney has truly paved her way through the fashion world, but this bag is too pricey for what you are given in my opinion. Available via Bergdorf Goodman for $995.

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Not so “phat” in my opinion.

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