July 2011 - PurseBlog

Chloe’s Resort 2012 bags feel surprisingly fresh

Jul 29, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Photos via Women’s Wear Daily

It would be easy for a brand in flux to get a little bit lazy with its accessories for a resort collection while new creative talent got comfortable and plotted a new course for upcoming collections, but Chloe Resort 2012 doesn’t strike me as lazy at all. When creative director Hannah MacGibbon was shown the door after a disappointing collection for Fall 2011, I assumed that the earliest improvements would probably be seen on the Spring 2012 runway. Perhaps that’s not the case.

Chloe’s resort bags aren’t revolutionary, but the have a cleanness and confidence that the brand’s previous several accessories collections have lacked. And while there’s a Paddington reboot in the mix, a habit of the brand that tends to irk me, the bright pink and minimal Paddington markings mean that, at the very least, it actually feels like a genuine reboot instead of a cynical cash grab. I’m suddenly feeling a lot more excited about Chloe’s upcoming spring show. More photos after the jump.

Mulberry launches the Carter, which could very well be its new It Bag

Jul 29, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Mulberry Carter Camera Bag, $1220 via Matches

Mulberry just kind of has a knack, you know? Somehow, the brand’s creative minds know how to take traditional, classic bags and tweak them just enough to make them covetable, young and modern. I honestly have no idea how they do it, but after a few seasons of contemplation, I’ve come to the conclusion that the brand’s sense of visual editing is among the best in the business.

The Mulberry Carter Camera Bag bears that out, and I’ve seen a few fashion outlets already decide that the design is the brand’s new Alexa. I’m not ready to make that designation until we see how consumers start to react at the cash register, but I will say this: When I first saw this bag being worn (in dove grey with dark silver hardware) by Kate Bosworth, I was pretty sure it was Chanel. That’s not faint praise.

Matthew Williamson gives Judith Leiber a run for her money

Jul 29, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Matthew Williamson Embellished Satin Clutch, $1610 via Net-a-Porter

Judith Leiber bags are undeniably beautiful, but it’s also hard to deny that they skew to a certain customer – older, well-established women with a penchant for straight-up glitz. Leiber’s done extremely well with that demographic and they wouldn’t dream of going elsewhere for a small, sparkly evening bag, but what of the women who want something that’s as modern as it is tiny and detailed?

That’s where the Matthew Williamson Embellished Satin Clutch comes in. This bag has all of the intricacy of a Leiber minaudiere with none of the bold shine, opting instead for a matte look that will likely appeal to women who want a slightly younger feel.

Two stunning Proenza Schouler PS1s hit NAP today

Jul 29, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Shop Proenza Schouler via Net-A-Porter

Today Vlad and I traveled down to South Florida for a much-needed vacation. We plan to spend this time flopping from the pool to the beach with drinks in our hands, but I couldn’t go to bed without sharing a sneak peek I received in my email today. Our friends at Net-A-Porter know how much we love Proenza Schouler bags and decided to give our readers an exclusive look at two new PS1 bags hitting their virtual store today.

From a gorgeous wine hued suede to a luxurious brushed python, I find myself yearning for each of these bags.

Fill in the Blank: The Newbark Animal-print Calf Hair Pouch is…

Jul 28, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Amanda and I have been racking our brains trying to figure out what to write about this past week. The fashion world is in a lull as preparations for fashion week are finalizing and stores are starting to shed their spring collections and bring in anticipation of fall and winter, which means that there’s little relevant stock to be discussed. That is why this week is perfect for seven days of giveaways and a little fill in the blank fun.

Animal prints will never go out of style. Some seasons a different print reigns supreme, but the idea as a whole is here to stay. Newbark not only understood this but also knew that many of us get stuck on which print to buy, which is perhaps why it designed the Newbark Animal-print Calf Hair Pouch with half leopard print and half snake print.

From Louis Vuitton to Hermes, luxury companies are raking it in this year

Jul 28, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Economic problems? Debt ceilings? Political tensions? What are those things? The luxury industry has surely never heard of them, if double-digit sales increases from LVMH, Hermes and Burberry, just to name a few, are any indication. The rich only get richer, naturally, and when they do, they buy clothes. Lots of clothes. And handbags. Louis Vuitton is even reporting waiting lists, a thing that most pundits seemed to think would never be seen again after the economic crash of 2008.

And yet, I put my name on a waiting list myself at the beginning of the year in order to wait for the apparent privilege of buying a bag that cost nearly $2,000. Having been in college during the rococo days of the mid-2000s, the opportunity to queue up to buy an It Bag like the original Chloe Paddingtons and Fendi Spy bags passed me by while I stared in envy at the people who were buying their way into the “ungettable get.” Are we headed back there again?

Want It Wednesday: The Perfect Red Lip

Jul 27, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Photo via Jak & Jil

Emotionally, I have moved on from summer. I’ve decided that summer and I are over and my new love interest is fall, even though it won’t begin to cool down in New York for at least another six weeks. Facts don’t figure in matters of the heart, after all.

I’m already well into the planning stages for fall clothing and accessory purchases, but this fantastic photo of model Britt Maren by (who else?) Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil has reminded me of a style arena that I’ve yet to tackle for the new season: Makeup. More specifically, the perfect red lip, which is the subject of this week’s Want It Wednesday.

Reed Krakoff: Still awesome, in case you were wondering

Jul 27, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Reed Krakoff Kit Bag, $1390. Reed Krakoff RDK Hobo, $1290. Reed Krakoff Boxer Tote, $990. All via Saks.

Sometimes I feel the need to reiterate this point when I sit down to write yet another post about a brand that I love: Reed Krakoff has never given me a free bag, a discount on a bag or any kind of perk whatsoever in exchange for a post. That kind of thing is rampant in the fashion industry, but neither Megs nor I would ever accept any kind of swag if we were asked to give a brand positive coverage in return, because that’s just not how we operate. We have more respect for our readers than that, and we’d never sell you out for a freebie. And it sort of sucks that I even have to say it, but unfortunately, it’s not guaranteed in this business.

With that in mind, perhaps Reed Krakoff should be paying me for all the nice things I’ve said about his company. But alas, he’s not. I just really like the bags. Almost all of them, except for a stray stinker here and there, which is a problem for every brand. Saks.com just got a new shipment, and I couldn’t pick which one of the bags above to feature, so I thought I’d incude all three.

Hermes photographs Kellys good enough to eat to celebrate its Kelly Picnic Bag

Jul 27, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Photos via Hermes

We’ve all heard the phrase “good enough to eat” used to describe a whole range of visually delectable non-edibles, but it looks as though Hermes has taken the words to heart in celebration of its new Hermes Kelly Picnic Bag; the brand put together homages to the icnonic Kelly bag made out of all the foods you’d need for a proper outdoor meal.

As you might have quessed, the new Kelly Picnic is made out of the familiar woven wicker of a traditional picnic basket, only topped with a barenia leather flap and Kelly closure for that special Hermes touch. You can see it and the rest of the food Kellys after the jump, but considering the scorching heat that New York City endured this weekend, the oranges above are the most enticing of the bunch to me.

Would you wear a purse with colored hardware?

Jul 26, 2011Jul 26, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Balenciaga Padlock Totes in black or green, $2077 via Matches

I’m a big lover of Balenciaga bags both familiar and lesser-known, and often, I find myself even more attracted to the non-Motorcycle styles that don’t grace quite so many arms. Don’t get me wrong, though, my favorite bag I’ve ever own is a Balenciaga Day Bag and I doubt that’s going to be changing anytime soon.

But I also have a lot of love for the bags like the Balenciaga Padlock Totes, which don’t drive revenue to the brand quite like the moto bags, but are beautiful accessories nonetheless. What I’m really loving about this design in particular is the little red enamel closure at the front, which got me thinking about hardware choices and how few3 of them we have as modern accessories consumers. Gold, silver, weathered, shiny. Maybe a little gunmetal or matte black, if we’re lucky. Why can’t we have more color?

Chanel Palette Small leather goods for fall 2011

Jul 25, 2011Jul 25, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Because most of our posts cover handbags, smaller accessories get left out from time to time. Because smaller goods spend most of their time obscured from view, they’re often not as artfully adorned as bags that we wear as part of our exterior ensemble, which means that they don’t get as much blog love. Every now and then, though, a collection of wallets and small pieces comes around that deserves closer examination.

Welcome the Chanel Palette Small Leather Goods for Fall 2011. The line includes a collection of wallets, a coin purse, card holders, key holders, makeup bags, an iPhone case, and an iPad clutch. Going along with the iconic 2.55 Chanel aesthetic, all pieces feature aged calfskin with flat lozenge quilting.

Bag Battles: Azzedine Alaia vs. Jimmy Choo

Jul 25, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Alaia Leopard Tote, $4770. Jimmy Choo Gaia Leopard Tote, $2295. Both via Net-a-Porter.

Much to my eternal delight, leopard print is going absolutely nowhere. It came on strong as an accessories trend last fall, but the pattern has been falling in and out of favor for decades and it’s here to stay as long as fashion’s love for maximalism remains strong. In fact, the amount of leopard that’s surfacing for Fall 2011 might be an all-time high for the modern fashion industry.

Assuming that you’re still in to leopard, that means you’ve got some accessories decisions to make. Natural or grey? Satchel or tote? Partially leather or all haircalf? Alaia Leopard Satchel or Jimmy Choo Gaia Leopard and Leather Tote? Personally, I’ll pick Alaia every day, all day, but take a look at the larger pictures and pricing information after the jump before you let us know which design wins this Bag Battle.