Every once in awhile, I see an article of clothing, a pair of shoes, or something, anything that makes me cringe and wonder “Why in the world would anyone desire to make something so; awkward?“.
That’s what happened when I spotted this Coach Julia Transparent Op Art Logo Tote on the Nordstrom website. Frankly, I’m glad I didn’t see it passing by a Coach flagship store here in New York because I might have been mentally scarred.
When we talked about the Louis Vuitton and Lanvin striped mother of pearl clutches last week, I still partly believed that the similarities of the two evening bags were a coincidence – after all, two bags does not a trend make. Three bags do, however, and that’s exactly what this Judith Leiber Resort 2011 is: a sign of a burgeoning trend.
The method of inlaying more closely resembles the Louis Vuitton, as does the diagonal inlay, while the color choice is more similar to the Lanvin. The major difference is that the bag is framed with gold, which unfortunately gives me flashbacks to the 80s – as a result, this clutch is my least favorite of the three.
Jack and Lazaro have done it again. Proenza Schouler is quickly working its way up the ranks of luxury accessory designers, and it seems like the brand’s collections get even more lust-worthy with every season. Resort 2011 sees the introduction of several new shapes into the line that the PS1 made famous, plus new versions of the PS2 and yummy sueded crocodile. Lots of pictures, after the jump.
I know that many of our readers are categorically opposed to fur, but the material is so trendy for fall that we wouldn’t be doing our jobs correctly if we ignored it. Most stores only have early pre-orders available for their cold-weather collections, and already fur bags from major designers are starting to show up here and there.
Of the options I’ve seen so far, the Tod’s D-Styling Bauletto Medio Bag is easily my favorite. Instead of taking on the bushy, overly plush look that befalls so many fur designs, the laser-cut fox has a finish that’s both luxurious and visually interesting. This bag is one of very few that I’ve seen where the use of the fur actually adds something to the bag’s aesthetic.
Cleobella is the answer for boho recessionistas looking for a trendy-but-broken-in bag, one that’s of a certain quality. Their prices are generally low, as far as designer bags are concerned, and the leather is always what I like to call “Williamsburg-worn.” That is, the leather has that worn look favored by alternative hipsters one often runs into in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
However, with its studs and fringe, this Cleobella Zula Bag veers much more towards the trendy than the alternative. But is that such a bad thing? It’s definitely difficult to consolidate two trends at once, especially ones so different, like these two. This bag gets it right, though.
Just when we thought Tory Burch had all but put her famed logo on a shelf and closed the door on it, it comes back. But luckily for us, it’s not in the form of one giant logo placed smack dab in the centre of an equally giant tote. This time, Tory’s gone in the same vein as the Gucci Guccissima collection by embossing an entire tote with her logo.
The product is the Tory Burch Dafina Leather Tote, which looks soft and cushy and even has a big tassel to hark back to times past””or just strike a resemblance to window furnishings, who knows. But even though the tassel is pretty massive, it works.
As we all know, I’m the first one to criticize Versace when they screw up a handbag, so I feel like it’s only fair that I recognize them early and often when they get something right. And this time, I feel like they have: the Versace Python Frame Satchel is sleek and restrained, but it still has the signature sexiness of a Versace design.
It actually strikes me as a bit more of a briefcase than a handbag, which I mean in the best way possible. This is the sort of bag to carry your work files if you work in the most stylish of offices (and receive the highest of salaries).
I found the Miu Miu store that I not only want to visit but also feel like I would live a perfectly happy life if I could move into it. Miu Miu opened up their Forte dei Marmi Store which is in a sea town that is part of northern Tuscany. Famous residents of the town include Andrea Bocelli and Giorgio Armani along with Paola Ruffo di Calabria, Queen of the Belgians who was born there.
We’ve covered this Bottega Veneta Woven Zip Wallet before, when Megs was considering getting it as a replacement for her LV Zip Around Wallet. As even a cursory glance and click around the blog will confirm that our love for Bottega Veneta has grown epically since Megs penned that post more than a year ago.
But even while the glamour of the brand surrounds us, with their ability to custom-make pieces and their head-turning exotics, it’s important to remember that they still make basics like the Bottega Veneta Woven Zip Wallet, that are, for lack of a better word, gorgeous.
Before we get going here, I want to be clear – this discussion is on “inspired” items, not counterfeit bags or any garment that misuses another brand’s name or logo. We would never encourage or condone that!
It’s no secret in these parts that some of our readers get very punchy when they feel as though one designer has taken liberties with the work of another. The subject of originality is one that’s near and dear to almost any fashionista’s heart, likely because we’ve all been conditioned to seek out The Next Big Thing. When a designer bases a garment too closely on what has already been done, it flies directly in the face of the pursuit of the new. Retro is one thing, ripoff is another.
Or is it? Johanna Blakley, a University of Southern California researcher that specializes in media and intellectual property, thinks that perhaps the well-worn practice of fashionable copycatting is actually what continues to drive fashion forward and make designers better and more original. She makes an interesting case in the video above, and we’ll discuss it after the jump.
I love a good Cruise bag. As much as they are perfectly suited for a cruise itself or if you were vacationing on a yacht in St. Tropez (I wish!!), there is always more use you can get from these bags. Sprucing up your bag choices as the seasons change is a great way to freshen up your look. Many cruise bags offer accents that coincide with a nautical theme. What better way to pick a Cruise Bag then turning to Louis Vuitton?
I can’t think of many brands with more disparate accessory aesthetics than Louis Vuitton and Lanvin, but that doesn’t mean that the two luxury giants won’t intersect from time to time. While flipping through looks from the recent Resort 2011 presentations in Paris, I was surprised to see that the two brands seem to be on the same page in at least one noticeable way. Larger pictures after the jump.
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