August 2011 - Page 3

Donna Karan goes ladylike for fall with her Liaison Bag

Aug 16, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Over the past few days, New York’s hot summer nights felt a bit of a cool down and there was a slight tinge of fall in the air. As a lover of autumn, my excitement level for the coming season multiplied exponentially. I’ve been planning additions to my fall wardrobe for a while, and one of the staples we should all have in our accessories closet is a ladylike frame bag.

Donna Karan is aware of seasonal staples and appears to have designed the Liaison bag with feminine, chic, and efficient ladies in mind. Donna Karan bags follow closely to the brands overall feel, composing of luxe materials in a sculpted and subdued fashion.

Check out the vintage Hermes sale at Moda Operandi

Aug 16, 2011Aug 16, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Images via Moda Operandi

Some days, talking about trends and design and the fashion industry just seems a little strenuous, particularly first thing in the morning. Today was starting to feel like one of those days, which calls for some totally gratuitous eye candy. Luckily, online trunk sale pioneer Moda Operandi is currently offering a generous selection of gorgeous vintage Hermes bags, and even though the sale is only open to Moda members, we have all the pictures.

The Hermes pieces range in price from $4,950 for a slightly worn leather Kelly bag to $79,900 for a rare, pristine Himalayan crocodile Birkin, which has evidently already been snapped up by an enthusiastic collector. The selection of croc, alligator and ostrich is truly impressive and ranges from the expected neutrals to brights like lovely vert anis green, and there are also a few nontraditional bags with a mixture of leather and printed canvas. Take a look for yourself after the jump, or if you’ve got deep pockets, shop the sale via Moda Operandi through tomorrow.

Versace pulls from its brand heritage for an ornately printed clutch

Aug 15, 2011Aug 15, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Versace Baroque Printed Bag, $995 via Net-a-Porter

I’m as hard on Versace as anyone, but I like to think of it as a tough love situation. I talk smack because I want the brand to improve its handbags, not because I take any particular delight in its struggles. Although I have to admit, some of the company’s past bags have been almost delightfully bad, so there may have been a modicum of enjoyment on my part.

Versace may have turned the corner, though. The past couple seasons of ready-to-wear have been intriguing, and during the same period of time, I’ve noticed a conspicuous and considerable lack of Versace purses that make me want to throw a small fit. Not to mention that I actually like the Versace Baroque Printed Bag in all of its pattern-on-pattern glory.

The Hermes Kelly Bag, Deconstructed

Aug 15, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Photo via Things Organized Neatly

Ever wonder what a Hermes Kelly looks like before it is put together? I hadn’t given much thought to the question, but Jeroen van Rooijen clearly has; he deconstructed the iconic bag for his book Zerlegt. What struck me the most is what’s not in the photo – the Kelly has no fussy linings, zippers or unnecessary elements of any kind. The beauty of the design is in its simplicity.

What’s In Her Bag: Eva Chen of Teen Vogue

Aug 12, 2011Aug 12, 2011 by Vlad Dusil

Look to Prada for the perfect summer-to-fall transition

Aug 12, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Can you believe that we’re already about halfway through August? I can’t, but I walked past a store yesterday and saw a fall jacket that I liked so much that I bought it in two colors, realizing only afterward that I’d be able to wear them far sooner than I had originally thought.

This would probably be the place to say something profound about the inescapable march of time, but I’d much rather talk about the Prada Glace Calf DegradÃ© Top Handle, a design for which my feelings are profound in an entirely different way. Carry this bag now, carry it in six months, it’ll look good 365 days per year.

Check out this absurdly expensive (and boring) Roberto Coin bag

Aug 12, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

When I sent a link to the bag pictured above to Amanda, she asked me, “Do rich people come home blitzed on Dom PÃ©rignon from a night out at Le Cirque and impulse-buy ugly, overpriced gold and diamond handbags like the rest of us buy sunglasses on eBay?” I wondered the same thing when I laid eyes on this Roberto Coin Gold and Diamond bag. I’ll get to the design of it in a bit, but for starters, who literally goes online and spends just under $100,000 on one item. Do people do that? I understand it is all relative, but at that rate you could practically start buying houses with a few clicks of a mouse and stroke or two of the keyboard. This clutch strikes me as a strictly in-person splurge.

The Look for Less: Loewe vs. Furla

Aug 11, 2011Aug 11, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Loewe Amazon Bag, $1760 via Matches. Furla Camargue Bauletto Satchel, $495 via Nordstrom.

I didn’t take much of a shine to the Loewe Amazona Bag until I saw one in person, but since I did, my borderline-obsessive interest in the brand has yet to falter. Loewe’s leather really is something that needs to be experienced to be understood; I’ve yet to see a photo that accurately depicts the simple beauty of one of the brand’s bags.

The problem, of course, is that not only is Loewe prohibitively expensive for the average consumer, but trying to find one of its bags in-store is the stuff of slight mental breakdowns. I’ve only seen them two places: Bergdorf Goodman, which has only one location (New York), and Jeffrey, which has only two (New York and Atlanta). The brand’s website has e-commerce, but doesn’t ship to the US. So what’s a girl with a limited budget and limited access to Loewe do? Find a Look for Less – how about the Furla Camargue Bauletto Satchel?

Meredith Wendell shows us how to colorblock properly

Aug 11, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Meredith Wendell Bucket Leather and Canvas Shoulder Bag, $795 via NAP

Colorblocking. Every fashion magazine and fashion lover has been both talking about and sporting this trend for the last few months. Funny thing is, we have all done it with many of our outfits before, yet right now the focus is on extreme lines and colors paired together in an eye-catching way. Many designers in the handbag world have taken a stab and many have failed (remember the Chloe mess we shared earlier this week?). If you are looking for a handbag designer to turn to for the perfectly colorblocked bag, Meredith Wendell is your girl.

I’ve had this bag saved in my tabs list for over a month now meaning to share it with you. I adore the school boy coloring and design of the Meredith Wendell Bucket Leather and Canvas Shoulder Bag.

LVMH’s stake in Hermes has inched upward once again

Aug 11, 2011Aug 11, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Do you ever get the sense that luxury monolith LVMH might be trolling Hermes, purely for CEO Bernard Arnault’s amusement? With yesterday’s report from British Vogue that LVMH’s ownership percentage in the family-run French leather goods company has increased once again, the possibility seems not altogether unlikely.

The increase – from 20.2% to 21.4% – may seem tiny on its face and to those who haven’t followed the story. In this case, though, context is important. The move comes in the wake of Hermes’ redoubled efforts to block LVMH from gaining additional shares after news that Arnault had quietly acquired a full fifth of Hermes stock without the family’s knowledge shocked the accessories world late last year. Will Arnault and LVMH stop before they own a controlling share in the seemingly boundlessly profitable brand?

Forget my last obsession, my new one is Sang A

Aug 11, 2011Aug 11, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Oh, fashion. This industry is so mercurial. One day you can fully consumed by one piece or trend or idea, and then mere hours later, something else pops up and all your energy makes a shift so sharp and sudden that you’re surprised it doesn’t hurt its metaphorical knees. (Yes, my energy has knees. It’s a fully formed, if imaginary, person.) That’s exactly what happened to me at the sight of these Sang A python bags – two days ago, I was obsessed with Rag & Bone. Now, it’s all Sang A. If you’re going to do the whole Fall 2011 python thing, these bags are the way to do it.

Jil Sander gets in on the box bag game

Aug 10, 2011 by Amanda Mull

With all the attention that Celine’s immaculate Classic Box Bags have received, one would think that more designers at every price level would be jumping on the bandwagon to give the look a shot. Some have, to be sure, there are a few companies who I expected to see make the effort sooner.

Jil Sander is one such brand, and I feel as though I’ve been waiting to see the Jil Sander Lady Crossbody for at least two seasons. It’s here! It’s finally here! And it’s very good.