October 2011 - Page 3

Fill in the Blank: Stella McCartney Round Plexiglass Box Clutch

Oct 17, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Stella McCartney Round Plexiglass Box Clutch, $1,995 via NAP As far as Stella McCartney bags go, this plexiglass box clutch is a total curve-ball. Who am I kidding, this clutch is simply odd no matter who it comes from. With only two inches in depth, what exactly can go in here? A 6″ circular plexiglass … Read more

I think I’m in love with the Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch

Oct 17, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch, $995 via Moda Operandi

In general, I’ve always been a fan of little lucite (or perspex, if you’re British) clutches. Making the things you carry part of a handbag’s visual design is an interesting move, and a box clutch is small enough that you’re unlikely to be carrying anything particularly messy or embarrassing. Choose your phone cover and card case wisely, but other than that, there’s little over which to fret.

For those who are made slightly more nervous by the prospect of a see-through bag, the Charlotte Olympia Pandora Feather Clutch would be a beautiful way to dip your toes in the water. This new version of the Pandora for Spring 2012 features a little bit of privacy through inlaid feathers, but your bag’s contents will still be on display.

Prada’s latest line of bag tricks is absolutely adorable

Oct 14, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Images via Fashionista.com

You guys, it’s Friday. May I repeat for everyone who’s glazed over in front of the computer at work: IT’S FRIDAY. So it’s time to have some fun, ok? Today, I’d like to do that with these images from our friends at Fashionista.com of the latest and greatest Prada Tricks, which is what the company calls its absolutely adorable bag charms, which are often ursine (Fancy word for bear-like, y’all. Haven’t used that one since the SATs.) in nature.

Fashionista scanned these images out of the new Prada Gifts lookbook, which is why they’re a tad wonky, but these little guys and gals are totally awesome nonetheless. From a thinly veiled take on Axl Rose to bears dressed as crystal-studded robots, these are the kind of whimsical, silly little things that I actually would hang from my bag with a great deal of joy. Fashionista estimates that they’ll cost around $150, and we’ll update you when they become available. Check out the rest of the Tricks in the gallery after the jump.

Valentino offers up an unexpected evening bag

Oct 14, 2011 by Amanda Mull

I don’t mention it much in these parts, but I’m a big, enormous vintage fan. At a certain point, I think I hit a wall with regular shopping – I felt like I had seen everything before it hit stores, so once it was there, I was often underwhelmed and ready for something different. The curse of working in the fashion industry, eh? Which is why so many fashion girls are unrepentant vintage hounds; it’s the final frontier of clothing consumerism, where only those with the best eye will survive.

Vintage handbags still don’t have much of a draw for me because utilitarian leather items tend to degrade a great deal over time, which is where items with a heavy retro influence like the Valentino Laser Cut Patent Evening Bag come in. It’s the kind of thing I’d find in a second-hand shop and dearly love, except his one is brand new and totally pristine.

The Ten Best Runway Bags of Spring 2012

Oct 14, 2011 by Amanda Mull

All images via Vogue.com

Despite the fact that Spring 2012 was kind of a down season for runway bags, there were still plenty of highlights that deserve to be noted. After all, in a season where Louis Vuitton gives you wall-to-wall exotics and Hermes reintroduces a long-shelved shoulder bag, things can’t really be that dreary, can they?

So here we have the ten best bags from the Spring 2012 show schedule, presented in alphabetical order. We picked only bags that appeared in major runway shows because those are the ones to which we have access at this point in the season. Once bag designers who didn’t have shows start sending out lookbooks, we’ll have lots more bags (and lists) to show you. Tell us which bags are your favorites in the comments, and let us know if we missed anything!

The Christian Louboutin Lou Trash Bag is perhaps too aptly named

Oct 13, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Christian Louboutin Lou Trash Bag, $895 via Neiman Marcus

Or, I suppose, already calling your bag “trash” is one way to set accurate expectations of what it will look like for your customers. That’s the optimistic take, I suppose.

Christian Louboutin has long been making “trash” shoes, which are traditional pumps or slingbacks made out of the patent-covered material that you see here. Because the shapes are classic and there’s not a great deal of surface area, I’ve always thought that the shoes worked, at least for a certain customer. The Christian Loboutin Lou Trash Bag, on the other hand? Not so much.

Want it Wednesday: Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket

Oct 12, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket, $2,865 via Barneys Wednesday has come and almost gone, but the only thing I have on my mind is how much I want this Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket. I have always known of its existence and have always had a feeling I would like one myself, but this version of the jacket has … Read more

Reed Krakoff goes exotic, neon for Spring 2012

Oct 12, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Images via Vogue.com

I keep waiting for Reed Krakoff to hit the sophomore slump with his eponymous line, but he just keeps hitting things out of the park. How well Krakoff, the president of Coach, has done launching the brand gives me very, very little sympathy for other large companies that don’t do as well with their bag lines. When you have a clear vision of what you want and you commit the resources and time to doing things the right way, some fantastic pieces can come out of it.

Largely, that’s what Reed Krakoff Spring 2012 is. The collection is heavier on exotics than previous seasons have been, but the signature Krakoff tailoring is still there. He chose a very modern color scheme for the collection, and for me, the bright bags are the clear standouts. Don’t get me wrong, though; I’d be happy with any of them in my closet.

Sneak Peek: Tod’s Spring 2012

Oct 12, 2011Oct 12, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Images via Tod’s

For most people, I think the image that comes to mind when one thinks of Tod’s is that of comfortable driving shoes and fine, if very traditional, leather handbags. It’s a company that makes the kinds of things that everyone’s mother would be overjoyed to receive for Christmas. That, in and of itself, is also a bit of a problem; how does Tod’s make itself relevant to its next generation of customers?

It looks as though the company would like to start answering that question with Tod’s Spring 2012.The collection represents a modern take on the brand’s most popular bags, the Bauletto satchel in particular, with versions that run the gamut from only slightly left-of-center to full-on crazy. Crazy relative to the classic bags for which Tod’s is known, anyway. I see some very interesting options in this lineup that I’d love to wear myself.

This little piggy comes from Gucci

Oct 11, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

I’ve got a pig obsession. Even if I attempted to explain the story to you, it would never make sense and you would seriously think I am some sort of crazed person. All you need to know is the love of pigs comes from an inside joke between my sister and I and now she calls me pig.

I literally squealed for joy when I saw this little Gucci accessory pop up on Net-A-Porter. Some kitschy accessories are released from time to time and many of them are far too absurd for me to ever want to splurge on them. But today I’ve got a major itch for the Gucci Little Pig Leather and Canvas Coin Purse and I plan to buy one for me and one for my sister.

Louis Vuitton buys controlling share in high-end crocodile tannery

Oct 11, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Image via Vogue.com

Did you look through the show shots from Louis Vuitton Spring 2012 and think to yourself, “Self, there’s a whole boatload of crocodile in this collection, and I’m not just talking about bags?” If you did, Women’s Wear Daily‘s report that LVMH has invested heavily in a family-owned Singaporean crocodile tannery makes so much sense that it’s almost silly.

Indeed, the exotics in Vuitton’s show didn’t stop at bags; it seemed like every other model was wearing a powdery pastel coat or jacket made of yards of the exceptionally pricey skin, the MSRPs of which will surely boggle the mind once they come to retail. If Vuitton (and LVMH’s other leather goods brands, including Celine and Givenchy) intends to continue this uptick in crocodile design, then this investment could be the start of many beautiful accessories to come. Are you a croc customer?

PurseForum + Rebecca Minkoff Exclusive Bag Design Collaboration: Phase I

Oct 10, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

You have no idea how excited I have been while sitting down with the Rebecca Minkoff team to come up with an opportunity that has never been seen before in the handbag world! We knew we wanted to collaborate on a bag design, but it was super important for us to include Rebecca’s very first … Read more