September 2012 - Page 2

The 10 Best Looks of the 2012 Emmy Awards

Sep 25, 2012Sep 25, 2012 by Amanda Mull

How to put this delicately…the fashion at Sunday night’s 2012 Emmy Awards was mostly not great. A lot of it was fine, if you like sparkly, crowd-pleasing gowns or bright colors, but there were only a few wow moments to be found. Well, guess, what – we found ’em. And we made a little post out of ’em, as we are wont to do.

We know you’ve probably seen a few Emmys best-dressed lists now, but we like you guys, and we like talking about fashion with you, even when the photographers who covered the red carpet arrivals didn’t bother to get us any close-up shots of anyone’s handbags. So if you’ll indulge us a bit, we’d like to do a rundown of our favorite Emmy looks, including a few that we’re sure will be controversial. Join us, won’t you?

Fashion Week Handbags: Prada Spring 2013

Feb 25, 2013Sep 25, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Perhaps this is stating the obvious when speaking of anything wrought by Miuccia Prada, but Prada Spring 2013 was pretty weird. The clothes were a late 60s-Japense geisha mashup that often worked quite well, but hardly anyone who watched the livestream even noticed them, distracted instead by what appeared to be (and actually were, it was confirmed later) leather toe socks paired with almost every footwear look. (And truthfully, the shoes would have been controversial even without the weird leather liners.) Surprisingly, the bags were mostly very conventional and quite pretty.

The standouts included a set of small, ladylike evening bags with delicate chains and the same enamel-and-rhinestone embellishments that constitute a great portion of Prada’s recent costume jewelry line. They’re the kind of bags that women in the 60s carried to chic parties, but with that signature irreverent Prada twist – a cartoon fur flower here, an aggressive rhinestone there. The collection also contained a few interesting totes with interior structure that created a hobo strap, but this time, small and sparkly stole the show. Check out the full gallery of runway shots after the jump.

3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2013 gives us more of the same, only better

Sep 25, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

3.1 Phillip Lim is the new “it” kid in the accessories world, and I find myself wanting to sit at his lunch table all day, every day. Of the Phillip Lim handbag family, the standout star has been and continues to be the Pashli Satchel. For Spring 2013, a faded floral canvas print adorns the bag. You know what, I’m in love. We all see other designers utilize florals for spring; it’s not a novel idea, but it’s one that can be done in a modern way – think Proenza Schouler Spring 2012. This particular pattern that Lim has chosen is stunning; there’s just something about the stiff shape of the bag and the geometrical lines that works so well with a floral print on a black background.

There are some other designs that stand out, but I’m really still in my Pashli phase, so I have a hard time seriously considering any of the other items. There is a sense of the grunge era that touches this collection, but that was a reoccurring theme on the runways and it looks like it won’t leave. Moda Operandi has an assorment of the accessories available now, and I’m extremely close to placing my order. Shop the assortment via Moda Operandi now.

This bag is affordable by Victoria Beckham standards

Sep 24, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

It’s funny to think Victoria Beckham was once (ok still is) a Spice Girl and now has founded a very highly touted brand of clothing and accessories. Many other celebrities try to go the same route, and the majority don’t succeed; instead, they need to turn to large department stores to make mass produced items at an accessible price point. But Victoria went from being Posh, to being posh in her day-to-day life and style, to designing a brand that now shows during fashion week and has price tags that rival some of the industry’s finest.

I’ve loved her bags from the beginning but both Amanda and I talk about the hefty price tags. While this would deter some, it seems to not impact Victoria; her brand continues to grow, and her handbags have been also growing in popularity. But for those of us who love her aesthetic but yearn for a better price tag, the Victoria Beckham Mini Satchel Shoulder Bag is just about the best you are going to get, coming in right under $1,600.

Anne Hathaway carries a gorgeous Roger Vivier clutch to the New York City Ballet Fall Gala

Sep 24, 2012Sep 24, 2012 by Amanda Mull

We’ve given you an in-depth look at Anne Hathaway‘s bag collection in the past, and when we came across these photos of Anne looking utterly glam at Thursday night’s New York City Ballet Fall Gala, we couldn’t help but provide a little update on her handbag choices. Plus, the gala honored Valentino, and we weren’t about to pass up an opportunity to ogle some pictures of Anne’s gorgeous, completely unexpected Valentino floral gown. Anne has a long history of wearing Valentino, but I presumed she’d show up in the designer’s signature red; I was clearly wrong, much to my delight.

I also assumed that Hathaway’s clutch would be Valentino, but I was wrong again: it’s the Roger Vivier Boite de Nuit Clutch, a long-time red carpet stalwart. The design’s popularity is no mystery; Vivier has a strong reputation for evening bags, and this one is just the right combination of sparkly and neutral. Unfortunately, this clutch isn’t available for purchase online, but you can check out more of Vivier’s wares at RogerVivier.com. For more pics of Ann’s gorgeous ensemble (her pixie cut really goes well with the dress, no?), follow along after the jump.

The Bags of Chanel Fall 2012

Sep 24, 2012Sep 24, 2012 by Amanda Mull

From the moment it made its debut in Paris six months ago, I’ve been an ardent fan of Chanel Fall 2012. From the raw gemstones and rich velvet to the Boy Chanel bags to the preponderance of purple (a color to which I personally love), it was is Karl Lagerfeld had chosen to speak directly to me. I hear you, Karl! I hear you loud and clear, as does my bank account. I’ve been plotting to make the purple velvet Boy Chanel runway bag mine for months now.

If you prefer something more traditionally Chanel, the line also includes a lot of gorgeous Classic Flap Bags in rich, dark leathers. The quilting looks a little puffier this season than it does some years, which gives the collection a more regal, plush feel that’s reinforced by the use of highly textured fabrics like velvet. In all, it’s a luxurious, highly wearable group of bags that will likely do very well at retail – if you want one, you’d best call your local Chanel boutique ASAP. Check out the full collection after the jump.

Shop our Fall 2012 picks from AllSaints

Sep 24, 2012 by Amanda Mull

If you’re a regular PurseBlog reader, you know that Megs, Hilary and I all have really different, distinct tastes in accessories and clothing. Megs tends to lean toward clothes with a hippie vibe, Hilary likes clean-lined, modern neutrals and I like lots of industrial black mixed with occasional bold prints and colors. Somehow, all three of us find a lot to love at British retailer AllSaints, which has a location in Soho that we all visit semi-religiously. AllSaints also has a handful of other US standalone stores, in addition to shop-in-shop locations at select Bloomingdale’s locations around the country. If you don’t have one near you, there’s always that old standby: the Internet.

We’re particularly fond of AllSaints Fall 2012, which marries cool-girl leather with effortlessly modern shapes and enough neutral earthiness and natural details to keep the whole thing from skewing too industrial. The end result feels extremely modern and current, and the contemporary price point keeps many of the brand’s pieces accessible to people who are looking add a note of edge to their wardrobes. Need some ideas for taking your style to the next level? Check out our recommendations from AllSaints Fall 2012 after the jump.

Fashion Week Handbags: Gucci Spring 2013

Sep 24, 2012 by Amanda Mull

I’m about to use a word to describe the handbags from Gucci Spring 2013 that I genuinely have never associated with Gucci or its bags in the past: simple. For the candy-colored clutches and petite shoulder bags that Gucci sent down the runway in Milan on Friday, the brand’s iconic horsebit hardware was back and nearly everything else was gone. Shown in two versions, Gucci’s pared-down flap bags were a notable departure for a brand know for its large, sometimes aggressive handbags.

Gucci creative head Frida Giannini has always enjoyed turning our expectations of the brand on their heads, though, and that’s exactly what she did in a runway show full of monochrome and monotexture ensembles. The bags followed the lead of the clothes instead of making their own statement, and it’ll be interesting to see how this newfound restraint reverberates through the rest of Gucci’s accessory line come spring. Check out all the bags after the jump.

September Birthday Gift Guide: Sapphire Handbags

Sep 21, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Dear fellow September babies,

I am so sorry. I forgot to put up your birthday gift guide the beginning of this month, and I feel even worse because September is my birthday month too. I celebrated my birthday on the 6th, and since New York Fashion Week started that day, I didn’t get to celebrate yet and I almost entirely forgot. Today it hit me, and although it may be late into the month, there are still plenty of days left for my fellow September babies. If your special day has already passed, then of course you can use the birthday gift money you got to go towards the perfect sapphire handbag.

Sapphire is a great color for bags; a true blue will add a bright color to your wardrobe, and just like blue jeans, blue ends up being a neutral that can be worn with blacks, browns, and everything in between. Click through the jump to see the sapphire handbags I personally would love as my birthday gift this year.

RHOM: “Some nights, he doesn’t get home until 7!”

Sep 21, 2012Sep 21, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Originally, I intended to extend my recapping hiatus to the November premiere of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but I saw last week’s premiere of Real Housewives of Miami and actually…enjoyed it? Even giggled a few times? So now I’m back from my reality TV vacation to make fun of our new Miami cast, which includes both a few holdovers from last season (Mama Elsa!) and a few new arrivals (Joanna Krupa, perfect human).

After only two episodes, we already have a promising season on our hands. This episode consisted mostly of our Housewives, at least half of which are in the process of getting married or divorced, dealing with their various over-eager or under-eager significant others. Without further ado, you can find the recap where it always is: after the jump.

Kate Moss is the first star to rock Mulberry’s new must-have Willow Tote

Sep 21, 2012Sep 21, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Ahh, the perks of being an internationally mega-famous supermodel. Chic parties, global travel, endless free swag. Not only did Kate Moss sit front row at the Mulberry Spring 2013 show earlier this week, but the Brit beauty got to be the first person to debut the instantly covetable Mulberry Willow Tote off the runway, barely 24 hours after the bag debuted in London.

At that point, Moss had already jet-setted to Milan, where paparazzi caught her dressed down for an afternoon of shopping before Milan Fashion Week got into full swing. Kate’s black croc (or croc-embossed, it’s difficult to tell from pictures) tote appears to be the larger version of the two that debuted on the runway, and even though she’s a British model who sat front row at the show, I’m a bit surprised to find her carrying the bag. Kate’s not the type who tends to wear or carry things that are obviously “placed” by brands, and although this bag seems to be, I doubt she’d have bothered with it if she weren’t actually a fan. It should go without saying, of course, that we’re also huge fans – check out more pictures of Kate and her Mulberry bag after the jump. The Willow Tote won’t be available in stores for about six months, but you can shop Mulberry via Net-a-Porter.

Introducing Sophie Hulme Bags

Sep 21, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Not only do I love finding new handbag designers to share with you all, but also I found a designer whose bags are so lovely I am certain many of you will add them to your wishlist. I know I am. I am talking about Sophie Hulme, a British designer who graduated from Kingston University in 2007 and followed graduation by launching her ready to wear brand immediately. Most importantly, Sophie Hulme knows what she is doing and this is evident in her designs, as you can see why this young designer is building true traction for her refined and sleek bags.

Her designs are a bit different and much of this she credits to growing up in a converted toy factory and taking inspiration from her unconventional surroundings. Her bags are entirely classic yet stand out much more than the typical bags we think of on a day to day basis as being classic. The hardware immediately grabs your attention, but is not distracting. The designs themselves have a bit of a masculine touch with a structured finish. All in all, this is a brand to watch and a designer I expect we will hear much more from in the coming years. There is always room for a break out handbag star, and Sophie Hulme is about to start her time in the US spotlight after making waves in Britain. Her bags are available via Net-A-Porter.