Custom Design

A day before the Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2010 presentation was slated to begin, Rebecca herself tweeted, “Who is afraid of a little snow??? The show must go on!” Well, that was before “a little snow” turned out to be a full-on blizzard that was enough to close all public and private schools and universities in Manhattan save for Columbia University (thanks guys.)

Therefore, if I was going to have classes as the snow frantically swirled around the city, I was going to make it to the Rebecca Minkoff presentation. Needless to say, I did make it despite my dislike of the cold and of the coldness of the snow, and it was extremely worth it. You see, I’ve been to a few traditional presentations, where the models stand on raised platforms and generally achieve a death stare whilst remaining in the same position. But no, this show switched it up, and the models were bubbly, twisting and turning at various intervals to show off the funky wares.

Let’s just say that if you haven’t seen much of Rebecca’s clothing so far, it’s imperative you look again. Her bags all exude this sort of effortless cool, this je-ne-sais-quoi that instantly updates any uniform of tee-and-jeans to glamorous, slightly Parisian tee-and-jeans. If you’ve ever owned a Minkoff, you know what I mean. They’re the subtly chic pieces that make up a wardrobe of downtown funk without crossing the line into wannabe hipster territory. Furry vests, ironically floral dresses, folded coats, printed tees, and structured plaids all made appearances, not to mention a particularly awesome belt that harks back to the Loop and Stud Bracelet. I practically felt unpopular next to those clothes, which basically means that I’ve got to get some.

As for the bags, both newcomers and oldies-but-goodies alike perfectly fit the vibe. Asked which were her favorite two bags of the season, Minkoff laughed, “That’s a tough one,” she said, pointing to a luxe quilted and studded Morning After Bag and a small crossbody with a thick strap smattered with studs. Overall, the bags were extremely detailed, featuring the requisite stud as well as crossing straps and corset-esque ties. Come fall, keep an eye out for classic colors like black and graphite as well as eye-popping deep brights like indigo and magenta and clothes aimed at bringing some of that effortless Parisian glamour to your wardrobe.

Original post by Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez

With Twitter taking off, it is only plausible that some new social media offshoots will pop up. We have seen some that we are not blown away by, but recently I was introduced to TweetMyBag, which is right up my alley. TweetMyBag was launched in collaboration with Rebecca Minkoff this month. Through February 14th, you can upload a photo of your handbag and receive 25% off on Rebecca Minkoff bags as well as be entered into a RM bag giveaway. Easy enough, upload a photo (even a photo taken with your phone) and get a discount on a Rebecca Minkoff bag and be entered into a giveaway.

Also, Rebecca Minkoff’s Fall 2010 Fashion Presentation is today from 4-5 (show will steam at Minkette.com). After the show TweetMyBag will have an exclusive look at some of the Fall 2010 items for you all!

Visit TweetMyBag!

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Back when I wrote about the fantastical, confusing, reptilian shoes that Alexander McQueen showed for his brilliant Spring 2010 runway show, I remember thinking that the only person that I could see actually trying to wear the shoes in any serious way was Lady Gaga. Apparently I can predict the future, so if any of you would like to know if you should dump your current boyfriend, you know who to ask.

Ok, really, it wasn’t that impressive of a prediction – these shoes are beyond fierce and Gaga is the only person on the face of the planet besides maybe Daphne Guinness that can really own them. And that’s exactly what she does to no less than three different pairs in her brand new video for Bad Romance.

To make things even better, she also sports head-to-toe McQueen straight off the catwalk about three and a half minutes into the song. The shiny, reptilian ensemble that she chose was my favorite of the collection and a total standout across all of Paris Fashion Week, and it deserved to be enshrined in pop culture history this way. I’m seeing her in Atlanta in December, and I can only hope that she takes a piece or two of this McQueen brilliance on the road with her. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Original post by Amanda Mull

Marc Jacobs has combined two of the season’s top trends into one compact clutch. The Marc Jacobs Python Thrash Clutch ($1895 at Barneys) touts a python quilted and embellished with studs. The quilting AND studs seem to be a bit of texture overdose on this very petite bag. But somehow the angular shape of the diamond shaped studs combined in a criss cross pattern of quilted stitching seems to unify the design. Although, I am a bit confused about the metal padlock which seems to be dangling without a purpose in the middle of the bag.

Overall, the Marc Jacobs Thrash Clutch does have the important rocker glam appeal which is so important this season. You can see Lady GaGa here at the front row of MJ’s Spring Summer 2010 show wearing the Thrash Clutch standing next to Madonna. It is a fun little bag and goes well with Lady GaGa’s eccentric style. I would wear the Marc Jacobs Thrasher clutch with a my pair of Rich and Skinny black jeans and a super cool Rick Owens cut away leather black jacket. This is definitely one of the more unique and eye-catching studded clutches out there this season. The quilted design makes it a bit more classic than trendy, not sure how many seasons this look will last though. What do you think of the Marc Jacobs Thrash Clutch?

via The Find

Original post by Guest Blogger

The leather on this handbag looks very similar to another bag we covered this week. Ah yes, the Bottega Veneta Boudoir Knot Clutch, with its chunky visible woven leather. Some of you did not like it on the BV clutch, but I am digging it on this Miu Miu bag.

There are a few reasons why the Miu Miu Plisse Leather Clutch works out so well. First off, the Indigo leather is offset with contrasting plisse detailing. The color pops beautifully. Next this clutch has a wristlet zip pull, which makes the bag handbag holder friendly. Also, the clutch will transition from casual day wear to after-hours style.

The only con to this clutch for me is the price. I always relied on Miu Miu to bring us fresh ideas for a better price than Prada. A clutch for $850 from Miu Miu, even with its large dimensions, is far too pricey for me. What do you think? Buy through Net A Porter for $850.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Net A Porter brings us some of their favorite handbags of the season. This group of three is a fashionable trio showing Miu Miu, Fendi and Lanvin. Our personal favorite is the Lanvin bag, with perfect gold stamped-python metallic leather.

Miu Miu Vitello Vintage Leather Clutch | $750

Fendi Fly Leather Shoulder Bag | $1,460

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Alber Elbaz, all is forgiven. I’ve groused and complained and wrinkled my nose at my fair share of Lanvin bags lately, but the Lanvin Amalia Python Shoulder Bag is good enough to absolve the brand of all their Chanel-aping sins.

The combination of simple shape and intricate material, plus a few Lanvin-signature extra, have me absolutely salivating for this bag.

Despite my general distaste for neutral that aren’t black or grey, I can’t help but adore the Army green color that Lanvin chose here. It reminds me of the jungle, which is reinforced by the luscious, texture-heavy python hide that is the bag’s primary material. The combination of the two isn’t too “safari” to be chic, but it’s just thematic enough to show a solid point of view with a bit of French flare on top.

Oddly, perhaps my favorite part of the bag are the little tchotchkes with which the bag is adorned. I’m normally not one to encourage a designer to hang random crap from their bags, but the little brown die and silver coin sort of work with the brand’s winking humor. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Lanvin, and they do it quite well here. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2790.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Now this is a surprise. A fall bag utterly devoid of studs? But it’s true. The only hint of rocker on this Marc Jacobs Iggy Shoulder Bag is the fairly sedate chain-link strap. But that’s not the reason I was attracted to this bag, which, I admit, is an all-or-nothing bag, a love-it or hate-it bag.

No, I like it for the unique purple and teal color, which is heightened by the quilted python design. I mostly like the purple color because I am a massive fan of purple handbags. I also really like when I see brightly-colored bags, because so often bags are in darker colors- brights simply draw your eye to the bag. Plus, isn’t that tiny lock on the front just adorable?

The only complaint I have (about the bag, not the lock) is the length of the chain strap. It’s so short that it seems out of proportion considering the size of the bag. If only it had a little more length, then one would be able to sling it comfortably over the shoulder. It seems to me that it’s a little to short of a strap to do that… unless if the bag slouches sufficiently. One can hope! Buy through Saks for $1,295.

Original post by Anna Cooperberg

Is the Jimmy Choo Diego Straw Tote new, as it’s “pre-order” status on Saks.com would seemingly indicate? I’ve certainly yet to encounter it, and I check online retailers for new bags every day. And if it is brand new, then why is it just showing up now? August, really? People are surely still taking vacations to the beach now, but hasn’t the time for buying straw bags sort of passed?

Particularly for buying a straw bag that will cost, after tax, over $1000. That seems like a beginning-of-the-summer purchase, if you’re inclined to spend so much money on a straw bag at all, and most people contemplating big bag purchases seem to be looking forward to the next season and thinking about black leather, studs, and industrial details, not cutesy straw. The timing of this bag seems incredibly ill-advised, and since the design isn’t particularly strong, I’d bet that it’s destined for a long life on the sale rack. Buy through Saks for $975.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Every brand uses exotics in a different way. Nancy Gonzalez crocodile looks different than Balenciaga crocodile. Chloe python looks different than Carlos Falchi python. And Gucci python is my favorite of all. Somehow, they manage to find skins that look somehow fuller and more touchable than some of their peers, and it’s always clear that their bags did indeed come from a living reptile. And I feel like it’s at least a bit more respectful to the animal to make a bag that really highlights the natural beauty of the skins that are used.

And Gucci has maintained their history of beautiful python bags with the Gucci Galazy Python Hobo. Sometimes natural patterns can be hidden when they’re done in black, but the finish here has a bit of a shine to it, so it reflects enough light that the scale differentiation is easy to see. Some brands treat their bags in such a way that the python scales lay perfectly flat, which has clearly not been done here. I’m sure that that sort of treatment makes bags for durable, but it also makes it feel less luxurious to me, so I’d rather that part was left out, even if it means the bag won’t last quite as long. I’d rather have it be as beautiful as possible for as long as that look will hold up. Buy through Saks for $3500.

Original post by Amanda Mull