Designers Handbags

You probably haven’t heard of Kathleen Dustin. I hadn’t even heard of her until a few days ago, when a friend of mine who knows that I’m always looking for interesting takes on fashion passed along her website to me.

Kathleen studied mathematics at University but realized she had missed her true calling as an artist and went back to school to get her MFA. However, believing that sculptures “just sit in the corner and gather dust”, she wanted to make art that was more interactive, so she chose purses and jewelry.

Her designs are whimsical, and strikingly beautiful (even if you wouldn’t necessarily find it wearable, per se), and I find myself drawn to the Nigella pod purse. Paired with a tailored, monochrome look and some seriously glam heels, the Nigella bag would be amazing and beyond unique (each bag is handcrafted in numbers more limited than Birkin bags).

If the organic-inspired bags aren’t for you, check out the “Contemplating Yesterday” tote– the silhouette and structure are eye-catching and the rich colours are perfect for evening events.

I’d love to see a risk-taking yet superbly elegant celeb like Nicole Kidman carry a bag like this for an evening out!

(Row 1, L-R: Betsey Johnson, Gucci, Gucci, Versace)

(Row 2, L-R: Fendi, Chanel, Fendi, Emporio Armani)

Metallics have been totally hot for a few seasons now. From matte metallic to bold metallic, another metallic is here for spring, only this time, it is silver rather than any shade of gold. Not a brushed silver, a shocking, bold, in-you-face, look into my mirror and see your reflection, silver. We all know the Louis Vuitton Miroir handbags have made a huge hit, and now many designers have followed with the new mod color for spring and are implementing them on their handbags. What do you think? Totally yay or nay? Where would you wear this bold silver color?

Thanks to Fab Sugar for the picture and silver bag breakdown!

Today is the day of LV here. We started off on a high note with the smash hit Louis Vuitton Aumoniere Satin Multicolore but we unfortunately must end on a low note with with Louis Vuitton Handbags Spring 2007. Something went horribly wrong when Marc Jacobs sent out the Louis Vuitton Spring 2007 line this past week in Paris. Actually the clothes themselves showed off beautiful layers along with matte colors. But the handbags just had so much going on it looked like an art project from a kindergartener. I hate to hate this much, but I just can’t seem to help it- these bags are just a major no for me. Marc did end the show with a sexy white shirt that read “LV-OE,” it is just too bad I did not “LV-OE” the handbags. TACKY!

{Via Style}

When it comes to Jean Paul Gaultier, you never know what he may have up his sleeve. Celebrating his 30 year anniversary he made his prescense more than known on the runway of Paris. The Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2007 close up collection was fun and quirky and totally over-the-top. I will leave it to Style to discuss what happend on the runway 3 days ago.

This is Jean Paul Gaultier’s 30th anniversary year, and after Janet Jackson and other tardy celebs had finally taken their seats, he started a celebration that will continue at a big fte Saturday night by recapping his greatest hits. He began with a man’s motorcycle jacket with “76″ and the French flag painted on the back, breezed past the bustier dresses with cone-shaped busts that Madonna made famous, and finished with a trompe l’oeil sheath with just one built-in jacket lapel. Together, the 30-plus pieces-some of which looked broken-in, like his friends had just pulled them from their closets-showcased Gaultier’s incomparable visual wit.

It’s a gift he made liberal use of in the new clothes he showed for next spring. With Jane Fonda on the loudspeakers asking, “Are you ready to work out?” the curtains parted to reveal models sweating away on glittery gym machines. But his sport references went beyond jokey visors, wristbands, and tube socks with heels. Satin baseball jackets came in countless color variations, some with Japanese embroidery, others with “30″ emblazoned on their backs, and yet more rendered in sequined mesh. For day, these might be paired with leggings striped at the side or shorts; for night, piping was replaced by seams of crystals and cutouts at the shoulders and back. Pushing the concept to the limit, he closed with a halter gown cut to reveal a bikini top underneath, veiled by a sheer warm-up jacket.

Fashion Week in Milan continues and the Missoni graced the runway with its memorable prints and sleek style. As described by Style.com, Missioni “reinterpreting and updating her own vocabulary, rather than grasping at flighty notions of retro futurism”. While the big bags with their exotic skin and colors makes me happy, the big shoes make me cringe. I would love to wear huge heels and platforms, but at 5′10 (really pushing 5′11) it just makes me too tall (and too tall for Vlad- BOO!) So I will stick to my lower heels and envy all of you that get to wear the big heels.

When it comes to Karl Lagerfeld, be ready to expect anything. Sticking to black, navy, white, silver, and hot pink, Lagerfeld gave the Fendi Spring 2007 line a futuristic approach with his implementing high-tech materials. On the runway materials like black silicone, silver leather that was laser-cut to resemble athletic mesh, and holographic paillettes were used to make a striking appearance for Fendi this spring. Lagerfeld said, “I wanted to use the most traditional craftsmanship with the most futuristic of fabrics”. While I am not into Matrix-esque fashion (like Gucci Spring 2007), Lagerfeld has kept his designs on the money using a futuristic touch on classic looks and colors. {via Style}

Looks to me like the Fendi models have been hanging out with the Prada models a bit too much

… Literally. Gwen Stefani is no doubt known for her singing, her hot hubby, her baby Kingston, and of course her fashion line, L.A.M.B. Stefani has colleborated with Tim Schifter to introduce L.A.M.B Luxurious Line of Handbags that will hit Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel’s, Holt-Renfrew in Canada, eluxury.com, and in a select group of specialty stores like Intermix. The luxe line will contain 33 different styles of handbags. Schifter describes the bags as follows:

The bags themselves are closer to the European luxury feeling than the American contemporary handbag category. I think they’re highly differentiated but priced in the contemporary. Gwen’s unique personal take on fashion incorporated her signature elements like Rasta colors and the old English lettering. For spring, we’re incorporating velvet into the collection. For this first launch, there are two collections-the Signature collection and the leather collection which is called Love.

Stefani’s style is very edgy and colorful and I look forward to seeing more of what she has in store for us. Already sporting one of her new bags with Rasta colors, Gwen is making sure we all see how hot her new line of bags will be. Gwen is most likely using this bag to carry Kingston’s goodies while she spends the day with her little man and hubby.

{via The Daily Fashion}

Not so “phat” in my opinion.