Stylish with Substance

The surprising fact about shoes and foot health (and posture) is that the flattest of flat shoes is actually unhealthy, relatively, for the feet. Best is a quarter to a half an inch of a lift on the back of a flat, kind of like a kitten wedge, we suppose. Here are some shopping picks that fit the bill...

What's a bagista (a designer handbag lover) to do to mix her man (or woman) and her fabulous bags that, let's face it, may not be so male-friendly?

Follow this series starting soon here on Bag Dream! Upcoming topics:

• Size Matters : of your bag (what size purse to carry on early dates and when it's OK to let loose).


• Commitment: Dating and Variety of Purses : will a large rotation of bags / a new purse each date freak out your mate? Proceed with caution and gauge his comfort level.


• IT Intimi-date-tion : will expensive bags freak out your mate? Gauge your brand level introduction-timing by his purseonality type.


• Mr. Big (Bag) : Find comfort in finding who actually carries a bag larger than any of yours? (AND it's a manly-man bag at that!) Find out what activity this guy does that forces this!


• Meet the Purses (more important than meeting the parents) : When it's OK to introduce your fave IT bag (the one that surely just looks craziest to the male of our species).


• Lesbian Dates : How to feel out her purse-type-comfort.


• Explain Your Other Love According to his Purseonality : How to explain your purses to your guy (depending on his personality type).


• For the guys: poll(s?)!


• From the guys: opinions straight from their mouths (or typing hands).

And more? Feel free to suggest topics or ask advice for mixing dates with bags!

P(urse).Script. As the series concludes, we should lead right into Valentine's Day, which will come after some V-Day bag suggestions!

Post.Purse.Script : Yes, the Designer Ella has found someone and is not at all jealous when discussing the big L! (No, not just Louis Vuitton anymore!) (Btw, yes, he's My Mr. Big Bag, lol. A purse-fect match!)

If you want to catch this series, then you may want to subscribe to our feed or bookmark/blogroll the site.

[caption id="attachment_1372" align="aligncenter" width="405" caption="Louis Vuitton art from eLUXURY"][/caption]

I absolutely get giddy when Louis Vuitton and eLUXURY create art for/from their most classic bag(s). The "cool" thing is this sculpture looks even more do-able than a simple ball-y snow man! So brighten yourselves up, those in the cold - when the flurries have fallen, make yourself something better than an angel!

Besides, a bag made of snow is not just priceless, it's free!

This question is double-layered; first, do you blog on a luxury topic? Second, if so, do you loathe researching products or posting at all? Even with more posts often meaning more income from even a hobby blog that's monetized, certain posts or whole blogs (this one) can sometimes be just too depressing to post to.

Yesterday I plainly glimpsed a pretty COACH bag and felt hunger pangs so painful I had to stop any thought about blogging about designer bags.

How things are for me right now are such: Not only is my Blockbuster Online account on hold for 3 months, but I canceled my cable. No luxuries. See, I watch most of my TV online these days anyway, and I like it that way.

This has gotten so strange I log into my handbag-shopping Facebook application every chance I get just to rack up the free fake $100s. Easiest money ever, although fake. And then I don't spend it.

My whole shopaholicism has been cured this year, it went from downgrading what I spent my "extra" money on. From designer bags to cheap-thrill bags to bag-making supplies, to simply $2 online movies, to pretty much nothing pure entertainment anymore. This will be my stingiest gift giving season in my entire life, to boot. What am I requestiing, by the way? Gift cards to stores where I can replenish my wardrobe because I've lost a lot of weight and am swimming in pajamas, and just dealing. (People, pajamas are like my office attire, ok. Haha.) Pure necessity that I've put off myself.

Still the purses make me crave. They lure me like sirens until I'm trapped in despair. I'll never stop wanting those pretty, pretty purses. Sometimes, you know, it's worse to blog about what you love. This is kind of like focusing on an unrequited love for a living, without the catharsis of say lyricism. Ouch, indeed.

Le Sigh.

[caption id="attachment_1262" align="alignright" width="245" caption="Phoebe Philo in Fall 2005"][/caption]

Phoebe Philo is back, but not to bring smooshy leather idealism again to Chloé, but as the next creative director of fellow French fashion house, Céline.

LVMH Moët Hennessy confirmed to WWD exclusively on Sept. 4th. The magazine immediately published the news, but in short, almost byte form - so here you get a detailed reaction with enough information to match...

Despite creating arguably the world's favorite IT bag with the company, Philo left the design world completely 2 years ago to stay home with a new baby, who's now 3 with a younger sibling of 18 months*. The deal with Céline that appealed to the new mom is that she would be allowed to stay and work in her home town of London, and not the headquarters of both houses, Paris, France. (*Source) Why the success her Paddington and other beloved purses being responsible for Chloé's clout of today didn't cause Phoebe to merely take temporary maternity leave, with parent company, Richemont, offering this same compromise is beyond me. (Are they so evil as to obligate themselves to pinch pennies and ditch the finer skins of life that Philo inspired in the manufacturing?)

[caption id="attachment_1261" align="alignright" width="201" caption="OUT: Ivana Omazic"][/caption]

Some journalists claim this will be a boost needed for Céline, a company recently faltering, even with Ivana Omazic showing hints at purse innovations recently. One being a handbag with a large mirror on the outside for the veinest of fashionistas - its (lack of) level of stylishness contrasting that cool tongue-in-chic, however. I do hope to see Omazic work on her potential for whomever else she designs, but who?--the fashion business is short-tempered and impatient. Was she sacked, or did she leave Céline and her budding creations and ideas behind by her own choice? LVMH simply said in a statement that she's leaving after three years. (Real loyal parting words, eh?) It must be a tough break to make, for example Philo will nevermore have her Paddington.

[caption id="attachment_1276" align="aligncenter" width="230" caption="Céline's " Watch Me, Mirror" by Omazic"][/caption]

So how excited can we be for Phoebe's purses of the future at Céline? I'm a mix of skeptical and wildly excited. Firstly, Phoebe mentioned to The Herald Tribune she'll re-invent and evolve her fashion aesthetic (they printed no exact quote). It's not to say that a giant padlock isn't exactly an immature style preference, yet I hope to recognize what I do love from the designer in whatever the old self she keeps. And even that definitely leaves promise that coming Céline bags will sport the most divine leather - especially with their current sub-line named "cuir sulky" which is literally intended to be "slouchy leather". Sounds like Philo is the best choice for Céline, therefore I'm not surprised they fought for her.

Céline has two other handbag sub-lines that bring excitement to my daydreams of what my Paddy-designer might do. 1. a "Watch Me __" (move, work, play, dance, etc.) named range that gives opportunity for fun - however currently the styles are mostly dull. 2. "Tourbillon" which represents the "swirl" of their own pattern. Far from monogram, it is however a sturdy coated canvas for everyday (even chores like gardening) with a lower pricetag - swoon. Not much leather there, but I have had curiosity as to what Chloé would do with signature - and Philo is to me the quintessential Chloé designer.

(Now we just need to end this recession and bring back our economy so I can attain a piece [and more to follow] of this fashion history from a favorite designer for my collecting status. [I need more than a price decrease, I myself need a "raise".)

What about Ivana Omazic though? Perhaps she's even been inspired to create her own namesake brand - which is something one doesn't easily leave for others to takeover and break. And that reminds me of my true and long-held hope; that a Phoebe Philo collection, itself, will appear - although with no Phoebe-done Paddies, it's still second in my prayers to her to re-joining Chloé and putting her stamp on the Bay, the Heloise - and bring back 2006 leather. (Did you know that the soft Paddy leather "left" after Philo did the same year of 2006? Um-hum.) But I do think my third choice definitely is now Céline - hopefully, third dream come true's a charm.

Moving on is not always moving up, though, I want to note that when Stella McCartney left Chloé, making way for Phoebe to helm, she chose to produce *icky* "pleather" (ok ok "high quality" vegan imitation leather [yeah right]) purses for her own "dear" name. Uh - downgrade?

Surely that means Phoebe was an upgrade to Chloé, with her seemingly great affinity for  using (and not wasting) lovely skins, and I hope she'll remain the queen of quality hide, bringing that to Céline for now. Even if she can't make a single suggestion for new versions of my favorite bag, I'm not too saddened by that; the best re-invention of the Paddy yet will be featured in a coming post. (Plus I must feature an article comparing Omazic's designs with the Paddington styles, highlighting improvements this maestro could make, with some hopeful merging with the basics of the satchel.)

Maybe new brains' re-workings of IT bags is part of what keeps them fresh throughout the years, even? There's always hope where's there are more/new talented minds.

And that reminds me further of my frustrations with the biz's game of fashionable chairs - the designer of Chloé's Spring 2008 collection, Paulo Melim Andersson, made bags that brought more excitement to me than I'd felt since the classic Paddy (or perhaps the chocolate croc), yet he was axed (soon after the Fall '08 show, also around the time the Spring bags debut at stores).

What is up? Am I out of synch with the style times?--since I am afterall still in love, and always will be, with a bag many turned their noses from long ago. Despite its original status and being the cause of the entire IT bag phenomenon, most but the hugest Chloé fans atually now merely see it as the biggest *fad* bag - a time-sensitive style that's OUT with the trash. Le Sigh.

The entire angle of this article shows that I'm in love with a designer of the past. Yet every one of her fans is, as well - and recycling is a lot of what fashion is. The only reason this new designer for Céline is such a story is because of her particular work with that other brand years ago - and we all know most's fave of her work - I am not alone. My readers are with me, even if not for the Paddington, perhaps just the leather, maybe the Silverado, or even the Edith, or...........

It proves it certain, this historybooks designer retains her following, and is sure to to a great designer of the future, as well.

Welcome back, dear Phoebs - and I wonder - new/contemporary/young/hip baby bags to be born?

Collections to look forward to:

• There is conflicting information, or at least confusing wording, around the web as to when Philo's first collection for Céline will show, but to my understanding it will likely first be walked down the runway in October 2009 for Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010, after being completed in design and mockup next March. (When does she start?!) Phoebe is set to get to work this October!


• See the last of Ivana Omazic's design for Céline in the Thurs., 2nd of Oct. show during Paris Fashion Week.


• Chloé's Spring 2009 collection will debut on Oct. 4th, also in Paris.

Humorous Foot(ankle-bag)note: If you wanted to read about Phoebe Philo's clothing designs, take note; you're reading a handbag blog! ;-)

Further thanks to: Wikipedia.

Seen on Rihanna, an Olsen and Rachel Bilson...

DO wear your bright accessories with more neutral clothing.

DON'T wear them with equally bright clothing.

DON'T turn 80s by pairing bright with too much black!

Now have fun shopping!

I begin a new year of content, coming back from technical and then personal problems, with a reflection upon the greatest hand styles from the last. Without further ado...

#10: Red Jersey Roxanne Bag by Mulberry for Gap

When an IT bag goes discount and it's legit, there must be huge hype. Not only is that true for this Roxanne bag by Mulberry and Gap, but 50% of the proceeds go to a charity fighting AIDs. What could be hotter than this product Red bag, then? Made out of jersey fabric, it still looks just as haute. Watch out though, it's only available in one store (a Gap flagship) in London. Burned?

#9: The Matelasse by Balenciaga

Edgy and carefree Balenciaga bags suddenly have someone in the family with a classier, sophisticated style. Still holding on to the signature elements, the quilted, classic Matelasse was a major new style to come out in 2007. It could not be left off the list, especially since I covet one so. In 2008, I plan for a Balenciaga (or 2) to be mine.

#8: Monogram Canvas Mirage Griet by Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton's best bags are their classics, but of course. But new bags can be much more exciting. So the house's best new bags are the ones with modern details meeting classic lines. It's all there in the Mirage collection, especially this Griet bag. The LV Monogram Canvas Mirage Griet is one of the ultimate Vuitton bags right now, also winning our poll for top bag of 2007's fall/winter season!

#7: Damier Azur Collection (Speedy 30) by Louis Vuitton

Biggest LV debut of a 2007 collection for its popularity, waiters list and the fact that it was a whole (sort of) new pattern collection, was the Damier Azur. Comprised of the classic Damier checkerboard, now in white and light blue (classicly in brown shades), this line actually debuted in November 2006, but it was a 2007 resort collection. (Pictured here on Vuitton's Speedy 30, a very popular bag.)

 

#6: The Foldover (Mahala) Clutch by Jimmy Choo

Ushering in a new era of vastly oversized clutch bags intended for day carry is none other than the Jimmy Choo Mahala Foldover Clutch. Not only was this a top bag of 2007, but it's a milestone bag in the history of purses! Add IT bag status to that with many celebs carrying it and its details being copied all over the inspired brands/stores and we have a verified dream bag.

#5: The Riveting Collection by Louis Vuitton

Riveting indeed, almost all of the pursie community was clamoring over this little LV line covered in strategically placed studs, with sewn together (or on top of?) rectangles of leather or lined-up monogram canvas. The alignment, the details, the ... exclusivity of this Limited collection! This time modern all the way, the only thing classic about the bags was probably just the monogram. This bag will surely be a landmark for the year 2007 in handbag history.

 

#4: The Coffer by Miu Miu

A Miu Miu to rival Prada and win hands down. What a feat by this sister line of Miuccia's. Featuring matelasse quilting and double flaps over supple leather, this bag had many women drooling. It might have even stood as a turning point for the trendier line. Who says Prada is better than Miu Miu? I don't!

#3: The Downtown Bag by Yves Saint Laurent

Practically self-describing as the bag for urbanites (with money, though) is the Downtown tote by Yves Saint Laurent. Seen on celebrities from summer through autumn, it's still more the unique shaping of this tote that makes the bag surpass any inspired copies by far. Quality and branding aside, it caused this bag to win out over "competitors".

#2: The Bay Bag by Chloé (especially in quilted)

Hailed as the biggest bag of the year by die-hard Chloé fans, one of the hardest to die fan groups among designers, the Bay was hu-u-u-uge for 2007. Unique, classy, and in so many wonderful colors, this was an easy purse to fall in love with. With Chloé consistently inspiring their fans to propel the name's styles to the top of the IT lists every year since 2005, starting with the Paddington, an IT by Chloé is an IT indeed.

#1: I'm Not a Plastic Bag by Anya Hindmarch

Marked up on eBay, way up; super limited edition; yet good for the environment with an eco message. It was the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" tote by Anya Hindmarch. This is the bag that helped drive the movement of re-usable grocery totes into a fashionable craze. For that this silly little bag does get a lot of credit. It is the queen of all market totes, in a year of them blossoming.

Garbage Bag of the Week:

Jay McCarroll Bowler - Fred Flre $60

Is this how the winner of Project Runway makes a bag? See, this is what we get when the rules for the contest are as such; "the designers must sew" and "they must design women's-wear" instead of the important things, like talent in aesthetic design. I mean of course sewing is an important factor with how the competitions are run, and sticking to ladies' fashions keeps the show running more consistently, but with the popularity of purses, and the presence that handbag designers bring to the scene, where is the TV show for those aspiring to design bags?---Huh?!

Really, how does someone who won a major, famous contest for fashion design then make a bag that disregards color combination and basic knowledge of modern strap attachment? There is no talent in this cheap POS. Why make something for fabbing Fred Flare, wih fugging vinyl trim?! No respect for you, McCarroll.

You're out!

This is partly why I don't like the show.

I've thought up a feature for the blog of posting videos of blogistas inspecting authentic and fake bags to educate fellow shoppers.

The first video is not by me, but you will see me do some (thanks in part to me just joining Bag Borrow or Steal, so even though my budget restricts me from buying many bags even at the COACH level, I might be renting some occasionally!), although I have limited access to counterfeit purses to vid. This really is a practice all designer lovers should try to follow, if you can take a vid that is - post it on YouTube - just like those bad products videos that caused such a stir!

Today's video features a fake Prada, a replica of a gorgeous Prada indeed. I hope you learn something, although it's hard not being able to touch it (it always is), but I figure that seeing it in video-dimension will add something to the education process! (Let me know if you agree, and contact me if you make a video like this!)

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=BH406dfPhWY[/youtube]

There will be more to come, and if you'd like to see similar videos or send me one of yours, check out my new YouTube account: LippedMedia (I still need to flesh my page out [and of course make some vids!] - any tips on using YouTube? - I'm a little behind in the whole thing!). Also, we could connect as friends on there! (I didn't know YouTube was social - geez I AM behind!)

Anyway, the real point to these posts are to help you shop smarter on places like eBay; so best of luck!

Combining a few of the hottest trend aspects of the season: unique closures, gathered leather and ... maybe a high price point; is the new range by little-known Smythson; the Nancy bags.

In the styles of clutch, small satchel and large, and standard colors of white, tan, black and dark brown; there's almost something for every fashionista this Fall with the Nancy collection ... except that these bags are propelled into the IT race with a price range of $1,032 to $1,981. Somewhat much for a little-recognizable status bag, but the purses really are nice. And did I mention trendy? They have a lot of the appeal of a Stam, plus the more practicalities of a medium size option and no heavy hardware. The gathered leather is done in a sophisticated and unique way; sort of appearing like a diamond quilt pattern but not - and the clasp is not only fresh, but covered in luxurious leather - the same calf skin the entire exteriors are made of.

Besides the major minus of toting your new prize causing some to think you merely have a brandy inspired bag, is the lack of a fun color - which to me is the most important trend of today. A punch, some jazz! Still, these are purses meant to display elegance, maybe they need only be subtly beautiful.

And who knows what we'll see in the future if the Nancy catches fashionistas' fancy!