Stylish with Substance

Cole Haan bag beauties - from funky to femme

Ella M — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EDT

Cole Haan has a current web ad campaign with large purses that appear to be luxe quilted suede (note to self) but when seeing the bags (The Sloane collection) upclose, the disappointment that they are different quickly dissapates.

I don't know quite how to explain the look (at least I can't be sure without an in-person examination) but it's new & fresh, girly & intricate - and totally covetable and admirable in design.

Go Cole!

(Also since I've been out of the shoppers' market, it seems one old style (something about "lunch"?) has transformed into the new "Denney" - still cute.)

Cole Haan Sloane Leather-Trim Small Suede Satchel $448 - Lord & Taylor

Cole Haan Handbag, Sloane Single Shoulder Bag $348 - Macy's

Cole Haan Phoebe Zip Satchel $498 - Neiman Marcus

Everybody AND her MOM are becoming designers. No really...

Ella M — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:59:05 EDT

This is not a renewal of the old joke, although it's only partially true. You know it's more fright than funny, partly because some famous new designers don't even design. It seems every singer, or not, wants to be a designer. And then famous non-singers think they can sing. Why does everyone whose name is up in lights think they can design?

Fashion bloggers, too, are crafters, entrepreneurs and even designers. But we work hard to forge our own ways, usually sewing to boot. This is what Ella is doing, but I won't talk too much about my line that's merely upcoming. ;-)

Back to those spoiled celebs...

A while ago Lindsay Lohan debuted her leggings collection, under her own label, and recently started collaborating with another. Now her mom, Dina Lohan, has previewed her shoe collection. It's named after their famous surname in an oh-so mindless, embarrassing take on a pun, "Shoe-Han".

And you guessed it, Dina won't be designing, only having some part in the creative direction. Oh boy...

The name just makes me think of more puns relating to the slang term, "ho". It can be combined with so many other words that would suit Dina. In a way it makes talking about, if not wearing, "her" shoes oh so versatile.

Now for that peep-toe boot that wonderful role model tried on for the cameras - it's no more stylish than a cast.

You'll be sure not to purchase a pair for your own mommy dearest this Spring, when the line debuts around Mother's Day.

Inspirations: #081809 ; Unique "Buckles", "Tassels" & Pockets, too!

Ella M — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:55:13 EDT

Bags both by Sharif. Shop Sharif bags at HSN.

Upcoming: Chanel's "Coco Cocoon" Handbag Line - Gallery

Ella M — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:25:01 EDT

We've gathered allllll the photos fit-to-print that we could of the new Chanel purse collection, "Coco Cocoon" coming out in October. That's October 10th 2009, precisely. It's the same line as featured in the Lily Allen advertisements, but we've posted her pictures in another gallery.

Enjoy!

(Photo credits: 1, 2, 3)

Chanel, or Karl Largerfeld, Cleaned Up Lily Allen

Ella M — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:34:55 EDT

Karl can put Chanel on Lily Allen, but can we really put Lily Allen in Chanel, if you know what I mean? What I mean is, could this makeover stick on the girl who refuses to not sunbathe topless what-seems daily in her classless crusade nearing as bad as Amy Winehouse?

That is why Lily Allen as a model for Chanel surprises me. Yes, Lily is a huge Chanel fan, uh--so are witless teenagers. The difference is this recording artist has money, and those teens aren't truly carrying Chanel with their pink cambon totes.

So what I mean is anyone can be a fan, but that doesn't mean The Man will "fan" back. The singer makes a cute model of some sort---Allen is quite beautiful and a great writer with a great mind, but ... girl needs work.

Or - usually. One couldn't tell from these amazing photographs.

Here Allen advertises and sports Chanel's upcoming handbag collection, "Coco Cocoon" due this October 10th (2009).

Stay tuned for a gallery devoted to the bags next week!

Photography by Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel's designer, himself.

Credit: Collective of the Interwebs & I-D Magazine

A Soft & Fluffier Side: Visual Poetry: Chanel

Ella M — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:42:04 EDT

Mixing so many wonderful lovelies of the girl world. Softness, florals, pink, & a crafty look/feel with knits.

When I was writing about the sizing "scandal" I see over Lara Stone's sensationalized popularity - I couldn't help but calm down viewing this shot of Stone in Chanel. (In our W Magazine / Lara Stone gallery.)

There's also more on the softer side in another of Stone's differences. Forget a size six amongst a 00 world, Lara's natural blondness is showcasing other alternative beauty aspects. It's not that she has no eyebrows, but like a few other women, she has very pale hair, even there. Now these girls have their own model mirror, which is always beautiful.

We may laugh and poke at other famous people ditching their brows on purpose - but Lara is just natural - even in her near-skintone eyebrows. So girls who grew up anxious over this different feature of their own, there may be a separate calm for them amongst the buzz.

For capelet purchasing info, contact Chanel.

Photo Source: Cyana Trend Land

Breaking Handbag News: Possible Bridal Bag, Possibly Sassy?

Ella M — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:18:45 EDT

Rebecca Minkoff tweeted that she's in Italy for her wedding tomorrow. And she's planning to celebrate her newlywed status by introducing a collection titled, "I Do".

By then, she will have *did*, and congrats!

My Love Affair with this Shoe will Go the Distance

Ella M — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:13:45 EDT

Badgley Mischka Women's Carlo Pump

$215.95 by Badgley Mischka at Endless.com

This shoe is so elegant it makes me esteem to be so much classier I must speak in a British accent. Forget that it might actually "p" people off. We all do love that sound.

This pump is to shoes what that British tongue is to accents. That. Good.

It's raw-edged fabric rosette also makes me say,

"Fray is the new tulle."

Say it, if you agree this is just as lovely as that so-feminine touch, and say it like a Brit.

Of course, this shoe looks actually more French, n'est pas?

Now I'm all over the place. Which is what Ella cannot be in heels, like this shoe obviously is. Make that my excuse, and not the $216 pricetag. Besides, I DIY. ;-)

Dear Miley Cyrus, You Need Sleep

Ella M — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:19:24 EDT

It took me a while to think of how I should communicate this properly, if I could or should at all.

This post is about last weekend's MTV Movie Awards' thank-you speech by Miley Cyrus - or rather, her appearance. (There is actually more to be said regarding her nutty speech, itself, but might need go un-worded to us who are adults.)

I'll form it in the classic blog-letter style, because Miley's the one who needs help, and that's how we "do".

Dear Ms. Cyrus,

Take a note from your alter-ego character and realize you need some real life and childhood. I'm not even really all that upset by your dress, yes it is mature, but not in a tarty way.

And your make-up, it's too much. Teenagers love dark eyes or heavy liner, even though heavy make-up is for adults, if anyone (and actually it should be for no one). So yes, I know it's a teen thing, but all teens, honey, want to grow up too fast. And mob mentality is usually wrong.

But I'm mostly writing about your obviously tired eyes. You need more rest.

Perhaps being two people is seriously too much. I don't know if you actually produce more product or perform longer concerts. I'm just not your demographic so I do not follow you But something is making you look older. By many years.

Please take care of yourself, girl. And enjoy that dear puppy, too.

With concern, your elder,
Ella

P.S. If you are seriously interested in fashion or want to be taken seriously, avoid Wal-Mart like the plague. Or like you might avoid your parents.

(P.S. to readers, the Jonas Brothers put out a line of ... sweater vests??? ... There are no communicable words.)

(P.P.S. to readers. I knew Max Azria was not so hot, that story's proof.)

Photo credit: E!

Who Has New Fall Bags?! Gucci Does!

Ella M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EDT

Gucci has (I hope just some of) their Fall 2009 handbags out on their online shop. By far the best is the Horsebit Jockey Bag (pictured). With its gunmetal leather that looks soft, I'd say it's one of their top styles overall.

With June just arriving, and Summer not here yet, we can enjoy the best of both worlds with the beach weather and still the onset of new fashion!

So who else has new Fall items?!