handbags

Handbags du jour

Hello Joan, Lois, Maggie, Perry, Vigo and Seymour. We are talking to the latest handbags, of course!
Pick your favorite from slouchy patent hobos with chunky hardware, soft leather totes in berry tones or 70s vibe patchwork and tri-colors.

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Fendi soft plum ‘Twin’ tote

TREND WATCH: Block Colors

Block colors and geometric shapes were all over the catwalks from Chloe and Diane von Furstenberg to Calvin Klein. A multi-colored dress has great statement power and doesn’t need much accessorizing. Use two or three-tone shoes and handbags to spice up your summer whites.

Gallery Affair

Frieze, Arco, Maco, Art Dubai – gallery openings and art exhibitions left, right and centre – so it’s easy to get dizzy about what to wear. Whatever you do, keep the outfit simple and then step up your game with accessories. Busy prints will only disturb your concentration to the artworks around you and someone might even mistake you for a painting if you stand still for too long!

Arty Mood

Dramatic abstract paint strokes, splashes, swirls, watercolors, graffiti and artwork imitations were all over the fabrics at Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Lacroix, Chloé and Basso & Brooke. It was as if the designers had unleashed their inner artist and started to experiment with different brush strokes on a canvas.
There was Dolce & Gabbana’s tribute to Julian Schnabel’s highly energetic, almost manic brush strokes and flower buds. UK designer duo Basso & Brooke were inspired by Fiona Rae’s handiwork of swirls and use of bright colors.

Softly, softly

Handbag trends go two ways this season: bright and bold or pale and snuggle-soft. Butter-soft leathers have been worked with sumptuous patchwork, ruching or woven effect, all efforts in making the skin as subtle as possible.
We can’t get enough of these simply irresistible hues of vanilla, blush, butterscotch, caramel, cappuccino, taupe and dove grey. Ahh…

Suit's Many Faces

Investing in a well-cut black trouser suit is the essence of every working wardrobe. We took a Helmut Lang black blazer and skinny pants suit as a base and gave it three different looks from work to play. T-shirt with a catchy motif or on-trend super-hero slogan is a quirky alternative for the working uniform. Give it an uplift with a pair of brightly colored flats.
Team the skinny pants with a feminine top and high heels and you are good to go for dinner straight from the office.  For a night out on the town, throw the blazer over an evening dress.

Romancing Ruffles

Dresses and tops are all ruffled up like birds' feathers this spring. What a perfect way to update your dark basics with a blush or pastel silk top covered in romantic, feathery, rose petal-like or scalloped ruffles.

Dear Valentine...

Chocolates, diamonds, lingerie, shoes and handbags - the usual Valentine's Day suspects. Perfect excuse for a new handbag, Louboutin heels or some boudoir-worthy lingerie.
If your other half is not into subtle hints, get on Net-A-Porter.com and let their Cupid work his magic with a very direct e-mail bringing forth your favorite picks in their store.
There’s no shame in telling him what you want…

 

Date with Cupid

He's booked a romantic candle-lit dinner, but you are having a wardrobe dilemma. You want to look womanly without going over-board sultry.

We love this cute Rachel Roy strapless dress teamed with the masculine Stella McCartney blazer for a modern look. If you’re not into red, a fail-safe option is a LBD jazzed up with a Cupid-Red clutch or pair of heels. Don’t forget to dab some love potion behind your ears that will take his breath away.

Love is in the air!

New Hot Bags

It’s time to store away those studded rock chic bags and invest in new arm candy – or two. There’s a movement away from heavily accessorized over-sized bags that we’ve grown to love – and hate because of the inflicting pain from the sheer size and weight of the bag – towards more practical shoulder bags and messenger styles.  What bliss to have arms free of weight! Good news to those who invested in seriously super-sized clutch bags; they are still hot to trot. We love the canary yellow patent version by