Get a Handle on the Perfect Clutch – Handbags Preview

Designer Reece Solomon (shown at blew) has cleverly added a criss-cross strap to the otherwise strapless bag, making the sometimes-cumbersome clutch a breeze to carry.

 

The perfect night-out clutch should be sleek and compact, but still roomy enough to fit all the essentials. The small leather version by brand new label Reece Hudson, adds some function to this fashionable closet staple. Designer Reece Solomon (shown at blew) has cleverly added a criss-cross strap to the otherwise strapless bag, making the sometimes-cumbersome clutch a breeze to carry.

The Dos and Don'ts of Dressing Your Body Slimmer, Sleeker, Sexier, Courtesy of Charla Krupp

Do wear “clean jeans”—and by clean I mean dark denim without any loud reverse stitching, shiny things, blinged-out logos or embellishments.

Don’t buy a size smaller than you actually are. Fabric that pulls is the fashion equivalent of taking a yellow highlighter to your body. If you’re really freaked out about your size (it’s only a number!), cut out the tag.

Do go dark color and solid (no hot pink leopard prints) on your least favorite body part. Think of this as the only place where you want to be boring, not cause excitement.

Don’t wear tapered or capri pants if you’re insecure about your legs—these styles hit you at the worst parts.

Do make friends with a ruched top. Draping is a brilliant way to camouflage. What lies beneath? They’ll never know!

Don’t wear a shirtdress that buttons all the way down from chest to thigh. You run the risk of pulling gaps between buttons. Instead, try a wrap dress; it’s a better option for staying sleek.

Do choose an empire-cut silhouette because the thinnest part of most women is right underneath our bustline.

Don’t opt for pants in clingy fabrics such as velvet and silk that cup your rear. Smoothness is the end goal.

Do accessorize your complete outfit, bringing the eye to all the flattering spots on your body. Great hair color, a wow necklace, tangles of bangles, a chic clutch, sexy stilettos, everything else you are doing can enhance your overall image.

Don’t even think of pairing a shrunken tee-shirt with low-riding jeans. It’s the worst combo platter in your closet.

Do wear A-line shapes that skim the body. Just make sure that they’re not too exaggerated a triangle.

Don’t sport anything with a drawstring at the waist outside the gym. Those clothes hide your shape and make you look bigger than you are.

And one last important “don’t”: Don’t let your clothes sabotage you!

Thank you, Charla, for sharing your smart dress-your-body wisdom with Slaves to Fashion today. Ladies, if you want to hear more of Charla’s advice, you can order her book here.

A Spring Fling Color Trends for 2009

With Mercedes Benz Fashion Week less than two weeks away, there is no time like the present to bring in the new, and makeover the old! The purples, oranges, pinks and lime green hues so prevalent this past winter and early spring will make their way into dusty lilacs, fuchsias, and calming french blues. The traditional soft yellows, greens, and pinks of spring will get a face-lift in the form of vibrant lemons, lucite, grass greens, pale salmon and rose hues. Basic black will make even stronger statements in your wardrobe this spring by adding black and white combinations and it would appear that gold has, in fact, become the new silver.

“So how is a girl to incorporate this new palette into her wardrobe without needing a storage unit just to house her new found couture? The answer is simple: buy a few well-made staples (or wear those you already have), and then accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! I personally rotate a couple of accessories from Avelle.com every couple of weeks. This way I get to indulge in my guilty pleasures.”

Here’s a few fun outfit ideas we put together for you using Polyvore. We invite you to share some of yours with us!

Green Machine by kristenagraham featuring Versace dresses

Items in this set:
Versace Cotton Dress with Crisscross Straps, $660
Jalda Croc ‘Doris’ Frame Handbag
Simon Alcantara Carved Nephrite Jade Pendant
Hermes Set of 2 Bangles
Tiffany & Co. ‘Somerset’ 18 kt Gold Ring

Goldheart Très Brune Collection

Introducing the stunning Goldheart Très Brune collection which honestly looks more hip than heartland, and definitely not something you’d expect from a local jeweller (which is always a good thing). Featuring cognac-brown diamonds set in rose, white and black gold, it’s chic and understated all at once. More fashion-forward than conservatively traditional, it’s from Goldheart’s Mode collection, a fashion line that’s both contemporary and versatile.

Personally I’m quite taken with the one that’s right on top (from SGD2885) though deep down I know it will just end up looking too flashy on me. More suited for the modern, stylish woman, it is a collection that can go from the boardroom to the ballroom effortlessly.

Michael Kors Astor Patchwork Satchel

Patchwork has been funky for years whether in accessory or in clothes. Michael Kors, a master of luxurious and joyful American sportswear, decided to follow this trend and showed it in his Astor Patchwork Satchel, a striking and casual handbag.

Crafted out of luggage leather, different brown shades are perfectly infused together to interpret diversified beauty and inherent elegance. White topstitching is observably shuttled along brown pieces adding more intrigue to the entirety. Silvertone hardware echoes on white stitching and handing logo charm M.K. in toned-down sumptuousness. Top flat handles with rings are comfortable for your arm and hands carrying.

However, that is not enough to describe all the merits it embodies. Opening its zipper closure, we can see the fine microfiber lining and ingeniously designed interior. It easily accommodates A4 documents and features interior pockets providing functional storage places for phone, wallet and other small accessories.

You might be prejudiced what we introduced is expensive and unaffordable for ordinary people. Nevertheless, it is only priced at $314 now, less than almost $150 of the original. Christmas is a great chance to collect what you like in discount. Do not miss this fortune, if it is in your budget, do not hesitate! More Replica Luxury Handbags at low price are available on iguccihandbags.com or eguccihandbags.com.

Donna Sharp Handbags Embodies American Ultra Quilting Art

Official Site: www.donnasharp.com

Even at the beginning of writing down the first word Donna, I am becoming very exciting. It is about original and unusual Quirky quilted handbags by Donna Sharp, the Kentucky native and 5^th generation quilter who is well renowned for choosing her own fabrics and practicing unique gift for color and design, which of course glamorizes the traditional American art form. All her creations always conform to the three top principles, beautiful design, quality handcrafting and attention to detail.

Have a close look of the above picture and you will find out that the Quilt by Donna features twice the normal stitch rate of hand-quilted pieces, which of course adds more strength, value and elegance to each item.

PurseBlog partners to Giveaway this Hermes Birkin!

A week ago today, I leaked a teaser about a fabulous giveaway on the horizon. While I couldn’t divulge which bag would be up for grabs, I did get a chance to offer a few hints. For the past week, many of you have jotted down one guess while others made a few guesses. It is fair to say that the majority of the guesses were correct, and today, I get to shout from the rooftops: WE’RE GIVING AWAY THIS HERMES BIRKIN!!!

 

We’ve partnered with two beyond amazing sites to bring you the holy grail of handbags, this Hermes Birkin. For this giveaway of all giveaways we’ve teamed up with Portero Luxury and FabSugar. Portero Luxury is providing the certified pre-owned, never used, gorgeous, supple and lust-worthy 30cm Black Evergrain Birkin.

The giveaway starts today, Monday, November 30, 2009 and ends Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 11:59 PST. You’ve heard enough, you want to enter, so how do you do so? Head over and visit our friends at FabSugar to register to win!

Versace Gree Shopper

Last month, I wrote about the cash flow problems that Versace has and how better handbag design could potentially alleviate some of their woes. No other brand makes bags that are such a consistent running joke in high-end bag circles, and they have little to no rabid following when it comes to their accessories.

Sadly, the Versace Gree Shopper could not be a more apt example of why that is. Gaudy metallic? Check. Logos galore? Check. No leather to be found? Check. Astronomical price for a canvas tote? You better believe it.

 

Sadly, bags of this variety are the rule and not the exception at Versace. To me, they look like they’d best find an audience if they were sold in the juniors department at a mid-range department store for a drastically reduced price, but XOXO already has the corner on that market.

The stupid thing isn’t even attractive, and that irritates me. Versace could be a brand that makes fabulous, luxurious things, but instead they choose to make gold canvas totes and charge a stack and a half for them. Then they wonder why their business is in serious financial trouble, and bags like this make it difficult me to feel sorry for them. They do it to themselves

lce & Gabbana Miss Rouche Ruffled Shoulder Bag

Dolce & Gabbana maybe not have as rabid or dedicated a following as some handbag brands, but that doesn’t stop them from going confidently in the direction of their artistic vision season after season. As with any very specific point of view, the results are often mixed but they’re always very obviously Dolce & Gabbana.

The Dolce & Gabbana Miss Rouche Ruffled Shoulder Bag is the continuation of an idea that we first saw in Fall 2009. Those bags were slightly more manic and ruffle-covered, but this hobo dials things back just a bit and gets it right.

 

The beauty of this bag is really on the zoom-in, so I encourage you to take a trip over to Saks and play with their photo tools a bit. In these pictures the leather looks a bit thin, but on closer inspection, this bag looks like it would be soft and the wrinkled effect is feminine without being too girly. The same with the ruffles – they don’t come off as too theme-y or unkempt because the bag is fairly simple in shape. It looks stiff in the photos, but something tells me it would loosen right up with a little wear and sag nicely.

Lanvin 120th Year Anniversary Totes

Believe it or not the house of Lanvin is 120 years old! In the past few years the brand has enjoyed a renewed popularity amongst fashionistas, and we couldn’t be happier. Of course we are fans of the house of Lanvin inspired by the Impressionists and founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889. The brand is famous for its pretty delicate palette, detailed trimmings, embroideries and embellishments. Lanvin’s designs experienced a wide popularity in the 1920’s and ’30s and became an icon of roaring ’20s feminine Parisian chic. Today designer Alber Elbaz’s modern touches to the house of Lanvin bring a luxurious edge to its trendsetting designs.

That is why we love these anniversary totes from Lanvin. Celebrating 120 years, the sketches on each tote represent the porcelain figurine dolls created as a special collectible. The Miss Lanvin doll shown here is a limited edition and is adorned with a mini pearl necklace and jumps out of a crystal encrusted cake. The Miss Lanvin 17″ doll is £325.00 from Browns London.

There are three”120 years” printed Lanvin tote bags, each with a different sketched design and embellished by a pretty grosgrain ribbon handle. The printed design is on both the front and back of each tote and is lined with a coordinating fabric to match the ribbon. Inside you’ll also find a zippered pocket. It comes in three designs including: 120 years printed tote, ‘Love You’ printed tote and the 120th’ Birthday printed tote.

Believe it or not the house of Lanvin is 120 years old! In the past few years the brand has enjoyed a renewed popularity amongst fashionistas, and we couldn’t be happier. Of course we are fans of the house of Lanvin inspired by the Impressionists and founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889. The brand is famous for its pretty delicate palette, detailed trimmings, embroideries and embellishments. Lanvin’s designs experienced a wide popularity in the 1920’s and ’30s and became an icon of roaring ’20s feminine Parisian chic. Today designer Alber Elbaz’s modern touches to the house of Lanvin bring a luxurious edge to its trendsetting designs.

That is why we love these anniversary totes from Lanvin. Celebrating 120 years, the sketches on each tote represent the porcelain figurine dolls created as a special collectible. The Miss Lanvin doll shown here is a limited edition and is adorned with a mini pearl necklace and jumps out of a crystal encrusted cake. The Miss Lanvin 17″ doll is £325.00 from Browns London.

There are three”120 years” printed Lanvin tote bags, each with a different sketched design and embellished by a pretty grosgrain ribbon handle. The printed design is on both the front and back of each tote and is lined with a coordinating fabric to match the ribbon. Inside you’ll also find a zippered pocket. It comes in three designs including: 120 years printed tote, ‘Love You’ printed tote and the 120th’ Birthday printed tote.