Pack Light

I usually don’t bring too many handbags with me when I travel. Most of them are irregularly shaped creations which I love to carry, but are complete hell to pack. Even if they do fit in my suitcase, they come out all bent and deformed. Alexis Hudson must have felt my pain when she created the Hollywood Zipper ‘Snakeskin’ Tote. It lies completely flat, appearing to be almost one-dimensional. I love the flat front zippered pockets, the drawstring chain handle, and the simulated snakeskin leather. It looks large and roomy - like you can stuff it to the gills, and it’ll still look haute.

Haute Off the Red Carpet: 79th Annual Academy Awards

Weekly Haute Bag Round-Up

Win a Prada Gauffre Antik handbag from FabSugar!

McDreamer is a Hermes Birkin Bag. Which IT bag are you?

Hauteness - The Handbag Magazine adores the Bottega Veneta Pleated Bag!

The Fray finds a cool cut-out bag in the most unexpected place - at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) shop.

Handbag Designer 101 goes for green handbags for Spring.

Señora Cartera features Marni’s ‘Garbage Bag Couture’ Collection.

Kate Spade’s Sao Paolo Handbag is driving Outblush insane.

Lauren Bush is a handbag designer???

The Gossip Girls say that Britney Spears was denied a limited edition Heatherette clutch at Fashion Week.

Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle discovers that the Botkier Bianca is back in stock!

Mad About Bags’ handbag design of the day is ‘Head Handbags’. Creepy.

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Haute or Not: Michael by Michael Kors Bags

Damn Blogger! Their ’spam-prevention robots’ locked my blog because they detected that characteristics of my blog resembled a spam blog! I’ve been doing this for a year and now I’m considered a spammer??? What’s up with that Blogger???

Since I’m already in a bad mood…

Just a few months ago, I lauded the praises of Michael Kors. Now I’m considering taking it back. I know he probably employs a multitude of people who design his collections but doesn’t he have final say? If so, why did he approve these two bags? I’m not saying they’re terrible, but this is something I’d expect from someone playing around with their first sewing machine. And I certainly wouldn’t shell out more than $200 for these amateur bags.

What do you think? Haute or not?

MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Pacific’ Tote, $298 (top)
MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Saratoga’ Denim Hobo, $268 (bottom)

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Haute Off The Runway: Evisu

The designer denim brand stuck to hues of indigo, red and black for its Fall 2007 collection.

Dark denim was paired up with navy taffeta resulting in a dressy urban look. Pieces consisted of pleated skirts, over-embellished collars, and funnel sleeves. I like that the collection was highly wearable, unlike the couture collections that never make it to your closet. Any of these pieces could be worn to work, or out to dinner.
The other part of the collection consisted of mainly taffeta and satin. A tuxedo halter dressed up skinny low-rise jeans, while a sizeable red top looked great with parachute pants. A basic blue satin dress plastered with a big red bow was an unexpected surprise, but adorable nonetheless.

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Wearable Art For the Ultimate Snob

I’m not big on promoting handbags that cost as much as a small car, a down payment on a mortgage, or even a small country. But I will share the details of what I believe to be truly exquisite handbags, in case you have a huge chunk of change lying around.

I was recently introduced to the Rene Lautrec for EKSO collection and was instantly impressed. Designer Rene Lautrec combines art, fashion, architecture and lifestyle to create wearable luxury handbags. 200 styles are made from every exotic animal known to man, like stingray, ostrich, croc and alligator.

These bags are accessories within accessories! Each handbag comes with interchangeable straps, a miniature perfume bottle inside (refillable only by the company), detachable cell phone cases, a white-faced diamond and cabochon-studded pocket clock, make-up bags, mirrors, and matching lipstick cases. My goodness!!! Talk about getting your money’s worth! (Does it come with a Corvette and a dream house too?)

To up the snobbish factor, all the hardware is handcrafted and made of fade- and tarnish resistant sterling-silver, bronze, 24 karat gold, white gold, diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious stones. And once a year Lautrec produces custom, one-of-a-kind handbags, and to top it all off, he personally inspects each finished bag to ensure perfection.

Are you hooked yet?

Rene Lautrec for EKSO, is available exclusively at Alexandros, 5 East 59th Street, in NYC or by calling 212.868.1043.

Pictured, at top: The Renegade in genuine stingray ($8,500)
Pictured, at bottom: The Aristocrat in cognac ($12,500)

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Celebrity bag spotting: Vanessa Bryant with New Balenciaga Le Dix Motorcycle Tote

I thought Balenciaga bags were so over but obviously I was wrong. Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa was spotted on the All Star 2007 red carpet with this new white Balenciaga Le Dix Motorcycle bag. I saw it in person today at Neiman Marcus and it’s just slightly smaller than the large Le Dix. It has the same appeal of the original, but is accented with gold thimble-like ornaments in place of studs.

What do you think of this new style?

Correction: Vanessa is carrying a Balenciaga ‘Work’ with large hardware. (Thanks Senora Cartera!)
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Weekly Haute Bag Round-up

Hauteness - The Handbag Magazine features handbag designer Hayden-Harnett’s new ready-to-wear apparel alongside their haute Spring bags.

Pursed Lips loves the look and feel of the Prada Pitone (Python) Frame Satchel.

If you have a taste for authentic designer handbags, It’s All In The Bag presents Darby Scott’s luxury handbag line.

Bag Bwana finds a retro-inspired Furla clutch in a summery white shade.

Please Don’t Feed the Models is obsessed with a little Chloe bag named “Edith”.

Shopaholics Anonymous discovers THE hottest bag for Spring 2007.

Pink Cupcakes needs a sugar daddy to buy the hot bags she found window shopping at e-Luxury.

I Like Her Style features a great selection of bright, multicolored bags.

Purse Blog loves the bold and brilliant Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Clutch in daring turquoise.

Lindsay Lohan may no longer the face of Louis Vuitton but comes back with a precious new Miu Miu bag.

Haute Off the Runway: Kai Milla

She may be best known as Stevie Wonder’s better half but Kai Milla is famous in her own right. She’s a brilliant designer, and her Fall 2007 collection proves it. The safari styles coupled with Earth tones resulted in a gorgeous collection. I love her super low cuts, accentuating curves, sheer chiffons, and cinched waists. The looks are classic with just an ounce of trendy thrown in, making it mature but fresh.

These pieces would look great with the Miu Miu Nappa Patch Satchel ($1445)
I also love her use of metallics (hot for Fall!) incorporated in and paired with earthy, bulky browns, and the metallic dress was an unexpected treat.

These would be even hotter with the Chloe Betty Leather Satchel

And muted grays were incorporated into sexy one-piece pantsuits, multicolored mini-trench coats, and floor length skirts.
These simple chic pieces deserve a stunning clutch. The Derek Lam Clothilde Clutch should suffice:

Haute looks! All photos via Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Scroll down to see more fashion week coverage!

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Haute Off the Runway: Malan Breton

So, I’m only a week late posting some fashion week reviews but better late than never, right? Anyway, on to the fashion:

Reality shows aren’t accurate predictors of talent. Take Jennifer Hudson. She may not have won American Idol, but that hasn’t stopped her rise to superstardom. The same can be said of Malan Breton. Being eliminated early from Project Runway hasn’t stopped him from designing fabulous clothes. He is the first designer from last season to show at Fashion Week, and his strong showing proves that he didn’t need Project Runway after all.

As Michael Kors would say, Malan ‘really knows a woman’s body.’ His dresses a perfectly draped, and look so feminine and flowy. My favorites are the two-tone muted gray A-line (being modeled by Melrose from Top Model?), and the A-line tube dress resembling a disco ball. I especially adore the floor length kimono-style belted ‘robe’ dress - casual glam at its best.

I think these dresses would look incredible paired up with one of these VBH Envelope Clutches ($695):

All photos via Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

What the Fendi?!?!

Oh, no! What in the world is this? It looks like some sort of 5th grade class project!!! Instructions class: take a brown paper bag, white construction paper, scissors and Elmer’s glue and create your own Fendi tote. What is it with high fashion designers thinking their brand name alone is enough to justify selling crap like this? Better yet, what makes them think they can sustain their name and legacy with crap like this?

And the icing on the crappy cake is that this bag has the nerve to be $685!!! I mean, you could buy a nice premier handbag or maybe two designer handbags on sale for that price. Who in their right mind would carry something as hideous and tacky as this, let alone pay as much money as it is! I could create my own version for free:

See?

I think I’ve given Fendi way too much coverage of their ’special’ bags on this blog but I really couldn’t ignore this one. This is a perfect example of a design house with too much money/fame/free time. And the perfect person to carry this bag is also someone with too much money/fame/free time:

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

This has to be THE most commercial holiday ever and after being in a relationship for four years, I don’t care too much about it anymore. However, I still love to get gifts! I’ll never turn those down!

As you already know, I’m obsessed with handbags, but that’s not necessarily the most common (or expected) gift for Valentine’s Day. So the next best thing for me (and most of you ladies) is fine jewelry - diamonds and pearls, a la Prince, and platinum and gilt-y gold. So imagine my joy when I discovered this gorgeous Gold Heart Bag from Diane von Furstenburg. And imagine my dismay when I saw the price tag - $36,000!!!

Now if your man happens to have a spare $36 grand laying around to buy this for you, he’s not only a keeper but you’re also a very lucky lady. But most of us aren’t as privileged, so here are some last-minute bag options for your man to get for you:

Louis Vuitton Heart Purse, Call for Details: 866 VUITTON

Poppie Couture Foldover Bag in Deep Red, $300

Nancy Gonzalez Bag of Passion, $325

Antoinette Lee Red Lua Clutch, $270

Lorelei Kendall Patent Croc in Red, $258

What did you give/get for V-Day?

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A Fleeting Fendi

If you like ransom notes made from letters cut out of magazines, then this Patent Crossword Clutch is the bag for you. Fendi never ceases to amaze me with their creations. While Gucci and Louis Vuitton don’t stray too far from their bread and butter styles, Fendi always has some interesting creation up their sleeve.

This patent clutch has strategically placed white block letters with a signature Fendi logo handle. If you like this sort of thing, it’s a great evening bag for the Spring/Summer, and is the perfect companion to the little black dress or even some sleek black skinny pants.

I have to admit that I might carry this bag if someone gifted it to me but is it really worth $920? (Hint: the answer is NO!) It is definitely a one-season trend piece. Patent leather will most likely be out next season and you’ll be stuck with an expensive fad It bag that just looks nice hanging in your closet. Like this blast from the past:

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Weekly Haute Bag Round-Up

Hauteness - The Handbag Magazine speaks to Freddy & Ma, Sara Langley, and the Magnes Sisters about running a family handbag business

Blog on the Cusp finds a Chloe satchel that is perfect for Spring

Nitrolicious spots Ashley Olsen toting a Marco Tagliaferri handbag

Shopping’s My Cardio is getting the blues with fabulous blue bags for Spring

BLavish has the perfect V-Day gift for her - the pink Juicy Couture Cable Knit Handbag

FabSugar is ‘over’ metallics but still loves the Kate Spade Purple Metallic Handbag

Purse Blog is developing a crush on the Derek Lam Hildegard Hobo

Couture in the City’s Luscious Handbag Find of the Day is the Fluff & Fold Kiera by Lockheart

Luxist proves that purple and green mix in the Amy Kathryn Gladiola stylish handbag/diaper bag

Girlawhirl digs The Sak’s Peace Bag Collection - where 100% of the purchase price of each bag goes to Seeds of Peace

Trend Revisited: Metallic Bags

So truthfully, metallics never really went out of style, but weren’t we all expecting them to? Usually what’s haute one season is definitely NOT the next season, but metallic bags (and clothes) prove they have staying power. They were spotted all over the Fall 2007 runways. What’s Haute was lucky enough to be invited to tons of great Fashion Week shows (check out my ongoing coverage here), but for you who couldn’t attend, here’s some of the haute metallic bags found on the runway:

Miss Sixty

Rock & Republic

Baby Phat
(Photos via NY Mag)

What do you think of the metallic trend? Still haute or definitely not?

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Happy Anniversary to Me! And a Haute Handbag Giveaway for You!

This February marks the 1 year anniversary of What’s Haute! I started this blog a year ago when I was working at an absolutely miserable, creatively stifling job. I was out of my mind with boredom, so I decided to combine two of my favorite things - handbags and writing. I started it as a creative outlet for myself, but I’m ecstatic to have loyal readers and new visitors who appreciate my opinion on all things handbags (and sometimes fashion).

To help me celebrate, Luna Boston has partnered with What’s Haute to giveaway this gorgeous Anna Corinna ‘City Tote’ in Plum, valued at $396! As you may recall, I recently named this the ‘Best Tote’ of the Year, and Anna Corinna’s handbags continue to reign as one of the most coveted lines! Now one of you lucky readers can own one thanks to Luna Boston!

Luna Boston is THE place to shop online for the hautest handbags and accessories. From the hottest designers like Anna Corinna and Hayden-Harnett, to emerging brands like Aleya NY, Luna boston has a wide range of handbags to fit every woman’s needs. They’ve also got a bunch of great and affordable shoes from designers like Faryl Robin and Miz Mooz, standout jewelry and loads of other accessories. Luna Boston is the one-stop shop for all your wardrobe trimmings.

All you have to do to win this great bag is shoot me an email answering the following 3 questions (hint, hint - the answers can be found on Luna Boston’s website!)

1. How many Anna Corinna styles does Luna Boston sell?
2. Where is Luna Boston located?
3. Name Luna Boston’s ‘Hot Designers’. (hint - there are 4)

That’s it! One winner will be chosen at random and notified via email on February 28, 2007!

In the meantime, take 15% off of all purchases with code ‘haute’. Now get shopping!

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Ask Haute Girl…

Dear Haute Girl,

I’m looking for a medium sized (hopefully leather) handbag, although if it’s a great style I wouldn’t mind another fabric. I don’t really have a specific color in mind, just nothing too wild (maybe black, brown, or blue). Basically, my requirements are that it is easy to match with all types of clothes (a bag that can be dressed up or down), and that it fits the style of a teen (I’m 17). Some of my favorite designers are Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Botkier, and Miu Miu, but I am open to all sorts of other designers’ bags as well. Hopefully I will be able to purchase it for $200 or less, but I’m willing to pay up to $300 if it’s really amazing. Thanks so much for your help!

Amber

Dear Amber,

You’ve come to the right place! What’s Haute certainly knows and loves handbags. Luckily for you, there are tons of great styles to choose from that are in or around your price range:

The MICHAEL Michael Kors ‘Astor’ Hobo Bag, ($168) has neverending style. It’s simple and chic, and the studs give it a young, hip edge. Available at Macy’s.

Coach’s collection has a great mix of classic and trend pieces. The ‘Legacy’ Leather Top Handle Pouch, ($168) is an adorably cute Coach neo-classic, perfect for day and night.

Now, if you’d consider going over your budget just a bit, here are some additional options:

The Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Stud Sharpei’ Tote is a great Spring/Summer steal at only $388!

Andrea Brueckner’s Small Tan Saddlebag is a wardrobe staple - with draping and ruching that is eternally stylish and trendy enough for your age. It’s also moderately priced at $325.

And if you really want a high-end MJ, LV, or Botkier handbag but can’t afford the outrageous price tag, visit Bag Borrow or Steal, where you can rent and rotate all three brands under the DIVA plan, for just $90/month!

Got a bag suggestion for Amber? Got a used designer bag you’d like to sell to her? Tell us about it!

Five Haute Facts About Haute Girl

I was tagged by former What’s Haute co-contributor, Frapp, who wants to know weird/interesting/odd/random facts about me so here goes!

1. I’m a self-taught handbag designer. I have my own line - and yes, I’ve written about it here. I’m a one-woman show - I cut, sew, sell, and ship - I do it all myself. I’ve always loved handbags - bought ‘em (I own about 70 other than my own brand), talked about ‘em, carried ‘em, so it was only natural that I design ‘em too!

2. Previously, I was a research scientist for almost ten years. Really. I’ve done cancer research, immunology, eye and ear research, etc. I rocked the lab coat, safety goggles, latex gloves and all. But I still managed to look haute doing so. (Underneath the white coat I’d wear knee-high stiletto boots, A-line skirt, and a cute top. I was the hottest lab nerd ever.)

3. I love roller coasters. I loved being flipped around, twirled upside down - all of it. I love to go to Six Flags every summer and ride the rides until I make myself sick!

4. I have a photographic memory - if I see something written on a piece of paper or see a person on the train, I can remember the information, person’s face, etc., and remember exactly where I was and what I was doing/saying/thinking at the moment.

5. I am narcoleptic - I can and will fall asleep at any given time. (It’s an art). I have fallen asleep at parties with extremely loud music in the background, the movies, driving, class, and even in a meeting with my boss! It’s a problem, I know, but it’s mostly funny. (And no, my boss didn’t fire me).

I’m tagging the following blogs:
Young, Black and Fabulous
The Fashion Bomb
Project Rungay
FabSugar
No Sex & the City

Press

More Haute Press!

What’s Haute is a winner of the 2007 Lifestyle Award from Trendora!

And What’s Haute was also listed as one of the top 100 fashion blogs by Customized Girl! Check it out!

What’s Haute in Women’s Wear Daily!

We’ve got press! Haute stuff!

Michael Kors - He’s Bringing Sexy Back

How sexy is this Michael Kors bag/shoe combo? It makes me so anxious for Spring to arrive! I love the rich, deep walnut color and MK’s ever-brilliant use of studs. This set would look great with a cream tunic dress, which is so hot for the upcoming Spring/Summer season. I discovered this gorgeous dress by Rachel Roy that is a perfect complement to this accessories duo.

The Layla Asymmetrical Dress is a flowingly draped, Grecian-inspired creation. The cream color screams simplicity but the billowy sleeves and draping and ruching suggest sophistication. Paired up with MK’s sexy oversized Woven tote and chunky Gevena Studded heel completes the look and gives you runway style for everyday. I have to admit, $995 for an MK bag is a bit on the high side, but the total look looks like it costs a whole lot more.

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