The Bag Coalition - Fall 2010 handbags + giveaways!

Handbag Report is hosting an exclusive Onna Ehrlich giveaway

Senora Cartera features the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2010 Collection: Back To Basics

BagPoor previews the Rebecca Minkoff handbag collection and Fall presentation

Handbag du Jour reviews fifties-inspired Fall 2010 bags by Louis Vuitton

Spotted: Jessica Simpson with her Limited Edition Louis Vuitton Oskar Waltz Ostrich Lizard & Snake Runway Bag

Jessica Simpson can’t seem to catch a break these days. Once she was a mediocre pop star with a hugely successful show and a doting husband. Now she’s a mediocre pop star who’s constantly poked fun at regarding her weight, and can’t seem to keep a guy. But one thing she still has is her sense of style. Read more

We’re in love with “Love Moschino”

We’ve adored the Moschino Cheap and Chic line for years, though honestly, it was never really that cheap. But now Moschino accessory lovers can rejoice – the brand just announced the launch of a new line of lower-priced handbags called “Love Moschino” also the name of its jeans line. Priced between $168 and $445, the collection will include shoulder bags, totes, clutches and wallets all made of nappa and patent leather, calfskin and canvas, and suede to come soon. We’ll pass on the Chanel look-alike purse but the purple and red heart covered clutch already holds a special place in our hearts. The line is designed to appeal to younger customers who have less moolah. Finally, Moschino for the masses!

Click here to check out one of the Love Moschino bags on the runway.

Source: WWD

Bags on the runway: Nina Ricci at Paris Fashion Week

Nina Ricci was once a brand I associated with ‘mature’ women’s fragrances (mostly because my grandmom had a bottle on her dresser), but lately the brand has seemed to hit the ‘refresh’ button. With celebrities like Rihanna carrying Nina Ricci bags, the brand is definitely grabbing the attention of a much younger audience. The brand debuted its spring/summer 2010 Pret a Porter collection during Paris Fashion Week and these three bags caught my eye. They’re all different but are identifiably Nina Ricci with its palette of pastel colors and ultrafeminine details like ruffles, florals and bow accents. Are you a fan of these oh-so-pretty bags?

Photos: de Moraes Barros/Wireimage

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2010

Leighton Meester and Freida Pinto looked lovely entering the Louis Vuitton Pret a Porter runway show during Paris Fashion Week. With the exception of Leighton’s calf-high socks, both looked great from head to toe. They toted new LV bags - Leighton carried a black suede duffel; and we loved Freida’s pink Louis bucket bag in particular. Though as for the show itself, well, we didn’t know quite what to say:


Um, yeah. Well, at least we’re looking forward to seeing the spring bags in stores. As for the rest of the collection, we’ll have to pass for now.

de Moraes Barros/Wireimage

Bags on the runway at Valentino Spring/Summer 2010

New Valentino duo, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, took a different direction for Spring, straying away from the house’s vibrant color palette and replacing it with hues of nude, gray, rose, lavender, and gold. While we weren’t a huge fan of the washed out color palette, the bags were a hit. Brocades, pailettes, antique laces, large petaled florals and feathers came together in Valentino’s usual understated glamourous way. Large structured bags mixed with wrinkled flat clutches and of course a few bags were topped with Valentino’s signature bow for a dramatic flourish.

Barson/Wireimage

Rihanna j’adores Chanel

You know it wouldn’t be a normal fashion week without several Rihanna sightings. She hit up the Chanel show draped in Chanel from head to (almost) toe - sunglasses, bustier, blue tweed skirt, multi-chain necklace and a velvet bag with sequins? Can’t say it was our favorite Rihanna look but at least she tried to represent for Chanel. Supermodel Claudia Schiffer also took in the show, as well as Prince! Prince, Rihanna and Karl Lagerfeld all under one roof? Better clutch your Chanel pearls…

Barson/Wireimage

Moschino Cheap & Chic - Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010

“Fashion is full of chic!” tote bag seen on the runway at Moschino Cheap & Chic - Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010. Love it!

D. Venturelli/Wireimage

Bags on the runway at Bottega Veneta - Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010

Bottega Veneta debuted its Spring/Summer 2010 collection in Milan and the ready-to-wear pieces consisted of lots of simple neutrals. But the bags, oh the bags! Most consisted of yellow tones, from Bottega’s traditional woven totes, to yellow tie dye and a few reptile skin bags. We can’t wait for the pieces to be sold in stores soon!

D. Venturelli/Wireimage

Haute Off the Runway: Victorya Hong

Latest Project Runway cast-off Victorya Hong held her own runway show last night in New York’s Altman Building. Her Fall 2008 Na Be collection consisted of simple separates, a departure from her slightly edgy looks on the show. Such basic pieces was a bit risky for her first major fashion week showing but her brilliant construction saved the day. Silhouettes were perfectly tailored and done in basic simple colors. A dose of the season’s hottest color, yellow, was injected into a few of the pieces. The collection was very safe; not over-the-top which might be expected from a Project runway designer, but she kept it simple and made it work.

Image Source: WireImage

Haute Off the Runway: Baby Phat

Baby Phat channeled 1940’s flappers, mixed them with 90’s B-Girls and gave us their Fall ‘08 collection. Kimora Lee Simmons’ runway shows never cease to dazzle and amaze with her bold interpretations of the past and over-the-top visualizations of the present. Simmons’ 2008 flappers wear feathers in place of fringe, fitted minidresses with cargo pockets in place of ruffled skirts, and flouncy bustier tops with ‘Hammer’ pants. As is typical of Baby Phat, a wide range of colors was on display along with the Fall season’s trends - ruffles, accordion pleating and bishop sleeves with charmeuse, satin and silks as the fabrics of choice. Realistically, you likely won’t find any of these looks on Baby Phat.com but since Kimora is the representation of fantasy, why shouldn’t her collection be?

Image Source

Haute Off the Runway: BCBG Max Azria

The BCBG Max Azria show was everything you’ve come to expect from the designer. Silky cocktail dresses, ultra-feminine tailored suits and ethereal chiffon fabrics were present in full force. Color palettes consisted of muted neutral tones like cream, taupe, and rose, with a few unexpected punches of colors like gold, red and blue. Ultra-feminine styling and details were incorporated into each piece - there were lots of flounces and ruffles, exaggerated pleating and bubble skirts which are obviously making a comeback. The entire collection was full of predictable Max Azria designs however all of the pieces were fabulously tailored and simply beautiful. Check out BCBG.com for more looks.

Image Source

Haute Off the Runway: Valentino’s Spring 2008 Collection

When you go out, you should go out with a bang! Valentino’s last hurrah was the ultimate in haute Spring fashion. Valentino the trendsetter took us to the candy shop with a collection chock full of candied colors. This Spring, expect to see lots of pastel colors mixed with brights - cotton candy pinks and blues, canary yellows, varying shades of purple (the current ‘It’ color), and of course, metallics - muted gold, bronze, and colored metallics. Valentino mixed up classic suits and dresses with edgy, trendy accessories. Shoes consisted of multicolored ribboned straps alongside polka dot stilettos and metallic gold flowered heels. Handbags were primarily large satchels in solid brights and multicolored numbers that consisted of color block, patchwork and prints. The 60’s and 70’s eras are making a strong comeback in fashion this Spring.

Haute Off the Runway - Fendi’s Frocks and Fug Bags

Source: Style.com

Haute Off the Runway - Olga Kapustina

Indie designer Olga Kapustina transformed swimwear into ready-to-wear with her Spring 2008 collection. Pieces consisted of solid bright color blocks, and silhouettes were bathing-suit inspired, with bandeau-style tops, form fitting bodices, and full skirts reminiscent of bikini bottom skirts. Models wore matching fabrics on their head, to resemble swim caps.

Check out more of the collection here

Haute Off the Runway: Cynthia Steffe

Cynthia Steffe’s Spring ‘08 collection was a ready-to-wear dream - full of tons of pieces that could easily be worn off the runway as well as on. The collection featured bright spring colors and crisp neutrals mixed with the mod-style color blocks and prints. Solid pieces were constructed in eye-popping colors that are very versatile and beautiful for spring. 60’s-inspired mod looks consisted of geometric shapes and prints in neutral, pastel and primary colors.

Photos via NY Mag

Haute off the Runway - Reem Acra

Fashion Week is quickly coming to a close but I’ve been attending tons of shows and am hastily writing to bring you updates on what’s haute for Spring 2008!

Acra’s ultra-feminine frocks were glossed up with bright colors and shiny fabrics. Her Spring collection primarily consisted of dresses and separates, in hues of canary yellow, emerald green, and bright purple. Eye-catching color combinations were the theme - green and yellow punched up with purple; red and white floral printed dresses with wide colored belts; shimmering gowns.

Nearly every piece in the collection was accessorized with a belt, with the exception of the gowns. Gowns were red carpet ready, with form fitting bodices, plunging beaded necklines, and voluminous skirts. The gowns were less ostentatious in terms of color - the designer stuck to off white, lavender and black.

Overall, the collection was a beautiful array of flowing, colorful dresses, not for every day, but for the woman with somewhere to go. I expect to see a few of these pieces on the red carpet soon!

Photos via NY Magazine.

Celeb Spotting - Naomi Campbell with Hermes ‘Lindy’

The world’s most hated infamous supermodel was spotted toting a haute orange Hermes ‘Lindy’. You may or may not like Naomi, but you have to admit she does have a pretty good sense of style. Well, in handbags anyway. The ‘Lindy’ is haute off the Spring 2007 runway, and it’s one of the more affordable (cough, cough) Hermes handbags, with unusually placed side straps connected by a top shoulder strap. It’s available in a multitude of colors but I prefer the signature Hermes orange color that Naomi’s rockin’ – it’s great for summer.

Available on eBay

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.

Came straight to this page? Visit What’s Haute for more haute bags!

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!

Came straight to this page? Visit What’s Haute for more haute bags!

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.

Project Runway – Week 2 Recap

Tara Conner, AKA Miss USA, needs an evening gown for the Miss Universe pageant. Her rules are simple, and they include ‘sticking to earth tones, and bust minimization’. The designers get a surprise – they have to work in pairs! Angela is already irritating people so she’s the last one picked for the teams.

End result: Kayne, the one with the most pageant experience, wins. Miss USA adores his (and Robert’s) gown, the jeweled neckline, the iridescent colors. Everyone seems quite displeased with Malan’s brown gown and Angela’s behavior. When it comes down to the wire, Malan gets the boot (though personally I think the dress wasn’t half bad). The judges apparently felt his dress was worse than Angela’s poor attitude. Malan touches viewers hearts everywhere when he cries at the end.

Project Runway – Week 1 Recap

One can’t discuss what’s haute in fashion without discussing Project Runway. Since I’m both a drama TV columnist and fashion blogger, I thought it important to offer recaps in brief on the most dramatic fashion show on television.

The designers move into the house; receive their mission – tear apart the house to create original designs. The house gets trashed, but the results are beautiful dresses and an array of random fashion accessories, including a gorgeous necklace and a hideous hat.

End result: Keith Michael wins immunity with a navy bed sheet turned halter dress, layers of necklaces and an edgy hairstyle. Stacy Estrella gets the “auf wiedersen” from Heidi for her failed attempt at transforming a flowy white bed sheet into a gown.