paris: mixing fabrics

Posh Trend: Bringing Backpacks Back!

As a youth in Hollywood these days, you would barely survive on talent alone. It's all about selling your image and making a statement through your attire and accessories, and these season's must have accessory is the backpack!

As always, the Olsen twins were first to start a trend. Over a year ago, Ashley Olsen was seen lugging around her goods in a Henri Beguelin Parachute handbag, a Jimmy Choo dust bag and a quirky Alexandra Cassaniti Backpack. Her cheeky Pinkeye patterned backpack is a fresh approach to a trend which has the ability to look a bit "momsie". 

Recently Ashley Olsen was seen out getting her signature coffee in an oversized sweater, brown corduroy pants and Chanel ballet flats. She ditched her fussy handbags for a classic Prada Nylon Backpack. It features two functional exterior pockets, adjustable straps and secure flap and drawstring closure. This backpack is available in the Prada collection every season thus makes it a great investment piece for years to come.

Whitney Port was also seen wearing numeruous backpacks recently including the classic Prada Nylon backpack in black while shopping in her American Apparel turquoise blue leggings and Chanel 5120 round sunglasses.

A few days ago, Ashley was also spotted in Paris France wearing a timeless beige wool coat, Elizabeth and James loafers on her feet and Linda Farrow for The Row dark sunglasses. Her bag of choice this time was a vintage tan and brown backpack, perfect for hand free sightseeing in the City of Lights. She continued to carry the bag while shopping in New York.

Rihanna is another celebrity who is never short of handbags and accessories. As a former face of the Gucci house, she continued to support the brand by wearing a Gucci Darwin Backpack. This blue backpack features multiple gold zipper pockets and interchangeable straps which allow you to wear it as a regular handbag too!

The trend isn't only for the ladies, men who are traditionally known to wear backpacks can see their practical bags take a more fashionable turn. New season styles feature bursts of color as seen on Chris Brown, bold prints and luxurious leather textures as seen in the SS10 Louis Vuitton men's runway shows.

The backpack movement is a lifesaver for those who are suffering from bad packs and shoulders thanks to lugging around oversized handbags over the years. I haven't worn a backpack since my elementary schooling days so these preppy backpacks will definitely leave me nostalgic.

the perfect fall boots & bag

Proenza Schouler lace-up boots via La Gar�onne


Jerome Dreyfuss Billy Bag via shopbop

Mary-Kate Olsen: The World through tinted Lenses

After months of hiding from the paparazzi lens, Mary-Kate Olsen has finally come out in all her quirky glory. I'm not going to lie, this week has got my panties in a pretty knot with the daily Mary-Kate Olsen watch. As we know by now, Mary-Kate is all about the "mix" when it comes to her personal style, mixing hot-out-of the atelier designer wear with vintage, second hand or high street finds.
One high street find that is reminist of pieces from the Fall 2008 Rodarte collection was an oversized Topshop knit sweater that M.K sported yesterday. Within a week M.K has also worn her Barbara Hulanicki Biba for Topshop Shirt on high rotation. She dressed it up with wedged heels and Ozzy Osbourne style sunglasses featuring a round frame with high impact blue lenses for a spot of shopping. Earlier in the week, she wore the same shirt, (as a dress- the adavantages of being short), with Ray Ban Clubmaster RB 3016 sunglasses and Carol Christian Poeller leather Boots.

She's been rocking a lot of new bags lately as well, including a brightly colored tote bags, a tan Proenza Schouler satchel bag and a bad ass Alexander Wang black leather studded bag. This exclusive bag was sported by Mary-Kate before it was even available to the general public or other celebrities for that matter.

Heidi Montag the bag hag

Love her or hate her, in all honesty Hills star Heidi Montag can whip out really cute outfits from time to time. In summer spirit, half of speidi rocked out a easy breezy grey tank, a fresh pair of bright white high waist shorts, blue Hermes Kelly Bag and matching oversized scarf. Her chic outfit was paired with huge Chanel logoed sandals.
Speaking of Chanel, it seems to be Heidi's brand of choice with her several bags, scarfs and shoes. Although she loves Chanel, she seems to love really obvious Chanel. Big logos, metallic logos and multi logos have stacked up in Heidi's wardrobe.
But that's not hard to do, when Chanel's Resort Collection promoted that bigger the logo the better. With dresses, t-shirts, bags, earrings, necklaces and bracelets coated in crystallised, patent and leather logos of grand stature. Big logo or small logo, you can get me a Chanel bag anyday! ;)

Designer Bags Now & Forever

Paying $2000+ for a single handbag may be inexcusable to some, considering perfectly fine disposable high street options are available. Yet, those who invest in at least one great quality handbag seem to have a sudden glimmer of glee, when 10 years down the track they realise the rent money they spent buying a frivolous material items, ain't so frivolous now.

At the Fall 2008/2009 Fashion Shows, fashionistas dugout their classic favourites with Chanel's gaining the most attention.
Although Victoria Beckham is not one to miss a mass trend, she has surpassed trendy "it bags" for timeless classics...can anyone say "Hermes"?? VB's got a eye for selecting dateless handbags from the Birkin to her new vintage Chanel and back to her current favourite Giambattista Valli bag.
Whether it be the Fendi Baguette, Louis Vuitton Speedy, Chanel 2.55 or the untouchable Hermes Birkin a classic bag will keep in style even when your daughters have daughters.

Paris Hilton at work!

Other than slaving away on weekdays doing Law and Journalism assignments, i work at a handbag store on weekends. For some bizarre reason, our store now stocks, yes, you guessed it, Paris Hilton Handbags!

The handbag company I work for is slowly building a reputation as "grandma's handbag store", with its much older retail assistants and old fashioned designs. Bringing in brands such as Guess, Kathy Van Zealand (who the hell?), Roca Wear and Paris Hilton are all attempts at connecting with the younger generation. What they don't realise is the majority of the younger generation know Paris' history and reputation and well, she's not the celebrity who's handbag you want to be flashing around with pride.

I thought the point of celebrity designers was to create unique items that reflected their own personal style, yet i have never seen Paris Hilton wear bags that reflected the styles she produced. I actually think she has much better taste in personal handbag choices then her designs. Nevertheless, her bags are kind of cute, with most of them designed in old school styles.

I personally wouldn't buy her bags purely because they have that cheaply produced nylon look with a completely overpriced price tag ($200 for Paris?). And to top it all off, the bags have "Paris Hilton" printed all over them in cursive writing.

bag candy

This spring is all about colorful bags. Here are my picks:

01. Yves Saint Laurent; 02. Miu Miu; 03. Yves Saint Laurent; 04. Marc Jacobs; 05. Marc Jacobs; 06. Chlo�; 07. Yves Saint Laurent; 08. Marc Jacobs; 09. Miu Miu; 10. Miu Miu

It Must Be Love

Party of Five and Ghost Whisperer star, Jennifer Love Hewitt, is certainly in love with her new Prada Fantasy Fairy bag. She's even got herself a wallet to match!

Miss Hewitt has been seen toting around the bag nonstop ever since it reached her possession, and who could blame her?

The gorgeous eclectic designs which still feature on the Prada Website, have caught the eye of many including quirky actress Tilda Swinton. And if counterfeit website are anything to go by, this bag is certain to become a hit!

Tilda Swinton Airport Style

This British red head always looks amazing- in the very quirky "umm what's she wearing" kind of way. Tilda Swinton is one of those women who is comfortable with her own looks, style and fashion taste and rocks it until she can rock no more. Tilda Swinton was seen at LAX airport wearing a classic outfit of black wide leg pants with a white jacket. However, it was Tilda's accessories that stole the show in these photo's as she toted around a feminine Prada Fantasy Fairy Bag which retail for $2000+. I love the bags from Prada's Spring/Summer 2008 collection, the prints, the feminity and uniqueness that stand out from a mile away. And then there's her sunglasses!! Tilda Swinton wears Lanvin Way Shiner sunglasses which retail for over $380, because of their great shape, high quality and Swarovski Crystal lathered arms. This style was seen on model Agyness Dean at the Lanvin shows.

Lindsay Lohan Paper Magazine

As the March cover girl of Paper Magazine, Lindsay Lohan lived up to her raunchy image and every man's expectation with thigh baring dresses and scarlett lips. When i first saw her dress, it instantly reminded me of the Jeremy Scott for Longchamp Le Pilage �Stomp� Bag, no surprise seeing that Jeremy Scott was the shoot's photographer.

My Beauty

So my Shop:Lush bags arrived last week and I've been using this one ever since it arrived.

I'm very happy with the quality, the leather feels wonderful and also the lining inside of the bag is nice. The only thing that I think might not be of such goo quality from the look of it is the hardware. For example the zippers are not that "smooth" if you can even say that..haha. I hope you know what I'm talking about. I haven't really tried out the other bag that I ordered, the black one. But I will post pics when I do.
Details:

Jessica Simpson looking Fabulous

HOT DAMN! Jessica Simpson looks mighty fine in this simple yet sexy dress cinched in with a wide black belt.

Her body looks great and i am really into these strap-happy shoes that i have been seeing lately and i might have to steal that bag in order to curb my cravings for a new Snake skin Print bag...if anyone comes across any nice snake skin print bags on the net for an AFFORDABLE price...let me know...