Handbags

Spring 2011 handbag trends hot off the runway!

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged clutches / hobos / runway trends / spring 2011 / summer 2011 / totes by

The New York, London, Paris and Milan ready to wear runways have ended for spring 2011, but the handbag and fashion trends reflected on the catwalk have only begun to make an impact. Let’s face it, Bay Area Fashionistas love a hot designer handbag. Women carry fabulous bags all over the Bay Area, from Chanel to Gucci to Louis Vuitton to Valentino to Balenciaga, the list goes on. Fashionistas in the Bay Area will carry a $4000 handbag while running out to Safeway in $5 flip flops from Target and workout clothes. For many women, it is not about the clothing, it is all about the handbag. 

Designer handbags generally reflect a Fashionistas personal style. A woman who carries a classic Chanel handbag is telling the world she is above the trends and looks for quality; an investment piece. Then there are the edgier yet still classic Fashionistas who live for Balenciaga handbags. Although edgy with tassels and hardware, BBags, as they are so lovingly called, are considered rather classic. The styles do not change from season to season, only the colors. Then there are the Fashionistas who have to have the current “IT” handbag of the moment. The runways have given “IT” bag girls something to look forward to for spring 2011. There were several distinct trends; some classic while other edgy with possible “IT” bag potential.

The top five handbag trends for spring 2011 are:

The north/south tote
The long shoulder strap

The small daytime clutch

The large soft hobo

The tassel

Louis Vuitton and Sonia Rykiel had the standout handbags during fashion week for spring 2011. The long shoulder straps coupled with large, dramatic tassels gave Fashionistas something to call their favorite sales associate about. Can we say waiting list anybody?

The long shoulder strap and the tassel are the “IT” bags off the runway. They should begin hitting the streets here in Silicon Valley, as well as around the globe, any minute now. Don’t do tassel’s or shoulder bags? Never fear! The north/south tote is perfect for work or the weekend. The small, daytime clutch is fabulous enough by itself yet practical enough to be paired with a tote for Fashionistas on the go. Not into it? The large soft hobo will give you that warm and fuzzy feeling, while being one of the more classic and practical handbag trends for spring 2011. Happy shopping and stay fabulous 

Lex Designs: Hot Up and Coming Designer from Santa Cruz

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion / Handbags / Local Designers  tagged interviews / santa cruz designers by

Lex Designs is a hot, up and coming designer brand out of Santa Cruz, CA. Known nationally as a beach destination, hot surf spot and home to UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Ca is actually an artistic city. The city is close enough to San Francisco and San Jose to remain connected to an International, metropolitan area, yet far enough south to maintain it’s own identity and provide natural inspiration for an artistic community. Due to Santa Cruz’s unique geographic location, creative roots and natural beauty it is no wonder that the artistic practice of fashion design would emerge from beach locale.

Alexis Meschi is the designer behind Lex Designs which creates wearable, fashion forward designs that are inspired by the trends as well as the Northern California lifestyle. Alexis describes herself as an “accidental fashion designer.” She found her passion when she began sewing and creating clothing and baby items for her three daughters. Alexis found she really enjoyed sewing and could not get enough of it, so she decided to try her hand at women’s clothing for herself. After trying out a few patterns, Alexis felt constrained and felt the need to create her own designs in order to sew exactly what she envisioned. She found sewing and designing to be her passion, so Alexis started a blog and began to share with the world what she had created and how she did it. Her blog became an instant hit and the traffic inspired Alexis to begin creating designs that she could share with other women through online and boutique sales.

Lex Designs creates easy and wearable fashions that are made from natural fabrics such as linen and cotton. Her designs can easily be worn all year long here in the Bay Area where the temperature ranges between 50 degrees and 90 degrees during the year. Lex Designs clothing can be worn alone during the warmer months and then paired with a fabulous, fashion forward Lex Designs sweatshirt when the fog rolls in and temperature cools down. Lex Designs creates the ultimate fashion for Bay Area Fashionistas as well as Fashionistas everywhere.

www.madebylex.com

We would like to leave you with a wonderful quote from the designer herself:

“I love designing and sewing and am so grateful to be able to do what I love doing. I love fashion and style and expressing yourself through your dress. With it all, remember that it’s not the stuff that you have or wear that makes life important. In the end what we have or own doesn’t matter. What matters is our hearts and the way we love.

You don’t need money, status or influence to create something of beauty or substance. You need heart.”

Messenger Bags for Fall 2010

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged cross body bags / fall 2010 / messenger bags / shoulder bags / winter 2011 by

Messenger bags in the San Francisco Bay Area have been associated with San Francisco bike messengers over the past few decades. The image of a frantic bike messenger, wearing an army green messenger bag frantically trying to avoid cars that are making last minute right turns in front of them; resonates in the minds of Fashionistas when the mention of messenger bags comes into conversation. Interestingly enough, celebrities have been spotted wearing messenger bags over the past couple of years. The fashion world took notice and the messenger bag took the runways by storm for Fall 2010.

The messenger bag is being shown for both men and women, who may each have their own use for them. Tod’s is showing a coated canvas messenger bag that comes in both dark brown and black. The Tod’s messenger bag can worn by both men and women; and since it is coated canvas, opponents to leather will flock to this bag. So very San Francisco! Prada is also showing a messenger bag for Fall made from their signature black nylon. The Prada nylon bag looks like it can double as a diaper bag for chic mommies since it features two side pockets for bottles; water or baby bottles. Juicy Couture is showing the perfect messenger bag for the teen set this Fall which features a delicate heart design with rock n’ roll flair. The Juicy Couture bag will definitely be the bookbag of choice around Bay Area high schools for fashion-savvy teens. Henry Beguelin created a more grown up messenger bag  with clean lines and shimmery black suede. The casual winner for Fall? Donan Karen  is showing a very casual, very bike messenger vibe, black crossbody bag with a large strap clasp and broken-in leather look. The most fabulous messenger bag that may very well end up across the bodies of Fashionistas around the Bay Area is the Tory Burch Carsen messenger bag. Tory Burch gave her bag chain details on the front with an easy to adjust strap that allows Fashionistas the flexibility of wearing the bag crossbody or over the shoulder giving it a 1970’s handbag silhouette . In these recessionary times, a two-for-one deal cannot be overlooked!

The messenger bag last made it’s appearance in fashion during the late 1990’s, during the height ofMinimalism. It is a practical, casual handbag style that may not be suited for everyone. This may or may not be a trend you wish to invest in. If you do invest, look for clean lines that will not date the bag in future decades. After this trend settles down, your messenger bag could end up in the back of your closet for another ten years. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.