Spring 2011 handbag trends hot off the runway!

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

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.”

Fashion’s Night Out Events 2010

Fashion’s Night Out 2010 is happening on September 10, 2010. Fashion’s Night Out is a great way for Fashionistas in the Bay Area to shop all of the trends for Fall while enjoying gifts with purchase and/or a party atmosphere. The upcoming trends for Fall are light-hearted and offer a variety of style for Fashionistas of all tastes and budgets. Fashion’s Night Out is a great way to find the fabulous items needed to create a head-to-toe vintage look from the 1950’s, 1960’s or 1970’s. The minimalism look is also the look for Fall for the office and understated elegance. Fashion’s Night Out is the perfect time to find classic pieces that can easily integrate into your wardrobe for completing the minimalism look.

The clothing featured during Fashion’s Night Out is typically regular-priced. For Fashionistas on a budget, this is a party to attend with a mission and an iron-clad shopping list. Before attending one of the fabulous Fashion’s Night Out events, shop your closet and decide what on your shopping list is a need versus a want. Don’t have a list? Here is something to help you get started:

Something red; coat or handbag.
Something leopard; accessory or clothing item from Roberto Cavalli.
Full Skirt: dress or skirt
Kitten Heels: Prada Bow pumps perhaps?
Boots: So many styles, must choose one!
Something military: need a starting piece for this trend? Go for a jacket.
Something camel: Fabulous camel coat perhaps?
The Lady Bag: Ah, what to choose: Dior 3D, Chanel 2.55, Balenciaga City Tote, Fendi Peekaboo Tote or Cole Haan top handle tote?
Pearls: Fabulous pearl necklace or bracelet or earrings, or all three!
Gold Pendant : One perfect and classic gold pendant reflective of your personality.
Classic Cuff: The minimalism look screams for a classic yet bold, gold or silver cuff. Fabulous!
Sweaters: Cardigan sweater for the 1950’s trend and a chunky knit sweater for a cold December day.
Pencil Skirt: Two trends in one skirt: minimalism and 1950’s lux. Lovin’ it!
Jewel Tones: Perk up that minimalism outfit with a fabulous top that is amethyst, emerald green or sapphire blue.

Bay Area Fashionistas will be flocking to the most fabulous Fashion Night Out events in the San Francisco Bay Area on September 10, 2010 from 6pm-10pm.

1) Neiman Marcus on Union Square is hosting a fabulous Fashion’s Night Out party complete with informal modeling, photography and games such as foosball and pool.

2) Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto is hosting a Fashion’s Night Out party which includes appetizers, drinks and a DJ. There will be a runway show on level 2 showing all of the fabulous Fall trends.

Louis Vuitton fans are in for a treat during Fashion Night Out at Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto. Fashionistas can customizes their very own Louis Vuitton Neverful with their personal monogram. Bay Area Fashionistas can further customize the Louis Vuitton Neverful with their choice of color for the handbags’ lining. There are 17 colors to choose from!

3) Trina Turk in Burlingame will be hosting a Fashion’s Night Out party complete with champagne and a gift with purchase. The gift with purchase is a Mum’s word scarf with a purchase of $250 or more.

4) Ted Baker-Santana Row

5) Betsey Johnson, 160 Geary Street, San Francisco

6) Jimmy Choo, 845 Market Street, San Francisco

7) Loehmann’s, 222 Sutter Street

8) Macy’s on Union Square-Appearance by Countess LuAnn de Lesseps from the Real Housewives of New York.

9) Nordstrom, 865 Market Street, San Francisco Centre: San Francisco- Chanel’s Girls Getting Gorgeous. Visit the Chanel Beauty counter for a fabulous make-over event. There will also be an in store chance to win a $2500 shopping spree.

10) Ted Baker, 80 Grant Avenue, San Francisco

11) True Religion Brand Jeans, 845 Market Street, San Francisco

12) Saks Fifth Avenue on Union Square: DJ, trivia contest, informal modeling, sketsh artists,

13) Saks Men’s Store off Union Square: Vessel Nightclub will transform the 5th floor into a club. Saks customers from Fashion’s Night Out will move on to Vessel at 8pm with free admission and one free drink.

14) Bloomingdale’s at San Francisco Centre: Informal modeling and refreshments.

15) Simayof Jewelers, 295 Geary Street: gift with purchase of $350 or more.

16) Naramacie, 352 Sutter Street: Champagne, contests and gifts with purchase.

Fashion’s Night Out is a great way to shop alone or with a group of your closest friends. Fashion’s Night Out also happens to co-incide with the kick-off of New York Fashion Week, giving Fashionistas even more reasons to celebrate. Food, fashion and friends. The only f-words this world needs.

For more information regarding Fashion’s Night Out feel free to visit fashionsnightout.com.

Happy shopping and stay fabulous.