casual style

Backpacks for fall 2014

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged backpacks / casual fashion / casual style / fall 2014 / runway trends / street style trends by

Fall 2014 is fast approaching and one of the continuing trends in handbags is the backpack. Like the early to mid-1990’s, backpacks have taken over as the urban-cool alternative to the handbag. Fashionistas on the streets are being spotted in both medium and small versions of the backpack in various shades of black, blue, pink, brown and more!

Backpacks for fall 2014 are an easy, hands-free alternative to a handbag. While cross body bags are a staple for a fuss-free, small, hands-free handbag, the backpack is the current staple for a fuss-free, roomy, hands-free handbag. Backpacks are being shown in several styles for fall 2014 including single strap versions, convertible versions, drawstring versions and of course, traditional silhouettes.

The backpack was shown on the runways for fall 2014 in New York, Paris, Milan and London as the urban-cool alternative to a handbag for casual looks. The street took to the trend when it reemerged on the runways in 2012 and has gained momentum as the preferred casual carry-all of the moment. 

There are backpacks on the market for fall 2014 in several fabrications including vegan leather, nylon, canvas, leather and exotic skins. I found a few fabulous backpacks for the fall 2014 season around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! What are your thoughts on the 1990’s backpack trend returning? 

Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉

On the lake

 in General Fashion / Hats  tagged casual style / jcrew / nautical / outfits / rebecca minkoff / summer 2014 by

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Pictured: Hat: Eric Javits / Earrings: John Hardy / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Petal” / Top: JCrew / Short: Gap / Tote: Rebecca Minkoff / Bracelet: Tory Burch / Rings: John Hardy / Nail Polish: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Gaia” / Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out, also love this pair)

A couple of week ago my family spent time with our friends at their lake house. It was a beautiful weekend with swimming, boating, fishing, jumping off rocks and more! Our kids had a lot of fun and we enjoyed spending time with our friends. 

Since we were on a lake, and one of our many activities was boating, I decided to go for a nautical look. This hat, which offers SPF protection, came in handy over the weekend and kept my face from being burned. The JCrew top I am wearing in these photos has also become a favorite of mine this summer. See how I styled it with a skirt here. The Rebecca Minkoff MAB tote I carried was perfect for storing towels, goggles for the kids, sunblock, and a sweatshirt just in case the weather changed.

Overall, the weekend was beautiful, fun and relaxing! I hope you have been able to get away this summer. What types of summer getaways do you enjoy?

Mini Mansur Gavriel drawstring handbag

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged casual style / mansur gavriel / outfits / summer 2014 by

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Pictured: Earrings: Kathy Kamei (old, similar here) / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Petal” / Top: XCVI / Bracelets: Margaret Elizabeth, Tory Burch / Skirt: Gap (not avl, similar here) / Handbag: Mansur Gavriel mini / Nail Polish: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Gaia” / Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff (sold out, also love these)

If you have been following my blog, you are aware of my love for Mansur Gavriel handbags. As a proud owner of the regular sized bucket bag in black with red interior, I did not hesitate to add the new “mini” drawstring bag to my collection for fall 2014. 

I had been eyeing the drawstring bag in Camello for quite some time, so when Mansur Gavriel opened their online shop last month, I jumped at the chance to own the color. Since mini bags are still popular for fall 2014, and are showing no sign of slowing down as we move into 2015, I decided to go with the mini bucket bag. 

There were many choices for the interior color on the Camello mini drawstring bag. I decided to go with the “Oro” interior color which is a shiny gold hue. I felt like the gold interior would be a nice neutral color as we move into the fall season; plus gold is classic!

I am thrilled I went with the mini in Camello. The mini is still a sizable handbag and has plenty of room for my sunglasses case, iPhone, wallet, keys and lipstick; with room to spare. It is not your typical mini!

If you are interested in a Mansur Gavriel handbag, they are hard to come by, so, I wrote an article with tips to help others snag their own Mansur Gavriel. Click here to read the article.

Do you have a handbag or accessory you are finding yourself buying in more than one color? If so, please share!