chanel

Chanel Fall 2010 RTW Collection

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged 1990s / chanel / fall 2010 / minimalism / paris fashion week / runway / vintage styles by

Chanel has long been considered the benchmark of fashion for haute couture and ready to wear. Designers and clothing companies around the globe are inspired by the collections that Chanel puts on the runway every season. It may be no surprise that the upcoming fall season will be a reflection of what Chanel showed on the runway. As we know, 90’s minimalism was all over the runways in Paris, Milan and New York. This theme has been reflected in the ready to wear collections hitting the stores for Fall 2010.

The Chanel ready-to-wear collection for Fall 2010 will give any fashionista in the bay area a sense of deja-vu. Chanel’s collection is a sharp nod to the minimalism of the 1990’s. Black was the dominant color for suits, jackets and dresses. Asides from black, there was a large amount of charcoal and grey with a splash of red thrown into the mix. Chanel’s shoe line is almost completely black with one small hint of white trim. The signature camellia garnishes the toe box of Chanel’s flats for Fall. The handbag collection is clearly classic with a full line of 2.55 handbags and classic flap’s in mini, small, medium and jumbo. The classic collection is arriving in black, white, plum and a darker red. The red is actually quite stunning. It has more of a blue undertone as opposed to the brighter reds we have seen in the past few seasons. The contemporary handbags are classic in theme with clean lines and basic colors such as black, white and grey. Chanel is showing varying sizes of totes and shoulder bags that are variations of the classic collection. Anyone interested in a Chanel bag that is considered contemporary cannot go wrong this season. The handbags in this collection will not go out of style. They are true investment pieces. There is also a good mix of lambskin, caviar leather and sparkling patent leather. The patent plum is to die for!

The wonderful part about this upcoming Fall’s collections will be the classic lines and colors that allow bay area fashionistas to buy key wardrobe pieces that will never go out of style. Every fashionista can use a classic black Chanel tweed suit paired with a fabulous red patent leather classic flap handbag. This is the ultimate go-to outfit for any event; especially when the event is short notice! Happy shopping and stay fabulous!!

Fabulous Sunglasses for Summer 2010!

 in Bay Area Fashion / Eyewear / General Fashion / Trends  tagged accessories / chanel / summer 2010 / sun protection / sunglasses by

The sun is finally shining here in the San Francisco Bay Area and the temperature has finally hit the level we expect in the Spring. This means the sun is getting brighter and it is time to pull out our fabulous new sunglasses for Summer 2010! Fashionistas in the Bay Area have been spotted wearing two distinct styles of sunglasses, everywhere from the coastline, into the city and east of the bay. The aviator frame has been mildly popular over the past decade and still holds cult status among the stylish set here in the Bay Area. These sporty frames have been spotted in style-savvy pockets of San Francisco such as the Marina, Union Square, SOMA and even along the piers. Designers such as Tom Ford, Gucci, Tory Burch and Chrome Hearts have Aviator Frames front and center for Summer 2010. Unfortunately, Bay Area Fashionistasinterested in getting prescription lenses in an aviator frame might find themselves out of luck. In general, most aviator frame sunglasses are not flat enough for prescription lenses.

Suburban Bay Area Fashionistas have been spotted wearing the other fabulous frame that is hot off the runways for Summer 2010; the oversize resin frame. This playful shape has also been taking center stage over the past few years, but with 2010 the oversize resin frame has steered clear of black and gone into softer neutral shades as well as chambray blue. Miu Miu, Roberto Cavalli, Chanel and Fendi have all shown tortoiseshell and soft browns on their oversized shades. Prada, Barton Perreira and Pucci have shown colors such as blue, chambray blue and pink resin. The gradient lense has also made a comeback,harkening us back to the early 2000’s when gradient lenses were all the rage. Fashionistas in need of prescription sunglasses are in luck with this style. The oversize frame can easily have prescription lenses put in and they can also be done in gradient color.

Although dark black resin frames were not at the forefront this season, black enthusiasts need not worry. Designers such as Chanel and Oliver Peoples have softer black frames that are transparent or not as harsh as traditional dark black. These frames look especially pretty with dark grey gradient lenses or, for the more daring fashionista, purple gradient lenses!

Never let the original lenses on a pair of sunglasses hold back your inner fashion-savvy vision. Even if you are not putting prescription lenses in the frames of your sunglasses, you can still have them changed to suit your mood. This is also a great way to update an older pair of oversized frames. If you have a pair of oversized resin shades from a few years ago, update your look by changing the lenses to a gradient lens. This can be done at many upscale full-service eyewear shops such as Optical Illusions in San Jose onSantana Row. What a great way to save money in this economy! Lenses are less expensive than designer frames in general, so this is one purchase you can feel good about.

Enjoy the sunshine, protect your eyes and Stay Fabulous!

sunglasses

The Seasonless “IT” Bag

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion / Handbags  tagged chanel / classic style / investment dressing / shoulder bags by

The San Francisco Bay Area is proud to be a region that classifies its style as “classic.” Here in the Bay Area, as well as most of the country, women’s handbags are as much of a status symbol as a man’s car.  Since the region is flush with millionaires and wannabe millionaires, it comes as no surprise that one of the most popular purses on the shoulders of the well-dressed is the classic Chanel 2.55 or flap handbag.

This fabulous purse was invented by Coco Chanel, who wanted a handbag that would free up her hands. She designed a handbag with a strap and introduced it in 1929. In 1955 she was enjoying a resurgence in popularity so she decided to update her handbag design and in February 1955 she introduced the 2.55 handbag. This beautiful black handbag had a burgundy interior and secret zipper pocket which Coco used to store love letters. As the decades have moved forward to present day, the remake of this handbag is known as the “reissue 2.55” and it comes in a variety of colors on vintage-treated lambskin.

Chanel also has a classic take on this handbag which was introduced by Karl Lagerfeld. This is a similar style to the reissue 2.55 but instead of a traditional clasp, there is an interlocking “CC” symbol on the clasp. The chain strap also has the same fabric as the handbag weaved through it. One chain strap takes an artisan roughly 17 hours to complete. This variation of the classic Chanel handbag is called the “Classic Flap” handbag. The classic flap comes in a variety of fabrications such as lambskin, caviar leather, jersey, tweed, patent leather, patent vinyl and other seasonal fabrics.

Every Fall, Winter and Spring the San Francisco Bay Area is host to many fabulous semi-formal events such as the Junior League of San Jose Fashion Show Luncheon. If a fashionista takes a moment to look at the handbags on the shoulders of many women in attendance at these events, she will notice a pattern. On average, one in five women is wearing the Chanel Classic Flap or 2.55. The majority of them are in black! Some women wear theirs with silver hardware while others gold. The size of choice varies as well. There are small, east/west flaps, medium flaps, jumbo flaps, maxi flaps and the 2.55 in sizes 226 and 227. It is amazing how many fashionable ladies in the Bay Area carry the same handbag for these special events!

It is very interesting to think about what attracts women to the same handbag. Critics may say it is because the handbag is made by Chanel and women are buying into a brand. Other critics may say it is because women like to keep up with the Jones. Who are the Jones anyway? The reason so many women in the San Francisco Bay Area flock to Chanel for their classic handbags is because the handbag is just that, “Classic.” Not only does Chanel give you a lifetime warranty on the construction of the bag, it is made to withstand the test of time. Chanel has the top resale value out of any handbag designer. Vintage Chanel handbags hold their value, as the prices for new Chanel flaps and 2.55’s increase, so does the resale value of the vintage purses. Therefore, if one were to purchase a Chanel bag in 1985 and sell it in 2015, she may very well make a $2000 profit! This is one reason investment dressing is so popular in the Bay Area. With one of the highest concentrations of graduate degrees in the country, the San Francisco Bay Area is home to women who know the value of the dollar and a hot commodity when they see it.