satchels

Basic must-have’s for spring 2014

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Shoes / Shopping / Trends  tagged drawstring bag / sandals / satchels / shopping list / sneakers / spring 2014 by

spring 2014 basics

 

From top left: Crop Top / Drawstring Bag / Mini Satchel / Jeans / Slip-on Sneakers / Lace-Up Sandals / Ankle-Strap Sandals

Spring 2014 is here and there are so many new and continuing trends for the warm weather season that shopping for essentials can seen daunting! So here are few spring 2014 must-have trends which can instantly update everything in your closet from past seasons! Love that!

For the office: Office attire has not changed much from last year, so the easiest way to update your office look without spending a ton of money is by investing in one or two pairs of shoes and one handbag. The hottest shoes for the spring 2014 season, which you can wear to the office, are lace-up sandals and thick, mid height (2″-3″) heeled sandals. It is easy to add these shoes to a suit, trousers or pencil skirt from your closet. They will take your office look from 2013 to “hot-off-the-runway” in spring 2014! Love that!

If you work in an extremely conservative environment such as a financial office or law firm, you may not be able to get away with lace-up sandals; or any type of sandal! Stick with pointed toe pumps for the spring 2014 season. They are probably already in your closet from last year and are still the hottest pump style around. Now you can save your clothing budget for casual pieces! 

Whether you are looking to update a work wardrobe or casual ensemble, the easiest way to enter into 2014 without spending a ton of money on new clothing is by updating your handbag. There are two hot handbag styles on the market for spring 2014. At least one should fit your lifestyle!

1) The drawstring bag is the ultimate “IT” bag for all of 2014. To make the drawstring take you from spring into fall, look for solid fabrications in black, red or any shade of brown. If you want your drawstring bag to be seasonal, look for perforated leathers and fabrications as well as white, yellow or light tan.

2) The other “IT” bag of 2014 is the mini satchel. This trend began in 2013 and has exploded in 2014. It is the perfect handbag for Fashionistas who do not have a lot to carry around. Look for seasonal bright or pastel hues as well as blocked fabrications. The mini satchel is the ultimate trendy “IT” bag so have fun with it!

Skinny jeans have enjoyed quite a ride over the past few years; and they are still important! But, and this is a big but, the boyfriend jean, which has been in the background as #2 over the past few years, has moved into #1 for a tie with the skinny jean. Look for boyfriend jeans in destroyed fabrics, white, very light blue or indigo for the spring 2014 season. You can wear your boyfriend jeans casually with slip-on sneakers or dress them up for lunch or a casual work environment with lace-up sandals!

Slip-on sneakers are the hottest thing to happen to ultra-casual fashion since Levi Strauss gave Gold Miners jeans! The slip-on sneaker is chic and the perfect casual shoe for weekends. Hello high-fashion and comfort! Who knew they could go hand-in-hand?!?!

The crop is the newest, hottest shirt in town for spring 2014. Crop tops are casual in nature and should not be worn to the office; no matter the environment. (well, if you work in a creative environment you might be able to pull it off!) Please do not wear them underneath a suit at work ! It is a fashion don’t unless you work in a VERY creative environment. Crop tops are fun and should be worn on the weekends or for non-work related activities such as parties, shopping at the mall and other events. Look for crop tops with matching bottoms or in seasonal colors. A crop top is the perfect way to instantly update your casual or party wardrobe for the spring season without buying entire new outfits. You can wear it with with jeans one day, and with a black pencil skirt from your closet another day. Crop tops can be toned down under blazers and leather jackets. Look for a color which matches most of your basic bottoms and voila! You will have numerous new ensembles in your closet with the addition of just one crop top!

There you have it! These are the most basic of spring 2014’s trends which can easily update everything in your closet from last year. Which spring trends do you love so far? 

Fall 2013 handbag trends: the small satchel

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged cross body bags / fall 2013 / satchels / winter 2014 by

One of the big trends in handbags over the past few seasons has been the cross body bag. Another huge trend in handbags has been the incredible shrinking bag! A third trend in handbags has been the classic satchel. As handbags on the runway and the street have gone down in size, and cross body bags gain popularity, and the satchel continues to be the ultimate “IT” bag as we move into fall 2013, it is only natural that a new “IT” satchel style rises to the top; the small cross body satchel.

The small, cross body satchel was not huge on the fall/winter 2013/2014 runways. This handbag style evolved from the street. Consumers love cross body bags. The handbag style frees up hands and arms allowing a fashion-savvy, busy bee to easily navigate through the day without a shoulder bag sliding off, or trying to juggle the handle on a satchel or tote.

Over the past several seasons designers have included detachable cross body straps on the ultimate “IT” bag; the satchel. Although handy, cross body satchels are large handbags and do not always fit into the “easy” handbag category. Consumers have been salivating for a small satchel they can carry cross body; and designers have responded.

Cross body satchels for fall 2013 are petite and often referred to as “mini.” This new handbag style is popping up everywhere for fall 2013. Although the dimensions generally range from 5”-7” by 6”-10” which is comparable to the average, medium sized shoulder bag; this size is considered quite small for a satchel. Satchels tend to be workhorse handbags which are used for the office or toting around many items. To shrink a satchel to the size of a shoulder bag makes the satchel a whole new style of bag.

The cross body satchel or mini satchel is not the workhorse satchel we have been carrying around the past few years. This is a cross body bag for an active day when less is more. The top handles are more for show rather than function. Mini satchels are also more structured than traditional, casual cross body bags. This makes the handbag style easier to wear with dresses and office attire; again when less is more.

The mini satchel trend is fresh and also very “trendy.” In general, when something is a fad, yet I am in love with it, I tend to try and find a good quality piece which does not cost too much money. Coach has a fabulous mini satchel with a cross body strap which fits perfectly into this trend. It is priced under $300 and offers fabulous quality, structure and the ultimate mini satchel look for the season. Of course, if you love this trend and want to invest in a piece to keep for a lifetime, Saint Laurent has a beautiful mini satchel to covet.

I assembled a few fabulous mini satchels, including the Coach and Saint Laurent bags, into the shopping widget below. Hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 

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Spring 2013 fashion trends: the structured satchel

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged satchels / spring 2013 / summer 2013 by

The satchel is arguably the most classic handbag style on the market. That being said, the satchel also happens to be the current “IT” bag of the spring 2013 season. This means that while carrying any satchel is absolutely fabulous, for the spring 2013 season, structured satchels are even more fabulous. 

The structured satchel is the most timeless type of satchel in the world of handbags. Structured satchels are often carried by women with every type of outfit from workout clothes to jeans to evening attire. Although women are spotted carrying structured satchels with almost any type of ensemble, the traditional and also trendy way to wear a structured satchel is either with professional attire or dressy attire that one would wear to a special event such as a wedding, fundraising luncheon or conference.

There are two types of structured satchels to choose from for the spring 2013 season. Satchels are offered with either one top or two handles. There is not a handle choice which is more fabulous for the spring 2013 season; this is a matter of personal preference, love that!

There are many different color combinations for structured satchels this spring. The trendy version of a structured satchel would feature color blocking, a neon hue or mixed fabrications. For a more timeless investment, structured satchels for spring can be found in solid neutral hues, pastel colors and bright shades. When choosing a color, look for a hue you love and wear no matter which color trends are happening in fashion at the moment; this will give you more longevity with a colorful satchel.

We found a few fabulous structured satchels around the web for spring 2013 and assembled them into this article. We hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 

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