satchels

The Lady Bag is the new handbag for Fall 2010

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged fall 2010 / runway trends / satchels / vintage styles / winter 2011 by

The Lady Bag is the new handbag style for Fall 2010. There are two versions of this handbag which Fashionistas in the Bay Area will be carrying this Fall. The small tote version and the shoulder bag version. The small tote version is similar in style to classics such as the Louis Vuitton Speedy, Hermes Kelly and the Gucci 1973 Tote which is the double top handle tote version of the 1973 shoulder bag. The shoulder bag version reminds Fashionistas of the popular handbags worn roughly five years ago. Handbag lines are simple with a flap closure, minimal hardware and a medium length strap which allows the handbag to hit at the top of the hipbone when hung on the shoulder.

Fendi has a fabulous handbag collection for Fall. The famous peek-a-boo tote satisfies The Lady Bag trend. There is one version of the peek-a-boo bag with leopard print interior. There is also a military green peek-a-boo tote  that is to die for! Fabulous! The classic Fendi baguette, in any size, is the right silhouette for The Lady Bag trend. If you have one from a past season, this is the time to shop your closet and wear it for Fall. With the money you save, you can buy a red clutch! Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs,Chanel, Gucci, Hermes, Prada, Proenza Schouler and Yves Saint Laurent have clean and classic Lady Bag styles for Fall 2010.

The Lady Bag this season is more structured than it has been in past seasons; even as recent as Spring 2010. There is a simple way to update your Lady Bag and take it from relaxed to the oh-so-of-the-moment structured. If you take a piece of cardboard and cut it to fit inside the walls of your handbag, it will instantly stand straight and appear just as structured as this Fall’s Lady Bag.

This is definitely a handbag trend to follow. The Lady Bag is a classic and clean handbag style that circulates in and out of fashion every few years. The best investment handbag in this style should be a neutral color that will withstand the test of time. Look for black, chocolate brown, khaki, tan, red, cream or white. If you are interested in mixing this trend with the military trend and picking up the Lady Bag in army green; proceed with caution. Army green handbags are not always en vogue and you could end up with a white elephant next year. If you plan to sell the handbag after wearing it for a couple of seasons then go ahead and Go Army. After all, fashion is all about what you feel, like and are drawn to. Try to be practical, but never deprive yourself of what you are in love with. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

The 1950s Handbag for Fall 2010: A Return to Grace Kelly

 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged 1950s / classic style / fall 2010 / satchels / vintage styles / winter 2011 by

Fashionistas in the Bay Area who adore vintage are in for a treat this Fall season! The 1950s style handbag is back in fashion and designers have paired it with the full skirt, 1950s silhouette; referred to in modern times as the Stepford look. The 1950s era handbag is literally worn by hand or slung over a woman’s forearm. The handbag has a small, thick strap which cannot be worn over the shoulder. This vintage throwback style is smaller in size than the oversize handbags fashionistas became accustomed to earlier in the decade. In order to wear this trend, women will need to decide what really belongs in their handbag!

The 1950s handbag evokes memories of well-dressed women shopping at City of Paris, I Magnin, Livingstons’s, Ransonhoff’s, Joseph Magnin, The White House or lunching at Townsend’s or the St. Francis. Visions of women at Eplar’s Bakery or strolling down Maiden Lane while wearing a full skirt, proper handbag, hat and gloves brings many fashionistas, from all generations, begging for their own vintage 1950s handbag. Of course, women in San Francisco never wore white. Handbags graced the arms of well-dressed San Franciscans in black alligator, brown alligator or a neutral colored leather.

The 1950s style handbag is starting to dot the shelves of stores for Fall 2010. Prada has several styles in varying, two-tone neutrals. In sharp contrast to the color palette in the 1950s, Prada’s bags are white with tan, navy with red or all black. Hermes has the holy grail Kelly handbag available in any color worth sitting on a waiting list for several months. Chanel is showing the style with two chain straps in a nod to the variation of the handbag style earlier in the decade when the double handled handbag was all the rage. Can we say Lambertson-Truex Box Car? Louis Vuitton is showing the style in various fabrics as well as Epi leather. More affordable lines such as Coach, Longchamp, Banana Republic and Dooney and Burke have the style in stores as well.

Bay Area Fashionista Tip: Why buy the same handbag as all of your friends? This is one trend that screams “go vintage!” Now is the time to scour vintage stores in San Francsico and around the bay for the perfect 1950s style handbag. Once word gets out about this trend, the vintage finds will be scarce. You may also try to shop your closet, your Mother’s closet or your Grandmother’s closet. Chances are, the real thing is in there somewhere! Happy shopping and stay fabulous.

Seeing Red: The “IT” Handbag for Fall 2010

 in Color Trends / General Fashion / Handbags / Trends  tagged clutches / fall 2010 / red / satchels / street style trends / totes / winter 2011 by

Designers and fashionistas are seeing red for Fall 2010! The red handbag is coming back in style with a vengeance in the form of a clutch or tote. Red clutches and red tote bags were scattered around the Paris, Milan and New York runways for Fall 2010. They were a stark contrast to the 1990s minimalistic outfits models were wearing as they strutted down the runways. The red pops of color gave fashionistas everywhere a glimmer of hope that Fall was not all black, grey, white, brown and army green.

The red clutches shown by Chanel, Prada, Marc Jacobs and Hermes showed structured, red leather clutches with outfits of black trousers, stacked heeled boots, white turtle neck sweaters and black coats.The red clutch was not paired with other pops of red such as a coat or sweater. Red clutches clearly are there to accent a black or black and white outfit. The red clutch swings in and out of fashion every few years, making it the perfect investment clutch of the season. Many fashionistas in the bay area may already have a red clutch tucked away their collection, if not, there are beautiful clutches heading to store shelves as we speak. Handbag designers such as Chanel, Nancy Gonzalez and Hermes are showing beautiful, structured clutches in red shades. This is not an orange-red trend. The red clearly blends well with blue tones rather than orange. Dooney and Burke, Coach and Longchamp have more affordable yet luxurious red leather clutches on the market.

The other red bag of the season is the red tote. The red tote is the perfect handbag to bring to the office this Fall. Totes are large enough to fit files, small laptops and ballet flats for tired feet. The Hermes Birkin is highly desirable, yet out of budget for most bay area fashionistas. Coach, Valextra and Dooney and Burke offer sturdy, red leather totes that will be able to handle the day-to-day wear and tear of a work tote. For more casual occasions, the always-fabulous Sunday Tote by Balenciaga is heading to stores in a rich shade of red for Fall 2010.

Red totes and red clutches are the perfect pop of color to keep up the spirits of fashionistas across the bay. They will pair well with the 1990s minimalism trend as well as the full skirt trend for Fall. If you do not already own a classic, well-made, red leather tote or clutch this is the handbag investment to make this year. You will find yourself wearing the red handbag almost every day this Fall, plus the trend comes and goes every few years. This will be an investment piece you find yourself reaching for every few years, for the rest of your life. Happy shopping and stay fabulous.