Laurela Fashion Guide » Bags

Woven Bags – Michael Kors, Burberry and Elliott Lucca

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:35:30 +0000

I browsed through lots of online store items recently with all those sales going on and everything seems the same – east-west and north south (great for folders with legal-sized papers, magazines, etc.), metallics, patent leather bags.

But nothing new, except maybe for those woven leather bags and especially in metallic leather that caught my attention:Michael Kors Women’s Newbury Woven Embossed Large Satchel (below)

Totally impractical because of those large openings on the sides, but nice woven pattern and leather texture.

Burberry Women’s Woven Small Satchel (below)

Great pattern, where narrow metallic leather straps are woven some space apart from each other into burberry patterned canvas. A+ idea; though, I wouldn’t buy it only because of the style – it so reminds me of my grandma’s bags. Sorry, Burberry…

Elliott Lucca Women’s Shopper (below)?�

Deep raspberry color; great assimetrical woven pattern; perfect buckle details; beautiful braided woven handles. I would buy this bag for my mom.

Botkier: Fall 2008 Bags, the Designer

admin — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:44:33 +0000

I absolutely love this new Botkier Chrystie multi metallic leather hobo. In addition to the so popular this season North-South design and metallic shades, the bag’s two separate compartments have unusual “mirror-with-a-twist” openings, the feature that?�makes this?�bag even more special and unique signature piece.

There is also a smaller version of the Chrystie bag, a small shoulder bag.

The designer of?�these wonderful pieces of art is Monica Botkier, a New York native, born in Brooklyn. Her career in the fashion industry began as?�a freelance photographer for such high-profile employers as?�Seventeen, Surface and Fitness magazines.

Designer Monica Botkier (above)

???I fell into bag design quite by accident. I was doing fashion photography at the time, and I had always been into photography, taking pictures as a kid and then majored in it in college. I was shooting a lot of great bags and this was during the early part of handbag craze.

I remember seeing the YSL Mombasa bag on a shoot and I fell in love with it. I bought one and then later on I purchased one or two other designer handbags, but found that they didn??�t always suit my lifestyle and wanted to be able to afford more bags with that same designer style and quality. So, I decided that I would design my own bag. I sketched out the bag, and used leather skins that I had leftover from having photo portfolios made. So I took this to a woman in NYC and she made it for me, but I had to source all the hardware.

This bag went with me to my photo shoots and the models and editors were really interested so I started taking orders. So then I started taking orders for bags from a lot of the girls in the Conde Nast building. And then I showed it to Barney??�s and then they picked it up. Things happened really fast, it was in April of 2003 that I made my own bag and then by July and August of that year I was in Barneys!???

Immediately there was a strong response to the Botkier Trigger Bag. Friends and family encouraged her to ???spread the wealth??? and make the bag available for the general public to enjoy.

Botkier Trigger Bag (above)

Drawing her inspiration from the fast paced and on the go lifestyle of New York women, Monica Botkier launched the first Botkier collection in 2003.?�A unique use of color and design technique, coupled with superior materials, made the Botkier Collection an instant hit that continued to grow and expand long after its unveiling.

Each bag has story. That is Monica Botkier??�s goal- to produce bags that complement individual style while possessing durability and long-lasting quality. As the wearer becomes older, the bag becomes timeless and an indispensable asset to the wearer??�s wardrobe. Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lindsay Lohan already know that quite well.

Jill Stuart – Makeup, Fragrance, Bags for a Snow Queen

admin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:28:11 +0000

Jill Stuart brand was launched in 1993 by a New Yorker with the same name. Since the early childhood, Jill was surrounded by fashion. Her parents owned a well-known in the sixties ladies’ boutique, called “Mister Pants”, which was located on?�the Fashion (7th) avenue.?�As a teenager, Jill?�began her creative career by?�designing jewelry and handbags, and when she was only fifteen years old, she already sold her first accessories collection to Bloomingdale’s. In the early eighties, she launched a signature line of accessories that became quite popular. And in 1993, Jill Stuart lunched her signature women??�s wear collection.

Jill Stuart (above)

When I discovered Jill Stuart’s collections, I was so pleasantly surprised by her ultra feminine, vintage-like pieces, that are so nostalgic and yet so contemporary. I am particularly fascinated with her fragrance and beauty collection adorned with Swarovski crystals and created as if for a snow queen.

Hand Mirror (above)

“Jilly in a Bottle” Eau de Toilette (above)

“Jilly in a Bottle” Eau de Toilette. The bottle was designed to capture the beauty of a big, sparkiling diamonds. The seven flowers in the middle are decorated with Swarovski crystals.

Top Notes: Sweet and fresh aquatic fruity note; Cassis, Pair, Green Apple, Lemon, Aquatic Green

Middle Notes: Romantic flower note concealing a delicate and beautiful glamour; Bulgarian Rose, Gardenia, Peony, Lily of the Valley, Indian Jasmin, Magnolia, Tunisian Orange Flower.

Base Notes: Soft and deep sensual musky note; Musk, Sandalwood, Cedar Wood, Amber, Vanilla.

“Tribeca – Whitney” Gold Hobo Bag (above)