Shoes Design

Ever look at a bag and just think, “Uh, no,” before you can even really decide why you reacted like that? That was the case when I laid eyes upon the Dolce & Gabbana Miss Lexington Satchel. On the surface, there’s nothing obviously offensive about this bag - it’s not covered in glitter or tie-dye or massive amounts of fringe. In fact, it’s fairly subdued and, with some slight tweaks, could be a great everyday bag.

But the proportion is the problem. Instinctively, you know it when you look at the bag, because your brain is programmed to pick up on it. It takes a second longer to consciously realize when you’re being apprehensive, but the size and shape of this bag in relation to the size and shape of its handle is just…off. The handle is too narrowly set and would be better if it was a bit longer and attached a bit further toward the edges of the bag (and it also looks like intestines, but that’s a different issue entirely). Or, alternately, if the handle was as it is now and the bag wasn’t quite so wide in relation to its height. I’d opt to change the handle, though, since I don’t like its wrinkly, shrinky-dink current incarnation. Then this bag would be fairly awesome. Buy through Nordstrom for $2150.

I’m kind of shocked, really - a Prada leather bag for less than a thousand dollars? At first I wondered if the price was correct, but it hasn’t changed in the couple of weeks that the bag has been on the Saks website, so it must be correct. I doubt this is the brand’s response to the recession - Prada doesn’t seem like the type of brand that intends to acknowledge it at all - but for whatever reason they chose to produce the reasonably priced Prada Vitello Shine Hobo, and I’m pretty pleased with it.

If this bag was made to appeal to anyone in particular, it was made to appeal to someone like me. I like buckles, I like industrial stuff, and I like copious amounts of black leather in whatever texture it may come. And just in case anyone was wondering - no, this does not extrapolate out to my personal life.

But the Jimmy Choo Bardia Shoulder Bag just isn’t doing it for me, and it’s mostly because the whole idea for the bag seems a little bit half-baked. Instead of really playing with the idea of a bag inspired by industrial style, it looks like the folks at Jimmy Choo merely took a really boring black hobo and but some nonfunctional buckles and straps on the sides. At best, it looks like a bit of an afterthought and at worst, it looks totally contrived. With so many outstanding bags of a similar style on the market for fall, Choo is going to have to try harder next time. Buy through Saks for $1750.

Doesn’t it seem like a million years since we saw the last season of Project Runway? Anyone remember who won that season? It was Leanne Marshall, the the mousy Pacific Northwesterner that made clothes with lots and lots of wave-like ruffles. Part of her prize for winning the competition was that she would make a collection to be distributed through BlueFly.com, and apparently she finally got around to doing that!

The collection hit BlueFly yesterday and it’s a rather limited line of skirts, tops, and dresses, some of which include Leanne’s signature wave motif. Prices for the items range from under $100 for t-shirts to almost a thousand for the evening gown that we have pictured here. I don’t mean to be a hater, but for how long it took Leanne to get this stuff released, it’s not all that exciting. Most of the pieces are perfectly serviceable and wearable, which is nice, but the limited range of colors and styles is disappointing, considering Leanne’s considerable talent. One nice aspect of the line, though, is that it’s eco-friendly; it looks like her speech about sustainable design practices on the season finale wasn’t just a lot of hot air. Buy through Bluefly for $98-$990.

Oh Megs is gonna loooooooove this one! The online stores finally got the Gucci fall line of bags in, including the new horsebit leather bags! Lots of fabulous bags, lots of gorgeous color and shapes, Gucci oh we love thou!

I do not know what we would do without sales!!! And a sale from Gucci nonetheless. Here is the clincher. It’s for a totally off the wall product. Think hard about what you would associate Gucci with. I will give you 5 seconds… 5…. 4…. 3…. 2…. 1. Now tell me if what you thought of was the Gucci Log Carrier. If you answered no, you are totally normal like the rest of us. If you actually said, “Why yes Megs! That is exactly what I was thinking of!” well then you are really way too cool for me. I’m just really wondering who would want to carry hunks of dirty wood in a log carrier made by Gucci. What astonishes me even more is the mental picture of people carrying wood, dirty insect-filled wood, to their fireplaces in a Gucci log carrier. But like I always say — whatever floats your boat. If you have the money and Gucci is your style, then why not? The log carrier is 33.5 x 21.5 inches so it can fit most of your log needs (haha… still laughing). The outside is made of brown/black laser GG logo with black leather trim and suede interior. Ok, wow. Who needs to let their logs touch suede?? Well if I have not sold you on this ‘bag’ yet, here comes the clincher. Marked down from $1350 the suede wood carrier is now only $539 at Gucci.

If you could see my face right now, you would see a look of total shock. I can not recall the last few times Gucci has had me yearning or one of their handbags. There was a clutch recently that I liked, but other than that, I always pass by the Gucci store. Seeing the shop in Saks, I walk right past it to Prada. It is a sad day when once avid lovers begin to be completely turned off. But Gucci is trying to get things together for fall, and there are a few handbags that mark the spot. Being on back order is a good sign, and the Gucci Aviatrix Boston Bag proves that it is worth waiting list of people coveting it. The staple bag, the Boston, is re-done in gray ostrich with a gray velvet web and metal Gucci crest detail. Both hand held and gray are two of the biggest trends for fall, which makes this bag a hot commodity. Dimensions are 10 1/5″H x 15 3/4″W x 9″D. On back order at Neiman Marcus, but try your luck at a Gucci boutique or keep checking online. Cost is $9,300.

Do you want people to actually buy your bags? Why is it that every time I go into your store the handbag selection looks like the exact same fug from last season and the season before? It is time to move on, design something new, take a chance. Because, face it, even if you fail miserably, it won’t make much of a difference. Your monogram bags are probably one of the worst logo bags out there. For some reason, they repulse me. And your Indy bags have some potential, as in the shape is ok, but why would you put a design like this on one? Your Gucci Indy Bag above shows off multicolor blue bell embroidery with bamboo tassels and metal plate details. Unfortunately, the bells resemble jellyfish, which I absolutely despise. Jellyfish sting me, and stick on my skin, and turn me red with an itchy painful rash. Is there a reason you have bells that resemble jellyfish? It feels like the scene in Finding Nemo, where Nemo and Dori have to swim through the jellyfish. Do you remember what happened to Dori? The good news is, Dori lived. This bag itself is not absolutely horrible, but I feel like your bags in general have been horrible. I was at Saks the other day and a gold Python Indy was thrown on the sale table next to some Juicy Couture handbags. Talk about slummin’ it. But please do not think you are a lost cause, because you are not. I am still sporting, and LOVING, my Gucci Horsebit Hobo. You did do the Gucci Crystal Evening Bag which is swoon-worthy. It is time for some new handbags. Do something bold, do something new, just do something. Jellyfish-like-bell Indy via Saks for $3890.

For all of you out there who are considered to be the handbag expert within your circle of friends, how often do you hear, “what would you say is the ‘IT’ bag of the moment”? When Megs first really started to follow fashion and handbags I would *always* go to her for advice. Now that I work with her, I find people asking me the same kind of questions I used to ask her. Personally, I don’t think there is ever just one “IT” bag at a given time. However, it is undeniable that right now, top handle bags are making a run for that coveted title.

As always, as I looked around there were top handle bags I despised and others I found myself instantly drawn to. Well, the Gucci Small Hysteria Top Handle Bag is without a doubt, a handbag I was drawn to. As you might remember, we’ve posted about Gucci Hysteria bags before, in particular you might recall the ginormous price tag associated to the the Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag. Luckily, the Small Hysteria Top Handle Bag has a much smaller price tag. Although saving money, I love how the lightly gathered lamé patent leather, with side tie accents and a metal Gucci crest show off the bag’s elegance. There is a zip-top closure, inside zip, cell phone and PDA pockets, not to mention plenty of storage space! And of course, double top handles. So, does this bag make your “IT” bag list? Buy through Saks for $1,395.00.

I actually took a class on review writing in college. Yep, they teach you that in journalism school. If you’re lucky, anyway - it was pretty hard to get in to. We reviewed all kinds of things, from restaurants to plays, and did lots of exercises to make us better reviewers - things like reviewing oranges and writing TV show reviews the length of a Twitter message. And the one big takeaway I got from that class was this: reviews of things you like are hard to write. Reviews of things that suck? They write themselves

Which is why I feel like I’m cheating by writing about the Gucci Original Backpack. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. I mean, look at this thing, y’all. It’s been out for a while, I’ve seen it in personal multiple times…and I just don’t think it’s cute. At all. It’s oddly shaped and confusing to look at and I haven’t wanted a backpack as a purse since mini-backpacks were in style when I was approximately nine years old. I had a pleather one, and I wore it to school very excitedly. But that was 1994, and this is 2009, and I feel like we should have progressed since then. Gucci is trying to hold you back - don’t let them! But if you must, Buy through Saks for $2590

The European Union has been accused of “cultural imperialism” by Canadian Inuit hunters after Euro-MPs voted for a total ban on commercial trade in seal products.

The EU ban will enter into force by the time that next year’s controversial seal hunts begin with spiked clubs and rifles on the east coast of Canada.

Arlene McCarthy, a Labour Euro-MP and the chairman of the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee, drafted the ban and hailed “a victory for people power”.

“The vast majority of people across the UK and Europe are horrified by the cruel clubbing to death of seals,” she said.

“This law will ensure there is no European market for these products and put an end to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seals every year.”

Animal welfare campaigners said the EU ban heralded the demise of commercial seal hunting by closing European markets that accounted for 25 per cent of trade in seal products.

“The EU is making history by closing its borders to the products of cruel commercial seal slaughters,” said Rebecca Aldworth, director of Humane Society International, Canada.

“Tuesday’s historic vote will spell the beginning of the end of commercial sealing in Canada.”

Traditional Canadian Inuit seal hunters have attacked a ban that, it is claimed, will destroy the economic viability of their fragile Artic communities.

“They don’t acknowledge the rights of Inuit to earn a living from selling our products,” said Aaju Peter, a lawyer and Inuit-rights activist from Northern Canada.

“It’s like they want to relegate our trade to the past, and us with it, while the rest of the world is allowed to move forward. Why should we accept this form of cultural colonisation?”

Meeka Mike, an Inuit seal hunter from Iqaluit, in the Nunavut territory of Northern Canada, claimed the ban would bring “catastrophe” to her people and indigenous community.

“It is not for the betterment of animal they have decided this. It sounds like it is about making their chances of being elected better. That should not be the grounds for this,” she said.

“This is going to hurt us. We are humans.”

Britain does yet ban seal products but will follow the EU ban in pelts which are used in the clothing industry, fat which is used in beauty products and in pharmaceutical products sold as Omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

Caroline Flint, the Europe minister, said: “This is a great example of the EU responding to its citizens who have been calling for this ban and better protection for seals.”

The EU ban exempts Inuit seal products as long as they are only for “subsistence” or “traditional” purposes.

Other seal hunting can take place only for the “sustainable management of marine resources and skins can only be traded on a not-for-profit basis.

Accent your every look whether for day or night time as you carry this Gucci Handbags. This may perhaps be simple but it sure holds understated luxury that would not only keep you stylish anytime of the day, but rather any day throughout the years.

This clutch comes in grey textured pebbled leather, which is definitely a modern neutral that makes this even more gorgeous and versatile. This kind of looks classic in shape and style, but coming as a fold-over clutch certainly brings this to modernity. Gold-tone hardware simply gives contrast and interest to this rather classic clutch, plus there’s also a center band detailing, which indeed makes this more refined.

Along with the polished hardware are bamboo accents, which we’ve already seen on a lot of Gucci handbags these days. Such bamboo decorative pieces indeed set more appeal for a clutch like this, and it is present on the turn lock closure and on the tassel detail. Opening it would show cotton canvas lining with an open pocket that adds room to the clutch’s 13 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches dimension.

You can have this Gucci purses for $830, and it is already reasonably priced for a timeless and utterly luxurious clutch.

This is the last of the Gucci handbags available for Christmas gifts .at least for this installment. And yes, I know, this particular bag is pink — the ultimate sin on my part. This is a simple  Gucci handbags, to be sure — but if you’ve been observant enough to notice the trend, then you have no doubt seen that all of these ridiculously affordable Gucci handbags are pretty simple.
The Gucci handbag could perhaps be carried while on the beach rather than while on a shopping, since it boasts a spacious dimension of 20.4 x 14.1 x 8.6 inches. Plus, it has flat, cell phone and patch pockets, resting on the fine monogram jacquard lining for additional practicality.
You want complex, keep reading, because soon we’ll be taking a look at Gucci handbags available for less than two hundred dollars — after all, there are still plenty of shopping days left, right? Right!
This can be carried through its rolled leather handles that are looped on top with inset logo-engraved plaques at the centre.
And as said, this is part of the cruise 09 collection. So for a price  I guess you’d rather get those that belong to the spring and summer line up, so as to be more in the vogue.
But isn’t the signature sateen Gucci handbags in pink not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen in your life? No? Well, okay, maybe it isn’t the most adorable pink bag ever.

I was so excited to get an invitation to attend one of the most important fashion events in Europe – the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Berlin. Held in the first week of July this was a real opportunity to check out one of Europe’s premier fashion shows – and to pick up some tips for Get Waisted’s next catwalk show!

Berlin has become “the next big thing” on the European fashion circuit by concentrating on promoting the work of large numbers of exciting, talented and innovative young designers who continuously push the boundaries of creativity.

This show also has a real sense of place and occasion having taken place at the Brandenburg Gate in 2007. This year it was held at Bebelplatz in the centre of Berlin and was the perfect historical backdrop for the designer collections.

And so to the shows….what an inspiration with compelling collections from designers from all over the world that nonetheless reflected that ‘newness’ and creativity as opposed to the (possibly?) faded glories of the traditional couture houses that seem somehow less in keeping with today’s ‘zeitgeist’. We had Custo Barcelona, Black Coffee from South Africa, GANT (now Swedish with an American heritage), Anja Gockel from London and a number of German designers. Speaking of which my personal favourite was Schumacher. Dorothee Schumacher presented her Fall/Winter 2009/2010 collection which was all about understated elegance – full of soft shades like caramel and coffee – and very wearable but beautifully tailored fabrics in jersey, cotton, silk and chiffon.

It wasn’t all work though – I had the opportunity to sample the delights of Berlin’s most splendid boulevard, Unter den Linden, picking up a sense of history before moving (swiftly!) on to the luxurious Friedrichstrasse with its upmarket shopping and delightful bars and coffee shops. All this was conveniently close to Bebelplatz and the beautiful Hotel du Rome – an oasis of calm in our frenetic schedule.

Finally, a big, big THANK YOU to my friend Igor Srzic-Carthedge – expert guide and personal shopper & stylist par excellence. Brighton based Igor has a mind boggling knowledge of the worlds fashion hot spots (and is currently pursuing all that’s hot in New York). Ah well, it’s back to Brighton for me and getting on with putting the Get Waisted collection ‘out there’.