It is unfortunate to walk by a
The house of Gucci has only had me cringing the past few seasons. It is unfortunate to walk by a luxury store and literally walk as far away as possible. Then, when I feel a little bad, I go into the store and peer around. But the end result is the same, I am bored and ultimately not drawn to anything. Even a few weeks ago when we were in NYC there was a celeb in Gucci. We were allowed in to look around (more like look to see who was there), yet it was so painful to be in the store that we left and could not have done so quick enough. But their cruise ’08 line has a handful of bags that I actually am liking, well so far they are ok. The shape on the Gucci Pop Bamboo Handle Bag works great if you need to lug a large amount of goods around and offers a removable shoulder strap for ease of use. Like the name says, there is a bamboo handle top, which makes this bag great for cruise collections but not easy to wear year around (unless you live in the tropics). Gucci is banking on this shape being a hit, hence they have designed three versions of this bag for everyone to choose from. Cheap Belts Marc Jacobs’s bag line is so big that it’s hard to ensure that you get a glimpse of all the different styles every season. His designs generally range from whimsical to tailored in a single collection, but as logic would dictate, the furry, sequined and tassel’d offerings sometimes overshadow those on the other end of the spectrum. The Marc Jacobs Camille Satchel, in all of its chocolate-brown glory, is here to remind us that Jacobs hasn’t forgotten the women who actually buy his clothes – urbane, sophisticated and desirous of high-end, high-style objets for use in everyday life. And that’s exactly what this bag is: a beautiful piece for a woman whose bag needs to function in the real world.
In the fashion industry (and, increasingly, in any industry), the phrase “Chinese craftsmanship” is usually an implied pejorative. Fairly or unfairly, things that are made in China are generally assumed to be less well-made than those made in Europe or the US, and much has been made over a handful of Chinese product recalls that have been announced for deadly dog food and baby formula or lead-filled toothpaste. So when Hermes says that they’re going to launch a Chinese-designed, Chinese-manufactured luxury brand, surely they jest, correct? Wrong. Hermes never jests. According to Women’s Wear Daily, the new brand, Shang Xia, will be helmed by a head designer from the Chinese mainland, feature products made from Chinese materials and techniques and be autonomous from the design influence of its legendary parent company. All things considered, is it time to reevaluate our preconceived notions about Chinese-made goods? Hermes Replica At first I only saw the picture on the right, the nutmeg version of this tote. To me it was great. A simple leather tote with simplicity as its focus. I liked the shape, I liked that it was slouchy, I loved the rich nutmeg color. But then I saw the picture on the right, the black version of this bag. And the bag lost its luster for me. When stretched out the length of the bag gets long and lanky, and looks like it will just hang aimlessly from your arm. So I am torn down the middle when looking at the Burberry Drawstring Leather Tote. Do I believe it will look more like the nutmeg version on the left or will it loose its composure as the black version does on the right? My problem is that with the thin shoulder straps, it looks as if the bag could just hang from your body and dig into your shoulder. Leaving an uncomfortable feeling on your arm and a bag that begins to look more and more like a sac dangling. But I am still loving the nutmeg version. The style of this bag is very laid-back and the drawstring/snap closure would make this bag easy to get in and out of while securing tightly. Dimensions are 18½”W X 17″H X 3″D. The price is amazing for a large leather tote. I guess I am looking for you to push me one way or the other: What do you think?