Some trends never make it off the runway — and with good reason. But colorblocking is making a big splash from Prada to Chloe in a variety of fashion categories including apparel, jewelry and handbags.
Colorblocking is a visual technique that posits brilliant blocks of color all over in one stretch of hue or contrasting colors. The result can be bold or subtle. I love this exotic clutch by Julie K.
Natalie Sleek Clutch in Brown Exotic
We’ve grown accustomed to putting some handbags away at the turn of the seasons as styles change from whim
sical in summer to more romantic and sophisticated in the fall. But for Fall 2008, pretty much anything goes. While toting a big straw bag is probably not the best way to accessorize for a brisk fall day, a small rattan clutch with serious hardware is still au currant. Of course trends like jeweled clutches are more appropriate as the mercury drops but fun wristlets and slouchy hobo bags and oversized satchels like the Lily Satchel by D&G will transition seamlessly.
I'm always excited to check out the latest seasonal trends to find out what colors, textures, fabrics and shapes are the most popular. While we can always look forward to an of-the-moment trend, each season ushers in many return trends -- and for summer this means oversized canvas totes and wicker bags, fun colors and a more casual look.
Classics like satchel handbags and shoulder bags will always have a place in the lineup. You should always have a tried-and-true handbag in your closet no matter what. With that said, let's take a look at this seasons hottest handbag trends.
Handbag Styles
A handbag is a handbag right? Wrong! There are many different styles out there. Here's a quick look at the most popular styles right now.
The Shoulder Bag
Photo: Zac Posen Daisy Bag:
eLuxuy.com
With the exception of clutches and handheld bags (bags with handles too small or short to be worn over the shoulder), most handbags fit into this category. Every woman should have at least one shoulder bag in her wardrobe. They’re practical (but that doesn’t mean that can’t be stylish!) and come in handy on shopping trips, out running errands or for the office. They free up your hands to carry other items.
So the Golden Globes was an hour long "press conference" ... we can still critique what celebrities wear right? Of course! Here is my list of the best-dressed actresses:
Katie Holmes
Nicole Kidman
Reese Witherspoon
Lucy Liu
Rachel Bilson
Continue reading "Golden Globe Winners and the Best Dressed Celebrities" »
Evening or Day clutch
Granted there are a lot of cute clutches out there but how often does that adorable evening clutch pull double duty as a day handbag? That’s one of the reasons I love the No Strings Clutch (novel name right?) by Rebecca Minkoff, and apparently so does Hayden Panettiere.
Metallic clutches are just as hot this season as the last. This satin and mesh BCBG clutch is so of the moment it’s perfect for special events or after work cocktails.
This summer is all about bright, playful colors and patterns. For women, everything is casual—even work clothes are lighter and brighter. The generational influences run the gamut of 50s glam to 70s bohemian to 80s rocker.
Tunics and free flowing tops rank high on the wish list for summer, like this fluid empire top from Nordstrom .
For tops, dresses and skirts it’s all about thick stripes, modern geometric patterns and nautical themes. For a re-interpretation of the bold stripes look, I like this Ella Moss dress.
Long shorts are hot, like these Bermudas at the Gap. Conversely, the style powers-that-be decided to revive short shorts for another season.
Premium denim is still a hot trend that goes with everything. When you have on a great fitting pair of designer jeans, you can get away with a lot on top. A $10 shirt looks like a $100 shirt paired with the right denim. I’ve seen a shift toward labels with more reasonable price points (I think we’ve all had about enough paying over $200 for a pair of blue jeans). Joe’s Jeans are super comfy and come in a variety of styles to fit a variety of shapes and sizes.
For handbags, small, hard-cased clutches along with animal skins, python and croc in particular, are really hot right now, as is colored patent leather, oversized satchels and sleek, extra long evening bags.
And finally, the ultimate “it” accessory for summer is the silk scarf. Colorful solid and print scarves are everywhere: you can spot them holding bag youthful ponytails, tied playfully around a wrist or handbag, worn as a belt, headband or around the neck. Scarves a great way to add instant, personalized style to any summer ensemble. There are so many options—small scarves for wrists, long scarves for belts and headbands, even as a cute summer top ... the possibilities are countless!
Along with the right swimsuit, oversized tote, sunglasses, flip-flops, and Lucite bangle bracelets, silk scarves are a great way to accessorize and keep the elements at bay. Wind, chlorine and sand can wreak havoc on your tresses. A stylish silk scarf helps tame fly-aways, protect your precious hue from the sun's fading rays and keep pesky sand particles at bay.
There’s no shame in zoning out on a Sunday afternoon watching the pre-Oscar special on E! Unfortunately, all those martinis the night before caused you to doze in and out of a splendid nap. In between dreams of Leonardo DiCaprio you caught snippets of seemingly useful fashion and beauty advice (imagine that, information you can actually use from a celebrity gossip station). Don’t worry, I’ve got the lo down for all you Sunday nappers. And I’ve put a more approachable slant on it too—so us normal gals can look star-studded even if we’re just going to pick up the dry cleaning (you know, when our personal assistants have the day off).
While most of us won’t be hitting the red carpet (well, at least not the Hollywood kind), there is absolutely no reason why you can’t look like an Oscar starlet.
From clutch trends to the right undergarments, here are some essentials for looking extraordinary, award-winning actor or boardroom diva:
First, get your skin ready with a gorgeous tan (and don’t even think about hitting a tanning salon, unless it’s to get Mystic Tan). Instead of subjecting your skin to harmful UV rays, salons and spas like Elite Spa in Miami, and even dermatologists offer airbrush tans that are much more even than self applied tanners. The key to keeping your tan is using a good moisturizer. The Napoleon Perdis Whipped Dream Tan Enhancer moisturizes with Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Hazelnut Oil, helping you to maintain and enhance your enviable sun goddess tan. Whipped Dream Tan Enhancer will hit Napoleon Perdis stores, Saks Fifth Avenue and select independent retailers March 2007.
Seamless beauty
Before you put on any dress, you’ve got to have the right undergarments. VPL, bra straps, unsightly bulges. So not Oscar appropriate. If you show up to any social event with lines and bumps of any kind, you’ll invoke the wrath of Jay Manuel faster than you can say I should have worn Spanx.
When wearing any dress, think seamless. Victoria’s Secret has “reinvented” the bra (again). Wearing a strapless gown? A dress with a plunging neckline? A sexy backless number? No problem.
The new, Very Sexy® Secret Embrace™ vertical cup bra 
is perfect for a deep neckline. Get the support you need with seamless underwire and lightly lined cutaway cups.
Get an “enhanced,” seamless look with the Very Sexy Secret Em
brace push-up bra, and the vertical cup convertible push-up bra looks great with any backless dress.
Clutches galore
It wasn’t long ago that everything was getting smaller. Not so anymore! Belts ar
e big, phones are big and purses are big—even “smaller” bags are big—with the one exception of hard-shell clu
tches, like this crystal shell pillbox by Leiber. For a special event, a clutch like this Chase Satin Clutch from Net-a-porter screams Academy Award.
For the “real” world, you need something more practical. The
is great for an evening out—not too big, not too small (so you can stash more than your I.D. and breath mints), and it folds out into a tote for daytime. With so many uses you can totally justify dropping the cash on this show-stopping bag.
The red
carpet is a hodge-podge of fashion risks and safe ensembles. It’s the same in the real world—and it’s perfectly okay to opt for simplicity. After all, this spring is all about understated style. The clutch by Ananas easily transitions day to nigh
t, casual to dress up, and is anything but pedestrian.
If you want to take a walk on the wild side, this soft crocodile clutch by Bottega Veneta is a happy medium.
Take the platform
Platform shoes were seen all over the red carpet, and they work for everyday too. Accor
ding to the style mavens, the shorter the hemline, the heavier the shoe should be, so if you plan to cash in on the mini dress trend, make sure you have at least one pair (and what fashionista only has one pair?) of platform shoes. On the carpet you may have seen kicks like these Valentino Halter Sandal Pumps.
Satin is great for charity dinners and weddings, but try patent leather for a night on the tow
n like these peep-toe patent leather Marc by Marc Jacobs platforms.
For budget conscious—or just value conscious—ladies, these platforms by Oh Deer Shoes are inspired by high-end labels you see on the red carpet.
And the award goes to …. The mini dress
SoI saved the best for last. You’ve got the lingerie, the shoes, bag and a gorgeous tan. Now you need a fabulous dress. And if you’ve been salsa dancing those gams to perfectio
n, now’s your time to flaunt it if you’ve got it. Just keep in mind that 
while teeny hemlines are in style, looking trashy is not. Knock ‘em dead and still look like a class act in this sophisticated and sexy LaRok gathered chemise dress or the V mini dress by Woo . For special events Diane Von Furstenberg and Vera Wang are always leading ladies.
Big is in
With gadgets getting smaller it’s interesting that the hottest trend in handbags is “the bigger the better.” Is it our mobile lifestyles—the need to have essentials (i.e., emergency sewing kit, makeup bag, mouthwash, Blackberry, personal hygiene items, cell phones, etc.) within reach at all times? Or, maybe we just want roomier bags (it’s always nice knowing that if you need the space, it’s there). Whatever the reason, handbags are as big as Texas. Oversized totes, hobo bags and Jackie O bucket and shoulder bags provide enough choices to accommodate business, casual and a night on the town.
“The hottest handbags for fall are big, bigger, biggest,” said Susan Sommer, former fashion editor turned fashion and business etiquette coach and founder of Dresszing, a wardrobing and visual communications company. “Think oversized. Get to your essentials—wallet, keys, phone, compact and lipgloss—quickly by putting them in a small zippered case tucked inside.”
Mary Jo Matsumoto (www.maryjomatsumoto.com), whose bags have appeared on the arm of A-list stars, chimed in on the big bag phenomenon. “One of the biggest upcoming trends for fall bags is big, roomy, and black sack-like bags like the ones that Chanel put out this season. Also, oversized doctor's bags are a trend as seen in the Marc Jacobs collection for Louis Vuitton.”
Is your handbag still in style?
Okay, so we get that bags are big. What else is influencing top designers? Fortunately there is a lot of carryover from past seasons—so that metallic gold bag you got last year is back for a repeat performance this fall. Neutral colors are always a safe bet, but with flashier twists, such as patent leather, you can have some fun too.
“The 80s influence are back again in the world of fashion,” said Barbara Glass, Image & Wardrobe Consultant, Fashion Editor, and TV Fashion Reporter. “The spring and summer seasons kicked off with oversized straw and colorful canvas totes and the double-strapped pocketed schoolbag look in patent leather to hold your most basic essentials or flip-flops for when those wedge skyscrapers create pain with no relief.”
When going out on the town, styles shift away from the gargantuan daytime bags. “For evening, try to simplify your life with one of the new mini bags, clutches or wristlets and find a deserving guy to carry wherever else it can't hold,” Glass said. “Lipgloss, keys, breath mints and cab fare should be do the trick. Look for patent leather to be an important fabric in handbags and shoes for fall and winter. It's practical and has a retro influence.”
Handbag designer Rebecca Ciccio (www.rebeccaciccio.com) says stick to the basics for a classic, sophisticated look. “For the fall, earthy colors like chocolate brown and camello are perfect, but black is definitely making a comeback.” Metallics are still in favor with designers and consumers, so spice up that black dress or clinging cashmere v-neck with a metallic bag or clutch. “Metallics will show up for fall into holiday, in dark golds, bronze, and taupe, as well as some accent colors like plum and winter white. For play, a clutch in a fun and exotic material.”
Matsumoto echoes Ciccio with her prediction about bold metallics and earth tones. “Another big trend that will be emerging as we move quickly from fall to Resort (that season starts in November) is tons of silver and gunmetal, especially in day bags,” she said. “Plus surprisingly, gray will be emerging as a major color in accessories.”
9-5 É It’s a way to make a living
Listen up working girls. Women’s business accessories are no longer dull and drab. With colors and designer details, you can make a style statement with your workbag.
“For work, large bags are still as strong as ever,” Ciccio said. “There are many women in the work force who want to have a bag that will fit everything from their wallet and make-up case, to magazines or even a lap top. However, make sure the bags is not too big and over trendy.”
Believe it or not, the shelves are lined with colorful bags bearing crocodile prints or leather trimmed tweeds with gorgeous brushed silver hardware, all shaped into the season’s must-have accessories. We’re not talking about a women’s specialty boutique – this is Staples.
Forget the unisex laptop bag – business women now have new choices that go well beyond the basic. Accessories are evolving new styles, finishes, color and fittings to match the best-dressed businesswoman.
Targus offers a pair of stylish business totes, each roomy enough to accommodate a laptop, plus cell phone, business cards and essential papers. The Quilted Messenger Bag ($59.99) shows the softer side of business. The satiny black nylon is criss-crossed with bright magenta stitching with a matching magenta lining. The bag is padded and has plenty of pockets for pens and accessories.
Buxton’s Kelly Bag ($109.99) wraps practicality into a leather tote with a clean style. The Kelly Bag features a center zip pocket, a full-zippered main compartment, and a fully padded laptop section. Expandable utility loops, card and cell pockets give the Kelly bag plenty of carrying power. Available in red, dark brown and black.
The Bag Wardrobe
Starting from scratch? Not sure where to start? Sounds like you need some advice on building a bag wardrobe (yes, there is such a thing). Take some cues from handbag aficionado Stephanie Pederson, who knows so much about handbags, she wrote a book about them called Handbags: What Every Woman Should Know.
Despite her love of gorgeous handbags, Stephanie realizes not every woman can afford a collection that costs as much as most people’s first house. Realistically, a handbag “wardrobe” can consist on one solid number, as long as it’s the “right” one. “Choose a neutral-colored, reasonably sized (not too big) shoulder bag and one may be all you need,” Stephanie said. But let’s be honest, most of us want more than one handbag. According to her, the average woman owns 4-6 handbags, up from the 3-4 in the 90s. So, how to round out your collection?
Stephanie’s Sage Advice:
Dianne M. Daniels, a certified member of the Association of Image Consultants International, has some advice of her own for building a handbag wardrobe.
Protecting your investment
Quality handbags aren’t cheap, so you want to take care of them. Even if your collection consists of “kitschy” souvenir purses, the proper care of your collection will keep your bags looking as pristine as the day you brought them home.
What in the bag?
You’re in a hurry and have to make a last-minute bag switch (you just had to wear the peep-toe platforms) and you only have time for the bare essentials. What should you put in your bag?
The purse essentials according to Dianne M. Daniels
