STYLE | Gift Bags

Michael Kors Selma Tote in black and sapphire blue.

Holiday gift shopping is one of the most daunting experiences you will have.  Whether you are buying for your mom, best friend or girlfriend, a purse is something that a woman will use almost every single day.  It's a gift that will keep on giving.  If you want to put a smile on her face Christmas morning, get her what nearly every woman wants; a designer handbag. 

If she is a style maven then she's the kind of woman who would embrace something different.  She will appreciate rich color, different shapes, details and mixed textures.  For the traditional woman stick to simple styles like a tote, satchel or clutch.  Avoid all the extra details like studs, jewels and extra hardware since she is more of the simple type.  

Take advantage of all the great deals at this time of year.  Many big brands have outlet stores where you can find some of their best-sellers and favorites for a discounted price.
    

Tory Burch triangle tote bag.

Coach Madison Phoebe shoulder bag.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Tate satchel.

The Handbag

Alexander Wang

A great handbag can become a woman's best friend.  It hauls everything you need for an entire day.  Sizes range from the tiniest of clutches to the large bags that could double as overnight or weekenders.

Large purses continue to be popular with women for their might and ability to become a conversation piece.   Find them in a range of sizes, shapes and colors.  Neutrals mixed with black were seen on runways like BCBG Max Azria.  Bright colors continue to make a splash in the handbag department with bright oranges, greens and even patterns for fall.

BCBG Max Azria Fall 2012 purses.

Louis Vuitton

Mid-Summer Must Have Items

It's me wearing jewelery by Intentional.

Going forward expect to see more tips from myself through this blog.  Today I want to talk to you about some of the best mid-summer items.  This is actually the best time to shop because in the world of retail it's the end of season.  So everyone is having major sales with items marked down at deep discounted prices.  Enjoy picking up some new pieces to add to your summer wardrobe.  After all, even though you only have about a month left of the season, you can keep them for next summer too.

Here are my picks for things you can find to wear now and even mix into your fall wardrobe later.






Bright Handbags

Take advantage of the sales to pick up a hot, bright purse for summer.  Every store will have a clearance rack where you can stock up on some of these statement pieces.

Personally I love yellow and orange.  Sport the purses now with your summer whites and brights.  They also transition easily into the fall season.  Early fall you can wear your yellow purse with browns, grey and green.  The best thing is you can store these away for next year too.



Bright Tees and Tanks

Stock up on t-shirts and tank tops in neon brights like pink, orange and green.  Shop stores like H&M for the clearance racks and you're sure to find some.  They are perfect for layering and can be worn casual or dressed up with jewels and a tailored jacket.  You can't go wrong with a pop of color.

Wedges

With the fall season around the corner I'm sure you've already spotted boots arriving in your favorite stores.  If you're lucky enough to find your size, most retailers are offering additional discounts off the already low prices.  They have to clear out their stock to make way for the new merchandised coming in.  Wedges are great summer shoes that you can wear now and again next summer.  So why not buy them while the price is super low?

                                        Floral Dresses

Dress by Balenciaga

This summer the floral printed dress is not only great for day but it also perfect for an evening out.  Worn with simple accessories, your hair up and a pair of wedges, it's the perfect date night outfit.  Top it with a solid colored neutral blazer and simple heels and it's your best summer office look.

Stores like Marshall's, Macy's, H&M, Winners, Zara, Nordstrom Rack and Banana Republic are just a few of my personal favorites for finding great deals on items.

Orange handwoven straw clutch purse.
eastlegonbags.com

Straw bags

I love colorful straw bags.  This is one item that is definitely good for summer.  They aren't exactly something you see a woman carrying in the middle of sub-zero temps in the winter.  So take advantage of the few weeks left and pick up a straw purse.  A large tote size for the beach is great because it double's as a cool shopping bag when you head to the grocery store or just picking up a few things at the mall.

For those summer nights, a clutch purse handwoven in straw is also a nice tough added to your ensemble.  I like the one pictured here by East Legon Bags.   printed purses


Colored Pants

This year pants and jeans came in some of the brightest shades; green, yellow, red, orange and blue.  Even floral patterned jeans were in some stores.  Stock up on a couple of pairs you can mix and match into your summer and fall wardrobe.

Short Shorts

If you've got legs flaunt them in a sexy pair of short shorts shorts.  A pair of cutoff denims or cuffed trouser-style will do the job.  Wear them with a pair of flat strappy sandals or a cute pair of wedges.


And those are my picks for mid-summer.  Enjoy the rest of the lazy hazy days of summer and happy shopping for those end of season sale items.

:-)

Coach Wins $44-Million in Counterfeit Lawsuit

Real vs. Fake

Coach is perhaps one of the most counterfeited brands in the world.  Now they have won their day in court to the tune of $44 million dollars.  The case was filed in Manhattan federal court against a mother-daughter duo, Linda and Courtney Allen.  They were managing websites that were promoting the sale of counterfeit merchandise.  They were selling everything from bags to scarves and jewelry.  


The websites in question were Bellafashions.net and MyClassyFashion.com.  They also sold some product on eBay.  The defendants are now required to shut down the websites selling designer fakes - for good.  This isn't the first time the duo has been challenged by the justice system for selling fakes.  Chanel had also sued them in 2007 for trademark infringement. 


Apparently Coach has over 550 lawsuits as they aggressively protect their brand from counterfeiting.  This specific case was easier to pursue because the defendants were from Syosset, N.Y. which, facilitated the case compared to the complexity of pursuing foreign companies.  Women's Wear Daily reported that Judge Colleen McMahon said that the Allens violated 11 types of goods for a total of 22 separate infringements.(1)


When questioned about the incident Linda Allen said, "I know nothing about this....it's not valid."  The judge also said that Linda and Courtney Allen knew what they were doing because on the website they clearly stated that the merchandise was not original and they had no affiliation to the authentic brands.

This monumental ruling is a clear indication that the law is in fact cracking down on the business of counterfeiting.  The fashion industry is taking this very seriously.  For the last two years the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) partnered with eBay on a campaign called You Can't Fake Fashion.  Designers created handbags to raise awareness about this ongoing issue of designer fakes in the industry.
    
The ruling in this case sets an example to all those who continue to make and sell counterfeit merchandise.  




Sources
(1) Women's Wear Daily
The Fashion Law

Rockstud Bag by Valentino

Valentino Rockstud handbag. Retail $3,345 USD

The Rockstud bag is a big favorite among celebrities including Kirsten Dunst and Dakota Fanning.  Watch the video below as you see the process of how one of these handbags is made.  This perhaps gives you a small insight on why the bag has such a large price tag.  But, then again, it is Valentino.