Last week, NYC was home to several major fashion awards. The CFDA of course, feted the mega-clothing labels like Marc Jacobs, Rodarte and Calvin Klein.These are the guys you already know.What about handbags and the truly unique, independent designer?
Handbag Designer 101 held its annual awards this week as well.The chic, lively event was held at the classic New York Historical Society on Central Park West.This event recognized the best in individual creativity among handbag designers.Proving that the night was not just about pretty purses, categories like “Best Green Handbag Design” and “Most Socially Responsible Handbag” was awarded to designers who create with a conscience.

The competition accepted entries from designers all over the world.The prizes were truly important in the assistance it gave to the winning designer.Awards included essential equipment like sewing machines and access to materials libraries. Apprenticeships for students, a contract to develop a collection with a Swarovski, a deal to sell the winning bag at Sak’s as well as a sponsored booth at the top handbag trade show in Las Vegas.

Lulu Guinness was presented with the Iconocast award and made everyone smile by wearing a witty Giles Deacon dress paired with her own lip-shaped handbag to make a face onstage.In her acceptance speech, she hit home that independent designers were more important than ever in this time of economic trouble.
People need things that are unique and well made.

Designer Andres Stickney of Dres accepted his award for best Green design “on behalf of Planet Earth”, creating a chic clutch of recycled tire rubber and repurposed lion’s head clasp. Handbag label Blumpari won for Most Socially Responsible.  The designer, Cherry Kwunyeun had started working in Thailand on a Fulbright scholarship to work with handwoven artisans.  Besides providing a fair wage, she has empowered the community to see their “Traditional skills as having modern lifestyle relevance. Women view themselves as leaders of enterprise and have voice in the community decision making.”

Lorna Nixon won the competition sponsored by Swarovski for best use of the Crystallized components. Alice Tapajos of Zibba won for best overall design.

Yes, the weather is just warming up.  However, I know that you like to be ahead of the game when it comes to luxury design.  Fellow Purse Page author Yvonne and I had the privilege of previewing the Louis Vuitton collection for Fall 2009 Monday evening.  What is in store for you this September?  The luxe went to glam for handbags.  Jewel-toned metallic leathers, shimmery monogram brocade, prominent shiny hardware and glittery textured fabrics were all stars in the collection.  The signature monogram pattern was re-embroidered in petite sequins for added elegance on one bag.  On another the legendary design was imprinted onto fur for a demure clutch.

The clothing collection showed a rich palette of violet, saffron, burnt orange, browns and jewel tones.  Highly elaborate seaming and complex embroidery embellished sculpted sihouette garments.  On a tiny pair of shorts, I think I counted multiple shaped and pieced seams, pick-stitching, contrast thread pintucks, beaded faggotting, all in addition to the chunky jeweled details on the front.  I don’t think you can get more designer details per square inch than that.

The collection for men was not quite as flamboyant.  A subdued, sophisticated range of charcoal grey, dark brown and black was dominant.  For soccer fans, there was the small collection of pieced monogram bags resembling the pattern found on soccer balls.

The gorgeous Yvonne is jet-setting off to France tomorrow to shop, dine and perhaps report back on her adventures at the designer ateliers.  Bon Voyage!

Petite, sleek, oblong evening clutches ruled the red carpet last night. Nominees and other glamorous celebrities overwhelming chose to pair color coordinated handbags to accesorized their gowns.

Melissa George paired a white Ferragamo clutch with her white Dolce and Gabbana gown.

Freida Pinto paired a Judith Leiber clutch with her Galliano gown.

Angelina Jolie matched up a Lana Marks bag with her Elie Saab dress.

The most stunning, was Heidi Klum in a Roland Mouret gown with matching clutch. Her dramatic red dress was worn in support of Diet Coke’s Heart Truth initiative to educate people on women’s heart health. The campaign had a major presence at NY Fashion Week and she promoted it during a commercial that ran during the awards.

Pop culture and fashion icon Barbie celebrated her 50th anniversary on Valentine’s Day at Bryant Park. It was a glorious fashion show featuring the works of 52 designers who were inspired by Barbie. The show’s audience contained the usual fashion editors, celebrities like Heidi Klum, Kellie Pickler as well as many young Barbie fans who were incredibly excited to see their heroine. This was probably the most fun and elaborate show I have seen in ages. Jaded industry vets were no match for the infectious music, cute factor and drama of the outfits on the runway.

The presentation was divided into three acts, the first showcased retro-inspired outfits from designers like Monique Lhuillier, Michael Kors, and Carmen Marc Valvo. They represented Barbie through the decades with glamorous evening gowns and jeweled accessories. The next act, the “Faux Reality” act represented modern and contemporary Barbie with hipster contributions from the likes of Diane von Furstenburg (above) and Baby Phat (above). The last act was inspired by Barbie of the future, with a lot of metallics and funky clear vinyl from designers like Calvin Klein, Betsey Johnson and getting the biggest applause of the day, Bob Mackie (above).

Guests were treated to a great soundtrack of strong women, and tongue-in-cheek selections (”Doll Parts” by Hole opened the show), Barbie chocolates by Dylan’s Candy Bar and a limited edition Debut Barbie Fashion Model doll. Two floor length video screens acted as curtains and projected a sparkling set, the history of Barbie, the multi-ethnic faces of the doll and split apart for the models to make their entrance on the runway.

Accessories? It’s Barbie, so of course there were tons of accessories. Rafe Handbags provided most of the bags along with Vaza handbags and the designers themselves. Depending on the outfits, they ranges from shiny clutches, coordinated carry-ons and brightly colored evening numbers.

Louis Vuitton just announced that they will be placing a boutique within the Commes des Garcons store in Japan. One would think the two are at odds with each other in aesthetic and design principles, but it may prove to be a very interesting relationship. We already saw how successful a collaboration the traditional luxury monogram LV had with edgy artist Murakami. Rei Kawakubo, a fashion artist, legendary for her innovative fabrics and silhouettes, grew up admiring Louis Vuitton as an ideal of French craftsmanship and art de vivre. Marc Jacobs, the company’s creative director in return, had always admired the CDC designer’s contribution to modern fashion.

Their collaboration involves Ms. Kawakubo’s personal selections of iconic Louis Vuitton bags from her memories, customized editions endowed with Kawaii charms, and her own take on “Party Bags” that involve over-extended handles on small monogrammed pouches.

Contemporary couturier legend, successor to Christian Dior and bohemian Parisian, Yves Saint Laurent passed away Sunday .

A quiet boy from Algeria, he grew up with a passion for theater and fashion.

The designer liberated haute couture for women in the 1950’s and 60’s by making it chic to wear pants, tuxedo jackets, trench coats and sailor coats and other mens staples. Prior to his ideas of ‘evolution’, proper fashionable women stuck to skirts and dresses.

In the 1970’s, his Mondrian collection and peasant looks created waves in Europe and North America. Laurent was often inspired by fashion of the streets, and was quoted to say that his ” small job as a couturier, is to make clothes that reflect our times.”

In 1983, he was the first living designer to be honoured with a retrospective at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Later shows at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and in Beijing made him a French national treasure, and he was awarded the Legion d’Honneur in 1985.

When France basked in the glory of its 1998 World Cup soccer final, it was Saint Laurent who took center field pre-kick off with an on-field retrospective at the Stade de France.

“One of the greatest names of fashion has disappeared, the first to elevate haute couture to the rank of art,” said French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“Yves Saint Laurent infused his label with his creative genius, elegant and refined personality, discrete and distinguished, during a half century of work, in both luxury and ready-to-wear, because he was convinced that beauty was a necessary luxury for all men and all women,” Sarkozy said in a statement.