The Purse Page’s Mariana Leung visited the design studio of handbag and Jewelry designer Kara Ross for a Fashion Week sneak peek. The designer hosted a lovely breakfast as a little sanctuary away from the Bryant park tents in her showroom. Coming up for Fall and Holiday of 2010, the designer presented some luxurious clutches in python, metallic treated skins and stingray. Many of the bags had her signature jeweled closures.

One of my favorite groups, were the bags with the whip handles. Eat your heart out horse-bit Gucci, the handles on these bags are intricately braided soft leather like the classic horseback riding tool. These bags are also Ms. Ross’s favorite this season too.

A visit to the actual design studio was refreshing. As expected, there were containers and containers of trims, stones, hardware and skins for inspiration and color. However, I also expected a large office where timid assistants come running in to do her bidding. Instead, Kara’s humble desk is in a corner of a large room with her team at similar desks around her, with a central work table in the center.

Also in the works for Kara Ross, is an upcoming collaboration with good friend Tory Burch. The designers are soon to debut a collection of jewelry inspired by a one-of-a-kind piece made for Tory featuring a variation on a classic evil eye motif.

posted: February 22nd, 2010
category: Fashion News, Interviews, Other designer Handbags
comments: 1 Comment

The fashion world lost a truly creative talent today. London designer Alexander McQueen was found dead in his home this morning. The 40 year old designer had started his career as a tailor’s apprentice on Savile Row, worked for Romeo Gigli in Milan, and was made the head of Givenchy in 1996. His own theatrical collections shocked and awed the glamour world with his dramatic runway shows over the years. He lost is mentor and creative muse Isabella Blow three years ago, and had recently lost his mother a week ago. The four-time winner of British Designer of the Year will be missed by the design industry and fashion fans around the world.

posted: February 11th, 2010
category: Fashion News
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Eliza Dushku, along with Elle Magazine and Guess by Marciano hosted a cocktail party Thursday night to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The event was held at the Guess boutique in Soho, New York City and attracted guests like Whitney Port from The Hills and Mark Indelicato of Ugly Betty.

The party raised awareness for the foundation’s efforts to support breast cancer research. Guests who donated $5 were offered a 20% discount on the new Guess collection as well as a great gift bag with any purchase. The collection itself had fabulous party-friendly styles. Some edgy dresses, Guess by Marciano handbags and embroidered tops caught my eye with some rock and roll style. Shopping for a cause is great fun, and guilt-free. Shopping for a cause with champagne, DJ and a few celebrities is even more fun.

If you missed the party, but still want to shop with style and substance, check out the Susan G Komen online store. Great for Valentine’s Day…

posted: February 10th, 2010
category: Fashion News, Other designer Handbags
comments: No Comments

Will you be in NYC for Fashion week? Would you like to attend one of the hottest shows AND support a cause that helps the victims of the Haiti Earthquake? Naomi Campbell, Sarah Ferguson, along with CARE‘s Fashion for Relief program are hosting a spectacular runway show and auction. The proceeds will go towards rebuilding Haiti’s health care system for mothers and children.

The show will feature prominent celebrities who care, and will take place in Bryant park with all the other top shows of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. VIP tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

Fashion For Relief™-Haiti NYC, 2010

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Bryant Park, New York City

Friday, February 12^th 2010

7:00pm

posted: February 7th, 2010
category: Fashion News
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Paris Fashion Week just wrapped up and NYC is bracing for the tents and runways. This does not mean that the style industry is oblivious to the tragedies around us…

The Council of Fashion Designers of America and its members have come together to produce a t-shirt campaign that benefit the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

“The tragedy in Haiti has affected everyone and most of us individually have given money for relief,” said Diane von Furstenberg, president of the CFDA. “However, I think it is now important to send a message and create a channel for funding from fashion as an industry.”

The Peter Arnell-designed tee features a black and lime green logo with the tag line “Hope Help Heal Haiti”, and will be sold at retailers nationwide as well as online starting February 12.

Fashion Delivers is a charitable organization that distributes excess clothing to needy individuals and families all around the globe. Its board of directors include the likes of Russell Simmons and Sean “P Diddy” Combs. The group issued a call to designers, retailers and anyone else to donate items that the people of Haiti can use. To give or obtain more information, go to www.fashiondelivers.org

Individual designers have also created their own charitable projects. Ralph Lauren has created a Haiti Relief Polo collection sold online. Kooba is donating 15% of its online sales to Doctors Without Borders. Independent boutiques like Bird are also donating a percentage of sales to their charities of choice.

Trends may come and go, but generosity and humanity never go out of style.

You can always donate directly to organizations themselves.

Click here for a list of charities helping Haiti.

posted: January 29th, 2010
category: Fashion News, Other designer Handbags
comments: No Comments

Talk about interactive magazine experience… This month’s InStyle holiday issue has a few added features that you don’t usually find in print media. The special gift giving section is set up so you can participate in an interactive three-dimensional experience with the help of a webcam and internet. Click: InStyle Gifting in 3D to download the plug-in and immerse yourself into their most stylish picks for gifts. You’ll find messages for deals, tips, and you can even make your favorite items go viral!

Once you are sufficiently wowed by this new technology (think Matrix meets Neiman Marcus, or Lawnmower Man made over by Chanel). You can be really nice to yourself and a girlfriend … Enter to win the trip for two to NYC with a $1000 shopping spree. Click through to InStyle’s sweepstakes here and when you get to New York, I’ll share my best brunch spots over a cocktail!

Good luck, shop chic and beware the blue pills!

posted: December 3rd, 2009
category: Fashion News
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In this era of increased social consciousness, bad economy, and general empathy towards our fellow human beings, where does luxury spending fit in? For those who are fortunate enough to be in a position to support high end designers, does the media make you feel guilty about your personal heroic mission of a fashion stimulus package?
Fear not, there are several companies out there have made an effort to do good, and help out causes they believe in while providing luxe style.
For the month of November, Louis Vuitton is donating a percentage of sales of four of their iconic pieces to the American Red Cross in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Asnieres workshop.  The Keepall, Speedy, Noe and Alma styles can be purchased on the website.  The Asnieres workshop was the sole production facility for Louis Vuitton from 1859 to 1977 and is where all hard-frame luggage, special orders, exotic leather and limited-edition bags are still made today.
Daniel Lalonde, President of Louis Vuitton North America cited “The Red Cross is committed to preventing and appeasing the sufferance of people weakened by instability and ever-growing de-humanization of our society. Louis Vuitton is honored to be aligned with such a significant and impactful organization.”
Louis Vuitton is also collaborating with Marc Jacobs, Annie Leibovitz, Damien Hirst, Ferran Adria, Gustavo Santaolalla and Patrick-Louis Vuitton to create pieces will be offered in a charity auction held at Sotheby’s in London on November 19th.  The sales of these will also be donated to the Red Cross.

Worshipped by shoe and handbag fans around the world,  to launch the Project PEP collection to support the Simelela Rape Centre in South Africa.
The capsule collection is inspired by punk rock motifs representing the individualistic spirit of the Jimmy Choo customer.  The company will donate 25% of the net sales from Project PEP to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The proceeds raised by Project PEP will enable the clinic to stay open day and night providing 24 hour/7 days a week access to the vital life saving treatment that has to be administered within the first 72 hours of exposure to HIV.
They don’t just want your money either.  If you cannot purchase the pieces, the company would like your participation in a photo competition and social networking to raise awareness of this cause.  Winners of this competition can win a grand VIP Jimmy Choo experience.

posted: November 12th, 2009
category: Fashion News, Jimmy Choo Purses, Louis Vuitton Bags
comments: 2 Comments

Love to mix your shopping and partying in the same evening? Would you like to welcome a favorite luxury leather label to the block?  The folks at Cole Haan have shared an invite to Purse Page readers to attend their new boutique opening party in the Flatiron area of Manhattan next Friday.

What can guests expect at this celebration? Champagne, San Pellegrino, Sweets and Hors d’œuvres.  Earlybird? The first 100 shoppers will receive a gift, and if you’re fashionably late, you can always enter try your luck for the $500 gift card sweepstakes.

Details:

Cole Haan Flatiron Store

141 Fifth Avenue at 20^th Street

Friday, November 20^th   

 10am: Doors Open

12pm-8pm: Small Bites & Beverages

posted: November 12th, 2009
category: Fashion News
comments: No Comments

Louis Vuitton, this legendary luxury brand has a legacy dating all the way back to 1854. A company with this much history and tradition generally has very formal procedures in place.  However, while much of the high end fashion sector is lagging behind on the social media front, Louis Vuitton is out of the gate and streaming their big show live on their Facebook page.  They already started connecting with top-tier fashionistas on Twitter.  

This is GREAT news for those of us who couldn’t get the right flight to Paris, or their invitation was lost in the mail.  Instead, you can watch the Marc Jacobs creations with a front row view and note all of the goodies you will be wearing next season.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 2:30pm (Paris time) / 8:30AM EST

WHERE: http://www.facebook.com/louisvuitton

posted: October 5th, 2009
category: Fashion News, Louis Vuitton Bags, Marc Jacobs Handbags
comments: No Comments

Did your Fashion Week show invitations get lost in the mail? No worries. All of the top designers and stores are having fabulous parties, designer and celeb appearances to give you the VIP treatment on Thursday night. Vogue magazine, the CFDA and the city of New York have collaborated to bring you, the stylish fashionista you are all sorts of spa treatments, goodies, champagne and hors d’oeuvres to make a shopping for your Fall wardrobe as fabulous as it can be. You won’t be missing anything on the runway, as the designers and models are breaking for this event.

In NYC, Henri Bendel will have appearances by Carlos Falchi and Trish McEvoy. You can be styled by Gossip Girl costume designer Eric Daman while sipping cocktails and nibbling fancy snacks. At Sak’s Fifth Avenue, say hello to Kooba designer Abbe Held while checking out the awesome new bags and chatting with Rihanna’s stylist. The Ralph Lauren store on Bleeker Street will be dishing out Magnolia cupcakes and possibly a secret Blake Lively appearance (shh!). Macy’s will have Tommy Hilfiger and free jazz performances.

Of course, it’s not all about shallow shopping. Many of the participants are involved in a clothing drive for the needy and are offering limited edition items, where the proceeds benefit charity.

Not in NYC? Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills will give you the New York vibe with cheesecake and Nathan’s hot dogs while you shop, Los Angele’s Fred Segal will host several designers. More on L.A. here.

Cities around the world are also joining the fun. To check out International events, click here.

Look up your favorite designer for how they plan to party Thursday night here.

posted: September 10th, 2009
category: Fashion News, Fashion Runway Reports, Sales Events
comments: No Comments