Italian born Leonello Borghi is a master designer of elegant, refined, and functional handbags.  Before putting his own name to a signature collection, his resume included working with Prada, Ralph Lauren and the Wathne group.   His luxurious bags are a favorite of celebrities like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.  (One chinchilla style ended up as one of the most controversial styles covered on the Purse Page.  Fans both loved and hated the combination).  The designer’s use of luxurious and rare materials may not be on the shopping lists of some activists, but the handbags strike a stunning note all the same.   

Purse Page’s Mariana Leung was able to ask the designer a few questions about his winter plans…

Mariana L: What do you think is the hottest Holiday gift item from your collection this season?
Leonello Borghi :  The Jay Bag that I designed for the “Strictly 4 Barneys NY” series in black Tibetan Fur. It’s big, chic and bold. Perfect for the fearless person on your list.

ML: What is on your personal fantasy wish list this year?
LB: My biggest wish came true when Obama won the election. Anything after that is cherry on top!

ML: What gift would you recommend for someone to buy who has $25 or under to spend?
LB: You can never go wrong with chocolate chip cookies from Petrossian. The best in town!

 ML:  Do you have a charity or special cause you work with for the holidays? 
LB: I do have a charity that is dear to my heart and that is St Jude Children Hospital.

ML:  What celebrity would you love to get pick for your Secret Santa? What would you, (or will you) get for them as a gift? 
LB:  Tilda Swinton just so I can give her one of my bags. The Jay bag would be perfect for her! ML Thanks Leonello!  Have a fabulous holiday!

Tinsley Mortimer is one of Manhattan’s most celebrated and hard-working socialites. The New York City ‘It’ girl was sought by Japanese handbag label, Samantha Thavasa to bring her sophisticated style to the collection. In designing the celebrity-loved line, Tinsley set out to create bags that would reflect her style and she would truly wear. She grew up in Richmond, VA before moving to New York City to study at Columbia University. She is a descendant of both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, making her the ultimate ‘All-American’ girl. A former ranked tennis player, she soon went to work for Vogue magazine after graduating college and then onto other fashion industry opportunities.Gossip Girl fans got to watch the style maker this season, playing herself at Hampton’s fete. The Purse Page caught the designer between engagements for a quick interview:

Mariana Leung, Pursepage.com: What pieces from your collection are you most excited about this season?
Tinsley Mortimer: I love the Travis bag!! It is a small clutch that is covered in animal print with gold trim. When I was designing it, I thought of the little gold minaudiere my mom used to carry in the 80’s. The Travis bag has a little 80’s looking chain too so you can wear it over your shoulder, which I think looks really chic. I also love the Lily clutch. It is really soft and can hold everything. I did it in gold, gun metal, and a fun bright orange.

ML: Many people consider you a modern style icon. Who in your life inspires you as a fashion role model or acts as a muse for your collection?
T.M.: A lot of people inspire me; from young actresses like Sienna Miller, to friends like Lauren Santo Domingo, and Eleanor Ylivisaker, to Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, to my mom. I pick up on details that I like from lots of people. Mostly, I concentrate on designing pieces that I myself would like to have in my own closet. I design bags that I would love to carry and make sense for me and my lifestyle. If I stick to that, then I am always happy with the outcome.

   
M.L.: In addition to designing a high-profile handbag line and multi-tasking through other business ventures, you are recognized for supporting several charities. Which one of your causes do you feel closest to?
T.M.: There are so many amazing charities in New York. I love and work closely with New Yorkers for Children and Operation Smile. I recently created a lip gloss called Tinsley Pink with Dior and a portion of the proceeds were donated to Operation Smile.

M.L.: The Purse Page has a lot of Gossip Girl fans. Did you find that your cameo this season as art imitating life? Do you have any ‘behind-the-scenes’ anecdotes about the cast?
T.M.: It was such an honor to have been asked to play myself on GG!! I was beyond flattered!! Everyone was so kind and amazing!! I had hair and makeup in the trailer with Blake Lively who was just adorable and so fun. Her little precious dog was in there too (I think her name is Penny). I had the best time and was just thrilled that they thought of me!!

M.L.: What are your plans and what will you dress up as for Halloween?
T.M.: Halloween is my favorite Holiday!! I love to dress up!! This year I am going as Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ. I have a really cute, short blue and white gingham dress. I am going to braid my hair with 2 big bows, and of course I’ll wear one of my favorite pairs of Mary Janes!!

M.L.: Thank you Tinsley! Enjoy the holiday!

New Yorker Monica Botkier first made her name in the industry as a photographer for magazines like Surface and Mademoiselle.  Soon, her busy and creative lifestyle inspired her to create accessories to suit her needs.  Her collection soon gained cult status, gathering fans among shoppers and celebrities alike.  Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie and Joy Bryant have been spotted with a Botkier bag in tow.   The Botkier collection identifies itself as “An independent brand that marries luxury with utility”. The company is celebrated their five-year anniversary by launching an extensive shoe collection.  The designer took some time out of her busy schedule to participate in Purse Page’s “5 Questions” series:  

Mariana Leung, PursePage.com:  What pieces from the Fall Collection are your personal favorites?

Monica Botkier: The Morgan fringe Hobo, The Heather boots and for evening, the Gemma clutch.

ML:      With your background as a photographer, do you feel that you approach handbag design differently than designers with a conventional product design background?  Do you consider how the purse will photograph?

MB:      My approach is free from that of conventional designers. I think about the overall story of a woman’s life and her moments when she is wearing a Botkier bag or shoe. I enjoy photographing our campaigns but no, I design the accessories in 3D; reality!

ML:      Tons of cash-strapped fans rejoiced when your collaboration with Target was announced.  What were the main challenges of translating your trend-setting style and quality into a mass-market price point?

MB:      PVC was the major challenge. Simply put, it doesn’t have the beautiful hand that leather does and is such an integral part of our handbags. We take quality so seriously and it was hard to relinquish that “control”.

ML:      I have read that a major inspiration for your first collection was a desire to create the perfect handbag for yourself.  Are there any other celebrities whose lifestyle or look act as your muse?  

MB:      Not directly. I do love Joy Bryant- she happens to be a friend and at one point we designed a group for Fall 2007 called the “Bryant” which was really bohemian cool.

ML:      Many people find your bags sexy and edgy, in fact some men found the ‘Bianca’ Satchel particularly “voluptuous”  : )   Do you purposely try to inject some sex appeal into your collection?

MB:      I guess it’s somewhere in my mind all the time!

ML:      Thanks Monica!

Visit Botkier at Botkier.com

Hayden Panettiere with the Dylan Large Speedy

Andrew Cotton, VP & Creative Director for Linea Pelle

Linea Pelle originated as a high-end belt company which expanded into handbags and other accessories.  They are known for their luxurious Italian leathers, brass hardware and novelty details.  Open up a magazine and you will find that they are a perennial favorite among stylists and A-list celebrities.  Some celebrities, like Lauren Conrad, are such fans that they jump in to collaborate on a collection with them themselves. Andrew Cotton is the Vice President and Creative Director for Linea Pelle.  Under his direction, he has made the label into a lifestyle brand known for cutting edge design.

I was lucky enough to be able to ask him a few questions for Purse Page about what makes this collection tick:

Mariana Leung, PursePage.com:  Which pieces from the handbag collection in Fall 08 are your personal favorites?

Andrew Cotton, Linea Pelle:  So hard to say! The Fall Dylans of course are on fire! There are great new shapes for Fall, especially the Tote with its roomy pockets inside and out. Also because the  Dylans are washed after construction, they have an amazing hand feel and are lightweight. The Dylan Croco’s are great too because these are made of washed Italian lambskin with our own hand embossed crocodile pattern which makes these like butter! And the colors are awesome! My next favorite is Samantha! Although there are only 2 styles here in washed Italian lambskin-it’s so rock n roll and chic! They have wrapped leather pyramid studs which give these a great downtown vibe and edge!

 
Lauren Conrad with the LC Clutch

ML:  Linea Pelle accessories seem to be a big favorite among the Hollywood set.  Did you have any special celebrity muses in mind when you created this season’s collection?

AC: Actually not so much in the way of muses before designing, but after we design product sometimes I think “This bag would look great on so and so!” The same with out belts-after we receive gorgeous samples & the girls try everything on, everyone always has an opinion like “ Lindsay Lohan would love this!”  Or “Oprah-this is so her!”,  or this is “so runway!”-so we have fun with it for sure!

ML:  Most of the general public doesn’t know how much work goes into creating the perfect purse.  How many people on your team does it take to bring a great handbag from concept to finish?

AC: To build anything great it takes a team! I start with thumbnail sketches to flesh out some ideas and then go to a life-size pattern I whip up and make measurements, decide trims, like hardware and finish,and we have to send color swatches to the Italian tanneries so they can start dying and submit leather skins for color approval. Then I create spec sheets which have all the details captured in one place and these get sent to a sample maker. After a round or two of samples, with corrections, multiple copies get made in a mini production line which is great because you get to work out all the technical kinks and refine the make and details before it gets to the actual production stage. Then we receive many handbags, clutches or small leather goods which are salesman samples, which are exactly what they sound like. Our sales reps and international distributors then make appointments on the road, or in our showroom, their showroom or at a trade show and present the line to boutiques and department stores. And even after that, we still need to have orders compiled and written and sent to factories, which by the way we need to reserve actual production time a year in advance! So it is a tedious process which is highly rewarding every step of the way as you get immediate gratification. The product touches many hands to get created, so it takes a little village for an amazing handbag!

Denise Richards with the Dylan Croco Shoulder Bag

ML:  Your personal background in accessories, textiles and home furnishings is pretty extensive.  What initially drew you to choose this sector of the industry rather than the typical fashion path of women’s clothing?

AC: There have always been so many labels and after a while you see so much of the same in apparel. I guess the same could be true with accessories, BUT there are SO many accessories you can chose from like shoes or handbags, jewelry  or hats and so on. The beauty of it all is that women always want a little something new and if you cannot afford an entire new look, you can definitely afford a handbag or a headband or a pair of shoes and change your entire look.

ML:  Where is the strangest place you have ever seen someone use a Linea Pelle Belt?

AC: That’s funny! We’ve seen some of the wider LP belts or sashes used as impromptu bustiers, even chokers! I think one of the most creative uses though was when we met a detective who loved our belts so much she used one as holster for her gun…on her thigh.  Seriously! Talk about the fashion police!!

ML: Great Andrew, Thanks so much!

Click here to visit Linea Pelle

Rebecca Minkoff handbags have been seen on the arms of many a celebrity.  Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff and Katherine Heigl can be counted as fans.  Born in San Diego, she originally began designing clothing at the age of 18, which led to formal fashion training at FIT.  Her transformation into handbag superstar began when actress Jenna Elfman asked her to design what was to become her famous “Morning After” bag for her movie. During an extremely busy Fashion Week in NY, the designer graciously gave the Purse Page some time for our “5 Questions” interview series…

Mariana Leung, Pursepage.com:  What fabulous things are we going to see from Rebecca Minkoff for Fall and Holiday?

Rebecca Minkoff: Look out for a great heart compact that comes out as a gift with purchase and the fabulous Minkettes line of wallets to debut.

ML:  East Coast vs. West Coast… Do you find that there is a difference in what women buy? … And which side do you really call home these days?

RM: I find that women on the west coast get more dressed up during the day vs. NY women, we have to walk everywhere so it make our outfits a little bit more practical. I call NYC home

ML:  I love that your handbags all have a playful or surprise detail. Whether that’s a pop color, funky trim or photo of a mystery guy with his phone number inside. Your purses definitely have a little edge to them. What (or who?) inspires your sense of humor in creating these pieces?

RM: My friends, their stories and my best friend, stylist Ilaria Urbinati  

ML:  I’ve read that you were originally trained in dance. Do you find that the discipline from that prepared you in any way for the challenges of succeeding in the fashion industry?

RM: YES! It prepared me to work hard, have tough skin and to be persistent.

ML:  Will there ever be a “Walk of Shame” bag to follow up the “Morning After” bag? :)  What would that look like?

RM: Hah! No, that name is a little too crass even for the RM girl…

ML:  Thanks a lot Rebecca!  I can’t wait to shop!

Shop at Rebecca Minkoff.com

Mariana Leung has been interviewing some designers of handbag collections for a series called “5 Questions for…”.

The first designer who she was able to work with was Abbe Held, the designer and co-founder of Kooba, which Purse Page has numerous posts on.

Mariana L: What exciting things will we see this Fall?

Abbe H: This fall - you can find our very popular Elisha and Devin bow bags in rich jewel tone patent leathers which I love and we are introducing a new soft pleated version of our Natasha bag in beautiful metallic leathers and great basic deep tones. This fall is all about mixing fun colors and luxurious leathers with great easy shapes that you can wear day into night.

Mariana L: I read that your early inspirations for handbags came from collecting vintage pieces and hardware. What is the favorite piece in your collection?

Abbe H: Vintage shopping is a passion of mine that I inherited from my mom Bonnie, who co-founded the company with me nine years ago. She’s taught me how to scour every corner to find that special piece. My favorite piece is an amethyst satin pouch that I found while shopping at a flea market in St Tropez.

Mariana L: Kooba fans are unique and strong women. Which celebrities do you count as muses?

Abbe H: This is a hard question because there are so many women whose style I admire and appreciate. Kate Moss, Charlize Theron, Sienna Miller, Gwyneth Paltrow and Blake Lively just to name a few……

Hayden Panettiere with the Kooba Elisha Shoulder Tote

Mariana L: Your success came pretty quickly for a young collection. Any hiccups did you experience along the way as a result of that?

Abbe H: I don’t think I can remember a day when we haven’t had any hiccups. But that’s all part of the challenge and excitement of owning and growing your own business. Luckily, I have a brilliant team of very dedicated women working with me and we have been able to face each problem and get through them together hopefully learning something new along the way.

Mariana L: How many packs of gum can fit into a “Hope” clutch?

Abbe H: I guess it depends on the gum…..I am a big red fan so I guess about 5 which still leaves me room for my blackberry

Mariana L: Thanks Abbe! Can’t wait to shop the new collection!

Luna Boston is a popular online shopping destination that features a wide selection of both new and established handbags. Their location on Newbury Street makes them neighbors with Burberry, Cartier, and Gucci, to name a few, and is one of the most expensive addresses in the country. Yet their online store has grown to service a large number of customers from all over the world.

We caught up with Luna Boston to get a look inside this popular yet pretty darn distinctive store.

Purse Page: Tell us about Luna Boston for our readers around the world who may not be familiar with you.

Luna Boston: Luna Boston started as a labor of love on Boston’s Newbury Street, and has turned into an international online destination for the best in modern designer handbags. We sell bags from 20-30 modern designers at a
time, like Rebecca Minkoff, Botkier, and Lauren Merkin, and we are highly focused on offering a very wide selection and providing excellent customer service and support. Our customers regularly tell us that they shop with us because of our friendly staff, in stock policy, same day shipping, and easy returns — we try to make online shopping as enjoyable as humanly possible, while offering the best possible selection of modern handbags.

Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag in Tangerine

PP: What do you see as the 3 hottest trends for this spring and summer?

LB: 1) Tropical colors are super hot: oranges, blues, and bold pinks are flying off of our shelves. We can hardly keep Rebecca Minkoff’s tangerine colored bags in stock (it all started with Vanessa Hudgens carrying the tangerine Morning After Mini!), and Foley + Corinna’s fuchsia and electric sea colors have been super popular as well.

2) Patent leather is still very hot. We love the way that Botkier does patent (especially the Marine colored mini Bianca) and Badgley Mischka Platinum and Cynthia Rowley also brought us extensive patent collections this season.

3) Updated neutrals. This season, lots of designers came out with neutrals that are much more interesting than classic tan or white….my favorites are the shimmery champagne and mocha leathers from Treesje, and a great new color called “dusty” from Rebecca Minkoff.

Treesje Divino Shoulder Bag in Champagne Shimmer

PP: Who is on fire right now? Are there specific designers who customers are asking more and more of?

LB: Rebecca Minkoff is super hot — we get so many of her bags in and they fly right out the door — we’ve sold out of a few styles before they’ve ever even arrived to us!

The next big one is Treesje….we love this line as we’ve carried it from the first day that we opened in 2004, but they are just starting to come into their own. We get more and more calls about this one every day — the designers use amazing leathers and their shapes are wearable but unique at the same time. You’ll hear more and more about Treesje in the next few months.

We’re thrilled to announce that we are going to be doing some exclusive collaborations with both of these designers for fall!

Lauren Merkin Lucy Baby Croc Metallic Lambskin Clutch in Silver

PP: What advice do you have for the woman is more budget conscious, but still wants to look fabulous at work, and out with her friends?

LB: She should focus on finding one great bag that will work for lots of occasions — quality, not quantity. With handbags, you really can usually tell the difference between a high-quality bag and a not so high quality bag, so I am a firm believer in splurging on one bag at the top of your price range, then making it work with lots of outfits.

Lots of women make the mistake of assuming that this means getting a black bag — usually, I’d say the opposite. Colored bags tend to be more neutral and stylish than black or brown in many ways; pick a color that you don’t wear on your body a lot to avoid clashing, and one that goes with black or with browns. I love a blue bag, or a nice shade of purple….they go with just about anything, any season. For shape, go as small as you can for day since you will be wearing it for night too. And as far as the type of bag, for versatility, I’d recommend a medium sized
satchel that can be carried in hand for work, or on the shoulder for a more casual look.

PP: How do you decide which designers to offer in your stores? Are you focused on designers who are more cutting edge, or offer more classic styles? Or a combination of both?

LB: We try to offer designers who are modern and stylish, and cutting edge enough that their products aren’t oversaturating the market. But, we are really focused on wearable products, so you won’t see very many overly
whimsical designs or bags that are too “out there” on our shelves. We love bags that are modern, but also classic enough that they don’t have a shelf life — you should be able to pull your bag out again next season, or in a few years, if you love it, without worrying that it will look dated. Most importantly, we look for products made with top-of-the line materials, and with details — like beautiful linings or unique hardware — that make women fall in love with their bag.

PP: How has your website grown? Are you seeing more people purchasing online now than before? And tell us about the shipping process. When a customer makes a purchase on your web site, what happens then?

LB: Our business has gone more and more online every year. At this point, we are really focused on our site as the future of the business, along with some possible new store locations to service areas of the country where
we already know that we have lots of customers. Most of our customers are from major cities on the coasts, although we have shipped to every state and many countries.

We try to focus on really making online shopping easy and gratifying. So, a customer places an order on our site…first things first, they know that the bag is in stock. Lots of websites show product that they don’t have available — our inventory is real-time, so if you order from us, it means we’ve got it ready to ship to you. As soon as the customer completes an order, our warehouse gets an alert to remove the item from our shelves. It’s then inspected by hand and boxed right away, along with a receipt and little gift to show our appreciation! Then the box
goes into our outgoing shipment room, and waits for one of our two daily UPS pickups. We guarantee that we’ll ship any orders placed before 3 PM EST the same day, or on Monday for weekend orders, so it’s important that we stay on top of every order as it comes in — when we get busy, getting behind isn’t an option!

PP: Name 3 bags every woman should have in her closet that will cover her for any occasion.

LB: 1) A great clutch. A shoulder bag or handbag just isn’t appropriate for evening, unless you are over 60. I love a patent clutch — my go-to is a gray Lauren Merkin Eve — or a metallic clutch. Either one can go dressy or can just dress up a going-out outfit.

2) A polished tote. Not necessarily structured, but big and classy. Every woman should be able to pull together a polished daytime look in an instant, whether for a last-minute interview or because you’re trying to get an upgrade to first-class on your next flight. A great tote is part of the package.

3) A stylish, modern medium sized satchel or hobo. This is the one that most women already have, since it’s often for everyday wear. I vote for the satchel - more modern right now - but if you prefer the hobo for ease of carrying, that works too. This is your fallback everyday bag, and for maximum impact, it shouldn’t be black or brown - your bag completes your outfit, and it should pop.

Thank you to Luna Boston for a fantastic interview! To see more of what they have to offer, have a look at their store at LunaBoston.com