Archive for October, 2005

Bag Bliss the bag blog
Date Added: October 30, 2005

Louis Vuitton | Denim Chinchilla
A new twist to the Denim fabric which was released earlier this Fall season. This new chic design is decorated with monogram denim material, with lovely chinchilla lining around the framed opening. The denim in this collection comes in black with beige color LV’s, matching the fluffy chinchilla fur.

limited time at eLUXURY.com

October 27, 2005

Cristobal Balenciaga
A true fashion innovator, Cristobal Balenciaga radically altered the fashionable silhouette of women in the mid-twentieth century. With the methodical skill of an expert tailor, he created garments of fluidity and grace. Unlike many couturiers, Balenciaga was able to drape, cut, and fit his own muslin patterns, known as toiles. He was respected throughout the fashion world for both his knowledge of technique and construction, and his unflinching perfectionism.

Balenciaga was born in the small fishing village of Guetaria in the Basque region of Spain on January 21, 1895. From his early years, he spent many hours by his mother’s side as she worked as a seamstress. In his teens, the most prominent woman of his town, the Marquesa de Casa Torres, became his patron and client, sending him to Madrid for formal training in tailoring and proudly wearing the results. Balenciaga found early success in his native country. He opened branches of his boutique Eisa in Madrid, Barcelona, and the fashionable seaside resort of San Sebasti?n. His designs were favored by the Spanish royal family and fashionable members of the aristocracy. When the Spanish Civil War forced the closure of his boutiques, Balenciaga moved his operation to Paris, the acknowledged fashion capital of the world. There the talented designer joined the ranks of Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Mainbocher, among other established couturiers.

In August 1937, Balenciaga staged his first runway show at his Avenue George V atelier, showing a collection that was heavily influenced by the Spanish Renaissance. Balenciaga interpreted numerous historical styles throughout his career. His “Infanta” gown was inspired by the costumes of the young Spanish princesses from portraits by Diego Vel?zquez, while the short, heavily ornamented “jacket of light” traditionally worn by toreadors in the bullfighting ring inspired much of his evening wear. By 1939, Balenciaga was being praised in the French press as a revolutionizing force in fashion, with buyers and customers fighting to gain access to his collection. During World War II, clients risked travel to Europe for Balenciaga’s designs, especially his celebrated square coat-in which the sleeve was cut in one piece with the yoke-and anything shown in his unique color combination of black and brown or black lace over bright pink. In the postwar years, Balenciaga’s designs became streamlined and linear. The clothing he created was different than the popular, curvy hourglass shape that Christian Dior promoted with his New Look. Balenciaga favored fluid lines that allowed him to alter the way clothing related to a woman’s body. Waistlines were dropped, then raised, independent of the wearer’s natural waistline.

In 1953, he introduced the balloon jacket, an elegant sphere that encased the upper body and provided a pedestal for the wearer’s head. In 1957 came the creation of his high-waisted baby doll dress, the gracefully draped cocoon coat, and the balloon skirt, shown as a single pouf or doubled, one pouf on top of the other. Neither the sack dress, introduced in 1957, nor the chemise of 1958 had a discernible waist, but both were considered universally flattering and were copied by a large number of ready-to-wear manufacturers at every price range. With these design innovations, Balenciaga achieved what is considered to be his most important contribution to the world of fashion: a new silhouette for women.

Throughout the 1960s, Balenciaga continued showing collections of unparalleled technique and beauty. His innovative use of fabric-he liked bold materials, heavy cloths, and ornate embroideries-led him to work with the Swiss fabric house of Abraham. Together they developed silk gazar, a stiffer version of the pliable fabric that Balenciaga used in suits, day dresses, and evening wear. Loyal clients such as the Duchess of Windsor, Pauline de Rothschild, and Gloria Guinness continued to appreciate the discreet but important touches he provided in his clothing: collars that stood away from the collarbone to give a swanlike appearance and the shortened (seven-eighths-length) bracelet sleeve, so called because it enabled the wearer to better flaunt her jewelry. When the Balenciaga salon closed in 1968, the occasion marked the end of the career of a great artist whose influence is still being felt in the twenty-first century. The modern look that he created has been sustained by Andre Courreges and Emanuel Ungaro, who both apprenticed at his atelier, and by Hubert de Givenchy, among others.

Balenciaga died on March 24, 1972, at home in his beloved Spain. A longtime client offered a fitting epitaph: “Women did not have to be perfect or even beautiful to wear his clothes. His clothes made them beautiful.”
source: www.metmuseum.org

Current Designer
Formerly an assistant, Nicolas Ghesquiere actually requested the creative director position at Balenciaga. He’s given the house a completely new image, and has only recently revived classic Balenciaga looks.

Bag Bliss the bag blog
Date Added: October 24, 2005

Coach | Hampton Handbag
The newly reinvented classy collection just hit the stores. Materials like houndstooth, leather and suede combined with the vibrant shades and feminine detailing and streamlined silhouettes. A bohemian inspired collection in the classic shapes are perfect for the new season. It seems that everyone has a coach handbag these days, and this Hampton collection is one that changes styles with the season, but the traditional shape is timeless and really stand out.

Bag Bliss the bag blog
Date Added: October 24, 2005

Coach | Chelsea Handbag
The latest Autumn trends in the new Chelsea line just hit the stores. This new collection comes in pebbled leather or nubuc, textured bouclé, bold zebra haircalf, or metallic leather. What really catches your attention in this line is the updated buckle on the field bag and the new hardware on the turn-lock hobo.

Bag Bliss the bag blog
Date Added: October 24, 2005

Coach | Beaded Totes
A new upgraded addition to the coach collections. This recently redesigned tote collection got a glamorous makeover for fall combining runway trends like color, beading and fur with versatile fabric, suede and leather. The sparkling beaded accents and fox fur trim is a good combination that allows this collection to be used for casual or going out.

Bag Bliss the bag blog
Date Added: October 24, 2005

Kate Spade | Rio
This is my favorite of the Autumn Kate Spade collections. Its unique design and quality make it fashionable for day or evening. This collection is made of python skin and comes in either Chocolate or Montana Blue. The Rio Gemma clutch in the Montana Blue is a must! However, for those of you in the Golden State you may have to buy yours elsewhere, it is apparently illegal to sell Python skin.

Bag Bliss the bag blog
Date Added: October 24, 2005

Marc by Marc Jacobs | Eyelet Leather Handbag
The newest addition to the collection for Marc by Marc Jacobs just hit the stores. This line is decorated in grommet and stud accents and comes in your choice of cream white, shades or brown, jet black or the very in style metallic silver leather.

For a limited time at eLUXURY.com

October 17, 2005

Mulberry
Mulberry is a British design company renowned world-wide for its craftsmanship and quality. The brand’s backbone is an extensive line of luxury bags for men and women that combine stylish, stand-out design with the finest leathers and detailing.

In addition to leather goods like the rugged, sexy, Roxanne and the “all rounder” Bayswater which have become covetable fashion classics, Mulberry has grown to encompass womenswear, menswear and interior design . The design ethos, whether a loveable vintage print chiffon blouse, “old friend” soft leather field jacket or weekend bag in distressed Darwin leather, has its roots in the heritage of the company which was established by Roger Saul in the 1970s in rural Somerset.

Then as now, Mulberry employs local craftsmen and artisans to realise the company’s vision of marrying function, fashion and sensual materials to make products that look and feel superb. Materials like the exotic Congo, Darwin and fine glove leathers and classic nubbly Scotchgrain are durable as well as being delightful and friendly to the touch.
source: www.mulberry.com

October 12, 2005

Dolce & Gabbana
Domenico Dolce, was born on August 13, 1958, in Polizzi Generosa, Italy, and Stefano Gabbana was born on November 14, 1962, in Venice, Italy. As students, Gabbana studied graphic design, but Dolce received a fashion education, studying in Venice and working in the small clothing factory his family owned.

In 1980, the duo met when they worked at the same atelier in Venice. They began to do freelance design in 1982, when they began doing business together.

When their first collection was shown in 1986, it received acclaim from around the globe. Four years later, they revealed their premiere menswear collection and opened a women’s boutique in Milan. Also in 1990, they started designing for the Complice line for the Genny Group in Milan.

Recently, the fashion house published a book chronicling 10 years of Dolce & Gabbana history.

Dolce & Gabbana are on the same line of couture houses of Armani, Versace, Gucci, Prada and Moschino.

Dolce and Gabbana announced on the 20th February 2005 that they would split up after 19 years. Stefano Gabbana said that “This is a love split, not a business split,”. Moreover he said “Domenico and I are still very good friends and, as for the working relationship, we are still very much together. Business, in fact, has never been better.”

In 2005, in partnership with Motorola Dolce & Gabbana S.p.A. branded a gold limited edition (1000 produced) RAZR V3i, it is available exclusively through Dolce & Gabbana boutiques. It features Dolce & Gabbana logo, music and customisation, the striking gold design is its main difference to the normal RAZR.

Generally, Dolce & Gabbana is written as previously, however it is spelt by the company when printed as Dolce&Gabbana (without the space), it is only in the logo where there is a space.

Dolce & Gabbana is organized into two central lines for adults. ‘D&G’ and ‘Dolce & Gabbana’. D&G generally forms the groups more casual lines with slightly cheaper prices and follows an urban inspireation. D&G follows the trends of culture of the time and is trend-setting. Dolce & Gabbana centralizes on luxury materials and is consideribly more expensive than D&G. The line does not change as much as D&G, and is influenced by satorial designs, it is described as ‘timeless’ by Dolce & Gabbana. Within each line is beachwear, underwear, eyewear (ophthalmic & sunglasses) and fragrances. The D&G line carries the jewelery and timepieces.

D&G Junior is a separate line aimed at children under the age of 13. D&G Junior follows the ethos of D&G and embodies youth and fun with the styles of its clothes. Each season follows a set-named trend for a season and is named separately for boys and girls. The line contains clothes aimed at different ages of children. D&G Junior is more visibly influenced by popular culture compared to D&G, such as the Ibiza line of D&G Junior. Surprisingly, D&G Junior is distributed to more stores than the adult brands and is available outside of boutiques and department stores.
source: www.answers.com