It’s official! We have yet another “new” trend for Spring 2011! It is, of course, Color Blocking! It may come as a surprise to you though that when I normally think of color blocking, I think of each item being a single solid color. For example, you might pair a solid hot pink shift dress with a sunny yellow handbag. But I guess there is another way to do color blocking and that is having more than one “block” of color on the same item. I have seen this done with articles of clothing before, particularly dresses. But there are now quite a few handbags floating around out there, so I thought it would be fun to explore this trend a little further!

What I have found most interesting about this trend is that color blocking can be done in just about any color scheme. Not only will you find tons of bright color combinations, but you will find neutrals as well! Also keep an eye out for color blocking in black and white! Very art deco-esque! Below I have a sample of what the color blocking trend has to offer!

Dior Lady Dior Tricolor Cannage Bag – $3,000 (Pre-Order)
It’s Lady Dior with a fun and funky twist! I love the combination of pink, purple, and orange. The ultimate accessory for spring, just be sure to keep the accompanying wardrobe simple!
Shop the Dior Boutique at Saks Fifth Avenue

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Let’s face it, most of us shop based on want rather than need. Frankly, I deplore shopping for something that I NEED. It usually involves a hyper search through websites and local stores looking for something that I love an want to fill a basic need.

So, how do you assess what you really need? It’s really a process of evaluation and elimination. What do you have? What do you use? What needs repair? What need to go? Answering these essential questions, will help you figure out what you need and keep you focused on a goal rather than being distracted by all the beautiful an fun bags out there.

I’ll use myself as an example. My larger bags include a few that are beginning to see some wear and tear so it’s time to make decisions on what I repair or remove from my options. Every wardrobe needs a black, metallic, tan/brown and a pop of color at minimum in my opinion. I have these, but the tan/brown options are truly in need of repair or removal. With spring coming up soon, I feel I need to focus on this area as I will be using it the most. So, in a few simple observations, I’ve drilled down to my need: a brown toned medium to larger size bag with handles.

After that, it still isn’t easy to decide. Do I want dark brown to light tan? Do I want gold or silver-tone hardware (if any)? Cross-body, shoulder, top-handle? There are still dozens of choices to make. The brown bag I’ve carried the most is a Katherine Kwei double-top-handled Edna bag that I’ve practically destroyed, yet still gets compliments.

I’ve narrowed it down to these few options. The final stage of this courtship will be in-store actually putting it on, feeling the comfort an weight of the bag. Tell me what you think?

The Proenza Schuler PS11 is one of the hottest handbags right now. (bagbliss post: the new it bag?) In fact, getting my hands on one would be very difficult, but I’m drawn to it anyway! I love the richness of the brown leather and the structured design and beautiful hardware make it very attractive. The shoulder strap would be comfortable for both shoulder or even cross body carrying. It’s 11″ x 7″ x 4″ so it would carry everything I need, but it is a bit smaller than my typical day bags. Perhaps it is time to downsize? $1850
Proenza Schouler Boutique at Net-a-Porter

The Fendi Calfskin Silvana Tote is a lovely lay-bag that has such fine craftsmanship. It’s another flap bag an I haven’t owned one in a long time! I love the top handles and the long handle option. The leather is so rich looking and it has an interesting pebble grain on the sides of the bag to contrast with the smooth grain. Minimal hardware provides just the right accent. Not too dressy an not too casual. It’s $2090
Find here at LUISAVIAROMA

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Donna, Lulu, Kate, Amber. No, these are not the latest batch of Top Models, they are some of the bag lines from the incredibly talented Katherine Kwei. A former PR executive, Katherine decided to pursue her dream of designing handbags in 2002. Graduating from the London College of Fashion, Katherine worked with Susan Hunter and Billy Bag Company during her studies. In 2006, she worked with Zac Posen on his Spring/Summer line and launched her line in 2007.

That 2007 collection caught my attention and I fell in love with her Donna line. I still love that style, but she has developed so many other unique styles utilizing her Chinese knot technique, there’s essentially a bag for every fashion type out there! Whether you love glam rock or are a sensible and ultra-fashionable executive, you will find something to treasure!

The Spring/Summer 2011 collection pays tribute to the music of the psychedelic ’60s to the ’80s disco scene and that vibrant, playful, stylish woman who everyone notices in the scene and everyone wants to be with one day. The new colors and styles will make it hard for you to choose, but so much fun exploring the possibilities!

Following the convertible trend, the Donna line adds a new, large hobo with a detachable, adjustable strap. In the snake version, beautiful and sophisticated grey/gold and a leopard print are stunning and versatile. The hand-dyed lambskin with watersnake versions features a rich chocolate, black and metallic. The Donna Batik line features brilliantly shaded turquoise and tangerine options. All of which are available in the six Donna styles.

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The term “Stay At Home Mom” is such a misnomer. No matter what age my children are, I am never home for too long. Whether it’s school, appointments, grocery shopping, kids activities or just trying to squeeze in a little me time, a mom is always on the go. She always has to be prepared for what’s needed too. When my children were little, it was spare diapers & wipes and a change of clothing. Now that they are older, I don’t need as many extras, but a big bag always comes in handy.

Personally, I think the perfect bag for a Stay At Home Mome has to be large, versatile and well-made. She’s busy and doesn’t have alot of time to change out bags, so they must go with everything. It needs to be large so that she can hold the necessities and then some. And it should be well-made so that it resists spills, dirty hands and anything else live throws at it! So, I spent some time over at Shopbop and came up with some fabulous items!

The quilted nylon Tory Burch Jaden Tote is sophisticated, roomy and sturdy. With rolled, double-handles for comfort, they are long enough for shoulder wear. A very roomy interior with side pockets will hold tons of stuff. It’s available in black and dry orange for $350. Although, items tend to get a little lost sometimes, that problem can be resolved by zip pouched accessories like the darling striped Rebecca Minkoff pouch set for $95.
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It seems like the holiday season should still be far away. But as I look at the calendar, I can see that Thanksgiving is literally just around the corner. The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) marks the beginning of the holiday shopping craze. Getting exactly what your little Fashionista in Training is asking for, however, might not be very easy at that point. Stuff sells out so fast, especially when something is at the top of everyone’s wish list. So it certainly doesn’t hurt to start your shopping early! Below you will find my top handbag picks for the Fashionista in Training on your shopping list. These styles are young, funky, and fun. But you will also find them to be stylish as well, making them the perfect pieces for your special someone to build her collection on!

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As you probably already know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. An annual health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research to the cause, prevention and cure.

I surfed the web and gathered my favorite top ten products that support the fight against breast cancer:

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This season, Burberry is all about the studs. Big ones, little ones, just a few or encased, you will find a studded bag to suit your pleasure. While it seems that we’ve seen studs for awhile now, somehow Burberry has managed to make them seem a little different.

The studded leather hobo in rich chocolate with brass studs is a great everyday bag for many of us. Giant studs embellish this bag for ultimate impact. Their size takes it out of the ordinary and into extraordinary. I especially love this bag in all black version (not pictured). This bag fits nicely against the body with it’s size of 14″ x 8 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ and 9″ strap drop. $1295
Available through: Burberry Boutique at Nordstrom
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