Recently in Fashion Category

Nanette Lepore really hit it out of the park today, literally as in Bryant Park! It is still so hot in New York and her flirty femine dresses made me so excited for next spring that I want to skip winter and fast foward to April! So lady-like and perfect for every day or whenever you want to be the women who everyone checks out as soon as she walks in the room. Well that is every day in the life of a bagsnob! Gorgeous dresses, suiting, prints and colors. She really knows how to make a woman feel like a lady!

Bag Snob picks: Raspberry satin dress and grey strapless draped dress

Color Palette: Tangerine, citrus, raspberry, florals and shots of grey

If you didn't watch the VMA's, you're going to get mad at me for making fun of Britney Spears. The pictures of her performance were all pretty decent but if you saw her shake around on stage, you will know what I mean, she should not have made her come back looking like that. Maybe we have higher standards for her because she used to have this kick ass body but she looked very rolly. I really should be more sympathetic having just given birth myself so I will just say that the girl's got balls! I'm not sure what Lil Mama is wearing but it is not cute and her trying to be makes it even less so.

Perhaps it's my giant wide screen HD TV but everyone looked very hippy to me. Beyonce wins the award for Awesomely Worst Dressed. That is the most unflattering thing I have ever seen! It has no shape and drapes to accentuate all the wrong parts. I do not blame my TV for this one, she is hot and usually looks great, this was a disaster. Alicia Keys wore a unremarkable dress, the only thing is it was sooo tight and again, my TV deceives me because she looked quite wide (I am not even gonna go into Rihanna and her hot pants, it was a bad bad angle that she was shot from because I know she doesn't normally look like that!!). I know I am being grouchy, I watched this at 3am and I am on very little sleep but I do not think I am being unfair here.

Bag Snob Tina (wearing Zac Posen) with Zac Posen

Hi everyone. I am still in New York in midst of a flurry of fashion shows and parties. I promise I will have a ton of photos and reviews of the shows plus a video interview with Zac Posen up shortly! Zac's latest venture, the limited edition (only 750 made!) tote bag sponsored by DHL was launched at Bryant Park Grill last Thursday where I had a chance to hang out with Zac and preview the bag. DHL paid for the entire production (yup, all 750 bags) so that every penny made from the sale of the bags ($300,000!) will benefit Zac's favorite charity, Teachers Count. Now where would we all be without our amazing teachers? I know where I wouldn't be, I wouldn't be the Founder and Editor of one of the top Fashion Blogs in the world with a stack of Fashion Week invitations in my bag. So show your teachers some love and purchase a bag today. The bag is $400 (a small price to pay considering all that our teachers do for us!) with free shipping from DHL. I had a chance to see it in person at the launch party and I love it! It is super chic to use both as school bag or your everyday run around town errand bag. The Italian leather bag is a stylish balance of playful color and functionality with a sturdy strap, I have mine filled with fashion week notes and schedules to keep me organized throughout the week. As an added bonus, DHL is giving one away FREE everyday inside the Tents at Bryant Park during the Spring 2008 Fashion Week! So if you are in New York and was able to score an invitation to one of the shows, you must stop by the DHL booth and sign up to win! Why am I so passionate about this cause you ask? Because I care about the future of our children (including my adorable two year old) and their future is in the hands of our TEACHERS! So what are you waiting for? Grab yours today before all 750 are snatched up by Bag Snob readers!

Vera Wang showed an incredibly romantic collection for Spring 2008. Opening with an upbeat rendition of "Here comes the Sun", it seems Wang has found the sun again with this vibrantly hued collection after a dark mourning period of her beloved father who passed away a day before her last show. I loved the floating gowns and breezy tunics shown with cargo boy shorts and jeweled necklines, all of which are perfect for my busy lifestyle which require clothes that move with me. As the models passed by me, I found myself translating each look into my own wardrobe and how I would wear it next season. Feather light sweaters, silks, organzas and washed printed satins completed her vision inspired by ancient Rome and its love affair with nature and physical beauty.

Bag Snob Picks: Duchesse overall tops with jeweled necklines and cargo shorts, Royal blue printed washed duchesse gown, turquoise cloud print duchesse peplum belted jacket and side draped skirt.

Color Palette: Bronze, moss, navy, charcoal, plum and turquoise.

Glamorous, wearable and relaxed. No longer the staple for red carpet events, this perfectly balanced collection has everything for every lifestyle. They have brought the same sense of high style to sportwear and they totally hit the spot! The high waisted skit with the skinny belt is flattering and feminine and will throw the board room into a frenzy with the sexy and powerful allure. Celebrate with the amazing pleated dress after you've killed your meeting! The perfect cocktail dress will easily transition to any evening event. I absolutely love the flowy pink gown, it is meant for a goddess or make you look like one even if you're not. This is what they're known for and they never disappoint! For a seaside getaway the full length dress is comfortable, easy and ultra glamorous, can't get better than that! I love the relaxed feel of the entire collection, some of the looks were even shown barefoot! The love cannot be overstated! I love Fashion Week!

UPDATE: The totes are now available for purchase HERE!
Zac Posen's Limited-edition DHL tote will launch during Fashion Week, Bag Snob has been invited to preview the bag at the exclusive launch party at Bryant Park Grill and to interview Zac! The tote was created as a part of the "Tote for Teachers" campaign to benefit Zac's favorite chairty, Teachers' Count. Posen and his high school English literature teacher from St. Ann's School in Brooklyn Heights will participate in a public service announcement for TeachersCount's "Behind Every Famous Person is a Fabulous Teacher" series.

The bags will sell for $400 with complimentary DHL delivery and 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the bags will benefit the national non-profit organization supporting the teaching profession. I've always felt teachers are under appreciated in the United States and hope this campaign will bring the recognition and support they deserve. I know you all have had at least one teacher who made a positive impact on your life, honor them by purchasing one of these super cute bags! I should buy at least a dozen because I had the most patient and amazing teachers growing up (most notably Ms. Bullock- my 3rd grade teacher who took extra time everyday to teach me English when I moved to the US, she made living in a foreign country fun and exciting instead of frightening. Ms. Kuzak- my 8th grade art teacher who encouraged me to follow my dreams and to believe I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to!).

The flat totes are made from fine Italian leather in DHL's signature red and yellow colors, including a sturdy shoulder strap (all the better to hold your books or magazines) the tote bag was produced in Tuscany where Posen's handbag line is also made. I am very excited about this party and will give you the full scoop behind the scenes when I get to New York next week!

Yours truly will be attending Fashion Week in New York city for the Spring 2008 shows next week. I am excited to see all the shows and have been receiving invitations all week for some of the best designers in the tents! (Vera Wang and Tuleh featuring Jada Loveless bags being the two shows I am most looking forward to!) In between the shows I will be hanging out at the Daily Suites in Bryant Park Hotel. Cygalle Healing spa is offering free organic treatments at the suite and I have signed up for reflexology and energy healing to keep get me through the 5-6 shows a day I plan on seeing!

Check out the super snob shoes I picked up this weekend, thanks to my Personal Shopper Connie Dieb (she can get you anything your heart desires...!) These shoes are so comfortable due to the very high platform in the front which balances your foot, it's like wearing a low heel because 1 1/4" platform on a 3" stiletto is like wearing shoes with 1 3/4" heel! The gray suede with black patent trim is beyond fabulous and the black patent will be my basic this Fall. I could not decide between the two pairs so I got both. It's the only way to shop n'est pas? I know these will sell out so you MUST order a pair quickly!!! $660 At Saks.com

But wait, you're probably more interested in bags right? Since I am in a major YSL mood this morning, here is the latest Downtown tote in Blue! I just love this color, can't get enough. If you are a girl with 10 black bags in your closet, you need something blue to brighten things up. It's a basic and will go with everything! $1,495 at Saks.

My darling friend, the very chic French Stylist, Guillaume Coutheillas, alerted me of this today. While this will not excite me enough to step into a Louis Vuitton store (although I am all for the fight against global warming and find it admirable of LV to donate funds to the cause), I am sure it will bring much buzz in the press and perhaps lure the nouveau riche in Russia and China who already flock to the stores by the thousands.

From CNN.com
"Move over Scarlett Johansson! Mikhail Gorbachev is the new face of Louis Vuitton.

It was bound to happen, I mean how many crocodiles and ostrich birds do you think there are in the world? With so many new bag designers showing exotic bag collections, (like Alexandra Knight) supply was bound to run short. The price of Alligator skins have gone up 40% in the last two years but that has not slowed down the demand for this ultimate symbol of luxury bags and it has led to a game of heavy bidding wars amongst bag designers. Carlos Falchi, a designer who has been working with exotic skins for over three decades even bought his own crocodile farm in South America to ensure his suppy! Nancy Gonzalez's son Santiago operates his own crocodile farms as well and rarely has problems getting what he needs, no wonder their crocodile prices have stayed so reasonable! I really can't complain about this as I am as guilty as every other girl obsessed with exotic skin handbags which is driving the price hikes and supply lows.

Fred Distenfeld, owner of accessories firm LAI and an exotic skin manufacturer for more than 50 years, said brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Gucci all have secured their share of the market in the last eight years by buying and employing their own tanneries, some of which other designers once relied on. "These brands are the powerhouses of the luxury world and they have to make sure their supplies exist," Distenfeld said. "The problem is not in the skins themselves, but the quality for the people who want the best possible skins."

Whew, nice to hear Hermes has taken the proper steps to secure supply for crocodile birkins because I am still planning on treating myself to the Graphite Croc from Bag Snob income :) This will make it even more special because it will be paid for by my love of bags, great tale to pass on to the grandkids huh? But I have to admit I am greatly conflicted over this, a part of me wants to shout "Save the Crocodiles!" but another part of me is screaming "Go buy 2 or 3 before prices soar again!" I know, I know, I am totally hopeless. Another option is vintage, I actually have several vintage Hermes and lesser known designer crocs, they hold up amazingly well through time, those reptiles sure have tough skin!

Source: WWD