Alexander McQueen Faithful & Studded Clutch July 14th, 2010 By

I’ve always admired Alexander McQueen.  I even liked him back in the day when he was the lead designer for Givenchy and somewhat unknown until he famously insulted its founder.  This actually made me like him even more.  But this past February, with his sudden and tragic loss, I found myself craving something to remember him by.  I’ve never owned anything McQueen before, and have been on the hunt ever since.

I have since chosen two completely different, but equal front-runners.  The first, dubbed the Alexander McQueen ‘Faithful’ Satchel, is a black leather bag with pewter-tone hardware.  I can see myself carrying it daily.

The second bag is a gold-studded ivory clutch that would only be carried after-hours, or perhaps to an afternoon wedding or tea.  Called the Alexander McQueen ‘Studded Brittania’ Clutch, it has Swarovski detailing and a napa leather lining.  What I love most about this bag is the contrast between the petite, ladylike shape and intimidating studs and skull.  Not dissimilar to my own personality, I’m told.

Tell me, faithful fashion lovers, which would you choose?

Tags: , , , ,
Discuss: 17 Comments

Retail Interview: farfetch.com March 4th, 2010 By

Many of us find our most unique fashion pieces at trendy, hidden boutiques.  Trouble is, when life gets busy, we don’t always have time to trek to these places to score the newest items when they first arrive.  I love the idea of being able to shop for all of my favorite boutique items in one place.  Lucky for me, the people at farfetch.com share a similar vision.

I spoke with Marketing Director Paul Brine to find out what farfetch.com has to offer, as well as some of his personal “must-haves” for this year.  Herewith is what Paul had to say:

Q&A:

beso: Tell us about the farfetch.com philosophy and the idea behind the site.

Paul Brine: In 2001, farfetch.com founder José Neves helped open a boutique in London called b Store.  He found that when entering the world of e-commerce, marketing a smaller store wouldn’t be easy.  José came up with the idea of a site that would pull all the boutiques together, because they all had a different voice.  farfetch.com began with just 20 stores.

b: Luxe, Lab, and Cult are three ways to shop farfetch.  Tell us how you came up with the idea for these categories and what treasures we would find in each.

PB: These [categories] were Jos’s idea.  We had a massive list of over 200 labels, in which some were casual and some avant-garde. We needed a way to separate them.  Luxe is high-end, well known designers.  Lab is up-and-coming and avant-garde designers.  Cult is more casual, like denim and diffusion lines.

b: Are there any plans to expand farfetch.com to include more than U.S. and European boutiques?

PB: Yes, we are working with Brazilian boutiques right now.  We plan to have these out within the next six months.

b: Your site not only carries exclusive designer fashions, but also lifestyle items.  What are some of your favorite pieces?

PB: I like the Snake and Skull Candle by D.L. & Co. because it’s very gothic.  I also like these prints by a company called Jaguar Shoes, which feature various artists’ work.

D.L. & Co. Skull with Snake Candle

b: What are some of your favorite fashion “must-haves” right now?

PB: For women, Pierre Hardy shoes.  They have these silver metallic wedges with lots of straps.  There are also these brass cuffs made by Givenchy.  For men, Henrik Vibskov sweaters, which are colorful and have big faces on them.  I also like the Opening Ceremony Desert boots.

Pierre Hardy Wedge Bootie Sandal

Givenchy Stud and Brass Cuff

Opening Ceremony Brown Leather Boots

b: What hot men’s accessories are key for summer 2010?

PB: Sunglasses.  The Zanzan Zazou sunglasses are very retro and handmade in France, so they are great quality.

b: Who are some of your favorite designers?

PB: For women, it’s Christopher Kane.  For men, I like Martin Margiela and Robert Geller.

b: Name the one item you have acquired from farfetch.com that you cannot live without.

PB: I have a shirt by Blaak Homme.  It’s a navy shirt with white polka dots.

b: Who would be your ideal celebrity spokesperson for farfetch?

PB: It’s hard to pin it on just one.  We would love to have Lara Stone.  She is a Dutch model who has a lot of personality.

b: With over 400 designers on the site, can you tell us some of the most popular lines right now?

PB: Right now the top is Alexander McQueen.  Although he has always been a top designer, with his recent death we have seen an increase.  Opening Ceremony is big, too;  we have a lot of their shoes on the site and they sell very well.  Henrik Vibskov’s whole collection is on the site and has become a real cult label.  All of these items are hard to find.

Alexander McQueen Yellow Heart-Shaped Peep Toes

b: What do you think it is about your site that keeps people coming back for more?

PB: The sheer amount of products found here.  You can get lost in there for hours!  We add new items every day, so you can come back next week and find all new things.  Also, we have many exclusive brands that you just can’t find anywhere else.

b: Lastly, we’d like to know — What’s your beso?  My beso is “be so unique.”

PB: I’d say our beso is “be so individual.”

- Dana for beso

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Discuss: No Comments

Clutch Obsession: The Chic Minaudiere February 25th, 2010 By

The Minaudiere – petite, feminine and usually synonymous with evening garb, is no longer this stylish little accessories definition. Historically known for their diminutive size and tough metal casings, these little LUX bags have been socially revered for their elegance and beauty. Today, the pint-size clutch has broken its stereotypical mold of evening only and has recently been fashioned for big style at any time of day. Of course, one can still expect to find high-shine and drama amongst the special occasion editions of these mini works of art.

What can the LUXista expect to find in the wild for day you ask? Designers have embraced this silhouette with passion by serving up a multitude of redefined versions in the offerings of embossed leathers, snakeskin and rocker chic materials, and metal stud embellishments. Keep your eyes peeled for interesting materials like fur, wood and bezel-set raw crystals. And for something on the unique side, whimsical dramatic prints can be hunted.

Below are some samplings of this HAUTE trend in handbags for S/S ’10.

The Unique:

Alexander McQueen Skull Clasp Clutch

Show off your edgy side with Alexander McQueen’s Skull Clasp Clutch. This minaudiere features silver crocodile-print leather with black crystal-embellished skill fastening.

image

Judith Leiber Cupcake Clutch

This multicolored cupcake clutch by Judith Leiber is so adorable we wish we could take a bite. The clutch is covered in crystal embellishments and features a gold tone clasp and chain.

image

Emilio Pucci Bean-Shaped Clutch

This bean-shaped clutch by Emilio Pucci is a standout piece. The hard clutch is made of navy plexi glass with a pyramid stud finish.

image

Judith Leiber Ganesh Clutch

Judith Leiber’s hand-painted multicolored Ganesh clutch is truly a one of a kind piece. The minaudiere is encrusted with hand-placed fine crystals and will add glamour and decadence to any outfit.

Daytime:

image

Jimmy Choo Tube Clutch

Show off your wild side with Jimmy Choo’s colorful leopard printed patent leather clutch. Make a bold statement with this chic minaudiere.

image

Elaine Turner Leah Clutch

This fun woven clutch by Elaine Turner with chic hardware makes a perfect handbag for spring. The fuchsia minaudiere has a structured body with a white patent trim and a vibrantly colored lining.

image

Rebecca Minkoff Fling Stud Clutch

We are lusting after Rebecca Minkoff’s neon patent Fing Stud Clutch. The edgy clutch features pyramid studs, snake-chain strap and hinged closure.

image

Cole Haan Enamel Minaudiere

We love this enamel minaudiere clutch by Cole Haan. The beautiful clutch features optical weave patterns in fuchsia, red, and purple with stunning gold detailing.

image

Rafe New York Sasha Minaudiere

Be prepared for spring with the Sasha Minaudiere by Rafe New York. The unique clutch features laser cut leather over a metallic leather body.

Evening:

image

Stella McCartney Punched Hole Clutch

Add some glamour to your cocktail dress with this stunning Stella McCartney clutch. The minaudiere features gold-tone punched hole hard exterior. The sleek clutch is a chic way to carry your evening essentials.

image

Judith Leiber Bee-Line Clutch

Judith Leiber adds a twist to the classic black clutch by adding gorgeous honeycomb cut-out detail to the bee-line clutch. The black leather minaudiere features clear Austrian crystals and silver-plated brass hardware. This bag will have you buzzing!

image

Inge Christopher St. Petersburg Minaudiere

This glamorous snake-embossed leather clutch by Inge Christopher is the perfect evening accessory. The boxy design and oversized Swarovski crystal embellishments will look perfect with your best evening dress.

image

Judith Leiber Marquis Celebration Overture

This fully beaded minaudiere by Judith Leiber is an updated classic. The clutch features jet marquise and multicolor pave Austrian crystals.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Discuss: 3 Comments

Designer Profile: Alexander McQueen February 18th, 2010 By

Lee Alexander McQueen at the finale of his Spring 2010 Ready To Wear Show, image from Style.com

Lee Alexander McQueen at the finale of his Spring 2010 Ready To Wear Show, image from Style.com

The fashion world was shaken on February 11th to learn that Lee Alexander McQueen had committed suicide at age 40.  In the midst of New York Fashion Week, the loss of one of fashion’s best and brightest cast a shadow over Bryant Park.  McQueen’s shows were always cutting edge, exciting and daring.  His fashion vision was singular.

McQueen rose from a working-class background on merit of his incredible talent.  He worked through various apprenticeships on London’s Savile Row and honed his talent for tailoring before becoming head designer at Givenchy in 1996.  He went on to establish his own lines Alexander McQueen and McQ, where he was able to design without constraint.  He was honored as British Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003.

McQueen dressed fashion trend-setters like Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna and Lady Gaga.  Lady Gaga wore McQueen in her Bad Romance video, including the fantastic (and scary) Armadillo shoes.

Lee Alexander McQueen and his dedication to individuality will be sorely missed by all of us.

View images from his runway shows at Style.com.
Find Alexander McQueen and McQ on beso.

Tags: , ,
Discuss: 1 Comment

Top 5: Oversized Houndstooth October 28th, 2009 By

Alexander McQueen Houndstooth Dress

Alexander McQueen Houndstooth Dress

This fall many designers take the classic houndstooth pattern and make it modern. Here are our top 5 picks for the best use of oversized houndstooth:

The Alexander McQueen houndstooth dress is amazing.  The silhouette is ultrafeminine and the houndstooth pattern varies in size to give your curves extra oomph while slimming your waist.  The high ruffled tie collar and ultrafine merino wool fabric keep the dress winter appropriate while the sleeveless design lets you show some skin. It is a little out of my price range at over $1500, but if you can afford it the dress is definitely money well spent.

jessica-simpson-houndstooth-dress

Jessica Simpson dress

This Jessica Simpson houndstooth dress is a steal at $118.  Paired with black tights and a pair of red cut-out booties or sandals, you’ll look like you spent a whole lot more.

From left, Michael Kors, Via Spiga and Hilary Radley

From left, Michael Kors, Via Spiga and Hilary Radley

Houndstooth is a classic pattern for coats and these three styles make it modern.  This Michael Kors houndstooth coat is less than $200 at Zappos.com.  The Via Spiga Carso coat, $150, and the Hilary Radley houndstooth coat, $300, are both on sale at Bluefly.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Discuss: No Comments