BubblesPop

05/05/2011

How A Chanel Bag Is Made

I am lucky enough to own my very own Chanel bag and boy do I love it! The leather, the hardware, the weight … it just all very blissfully luxurious, like a warm towel after a cold swim, or like that first hug from your mom after two weeks at sleep-away camp. The perfect combination of longing and design is embodied in the Chanel 2.55, and now it’s time we see how it’s all put together.

The iconic purse has been around since February, 1955 (get it? 2.55?) and it has remained a classic and enduring addition to any wardrobe, from high society, to celebrities, to hipsters with a credit card. There’s nothing cheap about the 2.55, and at close to three thousand bucks, some might assume it’s stitched up with 18KT gold thread.

While there aren’t any commodities involved in the bag, the care, the materials, and of course, the legacy, all contribute to its insane price point. The Chanel-savvy over at the PurseBlog were lucky enough to attend an event that featured one of Chanel’s purse makers at work. Their photos are almost as beautiful as the final product and show the creation of the of the structure of the bag, the delicate suturing of the iconic double Cs, and the fastening of the beloved hardware. It’s cool if you start drooling, I know I am.

I was surprised to see in the photos that a sewing machine is used. I blindly assumed the purse would be hand-sewn, like an Hermes. While the photos certainly demonstrate how human the process is, the machine threw me off a bit. Does it change much? No, not really. The handbag is still flawless and covetable. The craftsmanship and attention to quality and detail is what make the bag timeless, and if it takes a machine to make it so, so be it. There’s nothing in the photos of the birth of a Chanel bag that looks unnatural or cold — the creation still looks organic and made with love. But then again, I compared a Chanel bag to a hug from mom, so my affection for the purse may be obscuring the truth.

What do you think of the making of a Chanel purse, and were you surprised a sewing machine is used?

Photos courtesy of PurseBlog.

05/04/2011

PASTEL PREP FOR SPRING

Summer calls upon colorful, cool silhouettes, and I’m quite taken with pastel at the moment. I like how this street-snapped cutie poses her feminine tones with streamlined silhouettes, ankle socks, and platform sandals. Get the look with my similar and exact picks from Super, Diane von Furstenberg, and Eddie Bauer.

Left to right: Eddie Bauer Classic Oxford Shirt ($35), Bedstu Steinway Belt ($64), Erickson Beamon Bette Davis Eyes Bracelet ($595), Sessun Malloring Pant ($200), Super Sunglasses Basic Rainbow Lens ($180), Diane von Furstenberg Sandal ($350), Cambridge Satchel Company Satchel ($153), Hue Socks ($7)

05/04/2011

Missoni X Target !!!

Missoni is on fire with collaborations, first came Converse, then Havaianas, then Bugaboo and now a Target collaboration slated to launch on September 13th! This has got to be one of the best news from Target lately, I haven’t been really into their latest collaborations, hopefully this won’t disappoint. According to Vogue.com, the collection will consist of 400 pieces featuring clothes (women’s, men’s, kids’), bed sheets, dinnerware—all in Missoni’s swirls, zigzags, and near-hallucinogenic florals. Can’t wait to see how the collection turns out, mark your calendars for September 13 through October 22 to shop the collection at Target stores and target.com.

I am super excited !! Lookbook in the near future- keep an eye out 😉

05/04/2011

GILES DEACON FOR NINE WEST

After the super girly launch of the first Nine West shoelaborations collection featuring Sophie Theallet up next for fall is Giles Deacon. Giles’ collection is a complete opposite of Sophie’s, it’s a tech-based collection mainly in black with flashes of bright colors. The collection consists of footwear, handbags and jewelry, there’s also Eek, a mouse-like character designed by Giles which is the iconic figure that is built into each style.

Giles Deacon said, “Partnering with a global footwear leader such as Nine West has given me the opportunity to expand my reach in the world of accessories and create a collection that reflects my design personality, while capturing the spirit of the brand. I was able to revisit one of my favorite motifs, Eek, and bring him to life through a completely new medium, which is exciting for me.”

The Giles Deacon for Nine West footwear collection will retail for approximately $99 to $149 for footwear, $99 for handbags and $26 to $34 for jewelry. Super affordable 🙂

05/03/201105/03/2011

FASHION AT THE MET GALA 2011

THE FASHION AT THE MET GALA WAS FAR FROM STANDARD. BELOW ARE SOME PICS OF SOME FABULOUS LADIES BUT YOU BE THE JUDGE, FASHION NO NO OR FASHIONISTA 😉

article-1382966-0BE0822200000578-277_470x861 — Rihanna in Stella McCartney

article-1382966-0BE0901E00000578-258_470x728 — Madonna in Stella McCartney

article-1382966-0BE0675500000578-284_310x679 — Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen

: Beyonce in Emilio Pucci

05/03/2011

JENNIFER LOPEZ & MARC ANTHONY FOR KOHL’S

Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony have teamed up with Kohl’s to bring budget-concious consumers a taste of the good life. Along with their own individual clothing lines (available exclusively at Kohl’s), the power couple will be releasing a fashionable home collection line in the fall of 2011. As a couple, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony will offer an exclusive home collection. Seperately, they will each introduce clothing lines that fit their personal style and fashionability. They are certainly not the only celebrities to offer exclusive merchandise at the store.They will join the likes of famous names such as Lauren Conrad, Vera Wang, and Daisy Fuentes, who also offer merchandise sold exclusively at Kohl’s. In a statement to StyleWatch, the couple was quoted as saying, “We are thrilled to embark on this new venture with Kohl’s and to join in this important partnership. These are really exciting times for us and our family and we are looking forward to collaborating with Kohl’s in the creation of a lifestyle brand that represents our true style and the essence of who we are, and what we have come to represent as artists.”

05/03/201105/03/2011

LOVE!!!! SALLY HANSEN SALON NAIL EFFECTS NEW COLORS FOR SPRING!!

When Sally Hansen launched their Salon Effects nail polish strips back in January, I was instantly hooked. It turns out that a lot of other people were, too, because the brand cannot keep them in stock anywhere.

Sally Hansen is offering five new patterns–available this month–and they’re perfect. The best of the bunch is Don’t Get Catty (hot pink leopard) which is my obsession color or spring. LOVE!! There’s also: Ay Ay Captain (a blue nautical stripe), Check, Please! (black and white checks that bring to mind old school Vans), Show Your Stripes (a black and silver chevron pattern), and Wicked Bamboo (neutral stripes). Look for the new styles to hit drugstores everywhere over the course of May.

05/03/2011

HELLZ BELLZ “QUEEN OF NOISE” LOOKBOOK SPRING/SUMMER 2011

Hellz releases their “Queens of Noise” Spring/Summer 2011 collection lookbook. Looks like the popular Belle of Brawl Stadium Jacket is back in a French terry cotton version, don’t miss out on it this time. I know I will 😉

The new collection was inspired by America’s youth, featuring “love, drugs, and rock & roll- the fundamentals of a good time.” Lots of great sexy and colorful pieces this season. Look out for the collection at stockists including Karmaloop, Moxsie and 80’s Purple very soon!

05/02/2011

Club Monaco Fall 1 2011 Lookbook

I honestly hardly shop at Club Monaco mainly because I think it’s a bit overpriced but I’ve browsed the store several times in the past few months. There are definitely some great pieces in there, lots of timeless pieces that can be worn over and over. For its Fall 1 2011 collection, Club Monaco mixes 60s sundry with 70s sophistication, featuring a collection in a warm palette of cinnamon, berry and gem tones on clean shapes with touches of vintage wallpaper prints. Inspiration comes from the lifestyle of the 50s beatnik movement, David Bailey’s photography from Berlin in the 60s, Leon Levinstein’s street style photos, and the iconic style of the eras’ leading ladies, including Jane Asher, Edie Sedgwick, and Jean Shrimpton.

05/02/2011

NEW TREND FOR SPRING: BOAT SHOES

It’s anchors away for this Gossip Girl come spring. Instead of the usual ballet flat, I have officially been encouraged to slip into a pair of boat shoes (or top-siders, to each her own). And Blake shows us exactly how to pull them off so we don’t look like we’ve borrowed our dad’s shoes. With tons of cool brands like Tory Burch and Steve Madden making their own boat shoes, I’m definitely aboard this trend.