The Art of Fashion

January 19, 2013 § Leave a comment

About a year ago here, I wrote about a new trend for backpacks that was taking over the fashion world – not just any backpacks you take hiking with you, but luxury ones with hefty price tags. In my selection of trending items I included Nile backpack by The Row, label owned by Olsen Twins, which was priced at over £2500. At the time paying as much for a rucksack seemed rather steep – I was not even sure if the trend was going to last long enough to be bothered to purchase one, let alone to commit to anything like The Row. Yet time has passed and Nile became one of the most sough after handbag of 2012, especially when the sisters brought out an even more luxurious version made out of crocodile skin (FYI at mere £22,000). Now that we are in 2013 I can safely say that The Row rucksack domination is nowhere near the end, thanks to one of the most exciting fashion-art collaborations of the decade. Damien Hirst The Row RucksacksAnd here they are – three of the twelve Nile pieces designed by Damien Hirst himself (hence the multicoloured circles and pills, of course). The trio was brought together by Just One Eye online store that specialises in artistic partnerships. I adore the idea for it’s multipurposeness: that is creativity-inspiring, profit-making, charity donating and of course press-generating. Not that Olsen twins, The Row or Damien Hirst required any more buzz around them. These pieces of art are yours for £35,000, by the way.

Vlieger & Vandam

December 6, 2012 § 1 Comment

This summer I became a victim of a pick pocket – late evening in Piccadilly Circus while waiting for a taxi. He simply opened my small turn lock shoulder bag and took my phone out. And I did not notice a thing! Since then, apart from avoiding Piccadilly circus I have been looking for safer bags I can take on evening adventures. That is when I stumbled across Vlieger & Vandam’s collection of handbags that will definitely add some don’t-mess-with-me attitude to your look and maybe even keep your belongings safer! But don’t worry, these bags are totally legal as all the knifes, handcuffs and guns are just cool 3D leather designs created by the Dutch duo. They come in various shapes and sizes – from clutches to roomy bags – and have a few colours to choose from. I am definitely in love! And I’m not the only one – a few celebs, including Rumer Willis, have been seen sporting these designs. Plus they are features in permanent collection of MOMA. See the whole range all those practical modern art pieces here.

Vlieger & Vandam Handbags

  1. Classic Small Deluxe Gun Bag, €389
  2. Guardian Angel Soft Large Gun Handbag, €339
  3. Handcuffs Clutch Bag, €224
  4. Gun Clutch Bag, €224
  5. Knife Clutch Bag, €224

Lily’s Story

November 15, 2012 § Leave a comment

 

For a while now, and I mean like two years, I have been thinking about purchasing Mulberry Lily. These little shoulder bags are the British version of small Chanel Flap handbags and are simply perfect for the evening. So for me the problem has never been about whether I want one, but which colour I want to go for. The thing is – there are just so many options with more being added each season, that by the time I make up my mind, the range already expanded. Indeed at the moment there are 30 different styles of Lily available at mulberry.com. But a few seasons ago I suddenly got a favourite – a new size of the bag, Large Lily in black, became available and if it wasn’t for the fact it was overly slouchy I would have gone for it straight away. So obviously by the time I finally decided to buy it, it was out of stock and only available in Ink Blue Silky Snake and Snowball White. Anyway the reason I told you this long, not terribly exciting story is to show why I got super excited when I saw Mulberry’s latest addition – Medium Lily (£795). It is simply perfect: suitable both for days and evenings, not slouchy and in choice of classic black and deer brown as well as this season’s hottest dark blush. So my mind is totally made up: not only is there less colour choices but the handbag itself is more versatile. Hence I am in love and will be shortly adding one more Mulberry to my growing collection. Did I manage to convince you to add one to your Fashion Wish List?

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

November 14, 2012 § Leave a comment

15th November is tomorrow. And we all know exactly which super important event is happening in the Fashion World on that exact date. Of course it is the launch of Maison Martin Margiela for H&M. This is another one of those awesome H&M project that brings world’s best designer creation to people at affordable prices. Yet by looking at the collection that will hit the stores tomorrow causing hour-long queues I can safely say – not my thing. In fact, I really do wonder if it is going to be anyone’s thing. Some items – surely, but others make me feel they were not made with high street customer in mind. Let me guide your through a selection of items and explain what I mean.

1. Ladies Nº 59 – Invisible wedge ankle boot, £179.99
2. Ladies Nº 58 – Trompe l’oeil sneaker, £69.99
3. Ladies Nº47 – Plexi wedge pump, £149.99
4. Ladies Nº 57 – Candy clutch, £34.99
5. Ladies Nº2 – Body with integrated bra, £29.99
6. Ladies Nº 55 – Candy clutch, £34.99

First 3 pieces are by far my favourite: black ankle boots, comfy high-top trainers and nude pumps are every wardrobe’s essentials. So thank you MMM for adding your creative touch to these absolute must-haves. Next 3 items I am still undecided about, but I love the creativity that went into them while still making those quite wearable. Candy clutches in silver and pink were the first I fell in love with, but that all changed when I saw how oversized they are. And believe me, I love oversized handbags – just not too sure if a foil bag that is nearly half my size is slightly overdoing it. And then the nude body with the bra – another great idea that on the model just looks, well, cheap. My advise – do try it on before purchasing and maybe you will be the lucky person it looks good on.

7.   Ladies Nº4 – Oversized jeans, £39.99
8.   Ladies Nº5 – Oversized turtleneck jumper, £79.99
9.   Ladies Nº26 – Trousers mini skirt, £59.99
10. Ladies Nº27 – Hitched up dress, £99.99

Now, lets move on to the pieces I can not get my head around. 7-10 are probably the most unflattering clothes that have ever been made for women. First let’s have a look at these jeans and jumper. I’m not saying us ladies need to be in skintight clothing at all times, but this oversizing is taking things to the next level. The unwearable level that is. Maybe if I had issues with my weight I would have enjoyed the feeling of wearing clothes at least 10 sizes bigger, but having to actually wrap the jeans around my waist twice and on purpose, does not go down in my morning to do list. Then there is a trouser and mini skirt combo that gives me flashbacks to 90’s. These are not good flashbacks. Some fashion styles should stay in the past forever. And finally – the hitched up dress. In the comments to it, someone said it would be perfect for middle-eastern themed party, but I would not wear one even if I was paid to do it. I do feel sorry for that poor model they hired..

But there is no way I could have finished this blog post/rant without mentioning this final piece. Duvet Coat (£179.99). I was actually rendered speechless when I first saw it and even now I can hardly comment on it. It is hideous. And even if it is made for runway it is not made for the streets. I do hope if anyone actually purchases it they wear it around the house like one of those blankets with sleeves. Or if they go on holiday to a very, very remote mountain area.

All in all, as you have probably guessed I am terribly disappointed. Maybe 15th November is not going to be that special after all!

Everyone Is Talking About: Anya Hindmarch

November 9, 2012 § Leave a comment

Anya Hindmarch is currently the topic of many fashion-related conversations and there are three specific reasons for it.
First it is hard not to notice amazing holiday spirit window displays dedicated to Anya’s handbags at Selfridges London store. If you haven’t seen it, it is an absolute must. I love the creativity of department stores’ windows in general but this specific display now has a special place in my heart: it is a little workshop with factory line filled with handbags by the designer and all you need is a bit of imagination to create a picture in your head of Anya’s elves working on perfect Christmas gift for women all over the world.
Second, Anya Hindmarch presented new boxes that her All I Ever Wanted collection comes in and it is inspired by retro toy packaging. I am in love. I was immediately transferred to my childhood and remembered the feeling of surprise and pleasure that opening a new Barbie doll, which came in similar packaging, would give me.

And last but not least there is a new handbag design that is so special I haven’t yet made up my mind whether I love it or hate it. But that alone gives me plenty to talk to my friends about. Meet Tiny Tim Dancer Clutch that comes in golf crinkled leather and is covered in (brace for it) small battery powered lights. Yep. Your bag will literally light up your entire outfit. Which is great for the upcoming holiday season for making you really stand out from the crowd. There are two further advantages of taking this bag to a party that I thought of.  First if the conversation at the party runs dry, just point at your flashing bag and begin lengthy discussion on the topic. Second even if you had a few drinks and misplaced your bag, it would be the easiest thing to find – it will be lying there flashing at you, and who did not wish for that for Christmas! Tiny Tim Dancer has sold out on the official Anya Hindmarch website but is still available at net-a-porter.com for £450.

Barbara Rihl

October 22, 2012 § Leave a comment

While in Moscow a few weeks ago I stumbled across a brand of super chic handbags and just had to share them with you. Feminine, functional and fashionable, these leather bags are created by Barbara Rihl under her eponymous label. The more I researched about the brand and the lady behind it the more jealous I grew of her career (not in the bitter way but in the I-am-so-inspired-I-want-to-be-her kind of way). First, Barbara Rihl was a student to Karl Lagerfeld, absorbing a wealth of experience from this multi-talented icon for two years. Then she moved on to spend a year learning from Jil Sanders before being appointed into the famous house of brands LVMH to work on their marketing strategy. And then in 2000, after feeling that it was time for her to stand behind her own wheel, she created a brand of these witty bags, that are now available at over 1000 shops around the world. I bet after reading that I’m not the only one envious of this extremely talented and successful lady! And while you are reconsidering your personal success, here are a few of her designs I picked out for you to see. Take a look at the rest of the collection here.

  1. Mystical, €360 (approximately £293)
  2. Jen’s Favourite, €360 (approximately £293)
  3. Attractive, €360 (approximately £293)
  4. Red Scarlet, €325 (approximately £264)
  5. Matchless Helena, €312 (approximately £254)
  6. Shiny Linda, €350 (approximately £285)

The Queen Of Handbags

September 24, 2012 § Leave a comment

If you are ever looking for a classic and luxurious handbag with quality to last you a lifetime, look no further than the handbags worth a real Queen, the ones so often seen on the hand of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth. Worn to main state appearances including wedding of Will and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge(below left) those handbags made to order by British designer brand Launer have become Queen’s go to accessory. And now the classic collection that featured leather handbags in traditional colours with gold hardware is expanding its palette to feature bold fashionable colours that are likely to attract a much younger hipper customer. Indeed I would not refuse one of these myself, how lovely would it be to have one in, say, pink to take with you to afternoon tea with the girls or dinner with partner’s family. So yes, thanks to completely revamped colour collection, Launer is landing itself on My Fashion Wish List, and I think I am not the only one to want a handbag adorned with royal nod of approval. The only problem – most Launer bags are still made to order and will take 2-3 weeks to be delivered to your door, so plan your purchase in advance. Take a look at the classic range here with styles worn by the Queen starting at £1020, the new range will appear there shortly.

Exclusive Mulberry

July 23, 2012 § Leave a comment

I love Mulberry. I love it so much that if I had to choose only one brand which handbags to carry for the rest of my life I would easily jump into that monogamous relationship. That is why I always get extremely excited seeing the new Mulberry bag for the first time. And since this new bag range is extremely exclusive, the excitement is only heightened! Meet Maisie, the range that has been specifically created to celebrate launch of Mulberry collection in Japanese location of Dover Street Market. But don’t worry you don’t have to go to Tokyo to get your hands on the bags – they are also available at the London DSM store. The collection consists of 4 pieces (2 totes of different shapes, clipper bag and a clutch) in 3 colours (black, oak and flame) each finished with 3D print of Mulberry’s famous Alexa. And if by the time you get down to Dover Street the range is sold out – don’t threat as the entire range will be available online and in store from September onwards.

And for those dying to know the price range of the new Maisie collection – here are the numbers supplied by friendly press staff of DSM (from left to right) £1200, £395 and £995.

Pictures taken from British Vogue Facebook page

Back To My Roots

July 19, 2012 § Leave a comment

Russia, with its vibrant culture and rich history has been a fashion inspiration for many designers. Being a Russian-born Londoner, it is always touching to see those pieces – they remind me of my mother-land and its infinite cultural treasures. My favourite collection inspired by Russian Empire so far has been Chanel’s pre-fall 2009, but it might be about to change with introduction of Russian Matryoshka (nesting doll) to Fall-Winter 2012 collection by Charlotte Olympia. Quirky handbag, Charlotte Olympia’s well known high heels and my favourite Pandora clutch that has been altered especially for this collection (now it comes in wood – the same material original dolls are made out of) are the first pieces to be unveiled to the world. I seriously hope there is more to come – statement elements and vibrant colours are very much needed in our autumn wardrobes.

  1. Baboushka Embroidered Leather Clutch, £375 available at Net-a-Porter.com
  2. Matryoshka Suede Sandal, $1565 (approximately £1000) available at BergdorfGoodman.com
  3. Pandora Matryoshka Wooden Clutch, £575 available at Net-a-Porter.com

(Discounted) Designer Holiday

June 12, 2012 § Leave a comment

Nowadays with rise of websites offering discounted holidays we are all on the look out for bargain price for luxury get away. And inspired by this trend and the fact that there are only 10 sleeps left until I leave London for 9 days of sun, sea and partying, I decided to compile 3 perfect holiday outfits that are all about bargain and luxury. And there is no better place to look for such combination than my favourite discounted designer website TheOutnet.com.

Below I put together a comfortable outfit for travel purposes which originally cost £1653 but is now yours for £734.15 giving you a 56% discount; hot beach or pool ensemble which was £1349 and is now available to purchase for £633.20 giving you a 53% discount; and a summery party outfit that will get you ready for tropical cocktails and holiday romance originally at £1305 but currently with The Outnet discount of 56% at £568.

I hope this post will leave you feeling ready for holiday and inspired to create your own fashionable outfits. Check out TheOutnet.com for thousands more discounted designer pieces. 

  1. Twenty8Twelve by S.Miller T-Shirt, was £85 now £29.75
  2. Marni Leather Tote, was £480 now £240
  3. Linda Farrow Luxe Acetate Aviator Sunglasses, was £449 now £179.60
  4. Levi’s Made & Crafted Low-Rise Jeans, was £135 now £74.25
  5. Day Birger et Mikkelsen Cardigan, was £179 now £80.55
  6. NewbarK Flor Leather Shoes, was £325 now £130

  1. Melissa Odabash Aurora Maxi Dress, was £380 now £171
  2. Victoria Beckham Cat Eye Sunglasses, was £275 now £123.75
  3. Jets by Jessika Allen Coutryside Bikini Top, was £105 now £57.75
  4. Jets by Jessika Allen Coutryside Bikini Briefs, was £79 now £43.45
  5. Bernardo Moon Leather Flat Sandals, was £155 now £77.50
  6. Kenneth Jay Lane Tasseled Bead Necklace, was £150 now £67.50
  7. M Missoni Printed Canvas Tote, was £205 now £92.25
  1. Venessa Arizaga Flash Charm Bracelet, was £270 now £135
  2. Pour la Victoire Neala Suede Sandals, was £215 now £107.50
  3. Diane von Furstenberg Lauristel Ruffle Dress, was £450 now £157.50
  4. Nicole Fendel Belle Brass Drop Earrings, was £170 now £68
  5. Beirn Watersnake Crossbody Bag, was £200 now £100

« Older Entries

Where Am I?

You are currently browsing the Bags category at MY FASHION WISH LIST.

%d bloggers like this: