Helmet Bag or Handbag??

Today while researching men's canvas backpack construction I stopped in the Army Surplus store and found this Nylon Flyer's Helmet Bag. What a perfect portfolio tote!! I couldn't leave without it. There is something about the smell of that store that brings me back to summer holidays on Cape Cod with my family. Maybe it was the mold or perhaps the sea of overflowing O.D. gear. Each summer we would drive out to Provincetown from West Dennis for a day of whale watching, beach combing, lobster eating and army-navy surplus shopping. I'm only guessing but is seems that someone from Hayden-Harnett took a stroll down memory lane too. This Helmet Bag looks to be the inspiration for their Ibiza bag below.

Rothco - $21.98

Hayden-Harnett's Ibiza Convertible Flight Tote, Olive - $198

DIY Couture

Can't afford the latest and greatest handbag all the girls have? Wouldn't be caught dead in a knock-off for fear of discovery and supporting child labor just isn't your thang? Don't fret, there's an affordable answer yet - all you need is a brown paperbag, a Sharpie and a lil imagination.

Spotted at JAK & JIL:

even the knock-offs get knocked-off!

...but done here with a bit more style by fellow blogger OutsaPop Trashion:

Terracycle Terrific!

Land this, instead of adding to our landfills.
Terracycle takes your old snack packs and makes usable bags and pencil cases out of them. I first learned of this company through a friend who is a financial backer. How could you not put all your money into this idea! Today I stopped in Target to pick up a few essentials and stumbled upon the stationary isle end-cap holding all the goods. For only $1, my pencils are pimped out in this Rold Gold zip-top container. How eco-chic~!

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You can help, by signing up for a TerraCycle Brigade. Turn your trash into cash.

Saratoga Racetrack - Saratoga Springs, NY

Saratoga Springs is the August place to be and with the race track in full swing so are the crowds. Outside the Clubhouse these ladies had their winnings hidden away in their favorite handbags.

Spotted were:

Classic Bleeker COACH Shopper

Canvas Crossbody

Nine West Tote I believe

Another Bleeker COACH Shopper - this time in Straw.

Don't get too close to the horses or it's bound to be lunch!

Abbot Kinney - Venice, CA

It only took 10 minutes of walking on uber chic Abbot Kinney in Venice before the designer handbags started passing me on this boho stretch lined with top-notch restaurants and independent boutiques. Everyone was out for a Sunday sun-drenched afternoon stroll with their BFFs.

First to catch my eye were these two stylish ladies and their totes. The always distinguishable Gucci Tote with the GG Jacquard and Large Horse-bit hardware and Saman Iman carrying her own beautifully designed Embroidered Pink Origami Tote. Saman may not yet be a household name but you should definitely keep an eye out for this fashionista. The detail of this bag is amazing. Each bag has plates of laser cut PETG embedded inside to create the feeling of folded paper. What a fresh idea!

Down the road these three ladies were browsing the antique shops looking ever so stylish carrying Louis Vuitton, Chanel and what I think is a Gucci hobo.

The handbag holy trinity!

Across the street spotted was this colorful and unique tote carried by a SaMo based, world traveler. Vanessa picked this up while shopping at the ChiChi Market on holiday in Guatemala one year. Located in Chichicastenango this market is surely the most colorful native market in North and Central America, perhaps in all the Americas.

Lastly before chopping off my long locks for "Locks of Love" I ran into these ladies. On the left this posh passer-by was carrying a magnifique Lancel handbag while her friend had a Hermès. Très chic!

Me, minus 10" of hair.

My Interview with Handbago!

Designer Profile: Tara Kelly, Kelly Stokx

I had the great pleasure of chatting with Handbago about this blog, Arm Candy on the Avenue, and my adventures in launching my own line KELLY STOKX. Check out the interview by clicking the above link.

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reMade the Right Way

reMade USA upcycles used materials to make one-of-a-kind handbags. Designer Shannon South from San Francisco sources leather from thrift shops and finds scraps from furniture and old car upholstery, to build these original works of art. Unique vintage scarfs are crafted into linings for a finished look. Each bag is a limited edition of one with it's own serial number.

Break-up with that boy who left his leather jacket behind? Turn it into a head-turning one of a kind Hobo. They take special orders so if you like you can supply the leather. Finally I can retire my Bomber jacket from the early 90's without all that guilt.

All products are hand-crafted in Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California.

YSL goes Downtown...

...not necessarily to the LES but more West Village for some Bleeker Street be-boppin after a spot of brunch and a few mimosas at Merkato 55. This silhouette comes in may fabrications but this by far is my favorite.

Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Lizard Embossed Tote ($1395)

Vintage Vantage Point

Today I scored this vintage COACH Navy Shoulder Bag from the second-hand shoppe near my office. It was hiding under a pile of PVC päkətˌboŏks in a large bin o' bags begging to be bought. For less than my lunch, $7 later a rescue was made.

the new "it" handbag....website for all you fandangos...HANDBAGO!

My new obsession is the new handbag website HANDBAGO. Working in the industry and on the launch of my own line I really try to be in the know. The fastest trends go in and out of the accessories arena and at times it's hard to keep up on what everyone is doing. With each season there's the chance to vamp up your waning wardrobe with the purchase of a new piece of Arm Candy. For the Designer it's a chance to win over a new loyal customer, so they need to keep it fresh and refrain from recycling another's style.

If only NPR could flash visuals of handbags through their RDS feed on my GPS then commuting could be a lil fashion and not all facts. I definitely had a better balance on my Brooklyn - Manhattan commute when living in the City. Free Metro News on the way in, WWD on the way out. Lucky for me 45% of my job is to be ahead of the curve, which allows for browsing the handbag blogs and reading fashion magazines all day. A girl couldn't ask for more!

But if you haven't the time or boss that is cool with hours of handbag blog hopping - check out HANDBAGO. A one stop shop for the forward fashionista.


Become a Bagista and begin your handbag odyssey now!

Summer Lovin

16 Great Bag-and-Shoe Combos - Summer Accessories 2009 - Fashion - In Style

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10note

Peacock Market Sling: Stylish Organic Cotton Baby Sling

from Serena & Lily
Motherhood may be causing you to lose sleep, but you don’t have to jettison your sense of individuality—or style—as well. Serena & Lily flax linen and organic cotton Market slings are, in a word, gorgeous, featuring delicate hand embroidery, bold block prints, and dreamy color palettes, along with a seamless, buckle- and strap-free construction that makes storing them a cinch. (Hey, you’re sleep deprived, remember?) Tuck your precious cargo into the folds of one of these beauties, and with any luck, no one will even notice those bags under your eyes.
-InHabitots.com

Trending On Your Conscious

Designer and Celebs have always giving up their name for a good cause, but most recently the fashion world seems to be working hard at cleaning their conscience of all the waif wars, fashion faux pas policedom and red carpet roughhousing by offering to save a rain forest, feed a child or build a new school with any handbag, shoe or necklace purchase you make. Let's hope this trend stays around long enough to really make a difference out there.

This months new IT bag to be seen with is the FEED 2 Kenya Bag by Laura Bush. Some may miss a meal for this purchase but you'd be helping to feed 2 Kenyan children for 1 year and without yelling it from the highest building you'll be letting everyone know you have a good soul.

Handcrafted in Kenya by a coop of women and deaf Kenyans, each FEED 2 Kenya bag includes a $100 donation to the UN World Food Program's School Feeding operations in Kenya. Therefore, not only does this purchase support women and deaf Kenyan artisans, but the donation provides nutritious school meals to two Kenyan children for one year.

Each bag is hand-beaded using traditional techniques and is made with natural burlap and the iconic Kenyan Masai tribal fabric; leather handles and shoulder strap make this the most luxurious FEED bag yet! The WFP school feeding program in Kenya is a needed support for a nation that is now dealing with a food crisis leaving 10 million Kenyans at risk of hunger. 

- Feed Projects

Sold exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman for $195 

utilitariaN chameleoN

D'Abo Chameleon Snakeskin Clutch

L:4.5in | H:3.25in | W:2in | Strap drop:25.5in

Well-traveled, culturally and artistically inclined, Fiona Kotur Marin often finds inspiration from exotic lands with rich histories of textile and ornament. She first introduced a limited edition of brocade clutches under her maiden name, KOTUR, in 2004, inspired by the remarkable discovery of a trove of vintage brocades that was originally woven for European Couture houses in 1960s and 1970s.

No Lip Service Here

Red Lips Clutch by Lulu Guiness
Clutch measures 24cm x 13cm x 3cm.

This iconic uber kitsch clutch is just the right size for evening essentials and is instantly recognisable. Keep your outfit simple and let the lips do the talking.

Poppy Palooza - COACH Lauches A New Summer Collection

I’m proud to announce the new “Poppy” collection by Coach, a collection of vibrant and edgy pieces mixes a preppy East Coast vibe with punky sensibilities for a result that is decidedly spirited and youthful in appeal. The new collection is set to launch in July but that’s not all, I’ve got better news! Although the collection isn’t in store til July 1st, Facebook fans (must have facebook and become a fan to view) can exclusively purchase the collection online! Also, we’ve got an exclusive giveaway in the works so hurry over to facebook.com and become a fan. You can also see a sneak preview at select stores this Friday!

“Poppy offers a different attitude that is younger in spirit,” he said. “It’s playful, with more prints, interesting fabrics and more experimentation. [These ideas] are always countered with a more classic shape or a more traditional construction.” -Coach Creative Director Reed Krakoff

Turn your Spring Fling into a Summer Romance with one of these Silhouettes

If you are really into fashion, you'll know the feeling: lusting madly over a gorgeous new handbag each season. I'm not talking about logo standbys, but really fun, fresh handbags that will absolutely complete your wardrobe.

1. Clutch Handbag
The hottest shape of the season is the clutch, in everything from slim rectangles to antique-looking handheld bags.

2. Patent Handbag
Whether you go mirror smooth or funky with a bit of crinkle, patent is the best finish for handbags right now.

3. Mini Handbag
The natural answer to last year's giant bags? The mini, of course. Stash a minimum amount of stuff in your tiny bag and opt for a cross-body or handheld style.

4. Metallic Handbag
They've been in and out for years, but metallic handbags are now hotter than ever.

5. Convertible Handbag
Wear it on your shoulder, toss on the crook of your elbow or hold it by your hands; this bag goes the distance in versatility.

Heavy Metal

All around the globe young people are embracing a neo-grunge, post-punk aesthetics, as well as the rebellious, subversive sentiment championed by decades of anti-establishment cultural icons. Reacting to the banality of corporate driven fast fashion, young people are approaching apparel from the DIY standpoint, customizing everything with pyramids studs, safety pins and chains. The fashion world has responded, delivery its own take on edge, heavy metal styles, and in turn re-inspiring a new crop of the style-obsessed. - Style Sight.

Eco-Green, Retail

Charges on single-use plastic bags have reduced usage by 85% amongst U.K. high street retailers.

 

 

Score: one for the environment. British retailers that have started imposing fees on the single use of plastic bags as an incentive to get customers to reuse their bags is working, with retailers saying usage is down 85%, reported The Guardian. Customers are not just responding to the tacked on fee, but also high profile campaigns, fashion statement alternatives and incentive programs, such as accruing green loyalty points. At Marks & Spencer, which began adding a 5 pence charge on food bags last year in May, the number of single-use bags leaving the store has declined by 80%, from 460m bags a year to 80m. At the National Trust, which also levied a 5 pence charge in May last year, the usage of plastic bags is down 85%, or 1m bags annually.

Supermarket giant, Tesco, which offers a green point to its clubcard customers for reusing their bags, said its bag use is down by 50% since launching the program in August 2006. In total, it estimates it has saved 3bn bags in the process, with 1.8bn bags saved in the last year. Rival Sainsbury's, which also offers extra loyalty points to customers, wouldn't disclose how many bags it has saved, but said only that the plan was successful.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/01/plastic-bags-reduction-shops

Weave

Embrace the over-sized clutch, or carry your hobo in your hand.

Q1 Handbag Trends

What is trending for Q1....over sized bags with straps, ties, bows and belts in all shapes and sizes. Dress it Up, Tie it Up!




It's all about natural tones: Creamy BEIGES and notable NUDES. Barely-there hues come back to life with a Nude Awakening.

Before the summer sizzle be sure to invest in one of these carry-all Totes. From the boardroom to the boat and onto the beach, Basket weave is where it's at.