Louis Vuitton Watercolor Speedy 35

New for Spring/Summer 2008 is the Louis Vuitton Watercolor Speedy 35. This unique line is the iconic House’s newest take on the classic Speedy shape, releasing the beautiful color palette on canvas just last Thursday. More expensive exotic bags with the print had been out since mid-March, from the best of my knowledge.

Meaghan had been on the waiting list for a while, thanks to the wonderful staff at Louis Vuitton Bal Harbour, FL, I was able to pick up this gorgeous bag for her while she’s out touring through Spain. I attached my trusty 60mm Micro Nikkor to the D300 body, and we had ourselves a cozy photo shoot in the back yard by the pool. The colors of the watercolor printed canvas complement the Florida weather well, today’s sunshine really made the colors stand out. I am sure my fiancee will enjoy the Speedy thoroughly after getting back from Europe!

Sadly, this special edition Speedy runs for a whole lot more than the regular Monogram canvas version: $1,270.00. However, it represents a “financially responsible” alternative to LV limited editions without having to dash out many thousands for an exotic bag. If interested, inquire at your local LV boutique to have your name entered on the waiting list.

Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags

The artsy accessories are in full bloom. And do you know which line I am loving most? Louis Vuitton! From the Watercolor Speedy to the Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags, Louis Vuitton has taken a light and fun approach on their spring bags. I’ve caught the LV bug. The Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags are hard not to love. They are monogram, but not overly splattered monogram. In fact, while the logo is large, it is still hard to decipher for many that do not know the new items from the brand. The bag is designed with woven cotton canvas and a monogram print with a hand painted effect inspired by a 1924 LV catalog cover. The inside only brings more fun, with smaller Tahitienne print. The shape is perfect for me and the feel is perfect for resort and summer. Actually, I look at this bag and picture myself with my bikini on headed to the beach or out for a day on the boat (or even better on an exotic island vacation!). The rich, vibrant colors are inspired by Paul Gauguin, a Post-Impressionist painter who is known for his bold use of color. Another perk is the adjustable leather shoulder straps and interior strap that can be adjusted to change the shape and capacity of the bags. Ok, I am kind of obsessively in love, I’ll admit it. While the prices are not super cheap, ranging from $1200 to $1600, the bags offer a great summer feel.

Buy the Louis Vuitton Tahitienne GM in Rose through eLuxury.

Ivanka Trump Style: Chanel Luxury Ligne Bowler

We should all be able to agree on three facts about THE Donald Trump. 1) He is a brilliant business man. 2) His hair is horrible. Let’s just get that out in the open. 3) His daughter is beautiful and stylish, Ivanka that is. I am fairly confident that we can all agree on the three facts above. Over the weekend, Ivanka and her friend were dressed to impress while shopping in NYC. Granted, Ivanka could use a tad extra fabric in the bust area, but her outfit overall was stylishly chic and meticulously put together. Paired with her cream colored wrap around dress, Ivanka toted a red Chanel Luxury Ligne Bowler. Chanel accessories are fashion staples in their own right, designed to be simple and timeless. The Chanel Luxury Ligne Bowler adds sass to an outfit without looking seasonal-trendy, which of course is what any Chanel-clad lady is attempting to steer away from. While Donald may not know when to close his mouth or how to style his hair, he did a great job on his daughter.

Edit: I inadvertently called an apple an orange! The bag Ivanka is carrying is the Chanel Luxury Ligne Bowler.

More pictures after the jump!

An aside to the door man: Please be aware that your creepy stare has now been seen by the celebrity hungry world, which is a ginormous percentage of the population. Stop it!

Exclusive: Chanel Diamond Forever Classic Bag

ed on Sep 24, 2007 - filed under Celebrity Style, Chanel
Big news in the handbag world. Chanel has announced the newest limited edition and highly coveted handbag. With only 13 available worldwide, this handbag sits upon the accessory throne as one of the most expensive luxury handbags in the world. The Chanel Diamond Forever Classic Bag will debut in December adorned with 3.56 carats made up of 334 diamonds, 18 carat white gold hardware, and white alligator skin. Five of these ostentatious handbags will be available in the states. The price tag on this number is a staggering $261,000. Yes the price is sky high, but these bags are masterpieces, works of art. With only 13 being made, owning one would be similar to an art collector owning a Picasso.

Let’s discuss: Is this bag worth the price? If you owned it would you carry it or think of it as a piece of art? Who do you think will be one of the lucky 13?

Following up with her first article on the World’s Most Extravagant Handbags, Hitha Prabhakar at Forbes interviewed me again for this article. Article and exclusive pictures below!

    It’s never too early to start thinking about your holiday wish list.

    Sure to top it this year? Chanel’s “Diamond Forever” tote (pictured left). In December, the company will debut 13 of these diamond and alligator handbags just in time for the holiday shopping crunch. Each is a stepped-up version of the classic Chanel shoulder bag, with the iconic Chanel “Cs” encrusted in a staggering 334 diamonds (a total of 3.56 carats) set in 18-carat white gold. The alligator skin is farmed and treated with a matte finish.

    The total cost: $260,150.

    While few may actually end up owning this bag, the demand for other high-end handbags has skyrocketed. Online retailer eluxury.com saw sales of luxury handbags (those over $500) increase 11% last year.

    “People want to spend their money on frivolous things,” says Pamela Danziger, author of Why People Buy Things They Don’t Need and founder of luxury goods research company Unity Marketing. “[And] handbags definitely fall into that category.”

    Scarcity is also driving desire for these totes. Something that is hard to obtain or impossible to find will be more valuable, says Meaghan Mahoney, editor of the daily news and handbag review online site purseblog.com.

    “A handbag [such as] the Chanel Diamond Forever bag is more of a collector’s item than something you use on a daily basis,” she says. “Like an exquisite car or a rare painting, it’s the limited availability and high demand that make this handbag more valuable.”

Celebrities at the Chanel and P.S. ARTS Party

What do Hilary Duff, Rachel Bilson, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Morrison, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Lisa Kudrow have in common? They all attended the super chic Chanel and P.S. ARTS Party at the Chanel Beverly Hills boutique on September 20, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. The turnouts were dressed to the nines, mostly all sporting black ensembles and a Chanel piece. Who do you think is best dressed of the lot? Who is worst dressed of the lot? Personally, I love Kate Beckinsale’s dress, it is elegant and fun. I loved Phoebe on Friends, but her ensemble to me is hideous; her outfit looks like a bad memory from the 80′s.

Who is your best and worst dressed at the Chanel and P.S. Arts Party?

Paris Hilton Style: Chanel Perforated White Jumbo Flap Handbag

So much for cleaning up her act. I have no idea why some females decide that Halloween is an excuse to dress like a 2 cent hooker. Sure, it was cool when you were a freshman in college, but to continue the ‘I’m a slutty ________” is downright tacky. And Paris Hilton has tainted young girls minds, dressing as Alice from DISNEY’S! Alice in Wonderland. I mean come on, isn’t anything sacred anymore. And speaking of sacred, what on earth has this girl done to her Chanel Perforated White Jumbo Flap Handbag??? GASP! Such a lovely piece has been used and abused, showing significant wear, tear, and dirt all over it. I understand that a handbag is meant to be worn, but give your bag just a little respect. Then again, when you are used to spending someone else’s money everyday in large quantities, money really has no value to you. I’m just going to keep shaking my head at this girl, and asking her to give me her handbags that she plans on ruining before they are ruined. I promise to take care of them!

Christy Turlington for Chanel

We recently learned from Chanel that Christy Turlington will be the face for their Spring handbag campaign of the “East-West Bag”, as photographed by none other than Karl Lagerfeld. Christy became famous in the late 80s as a model for Calvin Klein, still pulls off gorgeous looks twenty years later. Very well done, I love it – beautiful woman in a beautiful shoot.

The new Chanel handbags come in two styles with white metal. The available colors include white with black, black with white, burgundy with ivory and brown with ivory. You certainly can not complain about lack of variety. Available around March of this year in Chanel boutiques nationwide.