Nella Bella held their Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 preview at the Design Exchange a little over a month ago. The space was perfect for the launch. The Nella Bella team did a great job of presenting the collection to visitors. Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 season is the debut of the menswear collection NB man which is influenced by the 50s.
Nella Bella paired up with Suzy Shier who provided looks for the mannequins to accompany the handbags. Â I liked the addition of a complete look to highlight the handbags in each theme grouping.
I really liked NB Man collection. It’s a smart expansion for the brand. The leather like handbag finishes include pebble and patent.
The gallery contains my favourite women’s bags from the Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection.
Aldo Shoes is on a collaboration roll too. During Rouge Fashion Week they partnered with Greta Constantine on some limited edition footwear. DUY paired up with Aldo during LG Fashion Week for a limited edition collection of accessories.
This collection of elegant and slightly rebel shoes and accessories pays homage to his Muse, her sophistication and distinctive sense of aesthetics. Faithful to her vision, the various pieces of this collection integrate the elements that made Daphne Guinness famous: leather, textured materials (python, lace), prints (leopard) and fur (pony), caramel hues and dark shades (grey and black). The FW 2011 ALDO collection of shoes and accessories for DUY is an stunning blend of radical chic, flexibility and accessibility. A collection which truly combines modernism, sophistication and elegance.
I wasn’t a big fan of the Givenchy Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection. There was a lot of WTF going on for me. I didn’t like the black panther prints much either. The accessories (minus the horrible shoes) are looking very promising though.
I like the execution of the black panther in the jewellery a lot.
The classic, minimal and versatile black handbag was a massive whole in my ridiculously large collection of handbags at home. I had the all the colours of the rainbow and various fabrics but not handbag 101: black, functional, multipurpose. I would always admire the Rebecca Minkoff M.A.B. (Morning After Bag) Bag at the a2zane store on Queen. I finally bit the bullet at a2zane and purchased the M.A.C. Clutch which is smaller than the M.A.B. bag. The strap can be adjusted to shorten it or it can be removed. I wanted a smaller bag because I have to many big bags. Big bags always result in me carrying more crap I don’t need. With a smaller bag, I have to be strategic with what I decide to carry with me, eliminated a lot of useless things. It’s only been a few days and obsessed with this bag. I love the shape, the size and the looks. The strap is a great length. I’m in love with the bag and it has filled so many wardrobe holes. The M.A.C. Clutch comes in different colours and materials on a seasonal basis.
I love this Billykirk and Opening Ceremony handbag collaboration. These nautical inspired pieces are so bright and colourful. Perfect for this season’s marine attack.
Mismo is a Danish company that makes some pretty slick handbags. I like the schoolboy preppy look of this backpack.
There are no Mismo retailers in Canada but you can buy them online at Opening Ceremony.
Ela is a new Canadian handbag line that I’ve just been introduced to. I met co-founders Ela Kowalewska and Martin Aldorsson at Dark Horse cafe where I got a chance to chat and see the line in person. I really liked what they had to show me.
The basis of ela is the idea of humble luxury, where refined and sophisticated silhouettes strive to showcase, rather than upstage, the wearer. From subtle asymmetry to luxe hardware and leather, every design element is infused with a high level of craftsmanship, materials and a signature aesthetic.
The collection is small but focused. The handbags are on the minimal side of things but they all share the signature Ela leather closure. The leather is lovely and there are a few different finishes to choose from. I like the pebbled leather the best.
The MILCK clutch is a big enough for a night out that includes a camera and smartphone. It comes in a variety of colours and finishes.
There are also some tote bags. I like the more masculine of the two.
My favourite bag of the collection is the called Lady Bag. It’s a great small bag that is kicking my Manon Mini Bag by Tila March wants to the curb.
Check out this crazy fur MILCK clutch for Fall Winter 2011 – 2012. Maybe we’ll see some fun adaptations for fall 2011.
Ela handbags are available in Toronto at four different locations. I just saw the in Chasse Gardee this weekend.
I’m heading to Vancouver and Whistler this weekend and I wish my laptop was small enough to fit in the Three Thirds Spacematic Backpack. It looks like the perfect traveling companion for someone with a lot of gadgets like me. Unfortunately I have a 17 inch laptop and not a 15 inch. Boo.
Victoria Beckham’s Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection was pretty damn beautiful. I’m totally impressed with her dedication and understanding of fashion design. When she first started out I pretty much dismissed her as a celebrity/designer. Over the years she has proven that she’s serious about the business. The only beef I have is with the line’s sizing. I tried on a dress at Holt Renfrew for fun. I was brought a size 8 and I couldn’t fit into. I’m technically a four. That’s a bit of warning for people. There is a specific body type and it’s one that matches Victoria.
See the entire Victoria Beckham Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 Fashion Show
I love so much of this collection. The yellow dresses totally blew my mind.
The hangbag line is coming along nicely. They are classic and minimalist designs.
Another great thing to come out of the Prada spring summer 2011 collection is the handbags. It was all out colour.
They are simple bag shapes, made out of cotton and probably priced a bit on the high side. That doesn’t stop me wanting the schoolboy like satchels at all.
It’s surprising that the bags I like from Bottega Veneta’s Resort 2011 collection are canvas. There is something about this print that just draws me in. Empire Nero Canvas Vachette Bolle Print “the Couple” Tote is made to be carried by two people so you can use it for picnics, etc.
I loved the colours and prints in the spring summer 2011 Jil Sander womenswear collection. I didn’t enjoy the actual clothing too much. It’s the silhouette. It’s too oversized for me and only waifs can pull off such a look. The accessories are amazing though.
The prints are so perfect. I was more interested in the handbags. The shoes not so much as they were complimentary but not very exciting to me.
Check out the Jil Sander Spring Summer 2011 Womenswear show.
And check out the Jil Sander Spring Summer 2011 Menswear show which I thought was brilliant.
This is a good looking, classic black handbag by Rebecca Minkoff. I like the cross body option. You can get on at A to Zane online and at the boutique handbag store located @ 1040 Queen Street West.
I was browsing the Jonathan+Olivia site (they have online shopping too) when I noticed that one of this season’s Alexander Wang handbag style name is called Anita. The Anita Frame Satchel by Alexander Wang isn’t the Diego bucket bag but it’s still pretty nice. The inner narcissist in me really wants to buy this bag.
I love the PS1 handbag by Proenza Schouler. It has that schoolboy satchel look that I love. I love the range of colours they come in. Want, want, want.
I first wrote about Cha Cha and Lori Chalmers on blogTO way back in 2007. I still have that bucket bag fetish and I like the ones that Lori creates. It’s called the Mimi Bucket Bag. I’m enjoying the purple animal print one a lot.
Lori creates each bag by hand and are available on the Cha Cha website.
During October ECCO will have a traveling installation called “ECCO styled” that will stop at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Sherway Gardens and the Toronto Eaton Centre. You can look at it like a little dress up installation. There will be a a wall of ECCO shoes and wardrobe options. Stylists will provide personal consultations utilizing the Fall 2010 ECCO line. You can get hair and make-up touch-ups so that you look great for the photographer that is there to capture the moment. I’ve been asked to participate in this installation and I’ll be at the Eaton Centre on October 15, 2010. You can join in on the fun on twitter by using the #ECCOStyled hashtag. Post your ECCOStyled self.
In the spring I attended the Fall 2010 preview for Ecco and I was very, very skeptical. I didn’t think there would be anything I liked. At this point I hadn’t ever seen a shoe at this store I liked during the rare and random times I stepped foot in the store. I was wrong and ECCO actually made some boots a tough fashion customer like myself can like. I loved the boots and booties. There were some riding and motorcycle boot influenced options. All the boots had a nice low heel which made them very easy to walk in. I received a gift card for my time and I held on to it waiting for fall. I was gonna get me some boots from ECCO.
ECCO Styled – TIFF 2010 Bask-it Style Media Day
Fast forward to fall and I’m asked to participate in Ecco Styled. I selected two items from the fall 2010 shoes and handbag collection and in return I’m to show off my ECCO Styled self. I selected the tall Jaffna boot in a light brown colour. These boots ended up being my TIFF staples. In the photo above at the Bask-it Style Media day, I’m wearing the Jaffna boots, grey Zara jacket, Stella McCartney for LeSportSac bag, grey skinny pants and white sleeveless shirt ( both courtesy of Esprit).
This photo was done by an illustrator at the IT Lounge during TIFF. I’m wearing the Jaffna’s in this image. ha ha.
This is another TIFF 2010 shot at the ABSOLUT St.ART party. I’m wearing the Jaffna boots, Blank NYC jean leggings (Courtesy of Blank NYC), Cheap Monday white tshirt, Alexander Wang x Gap trench coat, magenta scarf and a Gap belt.
I wear the Jaffna boots to work a lot too. The above photo I’m wearing a blue Esprit dress (courtesy of Esprit), blue tights (courtesy of Secret) and the Jaffna boots. It was my blue monochrome day. Next post we’ll look at my handbag selection.
