Handbags Fashion

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER has been made the President of the Jean Paul Gaultier Group. The designer will replace Véronique Gautier who stepped down from the role on Monday.

According to WWD, the French designer will now be responsible for the management of the company as well as design. Caroline Le Borgne, the deputy managing director of the Gaultier since 2006, has been appointed head of operations.
 
Hermès currently owns 45 per cent of Gaultier - the designer himself owns the remainder. Hermès yesterday reported a 20 per cent profit jump in three months to June 30 making £482.8 million.
 
Hermès now forecasts revenues to rise between 10 and 12 per cent this year from last, compared to its 5 per cent predictions in May. Profit boosting areas of the label include perfume where sales increased 25 per cent. Leather goods went up 23 per cent.

CHRISTIE’S will this Wednesday auction off some of the world’s rarest Hermès bags. Around 65 bags will be up for offer, including Birkins, Kelly’s and Pochettes, in a range of sizes and materials dating from the Sixties.

“There really aren’t many of these bags left in the world,” said Pat Frost, head of textiles at Christie’s. “We are expecting people to bid way over the asking price. There is a massive waiting list for several of the styles featuring in the auction – it’s an easy way of jumping the queue but at a premium.”

Estimated starting prices begin at £500 stretching to £30,000. Barker expects the crocodile skin bags to reach the highest amounts.

“The quality of these bags are fantastic and the design is fantastic,” added Barker. “People that tend to buy in auctions are more conservative and Hermès pieces fit in with their aesthetic. They tick all the boxes of the people that come to our auctions, being unusual yet subtle at the same time.”

Victoria loves the public eye. It is not as if Victoria tries to hide from the cameras, and really, her bright red dress was not toning it down at all. As she shopped on Rodeo Drive with pal Eva Longoria and son Romeo, the trio caused quite a stir. As they shopped in Versace, Dolce & Gabanna and Yves Saint Laurent, Victoria stayed true to her Hermes addiction and carried a Hermes Kelly Longue in Gold Swift leather. Her Hermes handbag collection seems endless; just as we spot her carrying one Birkin she pops out with a style we have never seen her with. The Kelly Longue was derived from the Hermes Kelly a couple seasons back. The bag is longer and thinner than the Kelly Pochette and rarer. Victoria’s Kelly Longue is made with Swift leather, but the Longue also is available in Box, Veau Doblis, Chevre Mysore, and Crocodile. Though, the exotic has only hit the runway and been seen on display, it is unsure if it will be sold. The price starts around $4,000. This handbag is a stunning classic, and while it is great for evening wear, it makes the perfect day clutch also. Victoria’s Hermes collection continues to take my breath away! I am not as keen on Eva Longoria’s Valentino Fleur Bag, but the Hermes bag makes up for it

I am an aficionado for Hermes bag! Since the debut of Hermes Lindy, it has become a house favorite as it offers a more casual feel with every sophisticated touch Hermes is known for. The Lindy features a double sided compartment for ease of separation and use, along with a center that collapses in while being carried. Last week in Saks Vlad and I saw a woman wearing a casual sundress paired with a Graphite Lindy. Everything about her outfit and look was perfect, and the Lindy truly finished it off! While I meticulously pick which color is good for me, I still have a dream Lindy, my holy-grail of Lindy’s. The Hermes Crocodile Lindy is what I call 100% drool worthy. Matte crocodile from the house of Hermes is divine, as it ages it develops the perfect gloss. The Lindy above is graphite 30 Lindy in ultra-supple matte niloticus crocodile.

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This year, the renowned watchmaker Hermes is pleased to unveil a new interpretation of its legendary Clipper watch.

The new Clipper 44 mm Mechanical Chronograph watch features a 44 mm case, sculptured in steel and titanium. For its brilliant performance and lightness, titanium is highly appreciated in the world of sailing. Both front and backsides of the fashion watch case are fitted with glareproofed sapphire crystals. Hermes’ novel brainchild boasts 200-meter water-resistance.

Although designed for action, this new Hermes watch is also extremely elegant. Reminiscent of the famous sailboat’s porthole, Clipper 44 mm Mechanical Chronograph will appeal to those in search for a special timekeeping companion.

The chronograph watch is powered by a reliable self-winding chronograph movement – Valjoux 7750 calibre. It provides a 46-hour power reserve. This mechanism serves to animate the following functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, as well as that of chronograph.

The dial of the Clipper watch is featured in three versions: anthracite, palladium or copper brown. It reveals hour, minute and small seconds sub-dials, positioned at 6, 12 and 9 o’clock correspondingly. The date is viewable through an exhibition window, placed at 3 o’clock.

The Hermes Clipper 44 mm Mechanical Chronograph watch is affixed to a black, orange or brown rubber strap. Alternatively, the watch, reviewed by Watches.InfoNIAC.com, can be mounted on a steel and titanium bracelet.

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Naomi Campbell Gives Away Hermes Birkin Bag for Charity

When I think of generous, philanthropic celebs, Naomi Campbell isn’t a name which springs to mind. But it seems I might have misjudged the hot-tempered supermodel. She’s showing rare altruism and donating an exotic Hermes Birkin bag to charity.

Naomi will part with a green alligator skin Birkin for the next Hermes annual vintage sale. And she’s not the only star giving up one of the French fashion house’s precious purses. Princess Stephanie of Monaco has kindly contributed a replica handbag belonging to her mother, the late Grace Kelly.

Funds raised by the luxurious donations will benefit The White Ribbon Alliance. The international organization looks to ensure pregnancy and childbirth is safe for all women and newborns around the world.

The Hermes auction takes place on November 10. You might want to start saving your pennies if you hope to secure either fashion bag. The combination of star power and luxury is a heady combination for any fashion fan!

Alligator Farmers and Other Designer Labels Suffer while Hermes Continues to Sell Exotic Handbags

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When news broke earlier this year that Hermes bags had begun breeding their own alligators at a reptile farm in Australia, one could only assume that the demand for the exotic skin had risen to a high point. Such has not been the case for everyone, though.

In fact, it seems that Hermes handbags is the only one to see an increase in sales for croc skin products. A recent article from the New York Times details how alligator farmers are suffering as other designers in the fashion industry have begun to move away from using the tanned exotic leather hides due to increasingly rising costs.

Manolo Blahnik is just one company who is finding the price of the alligator hides too high to justify the use of the product since the economy can’t really support rising costs for luxury fashion.

“Every time I go to Neiman Marcus and say every year the price is going up, they fight me tooth and nail,” said George D. Malkemus III, the president of Manolo Blahnik. “They say, ‘I’m not going to spend $4,000 for an alligator shoe.’”
I’d have to agree with Neiman Marcus on that one. Somehow, though, Hermes continues to churn out their alligator Birkin and Kelly bags without blinking an eye and doesn’t seem fazed by alligator farmers’ accusations that it’s been hoarding skins.

There truly is something magical about New York City. Whether it is the constant commotion, the noises, the history, or the people, New York City remains an epicenter of the world. Our trip to NYC in October was for business. Lucky for me, our business

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revolves around shopping, and that we did.
After not lucking out with a Balenciaga bag, we took a trip to the Hermes store. I must preface this because a couple of months previous to our trip I had a dream about a black Birkin. In my dream I owned a 35 cm Black Birkin and it was perfection and I spent every mili-second of that dream telling everyone how perfect the replica bag is to me. Fast forward to our NYC trip and my dream came true. We left the Hermes store with a 35cm Black Clemence Birkin, a personal holy grail.

As with most expensive designer brands, prospective Hermes shoppers want to know whether the money for their products is well spent. For me, the answer is a definite yes.

We decided to splurge this time and stay at one of the most recognizable hotels worldwide. The Plaza Hotel, located in the heart of Manhattan on the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street, ranges among the most famous hotels in the world. After being closed for renovation, the Plaza Hotel re-opened with a star studded bash and a newly designed and refined interior. All this new luxury comes at a high cost. As with Hermes, is it worth the price? We like to believe that it is.
Celebrating this opportunity, I took my Hermes collection to NYC, sans my precious Kelly Longue which was greatly missed. Not only did The Plaza offer fantastic accommodations after a long day scouring bag designer showrooms, but also the perfect canvas for photos of my Hermes babies. Venturing throughout the hotel, we quickly discovered the many special touches that were incorporated during the redesign process. From the doorknobs to the hallways, to the elevators, the hotel offered plenty of Shutterbag opportunities.
We spent an hour each day exploring the hotel and tried to take in every aspect of it. The first time I knew I wanted needed to stay at the Plaza Hotel was after watching Home Alone 2 many years ago. If you happened to visit during the same week we were, I am sure you saw us walking around with my three Hermes bags, posing in hallways, snapping in the bar, by the pictures, on the chairs. In the end, we created one of my favorite photos ever, A Family Portrait.
We promised more to the story of my new Hermes Birkin and many more pictures, so here you have it. To win your own Hermes Birkin, make sure to enter our giveaway.

The Birken Bag by Slow & Steady Wins The Race

Take a second good look at this, as it’s not what it seems to be. I recently ran into this new clothing label Slow and Steady Wins the Race (yup, that’s its name), and I was utterly shocked at their latest handbag design, the 4 Sided Birken. No, I didn’t misspell anything, I’m not making this up, and I’m not pointing fingers either, but can you all see the resemblance to the French Couture Brand Hermes Birkin? Top handle straps, secure flap, square-ish silhouette, and leather body?!

I would never be caught dead carrying a fake and even designer inspired handbags are a big NO in my book. Clearly, the infamous Birkin inspired Slow and Steady’s version. It’s no surprise how a Hermes Birkin can cost the average person a kidney and their first born, surprisingly, the Slow & Steady’s Birken doesn’t run cheap as it carries a steep price tag of $1,100! Personally, I’d rather save my pennies for years to buy the original Hermes Birkin!