Trendspotting ~ Bag Ladies

Any time of year is a good time to give back, but certainly during the holiday season.  We should take a   moment to count our blessings and ask ourselves, "How can I give back?"  and since we're shopping anyway...

I don't know which Lauren Bush Lauren is more famous for, her name, maiden AND married, or her philanthropic work.  The FEED Project was created in 2005.  Lauren designed a bag for the UN World Food Program and the proceeds will help lessen world hunger and provide basic human needs.

1 bag feeds 1 child

Hung On U was born when Patti Hansen's daughters were rummaging thru their famous mom's closet and found these cool bags she used to wear in the 70's.  The girls started wearing them and they became wildly popular.  Updated and redesigned, Hung On U now profits cancer research.

Rebecca Taylor  had her famous friends, from the likes of Jessica Alba to Kristen Bell, design a tote; in part to celebrate the opening of a new store in LA with the proceeds of these bags going to Dress for Success.  I love this organization because it empowers women; it gives them the clothes they need to feel confident enough to go out on job interviews.  Women helping women, that's what I'm talking about.

Ana Marie Eder for Spoon created "of the moment" Mochila bags that became wildly popular.  Many mochilla bags are woven by Wayuu tribeswomen. They are quite beautiful and very labor intensive. The Wayuu Taya Foundation which "helps [to] improve the lives of Latin-American indigenous people while maintaining and respecting their traditions, culture and beliefs."  

They were so popular in fact ~ when Vogue featured them and J. Crew carried them this past summer they sold out immediately.

I'll take one of each,  I'm a giver!

Goo Goo for GAGA

Barney's does it again, this time BIGGER.  They always do a wonderful job with their Christmas windows; so clever and fantastical ~ then, they tie in a cross promotion throughout the store.  This year's theme is Lady Gaga, a Holiday Workshop, their holiday fantasy on steroids.


Under the direction of Gaga's creative director Nicola Formichetti and Assume Vivid Astro Focus (an internationally recognized multi media company), Santa's workshop GAGA's way, was born.  They tied in sets, displays, art work, and packaging.  It's all GAGA!  I love the crazy, colorful graphics that lead you through the maze of marketing mania.


They started with the 12 days of GAGA, each day introducing a new Gaga related item.

The whole 5th floor is devoted to GAGA merchandise.  Fire press-on nails, check; studded fingerless gloves, check; lace covered glasses, check.  25% of the proceeds will go to her charity, Born this Way
Foundation which promotes youth empowerment and equality.

Cookies and candy and crystals, Oh my!

cookies by Elani's

Nothing says Christmas like a chocolate skull

Ericson Beamon designed jewelry, among others

I heard that the Boudoir window was made entirely out of hair.

Little Monsters,,, start your engines. 

ph; Barney's, Huffington Post

Elizabeth Taylor: A Life Well Lived

With all the talk of the upcoming auction of Elizabeth Taylor's jewels, couture and assorted artwork through Christie's, I wanted to take a look back at a life well lived, materially speaking.

The original of a much reproduced lithograph by Warhol, signed; estimate $30,000 to $50,000.00

I was trying to make my way to her Bel Air home, but I was so seduced by the jewels!!  I'm sure the estimates are on the lower side, and the pieces will go for much more based on their extraordinary history.  There will be an online auction from Dec. 3rd to the 17th, to coincide with the in house auction from Dec. 13th to 16th.

The online auction is touted as having about 1,000 items in the lower priced catagory, for those of us with shallow pockets, but the Bulgari snake watch is calling my name (story of my life).

The Mike Todd diamond antique tiara, circa 1880.  Old mine cut diamonds, estimate:  $60,000.00

to $80,000.00

The famous, flawless "Richard Burton" 33.19 carat diamond ring, flanked by baquettes set in platinum; estimate between $2.5 to $3.5 million.  She did say, "Big girls need big diamonds."

The Taj Mahal necklace by Cartier; estimate $300,000.00 to $500,000.00.  You have to admit, the woman had extraordinary taste.

Elizabeth's home sold after being on the market 33 days.  It was bought by an undisclosed buyer for an undisclosed price.  Architectural Digest happened to be shooting the home in March of 2011 when Elizabeth died, but they were told to continue.  I'm glad they did.  It really had a timeless quality to it.
The ranch home was previously owned by Nancy Sinatra Sr.

photos: Christies and Firooz Zahedi for AD