LA Pretty Spends an Evening with the Bag Snobs

Jewels, Couture, Handbags ……OH MY! All About The Pretty was invited to an exclusive preview of the Fall 2008 Fine Jewelry and Handbag Collection. This event was hosted by  Lou Lou de la Falaise, Eliza Bolen, Kelly Cook and Tina Craig of Bag Snob, and held at the Oscar De La Renta Boutique on Melrose.  Needless to say, I was in Haute Heaven! Upon walking through the door, the smell of designer bags permeated the air.  The pearly gates opened, and sixteen of the most extraordinary handbags that I’d ever seen, were front row and center, strategically placed to arouse my affections.

Hold on! Let’s rewind! Before I could get up close and personal to those precious purses, I was requested to strike a pose by  David Crotty, photographer extraordinaire.  David was amazing! He was the most charismatic, affable, and comforting “camera jockey”  I had ever encountered.  Well, with all of that talent, it was no shocker when he disclosed that he worked for Marc Jacobs, as a Fashion Show photographer for four years ….HELLO! This NYU alumnus, is currently working for Patrick Mcmullan, an elite photography and digital imaging agency.  While of staff, we were pampered with hors de’ oeuvres, champagne……and EYE CANDY! ….not just the bags/jewelry, there were extremely handsome men, clad in basic blacks, with mod coifs, and smiles that will warm the cockles of your heart, serving the goods. 

It’s in the BAG!

One by one, I caressed those beauties, exploring the interiors as thoroughly as the exteriors. Just in case you haven’t heard, The graphite Goya, is ALL THE RAGE! It’s made of Stingray leather (Shagreen). According to Steven Mathieu, Oscar De La Renta’s  Director of Retail, one of the most important attributes of this bag is its pliability, being that most items made of stingray are stiff or “crunchy.”  With that said, you can actually flatten it for traveling purposes without destroying the integrity or natural shape of the bag.  This heavy duty cutie can be yours for $4,750. Although I prefer a more subtle design, Steven and I discussed some of the more ostentatious styles.  He mentioned the Fairfax, which is a commemorative style for the Oscar de la Renta store. This intricately designed bag featured the most vibrant green, blue, and magenta embroidery that was inspired by one of the gowns in Oscar de la Renta‘s collection.

If you are rocking the dress,  this bag makes for a MUST HAVE accessory.  I can’t mention embroidery without giving the Salamanca a shout out. This particular bag features both paint and embroidery in shimmering gold tones that can be seen on some of Oscar de la Renta’s gowns. This bag is quintessential Oscar….remember, he’s not a minimalist!

Putting the ADORE in ADORNMENT!:

What‘s couture without the presence of jewels? LouLou de la falaise , a devoted friend and Fashion/Jewelry designer for Oscar de la Renta, who has adorned women for decades, outdid herself with this Fall line for 2008. We are fortunate that she has decided to bring her Parisian influence to the States. Interestingly enough, all of her jewelry was made in India. With this fusion of cultures, the collection is stylistically exotic.  Here is how I‘m “throwing down” my description of the line: chunky, funky, beaded brilliance with panache.  This entire line is eclectic, chic, and bold, set in warm, rich colors. The cord necklaces with oversized pendants, dangle earrings, and bangle bracelets will add the appropriate flair to any outfit. When asking Loulou about her favorite piece, she selected a beautifully crafted necklace in washed purples and blues, with an eye catching, dangle pendant. All I could say was…….NICE! Naturally, I asked why she was so fond of that particular item. She leaned in and whispered with a devilish smile, “because it’s a mixture of savage and sophistication.” 

The Hostess’ with the Mostest!

You can’t go to a Bag Snob hosted event without speaking to a bag snob! You guys should have seen Tina and Kelly work the room.  It wasn’t easy, but I managed to snag Kelly Cook for some insight. We had a very poignant conversation regarding the creation and future goals of Bag Snob.  It is hard to believe that they got started  from run-of-the-mill discussions about their favorite subject….Handbags!  As maintained by Kelly, it was her husband’s idea to become a blogger. Go Figure! Well get used to it….they have arrived in GRAND FASHION….no pun intended!

NEWSFLASH… It has come to my attention that our beautiful, beloved Bag Snobs are BLOWING UP! They’ve got big things brewing, but you have to stay tuned to their website to find out what. Anywho, I asked Kelly how they came to host such a marquee event. She replied that after being privy to the hand bags in Oscar de la Renta’s inner sanctum, the showroom, both Tina and Kelly were completely enamored with the Doheny Clutch. Therefore, they decided to feature it on their website. Smart move! They got a huge response. Subsequently, they featured the Goya, and it drummed up so many pre-sale orders that it attracted Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta, and the aforementioned Steven Mathieu, who wanted to collaborate.  I’m sure I can speak for all handbag/jewelry lovers when I say, “Thanks, Bag Snob,  for amassing this indelible event!”

Yolanda - LA Pretty

Photo courtesy of BagSnob.com and Splash News

Comments

[Beauty411]

Girlfriend, you just know I was there with you in spirit! What a night! :-)