Happy Birthday to the Fendi Pantone Baguette!
This baguette is not one that is going to send you to the treadmill with guilt-induced hysteria. This is the famous Fendi Baguette and it has reached its 10th anniversary. The Fendi Baguette if you recall was a late ‘90’s must have and was the inspiration behind the term “It Bag”. This was of course with many thanks to the extensive collection of Carrie Bradshaw. You may recall the episode where the Sex and the City girls were hunting down Fendi knockoffs in California, THIS was the bag they were hunting. This year Fendi is being kind to its loyal customers and you can see this bag all over the Spring runways in a much more contemporary form. The Pantone is appearing in clutch and messenger bag forms, and even in enlarged convertible creations as Fendi realizes today’s bag is changing with today’s woman. Yes, the Pantone has changed, but so have we, and even after more than 1,000 variations, the Pantone baguette remains as the bread and butter must hound of any fashionistas collection. If you only have ONE designer bag in your collection, THIS is the one to have. As you can see, it is exquisitely timeless. Let’s have a look!
Here you see the Fendi Anniversary baguette, this design has been in the works well before the 10 year mark even came. And you can see why. This clutch was released as part of the Pre-Spring ’08 collection. Buyers will know exactly which bag they purchase in this limited collection, as the white and black beading contains exclusive numbers by the “Limited Edition” written in beaded script across its red satin lining. The Pantone simply does NOT get more luxurious than this.
And here is my personal favorite. Known as the 10+ Fendi Baguette, this bag turns buyers into designers as the all white blank canvas comes with its own set of pantone markers. This way, you ensure that each baguette becomes an original piece of Fendi history. Who said fashion wasn’t artistic??
And to give you a taste of what is appearing on the runway, here is the Fendi Baguette from the Spring 2008 collection. This bag was created with the versatile woman in mind. Not a clutch you take on a night out with the girls, but definitely a clutch you can manage at work. Who would have thought of a clutch that you can take to work, and STILL fit everything you need in it. Fendi, naturally.
Photos Courtesy of ELLE Magazine
Looking Back – Top 10 Moments in the Fashion Industry in 2007 (PART TWO)
We started in yesterday with some of the top 10 moments in the fashion industry. We talked about anniversaries, the Shoe Temple, designers and so on. Today we are going to do more of the same. Let’s start with another of my favorite moments in the fashion world, one that made history in 2007.
Fendi’s Long Walk. And this is all I am going to say about that….
Plane ride from New York to Beijing: 13 hours and 30 minutes
Cost of the star-studded event: $10 million
Total looks: 88
Length of the catwalk: 1500 miles
Number of attendees: (including Kate Bosworth, Miss Universe Riyo Mori, and Ziyi Zhang) 500
Watching Fendi make history by hosting a runway show on the Great Wall of China: Priceless
In remembrance of….Sadly, we have had to say good-bye to some of our dear favorites. Here are luminaries whose contributions spanned decades, influenced society pages AND feminism at the same time, invented garment construction, and were iconic in old world glamour. In fact, one of our very first posts here at Rags was to say good-bye to one of our personal favorites, Liz Claiborne. Last year, fashion said farewell to the following:
Brooke Astor (March 30, 1902 to August 13, 2007)
Pat Buckley (July 1, 1926 to April 15, 2007)
Liz Claiborne (March 31, 1929 to June 26, 2007)
Gianfranco Ferre (August 15, 1944 to June 17, 2007)
Isabella Blow (November 19, 1958 to May 6, 2007)
Another big moment last year in fashion came from a supermodel hissy fit. Well yes, every year there is always at least one. Naomi Campbell is the girl we are talking about for this one. You probably remember her cell phone related violence and corresponding community service sentence. Well, she tried to make her community service sentence as memorable (and *cough talked about*) for everyone by serving her community service sentence in a $130,000 gown by Dolce and Gabbana. I’m STILL shaking my head on that one.
We had some new designers hit the fashion houses last year. New designers, old houses, a lot of face-lifts in the industry. Last year new Creative Directors were:
Peter Som for Bill Blass
Esteban Cortazar for Emanuel Ungaro
Alessandra Facchinetti for Valentino
Ouch, speaking of designers. 2007 marked a big plunge for Anne Klein and many have called it her rise and fall. This was more particularly related to Isabel Toledo’s short-lived career. Isabel Toledo is one of the only designers in fashion history whose debut collection for Anne Klein was also her last. She introduced a modern sportswear line for Anne Klein and after only two seasons the division was kyboshed. THAT’S gotta hurt. I think with Anne on her resume though she will do quite well, as I recall it was not HER talent but the company troubles that shuttered that line.
Balenciaga’s Boots Were Made for…..WHAT exactly? These ones made headlines as well. People talk about Louboutin’s shoes like they are dinner conversation. But the famous Balenciaga boots really had people buzzing. These came from one of Nicolas Ghesquiere’s (for Balenciaga) most recent collections and by all looks and standards they gave the usual oohs and ahs. But the real issue about the boots that had people talking was that they actually take up to AN HOUR to put on. Honestly, my five year old gets dressed faster than that (but not by much). Oh yes, you wear these babies and you will turn heads. But make sure you put a good long day into ‘em (which might hurt) because that’s two hours in and out you’ve just lost otherwise.
Hope you enjoyed our Fashion Flashback ladies!
Photos courtesy of Elle.com
Celebrity Trend Spotting – Sarah Jessica Parker in Fendi
Who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day? Well, you never heard that from ME and you certainly won’t hear that from style icon Sarah Jessica Parker. Here she is in a LWD, little white dress vis a vis Fendi. *sigh* Whether this girl is wearing a pair of $20 buck jeans from her own line or a fab Fendi piece, she is a knockout (and no, I don’t care who disagrees, NO horse face comments allowed here!). Add some Azzedine Alaia sandals to the look, and bam, you got yourself a style girlfriend! Sorry girls, I can not find a look-alike neckalace anywhere, but for the record? It is REALLY cool!
Like this look? Well, not exactly Old Navy prices, but I did find some sales for you with designer tags on ‘em….Take it!
From Chloe, a label that my fave Stella has been known to work with, we have this pretty little Chloe Balloon sleeve beach dress
. This pretty number is crisp and clean and features cute little white cotton puff sleeve with scoop neck and scalloped trim.
Pair it with these sandals from Aerosoles. You can’t go wrong with a label like that. This is sophistication and comfort all in one. The T-Strap is super sexy and the leather is just gorgeous. But that does not give justice to the piece de resistance, the extra cushioned sole patented by Aerosoles.