Category Archives: Accessories

Break out the good china, Coach and Tony Duquette launch a line of jewels.

By Erin Weinger on January 19, 2012

Late, great interior designer Tony Duquette is known for many things — Dawnridge, his opulent and quirky Beverly Hills estate, for one. A client list that included anyone in L.A. whose last name is now on a museum, for another. And — our personal favorite Duquette legacy — a jaw-dropping line of fine jewelry now designed by his longtime business partner, Hutton Wilkinson.

The jewel-quality broaches, cocktail rings and stone covered necklace strands are bold, colorful, and — as Wilkinson once told us — “designed to be seen from the back of a theater.” The look isn’t for those who prefer their jewelry dainty — or for those who aren’t on that museum naming track themselves, with prices frequently reaching $50,000 and more.

Lucky for those of us who have big bauble aspirations and can barely afford a ticket to the museum, Coach has paired with Wilkinson on a collaborative line of jewelry that combines Tony Duquette’s signature aesthetic with a much friendlier price point. And both brands celebrated with a cocktail party in Beverly Hills last night that brought out the likes of Jessica Joffe and ’60s supermodel Peggy Moffitt.

The collection itself — which ranges from $48 to about $700 — utilizes both faux and semi-precious stones and includes starburst pendants, stamped bangles and two killer bejeweled bib necklaces ($378 —$498) that would look equally as awesome at the opera or with a T-shirt. Charm bracelets ($248 — $498) and starburst stud earrings ($58) are a nice introduction to Duquette’s style without feeling like you’re playing dress up. While a selection of bug-topped straight pins ($58) have the same vintage feel that attracts us to Duquette’s signature pieces in the first place.

But our favorite Tony Duquette x Coach piece is a simple jade-hued malachite cocktail ring ($698) that we woke up thinking about this morning. It would be the perfect piece to make a sophisticated, yet playful statement anywhere your travels take you — the theater, opera or museum, included.

 

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Photo at top: New duchess bib necklace, $498. coach.com

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Golden Globes fashion 2012 trends: Headbands

By Erin Weinger on January 16, 2012

Headbands were an unexpected accessory on the red carpet last night. And though the hair accoutrement tends to spark fierce debate, we happen to be major fans.

Michelle Williams in a vintage Fred Leighton headband.

Charlize Theron

Busy Phillips

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Brave Leather launches build-a-belt workshop

By Rakhee Bhatt on January 10, 2012

Brave Leather is getting into the DIY spirit this new year with a build-a-belt workshop on their website. Shoppers can try their hand at designing a custom belt from the company’s four most popular styles: Dai, Jonina, Baca II and Iggy. Customers can choose leather material style as well as buckle, grommets, edge and stitching [...]

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Art meets Fashion in Anselm Reyle’s accessories collection for Dior

By Erin Weinger on January 9, 2012

During Miami’s Art Basel this past December, Dior debuted a collaborative accessory collection with over-the-top German artist Anselm Reyle, which officially hits Dior boutiques and select Saks stores today.

 

Reyle is best known for his huge, colorful abstract paintings, modern sculptures and light installations that can be found in some of the best galleries in the world — London’s Saatchi, included. And now he’s lent his bold, ’80s-inspired aesthetic to Dior’s signature quilted bags, scarves, sunglasses and baubles, too.

While we’d run someone over with our car to own an actual Reyle painting, we’re not quite as enamored with the acid-tinged camouflage bags he’s made for Dior. His collection of stand-out jewelry, on the other hand, includes pieces that we’re most definitely pining for.

The goods come with Christian Dior’s usual price tag (aka don’t eat for a month, score a major promotion or hit the lotto if you hope to buy something) and are available at Dior Beverly Hills. 

 

Photos: Top — a Reyle x Dior necklace that we like. Below — a bag that we, uh, don’t. 

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Samsara descends upon Traffic boutique at the Beverly Center

By Rakhee Bhatt on December 9, 2011

Samsara, the luxe Eastern-inspired collection of silver mens’ accessories we went bananas over recently, is now available at Traffic MEN in the Beverly Center. Denoting “wheel of life” in Buddhism, Samsara takes ancient Buddhist symbols and transforms them into intricately designed mens’ jewelry. Each piece revolves around the central themes of compassion, wisdom, fortune, nirvana and [...]

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Currently coveting: Henry Holland for Pretty Polly suspender tights that channel American Horror Story

By Erin Weinger on December 5, 2011

My latest television obsession is American Horror Story, which — for those who watch it already know — is too bizarre and twisted for me to properly synopsize here. But one character in the story is Moira the maid (Alexandra Breckenridge), a red headed vixen who has been stuck feather dusting the mantle as a ghost for the past two-odd decades.

In her younger years (those while she still had a pulse), Moira was quite a dish. And it was her good looks that got her killed in the first place after she was discovered sleeping with her boss’s husband. In modern times, Moira-as-her-younger-self continuously tries to seduce Dylan McDermott’s philandering character. And she does it in a tiny black and white maid’s uniform complete with fishnets and garter belts — causing me to look at the T-shirt and sweatpants I usually wear while watching AHS and think, damn. I wish I could be that kind of redhead. 

But I’m not. Like, at all. Which makes me super thankful for the suspender tights British designer Henry Holland fashioned for hosiery company Pretty Polly. The $34 style is opaque until the upper thigh, where a mesh printed garter belt illusion is printed. Perfect for those who haven’t yet been shot for adultery (Rihanna and Selena Gomez are already fans), as well as for otherwise tame souls who just want to look like they deserve to be.

 

House of Holland for Pretty Polly Suspender Tights, $34. nordstrom.com

 

 

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Emily Current and Meritt Elliott launching their new Kate Spade bag collaboration in Century City tomorrow night

By Erin Weinger on August 10, 2011

Kate Spade has come quite a long way from their days making simple nylon tote bags (we personally sold our Beanie Baby collection in 1998 to buy a black rounded one, which — knowing us — is probably still sitting in the back of our closet somewhere).

These days, the brand — which is comprised of accessories, apparel and home wares —  is a full out fashion force, with a sophisticatedly fun, feminine feel that makes us want to host a tea party and put on a skirt whenever we walk into one of their polka dotted-and-striped stores.

And for fall, the company has paired up with L.A.-based styling duo Emily Current and Meritt Elliott (uh, you may have heard of their jeans) on a groovy bag line called Westward, which is currently available for presale on Kate Spade’s website.

The line consists of six cool clutches, leather duffels and sequined satchels that melds Kate Spade’s uptown sensibility with Current and Elliott’s low-key, West Coast vibe.

We’re kind of jonesing for the collection’s Curiosity Satchel ($1,025) — a navy carry-all that would be perfect for weekend jaunts — as well as the Ingenue clutch ($545) — a quirky, oversized sequins and tanned leather clutch.

Those who don’t want to wait 30 days for their order to ship can go shopping at the Kate Spade store in Century City tomorrow night, where Kate Spade creative director Deborah Lloyd, Current and Elliott will be on hand to fete the goods first hand.

 

Thursday, August 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kate Spade Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 788-0791.  katespade.com

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Photo: The Westward Ingenue clutch in nude, $545. 

 



 


 


		

										
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Decades owner Cameron Silver collaborating with Miriam Haskell on line of statement jewelry

									
By Erin Weinger on August 1, 2011
	
									

										




Decades owner Cameron Silver is adding to his ever-expanding fashion empire with a line of Miriam Haskell-made costume jewels set to launch this fall.


According to WWD, the 24-piece line is called Uptown/Downtown and features earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces made of pearls, quartz, pyrite, crystal and vintage chains.


Haskell, a costume jewelry house that was founded in New York in 1926, is no stranger to collaborations having launched a line of bridal jewelry with J. Crew in 2010 and a capsule collection with Marchesa at New York Fashion Week in February.


The Cameron Silver-stamped pieces, which will be available at Decades‘ West Hollywood boutique in October and Nordstrom in November, start at $250 and top out at $1,500.


 


Photo: Pieces from the forthcoming collection, courtesy of the Decades blog.


 


 


 


		

										
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American Apparel “borrows” Clare Vivier’s oversized clutch design

									
By Erin Weinger on July 29, 2011
	
									

										


I had local purse purveyor Clare Vivier on the brain yesterday, as I found out that she teamed up with fellow Angeleno label Wren on two fall bags using leopard-print fabric leftover from Wren’s fall 2011 collection. But more on that in a minute.


Last evening, I happened to stop into an American Apparel and, hidden amongst all the purposely ironic hipster accouterment, saw an oversized leather pouch that I swore I’d seen before. And I had, at Clare Vivier’s Silver Lake shop, where a, uh, “similar” design has been a collection staple for years (similar being the operative word here, as some Am App colorways even have Vivier-style neon Zippers).


Since I’ve always wanted one of Vivier’s green, oversized clutches, I was naturally curious about American Apparel’s version — which, at $68, is a bit friendlier than Vivier’s $180 price tag.


For good reason. While Vivier uses leather that feels like a newborn’s ass, American Apparel’s bag feels like the seat of a cab.


A suspender and quirky-faux eyeglasses-wearing sales clerk said  that the bags were brand new and an “experiment” for the brand. And apparently the styles with the neon zippers are only available in stores, not on-line. Also solely available away from the interwebs is a taupe suede version, which I will — sheepishly — admit I did quite enjoy.


Then I thought of how pissed I was that one time I discovered Steve Madden had knocked off a pair of my Manolo Blahnik nude patent sandals, and I left the store at once.


But back to the super-cute Vivier x Wren bags. A large square tote retails for $290 while a fold-over clutch is $200. Both bags will be available on each designer’s website and at Satine in August.


No word yet on whether or not American Apparel will be adding them to their fall line-up, too.


 


Photos, from top: The blue bag on the left is Clare Vivier’s oversized clutch, $180. While the style on the right is American Apparel’s “experiment,” $68. Below, Vivier x Wren’s leopard-print tote, $290. 


 


		

										
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Look at all the pretty python accessories Californians can’t buy this fall

									
By Erin Weinger on July 26, 2011
	
									

										


Living in Cali affords us quite a few perks — such as driving to San Francisco whenever we please, having a mountain in our backyard and walking on the beach in November. So we really shouldn’t complain that as California residents, we can’t legally buy python without leaving the state. And we wouldn’t, if only scrumptious fall bag, shoe and belt offerings from the likes of Prada, Valentino and Gucci didn’t happen to be swathed in contraband snakeskin.


Since having to weekend in Vegas to buy Prada’s oversize python clutch would drain our oversized python clutch budget (and , uh, our rent fund), we’re sticking to python-esque accessory choices this season that don’t break any laws.


Here are six options that have a python feel but can still be ordered and purchased in our great Golden State:


 

[caption id="attachment_16199" align="aligncenter" width="329" caption="Gap faux snakeskin belt, $24.99. Gap.com"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_16201" align="aligncenter" width="439" caption="Raven Kauffman rubber vegan Stella clutch, $395. vivre.com"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_16200" align="aligncenter" width="417" caption="Jimmy Choo Folly elaphe snake wedges, $795. net-a-porter.com "][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_16202" align="aligncenter" width="251" caption="Halston Heritage Susan watersnake clutch, $136.50. shopbop.com"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_16203" align="aligncenter" width="389" caption="Steve Madden Koool flats, $69.95. stevemadden.com"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_16204" align="aligncenter" width="325" caption="Milly embossed leather bucket bag, $595. neimanmarcus.com"][/caption]

 


Photo, top: A bevy of Prada python. 


		

										
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