My MANy Bags News #306

Below: Brad Goreski spotting his Givenchy SS2011 Mens Leopard Print Bomber Jacket at the Narciso Rodriguez Fall Winter 2011 Show yesterday (New York Fashion Week)... Love how he tones down the flamboyant jacket with suiting styles of tie, shirt and black...

Below: The jacket as seen on Givenchy's SS2011 Mens runway show...

Brad Goreski in Givenchy Spring Summer 2011 Leopard Print Bomber Jacket

If there's someone who can flaunt a full on leopard prints and still make it look relevant and non overkill, it has to be Brad Goreski! (Okay Bryanboy can... but there are not a lot of fierce fashion fans like Bryan around)

Paired with his signature preppy 'geek chic' look (and his ever cute black rim glasses!)... the Givenchy Leopard Print Bomber Jacket simply looked hot and in a strange way, wearable. Now I covet leopard prints on clothing, sans all the fetish and stigma associated with guys wearing these feral prints.

Brad has a Midas touch on clothes. Anything on him just looked super hot anyday!

Source: Getty Images, Givenchy

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #199

Below: Givenchy SS2011 Womens Accessories and Bags are as appealing as any other season from the fashion forward brand... Love the details and the unusual shapes for their bags... such as this range with clever use of zippers as a key detailing...(Top: Antigona Duffel, Below: Elme Tote)

Below: Leopard prints continues to charm the fashion crowds... love the Nightingale with the gradation print from back to colour...

Below: A refreshing change for this SS2011 season, Givenchy introduces colour for their bags and shoes, no longer restricted to the goth and dark colour palette:-P

Below: Glamourous clutches for any evening parties! Love the one in Gold leather... the transparent acrylic buckle contrasted with metal is fabulous!

Below: I love these bracelets! Any of them will do for me!

Below: Who knew zippers can make such interesting design and details? Gorgeous!

Givenchy Spring Summer 2011 Womens Bags, Shoes And Accessories

If you think Givenchy is always goth and dark, think twice for this Spring Summer 2011 season. The women's accessories seem to have catch on some of that colour fever for this season, with a few of the classic bags, such as Nightingale and Antigona being offered in bright lime green and turquoise.

That said, most of the designs in this new collection still retain a strong goth chic and glamour factor. Especially noteworthy are the use of abundant leopard prints from bags, shoes to bracelets and belts. Feline appeal is in! I love those leopard printed textures in haircalf and some even directly on the leather. There is a new tote design in the collection, called the Elme, with contrast paneling, of exotic skin/calf textures against smooth calf or patent leather. The shape of the Elme is structured and clean, with a handy shoulder strap to help share some weight onto shoulders if necessary. Details are very important in Givenchy;s collections, they often have the most original hardware design, which I adore and pay attention to (Love Antigona's huge triangular chunky studs and the triangular hook on the shoulder flap bag, which is most interesting! Check my facebook fan page for pic of this shoulder bag). It's what makes their bags so appealing.

If I am to pick my most favourite of this collection, it has to be the bags and shoes which cleverly utilise zippers as a key design element. From front panel stripe on Antigona and Elme bags (and clutches too!), to straps on heels, it is a fresh interpretation on creative use of zippers. Love!

Givenchy can never disappoint. This is yet another proof why their bags are always top on my hot picks.

Check out my facebook fan page for the full collection. Remember to like my page to get exclusive content updates.

Source: Givenchy

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #143

Below: 'Sheer' joy of Spring Summer 2011? Men's peekaboo torso and nipples?!?! Many designers are proposing transparency for next season. Neil Barrett's Spring Summer 2011 menswear sees lots of take on this transparency trend... sheer tops anyone? I like this look, blazer to show just a little and not too overwhelming for the eyes...

Below: Leather and sheer seemed to create an interesting opposing aesthetic of tough vs. the feminine... use transparency wisely to not look effeminate and trying too hard... (Neil Barrett SS2011)

Below: If you are shy, layer the translucent top over a solid for a more subtle take... (Neil Barrett SS2011)

Below: Burberry Prorsum proposes biker's take on masculine/feminine transparency trend... netted knit top over biker style pants and tough looking sandals...

Below: Military shirts in sheer fabric for Burberry Prorsum SS2011... again, tough over soft...

Below: Even more classic brands like Bottega Veneta are also not shying away from showing subtle skin... layer a trench over, show enough of pecs to tease... chest hair in minimal amounts please:-)

Below: Not even Hermès are spared from the invasion of transparency in menswear...

Below: Givenchy SS2011 also sees men dressing in sheer shirts, who says women can only do the seductive look:-)

Below: Nipple bearing seems fundamental for Spring Summer 2011 menswear... Lanvin agrees too...:-)

Below: Alexis Mabille SS2011 Menswear... sheer and flamboyant...

'Sheer' Joy For Spring Summer 2011

Remember this guy whom I commented I was against men showing off his nipples no matter what the situation is?


Time to eat my words back... *Glurp*. It may used to be 'socially' unacceptable for men to flaunt skin thru translucent fabrics (guys who do, screamed effeminate and fetish) things are about to change. Our female counterparts have always leverage on 'seduction' thru 'now you see it, now you don't' fabrics... now it is the guy's turn to 'shine' in this arena. (One thing I find strange is that guys wearing sheer tops are feminine, but it is strangely acceptable when guys bare the full torso during summer. That's considered masculine).

For Spring Summer 2011, transparency have been a big trend on the women's runway. But it seems designers all over have decided it is just as good a fashion statement for men as well. So here we are, presented on the runways of almost every major fashion brands, be it avant garde houses like Neil Barrett, Lanvin or Givenchy, or classic houses like Hermès and Bottega Veneta... each had their interpretations of transparency to some extent.

Nipples, pecs and abs 'peeked' in abundance thru sheer fabrics, lightweight knits or netted tops... it's 'male-physique' galore for any adoring eyes:-)

I wonder how widely adopted will this transparency trend be when Spring Summer 2011 hits full steam. I know if I am to wear sheer tops, I'd do it in Neil Barrett's style, militant and tough, over blazers and utilitarian pants to oppose the femininity of this subtle exposé. Or even Burberry Prorsum's biker take, with leather jackets complete with killer strap sandals.

What say you guys? Will you ever be ready to 'peekaboo' some nipples and abs?:-) Is it 'sheer joy' or 'sheer despair' for you?

Source: Vogue UK

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #138

Below: Céline's luggage tote is one hot bag as seen on the hands of models...such as Fei Fei Sun (Love her look with that silky 'camo' green pants! From Dries Van Noten Fall Winter 2010)...

Below: Lisanne de Jong is also a fan of the Céline Luggage Tote! A smart all black ensemble with a spot of leopard (Alexander Wang shoes) !

Below: Jac Jagaciak also toting the now highly sought after Céline Luggage Tote! Look at the amount she is packing, this is one tough bag for sure:-)

Below: The Envelope Luggage Tote with a front envelope design is even more gorgeous, especially in an outstanding rouge colour:-)

Below: Alana Zimmer with one of the most iconic bags of all time, Balenciaga's Work bag!

Below: A Chanel Classic Flap bag can do no girl wrong... Jac again looking stunning with her Chanel!


Below: Anyone for Fendi's Classico Bag? Love the shoulder bag/clutch look with a handy top handle. Anna Della Russo carries one as well!

Below: Another of my favourite bag, the Givenchy Pandora Bag adds a tough chic look on skinny jeans and leather!

Below: Liu Wen looking casually fabulous with her Louis Vuitton Sophia Coppola Bag...

Below: I am somehow mysteriously drawn to this 3.1 Phillip Lim leopard print tote... the quilted detailing is simply amazing! (Available at 3.1 Phillip Lim boutique at Hilton Hotel, Singapore, approx. SGD990)

What's Your Bag?

Here's another lot of pics, mostly modelled by 'models off duty' carrying some of the hottest bags that many women (and even men!) covet. Which one are you carrying and which one is next on your shopping list?

Source: Stockholm Streetstyle, Altamira, Wayne Tippetts, Style Sightings

Rene Gruau Illustrated

I can't remember how many times I've come across Italian born Rene Gruau's iconic fashion illustrations without giving due pause to recognize the enormity of his influence on fashion and commercial design. Best known for his marketing images for Miss Dior perfume and the House of Dior, Gruau worked for a dazzling list of couturiers and magazines including Balmain, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga,Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. I loved what he did with ink, and the quality and spirit of the colors he chose. Gruau's graphic love affair with fashion spanned over 50 years and his images aren't going anywhere!

Image sources: loulaland.wordpress.com, pessimiss.wordpress.com, anothermag.com, disneyrollergirl.blogspot.com, artophile.com

My MANy Bags Trendspotting #133

Below: Tom boys invade Spring Summer 2011 Womens' collections.
As seen at Balenciaga, street inspired versions...

Below: Tom boys as seen on DSquared2...power looks as straight out of the boardroom.

Below: Tom boys in a sporty way as seen on Isabel Marant... Girls want to play on 'boy's league':-P

Below: Since girls are 'stealing' men's style...boys have to 'fight' back:-P... How about some 'skirt-like' parka at Raf Simons... (This model seriously have me guessing his gender at first glance.)

Below: More skirts, anyone?

Below: White lace shirts at Givenchy...fit for a 'bride'...

Below: Skirts again...

Below: Sexy sheer underwear at Jean Paul Gaultier... male lingerie?

Below: Male or female?!?!? (Jean Paul Gaultier)

Spring Summer 2011: Gender Confused?

The 'Tomboys' are marching in full force! Girls ransacked the boy's closet while guys start looking like a 'girl'. Some are wearing lace shirts, some braved skirts and others get on some sheer underwear...

What on earth has happened in Fashion come Spring Summer 2011? Gender confused it may be but this is what makes fashion so fascinating:-P

Source: Style

Ad Campaigns And Catalogues #170

Below: It's leopard frenzy at Givenchy Pre-Spring Summer (Cruise) 2011... all 3 iconic bags from Antigona, Pandora and Nightingale are given a full makeover in 'leopard' glory!

Below: The Pandora bag in leopard...hear others growl with envy...

Below: Classic Nightingale Bag...

Below: For the jet-setting fashionista, Leopard Nightingale Trolley Bag...

Below: My favourite, Antigona in Ostrich texture! Luxurious and fabulous!

Below: This tote in python texture seems to be from the Antigona family... love the shoulder slip strap and the panelling design... I already made 'left' my name on it:-P

Below: Everyone does shopping tote these days... all devoid of hardware and rely on simplicity to work its charm...

Givenchy Pre-Spring Summer (Cruise) 2011 Womens Bags

Catch on the leopard fever come next Pre-Spring Summer (Cruise) 2011 at Givenchy. Not only can you 'spot' the 3 iconic Givenchy bags (Nightingale, Pandora and Antigona) all clad in their glamourous coat of spotted 'fur' but you also find shoes and ready to wear pieces in all it's feline glory. Even the Jet-setting fashionista gets to indulge in some 'furlicious' leopard print thru the Leopard Nightingale Trolley Bag!

If 'flaunting' your animal side is not your thing, how about some elegance with the Antigona bag in white Ostrich texture? The white/gold combination exudes a new level of sophistication and the chunky hardware and elegant shape provides versatility to glam it up or tough it down.

There also seems to be a new member to the Antigona family, in the form of a shoulder sling tote spotting a python leather texture. I believe Givenchy only uses printed leather, which means I do not have to pawn an arm or leg for it. Hello, gorgeous, you are mine next season!

Givenchy is getting me excited!

Source: Givenchy