Hermes makes maternity?

Here are a few pap shots of Posh, all glowing and pregnant, in Malibu with her boys.  She is looking relaxed and happy waiting for her baby girl's arrival, filling out her flowing red Hermes dress beautifully. 

No, the dress is not strictly for maternity, she also wore it back in 2009.  But isn't her belly bump in that dress just so cute?

Stylin' - mixin' a little business with pleasure

A work trip is coming up, and it's time to begin fantasy packing.  I prefer keeping my baggage light, literally and figuratively.  That entails looking for pieces that can mix and match, are comfortable and functional but without sacrificing style.

I looked and here are what I found: A day handbag perfect for travel, the Hermes Victoria which is roomy, light, and is soft enough to squish under the plane seat or in the overhead cabin, Alexander McQueen's clutch for those evenings out, and separate pieces that work from day to night - a canvas of neutral beige, browns, graphic white and black, accented with accessories and pieces with bright pops of color to keep things interesting.

The Elements:

1.   Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Beige Legend Three-button jacket 

2.   Chloe silk crepe the chine pussybow blouse

3.   Don't ask Amanda animal puffy skirt

4.   Forever Unique strapless dress

5.   Textile Elizabeth and James low-rise flared jeans

6.   Hermes Victoria handbag

7.   Alexander McQueen Wicca calf-hair clutch

8.   Nine West shaky bracelet

9.   MiuMiu belt

10. All Saints Biela espadrilles

11. Giuseppe Zanotti leather t-bar sandals 

12. Gucci monogram-print silk scarf

13. Ray-Ban classic gold aviator sunglasses

14. Hermes Cape Cod watch

15. Topshop Coral Sparkle Rock ring

16. Jo Malone Grapefruit cologne

So Black

 

The So Black Collection: This super sexy limited edition comes in all black leather, all black gloss-finished hardware, and will come to you wrapped in all black tissue paper, a black box, and tied with a black ribbon.  This So Black range comes in 6 models and 2 leathers of box and matte crocodile.

And here, have a close look at the So Black Birkin in box leather.

KATIE HOLMES

 

Although it was gray and windy out, Katie Holmes spent a day at the beach with her daughter Suri in Miami, Florida recently.

She wore a pair of Isabel Marant Mitchum low-rise stretch demin shorts over her bikini and carried a horse-print Hermes Steeple tote to carry all those beach necessities.

Little Suri looked so sweet in a floral-printed frock.

Tiny Birkin

This summer you can give your regular Birkin and your back a break by opting to carry a Tiny Birkin instead!  The Birkin's baby sister was shown in Jean Paul Gaultier's swan song to Hermes at the last Spring-Summer 2011 runway.

 (photo from style.com)

It's length spans 14cm, and has strap-ready handles.

 (photo from here)

It's time to downsize and to carry only the essentials.  Some say you can only fit in a cellphone, but you can probably squeeze in your credit card and choose between keys or your lip gloss.

Your Tiny Birkin is now good to go!

a 25? 30? 35? or 40?

It is the age old debate.  After years of dreaming, saving, and waiting, the time comes when you will ask the question, "which Birkin size is the right one for me? Am I a 30 or a 35?"  It is best to go to your local Hermes boutique, and try one for size.  But, it is a rare chance that you will find different sizes readily on stock for you to play.

There are a few things you can consider. 

For example, personal preference. are you mostly attracted to over-sized purses or do you usually carry a tiny bag?  

Utility. do you just bring a wallet, a mobile, and keys day to day or are you not comfortable unless you have everything with you but the kitchen sink?  Is it your day to day bag or do you want to use it more as a travel carry on?

And then, there is proportion.  Some say that a 30cm would suit someone 5'0" to 5'7", and would recommend a 35cm for someone 5'7" to 6'0".  Of course, if you are fashion-concerned, you might also want to consider how you usually dress, with figure hugging silhouettes or voluminous pieces?  The overall balance of the look is pretty important too.

To help those who are wondering, maybe a little show and tell would help.  Here are a few famous people carrying Birkins of different sizes, and you can decide for yourself how they would look on you.

Hilary Duff is carrying a 40cm in Mykonos blue, and a 35cm Noir on the right photo.  She's around 5'2".

Kim Kardashian's Noir Birkin is 40cm, while her candy color Lime Birkin is 35cm.  She is 5'2" and a half in flats.

Holly Valance carried a 25cm Noir to the Royal Ascot, and her Etoupe is 35cm in the right photo.  She is 5'8".

Super models and their Birkins side by side.  Naomi Campbell (5ft 9.5in) with a Gris T 25cm, and Linda Evangelista (5ft 9.5in) has a matte Rouge H 35cm crocodile hanging from her arm.

SHARON STONE

Actress Sharon Stone is spotted in the Sunset Plaza shopping district on Sunset Boulevard looking radiant and lovely in a green cardigan and printed dress that rocks with her Ebene 30cm Birkin and nude, heeled sandals.  Is she another one of those beauties whose good genes met good doctors, perhaps?  She turned 53 last March.