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.

Hermes Festival des Metiers

Hermes is taking their craftsmen on a road trip, figuratively.  This 2011, they are visiting different cities to showcase their handiwork and skills, and the creativity, and heart that goes into each and every Hermes creation.  Each bag, shirt, belt, scarf, and piece of jewelry is made by hand, calling for a lot of precision and patience.

Photos are from a stop in Chicago.  See more here.

I would love a chance to see this for myself one day.  It would most definitely be worth checking out.  What do you think, my dearies?

Collier de Chien

It is classic, chic and expensive; it is from Hermes after all.  But while the Kellys and the Birkins seem more suitably styled with women and some men (we won’t discriminate) of a certain age and achievement, the Collier de Chien cuff bracelet gives a younger, hipper, edgier, “establishment-gone-rebel” vibe.

Collier de Chien means “Dog Collar”.  It was originally created for a wealthy Hermes client’s bulldog back in the 1930’s and redesigned to be worn on the wrist in the 1940’s.  This explains a lot about its original design, complete with eight rounded spikes, and different leathers affixed with gold or palladium hardware. It has also been transformed into a watch, cuff & belt and has since been a staple at Hermes.

It comes in several leathers and textures, smooth black, pebbled white, a range of browns, and even the rarer lizards and crocs.  You might also find all metal ones, which come with an even higher price.  It is sealed with a turn-lock closure that is adjustable and secured with a sliding metal piece for a comfortable fit.

And here, Brazilian model Raquel Zimmerman walks the runway wearing a belt and a CDC cuff.

Photos were from here, here, here and here.

JACLYN SMITH

Beautiful Angel, Jaclyn Smith loves to tote her Tricolor 32CM Kelly Retourne, with gold hardware, around.  I would love to look as good as her when I'm over 60.

Stylin' - weekend getaway

With the rainy weather, I cannot help but dream of sunnier skies and warmer afternoons.  We are planning a short weekend getaway, somewhere near the coast, and so I went to check my fantasy closet for things to wear.  Wouldn't this be a fab way to carry the little Hermes Garden Party?

The Elements:
1. Calypso St. Barth flutter tee
2. MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela super wide leg trouser
3. Hermes Garden Party bag - chevron canvas with buffalo skipper leather detail with palladium Clou de Selle snap closure
4. Calypso St. Barth Antik Batik Akan thong
5. Chloe Sally Rounded sunglasses: horn
6. Calypso St. Barth Antik Batik Soka Cuff
7. Alexis Bittar gold pave hoop earrings
8. Indiska AFYA necklace
9. Eugenia Kim honey vented hemp sunhat

Sophie Marceau

French actress Sophie Marceau is photographed getting drenched and laughing in the set of “Un Bonheur N’Arrive Jamais Seul” (Misfortune Never Comes Alone) in Paris.

Don't you wonder how that drool-worthy Birkin she was carrying held up after the sequence?  The Rouge Garrance's bright, cheery pop of color contrasted beautifully with the dark navy of her dress, and worked really well with the pink throw (which seems to be from Hermes' home collection) that she had over her hair.