Fashion Week Favourites: Reed Krakoff's 'Boxer' & 'Antlantique' bags
Getty, Vogue.com

Every season, during fashion month, there are two or three accessories that editors, buyers and fashion lovers alike go crazy about. It's usually something that hasn't even stores yet or that the rest of us mortals have failed to identify as a future hit because, well, we sort of need them to lead.
Last season I blogged about the super popular Fendi 'Chameleon' shoe that was all the rage in Milan and Paris. This time around it's all about the Reed Krakoff bags. Even though they're not exactly a new thing – you might remember I blogged about them back in 2010 – it has taken them a little while, like any other new brand, to catch people's attention. But it's done it in a grand way. So many fashionistas, from Rachel Zoe to Julianne Moore and Emily Weiss have been sporting them all through New York Fashion week only a couple of weeks ago. They're first model, the 'Boxer', seems to be Zoe's favourite while Moore went for the newer funkier 'Atlantique'.
The FW12 show was also packed with ready-to-wear hits that I predict will only become bigger. But, for me, the protagonist of the latest collection were the shoes. The croc and leather boots they showed for winter have this super sexy feel but they're tough too.

Are you a fan?

Getty, Vogue.com

Introducing... The Prada Pyramid Bag
Courtesy of Prada

Just in case today's first post of Arizona Muse wrapped in SS12 Prada left you wanting for more here goes another dose.

I present you the Prada Pyramid Bag. A classic bag of modern lines and an air of late 50's design.

I think it would be fair to say already that this will be one of the main accessories for editors, buyers and industry personalities during the next fashion week season in February. Everyone from Giovanna Battaglia to Linda Fargo and Shala Monroque will be sporting them. I am especially looking forward to a Viviana Volpicella and Prada SS12 moment.

The bags, which will be available at Prada stores from mid-January, come in two styles. One kind are monocolour with, perhaps, a rim in a different colour and a golden clasp that opens it in a very old-school style. The second type combine a contrast rim that outlines the bag and contrast sides that give them a funkier feel.

What do you think of this new model? Wouldn't you wear it with everything?

I carry the sun in a golden clutch, the moon in a silver bag

Last week Giulia and I stopped by the Roger Vivier shop on Sloane Street to see what the iconic French brand had in store for next season. The collection has been named "Le Sud" to conjure up the chicness of popular summer getaways like the South of France, the North of Africa and the Italian Riviera. The sun, the sea and the vibrant colours of plants and fruits evoke the relaxed fun typical of the summer season. Giulia and I loved how bold graphics like a pink lobster or unexpected materials like colourful plastic rings make up beautiful clutches a woman of any age would easily pull off. It was over these bolder pieces that Giulia died for. I was more fond of the tan leathers and beiges, like the openwork boots and sandals. And we were both smitten with the clutch, heels and flat sandals decorated decorated with golden bubbles that reminded us of champagne of caviar. The "diligence" and "Miss Viv" bags were our two absolute favourites. They're extremely classic but absolutely contemporary bags so it's no surprise Carla Bruni became so infatuated with the second she now collaborates with Bruno Frisoni, the house's artistic director, to reinvent it season after season. Hope you enjoy the video as much as we enjoyed the collection!

The FW10 shoes were quite amazing as well. They were inspired by military and royal motifs from times of Napoleon such as the famous fleur-de-lis. This inspiration was also present in the choice of materials. Black felt was combined with rich golden threads to create a beautiful ankle boot. Go to their website to have a look at the rest of the stunning winter line.

I'm off.

PS. I do apologise for the poor light and my bad pulse during some moments of the video. I tried to fix it but that's as far as I could go without losing the colour.

Meet Reed Krakoff

I had an accessories post prepared for today. I wanted to share my favourite bags and shoes for this winter but as I went through endless products on e-shops I kept going back to a specific bag. I don't know if you had heard of Reed Krakoff before. It turns out he has been the executive creative director of the infamous Coach for years. Which is why it came as even a bigger surprise how beautiful these bags are. Net-a-Porter sells a couple of his styles but my favourite has got to be the Boxer II in the tan leather with alligator and cream felt. It's the epitome of a contemporary timeless bag. In fact, it looks like the love child of a Birkin (flap pocket and belted around) and a PS1 (strap closure); a combination that equals perfection. And just as its love parents it comes in several colours and materials such as black leather and olive felt, beige suede or black and grey leather. I see popular fashion lovers the likes of Olivia Palermo going from Tribeca to the upper East side carrying one of these just as easily as I can picture my sister taking it to uni. The bad news is they start at £965 on the simpler models and they reach over £3000 for the alligator pieces.



I'm off.

[Net-a-Porter.com]

The First and the City turn 10

It barely took a couple of years for Balenciaga's First bag to become all the rage in and out of Hollywood and now we celebrate its birthday. The bag, its older sister (the City) and the ballerinas from the motorcycle collection are turning 10 and to celebrate it Nicolas Ghesquière has created a special edition of each of them. The metallic black, brown and pink editions are part of Balenciaga's partnership with Neiman Marcus, where they are sold exclusively. The leopard print models are, too, already on sale online and will probably hit the stores soon but they most definitely won't last long. All limited editions include patterned lining to differentiate them from the classic black one. Neiman Marcus' bags also include a commemorative tag to remind you every day of how special your bag is.

If you want to start saving, here are the prices for each model. Personally, the black and the leopard City are worth every penny. Leopard First $1025, Leopard City $1125, Craquele First $1195, Craquele City $1395, Craquele flats $495.

Click here to go to Neiman Marcus and here for Balenciaga's website.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Balenciaga.com, NeimanMarcus.com]

she-bag

Some are old and some new. Some a sigh and some a snort. But they all took their name from someone special to their creators. The Birkin and the Kelly are veterans and the ladies they took their names from marked a style in their era. The Ricky (Ralph Lauren's wife) and the Gisele (Bündchen) have been in the market for a few years already and they keep getting facelifts trying to find their place in fashion history. And the Hayden (Panettiere) and the Alexa (Chung) are the latest additions to the club —to me the first doesn't stand a chance and the second is stunning. Which one is your favourite?

I'm off.

IT bag to-be?

There is a new one every season, even every month! Celebrities buy them, wear them and throw them away like I buy and gobble up skittles. What is this new season keeping in sore for us in the woman's-best-friend department? Only time, and loads of visits to Barney's, Harrod's and Sloane St. will tell. In the meantime, soVIPzone comes with a proposal  — Celine was never known for being the it brand for a season, but there is something about the Orlov bag. It was a few weeks ago when I went pre-season window shopping (as I like to call it) with a friend; a Celine catalog came my way in a deliciously brand-selected shop in Barcelona. I admit the only reason which led me to take the catalog home with me was its curious vintage notebook appearance. It laid on top of several Vogues for days but a certain glow started coming from it one random evening, that's when I saw it. Perfectly shaped leather in a simple yet practical and chic form. The Orlov bag portrays everything important for the nowadays lady: utility in style, it's the perfect choice no matter if you're working or going on a weekend trip.

[Above: Black goatskin Orlov bag]

Vanilla goatskin Orlov bag

Grey pearl alligator Orlov bag

[Picture credit: Celine]

For more info click here.

I'm off.