Cole Haan ‘Village’ Soft Ruched Satchel

Sturdy. Soft. Supple. Sounds like a commercial for Bounty, huh?

Not quite. The Cole Haan ‘Village Soft’ Ruched Satchel is all three. This ultrasoft pink leather bag features a sturdy frame top and supple ruched bottom. The topstitching and banded center break up the contrasting looks.

Spoil yourself and snag one this Spring.

$395, Nordstrom

MaxStudio ‘Boudicca’ Dress

Butterflies and bondage, two of a girl’s favorite things…

MaxStudio must share the affections for naughty and nice ‘B’-words. The
BOUDICCA DRESS is a fluttery, rayon/silk day dress with an artistic butterfly print. Sound good? Well this is where it gets bad – silk and sequin trim the bustline in curvy tie-me-up style. Wear it like the warrior chic-k you are.

Whether you’re a good girl or bad girl.

On sale now for $348, MaxStudio

The Luxe Life: Bottega Veneta

They say that rich screams and wealth whispers. And that is the axiom that can best describe the House of Bottega Veneta. The house of whom? You might have just asked yourself. Bottega Veneta was founded by Vittorio and Laura Moltedo in 1966 and is the second highest earner under the esteemed Gucci Group, with annual sales upwards of $500 million dollars worldwide.

Still doesn’t ring a bell? That is because where other fashion houses scream, Bottega Veneta whispers, much like its select, ultra-elite customer base. Those gloried few of the upper echelons of the moneyed set who have no compunctions on dropping $6000 for bag… more accurately a bag without any blatant, bedecked, blinged out visible gilding that screams “Look at my expensive bag!” like those of its nearest competitors showier pieces.

Every House needs a signature piece, and the crown jewel of Bottega Veneta is its distinctive, intricately woven Intrecciato line of hand-woven leather goods- bags, belts, shoes. These pieces are so labor intensive that they can take as much as two days to manufacture. And the quality shows! Bottega handbags are known for their clean lines and deceptively simple classic palette that are a perfect foil for the intricate leather work and are made from the softest woven leathers lovingly handcrafted by its master craftsmen. The bags are generally only labelled on the inside, though, here and there, a small, subtle logo can sometimes be found.

Currently the Bottega Veneta is being headed by Tomas Maier, a man whose aesthetic perfectly matches the vision of its original founders’ approach to design. Mr. Maiers’ designs can best be described as understated and ladylike with hints of greco-roman flair. In other word, absolute perfection.

All in all Bottega Veneta’s approach is best summed up by a company slogan that loosely translates as “When your own initials are enough.” And don’t worry, you’ll know how much it cost.

Haute Trend: Paint Makes a Splash in Fashion!

Paint makes a splash for Spring 2008 fashion! Seen on the runway at Dolce & Gabbana, paint inspired looks should be on your fashion radar. Try your hand at paint-strokes with a dress from Claudia E and the Vince Paint Brush Shift Dress. Or jazz up solids with paint-splattered accessories like the Jenny Yuen Honeycomb Cleo Clutch, the YSL Raspail Tote and the Sergio Rossi paint drip pumps. Feeling casual? Put on a pair of Diesel’s paint splatter skinny jeans and a white tank top and you’re ready to make a splash!

Image Source: Wireimage