coutorture --

Rebecca Minkoff And That Eponymous Bag

coutorture — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:05:31 -0700

In our Island Life photo shoot we pulled none other than the eponymous Morning-After Bag. There are IT bags and then there are New York Bags (count the City Tote in that list). The New York bag is really a subcategory of the IT bag, that is, they've a geographical concentration you can pinpoint but they're no less recognizable nor coveted. That said, when we went to one of the few rooftop pools in Manhattan for a swimsuit shoot (there's really nothing more New York than that) we thought we needed such a bag for one of the shots. We pulled Rebecca Minkoff's Morning-After bag in persimmon and, with a straw hat and brown swimsuit, it was vibrant and really made he outfit work. Last month we interviewed Minkoff about her thriving business and newest look book and, for today's post, asked Minkoff to put together her idea of a beach-ready look. You can tell a gal is a real New Yorker when such a look includes a leather jacket a skin-tight skinnies. Yeah, we don't get out much. Below, her picks and our shoot.

Island Life Photo Shoot

coutorture — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:52:53 -0700

It's the home stretch of summer and swimsuits are all we can wrap our mind around. We're gearing up for fall editorials and spring shows (Spring 09 Fashion Weeks are looming) and, at this stage in the game, we know that the best purchases are swimsuits for the beach and accessories that will take you straight into the fall season. So, we blocked up and went up to our fabulous intern's rooftop pool, to shoot these pieces. From Dolce and Gabbana to Marc by Marc to Old Navy, our options for July shopping are still plentiful. We firmly believe in mixing the high and low price points, and below, you'll find the items in our Island Life shoot, up for grabs. Later today and tomorrow we'll bring you enough swimsuit content to make you want to head straight for the beach on Thursday afternoon, it's only Tuesday and we're just about there ourselves.

Bag Lady: Our Interview with Rebecca Minkoff

coutorture — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:34:52 -0700

The handbag doyenne responsible for much of young Hollywood's arm candy offered us some insights into her covetable collections. From staples such as the now-classic, slouchy Nikki bag (we're craving one in wine) to seasonal styles like her French Tote, there's something to keep us happy, season after season. Minkoff goes above and beyond to fit her customers' lifestyles, offering additional strap, chain, and scarf add-on options that allow a girl to customize the bag any way she fancies. It's this kind of versatility and attention to detail that make a Minkoff bag a standout, and probably the reason so many women have flocked to her designs.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you started your own company?
My handbag line really started when I was designing clothes and my friend Jenna Elfman was shooting a movie and asked me to design a bag for her. I have been sewing since age seven and had been educated in design, so that helped get things started. I used my savings and with hard work, it took off.

Was the move to step away from the clothing line and focus on the handbags a reflection of your own interests, or did the momentum of the bags' success just take you in that direction.
The momentum!

Your designs are regularly seen on the arms of celebs. While it's hard to deny the role celebrity plays in building buzz, some designers embrace the exposure, while others shun it. Where do you stand, and how do you feel about about the efforts of new designers to get famous faces on board?
I think support from celebrities can be positive and it always has been in my situation. It really helps propel the brand and get women liking the bags.

How do you feel about using green materials versus leather? We want the truth from a working handbag designer. Do you really feel it's possible to create products of a look and quality similar to the leathers used for most high end handbags?
PVC for example is much more harmful to the environment than leather is. Hemp and organic canvas are the only real environmentally substitutes for leather. I used canvas for my eco-tote, the bread and wine bag.

At the age of 27, your collections have been sold in boutiques the world over and worn by bold-faced names. What was the key to successfully managing such a fast-growing business?
A combination of great PR, marketing and sales teams, and persistence!