inspiration: i dream of byzantine

One of the more difficult aspects of creating a new collection of jewelry is deciding on color.

I begin building the framework for an upcoming season far in advance.  You'll find me working on sketches for a summer necklace while there is snow on the ground.  As of late I've been putting the finishing touches on our Winter/Holiday collection in 70-degree weather.  

Rich jewel tones and metallics reign for Winter/Holiday.  We're pairing forest green with gunmetal, gilded bronze with gold, and plum with antiqued brass.  These colors nestle right in with the lush velvets and embroidered dresses we've seen for the cooler weather.

Always a fan of Chanel, I found the pre-fall collection to be quite inspiring, and surprisingly in line with our chosen color palette.

Karl Lagerfeld's designs for Chanel were rich in Byzantine references, inspired heavily by Empress Theodora and imperial Roman dress.  Decorative collars, bejeweled stoles, and silk headpieces played dominant roles in Chanel's Paris-Byzance Collection:

CHANEL Paris-Byzance Sandal 

CHANEL Paris-Byzance Ring

CHANEL Paris-Byzance handbag

A look from CHANEL's pre-fall 2011 ad campaign

A look from CHANEL's pre-fall 2011 ad campaign

Limperatrice Theodora Au Colisee by Benjamin Constant

I personally adore the satin dress with the embroidered gold details.  What's your favorite? 

View the rest of Paris-Byzance here.  

Sweet dreams.

-Katy

images 1-5, www.chanel.com

image 6 www.wikipedia.com

oh yves, j'adore

I (Katy) have been a huuuuuuge fan of Yves Saint Laurent for as long as I can remember. I've owned several pair of sunglasses (for whatever reason, they seem to fit my face perfectly). I've yet to experience the pleasure of a YSL handbag on my shoulder, however. If I had $1500 just sitting around my office, I'd use it on one of these beauties:

the roady with stingray handle

the easy

photo credit - Yves Saint Laurent

strapping

Oh, how I want this Olivia Harris bag:

Olivia Harris
Zip Cross Body Bag
355.

photo courtesy - http://www.piperlime.com/

boss of the buckets

Givenchy
Tinhan Old Pepe Hobo
1270.

photo - http://www.barneys.com/

what's old is new

There are times when I feel everything in fashion is a throwback. I swear my mom or one of my cousins had almost this exact purse at one point:

Cleobella Daniella Messenger Bag - $220

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it - I'd totally throw it over my shoulder in a hearbeat (it comes with a strap). You can score one at shopbop.

dolce & gabbana spring 2010

Maybe it's my Montana roots, but isn't the Spring RTW Collection from Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, well, fun? I love the accessories, especially the fringe-laden boots.

All images www.wwd.com

i'll take it

Just a small price to pay to be viewed as a professional in your line of work. If you're carrying a laptop and six pounds of raw metal everywhere you go - at least do it in style.

Proenza Schouler
Large Leather PS1 Bag - Khaki $1,995.00

at Barneys

on the job: tylie is tops

Model with Runaway Clutch by Tylie Malibu

A good bag is hard to find. Gold hardware when you want silver. Big logos when you want none. Lining so dark you can’t find your stuff inside. The list goes on and on…

Fortunately, Los Angeles designer Lisa Izad totally gets it. Her company, Tylie Malibu, has been around for ten years, and she’s cranking out some of the best bags around. Lisa grew up in Malibu and she draws upon “that 70’s beach girl”, as Lisa puts it, for her inspiration. Each bag is handcrafted at her Santa Monica, California design studio, making every bag one you can be proud to wear.* And, they’re pretty easy on the eyes, too:

Crackle Leather Bag by Tylie Malibu

Exeter Bag in White Leather by Tylie Malibu

Mojave Nomad Stud Bag by Tylie Malibu

I love how she combines supple, tumbled leathers with domed studs and exposed zippers in the brand new Runaway Collection. You can see it all here. If you happen to be driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, be sure to make a pitstop at Lisa's new store:

TYLIE MALIBU STORE
3835 CROSS CREEK ROAD
at the Malibu Country Mart
MALIBU, CA 90265
(310)456-8886
www.tyliemalibu.com

*Only a handful of bag lines are actually Made in the U.S.A.

the best vest

The Vest Bag by Alexander Wang: your faithful companion in the woods, on the street, or at the grocery store. Now you never have to leave home without your lipbalm, barettes, fishing line, credit cards, bullets, wad of cash, hand lotion, water bottle, tampons, punch cards for various coffee shops or your trusty sunglasses. I guess you CAN take it with you.

Now available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney's.