Style Fix

Back in 1995, before it was trendy to make a green fashion line, Inder Bedi (shown here) founded the vegan and eco-friendly design label Matt & Nat. While completing a challenge to eat only vegetarian for 30 days, Bedi was inspired to make fashion that was vegan, but was first and foremost beautiful and luxurious. The idea was first put together as a project for college, but soon after became a legitimate fashion house.

Now, after 14 years of success in creating animal-free bags, wallets, and purses, the company has just launched a new line: samsāra by Matt & Nat. This new range is not only produced with the environment and animal welfare in mind, but $1 from each bag sold is donated to charity, helping to affect change globally. Customers get to decide which cause is most important to them - between international aid, animal welfare, women’s issues, or the environment - and the chosen cause will receive the $1 donation from the sale.

The Samsara bags are also slightly more affordable. While most Matt & Nat bags retail for $200 to $300, Samsara by Matt & Nat bags are more in the $100 range and one cute wallet even retails for $25.

According to Wikipedia, samsara “is the cycle of reincarnation or rebirth” in several religions such as Buddhism, and has to do with karma from your past life determining what you come back as in your future destiny. Thus, be good to the animals and the Earth by buying vegan, eco-friendly fashions and you won’t come back as someone’s mink coat.

Project Runway’s most memorable and arguably most successful after being on the show designer, Christian Siriano, unveiled his new shoe and handbag collection for Payless Shoe Source during his own ready-to-wear runway show this New York fashion week. The collection - both shoes and clothes - was inspired by Egyptian landscape and features his signature chunky, conical heel that looks like an inverted pyramid; pyramid studding details; gold tones of the desert sands; sculptural techniques paying homage to the pyramids; hieroglyphics, and the teals and turquoises of the Nile River.

The Payless collection contains five shoe styles, two ankle booties and three hidden platform pumps, called Slither, Saunter, SheDevil, Sand Strap, and Strut. There are two handbags - the Shanbag tote and the Sassafras clutch.

“This is the first shoe collection I’ve designed and Payless has been fabulous,” said Christian Siriano. “It was really incredible to have no limitation in shapes, materials or details. This is the way I think when designing my ready-to-wear pieces — from a completely blank canvas. I can’t wait to see the shoes on the runway!”

Celebs were out and about last night hosting Valentine’s Day parties and concerts. Some were solo, some were out as a romantic duo, but all of these females ruined an almost perfect outfit with a tacky accessory.

Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and their adorable twins Max and Emme all showed up for Marc’s performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City. They looked like such a happy, cute little family - even though the kids were a little taken back by being on stage. But check out what J.Lo wore below the knees …

Eek! Those shoes are too much! The dress’s ruffles are a perfect amount of sweet-sexy, her hair and makeup were done just right, but those shoes! Tacky!

Then, over at PURE Nightclub, Las Vegas, Nevada, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt celebrated together with plenty of fake posed photos. Heidi’s dress is on the tiny size, but it’s color and texture, and her overall look, are stylish. But those fingernails! Super long, fake, pure white with decals that appear to say “I [heart]” something … tacky!

And finally we have P.Diddy’s Danity Kane singer Audrey O’Day at P.Diddy’s alcohol brand, Ciroc Vodka, sponsored party at 944 in Phoenix, Arizona. Again, the dress is a tad itty bitty for my comfort level, but the cut of the bust and neck line is fun - and this purse is to die for! I love it! Too bad she ruined it with not one, but two unfortunate accessories: her over-the-top fake boobs and one size too small shoes that are shoving her toes over the edge are tacky!

Hope your Valentine’s Day was less tacky than these celebs’!

Avon A and The Sak are going strong, bringing stylish readers another year of monthly prizes compiled of a designer bag and three new books through the Harper Collins Publishers’ Book in a Bag sweepstakes.

First up for January is a Silverlake Convertible Satchel in dark amber (shown here) with the Avon A (a division of Harper Collins) books The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl by Shauna Reid, Shop Smart, Save More by Teri Gault, and The Secret Currency of Love by Hilary Black.

After you enter, be sure to return next month for a chance to win another great bag and three books. The February Sak bag is the Pax Eco Canvas Yoga Bag with black trim and spring print that has birds, butterflies, flowers, and more. The three books will be Shelter Me by Juliette Fay, Confessions of a Beauty Addict by Nadine Haobsh, and What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

It seems as if the entire fashion world is loving Barack and Michelle Obama. Everyone is excited and getting ready - fashionwise - for the January 20 inauguration. First with the constant chatter about Michelle is going to wear, with White House Black Market going so far as to design four possible gowns, inspired by former fashionable first ladies, and auction them off for charity.

Now, top name designers have created buttons, shirts, bags, and more for the clothing collection called Inaugural Collectibles: Runway to Change. In this shop, you can find the adorable tote shown here, dubbed “Obama Love” by Diane Von Furstenberg, on sale for $70.

Other items include the “OBAMA” tote by Tory Burch, and the “Endless” scarf by Alexander Wang. Several designers created tee shirts: Zac Posen, Narciso Rodriguez, Donna Karan, Juicy Courture, Derek Lam, Rachel Roy, Dereon, and Gerald Matthews.

Payless Shoes seems to have decided that, while expensive stores are dying out, they are going to have a new market of shoe shoppers looking to save a dollar without sacrificing style. Having that realization, the store has decided to jump on the bandwagons of two popular retail trends: being green, and collaborating with top designers.

Be Green. Back in October, Payless started production of their first environmentally friendly line. Due out early 2009, the shoes will blend current trends in style with sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled soles, and more. Summer Rayne Oakes, Discovery Network’s Planet Green fashion and beauty expert and author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty, will serve as the footwear brand’s eco consultant. With hope, the shoes will be cheaper and cuter than Natalie Portman’s Te Casan designs.

Collaborate with Big Names. Christian Siriano, a.k.a. Project Runway’s season four winner, signed a deal this week with Payless to create a line of shoes and handbags exclusively for the affordable store. The new collection will be unveiled at Siriano’s runway show at New York Fashion Week in February. The designs will be available in fall 2009, with an estimated price range of $25 to $45.

While you await the arrival of the new green and Siriano lines, take advantage of Payless’s BOGO (buy one, get one 50% off) event, which is happening now. Current collections in Payless stores include designer collaborations with Lela Rose, Patricia Field, Alice + Olivia, and Abaete. The store also carries Airwalk, Champion, American Eagle, and Dexter.

I love a bright, fun clutch, and that only begins to explain why these new Dooney & Bourke purses caught my eye. Not only are they adorable, they’re Hayden Panettiere’s line!

But wait; don’t run to the store just yet. These bags are already hot with controversy.

Hayden is a vegetarian and outspoken animal activist, who is constantly protesting and lobbying on behalf of Save the Whales Again. And these clutch purses? They’re made of calfskin.

This is not the first animal rights-related controversy that Miss Panettierre has brought on herself. The Heroes star is also a spokesmodel for Neutrogena, which is tested on animals.

As I’m sure you can guess, PETA is sending Hayden information about the leather industry.

The “Hayden Clutch” is selling for $295. It is an Italian calfskin clutch available in six colors. It features a 24-carat gold plated lion head, because Hayden’s a Leo, and is trimmed with gold leather piping.

Today only shop Piperlime and receive $20 off your next purchase of at least $100 in celebration of the online shoes and handbags store’s second birthday. If you are truly lucky, perhaps you will be one of the 1 in 100 people to receive $100 off your next purchase!

Plus, while your shopping don’t forget that you can simultaneously order from Old Navy, Banana Republic, and GAP, with your whole order being combined for shipping, which is free with purchase of $150 or more.

I save a lot of e-mails. My inbox is overflowing with ads and whatnot displaying things that I found cute, fun, stylish, etc. So in efforts to free up some computer space, I’m doing some house cleaning.

Here are some fashionable things from my inbox that I love:

I’ve searched for a clutch exactly like these that are available at Endless, but turned up nothing. And now here it is, in fun colors no less! Visit the site and find over 100 other styles of clutches.

***

The Bag Lady provided me a first look at Louis Vuitton’s new campaign and model … and it is brilliant! Sean Connery is an unexpected, yet perfect, icon to represent the label.

***

Old Navy is rockin’ some affordable, classic coats! I also spied similar ones at Target.

***

More from the Bag Lady! This time, she caught me off guard with something from Balenciaga that I actually like. Click on the picture here to find out which semi-celeb was spied carrying this bag around town.

It started with Sharpie permanent markers, probably in the basement of a frat house. But for some reason drawing a mustache on your pointer finger and occasionally placing your finger on your upper lip to display said mustache became trendy. Even girls jumped on the finger mustache bandwagon. It was then taken to the next level: tattoo. Yes, sadly, far too many college-age twenty-somethings will be spending their adult life explaining the faded (fingers are not fleshy enough to hold tattoos permanently) black squiggle on their finger. There are certainly worse things to do with one’s time and money, but I am not a finger mustache tattoo fan.

However, I am a fan of Karl Lagerfeld seemingly taking inspiration from such an oddball trend.

The purse shown here walked the Paris runways this fashion week, Spring 2009, in Lagerfeld’s collection. This clever clutch doubles as a mask, turning you into what appears to be Karl Lagerfeld himself.

What do you think? I would sport this masquerading bag, but only if its price tag is lower than standard designer prices. It’s just not practicable enough to warrant spending the couple hundred dollars that Lagerfeld will likely sell this one for. I would bet that this is going to be a hot item for cheaper labels to copy.

As for the mustache tattoo? I suggest you stick to marker if you want to get a few laughs - and plenty of groans - one silly evening. Then I recommend soap and a scrub brush.

Finger mustache tattoo picture was uploaded to the Fingerstache community page by user Brittney.

Want a bag designed by Gwen Stefani without the price tag of L.A.M.B. or the teenage appeal of Harajuku Lovers? Would you do “Whatever It Takes” to tote her - and other famous designers, entertainers, and artists of all kinds - designs around, especially if it benefited deserving charities at the same time?

21st Century Artists is a unique project that collects artwork from leaders in all different fields, even including athletes, Nobel winners, and writers. Each participant is asked to create a piece of art that promotes and inspires hope. The collection of these goods are then produced and sold online at Whatever It Takes. Proceeds benefit a variety of charitable causes including children, foreign poverty, and the environment.

The team behind 21st Century Artists has set a goal of raising $3 million over three years. With designs like the pink Stefani-designed bag shown here retailing at about $14 (actual cost is £9.99), and Ewan McGregor’s landscape plate for $16 (£10.99), it’s easy for you to help them reach their goal while snagging a stylish piece of artwork.

In addition to plates and bags, the collection also currently includes mugs, t-shirts, wristbands, Eastpak backpacks, canvas prints, and Vans sneakers. Designers also include musicians Ozzy Osbourne and David Bowie, models Claudia Schiffer and Heidi Klum, actors George Clooney and Minnie Driver, fashion designers Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan … the list goes on - check it out for yourself!

Is it just me, or is this Gustto Cokera Pleated Hobo purse staring and smiling at me?

eLuxury always has good deals on designer shoes, purses, and more (good meaning still $300, but 50 percent off what they originally were). Today they have a special page set up as a “private sale” with exclusively Marc Jacobs shoes and bags.

Now, I am no crazy, necklace-wearing fan of Marc Jacobs, but (if I had the loot and was feeling frivolous) I could see myself with a Marc Jacobs bag.

The first one here is one that easily caught my eye. It’s the Quilted Colorblock Soft Pouch in Lemon, and was originally $695, but is now going for $419 at eLuxury.

The second, well, I really like the frog clasp … the cut and style of the bag is just too reminiscent of the mini backpack I carried in middle school. Plus, if I’m going to have an amphibian on my purse, it’s going to be a bargain buy not a $400 splurge. This Evening Rana Pouch is regularly $795, but is on sale at eLuxury for $479.

It’s hit or miss with Marc Jacobs for me. Check out the Marc Jacobs sale at eLuxury to decide for yourself.

Jessica Simpson went shopping at Bergdorf Goodman Friday in New York City, with her mom Tina Simpson.

I love a good thought-out pastel piece matched with a bright, bold accessory. Though I am a bit jealous that she looks so good just headed out for some shopping!

Harper Collins Publishers has an ongoing, monthly, online drawing - Book in a Bag - for five random readers to win three must-read new novels, packed into a designer bag courtesy of The SAK.

This month, you can enter to win the Ashbury Leather Shopper shown here (click on it to see more details at The SAK), stuffed with three new fiction novels courtesy of Avon A books em>(an “imprint” of Harper Collins): The Safety of Secrets (2008) by DeLauné Michel, The Flirt (2008) by Kathleen Tessaro, and The Godmother (2007) by Carrie Adams.

After the lucky five win, and the rest of us mope about not getting something for free, be sure to return each subsequent month to Harper Collins Book in a Bag online to enter to win a new bag, with new books. Up next month will be the California Classic Crossbody in Teak from The Sak, with three more must-read books: It Had To Be You (1994) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, The Smart One (2008) by Ellen Meister, and One in a Million (2008) by Kimberla Lawson Roby.

Good luck … but not too much, because I want to win, too!