NY FASHION WEEK: Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2012

She's the girl next door, just much more stylish than the rest of your neighbors.  Rebecca Minkoff sent a light, breezy spring collection down the runway that any girl should want.  There were lots of easy, floral prints and bright Spring colors.  Dresses and skirts were flirty. Relaxed pants were paired with semi-tailored blouses or fitted, shrunken leather jackets.

Handbags included updated versions of her MAB (Morning After Bag) complete with designer branded condoms and vodka for guests at their seats. (How tongue in cheek is that?)  Warm leathers, studs, a little edgier than the clothes to balance the soft femininity of the looks.

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Shop to Help Japan - Designers Save For Tsunami

In times of need, the fashion community gets together to help those who require it most.  Designers and retailers across the board have banded together to produce fundraising events.  Others have donated product for sale with the proceeds going to Tsunami victims like H & M and Uniqlo.  Shopping sites like Ideeli and Gilt have created portals to donate directly.

United Bamboo, Philip Lim body held sample sales to raise aid money.  Theory set up drop boxes for direct donations of items.

If you want to shop for a cause, some designers created a specially-designed product to help. Rebecca Minkoff is donating $100 of each red handbag sold to the Red Cross.  Polo Ralph Lauren is selling a special edition polo where the proceeds will benefit the United Way.  Lady Gaga's website is selling "We Pray for  Japan" wristbands.

The BIG shopping event is coming up from Fashion Girls for Japan.  Over 60 NY designers like Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Alice + Olivia, Derek Lam, Richard Chai, Diane Von Furstenburg (just to name a few) will have rolling racks of goodies to be sold to benefit the American Red Cross.  The event takes places this Saturday and Sunday at the Bowery Hotel (335 Bowery Street, NYC).

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Designer Handbag Sample Sales! Botkier, Be & D, Rebecca Minkoff and L.A.M.B....

Disappointed in Black Friday or Cyber Monday?  Redeem your shopping cred with seriously stylish handbags:

In NYC:

Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain have produced luxury bags with European craftmanship since 2004.  They  have been a favorite of every 'It' girl of the past few years (Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, etc.)  Ready to grab some starlet style?  Get thee to the Be & D sample sale right now...

When: Tuesday 11/30 - Friday 12/3, 9 AM - 7 PM, 9 AM - 5 PM
Where: 35 West 36th Street (between 5th and 6th ave)  10th floor

The Botkier sample sale is reputed to draw long lines in cold weather, so plan your shopping carefully.  If you make it in, you will be rewarded with sexy, edgy bags to carry you through winter.  If you're a great friend (of mine) you can shop here for holiday gifts too!

When: Friday, 12/3 - Sunday, 12/5, 11 AM - 8 PM, 12PM - 7 PM, 12 PM - 6 PM
Where: 421 West Broadway (between Broome Street and Prince Street)

The L.A.M.B. sample sale and Harajuku Lovers by Gwen Stefani embody the pop star's fun style.  Kawaii, Ska, Fashionista or all of the above? I'm sure you have girlfriends who can't wait to unwrap these this season...

When: December 8 - 10, 8 AM - 8 PM, 10 AM - 8 PM, 8 AM - 6 PM
Where: 144 Fifth Avenue (between 19th and 20th street) 2nd Floor

In Los Angeles and San Francisco:

Rebecca Minkoff has been travelling around to different cities for trunk shows, offering fabulous sales in NY, online now on the West Coast.  You could say she's the handbag version of Santa (ok, maybe not).  Either way, grab your favorite 'Mac' or famous Morning After Bag.

When in LA: Friday, 12/3 - Sunday 12/5
Where in LA: 8211 West 3rd Street

When in SF: Saturday, 12/4
Where in SF: 111 Minna Street (by the Montgomery Bart Station)

ONLINE:

Not on either coast?

Check out Kate Spade and Matt & Nat on Wesdnesday 12/1 on GILT.com

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Design A Handbag, Go to Fashion Week!

Are you the next hot handbag designer?  Are you the one to design the next "It Bag" coveted by every celebrity?  If so, you can win your trip to NY Fashion Week, courtesy of Polyvore and Rebecca Minkoff.

You have until November 29th to submit your design, then judge and be judged on Rebecca Minkoff's Facebook Fan Page.  It's easy...All the details, elements, trims, leathers that you could want are the Polyvore database.  You just need to style, pick and choose to make the ultimate clutch purse.

More info, rules and goodies here.

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Black Friday: Norma Kamali, TopShop, Fashion Group International's Canadian Designers

NYC:
TopShop
Prices are already great, but on Friday, an English breakfast, gift-wrapping workshops and a free headband if you spend over $100.
When: Starts Friday, November 26, at 8 a.m.
Where: Topshop, 478 Broadway (between Broome and Grand streets); 212-966-9555 

Norma Kamali
The designer's iconic sleeping bag coat and other fashionable wardrobe staples are dropped up to 90% off.
When: Friday, November 26th 

 Where: 11 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019 (bet. 5th & 6th Avenues) 

Kisan's

Ports 1961, Sonia Rykiel, Vanessa Bruno and others are discounted up to 70% off

When: Friday, 11/26 - Sunday 11/28

Where: 125 Greene Street (near Prince Street) 212-475-2470

Toronto, Canada:
Our neighbors to the North have a huge sample sale of the best Canadian designers.  Beauty and accessories collections will also be represented.  See the list below of participating brands:


FASHION DESIGNERS:
DAVID DIXON :: WAYNE CLARK :: INES DI SANTO :: NADA PAT MCDONAGH :: PHILIP SPARKS :: LUNDSTRÖM :: CAMBIA FARLEY CHATTO :: ANDREW MAJTENYI :: SODALISCIOUS BAIA :: PARKHURST KNITWEAR :: AIME BY MONICA MEI


JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES:
JESSICA JENSEN :: JENNY BIRD :: GREEN BEAUTY MYKA DESIGNS :: KAREN MCFARLANE M.A.R.K. CHARTER BY MOINA KITNEY :: KRYSIA PANGEA COLLECTION :: SAXON CHOCOLATES JABBERDUST BY LEAH BARRETT :: YUKI

Thursday November 25th | 11:00am - 8:00pm

Friday November 26th | 11:00am - 8:00pm

Location:

579 Richmond St W, Suite 200 (Richmond & Bathurst)

Online:

Don't care to fight the crowds? Check out these cyber deals:

Yoox.com's European designer bargains are dropped 30% with free shipping until November 28th.

Donna Karan is discounted by 30% until the 28th.  

Rebecca Minkoff's Online Black Friday sale has tons of bags that are highly discounted with free shipping over $100.

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NYC Sample Sales: Rebecca Minkoff, La Perla

Smart, savvy fashionistas love the practical and stylish bags of Rebecca Minkoff.  Many a celeb are devoted fans.  The designer's sample sales are always a party.  Holiday gift shopping?  It doesn't matter if it's for yourself...

November 17th - November 21st, 2010

93 Mercer Street (Bet. Spring St. and Broome St.)

There is no label that speaks luxury and sexy as much as La Perla... Pick up the prettiest of lacy underthings for yourself with minimal damage to your wallet at this highly anticipated sample sale...

November 14-18, 2010

Sun 12-5 Mon-Wed 9:30-6 Thurs 9:30-7

225 Fifth Avenue

(26-27 Streets) Ground Floor

212.725.5400

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NY FASHION WEEK: Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2011

Rebecca Minkoff presented a sophisticated, cosmopolitan collection for Spring 2011.  The palette was graphic black, grey, cream.  There were pops of bright red in a few dresses and tan.  Ms. Minkoff became famous first for her handbags of course, but fashion was her first love.  The models had a tough, confident attitude.  The wardrobe here was built for the city woman with a busy lifestyle.  Something the designer, and all of her fans relate to.

Handbags had many of the classic or signature Rebecca Minkoff silhouettes.  Many of them had a sophisticated contrast trim  this season.  Animal print was seen in several styles as well.

Spotted in the front row Mingling: Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg 

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FAB Sales Picks: Martin Margiela, Rebecca Minkoff, Pucci

In NYC:
Rebecca Minkoff's brightly colored bags, the signature Morning After Bag and other goodies are up to 50% off.
When: Wednesday, May 12
Where: 155 Fifth Avenue

Alexander McQueen, Anna Molinari, Cavalli and Moschino pieces will be up to 70% off. Your favorite Eurochic handbags, apparel, outerwear and accessories are up for grabs.
When: Tuesday, May 11th - Thursday, May 13th, 9am - 6pm.
Where: 49 West 38th Street, 4th floor

Martin Margiela, Victor & Rolf, DSquared2 will have threads for men and women are their big sale.
When: Thursday, May 13th - Saturday, May 15th, 10 am - 7pm
Where: 220 West 19th street, 11th floor



Online:
L.A.M.B.'s girly rocker chic by Gwen Stefani has their online sale of shoes, bags and accessories on Wednesday, May 12 at Noon (EST). Register and shop here.

Emilio Pucci's universally recognized prints are modern classics. Look for their wedges, sandals and ballerina flats to go on sale at over 60% off Thursday, May 13th at Noon (EST). Register to shop here.

Lacoste and the little croc are timeless. Look for watches and sunglasses at over 80% off at this online sample sale. Shop here on Friday, May 14th.

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Rebecca Minkoff's Holiday 2010 Preview

Rebecca Minkoff presented her holiday collection in a festive cocktail party setting Tuesday evening. Champagne, glittering embroidered necklines and rich velvets made you almost forget that it was a muggy spring day. The handbags had a variety of party-friendly treatments. There were metallic lambskin bags, herringbone horsehair, two-toned ostrich to name a few. Shinys studs embellished smaller bags and accessories in every way imaginable.
Luxe blue velvet, steel and gun metal greys with metallics and a spot of red made up the palette of holiday season cocktail attire.

Gossip girl Michelle Trachtenberg was wearing her favorite MAB bag to give support to the designer at the event.
Photos by FAB photographer Ritika Bhattacharya

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LIVE: Rebecca Minkoff at Henri Bendel's

On this cool afternoon in Midtown NYC, Rebecca Minkoff is making a personal appearance at my favorite department store. Celebrating the debut of her Spring handbags, shoppers are sipping champagne and nibbling on rainbow colored cupcakes as they take in the new purses.

The handbags span the colors of the rainbow and feature a huge range anof treatments. There are handmade tie-dyed bags with Italian lambskin. There are sweet and edgy bags in Easter Egg colors with hard-zippered edges along girly ruffles. Rebecca Minkoff’s personal favorite is the deep lapis blue bag with a collection of different shaped studs. Very rock and roll…

Are you in the neighborhood? Come any join us! You can enter to win a Rebecca Minkoff handbag every hour and score a sweet giftbag (like I did!) with each purchase. Peeking into my bag, I spot the famous “Bada Boum” t-shirt from fashion week and some beauty and makeup goodies…

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Rebecca Minkoff's Spring Kick-off at Henri Bendel's

On this cool afternoon in Midtown NYC, Rebecca Minkoff is making a personal appearance at my favorite department store. Celebrating the debut of her Spring handbags, shoppers are sipping champagne and nibbling on rainbow colored cupcakes as they take in the new purses. The handbags span the colors of the rainbow and feature a huge range of treatments. There are handmade tie-dyed bags with Italian lambskin. There are sweet and edgy bags in Easter Egg colors with hard-zippered edges along girly ruffles. Rebecca Minkoff’s personal favorite is the deep lapis blue bag with a collection of different shaped studs. Very rock and roll…

You can enter to win a Rebecca Minkoff handbag every hour and score a sweet gift bag (like I did!) with each purchase. Peeking into my bag, I spot a “Bada Boum” tote, some beauty goodies and a best friends 2-part key chain to share.

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NY Fashion Week: Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2010

I am actually blogging live on this incredibly snowy day at the Rebecca Minkoff presentation. I have already frozen my toes in 8 inches of slush to pick up my press badge at Bryant Park. Now I write to you live from a chic loft in Chelsea.

The Fall 2010 clothing and handbag collection from Rebecca Minkoff is here. The theme is Je t’aime Paris but with some Rock N’Roll edge. The colors are dark, with some Parisian stripes and motifs. The bags are lovely bright colors in some of the classic Rebecca Minkoff MAB silhouettes with a twist. There are the edgier zippers, studs and even some animal pattern thrown in on the smaller clutches.

The friendly staff is serving up champagne, macarons and madeleines. It may be wet and cold out there, but it’s nice and warm in here… The team here has set up a blogger's lounge and made us all very comfortable. Of course, being in a good mood to report the collection doesn't hurt... :)

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