Trend Alert! Tribal

One of the fiercest trends to hit the ramps this season is the very African Tribal trend. And I'm talking designers like Anna Sui, Issey Miyake, Oscar de la Renta -- most of the creme de la creme of the fashion tribe. Think bold dramatic prints and bright earthy colours on simple soft shapes. And statement accessories (like the oh-so-drool-worthy Louis Vuitton Spicy Shoe!)

But this isn't exactly the easiest look to channel. Unless you've got major fashion chutzpah, going for one focal point is a good idea. Like if you're wearing a dress that has a lot happening, then tone down the accessories, of forgo them completely. Or if you're dying to put on that gorgeous but uber-intricate and humongous neck piece, skip the earrings and wear it with a plain top/dress.

Here are my top picks:

TIBI NY, Blue silk tribal dress, $694.00
Love how the rich blue body of the dress frames the gorgeous neck.

Kendra Scott Jewelry, Artemis Bangle $63.00

I don't usually like gold. But this bangle, with its simple leaf motif, was just too gorgeous to resist!

Bottega Veneta, $1,850.00
This is one of the uber awesome Bottega knot minaudieres. Nuff said.

Arden B, Enamel Tribal Earring, $18.00
Great if you're looking to make a subtle statement. I really like that shade of orange.

Forever 21, Tribal Silk Scarf, $5.80
This scarf would be the perfect way to turn any old plain-Jane look to tribal chic. And Forever 21 has some really awesome tribal inspired stuff, so head over to either the store or the website and check it out.

Nicole Miller, Aqua tribal jersey Dolman dress, $ 385.00
I LOVE this dress! The dramatic B&W print, the oh-so-casual anti-fit silhouette, the central motif -- all of it! Tres tres chic.

Bangle Brass Work By Isharya, $48.00
Now this is a simple statement piece. Quirky and gorge.

New Look, Metallic Trim Bag, £20.00
I really like the very organic looking cane handle. And the print, which I'm thinking is a type of Ikat.

Kitson Ettika, Tribal Bead Bracelet, $48.00
Love the dangly bits!

WeWe, Kimmy Sunflower dress $99.00
WeWe is a store I found online, which only makes Africa inspired garments. They've got more like this really cute yellow maxi dress.

Louis Vuitton, Spicy Sandal in Python Leather, $3,390
And finally! The drool-worthy (and unattainable if you're as broke as I am!) Spicy shoe I was talking about a bit earlier. It's been seen on glamazons like Alexa Chung, Chloe Sevigny, Heidi Klum, Victoria Beckham and Madonna. No wonder it's on the lust list of pretty much every fashionate out there.

Trend Alert! Clutches

One of the hottest handbag trends that's spilled over from the last couple seasons is the Clutch. And it's in this season that the Clutch has really arrived. From slim rectangles to oversized floppy ones, you can find clutches in more drool worthy avatars then ever.

Here are my top ten picks:

Jil Sander Raso Frangie Clutch in Black, $1,145.00
It's got uber sexy, yet subtle tassels AND it's a clutch. That TWO trends in one. What's not to like?


Laura Matthews Designs, Colorblock Clutch, $270.00
Bright pop-out colour and a sleek contained shape. LOVE.


Alexander McQueen, $899.00
The print. The shape. The overall effect is FIERCE!


Boden Fabulous Flower Clutch, $128.00
Love the cute textured rosettes. So feminine!


Felix Rey Manon Clutch, $450.00
Now here's a clutch that ups the Jil Sander one when it comes to trends. It's a clutch (duh!), it's oversized and it's ruffled. And I love that it has a shoulder chain, which is sure to come in handy.


Judith Leiber Red Delicious, $3,595
I am absolutely in love with this one. The apple has all those 'forbidden fruit' associations. Or in this case it's more like 'extremely gorgeous unaffordable fruit'. And it's sparkly!


Merona Hinge Wallet, $12.99
This one is (Sorry Moschino, I'm ripping of your tagline, but it's just so apt here :D) cheap and chic.


Miss Sixty, $149.00
This one is just so fresh and sporty looking. And it's still girly.


Shop Intuition, Neon Patent Bow Clutch in Fuchsia, $40
Omg, I could trip on that acid colour! And love the bow.


Treesje Luna Clutch, $170.23
I like how the sober brown trim complements the shiny metallic body. And it's a maxi clutch with strap.

Book Review: Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello

Before we get to the book, a little bit about the Birkin. The Glossary at the back of Bringing Home the Birkin describes it best. "The Birkin is a (Hermes) handbag produced in a variety of skins, designed to be a carryall for working or traveling women." Lets amend that to really really rich working or traveling women, because the cheapest Birkin costs about as much as a car. The basic leather 35cm Birkin costs $7,500.00 and the rare, more exclusive ones are considered a steal at $100,000.00. And oh, the crocodile-and-diamond version tops the price list, at a whopping $150,000.00! (Gwad, did I sound like the a talk show host or what!??) "Named for the actress Jane Birkin, who co-designed this bag, along with Jean-Louis Dumas Hermes in 1984." But money isn't all that you need to bag yourself a Birkin. It's one of the most coveted and exclusive handbags in the world. There's supposedly a two year waiting list, but that's just another myth Michael Tonello proves false. Lets just say, unless you know how, getting your hands on a Birkin is near impossible!

Here's a picture of the Basic 35mm leather Birkin in the signature Hermes orange.


Bringing Home the Birkin is a memoir. To be specific, it's Michael Tonello's story of how he cracked the secret getting his hands on an obscene number of the infamously elusive Birkin. And of how he then made a career out of reselling these insanely coveted carryalls on eBay.

Witty, interesting and fun, Tonello certainly has a way with words. I was charmed, both by his subtle sarcasm and his little descriptions of all the cities he visited in his quest for the Birkin. There's a love interest too. As Tonello cracks the Birkin formula, he also finds true love in Juan. Though this isn't really a major part of this spiel, it added just the right dash of the personal to make me feel connected to Tonello himself. I cheered for his successes, both in life and in the Birkin front, and sighed when things started looking down.

Wether you have a fetish for designer handbags or not, I'm sure you'll LOVE this book. I certainly did!

A few more pictures of Birkins for the curious.


This is a 35cm Crocodile Fuchsia Birkin, which is one of the rarer colours.


This is the really expensive Crocodile-and-Diamond Birkin I was talking about earlier.

And here's the book trailer.