Pamela Pekerman Shares More Fabulous Momements with VH1: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

Yesterday, despite the dreary, never-ending rain I had a wonderful day. Aside from waking up to the sound of my adorable niece says "Pamela, it's time to wake up." (I'm babysitting all of this week as my sister is in her last days of pregnancy and needs extra hands) - always a plus - I also went in to do two tapings of VH1's The Fabulous Life Presents. As you may recall I did my first taping at the end of last year (The Fabulous Life Presents Celebrity Super Spenders 2007) and I'm back this year to share more celebrity bag scoop. This time I came in to talk about The Red Carpet and Pop Stars. No idea yet about air dates, but it will be sometime in June or July. I'll keep you posted.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman

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Hayden-Harnett's Green Is Good Tote: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

My favorite handbag designers and do-gooders :) Ben and Toni of Hayden-Harnett have produced another eco tote to get the message out that "Green is Good!"

Help support organic, sustainable farming practices and education with this bag purchase. 100% of Hayden-Harnett’s proceeds from the sale of the GREEN IS GOOD organic cotton tote supports Farm Aid's efforts to promote local, organic, and sustainable farming through education and training. Promoting green farming is a great way to help the environment and ourselves. Using this eco- friendly tote, rather than plastic bags, is another great way to be kind to our planet. ($27)

This is a great grocery bag. It's also fun for the beach!

Have a bag-a-licious day!

Pamela Pekerman

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2008 Independent Handbag Awards: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

This is an ATTENTION TO ALL DESIGNERS:

The Second Annual Independent Handbag Awards is now accepting designer submissions. The "Handbag Awards" provides an opportunity for emerging and established independent designers to be recognized and stand out into the highly-saturated accessory market.

This year's even will be heald on June 18th at the New York Historical Society. Over 500 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers, are expected to attend the Independent Handbag Designer Awards event.

To register in the preliminary selection round, a single digital image upload is required. Applications will be accepted through http://www.handbagdesigner101.com/ and clicking on the "Handbag Awards" icon, until April 18, 2008.
The Categories include:
-- Best Student-Made Handbag
-- Best Handmade Handbag
-- Most Socially Responsible Handbag
-- Best Green Handbag
-- Audience-Selected Handbag
-- Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design

The staff of Handbag Designer 101 will review all entries and choose finalists in each category based on the merits of their submitted designs. A Fashion Panel consisting of Ann Watson (Fashion Director for Henri Bendel), Lisa Smilor (Associate Director for the Council of Fashion Designers of America), Dana Palzkill (Senior Vice President of Product Management for Bag, Borrow or Steal), Rebecca Weinberg (Emmy Award Winning costume designer and stylist), David Zyla (Daytime Emmy Nominated Costume Designer for ABC Inc./All My Children) and Julia Poteat (Assistant Professor of Fashion Methods for Parsons The New School for Design) will decide who has created the "Top Handbag Design" and select a winner from each respective category.

These finalists will have their bags featured in a window display at Henri Bendel, and to participate in a trunk show to promote and sell their lines at the store. In addition, the winner of the Best Student-Made Handbag will receive an apprenticeship with the Henri Bendel accessory design team.

Finalists will also be able to offer their bags through Bag, Borrow or Steal, the leading online retailer that allows women to borrow designer handbags and jewelry. Bag, Borrow or Steal will give more women the opportunity to experience these wonderful bags and learn about the talented designers who created them.

The Winner of the Best Overall Handbag in Style and Design will have the chance to showcase their award-winning handbag collection with a free 10x10 booth (a $6,000 value) to over 120,000 fashion industry influentials at the WWDMAGIC Accessories Show in Las Vegas, August 25-27, 2008.

Last year, Carlos Falchi recived the first IHDA ICONOCLAST Award. This year, legendary handbag brand LEIBER will receive the award. For 45 years, LEIBER has been a leader in luxury accessory design. For the last four years, the brand has been under the creative direction of Frank Zambrelli, and has broadened its customer base by evolving the product to meet the needs of a younger customer while remaining true to its heritage.

Best of luck to all! I'll be at the event chearing everyone one and of course doing a full wrapup on the site, with designer interviews and industry scoop.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman

Pamela Pekerman's Bag-a-licious Day in The City: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

There’s so much going on. Let me just tell you for now about the insane, but super fun, day I had yesterday. It started on 57th and 5th Ave at the Mary Norton showroom to preview the fall/winter 2008 collection - which I actually saw back in February at the WSA Show in Vegas. I just came by to see Mary. I think she's so divine and a really elegant lady - and I rarely use the word "lady", but that's just the best way to describe this A-list person who's so charming and, of course, a fabulous designer of evening bags. I also wanted to chat with Mary's PR to get some last minute thoughts on a VH1 segment I'm working on - I know!! I'm excited too!

Anyway, after seeing the collection (some images are above) and Mary, I headed to 44th and 5th to see the fall 2008 Kaia Peterka handbag line. I've not written about this brand (which launched in 2006) so I really wanted to take the time to review it and what struck me more than the bags was the way the designer was describing them. Kaia was so engaging and when she finished I understood her vision and I bought into the product - which PS is very well constructed and for fall has a medieval inspiration that plays out nicely in the color palette and minimal gold-tone hardware. Below are some bags from the current season. As for fall, I really like the Victory tote - a new shape - in Ember which to me looks like a really deep orange ($550) and the Disco clutch which has a fabulous hexagon opening frame and comes with a detachable shoulder strap ($295). Prior to leaving the preview, which was held at the super swanky Royalton Hotel, I was gifted a black suede with crème leather trim clutch!



Then, it was off to 38th and 9th for a PR meeting. (I’m shopping around for a firm). No details to share just yet.

Then, I walked to 36th and 6th to view Kage bags and finally!! meet the designer. We bonded right away. I've been "monitoring” the bags if you will, from afar, but now I'm going to add it to my Designers To Watch in 2008 list. The signature horseshoe detail is a great idea because so many brands are coming out that you really need to differentiate. Of course, she's also using really great leathers in fun colors. For fall, I'm totally in love with the Hailey clutch in Electric goat skin - it's like a bright magenta (which PS is going to be a major color for fall 2008). And, doll that she is, the designer - whose name is Kristin - gifted me the Hailey in black lamb. I'm loving it already and will wear it out on Friday!

After wards, I made a quick stop at Andrea Brueckner’s showroom to pick up a bag for the shop that we ran out of and we needed ASAP . As for her fall line, the Aspen Lock Day Bag is SO SO me - one structured top handle with a structured body made of glazed goatskin and foldover flap that closed has a bronze hardware lock. A little key dangles from the site. Think, Kelly bag aura mixed with modern-day edge. This bag is heaven in Magenta or Winter White, but will also come in black, cobalt, chartreuse and dark taupe.

Finally, (by 1:30PM) I was off to lunch at the Ritz Carlton located by Central Park - very Sex and The City of me! And actually, there were 4 of us - me and the 3 divine pr divas from Paul Wilmot that work on L.A.M.B bags, Nancy Gonzalez bags, Jill Stuart bags, and Harajuku Lovers. Lunch was to die for; the company was amazing; the ambiance -hello the Ritz! I couldn't ask for a better way to cap off the afternoon before heading back to the office to get back to the writing, the reviewing and the mayhem that is my bag-a-licious life.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman

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Cameron Diaz with L.A.M.B. Signature Cheetah handbag in Carlisle: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

Normally I wait for our Celeb Trends editor to do a nice feature on BagTrends.com regarding all bag sightings, but I just couldn't wait to share this one.

Last night, Cameron Diaz was seen carrying a L.A.M.B. handbag on her way to Balbi in NYC. The style Cameron is sporting is the L.A.M.B. Signature Cheetah handbag in Carlisle. I love this bag because it's really one of - if not the - best foldover clutches on the market. You can wear it as a clutch or a tote the way Cameron is carrying it. You know a bag has made it when it's being knocked off! I can't think of any other celebrity-designer's line that's being knocked off. Actually, it's usually quite the opposite :). L.A.M.B. is the only celeb-designer brand worth paying attention to right now. It's fashion-forward, it's not celebrity-driven but fashion driven (translation the brand has a clear identity and it's not just "lets all look like GWEN", and it sells. I can't walk down the streets of Manhattan without spotting a L.A.M.B. Handbag. As for the clutch in question, the cheetah finish isn't my favorite fabrication. I would go for the red leather version (which I actually just featured in a story for AOL) or the light grey cranvas print with grey trim version.

If you wnat the exact L.A.M.B. Cheetah Carlisle Large Clutch Cameron is wearing, it's ON SALE at eLuxury for $319.

Some other L.A.M.B. styles to lust after ...

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman

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eBay and Oxfam Team Up for “Sex and the City” Charity Auction: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

Here's some fun shoe news:

WHAT: An exclusive charity auction of a once-in-a-lifetime Sex and the City experience that allows a lucky winner to get up close and personal with a star of the movie and walk the red carpet in style. The experience includes:
· Two tickets to the Sex and the City Movie Premiere in New York this June
· A meet and greet with Kristin Davis at the Premiere
· Hair and make-up services for the winner at Privé Salon prior to the Premiere
· Chauffeured car service to the Premiere
· Your very own pair of Jimmy Choo shoes to wear at the event
Sex and the City is the film adaptation of the Emmy-winning series. In addition to Davis , the film stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Catrall.
WHO: Oxfam and eBay are teaming up with actress Kristin Davis to bring fashionistas and charity supporters alike this incredible auction. Davis has worked with Oxfam for two years and has traveled to South Africa and Mozambique as an Ambassador for the organization.
“Sex and The City defined fashion for a generation of stylish women,” said eBay Style Director Constance White . “Now you can be a part of fashion and pop culture history, be charitable and win a pair of fabulous heels at the same time. Log on and bid for a worthy cause and experience the night of a lifetime."

WHERE: Individuals can bid on this one-of-a-kind experience by visiting www.ebay.com/oxfam.
WHEN: The ten-day auction begins on Wednesday, March 12.

WHY: 100% of the proceeds benefit Oxfam America , an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 120 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice.

Have a bag-a-licious day!

Pamela Pekerman

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Antoinette Lee Week at BagTrends.com + New Spring 2008 Looks: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

A million and one things are going on, lots to share and SO promise to do it just as soon as I catch my breath. For now, check out the fun we're having at BagTrends.com ... this week is .. Antoinette Lee Week at BagTrends.
What does that mean?

First, we've got a great Q&A with the designer in our "Getting To Know" series. We're also going to delve deep and reveal what's inside Antoinette Lee's bag and which of her bags she's loving the most right now! Later on in the week we'll share which celebs are lusting after her bags and on Friday I'll reveal which Antoinette Lee Designs handbag I've deemed bag-a-licious.

And, all week long shop the new SPRING 2008 Antoinette Lee Designs collection at 15% off. For details click here. Offer valid through March 9, 2008 at 11:59PM.

PS Purchase an Antoinette Lee bag this week, snap a pick of you with the bag and I'll post on this blog. Plus everyone who shares there bag-a-licious moment will get another 15% off good towards any one bag purchase on SHOPBagTrends.com. Expires 8.15.08. May not combine with other offers. e-mail images to info@bagtrends.com.

Have a bag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman