The Woman Behind the Chanel Design Label

 Founded by Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco, the Chanel designer label is still going strong.When she was 12, Coco's mother died and she and her siblings were sent to an orphanage. While she was in the orphanage, Cocoa learned to sew. At age 18, she left the orphanage, went to work for a tailor, and while there she met millionaire Etienne Balsan. She opened her own hat shop in 1910 but unfortunately it failed.  She starting an affair with Etienne's best friend, Arthur Capel, and he probably financed her next shop. At last, she was successful and her hats were seen on many French actresses. She started selling women's sportswear and her career was set in motion. During WWII, she closed all of her stores  because she did not think war was a time to concentrate on fashion.When she was later suspected of helping the Axis side, Winston Churchill intervened for her and she was released from prison.  Afraid that the French would retaliate,  she moved to Switzerland and her business partner, Pierre Wertheimer, took over running the company and it flourished under his reign.  Coco died in 1971, and her label has since been overseen by the Wertheimer family. In 1974, Alain Wertheimer took over and he quickly got head designer for Chloe , Karl Lagerfeld, to come work with the  Chanel company. We all still love the beautiful Chanel designer handbags, jewelry and accessories.
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The Real People Behind the Brands

Over the next 10 weeks, I will be covering the real people who started 10 top fashion houses. I thought it was really interesting to see how these great name designers started their lines. This week we are going talk about Gucci.
After opening a saddle shop in 1906, Gucci began in the 20's making small practical bags for his customers' convenience.  Since the workmanship was so outstanding, by 1938 he expands his line to include a second store in Rome.  This was so successful in 1951 and later 1953 he open store in Milan and then Manhattan. When Gucci died, his sons took over and the name continued to be successful. Unfortunately by the 80's the grandson's were running the company.   Due to mismanagement and internal fighting (verbally and physically), the company's popularity drops. When one of the grandsons passed away, his son Maurizio took charge and returned the company back to a popular designer brand.  But hard times were not behind the company, Maurizio was murdered by a hit man hired by his ex-wife in 1995.
Regardless of all this drama, Gucci brand is still a much sought-after brand with beautiful designer handbags, jewelry and accessories.  Next week, let's talk about Chanel.
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American Made Luxury Purses by Farbod Barsum

Empress Cognac Ost.

 The more I research about handbags the more I learn. I was especially excited to read about designer Farbod Barsum. Based out of their LA design house, all of his designer handbags are made in the United States including all of the hardware on the bags. His bags are constructed in classical styles with a modern edge and are made of sustainable farmed exotic skins. His parents are both architects so Farbod Barsum was always around design.  After he graduated from UC Berkley with degree in Art History, he then studied fashion design at FIDM.  He furthered his education with a Masters degree in Architecture and an apprenticeship with the late legendary designer, Bijan Palczad at the House of Bijan. In 2010, he founded his own luxury handbags.  This year he is expanding his line to include jewelry and accessories.
Although his designer handbags, jewelry and accessories are way above my budget, as they range from $2,200 to $25,000, it was nice to know that you don't have to by from overseas to get beautiful designer products.  Even better, a portion of each purchase price  is donated towards Autism research in honor of Barsum's autistic sister.  True Made in America and supports great cause also.
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Looking Our Best the Luxury Way

It's no doubt we women need to always do all we can to look our best.  A big part of our fascination with looking great are our luxury handbags, jewelry and accessories.  We all jump at the chance to get our designer handbags at great prices.  We go to shop after shop , sale after sale, looking for that allusive "BEST" price for our style of luxury.  The on-line stores are a great source to see many options without the wear and tear on our feet and gas tanks. We want to find ways to look great and will use this as our motive for spending the money for these luxuries. Since designer handbags are made using quality materials and are mastered to comply with maximum requirements so they are really the finest, we can invest in them with the confidence they will last for a long, long time.  These luxury handbags will be worth the high price investment but, hey, the better the price the happier the shopper
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Cooler and Stylish in this Crazy Heat

Shopping for our luxury handbags, jewelry and accessories in this heat can be overpowering. The easy cool way is to kick back in the recliner, shop, and order on line. Forget the crowds and heat and enjoy the cool A/C at home. BUT IF YOU MUST SHOP IN STORES,  do it cooler with the light and compact Mini Cross-body Bag instead of a large leather satchel or backpack. Backpacks are great for hands free shopping, but can be hot and heavy in this heat.
  Conveniently lightweight with the delicate strap the only real contact next to your body, the cross-body bag leaves less of your body covered with the larger leather or man made material totes or handbags.  Little bags hold less so we are not weighed down by the heavier weight of the stuffed (and we all know we just keep adding those MUST HAVES until nothing else will fit) bags so our bodies work less in the heat. There are so many trendy cross-body bags available today.  Most of us have at least one cross-body bag stashed in our closets because we just KNEW we needed the bigger bag to carry everything we have stuffed in it. So let's rethink and restock our little cross-body bag to carry until the weather breaks and cooler weather is back.

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Fashion Statement or WHAT?????

When I first saw this picture, all I could think about was a business executive riding around a big city on the way to work looking like this. What a lark!!! Can't you just see it, sophistication at it's best. Just add the luxury handbags, jewelry and accessories and be set to go.
Well, the joke is on me. Hövding is a collar for bicyclists, worn around the neck. The collar contains a folded up airbag that you'll only see if you happen to have an accident. This is a surprising safety helment  that only activates should the bicyclist abnormal movements in the event of an accident. The sensors then send a signal to the gas infiltrator to inflate the airbag. The rest of the time it is a stylish collar. Pretty ingenious but pricey, when I researched it more it was listed for 3998 Swedish kronor= 577.9109 U. S. dollars.  If you want more information on this item look at  http://www.hovding.com.
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