Handbag Happy Hour features celebrity purses, many other designs

A Pucci signed by Gwyneth Paltrow. A new Prada, a Louis Vuitton, a Tory Burch and a Kate Spade. A Juicy Couture from Kim Basinger (complete with her autographed photo). And more — many more — purses of all kinds will tempt guests at ICAN’s eighth annual Handbag Happy Hour at the Miromar Design Center in Estero on Friday. More than 400, to be more precise. That’s a heck of a lot of handbags. It’s so many that Mitch Haley, ICAN’s development director, faces the enjoyable challenge of how to display them all. Good thing the design center, which is hosting the event for the first time, has plenty of room for them all. The handbags range from one-of-a-kind designs to brand new and previously loved designer handbags, all donated. “The design center is huge. We’re gong to set tables up surrounding the atrium area for the silent auction. There will be 20 to 24 8-foot-long banquet tables just for the silent auction, and we’ll have three tables for the grab bags,” Haley said. And then there are the extra-special handbags to star in the live auction. They include those donated by celebrities (this is the most celebrity bags the event has ever featured, Haley said), those with the famous brand names that serious collectors swoon over; and those that are one-of-a-kind designs, including creations by Chico’s designer Michael Chase and Naples interior designer Pamela Durkin. Durkin, who owns New Line Design in Naples and has been in interior design for 20 years, is launching her first handbag line in February. Her one-of-a-kind creation for Handbag Happy Hour, “Poppy Love,” features a graphic background with poppies, all printed on leather. “I have been working on this handbag line for awhile,” Durkin noted. And Chase created his fourth design exclusively for Handbag Happy Hour. “Sunset Shimmer” is a pale gold metallic snap-top handbag festooned with rhinestones, a rhinestone-studded chain and small bows. His previous creations have been a hit with bidders, and fans expect the same this year. “The collection we’ve gotten has just been marvelous,” Haley said. Last year’s event attracted 140 handbag fans and netted around $18,000. Haley joined ICAN in late January. The handbag donations began soon after. “A good friend from Dillard’s called and said I have several bags of handbags” to donate, he said. That was in early February, and since then, Handbag Happy Hour committee members have screened hundreds of donated bags from celebrities, designers, department stores and individuals. “Miromar stepped forward and offered their wonderful space. There have been a lot of great people who have stepped forward, from the catering to the open bar ... sponsors are stepping forward with in-kind donations,” Haley said.

Olsen Twins to Debut Handbags Next Fall

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are looking to expand their hit brand, the Row, with a line of handbags and shoes. The new additions will hit stores in fall 2011. Ashley Olsen says, "It would be a proper American luxury brand, made in America, with retail businesses and maybe collaborations with other brands." Kudos to the Olsens for kicking some major fashion booty and helping the American economy! The Kardashian sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian practically caused a riot in SoHo last night with the opening of their store, Dash. The streets were cordoned off and police were there to manage crowds, as hundreds of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the famous sisters. The store is open for business but the question now is, will they stay in New York and pretend to manage the boutique or move on to warmer climes? Win a pair of Gap jeans! Gap is giving away 10,000 pairs of jeans in a social marketing event in partnership with Facebook . They will award a pair of jeans to the first users to check-in at one of their stores on Friday, November 5 at 10:00am. They have a certain number of jeans per store, so West Coasters don't have to worry about the time difference. Those who don't get a free pair will be able to shop any item in store at 40% off.

Local designer Patricia Nash offers new handbag line with old-world feel

Patricia Nash loves leather. In fact, she can only think of one thing that has a more enticing aroma. "The smell of fine leather to me is second only to the smell of good food," says Nash, a handbag and accessory designer who lives in Farragut. Not surprisingly, both food and leather have helped Nash make a name for herself in Knoxville. Along with her husband, Jeffrey Nash, and son, Jeffrey DeAlejandro, Nash owns The Crown & Goose in the Old City (123 S. Central St.). Open since February 2008, the establishment offers traditional British and modern European food with the cozy ambiance of a pub. Besides being the owner of a popular local eatery, Nash is now becoming known in the area for another reason. After 20 years of designing and developing accessories for other companies, Nash's Knoxville-based company, Me & You Accessories, recently launched her namesake collection of 100% Italian leather handbags at 40 Dillard's stores, including the West Town Mall location. After an enthusiastic response to the line's debut in September, the chain plans to double the number of stores carrying the line this month. The Patricia Nash line draws on Nash's extensive travels and fascination with European leathers. Her goal in creating the collection was to offer old-world craftsmanship at an affordable price. Each bag in the line is named after a European city. Prices run between $90-298. "It is hard to find leather bags that are truly 100 percent leather unless you pay double the price of a Patricia Nash bag," Nash explains. "A lot of love goes into this product. We're taking real handcrafted leather skins from Italy, hand-dyed, hand-cut and hand-sewn, with hand-burned edges. The logo is hand-embossed." In describing what makes her collection unique, Nash says the designs bring back memories from years gone by. "They almost look like a vintage bag that you pulled out of your mother's or grandmother's closet. They are reminiscent of the day when you had a beautiful piece of leather and they constructed a bag of it, but the leather was the focal point of the bag," she says. In addition to receiving favorable reviews in Lucky, Travel + Leisure, and City magazines, the collection has attracted celebrity attention. Reality TV star and clothing designer Whitney Port was recently spotted carrying the Barcellona saddle bag in New York City. Country music artist Miranda Lambert was seen backstage at the "Late Show with David Letterman" with the Berlino bucket flap handbag. As with her restaurant business, Nash says her handbag line grew out of her own passions and discovery of an unmet need. "It wasn't like, 'Gee, how can I make money?' It was, 'Gosh, why isn't anyone producing really beautiful Italian bags at a price people can afford?' " Nash has lived in Knoxville for 12 years and proudly calls the area home. "We just love Knoxville. We've both lived in big cities. I've lived in Houston and New York and my husband lived in London and has traveled all over the world. But we wanted to live the rest of our lives here," Nash says. With both The Crown & Goose and corporate offices of Me & You Accessories located downtown, Nash says she and her husband are committed to the area. "My husband is from London," she says. "When he first came here, he was immediately drawn to downtown and became a big supporter. He really got me turned on to loving downtown.

Isabel Toledo for Payless holiday handbags

Isabel Toledo for Payless, one of three designer collaborations Payless Shoe Source has for the Holiday shopping season, announced today that there will be two Holiday handbags from the collection. Isabel Toledo, who is a New York based fashion designer who originally made her debut designing for Anne Klein, started her own label in 2007 and is created a holiday collection in collaboration with Payless. Isabel Toledo created two handbags for the Payless Holiday collection. There is a moon shaped clutch which is made from black satin. The Isabel Toledo moon clutch is a classic, evening clutch which can be for years and matches easily with formal attire. The second handbag Isabel Toledo created for Payless is a black and red tote bag named the Matador Shopper. Both the moon clutch and the Matador shopper tote were designed to complement the Holiday shoe collection which Isabel Toledo created for Payless. Isabel Toledo's shoe collection for Payless includes a pom pom flat, faux fur poodle boot and metallic d'orsey pump. The Isabel Toledo for Payless collection of shoes and handbags will be priced under $35 and will arrive on store shelves within the month.

Gucci and Christie’s Team Up to Bring You the Least Sketchy Way to Buy or Sell Vintage Handbags

Have an old Gucci bag from the ’70s lying around? It might be time to go through those family heirlooms because Gucci and Christie’s are interested. Or, at the very least, they’ll give you a free appraisal. An online service, called “Gucci Collector: Presented by Christie’s” is the auction house’s first ever single fashion house specialization. It launched in January and has gotten over 600 submissions from over 25 countries. Basically, “Gucci collectors” can upload pictures of their vintage items online and within two to four weeks, an expert panel made up of Christie’s Director of Fashion and Textiles, Patricia Frost, her team of costume specialists and the Gucci Archive Department will studiously examine the item and present you with an auction estimate. And if you are looking to sell, you will also be told whether your item is appropriate for a Christie’s auction or of interest to either Gucci or Christie’s from a “historical perspective.” We’re not sure what kind of commission they’re offering, but this sounds a lot easier than selling through eBay or a consignment shop. And if you do ultimately decide to sell through consignment, at least you can find out what your bag is really worth. Looking to purchase your own piece of Gucci history? On December 2, 30 of the best items they’ve acquired through the service will be put up for auction in Christie’s Fashion Through the Ages sale. The items will range in value from £600 to £3,000 ($966 to $4,830), to which is pricey, but at least their authenticity isn’t in question. Particularly lust-worthy offerings include a rare beauty case from the late ’70s/early ’80s and a white leather handbag with bamboo detailing from the late ’50s. Those items that interested Gucci from an “historical perspective” on the other hand, might end up in a Gucci museum. The house is planning to open one in Florence next year to coincide with Gucci’s 90th anniversary.

Elderly woman hurt in robbery

An elderly woman who fought back against a handbag snatcher in Perth has suffered a cut lip, broken dentures and bruising as she and her daughter were robbed. The 73-year-old mother and her 37-year-old daughter were returning to their car in the car park of the Burswood Casino about 10.20pm (WST) on Sunday when a carload of five teenage boys pulled up beside them. Police said one teen asked the daughter for $10 for petrol but when she refused he asked her the time then grabbed her handbag. Advertisement: Story continues below Another of the youths then grabbed the mother's handbag, Sergeant Gerry Cassidy said. "The mother put up more of a struggle and was pulled to the ground and she's got a cut lip, broken dentures and bruising to her arm and leg." Police are searching for the offenders, aged between 16 and 18, who escaped with both handbags.

Janis Jewelry adds a handbag shop

The back room of Janis Jewelry & Gifts is full of hundreds of handbags owner Janis Schroeder just can’t fit in the store. But her problem will soon be solved when she expands into the space next door. The new shop, called Janis Unique Handbags, will have a somewhat different identity, but the two will be linked by an archway. “We’re making it all cute and pretty,” Schroeder said. Although the transition won’t be complete, she is inviting the public to come see what she’s up to at Art Walk this Friday. She plans to have a soft opening around Nov. 12, as well. Schroeder opened shop in Newberg about 18 months ago, after having a spot in Tastefully Yours for about a year. Before that, she sold her wares at the Dundee Farmers’ Market for about a year and a half. Since opening her own shop, business has been good — good enough to necessitate the expansion. The biggest drawback she faces, she said, is that many people don’t shop downtown because they think it’s difficult to park — a misconception, she explained, as there is parking all down the side streets. “Once they come here, they (say), ‘This is awesome and I’m so glad we have a shop like this in Newberg,’” she said, adding they travel from all over — Willamina, Salem and Vancouver, Wash. — and they always come back. The wide selection of handbags is a big draw. “Mine are all unusual and the prices are awesome,” Schroeder said. The word “unique” in the new shop’s name isn’t a gimmick — there actually is just one of every handbag. But she sells a lot more than just handbags. Janis Unique Handbags will also offer scarves and shoes, while Janis Jewelry & Gifts will maintain its wide variety of wares: fashion jewelry, costume jewelry, unusual greeting cards, journals, children’s items, gift foods, books, specialty items, men’s watches, designer fragrances and more. Many of the items are locally produced. “I have a lot more in here than people realize,” Schroeder said, quick to clarify: “It’s not a knick-knack shop. Everything I have has a purpose.” She is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and by appointment for groups on Sundays. Janis Jewelry & Gifts is located at 718 E. First St. Janis Unique Handbags will be at 716 E. First St.