marc jacobs

Here's one for the girly girls who are tired of bows and lace. A shimmering pink pailette treatment to catch eyes and invoke images of bubbly champagne and dainty lingerie. The Delray Pailette-Embellished Leather Shoulder bag by Marc Jacobs is a large shoulder bag made of blush leather covered front and back (the sides are left exposed leather) with perfectly matched oval-shaped pailettes. It has double rolled leather top handles and a heavy golden chain shoulder strap, plus the top closes via a darling push-clasp fastener with a designer stamp. Other features include protective metal feet and an interior fully lined in tan satin with one zippered pocket. Gorgeous. $2,350

This sherbet-hued creation from Marc Jacobs offers a lot in the way of color and personality despite being quite simple. The Snake Suede and Leather Clutch features raspberry suede paired with orange leather and raspberry python trim -- literally in the form of a python. The little snake has a small brown leather tongue and eyelash details, plus as a single pink crystal eye. The bag closes via concealed magnetic closure and the interior is divided into three compartments, the center zipped, and is lined in brown leather. $1,095

This year the whites never really stopped as we had quite a few of them over the winter but regardless few things say spring louder than a classic white handbag, especially a convertible one perfect for such a tumultuous season. The fold-over shape of this Marc by Marc Jacobs Jane on a Chain Leather and Raffia Shoulder Bag features off-white raffia and leather accented with goldtone hardware. There's a detachable chain link and leather shoulder strap, designer-stamped twist lock closure, and a pop of bright red on the inside flap. It's also fully lined in boldy-striped twill and has several credit card slots and a large zippered interior compartment. $230

After a long run, the precarious platform shoes we've seen for much of the last decade are giving a new, flatter platform. Or, as I'm calling them-flatforms.

If fashion soothsayers have names like Marc Jacobs, Fendi and Derek Lam, platforms here to stay-in fact, we can expect to see them through fall 2011 (Issey Miyake, above)-but gone are the high arches and their impossible heights. In their place are gentle graduated slopes full of the promise of easy promenades that don't give up much of the stature of their predecessors. That's not to say, these flatter versions are without danger. A fall show in New York featured flatform combat boots that made at least two female models and one male model fall flat on their faces.

By and large, though, this spring designers are delivering walkable wedges with no shortage of style. Marc Jacobs' platforms bring us back to the '70s with their rainbow colors adorning the arches of the shoe. Fendi confounds modern architectural rules with platforms that seem to come in three separate sections-a heel in emerald green, a mid-shoe in brown and a toe in natural wood with a bright blue strap. Derek Lam is probably the most traditional-basic Maryjanes in camel opened-toe or off-white closed toe upon natural-grained wood.

Among the oddball indicators of the economic future, hem lengths are one of the more popular. Urban lore says short skirts reflect a bullish stock market and hems drop when people get down on their luck.

New York Fashion Week officially wraps up today and, one of the take away messages is longer hems are here to stay. Ne fret pas: That doesn't mean we're in for another meltdown. In fact, the industry has been showing signs of a turnaround. Nevertheless, hems lowered in the middle of the downturn and longer silhouettes seem to be having a lasting effect on fashion.

Except for a nod to the '70s last season, Marc Jacobs has been flirting with a more demure, sophisticated look for a few seasons now. For fall, he showed grown up silhouettes ever-so-slightly reminiscent of Dior's New Look from the '40s in futuristic materials such as a metallic rubber, fur and cellophane.

Looks for the boardroom are what Donna Karan does best, and she was clearly enamored with '50s silhouettes for today's all-business woman. Bloggers mentioned Tippi Hedren and Grace Kelly as a way to describe the Hollywood glamour Karan managed to add to her working girls.

I couldn't help myself, I just had to do a pink bag on Valentine's Day. This one, by Marc Jacobs, is the Little Stam Crystal-Embellished Silk Bag and it's certainly not one to fade into the background. Bright fuschia and a textured effect on the cotton and silk blend fabric make for an interesting background for the purple (pink?) crystal embellishments that are spaced out in a happy polka-dot pattern. The front features a blocked-in zipper detail that opens to a functional pocket, the chunky chain shoulder strap is interwoven with coordinating fuschia leather, and the bag closes via push clasp. There are also cream lambskin trim details and inside it's sleek black satin. $1,150

A week ago, I wrote about the hordes of celebrities with baby bumps on the red carpet during awards season. Well, designers must have been some kind of soothsayers, because several spent a good part of last year developing and launching children lines. Soon, they will no doubt see the fruits of their labor (sorry), as more and more of these privileged babies are born.

Jennifer Lopez's twins, Max and Emme, were the stars of Gucci's advertising campaign to publicize its designer munchkin wear (0 to 8 year-olds) which debuted late last year. Lopez said this week she only agreed to let her kids be photographed because it was for a good cause. Gucci pledged $1 million to UNICEF's Schools for Africa initiative.

In preparation for the ultimate party night of the year, we've featured 12 gorgeous dresses and 16 sparkling jewels as inspiration for you to look your best. Our last fashion feature for New Year's Eve focuses on statement making heels. The heels featured are all about glamour and sexiness. They scream "look-at-me!". We've thrown out the criteria of comfort. It's all about women feeling their most beautiful, with unfortunately, a little dose of discomfort that we have all experienced from being in heels all night long. These heels are in no way going to be comfortable for an entire evening of socializing, dancing, drinking and eating. So prepare to bring flats with you so you can end the night in comfort.

Sometimes only a big bold embellishment will do and Marc Jacobs makes having one fun but classy with his large Carnaby Tote from this year's resort collection. The stark contrast between ivory patent leather and black macrame takes backstage to the large and off-center starburst-like flower adornment made of conical gunmetal gray beads. Besides that the bag has short, double top handles and goldtone hardware, and inside it's fully lined and divided into double compartments with a center zip. A versatile and useful bag that will work in winter or summer. $1,595

A frame satchel bag is such a gorgeous lady like bag. It posses a classic shape that allows for many items to be stored without any added bulkiness all the while looking oh so chic and modern – regardless of the era.

Marc Jacobs has taken the ever appealing and versatile frame satchel and transformed it into an ultra luxurious and perhaps a tad bit ostentatious accessory. I'm not sure what to make of this handbag. The Castoro Ash Satchel ($3,895) is fully covered in soft and supple beaver fur and is minimally accented with chocolate brown leather handles and flap with a touch of gold studs. The interior is lined with leather and offers a zipper pocket and other compartments.

While I admire the shape, size, colorway and minimally adornment, I would have loved to see this in leather or even brocade to create a more wearable bag.

Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

Marc by Marc Jacobs created this pretty pink bag so we can have all the texture and beauty of ostrich but with a cheaper price tag and no need to sacrifice a real bird. The Bentley Ostrich-Print PVC Clutch in hot pink is a seasonless way to add a pop of flamboyant color and personality to your look. The exterior features goldtone hardware including a designer-stamped twist-lock closure front and center, and just a few seam details that add interest and structure. It has a short buckled wrist strap on one end (so this is more a wristlet than a clutch) and is lined with patterned twill with no interior pockets. $170

The Marc Jacobs Carnaby Patent Leather Bag is a spirited offering from the house of MJ, featuring a whimsical floral adornment which makes for a bold statement.

Surely inspired by London's cooler than cool Carnaby Street area, this bag mixes classical style with cheeky flair, achieving a deliberate and stylish look. The bag is small (8¾"W X 6¼"H X 2"D), which ensures that the flower doesn't look vulgar, and we love the mixed leather and goldtone chain link strap, which gives this bag just a hint of expensive-looking color.

The bag is lined in an unassuming beige cotton and has several interior pockets. The Italian patent leather is flawless. We'd love to see this paired with black -- or white! -- patent shoes and a great colorblock dress.

The Marc Jacobs Carnaby Patent Leather Bag is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $795.00.

Last but definitely not least. Paris provided the grand finale this week to a string of fashion weeks around the globe that began in New York early September.

While not quite as colorful as their Italian counterparts, Parisian designers delivered collections consistent their houses' heritages. In other words, each brands' fans will be happy. Some of the highlights:

Alexander McQueen was one of the most anticipated shows of the season. It was the first full collection for Sarah Burton who was thrust into the head designer role when the designer committed suicide earlier this year. The verdict? There were stunners such as the ombrè gown pictured above as well as white low-rise pants with two buckles on each hip and sculptural dresses. It's not quite the same anger, beauty or arty story that has always defined the label. But how can it be? I would hate to be Burton who must be burdened with endless comparisons to the late genius.

Chanel's show was darker and more deconstructed than usual. Black dresses looked they had been eaten by moths, edges were tattered, and there were much less fussy versions of the signature Chanel suit. Ines de la Fressange modeled my favorite piece-a black sheer floor-length gown with a cutaway skirt that revealed a slimmer skirt underneath. The gown's blouson featured heavy black stripes reminiscent of Maori tribal tattoos.

Marc Jacobs has overhauled its online presence, launching its first e-commerce site at www.marcjacobs.com. The new e-commerce site has a whimsical style that's clear from the landing page which features an attractive smiling avatar beckoning you in. The site, which combines illustration, photography and video was created by digital commerce agency CREATETHE GROUP, which has worked with Marc Jacobs since 2004. The website is designed to represent a physical Marc Jacobs store and has also been optimized for the iPhone and iPad. The brand decided to stock the virtual store with a small, curated selection of items picked by Marc Jacobs executives rather than everything Marc all at once. One of the most interesting parts of the site is the "world of Marc Jacobs" section which features the latest news, runway videos, ads but also video profiles of some of the many employees of the brand (employees also appear as avatars on the site, decked out in Marc Jacobs attire).

New York fashion week at Lincoln Center is a wrap and we've tallied up the results. In a word? '70s. Want more words? Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver.

Fashion weeks in London, Paris and Milan have yet to dictate the top ten trends of Spring of next year, but here's an early take.

SHORTS: Everyone, and we mean everyone, showed shorts in their spring collections. Whether short and roomy at Badgley Mischka or long and blouse-y at Thakoon or almost Capri-length at Ralph Lauren, shorts are going to be the get for spring.

STUDIO 54: There were so much '70s and early '80s references this week, I could hear Charlie commercials in my head. Halston, famed in that era, showed drape-y colorful maxi dresses and caftans that could have been lifted straight out of the archives. Marc Jacobs showed brightly colored pantsuits and full-length halter dresses.

PRINT MADNESS: Spring is traditionally all about florals. Jason Wu's breezy blouses had cut-out posies. DNKY had tiny flower prints on youthful dresses. Michael Angel went the painterly route with a collection of beautiful multi-colored frocks.

FEMININE VERSUS MASCULINE: Jill Stuart typified the feminine push/masculine pull with high-water tuxedos followed by flouncy, frilly dresses accessorized with masculine belts. The juxtaposition was stunning.

CANDY COLORS: Michael Kors trotted out fuchsia and green. Rebecca Taylor favored orange. Cynthia Rowley went for yellow. Candy colors ruled the day.