Shopping


Kate Moss for Topshop is here

kate moss for topshop

Kate Moss for TopShop dress can be found online here.

Kate Moss has been a longtime fan of Topshop. She has appeared in the company’s advertisements and has also been spotted on the streets wearing their clothing. Kate Moss has also been known to design a collection or two for the well-loved discount retailer. For summer 2014, the iconic British model and designer has created a beautiful collection for TopShop; and it is available online at Nordstrom today! Love that!

The collection has a boho-chic vibe and is perfect for the upcoming warm weather season. I love her use of fringe and soft fabrications. I have selected a few of my favorite pieces from the Kate Moss for TopShop collection and assembled them into the shopping widget below. 

To shop the entire collection, please click here.

What do you think of the Kate Moss for TopShop at Nordstrom collection?


Balenciaga handbags are about to have a price increase

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That’s right! On May 1, 2014 Balenciaga will be increasing their price points. The increase is rumored to be as much as 20%. This means if you have been eyeing a classic Balenciaga City Tote, you may want to act on it before April 30, 2014. Of course, which styles will experience a price increase has yet to be seen. It could be all Balenciaga handbag styles, or it could be a select few. But, do you want to risk waiting to see if the style you have been coveting will experience a price increase or not?

After May 1, 2014, the prices could go up by 20% and you may need to either continue to save up for the Balenciaga bag of your dreams, or abandon the thought of purchasing one altogether. Now no-one wants to abandon a purchase!!!

Over the past few years handbag fans everywhere have watched as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and more have rapidly increased their price points. Many of the price increases have been due to the fact that there are less suppliers in the handbag industry producing high quality materials.

A few years ago, during the economic downturn, many suppliers in Europe did not weather the storm. This meant the usual suppliers used by the top luxury design houses went out of business. When the economy recovered and the demand for luxury handbags bounced back from a small dip, designers such as Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and the like, went scrambling to fill their orders. Unfortunately there was a smaller supply of luxury leather and materials than had been available before the economic downturn. As a result, there are less materials today than there were eight years ago for luxury handbag designers to purchase. This is simple economics. Low supply +  increased demand = higher prices. Those costs end up being passed on to the consumer. 

In addition to an increase in materials, labor has gone up since the economy rebounded. As with materials, smaller manufacturers did not weather the economic downturn. These were manufacturers who had been in business for over a century. Again, less manufacturers and increased demand will result in higher manufacturing costs; which causes prices to rise.

It was only a matter of time that the supply and demand issues in Europe would reach the House of Balenciaga. As a result, on May 1, 2014, the prices of Balenciaga handbags will increase. Buy now, or empty out your wallet.

Balenciaga around the web:


Eco Chic products for Earth Day

*Click on the black plus sign next to an image above for product information and to be redirected to where you can shop online.

Happy Earth Day! Today is the perfect day to think about how you can do your part to make the world a better place. We only have one Earth, and once it is damaged, where will we be? It is our job now to preserve the Earth for our future generations. How do we do this? 

Reduce the amount of waste you throw away. Household items and clothing which are not used anymore can be sold or donated to charity. Broken household items can be repaired or used for parts. Anything which is not usable might be recyclable! When in doubt, call or visit your recycling center to find out if an item can be recycled before throwing it in the trash and filling up our landfills.

Reuse old items by repairing them, trading with a friend, selling them or donating them. Everything has a use! Torn or damaged clothing can easily be used as rags for cleaning the house or washing the car. If you have kids, they can be made into doll clothing! My daughter made backpacks for all of her dolls with old fabric from damaging clothing. Think of the imaginative possibilities!

Recycle plastics, metals, paper and more. Always check with your local recycling center when in doubt!

Lastly, shop for items made from sustainable materials and/or made in eco-conscious factories. The Earth gives us life, we need to preserve its’ life.