Bringing the Bag Back

Recently there has been a revival of the bucket and satchel bags of the 1970s. With long handles that can often be slung across the body, these bags are both chic and functional. A style for all ages, it would be wise to invest in one of a good quality leather that will stand the test of time but age gracefully. Find the right one, and all of your casual bag needs can be met with one style. A little bohemian, a little vintage, but very classic, the bucket and satchel bags that have reappeared on the streets of New York and Los Angeles remind me of the women of the late 60s and 70s (or at least how I imagine them), a la Bridget Bardot and Pam Grier.

A great bag for everyday wear, these styles leave your hands and arms free to tackle what your day might throw your way. Even though these bags are available in every color, brown is my personal favorite for its versatility. Also brown tends to be the best color handbag when it comes to wear and age. The breaking down of leather and suede and the creases that come with everyday use show up much better on a rich brown than they would on a black bag.

Here are three of my personal favorites in this style.

Alexander Wang $895 - Available at Shopbop.com

Hermes 'So Kelly' starting at $5500 - Available exclusively at Hermes boutiques

J.W. Hulme Co $353 - Available at Shopbop.com

Miss Louise -- A Hidden Gem

Nestled down a cobblestone pathway off of the main shopping thorough way on Bourke Street in the heart of Melbourne, is Miss Louise, a shoe boutique like none other that I've been to before. As I spent my day shopping up and down the streets of Melbourne, ducking in and out of stores to a. avoid the rain and b. spend money that I probably shouldn't, I found Miss Louise. A shop very small in square footage but huge in inventory, Miss Louise greets you with two glass windows filled with shoes and bags. There were no strategically placed displays or spotlights on the newest arrivals, rather rows of shoes and the absolute best shoes at that. With a large sticker plastered on the door reading WINTER SALE NOW, I knew I had to at least visit. I was not expecting to be overcome with joy and a feeling of "where should I start."

With the newest styles of Alexander McQueen, Giuseppe Zanotti, Christian Louboutin, YSL, Balmain, Chloe, Azzedine Alaia and every other top shoe designer, Miss Louise completely caught me off guard. I was caught off guard not because of the selection but because of the presentation. Usually when you find a boutique or even department store with high end designers, shoes are propped up and displayed as if they are desserts on a platter. Sometimes you almost feel as though you shouldn't touch because you are afraid that you'll disturb the setup. But Miss Louise was different. All shoes were treated equally, nothing seemed unattainable, even though some shoes had prices upward of 2500 AUD.

It was the most welcoming environment when it could have and should have been so pretentious. Maybe it was the Australian spirit of open arms that Miss Louise tried to capture. Established in 1964, Miss Louise has brought the best of international shoe and bag designers to Melbourne, a bustling cosmopolitan city and the fashion capital of Australia. While many automatically think of Sydney as the leader of everything Australia, Melbourne's fashion and business districts lead the way.

Of course I couldn't leave empty handed, especially since it's winter here and most of the summer styles were on sale in addition to not having to pay tax. Unfortunately for me and my big feet, they didn't have my size in stock, but were able to locate my caged Louboutin bootie in their warehouse. On top of the the lovely small boutique environment, all of the ladies in the shop provided wonderful attention to detail and impeccable service offering to have my shoes delivered to my place I'm staying in Australia free of charge.

Now that's unforgettably chic.

Compromising Style for the Cold

I've noticed recently, both here in Australia and in the states, that often women tend to compromise their fashion sense when the cold air hits. A woman who was so well put together during the spring, summer and fall months can suddenly loose the desire or will power to "get dressed" when its so cold outside that all they are concerned about is keeping their ears, face and feet warm. I've always found that winter is the BEST season to dress well. While summer is filled with linen, cotton and gauze and tank tops, shorts and flat sandals, winter brings out the most luxurious fabrics, architectural shapes and layers upon layers.

In winter layer a leather jacket, over a boyfriend cardigan, over a cowl neck sweater and couple that with a pair of skinny jeans tucked into a pair of supple leather boots (cashmere socks inside of course) instead of always resorting to Uggs. The idea that having style has to be hard is a myth. Style is merely taking an extra 2 minutes every morning to just think of how you would like yourself to look and act on it. Chances are you have something in your closet resembling that idea in your head.

Now I know my counterparts back in the good ole USA are probably laughing as a I speak of weather that requires cashmere socks, but it should actually be a wake up call to stay on top of your game for summer. When it is so hot outside, that you'd rather be naked than think of draping yourself in any type of fabric, remind yourself that covering up is often the best way to stay cool. A colorful linen blouse tucked into a pair of white jeans or pencil skirt, complimented with a tan leather belt, funky sandals (flat or heels) and some great statement jewelry, takes little-to-no effort, can carry you from day to evening and simple yet always chic.

While it is probably easier said than done, we should never let the weather control how we present ourselves. Just imagine sitting in a restaurant by a window in the winter time and seeing a woman walk by in a great shearling coat, a simple turtleneck, dark denim jeans tucked into a pair of flat over the knee boots topped off with a newspaper boy cap. Dressed from head to toe, chances are she is still very comfortable AND warm. Now imagine that same window in the summertime. As a woman walks by in a belted maxi dress, jeweled sandals and big clutch. It probably took her less than 5 minutes to get dressed and yet she still managed to create an effortlessly stylish look, all while staying cool as the mercury continues to rise. Both of those women caught your eye. What they remembered is that presentation is everything. I guarantee it takes just as little time to "get dressed" and is does to throw on something/anything just because it suits the weather. Sloppy can always be prevented.

Never compromise your style because of what the weather man says.

Mini skirts are universal

It was my first night out on the town in Australia, and boy was I surprised. With a temperature high of about 14C (57F) during the day and around 6C(42F) at night, the Australian winter is mild compared to that of many cities stateside, but still chilly nonetheless for a California born and bread girl like myself. Maybe it was all the alcohol pulsing through the veins of the young women filling the sidewalks waiting in life for the pubs and clubs, but the miniskirt/dress seemed to be the item of choice for the evening as girls were unfazed by the brisk air. It has always amazed me, what lengths women will go to in order to appear sexy and desirable. While I comfortably enjoyed the evening in leather pants, I wondered what was going through a lot of their minds while they got dressed.

I've realized that no matter where you go, what season it is or the crowd their will always be the miniskirt-wearing women around. I would hate to make assumptions or generalizations about these women's motives, so I will leave that alone. I'd rather just say that while mini skirts are universal, they are a not for everyone or for every occasion.

Always be aware of your surroundings. Even if you are extremely warm blooded and are not affected by the cold in the least, be mindful that other people are. When your the amount of fabric that you have on is so drastically different than what everyone else is where, you stand out... but not in a good way. The same goes for be bundled up in warm weather. The goal with fashion and style is to make your own statement, but when you go too far in one direction, for whatever reason, people tend to not take you seriously. You never want your style sense to negatively dictate your circumstances and influence people's ideas about you.

Back from Down Under

So it has been over a month since I've posted and so much has happened. I have relocated to Australia for a couple of months, and while only having been here for a few days I have already learned so much. While I came here for an adventure of a lifetime, I seem to have been drawn to the fashion world down here without even trying. The family that my husband and I know down here own three clothing stores; two women's and one men's store (Mixture, Mix and Pitstop)

I didn't quite know what to expect when it came to women's style in Australia, but I am surprisingly impressed. In the Victoria region of Australia, in the city of Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs, the women are very fashion forward. They take a lot of risks with color and shapes. With designer's like 'Sass and Bide' who have already begun to make their impression in the states, the women here definitely know how to dress and know what it means to have an individual sense of style.

Unlike it the states, where people are so concerned with labels and designer threads, I find that the women here are more concerned about presentation. They don't care so much for the cost of an item defining its worth but rather knowing how to put together a complete wardrobe, even in the smaller country towns. With the winter season in full affect here, boots, leather and wool are the current staples.

Chunky oversized sweaters, boyfriend jeans, cutout shapes, knit dresses, animal print and well tailored jackets/blazers seem to be big trends for their winter season.

With both scenic and style pictures alike, Australia is sure to be unforgettably Chic.