Regarding open toed boots

All night at a chic downtown hotel, herds of women were wearing open toed boots and
Chanel bags.. Had to share my thoughts and trend frustrations. I find them unflattering on the women I've
seen wearing them. Open toed shoes are sexy. But this is like having
open butt pants.. If your going to show skin,on any wearable piece there
should be more of a teaser not just a quirky jutting out of skin. And
toes are strange in the first place. To accent them in this was is
almost like some weird fettish/bondage apparatus.

Live Life Loving Trunkshow

To all of you who supported the trunkshow Thanks for a great turnout! For updates on upcoming sales click here

Valentino The Last Emperor vs. Lagerfeld Confidential documentaries

"A voyeuristic glimpse of the antics and grandeur inside of the Kingdom of Fashion." Both films were moving and funny! I loved uncensored humor and terrific mood swings that both of these great men have, and left the theater educated and informed about history. They are the last of their generation of a brotherhood of couture designers of their time and respect each other as such. In Valentino's film they walk holding hands through Valentino's 45th year anniversary show. During which Lagerfeld comments,"That is how its done! Compared to us everyone else is making rags." With Valentino's graceful retirement, Yves Saint Laurent's recent death it seems that all eyes are on Karl Lagerfeld and his work with Chanel. Karl has the secret of self renewal and shows no sign of following suit. He has reinvented his vision recently by creating the Chanel Mobile Art Capsule: a traveling interactive art exhibit where the viewer is engaged in a sensory experience. The luxury market has undoubtedly changed and the world of retail is mostly a mass produced machine. I believe however, that the days of handmade gowns and private boudoir collections may still return, and the glory and respect of these major fashion houses will always set the bar for the brands of the future. Sneak peak of Karl Largerfeld's Movie Lagerfeld Confidential: "Hmmm what am I going to wear for these creatures....." he says as he surveys his vast collection of silver rings and drawer full of white collars. He opens his carry on bag and dumps a whole bowl of rings in to it. "OK I'm ready" and Karl Lagerfeld walks jadedly out of the Chanel mansion where his driver awaits.

"I know that purses can make women feel tickled."-Lea Muses

Muses Luxury Handbags As do most artists, I have a close connection with each design. I think of a character and where she is going, and how to communicate the setting or the plot and I channel that into the bag. Then I name her! Setting this scene helps create the collection and set a context for the story. Possibly determined in the shape, colorway or adding an alternative function to the piece. This is often how I improvise the design and the pattern develops as I go.

My patrons are daring. They love interesting yet classic pieces. She may be a vintage collector who also shops at Barneys and Sample Sales that knows how to make a statement of the new, old, classic and trendy. She is the main character of her own novella and she knows it. She understands the art of communication, and for most people self expression is spoken through their clothing. They consider the art of style rather than the consumerism side of fashion trends. shown above the Muses Hatori Hanzo bag photo:by Aeric

Muses began in 2004 as a creative collaboration with a fashion stylist. I was working with a group of artists/photographers on fashion editorial concepts as a model which segued into an accessories line. I would make custom pieces for my photo shoots I knew I had something marketable when people started asking to buy them.

It feels great to think of how this has grown. In the beginning was a self taught handbag designer so you can imagine the experiments! Although I did have a lot of crafting and hands-on creative skills, I wanted to apply them to my true love: fashion. It was very exciting to approach handbags as a new art medium.

random tangent: when working late night snacking on grapes and caffeine helps keep you wired and hydrated.. however the euphoria after finishing a bag is what really feeds me.

When one is truly passionate about a project, It can be very satiating to the mind. There is a great quote that says something like, "There is no better rush for the human heart than to see ones creation come to life. A creator in their true element can go without food and water when the right inspiration comes."

My strategy was to study every aspect of starting a fashion business by understanding the spectrum of product development. It's important to be able to balance out the creative and analytical creative decision making process. Bags have to be functionable ,make sense seasonally, and be color trend compatible. This system has its formula and seems complex. Luckily they are one size fits all.

Like chocolate, I know that purses can make women feel tickled. I always test run my designs because I am my toughest and most forgiving critic. When a stranger gasps and says, "I LOVE YOUR BAG!" sometimes I don't bother telling them that I made it, I just smile thankful for the genuine critique.

The success is in captivating the feeling a woman gets when she finds a piece that is truly special. The hard part is letting them go and selling them to a new owner.

What makes it all worth it is to see my idea make others fall in love over and over. The New collection is aptly named Live Life Loving. available online and at boutiques for Spring/Summer 2009.

As always I employ you to "Stay inspired and others will follow." -Miss Muses

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A bit of the old, new, borrowed and in this case: electric blue. Carlos Campos spring '09 line marries masculine and feminine sportswear.

Designer Carlos Campos, often shown along side Marc Jacobs and Versace is usually noted for his men’s collections. But for this upcoming spring season, he introduced womenswear into his line. Stemming from his origins of fine tailored menswear, he continues to use a classic men’s color palate. By dressing his models in pieces that can be mixed, matched and layered it seems he understands that women like the freedom to contradict themselves. The look is limitless, classic sportswear that is ultra feminine with notes of a sultry Bond girl. He stayed true to his men’s aesthetic and transformed vests into halter-tops, underlined with flirty strappy camisoles in electric blue; perhaps his vision of a neo post-war generation, which is ambiguous and chic. Catering to the young & savvy business woman, shorts and ties were shown paired with member’s only jackets and pumps. Keyhole cutout dresses were silk trimmed and knee length, made in traditional men’s suit fabrics. Thus allowing the Campos woman to be flirty yet refined while juxtaposing the old and the new values of fashion and the times. It's chic to be ambiguous, and effortless in smartly fitted clothing. – Lea Muses for more visit www.carloscampos.com