Thank you diva in a carry on, for chosing us as your carry on of the week!

Diva in a carry on is a fantastic travel tips and resource blog for all women (aka diva's) who are looking to make their travel time effortless and more divalicious!
Are you on the hunt for that perfect moisturizer to combat that dreadful airplane air? Are you looking for the 'just right' cosmetic case? Or do you need overall help with packing and travelling light without sacrificing style or comfort? If so, check them out, "...because real women don't check luggage!"

Logo courtesy of diva in a carry on

STYLEFEEDER: Your Personal Shopping Engine

When my sister and I were young, we would go through clothing catalogs and pick out our favorite outfit on each page. Now you need to keep in mind that back then the catalogs we had were: Sears, JC Penney & Spiegels...not a big pool of couture or edgy designers to expand our 8 to 10 year old taste levels, but it was the beginning of our style identities.

Fast forward to today. My sister and I no longer get the opportunity to play the "flip through the magazines" game, but there is a new website that takes our little game to a whole new level. STYLEFEEDER. Stylefeeder is a Personal Shopping Engine that lets you save your favorite finds online and then share them with other Stylefeeders around the world. There is a handy tool you can put below your favorites menu that captures and 'Adds to you Stylefeed' with the click of a button (check out my stylefeed to the right lower side of this blog). You can also be connected with others that have a similar style to yours, aka, "Style Twins" and you can follow others to see what they're adding to their Stylefeed (Watchlist).

They just launched their new blog that hands the reins of over to their most active StyleFeeders called the Tastemaker Diaries . I just so happen to be one of their 'bloggers' which is a HUGE compliment since I'm such a big, big fan. My persona is The Handbag Designer. I even have a tag line...."Lori’s got her hands full launching a new handbag line, but she still has time to scout the latest in independent design for awesome accessories."

Anyway, enough about me :) ...check it out for yourself, or better yet try it out! It might be your new obsession.

is it a HANDBAG that doubles as a TOTE BAG or vice versa?

Since we’ve been contacted by style/fashion bloggers one surprising question came up. What makes a HARDWARE handbag differ from say a cotton canvas L.L Bean or Lands End tote bag? Well, I have to say, that this question really threw me for a loop. I have a Land’s End tote and I used to sell fabric to L.L. Bean (a great outdoor brand and company) but our bags are not in that category I don't think. Our SHORTY and SHOPPER from the Nylon Canvas collection is meant to be a handbag (albeit a sporty one) for your personal things that also doubles as a tote (babies/beach/gym/work) instead of a tote doubling as a handbag.

Here’s a picture gallery to give you some additional shots we don’t have on our website to give you a closer, inside look at our line:

inside look of a SHORTY. can you see the big pockets? if not see below.....



inside my everyday SHORTY bag. if i'm going to the gym i just 'add in' my ipod and water to the deep side pockets and go.

same SHORTY...taking daughter to ballet.....

inside my SHOPPER. The super deep pockets hold a large Nalgene bottle, magazine, large wallet, etc.


Model Mikyn on a beautiful, early fall day with the SHOPPER


Mikyn with the SHORTY...

HARDWARE inspiration: INDEPENDENT music..bybrad

I was just listening to one of my favorite musicians, Brad Shepard. Music and design go hand in hand for me so without my favorite artists in the background keeping me company I really don't think I'd get very far...design wise that is.
Being an independent designer I like to support and find other independent artists on garageband.com. Brad's song Waterglass won Track Of The Day earlier this year on GarageBand. Check him out: http://www.garageband.com/artist/musicbybrad/songs
If you want to find your own indie inspiration go to: http://www.garageband.com/ to see who you can groove to.

Thanks Wardrobe Oxygen!

A couple of days ago we 'officially' launched our site and let several style bloggers know that we're here and ready to get the word out that HARDWARE handbags is a new brand ready for the big leagues. We would first like to thank Wardrobe Oxygen for featuring us the same day we contacted them.
Allie gave us a fantastic write up without even seeing the line in person (which she doesn’t normally do) so that was a huge compliment. Thanks Allie!

HARDWARE Tid Bits and Popsicle Sticks

Well, the Eve of our Website Launch is FINALLY here! It’s been a long road, but we now have our first big production run ready and waiting to ship out to our customers. You can also rest assured that I oversaw the production at a great factory in Seattle, Washington USA so you know where they’ve been built and painstakingly put together. Even though the design is clean and simple, there are special tools that needed to be made to run production on a larger scale and the process was well worth the time and effort!

In case you’re new to our HARDWARE line we decided to start with our two most popular SHORTY & SHOPPER styles from our NYLON CANVAS Collection and build from there.

So, with that said, here's just a few added tid-bits regarding our HARDWARE handbag line:

In case you're wondering what makes our stainless steel handles eco-friendly, click here so you can feel great carrying not only a unique bag, but one that's not so hard on our environment.

The Nylon Canvas fabric AKA backpack fabric is durable enough for the concrete jungle and/or...your adorable sticky, messy toddler (mine covered in blue popsicle above). Being a former textile mill rep I can't help but to elaborate on the fabric so click here if you're so inclined. I haven't found a eco-friendly fabric that's as durable as the nylon canvas yet, but rest assured I'm still on the hunt and when I do you'll be the first to know. In the meantime, because our fabric is so durable and our styles are modern and not of-the-moment-trend, our hope is that you'll carry your HARDWARE handbag for years to come!

Design Inspiration: STELLA MCCARTNEY

Who says you need to use 'real' leather for luxury shoes and bags? Did you know that high-end faux leathers look and feel like real leather in addition to possessing the same durability and easy cleaning properties of performance fabrics? If you add an environmental and animal-friendly story to ‘boot’ do we really need to turn Bambi and Bessie into hides? I think not.

Just check out Stella's sexy fall boots below, and you'll see for yourself that 'faux' can be fabulous!

I absolutely love these killer boots! The brown piping on the mushroom color is so cool and dramatic. Available at Bergdorf Goodman

These have a 'old school' 70's look to them that I love. You can't beat the textured faux patent and the gold detail on the heel. This is one sexy bootie! Available at Bergdorf Goodman

I like the belted detail and the faux patent leather in a brown/black tortoiseshell look...so versatile don't you think? Also available at Bergdorf Goodman

images courtesy of Bergdorf Goodman

Channel Your Inner JACKSON POLLOCK

Are you sitting at your desk staring at your laptop needing a little creative release? Do you need something for your kid to do while you're on the phone so they're not tugging on your pants trying to get your attention only because you're on the phone?

Channel your (or their) inner Jackson Pollock! Simply go to JacksonPollock.org and make your own abstract work of art.
Hint: start moving the mouse and left click to change colors.

Jackson Pollock - Springs, NY1950

Must See Style TV

If you have never had the chance to view Bravo TV’s Project Runway you now have the opportunity to watch a new show starring Project Runway’s charming host….Mr. Tim Gunn. Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style premiers tomorrow, Thursday September 6th at 10/9C.

This is what Tim had to say about his show:

"I want every woman to achieve her style zenith," said Gunn. "Looking good takes hard work and commitment, but this series makes it fun. Each of the women I worked with discovered their own signature look, with a little coaching. My hope is that we'll inspire others to achieve their own stylish identities."

I ADORE watching Tim Gunn. He’s a refined yet modest gentleman from another era who knows style and fashion and how they relate to women of different shapes and personalities.

Mr. Gunn was the department chair of Fashion design at Parson’s The New School for Design. Gunn has lectured widely on fashion and lifestyle design and had an influential role putting Parsons' on the global design map. His interviews have appeared in publications as diverse as Time and Newsweek, Martha Stewart Living, Elle Magazine and Women's Wear Daily, and his television interviews have appeared on CBS and NBC.

If you just can't get enough of "Style TV" then check out the show that started it all....TLC's What Not To Wear. The host Stacey London is a riot and she is working on a new show as well.

It’s must see STYLE TV!

Image courtesy of BravoTV

Vintage Inspired Fall Prints and Tami Bloom

My dear-dear friend TAMI BLOOM gave me the cutest print coat this summer. The two-tone silhouette print (similar design to the below dress) is in the ‘of the moment’ grey and a very muted ballet pink. The silhouette print is also a vintage inspired design which I absolutely love! I wore my chic coat to a wedding this summer and I’m planning on wearing it this fall with jeans and trousers too. Prints are usually associated with Spring/Summer collections so it’s refreshing to find so many prints in the new styles this fall. Check out the below vintage inspired prints I recently found online. Oh, and thanks again Tami for not only being the best friend a girl could have, but for being the trendsetter that you are! Love ya gorgeous!


This KARTA print bubble dress is too cool in a darkest brown/yellow combo. I love the retro 50's cowl neckline that ties at the side. Available at standardstyle.com

This GRAHAM and SPENCER print top is perfection in the new neutral combo of navy and pale gray. The trapeze shape with bubble hem ups the style quotient. Available at RonHerman.com

I l-o-v-e the above SEE by Chloe blouses. The styles are sweet and innocent but the funky prints remind me of vintage tablecloths and cafe curtains...which adds to the fun. Available at: standardstyle.com

Pair this Pinball Tunic from LaROK with a skinny pant and heels and you’re ready for an evening out. If you’re in a sassy mood you can wear it off the shoulder as well. Available at shopbop.com

The Alto Print Top by Trina Turk is a sheer silk blouse with puffed short sleeves and button closure at the bust. The teal color looks great on just about every skin tone. 100% silk. Available at standardstyle.com

This sexy tie-neck sleeveless blouse by MILLY looks dramatic in this black/white plum combo don't you think? Available at: RonHerman.com


This Cecilia cami by J. CREW is so striking in this paisley print silk charmeuse. This halter style is so flattering, so flaunt those shoulders, baby!

Here's another option ladies, are any of you crafty and have just the basics of sewing skills down? Better yet, do you have a stash or small piece of vintage fabric stashed somewhere? Then make your own groovy top! I have the below pattern by HOTPATTERNS.COM because I just have to show off some of my favorite vintage fabrics (I just need to find the time to sew)! Oh, and you just can't beat the price!

photo credits: standardstyle.com, ronherman.com, shopbop.com and hotpatterns.com

Shop TODAY for a great cause - OCRF Super Saturday 10

Today's your day to shop for a great cause: The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Their biggest annual fundraiser Super Saturday 10 is going on today in the Hamptons, Water Mill, NY. To quote the New York Times, Super Saturday hosts the "rolls royce of garage sales" featuring designers: Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, and many more who donate their goods for this very worthy cause.

So, you can't afford the $400 general admission price tag? Or perhaps you don't live in the NY area? Here's your chance ladies to shop in the comfort of your own home. The home shopping giant, QVC is hosting Super Saturday Live featuring the same big designers sale at 50% off retail with all the net proceeds benefiting OCRF. Visit QVC now before all the good stuff is gone! So...how can you resist a great bargain while donating to charity at the same time? Check it out....I'm going to right now!

The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund has always been a charity close to my heart. To find out more go to OCRF.org to learn more. Educate yourself and share it with a friend.

HARDWARE inspiration: Tory Burch

When I'm designing I like to have a visual of who our customer is even though I personally know very few. What I do keep in mind is how varied and busy she is; whether she's juggling motherhood and career or lunch dates and committee meetings, she is always on-the-go. Since I haven’t met most of our customers in person, I look for inspiration from apparel designers. One new designer I consistently look at is Tory Burch. I could try to describe her design easthetic, but I’ll leave that to the professionals. So, here’s what Joanna Rodger from style.com had to say about Tory Burch’s Fall 2007 collection:

“She has what other designers spend their careers struggling to find: an eagle-sharp vision of what her line is and who her customers are, an unfailingly consistent aesthetic. Tory Burch is about easy-chic,modern-classic sportswear informed by the sixties and seventies. It might not be the reinvention of the wheel, but women from all walks of life go wild for it—in large part, because it’s so reliably wearable.”

So, what do you think? Could you be a "TORY girl" and a "HARDWARE girl", or does someone else come to mind? I’d love to know.

images by Tory Burch

Mood Board

I just happened across a fun mood board contest put on by Decor8 and Amy Butler. Decor8 is one of my "go to" home decor blogs, and Amy Butler designs fabrics with a vintage vibe and modern color ways so this seemed like a great excuse to make a collage and make use of my vast piles of magazines!

P.S. I missed the deadline, but I thought it would be fun to do anyway :)

Since I'm such a big fan of Domino magazine, I thought it would be fun to take their concept of "Can This Outfit Be Turned Into A Room" and make it:
"Can This HARDWARE bag Be Turned Into A Room"

This SHORTY bag is made of olive, sky and black nylon canvas coupled with stainless steel hexnuts and cable, braided vinyl, and industrial snaps and grommets. The hour glass shape in the middle was taken from my chrome and glass dining room set circa 1970.

Get the family organized

Remember the now retro daytimer? Yes, I was queen of the write-it-down-on-paper daytimer. My most recent version is my lovely orange Russell+Hazel notebook/calendar with the cool printed rubber bands….love R+H!









Well, I found that the activities of my kindergarten and pre-schoolers, doctor’s appointments, grocery lists etc. never quite made it to my calendar always tucked away in my handbag. So, I moved onto my Pottery Barn whiteboard calendar (lower right) that I actually do use because it’s in my kitchen and I have the month at a glance handy and out for all to see.

Well, I just found my next take on keeping the family o-r-g-a-n-i-z-e-d. It’s called Cozi Central TM. It’s a free service that was created by a group of Microsoft guys to help keep busy families organized. It’s an easy to use software program that offers a shared family calendar, grocery lists, quick messages and a photo collage screen saver. So, if you have your laptop/desktop handy in the kitchen say, and your hubby/significant other is at his/her office on the other side of town, they can view and add appointments, and if they forget the grocery list, Cozi can send a text-message or voicemail version to their cell phone. How great is that?! Check it out and let me know what you think.
(images by Russell + Hazel, Pottery Barn)

SUMMER shopping pieces to pair with your HARDWARE

Instead of shopping for that perfect handbag to go with your outfit, why not shop for styles that go with your handbag? Here are some easy-to-wear pieces I'm coveting for summer to couple with my HARDWARE bags:

Dresses:

These Jersey-knit dresses from J.Crew are so versatile and easy to wear. The slinky drape is due to the lightweight rayon/spandex. The empire waists flatter just about any figure. On the left: the Pavilion Dress; on the right: Bungalow Halter Dress.

I adore this sassy little baby-doll jumper from J. Crew. The Sconset Patchwork Madras Dress is perfect in J. Crew’s preppy, signature madras patchwork.

Tops:

I love this Penny V Neck Top by Ella Moss. The crochet top with jersey banding is perfectly sweet. The white color way is my favorite (and the model's haircut is pretty cute too). It's available at ShopBop

I love-love-love this Pleated Blouse by Castle Starr! It looks so vintage Jackie O. don't you think?! This can be dressed up or down depending on the shoes and jewelry you wear. The elbow-length puff sleeves add a touch of femininity. Available at: RonHerman

I love the oversized flowing style of this Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Cyia Top
This color is perfect in the sunflower yellow/brown/tan combo. Available exclusively at ShopBop


J.Crew's Nora Cami is nautical and modern in the vintage inspired Midnight Circle print in cotton poplin.

I'm not done shopping yet. I'll need some bottoms to go with these adorable tops. The three below found at ScoopNYC are all I'll need:

7 for all mankind Indigo Wide Leg Jean



7 for all mankind Dojo Wide Leg Jean




Joe’s Jean's Julian Cuff Cigarette Cropped Jean



(images by J. Crew, Ron Herman, ShopBop & Scoop NYC)

Modern Jewelry: My Favorite Everyday Pieces

I love jewelry but I'm a total minimalist when it comes to wearing it. If I'm wearing a necklace I generally don't wear earrings and vice versa. I also have an irrational fear of wearing a matching earrings and necklace set! With that said, I wanted to share with you my favorite everyday jewelry pieces that I adore:

I love my Alex Woo rings! I have two, one each in gold and silver from her Sienna Collection. I sometimes wear them in place of my wedding bands if I’m having one of my ‘minimal modern’ days:

My favorite ‘everyday cocktail ring’ (is that an oxymoron?) is from Kris Nations. It’s modern and simple and I love the wood/silver combo. I know wood jewelry has been ‘in’ for awhile, but I consider this a classic:
I’m also grooving on her vintage inspired flower ring along with many of the others.

As far as earrings go I think my donut earrings by Smersch Design are very industrial chic. The inside is actually tinted concrete. Mine are in espresso:

Smersch also has some fun new pieces in cork that I may have to treat myself to:

That’s it for now. When I discover more pieces I’ll let you know….

(images by Alex Woo, Kris Nations & Smersch Design)

Reusable grocery bag = HARDWARE handbag

This isn't a new idea but it certainly is a good one, so take your HARDWARE shopping....grocery shopping that is.

If you don’t have a HARDWARE bag just take any empty tote or large handbag on your next 'mini' shopping trip! With all the gargantuan handbags out there I know you have at least one you can fill with more than a loaf of bread.

With two little kids and a busy schedule I find myself at the grocery store.....a lot! I take my HARDWARE Shopper (below) and put my wallet and few essentials in one of the extra large pockets. Since the stainless steel handles are connected with cable (the kind tow-trunks use to tow cars) the handles will never break free from the body of the bag, unlike a paper bag. Our nylon canvas handbags also have a lot of body so the bag will stand upright and open without collapsing. I just stuff it to the brim with groceries and bypass the paper, plastic and guilt.

So pat yourself on the back the next time you go to the store and bring your own handbag in lieu of paper or plastic...there's nothing wrong with being stylish and eco-friendly at the same time.

P.S. For those big grocery trips I use the re-usable bags from my favorite specialty grocer, Trader Joe’s. You gotta love Trader Joe's!

(images by HARDWARE & Trader Joes)