Pick of the Week: Rebecca Minkoff's neon bags

I just came back from Buenos Aires, where I stayed in a hip neighborhood called Palermo Soho.  The  name is apropos since it has a nice mix of grittiness and sophistication, just like the Soho in lower Manhattan. Several murals and random jots of graffiti were eye-popping fun and totally inspiring.

 This week it’s all about '80s, neon and graffiti-inspired pieces.

Rebecca Minkoff’s uber-bright neon clutches and laptop case provide a jolt of color to brighten up your wardrobe and mood.

 

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Top: Wall canvased with murals and graffiti in the Palermo Soho neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Photo credit: Cory Desrosiers
Bottom: At left, neon yellow Rendezvous clutch, $275; middle, neon pink clutch, $325; right, neon yellow bag, $325. Photo credit: Rebecca Minkoff

The perfect bag for baby and mommy: Rebecca Minkoff's 'Knocked Up' bag

I was talking to a pregnant friend the other day who was frustrated about buying maternity clothes, because she doesn’t want to spend a fortune on jeans with elastic panels and tented tops that she won’t wear once she’s returned to her svelte self.

Though I don't have an answer for the paneled jeans, I did stumble on the perfect multipurpose carryall that functions as a diaper bag (for baby) and as a very cute everyday tote (for mommy).

The “Knocked Up” bag from Rebecca Minkoff is a taller and more baby-friendly version of her popular “Morning After” style. And it’s not just the name that's right on. Minkoff has lined the leather bag with a coated canvas interior and also included stroller straps, a changing pad and baby-friendly compartments.

Those same slots that hold baby’s bottles will be perfect for your Blackberry and keys in a couple of years. 

The “Knocked Up” is $695 and available at Nordstrom.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

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This week's sample sales: Bag ladies

If you tend to follow the “one for you, one for me” policy, then these sample sales might be a good place to grab a new bag for a loved one and still have some cash to treat yourself to one as well.   

Treesje, the Culver City-based handbag line designed by friends Sheila Nazarian and Laura Darrah, is having a sample sale on fall and spring items with savings good enough to buy a bag and still have a little money to stuff in it.

Their Asher bag, a fave of Katherine Heigl is originally $595.  At sale time, the bag will be marked down to $445.  Other styles on sale include the Divino clutch -- was: $368, now: $185; and the Luna bag was: $595, now: $295.
Treesje L.A. sample sale: Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 1004 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills.

Rebecca Minkoff’s handbags are also on sale this week at Ilaria Urbinati’s new store, Confederacy (which we profiled in more detail here).  If you go, look out for traces of Minkoff’s newly launched clothing line.  There were rumors of the designer branching out into ready to wear and now it’s official.  Her line will hit stores for spring '09, but she is hosting a sneak peak this week, also at Confederacy. 

Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale: Thursday, Dec. 4, to Saturday, Dec. 6, noon–8 p.m. Confederacy, 4661 Hollywood Blvd. at Vermont, Los Angeles.

Happy shopping.  One for you, one for me …

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Treesje bag/Treesje. Bottom: Rebecca Minkoff bag/Rebecca Minkoff