La Dolce Vita

Milan Fashion Week is in full swing right now, and there is a lot of interest focused on the runways at big houses like Gucci and Prada. Gucci definitely got back to its glamourous roots with an extremely strong show by designer Frida Giannini, and Miuccia Prada exclaimed “go bold!” when talking about her Spring 2011 line.

Both houses showed very bright, solid punches of color–but both were in very different contexts. Gucci embraced the ’70s era vibe that we saw at Marc Jacobs, and dialed it up by adding gold python accents, feathers and beads. Prada went for quite the opposite: a very utilitarian chic that seemed to take inspiration from working-class uniforms. Whichever you prefer, it’s always fun to see what’s new out of Milan.

Hand-held Handbags

It’s London Fashion Week right now, and one of the most anticipated shows was Christopher Bailey’s presentation for Burberry. This storied fashion house has a ton of history to draw from, and Bailey didn’t disappoint by taking those much-loved silhouettes and making them totally modern. His 2010 Burberry woman is definitely an Easy Rider–signature trenches were shrunk and cropped and then quilted to take on the appearance of ultra-couture motorcycle gear. Leather pants and neon belts were also everywhere, again proving that body-con looks will still be around next year.

But maybe most interesting were the handbags that came down the runway. Nearly every one was compact and brightly colored, whether in neon patent leather or eye-catching python. Even if they had long shoulder straps, the models carried them by hand, grasping the body of the bag rather than swinging it from the body. Could this possibly mean the beginning of the end of oversized handbags? Probably not, considering all that women have to lug around. But I wouldn’t be surprised if women start putting their small satchels inside their larger bags, ready to pull out at a moment’s notice.

Shop these Portero favorites to get the look:

JIMMY CHOO Snakeskin Patchwork Celeste Clutch

HERMÈS Orange Chevre Leather 23cm Constance Bag with Palladium Hardware

HERMÈS Special Edition Palm Tree Jaune Epsom Leather Shoulder Bag

Taken with Turquoise

I could really do without Julia Roberts‘ ultra-boring DVF black maxi dress at Spain’s premiere of Eat, Pray, Love, but there’s one thing I do like (besides Javier Bardem): her jewelry. While it’s minimal Me & Ro, I think her mix-and-match yellow gold and turquoise jewelry is an easy way to take black from blah to chic.

A lot people subconsciously think of turquoise as a summer stone, but I don’t think it’s true at all. The bold blue is perfect to perk you up during the fall months, and particularly when paired with yellow gold, it looks lush and rich. Try on any of our favorites with your favorite little black dress and see what I’m talking about:

18k Yellow Gold Turquoise 2.19 ctw Diamond Cocktail Ring

JEWEL OF OCEAN 18k Yellow & White Gold Turquoise Bead Necklace

JEWELMAK 14k Yellow Gold Turquoise Beaded Necklace

Images via JustJared

The Details: Gold at Rodarte

Like many, I was immediately smitten with the sister duo of Laura and Kate Mulleavy (aka Rodarte) as soon as their dreamy dresses started showing up at premieres and on fashion-conscious starlets. This season seems to show their maturity–instead of concentrating on arty dishevelment, the clothes are more structured, using pattern and texture as a way to inject their singular flair.

Whether or not you like the clothes, you can’t deny that the sisters are very into gold for Spring ’11. Besides the clothing palette, they also showed signature gold platforms and the models wore gold lipstick. Interestingly, instead of looking blinged out, the gold took on a bronzy shade that made for a warm, earthy tone. Does this mean that yellow gold is here to stay? Rodarte seems to be on the pulse of American fashion these days, so I wouldn’t be surprised.

Dapper Dials

Zac Efron might still be working on being taken seriously as a leading man, but he is definitely is emerging as a style icon for men. Whether or not you’re a fan of the beard, you can’t deny that his gray suit and Cartier Calibre watch look pretty dapper.

There’s a lot to like about this watch, but I’m particularly fond of the oversized black dial and the sophisticated (but unusual) Ruman Numeral markers. Like the look of a black dial? Here are some of our favorites:

Jaeger-LeCoultre Aston Martin Memovox SS Automatic

Chronoswiss Kairos SS Automatic

Rolex Cellini Cestello 18K white gold Manual

Very Quilted

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that bags other than Chanel come in quilted materials. But they definitely do, and one of our current faves is the updated Miu Miu Coffer bag carried by Rachel Bilson, above. The elongated diamond pattern and oversized turn lock is just unusual enough to turn heads, but the oversized silhouette and rich shade of brown make it perfect for every day use. Here are a couple of our picks for non-Chanel quilted bags, or click to shop our whole collection.

BALENCIAGA Quilted Matelasse

MARC JACOBS Blue Metallic Quilted Python Bag

The Bucket List

Here’s Halle Berry (left) and Kate Bosworth carrying bucket bags, a silhouette I think we’ll be hearing much more from in the coming season. Halle’s is a Cleobella “Kaya” bucket tote, while Kate is toting Alexander Wang‘s fabulous studded Diego in suede. This shape is particularly good for those of you who have a lot of essentials because the expandable shape allows for a lot of storage when you’re on the go.

If you like the look of the bucket bag, definitely check out our collection of Louis Vuitton NOE bags. Cinched at the top with a drawstring and available in bold colors as well as the classic monogram, it’s a classic that will fit well with the upcoming trends.

Luxe for Less?

Hot off the presses! Lanvin and H&M just announced their upcoming collaboration for fall, and I, for one, could not be more excited.

Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin, had this to say about the collaboration: “H&M approached us to collaborate, and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world.”

Don’t know much about Lanvin? Here’s a primer to get you acquainted:

Since joining Lanvin as artistic director in 2001, Alber Elbaz has transformed the Paris-based label, founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, into a fashion powerhouse bursting with ideas and creativity. Alber Elbaz has pioneered there some of the biggest trends of the past decade – ribbon, bows, pearls, raw edges, sumptuous color and metallic embellishment among many others. Alber Elbaz has a mastery of cut and an instinct for cloth which leaves a very personal signature on his work, ensuring that all Lanvin clothes are instantly recog nizable. Since the introduction of a new menswear line in 2006, Alber Elbaz has also transformed the male wardrobe, bringing a relaxed elegance to men’s clothing which is as special as the womenswear.

Want to own a piece of the brand now? I love this plum leather tote–it would be perfect for fall.

Red Carpet Baubles

While I’d love to sit here all day and critique the Emmy gowns from Sunday night’s telecast, sometimes it pays to just stick to one topic to start. How about jewelry?

Although many women wore some serious statement jewels, I think only a few women managed to really incorporate strong jewelry looks into their entire ensembles, so let’s talk a little bit about why.

I am really loving this Grecian/Egyptian inspired Marchesa gown with a gold collar detail. This is a very refined look for Kim, and she managed to not go overboard on her makeup or too tight with her pulled-back hair. Since the neckline itself acts as jewelry, she made the right move by wearing a simple pair of studs and a gorgeous Lorraine Schwartz criss-cross cuff in white and yellow diamonds.

Lea Michele from Glee has been a red carpet standout all year, and her navy blue Oscar de la Renta is no exception. This gown could have turned into an ’80s prom fiasco, but her tousled, beach-ready hair, dark nails and stellar Lorraine Schwartz jewelry really gives the outfit a youthful, fun look. The necklace, in particular, is one of my favorite accessories of the night. Made up of natural colored diamonds, the piece was just the right amount of sparkle without being bling-y.

Talk about getting better with age! Julia Louis-Dreyfuss looks like minimalist perfection in black Narciso Rodriguez with a sheer waist panel. Since she chose black, Julia wisely opted for a pop of color at the ear and wrist. Her Irene Neuwirth earrings and bracelet (in what looks to be chalcedony) stand out without going overboard.

While she got mixed reviews from some, I personally loved Kyra Sedgwick‘s Monique Lhuillier raspberry gown. Soft waves plus a stack of colored gem bracelets from Ofira gives her a hippie goddess vibe that perfectly rides the line between formal and fashion.