[Fall 2009, Holiday 2009]
Joy Gryson is quickly becoming a household name for chic, go-to handbags. Once a headmaster designer for Marc Jacobs, it’s no wonder that people are crazy for her hand-made, Italian leather bags. The only problem with the high-end Gryson handbags are their matching high-end price tags starting at $1000. However, at the Saks Fifth Avenue Accessories Breakfast last week, we discovered Gryson’s diffusion line called Olivia Harris. The line is named after Gryson’s daughter and carries the same quality, and most of the same silhouettes as the signature Gryson line but for hundreds of dollars less. The price point, even at Saks, is unbelievable: all bags retail for under $500!
While at the Saks event we were able to peruse through the recession-friendly line for Fall and Holiday but and also get a sneak peak at Spring/Summer 2010 . For Fall 2009, the Olivia Harris collection is colored in mostly black and dark blue but in a variety of styles including satchels, hobos, totes and clutches. Each bag though is a member to its own design group, like the Spider Group that features leather strap overlay detailing reminiscent of an arachnid or the Suede Group (I think you can figure that one out!). The Holiday collection features the same groups as the Fall line with the Zip Pocket and Tote Groups but it sets itself apart through the color palette, with warm browns and bright reds inspiring thoughts of hot chocolate and Christmas trees. And in the upcoming Spring/Summer collection there can be found groups such as the Studded Group and the Croc Knot Group, which come in the season’s colors of coral, blue, plum, papaya and black. The Spring/Summer line again has many of the same styles of handbags from the Fall and Holiday collections, but each with a different or updated stylistic change like pop-out handles and in much more vibrant colors. Enjoy!
[Holiday 2009, Spring 2010]
-Jaimie Sanita
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Have you ever heard of Echo? Perhaps you recognize the name from their line of luxe scarves, however now they’ve broadened their horizons to include a wide range of accessories. Having begun in 1923, this family business (which it still is!) started with an innovative idea to create fashionable scarves so that women working in the factories in the 1920’s could protect their hair while still looking chic. Since then, Echo Design has grown into a high-end brand, with their scarves being sold in leading retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom for years. From knit popcorn hats and iPhone compatible gloves for winter (which allow you to keep your hands warm while you stay in touch; I tried them and they are genius!) but also colorful tunics for summer and fashionable umbrellas for the rainy season Echo Design most definitely has you covered full multi-season wear.
