CC loves Stefano Marcantonio Handbags!

CC recently had the pleasure of meeting luxury handbag designer Stefano Marcantonio, and CC is certain that you will be as thrilled by the exquisite craftsmanship of his bags as she is!
Each piece is handmade by master craftsmen in Milan, in one of the oldest and most revered factories in Italy.
Mr. Marcantonio’s debut collection features 15 pieces in different exotic skins.
Enjoy, darlings!
A1423
A1424
A1417
A1420
A1422

For more information, and for New York bloggers interested in attending an exclusive party to fete Mr. Marcantonio on December 15, 2009, please email info@stefanomarcantonio.com.

Which is your favorite Stefano Marcantonio masterpiece, darling?
Visit the website here.

xoxox,
CC

Unabashed Luxury

The premiere of 90210 last night got CC thinking about luxury. Fashion is always about luxury, but there are

certain items that connote a life of privilege in an almost visceral way.
Whether we covet them from afar or actually get to enjoy them, they are select and magnificent.

Above: another teenager sporting Chanel . . . AnnaLynne McCord as Naomi Clark, courtesy cwtv.com.
The Accoutrements:
Above: Aina Gassé fur robe,
via Vogue Italia
Right: Jimmy Choo Ramona crocodile bags, $14,000.00
Absurdly expensive jewels, like the Tony Duquette aquamarine, amethyst, peridot and 18K gold bracelet pictured at right, are a matter of course.

$36,500.00
This and previoues at Bergdorf Goodman.
Bespoke moisturizers . . .

La Mer

16.5 ounces for $1390.00
Lavish Homes
At left, Michael Schiable's Lake Chapala Retreat in Mexico, via architecturaldigest.com

In addition to Frette linens, you'll need an Adrienne Landau fox fur throw, at bergdorfgoodman.com, to toss on your Chair Couture chaise.
Hermés saddle (for your horse, natch) Photo of saddle masters by Todd Eberle for Vanity Fair
Haute Cuisine

There is a certain class of comestibles (and the manner in which they are served) that connotes luxury:
Petrossian Caviar (beluga, not sevruga!)
served on bone china like this Papillon dinnerware, available at Neiman Marcus
Serendipity’s $25,000.00 Frozen Haute Chocolate.

Photo via nytimes.com.

Jet Set Luxury:

Above: A jealousy-inducing jetway editorial image from cosmopolitan.com.

Right: Cameron Diaz's airport chic, via instyle.com

Below: Leslie Mann atop Louis Vuitton luggage, courtesy Vanity Fair

The Michael Kors Fall runway, courtesy style.com
Spa Weekends at Canyon Ranch or a week at Hotel de la Paix Siem Reap, Cambodia
Luxe to CC? A front row seat at the couture! Photo via style.com.
CC will not dwell here on the dwindling economy, but rather draw your attention to the assertion by Dana Thomas in Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Lustre that craftsmanship has faltered as consumer demand for luxury items has skyrocket. A couple of queries: Has the quality of luxe goods suffered now that production has shifted from small-scale, handcrafting to corporate megaproduction? What evidence have you seen of the decline of true luxury? Why is it that the most luxurious items seem to be the most controversial? How can CC dress in ermine and pearls when it’s so animal-unfriendly? With the rising cost of jet fuel [even Diddy says he can’t afford to fill up his G5!] and the harm that gas-guzzlers are doing to the environment, should every rich bitch trade in her SST and her SUV for a SmartCar?
What does luxury mean to you?

Is now the time to back away from lavish items like this gorgeous Chloé purse? Photo via vogue.fr.

LUXE LUGGAGE

Aaaah, luggage… The word alone conjures visions of well-heeled travelers boarding luxury liners (in the days before the Lear, dears) with their steamer trunks, eager for a “summer crossing,” as it was termed – a weeks-long overseas journey favored by the upper classes in the first part of the twentieth century. I implore you to read Truman Capote’s delicious novella of the same name. It is a divine little find.

Different luggage brands connote different things; Couture Carrie loves to psychoanalyze suitcases!

Here's the A-list, in alphabetical order:

Brooks Brothers - for the man (or woman, I suppose) with big money but not a big ego. This classic-looking luggage is expertly crafted but not at all ostentatious. See the gorgeous high shine Spazzolato leather suitcase at left, and go to brooksbrothers.com to buy.

Coach – easy-access chic; perfect for weekend jaunts to the Hamp. Couture Carrie is loving the new heritage stripe Tattersall travel satchel, pictured at left. Go to coach.com.

Dooney & Bourke - (see previous) - like Coach, but for the slightly less logo-maniacal; once a more mature-oriented brand, Dooney is now trying to appeal to a younger, hipper set [see photo at right from recent ad campaign]. Couture Carrie can attest to the durability of this brand; CC has been using her D&B train case and carry-on for 15 years now, and they are still going strong!

Goyard – for your overseas voyage; the ultimate in luxury, since 1853. Aptly put by Bill Cunningham of the New York Times, Goyard is "The Trophy" (see photo montage above) ... Available for purchase at Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman. But the best way to buy the signature chevron-print pieces, from the most knowledgeable staff, with the widest selection (and custom monogramming, of course!) is at one of the numerous outposts of the French luggage purveyor. Couture Carrie practically took up residence at the new San Francisco store last summer!

Gucci - for rock stars and screen sirens. Perhaps the showiest and most pretentious (not that that's a bad thing!) of the bunch. One can easily spend tens of thousands of dollars for a leather set. Strictly for those with their own private jets. See gargantuan steamer trunk at left.

Hermés – for the globetrotting playboy or the Upper East Side matron; see the orange Centenary suitcase at right, and be sure to visit hermes.com. The website is such fun!

Louis Vuitton – classic, if a bit showy; ideal for rap impresarios and divas, oil barons, heiresses, et al. The monogram canvas Pégase rolling suitcase pictured at left is available at eLuxury.com. Go to louisvuitton.com for other models.

J. Crew by Globe-Trotter - a surprisingly diverse and durable collection for the practical, moneyed globe-trotter. Choices range from bright leather garment bags to the vintage-inspired black and beige Centenary suitcase pictured at left. Go to jcrew.com.

Valextra – overpriced, but elegant; for those with so much money that they are too good for the aforementioned brands. The white set at right is a bit precious . . . Go to valextra.com.

Note: Unless you have chartered a private jet or will be traveling on your own helicopter, do NOT check these precious pieces. Not worth the anxiety . . . And don’t buy fakes (do I need to explain why?).

OTHER PRECIOUS PIECES:

Smythson - Granted, this venerable British company does not offer complete luggage sets, but what chic traveling gal's repertoire would be complete without a Smythson of Bond Street passport cover and travel jewelry case? Visit smythson.com.

Of course, most designers now offer handbags roomy enough to stow a weekend's worth of gear. For a fun (and actually affordable) overnight bag, try the blue Marc by Marc Jacobs Distinguished Dot Tote shown at right, for purchase at shopbop.com. Or, for the hip young jet-setter on the red-eye from L.A. to New York, there is this whimsical Custo Barcelona bag, pictured at left. Couture Carrie is so delighted that Custo branched out into handbags!

Photo credits: Illustration from "Checking Out" card set, for purchase at lolaymaria.com. Capote novel jacket photo via amazon.com. Gucci trunk photo via W Magazine.