It's all about the Shoulder...

As soon as I saw this photo of supermodel Abbey Lee Kershaw in Chanel's A/W 2011 show, I knew I had to have what she had. No, not her waifish figure, not her hair as blonde as sunbeams, not even the pin-sharp bone structure. Nope, what I really wanted above all else was her shoulder bag.

Handbags move in a trend orbit of their very own these days. We've had "It" bags, under-arm clutch bags and across-the-body bags. It's the latter style that seems to have stuck. The across-bodies are comfortable, they keep your hands free to text/tweet/email, and they have an effortless, preppy casual style to them. But actually the shoulder strap does us women no favors, cutting a rather unfortunate line between our breasts. Plus, they bang on your hip as you walk AND transform into a pick-pocket's dream when the bag slides around your back as you move.

What Karl Lagerfeld showed us on his catwalk, and what Alexa Chung and Chloe Sevigny have been sporting for a while, is a simpler vision all together. A classic rectangular bag, big enough to fit in your essentials without causing a shoulder dislocation; a long chain strap, which just rests comfortably around your hip.

Wear one casual-style with jeans, brogues and a blazer. Or dress it up with heels and a long line trench coat. As with everything Lagerfeld, so chic...

Model Abbey Lee Kershaw totes the Chanel 'Boy' bag Photo: VLADIMIR POTOP

Alexander McQueen is Cooler than Chanel... No really, it's official!

Sarah Burton, Creative Director for Alexander McQueen

The label, headed up by creative director Sarah Burton since Lee McQueen's death in 2010, came eleventh overall in the 2011 list of cool global brands-four places ahead of iconic Parisian fashion brand, Chanel, at number 15.

2011 has been the year of Alexander McQueen. Aside the worldwide exposure which followed Burton's royal wedding commission in April, the label became the focus of a retrospective exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York. 'Savage Beauty' became the Metropolitan's most viewed fashion exhibit ever attracting 661,509 visitors in three months it was open. Such is the label's popularity, some visitors queued for over six hours to get in.

Stephen Cheliotis, chairman of CoolBrands council said: "There are inherent factors that are evident in cool brands-things like style, originality, innovation.  If style leaders and the British public think you're cool, from a business perspective it's massively important because what it means is people want you. They want to buy your product, they want to buy your service, and they'll probably pay a premium for it."  The CoolBrands council is comprised of a panel of 36 "influencers" that give their ratings, 2,000 Britians are also asked to vote for their coolest brands to complete the list.

No surprise, being a lexicon of coolness, that the list is fashion-heavy. Swiss watchmakers Rolex are at four, US sportswear designers Nike are at nine, and sunglasses label Ray-Ban are at 14.

So, my question is: "Where is the U.S's CoolBrands council?"


Check out the Top 20 Brands that made the list:

1. Aston Martin
2. Apple
3. Harley-Davidson
4. Rolex
5. Bang & Olufsen
6. BlackBerry
7. Google
8. Ferrari
9. Nike
10. YouTube
11. Alexander McQueen
12. Dom Perignon
13. PlayStation
14. Ray-Ban
15. Chanel
16. Nintendo
17. Vivienne Westwood
18. Agent Provocateur
19. Tate Modern
20. Maserati

Are You Ready For Chokers?

Put away dangling pendants, long dainty necklaces and your multi-chains as well. For Fall 2011, Designers are hot under their collars for fierce, face-framing choker necklaces. Whether they came with door knocker-sized ornaments like Lanvin’s, Wilma Flintstone-esque pebbled jewels à la Bottega Veneta, or in fetish-y leather as they did at Emanuel Ungaro, it was all about achieving a snug fit that sits atop the collarbone. And chokers aren’t just for the runways. Street-style fixture Taylor Tomasi Hill repped a Masai-inspired number during fashion week.  I don't know about you but I can't wait for Fall, look for me on Damen rockin' my Rocker Edgy Chic Emanuel Ungaro Fall Choker!

Lanvin: It's a bling thing & door knocker-sized ornaments!

Chanel: Karl Lagerfeld plays it close to the nape.

Salvatore Ferragamo: Beautiful bejeweled and broken circle. Heart this one!

Emanuel Ungaro: Giles Deacon has a fetish for chokers. Who wouldn't? Especially since they are the best uber-chic accessory!

Bottega Veneta: A String of bulbous baubles.

I'm joining Taylor Tomasi Hill and sporting this awesome accessory now!  Fall is just too far away to wait...

Taylor Tomasi Hill: Moving along to a Tribal Beat