Champagne and Shopping

I recently wrote about a shopping day with my mother.  As you know she is a true fashionista and has the most amazing style and taste.  It’s something she was born with.  Her mother had amazing style as well.  She loves to shop and also introduce people to new labels.  One of her specialties is hosting at home shopping parties.  She will invite a designer or designers to present their collections at her home or the country club.  She then sends out immaculately handwritten invitations to hundreds of her friends.  And let us not mistake, she has a lot of friends.  FromGstaad, Switzerland to Greenville, South Carolina, she is the center of attention and seems to know everyone.

When we went shopping a few weeks ago, she introduced me to PLIA Designs.  This accessories line crafts a beautiful and luxurious collection of designer handbags, satchels, purses, and leather goods.  As I blogged, I purchased several of their handbags; beautiful clutches and a few courier bags.  They have made amazing additions to my wardrobe.  I absolutely love carrying all of my new PLIA Designs handbags.  The clutches are fabulous for light work days and when I know I have to go from the office to a dinner or cocktail party.  The satchels have been perfect and great for not only long days at the office, but also travel.  The larger satchel handbag serves a great purpose for long weekends when you only need a ‘mini-weekender’ as I call it.  I also love it for a carry-on.  The smaller satchel is great for when I have a 13-inch laptop and/or an iPad.  It’s perfect when you want to carry a satchel bag, but not a large one.

I digress.  It’s easy to when the topic is PLIA Designs designer handbags.  My mother recently sent out invites for her friends to meet the designers behind PLIA Designs.  They would have a brunch at the country club and then sip champagne and view the collections of handbags, clutches, and satchels.  She named it:  Champagne and Shopping.   I loved that these designers would be applauded and introduced to a new audience and new customers.  They flew to the US from Paris and checked into the Ritz.  The night before the brunch and shopping party, mom and I took them out to dinner.  Of course they were jet-lagged, but we got along so well.  They were super excited for the show the next morning.

Champagne and Shopping went incredibly well.  PLIA Designs designer handbags earned a legion of new fans and sold over $100,000 worth of goods in just one day.  I cannot wait until we have one again.  I loved meeting the designers.  They are so talented.

My Favorite Designer Handbags

There are many sites online and publications offline dedicated to peoples love of handbags and leather goods accessories.  As a fashion editor I have written my share of articles dedicated to brands and designer handbags.  I can’t even count how many times I have attended fashion shows only to rush back to my hotel room and write an article on handbags presented on the runway to send off to my editor.  Handbags and accessories are now major influences in the fashion world.  Some would even say they are as important or even more important than clothing these days.  After all, you don’t need to lose weight to carry a handbag.   Does this handbag make me look fat?  …. Said no one.Ever.

As much as I write about fashion, I like to write from my own point of view and perspective from time to time.  It is fun to share what is in my wardrobe and what brands I tend to favor.  Usually my work uniform is a crisp blouse and a favorite skirt of loose fitting trousers.  My job is not about me and how I look, but profiling designers and their brands.  Over the years I have met many pleasant and not so pleasant designers and design houses.  One of my favorite design houses is PLIA Designs.  They make a range of handcrafted designer handbags, leather goods, and accessories.  Their handbags are incredibly popular and it is easy to see why.  So many style stars carry PLIA Designs.  Even my fellow editors carry PLIA Designs bags.

PLIA Designs ranks as my favorite bag maker because they are both timeless and chic.  Let’s face it, we are busy and on the move in this connected world.  We now have several smartphones,  carry iPads, and often take our own laptops to work.  I need a well-made handbag that can carry all of these various products while also looking fashionable at the same time.  I need a chic clutch that is bigger than a packet of gum.  I need cute satchels and totes for the summer.  This is why I love all of the handbags PLIA Designs makes.  Not only are the designers behind this brand pleasant, but they really have an eye for what women want.  And I love visiting their design studio and showroom.  When I met one of the designers on holiday in Capri, he immediately remembered who I was.  He wasn’t phony or with attitude.

Their handbags are roomy and as I said fit many of my necessities while still being fashionable and chic.  I always have a PLIA Designs handbag by my side.  It will be hard to replace my beloved Reid courier satchel.  But I cannot wait until PLIA restocks new colors with this bag.  I will be the first to order.