What do you get for the woman who has everything? A handbag with built-in organization, of course! Designed specifically for the modern woman who has it all, whether she wants it or not, Tantrum Bags are both functional and fashionable. Created for moms-or anyone who is hooked on carrying a larger-sized bag due to the necessity for cargo space for odds and ends, whether crayons and snacks for your kids or makeup, Blackberry and business cards, these handbags have a multitude of compartments and sections on the inside, making it easy to organize and retrieve your stuff quickly without digging around.

Local Scottsdale designer and company founder Jessica Marriott’s biggest pet peeve is when your handbag falls onto the floor of the car while driving, spilling the contents everywhere. That was one of the main design objectives of the handbags. That, and a place to store all the necessary objects of her twin four-year-olds. As a mom and a businesswoman, Jessica is always on the go, and usually in a hurry. Sound familiar? For all of us who can relate to trying to keep up with a fast-paced lifestyle, the thought of scrounging around in the bottom of a not so thoughtfully designed purse hunting for phones, lipstick and car keys is a scary thought, especially since-admit it- we usually do this while driving. During the design process, Jessica made sure to take real-life scenarios into account, creating a new solution to the chaos of modern life. After personally experiencing the frustration of not being able to find items in her own handbag quickly, especially while in the car, Jessica developed features such as the  “10 pockets with purpose” of various sizes and depths, all with elastic closures to hold items secure inside, and the “found ‘em keyholder,” a magnetic key holder that connects to a keychain, keeping your keys within easy reach at all times. The bag closure itself is also magnetic, allowing you to open and find items inside with one hand, even without looking. Perfect for fishing out items while in your car, in a meeting, or the dark.

The impressive, thoughtfully designed bags are created with fashionistas in mind. Stylish, high-quality leather and hip polished metal hardware give Tantrum Bags an edgy, contemporary look, a perfect compliment for jeans, your favorite maxi dress, business attire and the like. And, with the gift-giving season right around the corner, this must-have accessory is a great gift for the busy modern woman in your life. Nothing says “I love you” like the gift of organization-translation, “I love you without high blood pressure and all your hair still attached to your head!”

Tantrum Bags can be purchased by clicking Tantrum Bags or locally at Kiss Me Kate boutiques (located in Phoenix and Scottsdale.)

Thank you to Katie Kolesar, The Scottsdale Style Maven, for writing this article and introducing Fashion Phoenix to Tantrum Bags! Learn more about Katie here at scottsdalestylemaven.com.

0 comments permalink |  1:23 PM |  10.30.2009 | 

Michele Ella Clutch / Pouchette $295

I know I mentioned it in my post from Friday, but I want to reiterate how I love my new Michele handbag! Yes, it’s the same Michele known for watches with interchangeable watchbands.  The “Ella Clutch” stole my heart recently. It’s bold, with it’s thick chain shoulder strap, yet comfortable and practical in size. Check it out at Nordstrom, along with the other new arrivals from the Michele Leather Goods collection.

The description from the maker… “The classic pouchette, made from crushed patent leather, features a lavish oversized chain and the signature Michele nameplate.”

Picture from michele.com

Picture from michele.com. It hugs your body perfectly!

0 comments permalink |  7:06 AM |  8.19.2009 | 

I truly enjoy the fashion lectures at The Phoenix Art museum. Last week’s lecture on “Art Nouveau in Parisian Fashion” was packed and the presentation of how the Nouveau era translated into fashion and art was thought provoking…

Though I enjoy fashion, art and history, I have really been inspired lately by Dennita Sewell and The Phoenix Art Museum’s combination of the three. To revere fashion as art and to appreciate both its roots in history and how it has been threaded throughout the ages, has spoken to me.

Accessories from the Phoenix Art Museum's Nouveau era collection

In many ways, clothing can be described as a wearable time-capsule, telling a specific account of how people lived their daily lives, important design styles and trends of the time and how worldly sensibilities were communicated in the clothes. True as we explored the Nouveau lecture last week. But think about this, many would argue that the current generation is too fast and too disposable, is this reflected in our closets? For me, this is generally true. I have hangers full of inexpensive, up-to-the-minute pieces that I wouldn’t think twice about tossing just because they’re “so last season.”  However, I am lucky enough to own some fabulous shoes and handbags that I consider “wearable art”. So much so, in fact, I rarely take them out of the house!

Yes, this devil wears Prada

As corny as it sounds, I started to appreciate fashion as art before the recent lectures at the art museum with the release of “The Devil Wears Prada.” The monologue delivered by Miranda (Meryl Streep) to the fashion bottom-dwelling Andy (Anne Hathaway) spoke to the then undiscovered fashion-as-art lover in me.  The part where she’s reaming Andy in her office for laughing at the belts, when Andy proclaims she is “still learning about all this stuff“. And Miranda goes on to embarrass Andy with the magnitude of the fashion & beauty industry. And then when Nigel (Stanley Tucci) gives Andy his monologue regarding how a seemingly simple, frivolous fashion magazine has actually published some of the greatest artists of our time. Both of these monologues started me thinking of how powerful the fashion & beauty industry is in the global economy, but also in the world of art. I cannot give you a name of a modern painter or sculpture artist, but I can ramble off the names of what fashion designers I would die to see at Paris or New York fashion week.

So, with this new found inspiration, I have been shopping and “investing” in fashion a little differently. Certainly, I will never stop shopping Target or Forever 21, but I am seeking out a more well-rounded collection of clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories – mixing the disposable and the collector’s items that many argue never go out of style. And choosing pieces more carefully, that better reflect me, my style, posterity and because of my appreciation of the design, construction, artistry, investment worth and so on.

My most recent purchase made with my deeper appreciation of fashion-as-art is this Michele handbag from Nordstrom.  It’s modern, trendy, the materials are amazing, it’s comfortable to wear, perfectly sized and who knows, in 50 years could be displayed in the Phoenix Art Museum’s design gallery!

Michele Ella Clutch $295 from Nordstrom

4 comments permalink |  10:55 PM |  8.13.2009 | 

Fashion Phoenix is proud to bring you an EXCLUSIVE peek inside the latest Runway Magazine released TODAY!! The Spring/Summer 2009 issue will be mailed to subscribers and available at finer newsstands May 19th .

Runway Magazine is a national and international publication based here in Paradise Valley. Initially, Runway was a digital fashion magazine, but now released as a quarterly publication around the globe. Runway is a “celebration of the designers and artists that bring beauty, grace and elegance into our lives.” The magazine covers fashion, beauty, shopping, romance, astrology and more. For more information or to subscribe to Runway, click Runway Beauty.

Thank you to Runway’s CEO, Vincent Mazzotta, for giving us this sneak peek of pages 102-103, “Spring Handbag Review”.

0 comments permalink |  9:00 AM |  4.28.2009 |