Archive for the 'Must Have Accessories' Category

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

Accessorize Your Man this summer

We talk a lot about our latest fashion accessories, but there is one fashion accessory we rarely talk about, our arm candy. No, I am not talking about your sweet new designer handbag; I’m talking about the sweetie you wrap your arm around of everywhere you go.

This summer if you’re going out to a beach bar, and the first thing your man throws on is an old T-shirt and his favorite pair of jeans, stop him at the door! It’s OK, we know what you are going through. We are here to help. Here are a few tips to accessorize your man that will have him looking hot this summer:

1.       Designer Watch: This summer accessorize your man with a nice watch with a brown or dark brown leather watch band. My choice would be the sexy “Brown Buckle Up Watch” by Guess.

2.       Polo Shirt: If your man insists on the same t-shirt he used to clean his car with. Suggest a designer polo shirt, it is comfortable and acceptable. A classic favorite is the “Lacoste Dandy”.

3.       Shorts: A popular choice is cargo, and you can’t go wrong with the surf themed clothing brand Holister. I would suggest the “Little Harbor” by Holister that way you won’t have to worry about a matching belt.

4.       Dark Colored Belt: if it matches the shoes even better, if it doesn’t make sure it at least doesn’t clash. I don’t have much of a suggestion here, but I am willing to listen to any if you have them.

5.       Sandals: Brown or dark colored flip flops are acceptable and trendy and usually very comfortable. Rainbow Sandals are a commodity at beach communities, snag a pair of these so you don’t look like a tourist.

6.       Designer Wallet: This is one is important, just as our handbags tell a story about who we are, the same goes for a man’s wallet. For this I suggest the well made Rioni Men’s Wallet with Screen.

Monday, May 12th, 2008

Is your purse ready for something BOLD?

In a girl’s life a day without your phone is like a day lost in the desert. In this day and age can you really survive more than a few hours without your phone? Granted, that depends on your line of work as well, but if you are like me I need a good phone as bad as I need good purse. I was excited to hear a few days ago that Research in Motion, better known as the makers of the popular cellular phone brand Blackberry, announced the eagerly awaited Blackberry Bold (Blackberry 9000). I can’t wait!

But, what about the Apple iPhone you say? I can honestly say that both are great phones and the main difference people will be comparing is the full touch screen on the iPhone versus the built in keyboard on the Blackberry. With a full touch screen the iPhone has a clear advantage at being a media player and a web browser however I still prefer the convenience of a physical keyboard for typing emails, entering calendar events / task list, and text messaging which I find myself doing more often.

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

Backpacks: Geek or Chic?

Everyone has one, but unless you are on the go a lot, not many people need one. Nonetheless, designers have figured out ways to make the dual (sometimes single) strap device that you wear on your back fashionable again. In short, people usually just call it a backpack. The once boring piece used primarily to shuttle school books and classroom accessories is now finding their way back to being excellent fashion accessories. Top designers like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach and who could forget Rioni have all made cute backpacks. They have a point, freeing up your arms and shoulders so you can do something else is advantageous over handbags and I am sure not everyone likes to look like a hitch hiker when they are on the go. But, handbags still win my vote; the ability to access all my things quickly is indispensible. So what do you think Geek or Chic?

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

Bow Ties!

 

The bow tie is like the icing on a cake.  Just like how icing makes a cake sweet, a bow tie makes people also look sweet (a trend for both men and women).   From tying our shoelaces to using bow ties as a decorative icon on a model’s outfit at a fashion runway, who would have thought that such a simple ribbon would become such a big hit.

Just recently while walking around shops and browsing through magazines, I have been noticing bow ties on everything.  For example, I have seen bow ties on hair bands, hair clips, necklaces, belts, men’s tuxedos, and of course, on shoes.  Even though bow ties have been around ever since we were toddlers tying that first shoelace, this simple decoration continues to be part of our modern fashion world.

Any sized bow tie will still give any item, a finishing touch of completion.  Take a look at women lingerie for example, it is already small as it is but adding bow ties as little details gives the lingerie an extra touch of cuteness and thus making the lingerie more sellable.  Most of the time it is used as decoration, but lately it is the main attraction of fashion.

Bow ties are a huge hit in our fashion world.  Just earlier today, I was at H&M and one of their handbags only consisted of a large print of a fancy bow tie.  You can wear a plain simple dress and just have a big bow tie belt and that outfit alone could make you look fashionable.  It really is as simple as that!

Friday, April 4th, 2008

The Olympics in Beijing is coming! What should I bring?

First I would like to say that I am jealous of everyone that is going to the Olympics 2008 in Beijing! But for those who never been there before I have some advice to share. The last time I have been there was about three years ago and my first time was eight years ago. Granted that three years ago China maybe significantly different from what it is now. It’s almost like comparing dog years to human years. The first time I went to China it was bicycles on dirt roads, few places had running water, and they never even heard of a credit card, the last time I went it blew my mind countless Mercedes and BMWs on eight lane highways, five star hotels and restaurants everywhere you look, and yes American Express don’t leave home without it. Anyway back to the topic, here some things you can bring to be prepared:

1.       A handbag with zipper closure, even though China is no longer the third world country we once thought it was, poverty and theft is still very much at large. Recommended: Rioni is rather meticulous at making all their handbags with zipper closures.

2.       English to Chinese (Simplified) electronic translator, in case you need something you can type it in English and show them the Chinese if they do not understand. Recommended: ECTACO iTRAVL

3.       An unlocked, quad band, GSM mobile phone, whew that was a mouthful. These are sometimes called a world phone; make sure you purchase a SIM card immediately when you get to China. Recommended: Motorola Razor this is fairly inexpensive phone with all the listed hardware.

4.       Travel sized tissues and toilet paper. Most places in China are not accustomed to using as much tissues napkins as we are. Recommended: Kleenex Pocket Packs

5.       Feminine Hygene products, this is important because during my stay I had a very hard time finding a store that carried tampons. Recommended: Tampax Pearl

6.       Your passport and ID along with a color copy of your passport and ID; put it separate from you real passport. Recommended: Rioni’s Air Travel Organizer.

7.       An extra duffel bag for souvenirs, memorabilia, and gifts. Recommended: A duffel bag, if you want to go fancy, Rioni’s Duffel Bag.

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

Black is Boring, How to Travel with Style

Flight from New York to Chicago at 8:00AM for a conference meeting, a flight from Chicago to Atlanta the next day for convention, and a flight from Atlanta back to New York in time for dinner. Whew! I’d hate to be that person, too bad that person was me. At first I was excited, I get to go to two different cities! But then when reality hit I knew I would be indoors all day for meetings and conventions. Since I was going to do a lot of traveling it gave me the excuse to buy Rioni’s Air Travel Organizer. It’s nice because I could put my airplane tickets, driver’s license, credit card, ATM card, airport lounge card (Thanks Boss!), my corporate ID, some emergency cash and a pen all in the same place. There was also room for a passport but since I wasn’t going out of the country I just put a my family picture in there. I really like this piece because it’s not bulky and its really well designed.

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

It’s Not a Purse!

Our focus always seems to be on women and what is trendy and fit their needs. Well to all the guys out there, I know- you have needs too! Why should men have to be stuck carrying everything that they need throughout the day in the limited amount of pockets that they have that are their jeans? Of course, we can’t take away men’s manhood-so the best solution just might be the man bag!

I know, I know- the guys out there are thinking, “I refuse to carry my girlfriend’s purse while we’re out, what makes you think I’m gonna carry a bag of my own.” There are actually a lot of bags out there that those metrosexual men out there might want to look into. All the designers seem to think men should have a bag of their own as well.
 

How to Choose a Man Bag
When looking for a man bag, the bag you’re considering should have the following characteristics to serve the purposes that you want it to: small, sleek, lightweight, and NOT look like a purse. I’m sure it’s obvious to think of briefcases, messenger bags, and backpacks to be man bags, but they’re not really considered so. They’re a tad big to be carrying on a regular basis, especially if you’re not headed to the workplace or school. A good rule to keep in mind is to stay away from fanny packs and bags with fancy designs, patterns, and the color that is flirty-like pink.
 

Three to Get You Started
Below are three man bags that I think are decent and worth considering. If you’re interested in more, there are plenty of designers out there who love men, and think they deserve man bags as well. So do some research!
 

By Coach-Legacy Nylon Flight Bag

This one’s light and compact with adjustable straps that can be worn like a messenger bag. It comes in a great neutral color as well.

Found on E-bags.com-Victorinox Pecision Gear

Carry this around, and it doesn’t even look like a man bag. It has many organizational panels to store different accessories and electronics. It is worn cross-body across the back.

By Prada-Deerskin Camera Bag

It’s made of brown deerskin with golden hardware. Comes with long straps.
 

The best thing about looking for man bags is that they naturally comes in a neutral color tone that doesn’t draw extra unnecessary attention.
 

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

Ladies… Which luggage is for you?

There are three important factors to consider when purchasing travel luggage. The first important thing to consider is convenience. The second thing is practicality. And last but not least, is the size of the luggage. Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s dive straight into the heart of the matter!

Convenience is a crucial determining factor when purchasing a luggage. One needs to ask themselves before purchasing a luggage: “for what purpose will the luggage be used?” For example, let’s say that one is going somewhere for only a weekend. Wouldn’t it be terribly inconvenient to lug around a half-empty humungous luggage? One may also consider trying the Rioni Signature 360* luggage. With its six wheels, one can maneuver this luggage in any direction making it very simple and convenient to roll. Besides convenience, one must not forget about which luggage will be more practical.

When searching for a luggage, make sure you take practicality into consideration. Let’s say you need a luggage with a lot of compartments for all your different small belongings, then DO NOT purchase the classic Louis Vuitton luggage. This luggage is simple and elegant, but not the most practical luggage out there. Instead, try something with more pockets and compartments (ie: Rioni Signature Medium Luggage).

Nowadays, the size of one’s travel piece is crucial. After 9-11, stringent homeland security policies, and smaller airline carry-on bins, size is now a big decision making aspect when one decides to purchase a new luggage piece. To make matters even more tragic, domestic airlines only allow up to 50 pounds when checking-in baggage. Well, unless you are willing to pay the overage; which would probably cost you an arm and a leg. This is why it is important to take into consideration which size of luggage will suit your needs. Let’s say you are only traveling for a weekend; then try a smaller carry-on luggage. And if you decide to travel for several weeks, then go ahead and try a larger luggage that you can check into the airlines.

So, remember the “C.P.S.” for luggage shopping:
“C” stands for convenience.
“P” stands for practicality.
“S” stands for size.

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

A Keychain that makes life easier?

For most people keychains are plain metal rings which you pry open and slide keys in. There is nothing wrong with this, but personally I believe there is always room for luxury, especially since you deserve it. 

Rioni has a keychain wallet that organizes your keys with individual rings and folds neatly into a small wallet. Rioni’s keychain wallet also has a coin pocket in the back which is very useful when you are parked at metered parking spot. I can even begin to tell you how many times I went to grab some coffee and it took longer than expected. But conveniently I just take out some coins from my keychain to feed the meter. Small things like this may seem very simple but in the end it just makes life easier. 

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

Wristlet Over a Big Bag Any Day

Now and days big bags are what we see on the fashion runway, on models, and what women are carrying on an everyday basis. But what about the wristlet? Many might overlook them thinking they’re tiny, but I think they’re a great way to go, maybe even better than the latest big bag trends. 

Wristlets are convenient, compact, fast and very travel friendly, not to mention making its mark in fashion. Many wristlets have a strap that can be adjusted so that it can be looped to one side or looped to both to act like a normal mini handbag. Some are very simple, having one compartment, while others act more like organizers, with credit card holders, cell phone holder pouch, and side zipper pockets. Some wristlets even come with a keyring on so that you can easily attach your keys to it. Wristlets can be used for special occasions like a night of dancing of out on the town, or slightly larger wristlets that can be for everyday use. It allows you to carry the necessities that you need, without adding strain to you back and the accumulation of unnecessary items. 

One of my favorites for wristlets in general for variety in size are the ones made by Coach. They also have a variety of styles as well. One of my favorites for everyday wristlets is the Wristlet Clutch made by RIONI. It comes in Aristo Brown, Aristo Black, and Signatuare Brown. It retails between $78-84. 

Let me know of any great wristlet finds!