Matching Shoes, Bags and Sunglasses

An amazing thing about big labels is that they produce cohesive collections of accessories that could be matched perfectly. There is a big truth behind the idea - marketing. Brand awareness to be exact. The more consistent the brand is with using the corporate colors, patterns and logo, the more recognizable they will be among consumers - even those who are not fashion forward. In fact, many luxurious labels target customers who are not all that fashionable, but they have money. Why, well, because many people who can really afford Gucci purse may be very busy making money, not following fashion trends. But when walking into the store to buy a gift or a treat, such people, again very busy, will naturally be drawn to labels they recognize.


The most consistent corporate branding used on products are Luis Vuitton. Other close followers are Gucci and Coach. Dior, Chanel, Prada and the rest like experimenting, however in the past couple of years started to recognize the power of consistent branding and made entire collections that share same logo elements at least.


Matching shoes, bags and sunglasses is a pure joy. You can wear them separately or all together and make heads turn in your direction. Wow! You are a Gucci girl, some would say. Tell me if this is not a compliment. Also, you can work on creating your brand sets by pairing some of the clothing with the accessories from the same company. Here is our try:

Match Gucci

Gucci Vintage Web $995	Gucci Interlocking Ballerina $425	Gucci 3162 $176

Match Dior

Dior Gaufre $3300	Dior Biker Boot $1225	Dior Coquette 1 $245

Match Valentino

Valentino 2011 $2,695	Valentino Patented Studs $725	$187

Match Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli Clutch $468	Roberto Cavalli High-Heeled Sandals $434	Roberto Cavalli RC573S

Fashion Museums of the World

Fashion is life for many people. Designers are geniuses and models are celebrities. Fashion shows are entertainment and what they produce drive our look and ultimately feel. There are many museums dedicated to this wonderful theme.

In fact, museums are a real inspiration source for many designers. Many provide a very deep history report on the narrow theme they represent. Most major cities in the world have textile museums such as Toronto, Washington, London. Some have more narrow topic like shoes or costume or lingerie.

Bath Museum of Costume

Bath Museum of Costume has collections of Dress of the Year, photographs, corsets, and rooms representing particular century. It is one of the most complete and known fashion museums in the world.

Toronto Bata Shoe Museum

What may sound like not a big deal turns out to be an amazing find. Your wildest dreams will not create models on the permanent display of the Bata Shoe Museum. You will find a deep dive in history from very early prehistoric shoes displays to fancy 17 century embroidered models to an avant-garde modern crazy stilettos. There is also exhibit of shoes once worn by celebrities including Princess Diana and Elvis Prestley. And even little Chinese shoes that were once worn by poor ladies with debilitating feet in late 19 century. Ouch!

Amsterdam Purses Museum

Amsterdam Purses Museum is one not to miss when travelling to Holland. Purses museum will open your mind on what is done to these cute accessories that woman can’t live without. Inspired by purse business evolution museum displays thousands of bags, totes and clutches made out of sophisticated fabrics, embroideries, jewels, crystals, ivory and more.

Los Angeles FIDM Museum

FIDM Museum is part of the Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing in Los Angeles. Created to aide students on inspiration and research museum has a permanent collection of womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, fragrance, textile, jewellery and accessories that total over 15,000 pieces. You will find many designer pieces from almost all big names like Gianni Versace, Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and others. Instead of showing students pictures and PowerPoint presentations FIDM institution decided to create a live exhibit for them. Wow!

Mode Museum in Antwerp, Belgium

Mode Museum is fully dedicated to fashion and art of fashion and presents over 25,000 items covering all aspects of clothing, shoes and accessories. An amazing modern building presents permanent collections and year round rotating exhibitions. Also, you can see most of the collection online!

Other dorky museums are Celebrity Underwear Museum (Musee du Slip) in Brussels, Counterfeit Museum (Musee de la Contrafaçon or Counterfeit Museum) in Paris and Leila’s Hair Museum in Missouri.

Dior Sunglasses 2011. Against All Odds

Dior has attained maximum attention this year. The controversies that spurred in early spring seem to only enhance the label awareness. Dior creative team however has been very productive - especially throughout their Dior sunglasses 2011 collection. While you will see many models that are clearly made trendy, Dior is still trying to retain the position of upper class brand and offer very wide selection of classical models: smaller rectangular or oval. They also have been huge on cat eye and while everyone just talking about the trend Dior offered close to 10 models that if not very cat-eye, are at least inspired by the idea.

Dior in 2011 has been very generous on colour. One may not say so from their Fall/Winter 2011 presentation made earlier this week in Paris, glasses were put on its own pace. Brave aquamarine, rose, pink, red, purple are all offered in sunglasses – perfect match to purse and shoes 2011 collection.
And a real treat, of course has been left for men. Dior Homme – a fully dedicated to men eyewear line has been fulfilled with new models. Dior Homme does have very clearly defined style – a bit military inspired and a bit sensual. Enjoy!

Trendy and Colorful Dior Sunglasses

Dior Paname	Dior Zaza 2	Dior MOHOTANI
Dior Hatutaa	Dior Tahuata	DIOR STRIKING

All Time Classics

DIOR MITZA 2	Dior Model 2	Dior MYLADYDIOR 6
Dior Coquette 2	Dior SIMPLICIE 1	Dior SYMBOL

Something for Men

DIOR HAVANE	Dior Homme Black Tie 101	Dior Homme BLACK TIE 102
Dior Homme BLACK TIE 111	Dior Homme BLACK TIE 112	Dior Homme BLACK TIE 112

Casual Favorites

DIOR PANTHER 1	DIOR GRANVILLE 2	Dior Ladycat 2
Dior Ladycat 1	Dior BENGALE	Dior GRANVILLE 1

Fall/Winter 2011 Buzz from Dior

Dior has revealed the Fall/Winter 2011 collection in Muse Rodin today. Internet already booming with mixed reviews of the first Dior collection ever made without the lead designer. There are many companies that don’t have a creative lead. It is mostly common in mid market notably brand names Zara, Club Monaco, H&M with some only having guest designers on occasion, it is not something people expect with luxurious brands. House of Dior has always enjoyed prominent, legendary couture chiefs. Founder Christian Dior (1946-1957), Yves Saint Laurent (1957-1960), Marc Bohan (1960-1989), Glanfranco Ferré (1989-1997), John Galliano (1997-2011) collectively brought the company to one of the greatest fashion enterprises in the world. And now, for the fist time a collection is released by a team of designers, by no doubt talented, but not legendary. The collection basically shows depression. The John Galliano scandal is ongoing. The one day trial took place on June 22, 2011. There is no expectation that he will receive any jail time and the maximum fine for the offense is less than 30,000 Euro. But the shame and grim mood will remain on the Dior name for years to come.

Dior is not new to crisis. In 1978 the Boussac Group with House of Dior part of it went bankrupt putting the house at risk of collapse. In fact when Willot Group purchased Boussac Group there were talks that Dior will cease existence. Only brilliant business sense of then CEO Bernard Arnault rebuilt the company in collaboration of then Dior’s chief designer Marc Bohan. Today House of Dior is financially sound, but the grim reputation and signs of struggle were clearly on the way to make yesterday’s collection a success.