Brands We Like: Angela & Roi [Interview]

                                 

Angela & Roi is a brand with a purpose. Handbag designers Angela and Roi Lee started A&R in order to merge classic, minimalist design style with philanthropy. They encourage you to "donate by color," with $5 from each sale going to one of eleven charities.  For example, a pink item supports breast cancer, red for HIV/ AIDS, and white for lung cancer.

Each handbag is made from high-quality vegan leather and durable fabrics and comes with a 100 day warranty.  Their bags are clean, with sleek designs and definitely look high end (I love it.) You can find all of the lovely bags from A&R at www.angelaroi.com.

Check out our exclusive interview with Chief Fashion Officer and Co-Founder: Angela, of Angela & Roi below:

How did you get started in the fashion industry?

Roi has always been a businessman, he found me and saw a future in the fashion industry with me. He saw my love for fashion, and as he loves me, he found a way to intertwine our passions. Growing up, my mother molded my interest in fashion, she bought me the best quality and most beautifully crafted handbags, and styled my outfits with impeccable taste; she showed me a whole new world. As I grew older, and independent of my parents, I learned the truth behind fashion. It was too expensive for me as a college student to buy these handbags I grew up with; I could no longer afford those high quality bags. I quickly realized no one sold quality bags with classic design for an affordable price. Why can’t luxury be affordable?

Style Post: Vintage Dooney and Bourke Purse.

Hello hello hello :)

How's it been going guys? I found the most adorable retro Dooney and Bourke purse while I was thrifting a couple weeks ago. I have a smaller red and brown version that I found years ago in the Loop in St. Louis. Great find. But this one is so much bigger, a bit of a satchel style, and was only $25. That girl be thrifting. This is definitely one of my favorite bags of the moment...and in perfect time for Fall.

So what have been some of your favorite thrift store finds? Drop me a comment below with the deets folks!

Designer Spotlight: Nila Prawirawidjaja.

Top Line (Left-Right):  Bag 1, Bag 2, Bag 3  Middle Line (L-R): Bag 1, Bag 2, Bag 3 

Bottom Line (L-R): Bag 1, Bag 2, Bag 3

This stylish handbag line by Nila Prawirawidjaja  is exactly what you need in your life. A totally affordable line (with prices averaging between 50 and 80 dollars)  that emphasizes seasonal trends and bold colors and embellishments. Nila has two lines, Nila Anthony, and Jesslyn Blake. The Jesslyn Blake line is more bohemian and has noticeably more expensive pieces. I prefer Nila Anthony not only price wise, but style wise.

Nila was born in Indonesia and studied at American Intercontinental University where she got her degree in graphic design. She then moved to Cali with her dad and made her first bag in 2005. I guess the rest is history.

Nila's bags are fun, bold, and eye catching with fun designs and styles. Plus I have one of her bags: a leatherette satchel in a nice green color, and I'm telling you guys: compliments all day long. It's such a good looking bag and it wears extremely well. I bought a Steve Madden bag at a comparable price around the same time and it looks a mess now. Straps wearing down, color rubbing off...all of that. But my Nila Anthony bag literally looks like I just bought it yesterday. With that bag alone, I can vouch for the quality.

So what do you think about Nila's bags?

Head to Nila-Anthony.com for a look at all of their dope bags.
And let me know if you get anything! I'd love to hear about it.

Peace.

Outfit of the Day: Blue Christmas Sweater and Turban.

I think Theophilus phrased it the best when he said "I think holiday sweaters somehow just make the holiday better..."

You know what brother? I second that emotion. There's no better time for a big bulky sweater, than around the holidays. My sweater of choice is this navy blue and white hand knit vintage joint. I wore it with two early Christmas gifts from Chi Chi (hey girl, heeyy): a blue houndstooth scarf that I wore as a turban and a red Olivia + Joy bag with metal accents.

Then I have on one of the most comfortable pairs of jeans I own with wheat Timbs. I'm not sure if Timbs will ever really go out of style. They always seem to find their way back into relevance don't they?

Welp. Enjoy your holidays.
More pics below:

Holiday Gifts Ideas.

Fun gift ideas for the ever so quickly approaching holiday season.
Whatever you're celebrating, these items are it cool, unique, and sure to be appreciated.

Here are 13 groovy gifts, all reasonably priced:

1. Feeling breezy? How bout a foxy scarf?
2. Sparkly nail polish always feels like a party.
3. Adorable Tory Burch iPhone cases with faux stitching.
4. Statement necklace with cone studs.
5. Skull cardigan.
6. Goonies mug...classic.
7. Cat-eye sunglasses with a retro feel.
8. Faux leather wedges for only $20. More colors available.
9. Yellow rabbit cross body bag.
10. Photo album for the nostalgic.
11. Banana flask.
12. Glass skull decanter.
13. Pow. Gun handle mug.

Bags'a Make Her Dance.

Reed Krakoff Atlantique Leather Tote,  Chloe Paraty Leather Bag, Victoria Beckham Victoria Tote, Marc by Marc Jacobs Mini Shoulder Bag, Charlotte Olympia Big Kiss Clitch,  Alexander McQueen De Manta Clutch

As any woman knows, you can never have too many handbags. And there are some seriously beautiful handbags out there right now. I really love the vivid blues and oranges, so the Chloe and Beckham are yowzers to me. I remember when my sister got her first Chloe bag a few years ago....the leather so soft, yal. *cues up Weezy. And the Charlotte Olympia Big Kiss bag is just so fun. I would probably wear it all the time.

But really I love all of the bags above.
Which ones your fave?

Urban Outfitters Accessories Wishlist.

Diamonds are Forever Earrings, Cambridge Satchel Co. Bag, Galactic Ring, Fingerless Leather Gloves, Colorblock Envelope Clutch , Spitfire Underwhelm Sunglasses, La Specs Rudeboy Sunglasses

You guys ever pay attention to the dopeness which is Urban Outfitters accessories? They have so many varieties and styles, and it's all fashion forward and fun.

Some of My Fave's Are:

The Cambridge Satchel Co. Large Classic Satchel
I have been wanting a bag from The Cambridge Satchel Co.every since I first saw them. They're beautifully constructed and really sleek. And they are much bigger than they seem (the large ones at least). I like big though...#oww.

Check my previous post where Basso and Brooke and The Cambridge Satchel Co. team up.

La Spec Rude Boys Sunglasses
And any glasses that are called "Rude Boys" are winners in my book, just winners.

Galactic Ring
I imagine anyone that buys this ring gets a million comments a day. It's an interesting shape and has great colors.

Bag Lady.

These are some of the coolest bags I've been looking at lately.
Naturally, these are a bit outside of a normal budget, but I'm not exactly concerned with buying the designer brands.

Take note of the style and structure of the bag and go to your local thrift store or department store and try to find something that reminds you of these at a much cheaper cost.
This is the look, now go out and make it your own.

Neon, crochet, metallic, bold clutches, and animal prints.
Yes!
DOLCE AND GABANA
Crocheted-cotton leather-trimmed tote
$2,895
I love the multi colored crochet
It's super bright and super fun.
It's also a relatively large bag and would be a big statement piece of any outfit.

BOTTEGA VENETA
Watersnake-trimmed ceramic and glass knot clutch
$3,550

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Sweet Charity python and leather shoulder bag
$2,495



MIU MIU
Hand-painted watersnake shoulder bag
$2,150
I love prints that are hand-painted or have that hand-painted look.
It would be pretty unique if you got a bag from the thrift store and custom painted it yourself.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON
Embellished fringed suede clutch
$975
Rich blue suede accented with shells and fringe along the outside.
A vacation in a handbag.



VERSACE
Metallic leather shoulder bag
$1,625
This bag is gorgeous. 
The shape of the bag, and the bright metallic with the chain?
It can do no wrong in my eyes.