what are you buying?
Genlux´s Shannon Bowen chats with three designers of highly covetable handbags about their retail finds and fantasies. WHO: Calleen Cordero, designer and owner, Calleen Cordero, Los Angeles, CA
WHO: Abbe Held, creative director, co-president, and founder, Kooba, New York
Photo: Karin Kohlberg
BUYLINES
gENLUXshop
Beth Orduña diamond earrings, $1760, Miriam Claudette, West Hollywood, 310-659-9099 Abbe Held
SHOPPER I.D.: Because of my work, shopping is a big part of my everyday life. I’m always looking for what’s out there and new finds—window-shopping, scouting for the newest boutiques and vintage pieces. As a result, it’s always hard to resist something that catches my eye. WHERE ARE YOU SHOPPING?
Basically everywhere. I love Barneys for shoes. Antique home shops SHOPPER I.D.: I’m an impulse buyer. If I see Beth Orduña on the Lower East Side of New York. Distant Origin, 153 Mercer something that I know is handmade somewhere in a small village, as opposed to mass-produced, I ring, $5500, Distant Origin for great gifts. And of St, New York, 212-941course, the Gap for my kids. just have to have it. If I don’t get it, I’ll just keep Miriam 0024, distantorigin.com thinking about it and have to go back and try and Claudette, WHAT ARE YOU 310-659find it all over again. BUYING LATELY? I’ll never need 9099 another handbag, so instead I double WHERE ARE YOU SHOPPING? Midnight Farm up on shoes! Recently, I bought a pair in Martha’s Vineyard. It’s my favorite store in the Bottega Venof black suede Balenciaga highU.S. Tamara (the co-owner, with Carly Simon) has eta multi-floral heeled oxfords and Miu Miu such eclectic taste—Dosa Clothing designs, the best Nappa sandal, pumps. I love my Bottega hand-selected home furnishings and art, Calleen Cordero $1290, Veneta wedges. In the last wonderful candles, and the most exquisite Bottega Venfew months I’ve really focused Kooba Dale jewelry; my personal favorite is this I Profumi di eta boutiques, my attention on my home, and I love picking up bag in pyFirenze amber oil that I can wear every day—I just 877-362new accessories that can mix things up a thon, $895, love it. Martha’s Vineyard has so many wonderful 1715 Irene Neuwirth Traffic, LA, Beth Orduña bit…trays, frames, and vintage objects. shops, and it’s so relaxing that I now take my two gold necklace 323-969moonstone ring, kids, Colin and Kai, there every summer for a week. ACCESSORY FAVES YOU CRAVE: Since we make with rose-cut $4180, Miriam 1962 accessories, my new favorite items for spring are WHAT ARE YOU BUYING LATELY? I do a lot of trading chrysoprase and Claudette, 310the Dale in printed python and our black patent- turquoise cabowith other designers, and for clothing, I love Ali Blankley 659-9099 for Hazel Brown. Her designs are exquisite, and the quality leather wallet that I’ll carry around at night as a chons, $11,290, is some of the best out there. They even go so far as to dye clutch. I’m also craving an Irene Neuwirth long Barneys New pendant necklace that I keep visiting, but haven’t York, Beverly Hills, fabrics in tea bags, and I just love her craftsmanship. Beth splurged on—yet. Orduña for Beth Orduña Jewelry is another favorite of 310-276-4400 mine. She has been in the business a long time, and her HIDDEN TREASURES: Zero in NYC. I can always find interestpieces are pretty magnificent. Love Heals is another favor- ing tops and other great pieces there to add to my wardrobe, ite, with every piece made up in Ojai. Over the last couple and the people are so friendly. Anthropologie always has fun, MIDNIGHT FARM: of years, I have been building a retreat center in Ojai called novelty gift ideas. 18 Water-Cromwell Irene Neuwirth moonstone Small white Calliote Canyon; I’m in the final stages of decorating there Lane, Vineyard Haven, marquise cluster necklace, patent-leather and have found some pretty amazing pieces of art right MA, 508-693-1997, $5730, Barneys New York, wallet, $225, there in Ojai. One of my favorites is Shastra at ZS Gallery. midnightfarm.net Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400 kooba.com I just purchased a beautiful oil painting from them.
Matteo Cluny Pillowcase Pair, $145–175, Sanders Bolster, $245, and Darn, $4495–4995, Matteo Knot Throw, $995, 888-MATTEO-1, matteohome.com
ACCESSORY FAVES YOU CRAVE: Nepal Scarves from Katmandu in Santa Monica. They have great Indian prayer scarves. And Matteo Irish linen sheets—one of my all-time favorite things to splurge on.
The Ige gift shop has terrific gifts for all ages and some real collector’s items. Helene has such great taste, from her beautifully designed T-shirts to all kinds of great gifts for children. It’s a one-of-a-kind shop with stuff you probably won’t find anywhere else. Jesselyn bag in Brown Borello, $699, Calleen Cordero, LA, 323-934I Profumi di Firenze Ambra del 5541, calleencordero.com Nepal, $99, midnightfarm.net HIDDEN TREASURES:
136 GENLUX SPRING / 2009
Sir Alistair Rai long wrap scarf in beige, $95, Intuition, LA, 310-234-8442 Kooba black patentleather wallet, $295, kooba.com
Anthropologie, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, NY, 212-246-0386, anthropologie.com