It doesn't have a picture, but you can always call and ask.

Atenti’s tote bags are punchy, practical, and perfect for the impromptu road trip. Jennifer Aniston is a fan of the California company, and no wonder. Most of the purses ($45-$88 ) can be coordinated with matching CD wallets and cosmetics bags. What else do you need? Playclothes, 818.755.9559, www.vintageplayclothes.com.

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Yasmena at www.yasmena.net or 212-894-3747 ext. 4937.
Poppie bags at Barneys, Henri Bendels, Bergdorf Goodman or 1-866-4-poppie.
LoLo Giraldo at lologiraldo.com or 917-923-4726.

(I think this is the one where she has to put the bag on her waist like the one she wore when she and Brad went to Spain.)

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An international hit!

Don’t you feel great and proud whenever you hear that one of our local boys has become an international hit? Well, moi couldn’t be happier for our very own palangga, Bacolod’s pride and joy Rafe Totengco, who has conquered the snobbish fashion world of New York, no less.

Naturellement, most of you must have seen Rafe’s tres, tres gorgeous and fabulously stylish bags which have appeared on the arms of chic Gwyneth Paltrow; Elizabeth Hurley; Drew Barrymore; and Jennifer Aniston, among many gorgeous others. And if you’re a fan of that hit HBO show, Sex and the City, you’ve seen the cast toting "Rafe, New York" both on and off screen.

Rafe, New York is available only at the cNew York like Bergdorf Goodman; Henri Bendel; Neiman Marcus; and Barney’s. They’re also available at Isetan and Misukoshi in Japan and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.

But put away those passports and airline tickets, palanggas. Rafe is now delightfully sariling atin, or aton gid na in Ilonggo, because Rafe, New York is available at fashion icon Tina Maristela-Ocampo’s tres popular Mix Boutique in Greenbelt Mall.

Needless to say, Cosmo-Manille’s fashionable hotshots were tres visible at the super special preview of Rafe’s Fall-Winter 2002 Collection. This was after a highly-successful forum at the Filipinas Heritage Library organized by that working heiress Doris Magsaysay-Ho and The Asian Society.

Among those who drooled over Rafe’s gorgeous bags were Filipino foreign-fashion leader Josie Natori, no less; the Zobel sisters three, Sofia, Patsy and Cristina; Tessa-Prieto Valdes; L’Oreal’s Leica Carpo; Cosmopolitan’s Myrza Sison; Asian Society’s Sonia Ner; Ines Delgado and Doris Ho; Knit Queen Lulu Tan Gan; Tatler’s Anton San Diego; our palangga, Marilen Concepcion; Philippine STAR’s twinkle-eyed Mons Tantoco; observant Presidential Daughter Luli Arroyo; and Sandy-Prieto Romualdez, who bought a Rafe, New York beige leather tote; Century Tuna’s workaholic Gabbie Po; Bea Valdez; magnum event organizer and top PR persona Keren Pascual; columnist and PR person Tim Yap; F hosts Angel Aquino and Daphne Osena; Rina Curtis; Agnes Desiderio; and best dressed Mandy Santos.

Delectable hors d’oeuvres, courtesy of the popular Kitchen, naturellement, were served. Anonymous poured red wine and everybody raised their glasses and toasted Rafe Totengco for making Filipinos proud. Believe moi, palanggas, that was one toast I was delighted to make

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The Mini-Bags for the Maxi-Stylish
By Tanya Jensen
Photos by Jennifer Graylock-FWD

Dec 16, 2001/ FWD/ --- Nothing ruins an outfit like an oversized, overstuffed bag. But how is one supposed to go from the boardroom to a holiday bash without lugging around a powder room's worth of supplies?
FWD has sought out some mini bags to fit the essentials - phone, money, keys and lippy - so you can ditch the big bag at work and arrive at your evening shindig streamlined and stylish.

After tiring of dancing around her bag at clubs, designer Emily Blumenthal devised the Yasmena collection. The bags are designed to fit in the palm of your hand, secured by an elastic band on your wrist and one on your middle finger.

"The bags make great gifts for a friend or yourself for the holiday season," Blumenthal tells FWD. The bags, which come in black, gold and silver silk satin for the holidays (they also come in suede, lace, denim and camouflage and feature beaded handles and elastic), are available in three different styles.

"The Paola is a single pouch bag that fits a cell phone, lipstick and credit card," Blumenthal explains. "The Clam, which is the 2-pouch bag, fits cigarettes and other item. And then there is the Mariposa, which is a butterfly style."

The bags are already getting plenty of attention. "A silver bag that I designed will be on 'Sex and the City' next season and is selling really well. I also designed a bag in bone silk/satin with black lace and black beaded handles that matches the latest Jimmy Choo boots and it has been a huge seller," Blumenthal says.

Her next collection will include leather and bridal bags.

Another little bag has been big with stars like Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Mariah Carey, Sarah Jessica Parker and Calista Flockhart. Designer Poppie Harris's mini handbags, called the poppie bag, can be hand held or attached to a belt loop depending on the occasion.

The silk lined, hand sewn, crystal studded strap bags come in a choice of red and black patent leather, blue python, hand painted camouflage and zebra stripe, and an array of colored distressed leathers.

"What gets me excited is merging fashion and functionality; that's really where the inspiration for the poppie bag began," says Harris.

"What really sets the poppie bag apart is the fact that everybody is looking for something like this, a mini bag for the bare essentials. My line right now is intended to allow people to match the bag to their outfit, personality, attire, occasion or mood. I'm multi-tasking everyday and I want easy access without compromising my glamour."

Harris is working on expanding the fabrics and materials she works with and producing some special evening bags. "I am fascinated with evening bags and am looking to reinvent the experience. Something that looks just as hot with jeans as it would with a Valentino or Yves Saint Laurent gown," she says.

Harris also plans to put her penchant for lace and lingerie, cultivated during her time in France, to work on future poppie bags. "I like the idea of having an elegant exterior while keeping something special on the inside 'just for you,'" she hints, "...a beautiful lace clutch lined in a delicate lamb skin."

If beads and lace aren't your bag, Columbian designer Patrica Castaneda designs bags of a more low key nature. Named for her grandmother, Castaneda's LoLo Giraldo line uses heavy, dark pink leather accented with stitching, fur, strap and fringe details. They're perfect for those who embrace boho chic, but still need something glam for a night on the tiles.

"I hand make all the bags myself, and no two are ever the same. I like the fact that each is special," she tells FWD. "The natural look leather that I have worked with so far has been extremely popular, but for spring I want to expand the line and work with other colors and types of leather." To every season, there is a bag.

Edited by: CKChargers at: 3/16/03 6:26:44 am

* ~Irene~ *