Friday Funday

We’ve had a busy work week here at Melie Bianco, so to relieve ourselves of the Monday through Thursday blues we are getting pumped for the weekend!


Put on your TGIF party hats and give our playlists a whirl. They range from the party starters, to the eclectic, to the off-beat but they all set the tone for the kind of weekend each one of us is currently daydreaming about (while remaining hard at work of course!)

Customer Service - Alexis:

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Designer - Juanita:

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Public Relations - Maurissa:

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Create your own playlist and share it with us! Or weigh in on ours and let us know what you think! Each comment will be entered into a drawing to win the ultra fabulous S10-236! The pockets are perfect for carrying your mp3 player in so you can listen to YOUR favorite tunes as you stroll stylishly through the town!




The winner will be announced Monday at 12pm PST, so we can at least help one lucky lady beat the work week blues. Be sure to leave us your email address if you want to be eligible!



XOXO.

MB EXCLUSIVE!

Check out some behind the scenes footage from our Fall/Winter 2010 look book shoot! You will have to keep an eye on the blog for details on the look book's official release, but here is something to hold you over until then:

Visual Director:
Juanita Gomez

Photography:
Juan Gomez

Makeup:
Alexis Galvan

Models:
Catalina Libreros.
Ruth Hernandez
Jacqueline Reeve

Music:
CEO - Everything Is Gonna Be Alright

Edited By:
Maurissa Cannata

We had a lot of fun making it and can't wait to bring you the finished book. Let us know what you think!

XOXO.

Chains of Love

*all images courtesy of stylesight

Chain accessories are everywhere this summer! From the catwalk to the street savvy to celeb pap shots.



All over the world fashionable girls are jumping on the chain gang, and looking good doing it.








Want in on the trend? Try these chains you'd love to be locked up in:

Laura - $90



Ciara - $74



& EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK:

Keira - $86 (Coming Soon)

B-Sued.

According to a federal judge's ruling this week, Vitamin Water's assortment of rainbow colored, sugar water is -GASP!- bad for you. Despite the label's assurance to the contrary, not only will Vitamin Water not conjure up a "healthy state of physical or mental being" , but it won't even keep you "healthy as a horse"!


The Coca-Cola owned company tried to play it's outrageous claims down to "only puffery" (direct quote I swear) but the federal judge did not agree. The case, brought about by the do-gooders over at Center for Science in the Interest, will most likely move on to trial. Coke's only hope at avoiding this fate? Changing the name of Vitamin Water to something slightly less misleading. I'm voting Kool-Aid.

Need a colorful summer pick-me-up that you can feel good about?

Try the Alice in Fuchsia - $54




The Linda in Orange - $66



or the Silvia in Yellow - $79




While we can't claim they will make you "healthy as a horse", we can guarantee you'll turn a few heads!

XOXO.

SUMMER SAMPLE SALE!!!!!!

We are so excited about our first ever Super Summer Sample Sale (try saying that three times fast)!!! Everything will be under $30, which is 75-90% off of our regular retail price! As if that wasn't awesome enough, we will have music, and a free raffle with a winner drawn every hour!

If you live in California please be sure to come hang out! You will have a ton of fun and walk away with the cuuuutest bags for the greatest price. You can't miss it!

See you there!

MACdarte

Following last years wildly successful Target collab the Rodarte sisters are at it again, this time teaming up with makeup giant MAC! Inspiration for the make-up line, slated to launch September 15th, is taken from Rodarte's F/W 2010 collection.




The line came together during a road trip from El Paso to Marfa. While driving through the impoverished towns, the sisters witnessed factory workers heading to work at dawn. It was their dreamy sleep walk that would form the basis for the collection.




The make-up, which takes its cues from the faded earth tones and intermittent pops of vibrant colors used in the clothing line, has already stirred up quite a bit of controversy. Names like "Frosty Pink Juarez" and "Mint Green Factory" have caused some to believe it to be an exploitation of the crime stricken towns. MAC was quick to shut down the rumbles however with a pledge to donate a portion of the proceeds to those in the town in need.

S10-266 in the Press!

Fringe has quickly become a celeb staple, and luckily for the rest of us you pretty much can't go wrong with it! This summer, chain detailing adds an update and helps the trend feel fresh again. If you want to channel your inner Penny Lane (ala Kate Hudson) then pick one up HERE.

Meet Lilia!

Our energetic design assistant (and Captain of Team Jacob) is a lover of street style and sky high stilettos!


Name: Lilia Hernandez

Title: Design Assistant

Favorite thing about working at Melie Bianco: Getting a first look at all the upcoming trends. Its so exciting!!!

Favorite Designer: I've always been a shoe freak I think I buy shoes just because I think they are HOT, and sometimes I never wear them!! so I would have to say Christian Louboutoin







Favorite Melie Bianco Bag: S10-217 - $58
Its So Cute For Summer!!



Favorite Movie: Twilight Saga Movies I Know I Know!!!! I cant help myself!!!

Favorite Memory: Getting proposed to in my new home! I am so in LOVE!!!

Summer Trend you are most excited about: Lovin the nautical trend

Summer Trend you wish would go away: Clogs, They are horrible Leave them to the Swedish.

Favorite Website: LookBook Love looking at different peoples style and how everyone expresses them self so differently




What music are you listening to? Currently I am listing to Electropop (Just went to check out LA ROUX and Loved it)



What inspires you? People with outrageous style that most people might think is strange! I Love To People Watch Its So Much FUN!!!

Starry Eyed.

This season, the stud gets a makeover! Designers are continuing to incorporate the edgy accent into their lines, but the fashion world is now looking towards unexpected shapes, sizes, and patterns in lieu of standard punk fare to freshen things up. Star studs, art deco inspired collages, rounded studs, mixed metallics, and grommet detailing, are just a few of the emerging trends. Noted designers (like the teams behind Giuseppe Zanotti and Jimmy Choo), and trend setting chains (such as H&M and TopShop) are all embracing the trend. You can find the season's new quirkier stud sprinkled over everything from sweaters and jeans, to shoes and handbags.

Just check out this trendboard from the style forecasters over at Stylesight for a push in the right direction:





Love the look? Lucky for you we have the trend covered in our upcoming fall collection! Check out this preview from our upcoming look-book featuring the Kelly bag in green:


Model: Lina Alvarez
Photographer: Juan S. Gomez
Make-Up Artist: Alexis Galvan



Keep an eye out for the debut of the Kelly and our lookbook on meliebianco.com!!!

Inquiring Minds

We want to know how you found out about us! Take the poll, and then leave a comment below for a chance to win! One grand prize winner will get the Silvia (pictured below), while three runners up will each receive one of our super cute and totally practical Melie Bianco totes!








Don't forget to specify where it was that you heard of us if your answer is "Other"!

Thanks and GOOD LUCK!


*winner will be chosen at random on 7/30/2010

Meet Sofia!

Sofia is the kind, caring, and uber-organized, shipping master! Next time you come across the well stocked Melie Bianco section of your favorite boutique, be sure to give a silent thanks!





Name: Sofia

Title: Shipping Manager

Favorite thing about working at Melie Bianco: We are always so busy, it makes the day go by very fast.


Favorite Melie Bianco Bag: S5-320





Favorite Movie: Note Book!!!!!!! & Forever Young...




Summer Trend you are most excited about: Open toe shoes and bright colored dresses!

Favorite Website : YouTube!!!!

What are you listening to? Oldies and Selena...

What inspires you? My kids!!! ♥♥♥

Miu Miu.......Miu?

Chances are British fashionista's found themselves doing a triple take when they received their July issues of UK Elle, British Vogue, and W. Thats because all three cover models, Lily Allen, Eva Mendes, and Freja Beha Erichsen respectively, were photographed wearing the same Miu Miu dress! While Allen wore the lilac version of the appliqued dress (from the Winter 2010 Ready To Wear line), both Mendes and Erichsen were featured in yellow.










Elle editor Lorraine Candy was quoted by the Guardian as saying: "Usually press offices are pretty good at making sure we don't get the same dress as our rivals." She appeared to be playing nice, and was even slightly dismissive about the incident at first, "You have to take these things in your stride," but went on to add "obviously I'd rather it wasn't on a major rival."

I guess in the end it all comes down to: Who wore it best?

Fashion vs Function

When an art enthusiast friend pointed me in the direction of this bespoke luggage collection, I had to do a double take. Not only are all of the items in the Williams Handmade collection just that, hand made, but they are also being touted as completely functional.










Although great for a photo op, I can't exactly imagine lugging one of these around the airport. Which of course leads us back to the eternal debate: function.......or fashion?

Meet Lorraine!

Meet Lorraine! She is Head of Sales at Melie Bianco, and seems to have a sixth sense for what is around the bend in handbag trends!



Name: Lorraine Beltran

Title: Head of Sales

Favorite thing about working at Melie Bianco: Consulting our buyers with the upcoming trends, being part of the buying team, and working closely with the designers when developing new styles.

Favorite Designer: Alexander McQueen he was so over the top and drastic, he wasn't afraid to design.

Favorite Melie Bianco Bag: The Woven Satchel #W8-312

Favorite Movie: Pretty Woman

Favorite Memory: Bonjour! Paris when I saw the Eiffel Tower, I was in love!

Summer Trend you are most excited about: The Studded Punk Rocker Look!
-S10-199 $83

Favorite Website: www.polyvore.com, love the site.

What are you listening to? Lately I am listening to classical music, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.

What inspires you? My family and traveling!