No Junk in this Trunk
From Handbags to Heiresses: September's 8 Most Exciting Trunk Shows
Designers, stylists and even a budding fashion mogul are making trips to Houston this month.
Hammitt handbag
Image: Courtesy of Hammitt
Sept. 2-3: Hammitt handbag trunk show at Tootsies
For all the fanfare that came with the arrival of the coveted Mansur Gavriel bucket bags, it's far from the only handbag line at Tootsies worthy of attention. A few years ago Stephanie Hammitt was just another girl in Los Angeles looking for a leather handbag that was both functional and stylish; her riffs on fringe and other 70s-inspired patterns for Fall 2015—not to mention each bag's lifetime warranty—make her line worth a look.
Sept. 11: Theory trunk show at Neiman Marcus
Just in case we forgot, the 1990s weren't all about choker necklaces and babydoll dresses. The clean-cut cool of the decade is what Theory is exploring for fall, from chunky cowl-neck knits to sleeveless A-line dresses (worn over a turtleneck, natch).
Armenta earrings
Image: Courtesy of Armenta
Sept. 12: Armenta personal appearance at Neiman Marcus
Emily Armenta credits the tools she learned while getting her MBA at Rice as the impetus for starting her line of beautifully intricate and evocative jewelry. Ask her how she did it and pick up something from her new fall mesh collection when she makes an in-store appearance at Neiman Marcus.
Sept. 15: St. John fitting room event with Lela Briggs at Neiman Marcus
Briggs has been a stylist with the brand for over 20 years, so there's literally no one better to help shoppers attain St. John's signature uptown elegance.
Escada owner Megha Mittal
Image: Courtesy of Escada
Sept. 24: Escada owner Megha Mittal personal appearance at Neiman Marcus
In 2009, 32-year-old Mittal, daughter-in-law of the richest man in Europe, won a bidding war to purchase prestige brand Escada, a luxury staple since the 1970s that was showing its age. The Wharton grad and former Goldman Sachs banker has brought a freshness to the line—or maybe it's just the flawless way she wears it.
Sept. 24-25: Paige Gamble trunk show and personal appearance at Elizabeth Anthony
Once you've discovered Gamble's exotic leather handbags, you'll never forget them. The interchangeable gusset panels on her Zipper bags invite owners to design their own color and pattern combos, adding an element of fun and ensuring that you'll never see the same bag across the room.
Sept. 27: Elizabeth and James trunk show at Tootsies
No celebrities-cum-designers have been as critically acclaimed as Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen, who have earned raves from fashion insiders for their take on minimalism with The Row. That aesthetic has also lately filtered down to Elizabeth and James, their more accessible collection, where body-skimming separates are paired with ultra-nubby knits.
Jewelry from Matthew Campbell Laurenza's Valhalla collection
Sept. 30-Oct. 1: M.C.L. by Matthew Campbell Laurenza jewelry trunk show and personal appearance at Tootsies
Laurenza has a Clark Kent vibe that suggests he'd be drawing comic books or designing graceful computer code had be not turned his talents and imagination to the world of gems. Check out his latest opulent, colorful collection inspired by Valhalla and the conquering spirit of the Vikings.
