When it comes to shopping, I am either “just looking” or on a mission. If it’s the latter, I typically have a very specific vision in my head of what I want (regardless of whether I know it actually exists). For example: Last year I was on the hunt for the perfect black tote. It needed to be work-appropriate but not so formal that I couldn’t slog it to Whole Foods; oversized to fit a laptop, but not attache-looking; timeless but not too traditional. Oh, and it also needed to be in my price range, which left out all of the perfect options I found at Neiman’s. In the end, I found exactly what I needed at Banana Republic—and get more compliments than any other bag I’ve owned.
But that was last year. THIS year I’ve been on a mission for a brown tote. All of the above criteria apply, but with the additional challenge of finding the right shade of brown: not too dark, not too light, and not too orangey. After months without any luck, I spotted my dream bag at Pumpz & Co in the Galleria. The color was perfection, and the leather! Oh, the buttery softness of it. As Rachel Zoe would say, I die.
The designer, Be&D, is actually Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain, who collaborate on this NYC-based luxury line of belts, shoes, handbags, belts. On Thursday, Steve (the “D”) will be at Pumpz to preview the line’s latest bags and footwear, and offer a sneak peek of the Spring 2009 collection. Here is a sampling of Be&D’s bests, including one Belleville Tote in Saddle that may just be “the one.”
Be&D Trunk Show
October 23, 11-8 p.m.
Designer appearance: 3-7 p.m.
Pumpz & Co.
Galleria, Edina
