European Style in the Okanagan Valley...

Nussbag. You saw it here first.

Okay, well, second... as I have just featured gorgeous Austrian accessories company Nussbag in a fashion shoot for the Spring Issue of Icon Okanagan.

Nussbags are the creation of Austrian designer Florian Nussbaumer, who imagines, designs and creates these one of a kind designer bags, belts and cell phone accessories by hand. Each piece is handcrafted using only natural wood and veneer products from the sustainable timber industry and a high quality leather lining.

To quote the website:-  "European craftsmanship and lots of creativity turn these high quality materials into beautiful designer pieces. The goal of each piece produced is to achieve maximum style with maximum quality". The result is practical objects d'art which would look as good hanging on your wall as they do hauling all your bits and pieces around town.

The company is new to the Okanagan and has been brought in by Vernon entrepreneur Simone Kashuba - thank you Simone! Handbags range in price from $175 to $475 (for a large briefcase). 

I, personally, am now the proud owner of the 'Classic Light Macassar' (pictured above). I wore it out to a private view earlier this week, and it looked as lovely on my arm as the art on the wall.  The result was a flurry of compliments and questions about where it was from - fashion result!

You can find out where to get a Nussbag at www.nussbag.ca.

~

PS the gorgeous fashion shot above is by Kelowna photographer Caitlyn Chapman - but that is a whole other blog entry! (See Spring Forward, April 10, 2014).

Spring Forward...

With spring comes sunshine, daffodils and a whole new fashion season. What better way to celebrate the latter than by shooting some of the best that Kelowna has to offer, with some of the best that Kelowna has to offer, for some of the best Kelowna has to offer.

I love a good fashion shoot, and when it is promoting local talent and products, even better. The clothes came from local boutiques koLu, La Bonne Vie, Justin Paul Fashions, Jigsaw, and MacDermott's Men's Wear, topped off with some great eyewear from Wink i Wear; we also sourced a great new wooden handbag line being distributed locally called Nussbags.

Then we got together local talent like photographer Caitlyn Chapman, make up artist Sheleah Jay Bradley from SJB Make-up, hair stylist Alyssa from AMP Hairstyling, and models Emilee and Dayton from local agency Deja Vu Model Management. And all of this in aid of creating the spring fashion pages for the next issue of Kelowna-based lifestyle magazine 'Icon Okanagan'.

How great is it that the Okanagan has this kind of talent pool, and these kind of resources to pull from. The results were fabulous and the photos will be featured in the next issue of Icon, which will be out around town (and towns up and down the Okanagan) in mid-August.

Really... What better way to spend a Friday night?!