Friday, April 10, 2009

Audience with the Queen

Caution: Gratuitous name dropping ahead.
"Hey, Queen Latifah is coming to the Viva Health Starlight Gala on April 4th. You want to go?" Andria asked.

"Queen Latifah? Hell yeah I want to go!" I exclaimed.

"You know, she should get a bag," Andria said.

"I think she should get two," I replied, "an evening bag and a day bag."

So on April 3rd, the day before the Starlight Gala, I sat on my living room floor, head bowed, setting quarter-inch gold studs all over the red ultrasuede body of what we now call "Queen's bag". It was tedious work, but I was running on coffee and images of paparazzi-snapped photos of Queen Latifah on her way to some Cover-Girl sponsored event with a LaurAnn bag on her shoulder appearing in the next issue of InStyle Magazine with the caption "This Season's 'It' Bag." In other words, I was crunk.
Laura's Bag for Queen Latifah

Detail on Laura's Bag for Queen Latifah
By the time I made it to Birmingham from Atlanta, I had racked up at least $150.00 in panic purchases across two different states, all punctuated with "Oh @#$%!! I ain't no hosiery/eyeliner/shoes/etc.!" I found Andria in her usual state of cool repose, fresh from the spa with a new mani/pedi. Any of you who have known Andria for even a few minutes know that while she is cool, she is far from low key. She was practically vibrating with excitement.

Andria's Bag for Queen


White silk lining of Andria's bag for Queen

The Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center on the campus of UAB was buzzing with black tie excitement. We enjoyed cocktails and bite-sized sandwiches while waiting to enter the concert hall, the whole time giggling and fretting over what to say to the Queen when we present her with her bags.
Queen Latifah's show was a fabulous testament to the wide range of her talents. She rushed the stage belting out "I'm Gonna Live Til I Die," and kept the crowd on its collective feet with an eclectic mix of jazz songs, blues riffs and show tunes from her albums The Dana Owens Album, Trav'lin Light and the movie Hairspray. I don't think Andria has stopped humming "Poetry Man" yet. She even gave us a encore with a rendition of "California Dreaming" that sent the entire concert hall up in song.


Andria, Queen Latifah, and Laura

The woman we met afterward was exactly the queen I knew she would be. We presented her with two LaurAnn bags and she accepted them graciously, joking about the $2 million dollar endorsement deal that we about to ink with her. If only. Make sure you keep your InStyle Magazine subscriptions current!

Andria, Queen Latifah, and Laura and two very lovely LaurAnn Handbags





LaurAnn Spring 2009 Catalog


Spring Has Sprung!

Lovely pink azaleas in Andria’s front yard


Can you believe that it’s time for April showers and May flowers already? Just a few short weeks ago, there was not a drop of milk or a crumb of bread to be found at the grocery store because of the winter storm that threatened to blanket the southeast with half an inch of snow. Now the trees are budding, flowers are blooming and our cars are sporting a happy dusting of pollen. LaurAnn has created new shapes in exciting colors sure to breathe new life into the most winter-weary soul. Whether it’s a bright pop of canary yellow or a modern shade of neutral, our bags are the perfect accessory for all spring flowers.
The bags featured below are available for immediate purchase. However, if you fall in love with a particular style, but find yourself less enamored of the color, you can always place a custom-to-carry order. For more information on ordering you bag, see our FAQs by clicking the Frequently Asked Questions link at the right.

Baby Riu

Great things can be stored in small packages. The Baby Riu can be the perfect bag for evening when you want to carry more than a single credit card and a tube of lipstick. It also makes the perfect daytime companion when you don’t feel like hauling around the kitchen sink.


· Baby Riu in white satin with black lace overlay
· Black satin trim
· Black dupioni silk lining
· Silver hardware
· Magnetic snap closure
· Interior zippered pocket
· Dimensions: 10.5 in height x 13.5 in width. 10.25 in shoulder strap drop.
· Price: $85.00


Glamazon


Every woman needs that perfect little case for all her accoutrements. The Glamazon is the perfect shape and size to accommodate cosmetic pencils, makeup brushes and compacts.

· Glamazon in Zebra Print
· “Be True To Yourself” charm zipper pull
· Fuchsia dupioni silk lining
· Dimensions: 4.5 inch height x 8.5 inch width x 3.0 inch depth.
· Price: $15.00


· Glamazon in Metallic Croc Print
· “Be True To Yourself” charm zipper pull
· Zebra print satin lining
· Dimensions: 4.5 inch height x 8.5 inch width x 3.0 inch depth.
· Price: $15.00


Giant Riu


More of a good thing is always better. If you love the Baby Riu, you are bound to love its larger companion. This bag is perfect for hauling around the kitchen sink while still cutting an elegant silhouette.


· Giant Riu in Zebra Print
· Silver hardware
· Interior zippered pocket
· Fuchsia satin lining
· Dimensions: 11.5 inch height x 17 inch width. 14.0 shoulder strap drop
· Price: $100.00

Greenie

Being green just got easier with this clever tote. When it’s not full of groceries and goodies, it folds into a wallet-sized envelope that will make it almost impossible to leave at home. The roomy front storage pocket is the perfect place for recipes, shopping lists and coupons.


· Greenie in maroon print cotton twill tote
· Denim canvas envelope trimmed with yellow
· Gold snap closure
· Full tote dimensions: 18.25 in. height x 16.25 in. width.
· Folded dimensions: 4.5 in. height x 9 in. width.
· Price: $30.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.

· Greenie in orange, yellow and blue print cotton twill tote
· Denim canvas envelope trimmed with red
· Gold snap closure
· Full tote dimensions: 18.25 in. height x 16.25 in. width.
· Folded dimensions: 4.5 in. height x 9 in. width.
· Price: $30.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.


Isla


This lightweight and roomy bag is the ideal travel buddy. Use it to carry island souvenirs as you do your vacation shopping. It can also be carried to the workplace whenever you need a reminder of your fun times in the sun.



· Isla in red, orange and yellow swirl print
· Orange ultrasuede lining
· Interior zippered pocket
· Large interior patch pocket
· Chinese metal bead trim
· Gold hardware
· Brown leather shoulder strap
· Dimensions: 12.0 inch height x 16.5 inch width. 13.5 inch shoulder strap drop.
· Price: $100.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.



Rendezvous



This luxuriously cavernous bag will help you make a clean getaway. While it is large enough to hold the essentials for an overnight stay away from home, it is stylish enough to keep your business out of the street. The interior boasts a zippered pocket as well as two additional patch pockets for easy access to your cell phones, iPods and other small personal electronics.



· Chocolate brown ultrasuede
· Beige oriental floral brocade satin and beige dupioni silk lining.
· Magnetic snap closure
· 1 interior zippered pocket lined with beige dupioni silk and 2 packet pockets
· Tri-color gold leaf chain trim
· Dimensions: 14.25 in. height x 24.5 in width x 6 in. depth. 15 in shoulder strap drop
· Price: $90.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.



QueTee



This charming wristlet is too cute to be confined to the dark depths of a larger handbag. It’s the perfect little piece for toting the vital essentials.




· QueTee in pink, orange and pale yellow print
· White faux leather trim
· Fuchsia satin lining
· Interior zippered pocket lining
· Detachable gold chain strap
· Dimensions: 6.5 inch height x 10.5 inch width. 8.5 inch strap drop.
· Price: $40.00



· QueTee in Zebra Print
· Black faux leather trim
· Fuchsia dupioni silk lining
· Interior zippered pocket lining
· Silver “Hope” charm
· Detachable silver chain strap
· Dimensions: 6.5 inch height x 10.5 inch width. 8.5 inch strap drop.
· Price: $40.00



Tiffany


This unusual, funky, fashion-forward bag is guaranteed to earn you plenty of covetous stares. The interior boasts a zippered pocket as well as a divided patch pocket for easy access to your cell phones, iPods and other small personal electronics.



· Heavy-weight twill African mudcloth print embellished with cowrie shells and gold studs
· Burgundy satin lining
· 1 interior zippered pocket and 1 large interior patch pocket
· Magnetic snap closure
· Wood ring and tassel trim
· Dimensions: 23 in. height x 17.5 in width. Shoulder cut out measures 10 in. in height
· Price: $80.00



Wesley



Named after the West Highland Terrier who is the official LaurAnn mascot, this cute bag will make you smile every time you look at it. The roomy interior also has a zippered pocket, perfect for hiding little treats.


· Wesley in Chocolate Ultrasuede
· Beige paisley print jacquard lining
· Gold chain and ring hardware
· Gold bead trim
· Exterior patch pocket
· Interior zippered pocket
· Dimensions: 14.5 inch height x 15.0 inch width. 10.5 inch shoulder strap drop
· Price: $120.00




· Wesley in Celery Green Ultrasuede
· Royal blue satin lining
· Silver ring hardware
· Exterior patch pocket
· Interior zippered pocket
· Dimensions: 14.5 inch height x 15.0 inch width. 10.5 inch shoulder strap drop
·
Price: $120.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.



You Turn



This unique purse is sure to make some do a double take. Use the exterior pocket to keep your keys and mad money within easy reach. Drop the shoulder strap in the bag to convert it to a terrific clutch.




· You Turn in Seafoam Print with Pale Green U-shaped pocket
· Champagne dupioni silk lining
· Interior zippered pocket
· Two interior patch pockets
· Chain strap
· Dimensions: 8.0 inch height x 12.5 inch width. 17.5 in shoulder strap drop.
· Price: $95.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.


Missy


This fun, funky and fabulous bag makes the perfect companion for the boardroom or happy hour.


· Missy in Zebra Print with Black Leathered Suede Trim
· Peacock blue satin lining
· Interior zippered pocket
· Two interior patch pockets
· Silver hardware
· Dimensions: 11.5 inch height x 12.0 inch width. 13.75 inch shoulder strap drop
·
Price: $115.00



· Missy in Black and White Diamond Print with Black Leathered Suede Trim
· Peacock blue satin lining
· Interior zippered pocket
· Two interior patch pockets
· Silver hardware
· Dimensions: 11.5 inch height x 12.0 inch width. 13.75 inch shoulder strap drop
· Price: $115.00



Wilda

This classic envelope style clutch is as classic as its namesake. It is perfect whether you are dressed to the nines or just making a quick run to the grocery store.






· Wilda in Sky Blue Ultrasuede
· Chocolate Paisley brocade lining
· Chain strap
· LaurAnn L and A rhinestone charms
· Stone medallion detail
· Interior patch pockets
· Dimensions: 5.5 inch height x 10.5 inch width. 17.0 inch shoulder strap drop.
· Price: $65.00
· SOLD!! Contact us at laurannhandbags@gmail.com to place a custom order.