the hunt: chic baby bags

When I found out I was pregnant, like any first-time mom I started researching the shit out of baby gear. What stroller is super light, but still safe? What kind of baby monitor is best, video or audio? Breast pumps, diapers, baby bathtubs, bottle warmers, sleep sacks? How much of this stuff do I really need?

You need a lot of stuff, it turns out. And one thing you definitely need is a bag to schlep it all around in.

Enter the diaper bag. Obviously they need to be functional, but do they need to be so ugly? There are a lot of ugly diaper bags out there. Luckily, there are also some incredibly chic options available, from designers like Rebecca Minkoff, Kate Spade, and Marc Jacobs. Here are just a few of my favorites, but there are plenty more out there. What I love about all of these bags is that they're functional, but I can still picture myself carrying them well after the baby has grown out of diapers. Just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to throw personal style out the window, after all.

1/ Rebecca Minkoff Knocked Up Baby Bag
The ultimate chic diaper bag, I fell in love with this beauty the first time I saw it. And how amazing is the name? Complete with stroller straps, bottle-sized pockets, a changing pad, and baby-friendly compartments printed with cute labels like "Mommy's Stuff," this luxe black leather bag is big enough for all of baby's accessories but still incredibly stylish. The price is a little steep - keep in mind this is one baby accessory that will get a lot of use, though, so it's worth the investment (there's also a leather-trimmed nylon version available if you can't justify splurging on the leather).
$550, rebeccaminkoff.com

cityloft is back!

It's baaaaa-aack! Somerset Collection's CityLoft pop-up shopping concept has returned to Woodward Avenue for its second summer, anchoring the rebirth of Downtown Detroit Days. I reported on CityLoft's return for Hour Detroit before I left for Stockholm (you can read my article here!), so I couldn't resist scoping it out on opening day.

what's in the bag: rachel zoe nico messenger bag

Rachel Zoe Nico Messenger Bag, $525 at Neiman Marcus - Somerset Collection.

On Monday I'm styling a fashion editorial for one of our local magazines, which means I'm spending this week sending out sample requests and pulling product from local stores and designers. It's like fantasy shopping - I get to take whatever I want, without spending a dime. But just like Cinderella when the clock strikes midnight, the dream ends after the shoot, when everything has to be returned - le sigh.

Yesterday while I was pulling at Neiman Marcus, I fell in love. A bright red, structured bag caught my eye - I literally gasped. As I ooh-ed and ah-ed in the middle of the store, I learned the beauty in my hands was the Rachel Zoe Nico Messenger Bag. I added it to the pile of goodies I was borrowing for the shoot, and when I got everything back to the home office, I decided to take Nico for a little test drive. Just how much of my stuff could this baby handle?

the hunt: wedge sneakers

All spring long, the fashion world has been losing its collective mind over wedge sneakers. It all started with Isabel Marant, and now everyone from Marc Jacobs to Ash is getting in on the action. At first, all I could think was, "Really? Does no one else remember how tacky high-heel sneakers turned out to be? Does no one else remember those '90s disasters with the gum rubber stilettos?" (shudders violenty)


Well, I remember the ghosts of high-heeled sneakers past, so when it became clear that wedge sneakers were indeed having a major moment for spring, I started researching them with some definite trepidation. I was a sceptic - and then I saw these:

Nike x Liberty wedge sneaker