While I was in Los Angeles last month, I saw these little handbags in a wearable art gallery in Santa Monica. It turns out that my friend and mentor, Edie Locke, knew the designer – Anna Prando. Edie drove me out to meet Anna in person at her home/studio – which is an amazing story in itself. But more about that later – first, let me tell you about the bags.

#1 They are gorgeous! Anna is Italian by birth and before launching her design business she traveled the world, first as an assistant to and then along side of some of the top fashion photographers on the planet. Her fascination with color, shape and texture is apparent, as is her interest in things eastern and middle eastern. Anna uses silk, suede, beaded silk, and leather to concoct her handbags in colors like aquamarine, lilla, dark orchid, and deep gold violet. They are truly like little gems.

#2 They are practical! As beautiful as these bags are, they could only have been designed by someone who has actually carried a handbag. The concept behind them is simple – you don’t have to hold them and they won’t fall off your shoulder or slide off your arm. WOW! It’s revolutionary! When was the last time you found yourself in this situation…

You’re all dressed up for a special occasion. Maybe it’s a cocktail party, or a wedding. You’re wearing a beautiful dress and carrying a pretty little matching evening bag. You stand around all evening clutching your bag with one hand, while trying to do everything else with the other. Akward? Yes. It gets worse. There’s dancing. Do you dance with your little clutch clutched behind the back of your dance partner (or wave it around in the air while you boggie)? Do you leave it at the table and murmer to a friend (or a stranger) “would you mind watching my bag”. Or do you leave it in the car and dash outside when you need to use your compact or cell phone?

With Anna’s Forget Me Not bags, those evenings are over. These little bags slide right onto your wrist and stay there. There is even a daytime version (in supple calf leather) that hugs your shoulder and won’t slip off.

Pop in to Merrick’s and check them out. They’re irresistible.

Ok, I’m a fan of winter and the beauty of snow, etc. etc. etc., but as I left for Pilates today it was 7 degrees Farenheit here in Princeton. I don’t care who you are, that’s nasty! As I bundled up, cursed silently and rounded a corner I got a blast of Arctic air so shocking that it sent me into a mental flash-back to…Ground Hog Day.

I’m well into middle age, and for the life of me, I can’t remember a single year that Punxatawney Phil hasn’t seen his shadow…but he didn’t this year and that means we’re going to have an early spring! It makes me want to take the little fella to dinner!

Seriously, I’m so on to Spring that I can’t wait to get our RUMMAGE SALE going next week. Sure, we’ll be selling cashmere sweaters at discounts that make me sweat, but you know what? It’s time for SPRING! Already colorful tops, skirts and dresses are nudging the woolens aside and starting to suggest warm summer afternoons, outdoor dining, lawn parties and the like.

I’m psyched about this year’s Spring Buy too. Ok, I’m not thrilled with the continued and inexplicable popularity of the “Baby Doll” or “Expecting Mother” look. My store manager and I were at the L.A. Market earlier in the month and honestly you really couldn’t tell who was pregnant and who wasn’t!

I’ll tell you what else I’m happy about – COLOR and PATTERN! Last year we were glutted with neutrals -khakis, sand, oatmeal, tan, and so on.
I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like a bold stripe or a pretty polka dot to make me think SPRING!

Here’s what’s cute and new and in the store now - from one of my favorite and most whimsical designers.

Sarah Campbell.

According to Wikipedia, a mentor is a “trusted friend, counselor, or teacher”. And anyone who has been lucky enough to experience a mentor knows that there’s nothing as enriching as that relationship.

I met my mentor when I was fresh out of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and looking to start my career. An old family friend, Ralph Locke, had just married a stylish young woman named Edie who was fashion editor at Mademoiselle magazine (She would later become Editor in Chief, a post she held for a decade). Mademoiselle was in its heyday back then — one of the crown jewels of the Conde Nast Corporation, and Edie was close with everyone who was anyone in the fashion industry. I was thrilled at the opportunity to meet her and beyond ecstatic when she hired me. I don’t think it would have been possible to learn more about fashion from anyone than from Edie Locke.

But Edie has been much more than a teacher to me over the years. When it came time for me to open Merrick’s, it was Edie who introduced me to the right manufacturers and who helped me decide which lines to carry. She also taught me how to be tough in a tough business, but still maintain my graciousness.

I’ve operated Merrick’s for 22 years now, but Edie remains my fashion mentor as well as the very best of friends. She continues to attend all of the runway shows, sits on the boards of several fashion organizations in Los Angeles and still knows everybody who is anybody in the industry. When a new buying season comes around it’s Edie who I turn to. She tells me what’s coming and what’s going, when a style is a trend or a flash in the pan, and where to find what’s truly unique. She’s as hip as any 20-year-old and as classic as they come. I asked Edie if she would send me her thoughts for Spring ’07 and as always, she came through – and then some!

Fashion Forecast – Spring 2007

Spring 2007 is here ….blowing in like a fresh new breeze.

A good time to SPRING for a dress or two or three!

The choices have never been more enticing.

Choose a tailored body-friendly shift….a figure-defining curvy sheath…..a tailored shirtdress or one with a flared or pleated skirt…. an efficient day-dress full of pockets!

And SPRING for a great belt ….. a superbelt to cinch the waist…..or one to ride on the hipbones.

SPRING for something short….. a MINI if you are the right age….. or turn it into a TUNIC over skinny pants. ….or even just-above-the-knee city-shorts.

SPRING for the new attitude of mixing sporty with dressy…the eclectic mix of hard-edged with soft…a poetic blouse with crisp slim pants or jeans…. a Tshirt with the glitziest trousers.

SPRING for an ANORAK, a PARKA…, the athletic variety gone dressy into the evening. ….the newsiest cover-up now….. in shiny nylon…in satin…in paper taffeta.

SPRING for a LWD …..little WHITE dress ….in addition to your LBD ! It’s the summer uniform that will keep you… and your dry-cleaner…. happy and totally IN!

Pick the shape of the LWD that suits you best: a 60’s mini-frock, a tank, a shift, a sheath, a floaty, full-skirted one.

SPRING for a new white shirt…. you can never have enough of those…shapely fitted or billowing. And think too of that white shirt growing into a dress!

SPRING for skinny pants, as narrow as leggings or tailored slim. And the opposite: wide , slouchy trousers, baggy & chic!

SPRING for a newly fitted pants-suit…. with a slim blazer-ish jacket and slim trousers. Add a sexy vest.

SPRING for romantic evenings….ankle-grazing gowns or short ballerinas…..ultra-feminine chiffons….and old-fashioned eyeleted voiles.

SPRING for something metallic SILVER….or gold and bronze, Go all the way with a silvery shirt, a silver bomber jacket…. silver lace dress. Clutch or tote a SILVER or GOLD leather bag… cinch your waist in metals…..walk on metallic ballet flats.

SPRING for pure white….for the perfect combo of black and white or

SPRING for VIBRANT hues….purple, cobalt blue, taxi yellow, orange-red.

SPRING for a flower print….everything’s coming up ROSES… or for op-art graphics.

SPRING for a squashy over-sized bag to tote by day or CLUTCH a sleek one at night.

SPRING for clunky metallic bangles, a stack of those ….or a wide super-cuff.

SPRING into SPRING ready to experiment ….give the NEW a try…..find out what works for you and then GO FOR IT ALL THE WAY.

–Edie Locke, former Editor in Chief, Mademoiselle magazine – Merrick’s Mentor – and all-around Top Dawg

,