We couldn’t wait to show to all our stylish Glamour Devotees, our dazzling new Autumn/ Winter collection, and what better way than to throw a party! Both our Chadstone and Little Collins St stores opened their doors for a day filled with sparkling wine, scrumptious cupcakes and fantastic bargains!

Our Creative Director, Kim Michaelides was present to meet and greet our Glamour Devotees and to chat about our fabulous new season collection.

Goody bags were filled with delightful treats such as Vogue magazines, beauty vouchers and Spencer & Rutherford merchandise. There was a lucky door prize raffle at each store, where you could win a new season handbag!

If you couldn’t make the celebrations, make sure to drop by one of our stores anytime or when we launch our Spring/ Summer 2012 collection. We guarantee you’ll not only scoop up a bargain but have a delightful time as well!

Now we have made it even easier for you and your friends to activate their ‘Divine Society of Glamour Devotees’ membership. Instead of having to activate emails, we’ll do the work for you. By the time you’ve left the store your membership will be activated and ready to use. If you are having trouble with your current account you can check instore to see if your profile has any problems. Just ask our friendly service assistants how!

Now we have made it even easier for you and your friends to activate their ‘Divine Society of Glamour Devotees’ membership. Instead of having to activate emails, we’ll do the work for you. By the time you’ve left the store your membership will be activated and ready to use. If you are having trouble with your current account you can check instore to see if your profile has any problems. Just ask our friendly service assistants how!

Colour is what helps define the look and feel of a Spencer & Rutherford collection. With every season, new colours emerge shaping what will be considered fashionable for season to come.

Kim Michaelides, Spencer & Rutherford’s Creative Director says that colour moves in a form of rhythm. In that colours will come and go and be reinterpreted for future seasons, thus creating a whole new palette just in slightly different colour variations.

Kim Michaelides explains that a new colour works through a spectrum of tone over the years, and can begin as being used on trims to a few seasons later becoming an important colour.

When designing a collection, Kim will look at how colours go together and choose fabrics and leathers accordingly. Kim will look at how some colours could work with different shapes and handbag styles. After this initial research, Kim will start to put together the collection using the library of colour she has collected.

Spencer & Rutherford spoke to Kim Michaelides about how the Spring 2012 Collection POP! was created using colour forecasting;

Q: How did you go about researching the colours for the Spring 2012 collection?

A: Colour research is the first thing we do for any collection and I generally start about 9 months out from the collections due date in-store. I travel to Paris and London and look at a lot of magazines, but mainly at websites. Stylesight colour forecasting is good, Premiere Vision colour books and Pantone.

Q: Why did these colours appeal to you?

A: When I am looking at the new colours for any season, I am always aware that they must be translated into accessories, not clothing, so sometimes it can be tricky to use some of the more outstanding colours which are predicted for a season. In a handbag these colours, for our brand anyway, often make better highlights. Winter is always a fun range to design because people are happier to buy a bag with more colour in it. Some of the gorgeous warm tones are a great example – orange, red, pink. Women will wear dark coloured clothing, coats, boots, gloves, then wear a bright bag in these colours. In summer it is usually the opposite! For summer the colours are wonderfully strong, so easy to turn them into handbags. Pastel colours can be very difficult!

Q: Do you have an idea or inspiration before you design a collection, or do colours help form your principle idea?

A: I am often inspired initially by recent travels, the environment, colour and everyday living to help me find my theme.  I think when I first start looking at the colours I soak them up, go away and dream about them for a while, then come back and I know exactly how I am going to put them together.

Q:  How would you describe the colours for the Spring 2012 Collection?

One of the colour stories for the POP! Collection inspired the name. The colours are primary, strong and contrasting, and reminded me of the artist Roy Lichtenstein’s work – therefore the name POP! seemed appropriate.

International glamour icon, Melbourne High Heel Fun Run winner and voted #1 in In-Vogue Magazine’s best dressed women of 2012, Lolita is the ‘it’ girl of the minute. I was granted an exclusive interview with this renowned glamour icon who not only is a muse to designers across the globe, but a tour de force of style.

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

Lolita: Mmmmm…… divine? I really love soft prints against bright colours. I think that traditionally feminine prints like floral can work really well when paired with a cobalt blue handbag or hot pink sandals.

Q: Beauty editors adore you. You’ve been the subject of many makeover feature articles, how do you achieve your look?

Lolita: Lips, lips and more lips. I’m never shy when layering on lipstick. The brighter the shade the bigger the pout! Also beauty sleep is a must, I take mine around 3pm everyday and I make sure to leave my jewelry on. You’ll never know who you might meet waking up!

Q: You lead a lifestyle envied by millions. What would you say is your typical day?

Lolita: I love taking my Scottish terrier Buster for a stroll through the fashionable laneways and streets of Melbourne. Then off to a spot of shopping and gossip followed by a soak in the tub and then my 3pm naps. Living large can be really exhausting you know!

Q: You wear some fabulous footwear. But can wearing heels all day be comfortable?

Lolita: My heels are glued to my feet. I find the best way to get used to higher styles is to sleep with them on. That way you feel it becomes an extension of your body and you don’t notice you’re wearing them.

Q: Are the rumours true about your new relationship with Johnny Depp?

Lolita: I’m not the type to kiss and tell…..but I can tell you the rumours aren’t false.

Q: If you could take only one thing with you to a desert island, what would you take?

Lolita: My handbags! I have had installed a special cabinet to store my Spencer & Rutherford bags and I wouldn’t part with any of them. If I’m to be stranded, I should at least look fabulous!

Q: So when will you be making your grand debut with Spencer & Rutherford?

Lolita: You will see me in the Spring 2012 Collection. I’ll be made of gorgeous appliqué complete with digital prints for my frock and I’ll be wearing a gorgeous sequin crystal necklace. Buster and I are really excited, just in time for Melbourne Spring Fashion Week!

Our ‘Divine Escape’ winner, Jane Sherlock – Holcombe was treated to a glamorous high tea with our Creative Director Kim Michaelides at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne. Indulging on thinly cut cucumber sandwiches and exquisite pastries, Kim and Jane chatted about life, gossip and their favourite handbags. Jane wore a vintage inspired tea dress and brought along her beloved handbag, the Georgina – Coconut.

Kim revealed some exciting secrets of the Spring 2012 collection to Jane, while they sipped on tea in fine bone china cups. An afternoon of glamour and devotee education was in order, with Kim chatting about how she works through her creative process and why researching colours is a great way to forecast fashion!

After a glass of sparkling champagne and a pot of tea was consumed, Kim escorted our winner to the Little Collins St store to take her on a $500 shopping spree! With so many beautiful handbags, Jane found it hard to choose. With Kim’s guidance Jane found her dream handbag, the beautiful Liesl – Decoy.

Jane was happy with her choice and can’t wait to take her grandmother shopping for a Spencer & Rutherford handbag to celebrate her birthday.

A wonderful end to a ‘Divine Escape’!

To celebrate Mother’s Day we are giving away FREE a Ginger – Suspense wallet with any purchase of a Dorothy – Suspense wallet with any purchase of a Dorothy – Suspense, Giovanna – Secret or Rita – Secret. The perfect surprise gift for mum, or keep it for yourself!

Redeem the offer instore or click on the offer below to be directed to our online store.

Still not sure what to give her? Why not purchase a Spencer & Rutherford gift card instore or online, she’ll be spoilt for choice! Click here to purchase a gift card online or see one of our friendly service assistants instore.

Christmas is all about family, fun and a little fashion of course!

This time of year is always the same for me. Work like crazy right up until Christmas Eve, then run around like a mad woman hunting down all of the gifts I swore I would be organised and buy in November at the last minute 24 hour trading night…

Yeah okay, I’ll take Christmas Day off for family and friends and then I’ll hit up the stores bright and early for the Boxing Day Sales.. Obsessed much?! Something about the thrill of the crowds on Boxing Day really excites me… I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think it has something to do with the fact I have to fight for my fashion! Yes it’s true.. I’m one of those crazy ladies who will take you on if you put your fingers on that limited edition handbag that I have been eyeing off for months..

So with the image of me scrambling over bargain tables for my 50% off pink sequin cardigan firmly imprinted in your mind, tell me, what is on your wishlist this silly season? A handbag, scarf or wallet perhaps? Maybe your dreams are a little more lofty and you’re wishing for a new home, a new job, a new lifestyle…

I’ve asked the ladies at Spencer & Rutherford, and here’s what’s on their minds…

Kim Creative Director – “I think a gorgeous leather Yoko bag  for slouching around over Summer and I really want a new lens for my camera 24-105mm – perfect for taking inspirational photos!”

Pri Designer – “On my wishlist is some Charlotte Olympia Shoes, a digital SLR camera, a Nissan Micra, Trip to Milan, Prada sunglasses and an S&R Blondie Hobo”

Wow Pri, not sure Santa has enough room in his slay for all of that!!!

And what’s on my list this silly season? Hmm… an iPad 2, a fab S&R iPad cover, some Glass House candles, maybe a sequined item or two, oh and maybe a little more time in the day would be nice!

Hey Santa what do you think?!

Take a sneak peek behind the scenes of our Autumn/Winter photo shoot…

Gorgeous Model – Check

Fabulous Wardrobe – Check

To-Die-For Autumn/Winter Handbags – Check!

 All the ingredients for a seriously amazing shoot!

 Spring/Summer is so over …

Okay, I can’t believe those words just came out of my mouth!

Especially as it feels as though spring hasn’t even arrived yet in Melbourne (warm weather where are you?!) But when you work in the seriously crazy world of fashion, you realise that you have to live 6 months in the future at all times… (In my world I’m thinking hot chocolates and nights by the fire… seriously…)

This week samples arrived for our Autumn Winter 2012 collection, which while not out until February, needs to be photographed, sent out to press, presented to buyers, the list goes on… And yes, before you even ask, it’s a fabulous collection, but that’s all you’re getting out of me for now!

What I can show you, is the gorgeous results from our recent campaign shoot for the Devoted to Glamour Signature Collection… out next week.. eek!

This classic S&R collection is inspired by old Hollywood style icons (a la Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly) with a touch of European elegance thrown in for good measure…

Take a peek behind the scenes of our latest photo shoot…

We can’t wait to show you the full collection… (It’s coming VERY soon!) xx

Gorgeous lightweight silk scarves, perfect for those balmy summer nights…

Shop online for S&R scarves here

Samples for our new Signature Collection have just arrived and we couldn’t be more excited!

The continuation of the collection that launched 12 months ago, the new handbags and accessories labelled ‘Devoted to Glamour’ look amazing and we can’t wait to show them all to you…

Of course you will have to wait a little longer to see the full collection, not in stores until mid October, but here’s a quick sneak peek of what you can expect!

Is it possible to be a style icon at the age of 14? Well if you’re me, then that’s categorically no, (at 14 I was getting about in oversized hoodies and Doc Martens…don’t look at me like that, it was the nineties!) But if your name is Hailee Steinfeld, the answer is a serious yes.

While most 14 year olds are still sporting the looks that their mother picked out for them, Miss Hailee is swanning around town in the likes of Prada and Miu Miu, just to drop a few names…

This young lady is certainly making a name for herself in the fashion stakes and we’re loving her adorable style…

Get Hailee’s adorable look with some of these super cute @SnR_Handbags and accessories!

Today I’m wearing the fab new @SnR_Handbags Vivianna bag, in stores from Wednesday… Love!

Amp up your look this spring summer season with neon brights and on-trend colour clashes.

Check out some happy snaps from our Spring Collection Launch Party at Chadstone…

The lovely ladies of Melbourne flocked to our Chadstone Boutique last Friday night for a fashionable night of bubbly, canapes and of course, to check out the fab new collection!

Eeek… It has finally arrived, our hot new Spring Summer Collection, Safari.

Ever wondered where our fab Creative Director Kim gets her inspiration for a collection? Having returned from an amazing trip to Africa last year, Kim got straight to work on the beautiful Safari Collection, and as you can see by her camera handywork, the inspiration is obvious!

From the amazing plant life to the boldy coloured animals and even the local Masai people, the vast and varied African landscape is visible throughout the whole range…

My must-haves this season? The hot colour blocking of Penelope and the rich textures and fab new shape of Viviana (available late August.) xx

It’s that time of year…We’re right smack bang in the middle of it and it seems like everything is a dull shade of grey (which is great news if grey is your fave colour, but not so great for the rest of us colour-holics out there!)

We’re all just a little bit under the weather and cranky, (well at least I am, apologies fellow office staff!) And summer (sigh) seems like a distant pipedream… (Or at least it does in Melbourne, don’t get me started on all you northern Australians with your fancy 20 degree winter days… jealous!)

So it’s just about time we had a little something to cheer us all up right?

Nothing cheers me up quite like a little fashion inspiration, (I’m looking at you Kate Middleton…)

Kate’s recent trip to North America has cemented her status as a serious style icon, her style is effortless and chic and this gorgeous dress has me craving summer days and sunset cocktails! (Someone get me a yellow sun-dress, stat!)

The other thing that has me feeling a little less dull and gloomy at the moment is online shopping, my new favourite past-time when it’s raining outside!

Luckily for me, and my over-used credit card, there are some fab fashion bargains to be had out there at the moment! And while I’m hunting down some great blouses, sweaters and leather shorts from asos and net-a-porter, one of the best online stores for a handbag bargain (and okay, maybe I’m a little biased,) is our online boutique… With some adorable handbags at $99 and wallets at $49, you can’t complain right?

And speaking of dull shades of grey, (or the complete opposite to be more accurate,) our Spring Summer Collection ‘Safari’ is about to launch in to stores, and trust me, the seriously colourful range will brighten even the gloomiest winter’s day!

Here’s what our Creative Director Kim has to say about the new collection…

“Inspired by a far-away land, this collection is both red-hot and romantic all at once, consumed by a fiery colour palette reminiscent of a sunset over the Indian Ocean.

Like the rich colours that first meet your eye, the exotic botanicals, beetles and dragonflies that adorn these gorgeous handbags and accessories invoke a sense of adventure, as if perhaps captured on a wild safari through an African desert, or in a bustling spice market in the heart of Casablanca.

Let the exotic Safari Collection inspire the adventurer in you…”

Just a little something to look forward to!

Can you believe we’re talking about spring already?

Right in the middle of one of the coldest winters in memory, we’re suddenly turning our attention to warm oranges, lime greens, pops of exotic fuchsia and pretty pastels…

The lovely Spencer & Rutherford Spring Summer Collection, ‘Safari’ (you can feel the warmth already right?!) will be available in stores this August.

More soon… xx

Just a little bit of sparkly summer inspiration to warm up this cold winter’s day… (oh and a tantalising taste of things to come!)

It’s with plenty of excitement (and a little exhaustion,) that I can finally fill you all in on our fabulous new boutique, which opened this weekend on the corner of Little Collins Street and Howey Place in the Melbourne CBD!

“We’re thrilled to be opening our next boutique in Melbourne’s Howey Place as it’s an area for which I’ve always had an affinity.  This is the part of Melbourne’s fashion scene that is truly inspiring,” says Creative Director, Kim Michaelides.

Nestled in amongst an array of designer boutiques, art galleries and scrumptious cafes, the new store is absolutely beautiful, (in typical Melbourne laneway fashion) and well worth a visit… 

Met Costume Institute Gala 2011

From a Sexy Siren and a Ballerina Princess, to a Grecian Goddess.. These are the looks we’re lusting after this week…

Blake Lively in a beige tulle pailette embroidered dress with chiffon sash from Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2009/10 Haute Couture Collection.

Diane Kruger in a sexy Jason Wu dress and Jimmy Choo clutch.  

 And finally, super mum Miranda Kerr in a Marchesa white swan embroidered dress from Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear collection.

Like any 20 something girl out there, I must admit, I am feeling a few mixed emotions about the upcoming royal wedding…

On one hand, I am utterly devastated that my childhood dream of marrying Prince William is not going to come true. (Until now I had held out hope… come on ladies, don’t tell me the thought hasn’t crossed your mind…)

But on the other hand, I am so happy that he is marrying a down to earth, modern day style icon like Kate Middleton.

With royal glamour and the prospect of a major red carpet event in mind, on April 29 I will watch with baited breath… Not because I want to watch the actual ceremony, but because I am dying to see what she will wear, how she will do her hair and make-up, what will she choose for bridesmaid’s dresses, the list goes on… It’s enough to bring out the bridal fanatic in any fashionista!

So, with royal fashion on the brain and the cooler weather conveniently upon us, I find myself being drawn to Kate’s signature look of classic trench coats, tweeds, neutral leathers and soft blow waved hair. This season lends itself perfectly to the royal look, with deep jewel tones also big for Autumn/Winter.

So I say it’s time to embrace classic shapes, beautiful fabrics and elegant leathers, á la style icon and soon to be Princess (sigh, why couldn’t it have been me…) Kate Middleton.

Cue the royal wave…

At Spencer & Rutherford, every handbag is given a ladies name… I myself have a brood of women lazing away in my cupboard at home… There’s Peyton, Eugenie, Anais, Camille, Shannon and Juliette, just to name a few…

You might find this a little strange, but sometimes I find myself treating them as though they all have their own little personalities… I’m currently carrying a lass by the name of Peyton. Now Peyton is quite the lady… She’s dainty and oh-so girly and will only accompany me to well heeled events… (Some may say snob, I prefer society queen…) Oh and she doesn’t like it when I fill her up with old receipts, coins and endless lipsticks… (but being the rebellious type I do it anyway.)

Anais on the other hand, is a tough old gal… She’ll take basically anything I throw at her (and in to her.) Stuff in a cardie, an umbrella, maybe a pair of flats and she doesn’t complain, just carries on with her day. She will also go anywhere, no sweaty old gym or backyard BBQ is too much for this all rounder.

That brings me to Eugenie. Now she can be rather old fashioned (and at times stubborn,) but she’s elegant and lovely and you can’t help but admire her, nanna tendencies and all….

All of these handbags with personalities have got me thinking…If I were a handbag, what type would I be?

A fashion forward satchel bag?

A totally OTT embellished clutch, Swarovski crystals and all?

An oversized tote? (Eeek, I hope not, maybe it’s time to hit the gym just in case…)

One of my Grandma’s old faithful glow-mesh evening bags?

A Limited Edition, one-of-a-kind designer lovely?

A failsafe leather day bag perhaps?

I suppose I’d like to think I’m a mix of fashion forward, designer and limited edition, maybe throw in a little bit of OTT embellishment too…

If you were handbag, what type would you be?

Who said the forecast was dull and gloomy?

Check out our latest Autumn Winter photo shoot… The electric colours are guaranteed to brighten even the coolest winter’s day!

In terms of fashionable events, (and at Spencer & Rutherford we do love a good fashion moment) it doesn’t get much bigger than award season in Hollywood.

From the Golden Globes, to the Screen Actors Guild Awards and all the way to the fashion Mecca that is the Academy Awards, the rich and famous have been sporting some of the finest couture available on the planet this year… (oh with the exception of the usual few of course – we’re looking at you Helena…)

Here are our top fashion picks from the Academy Awards red carpet this year…

The Melbourne fashion crew headed over to Spencer & Rutherford’s Chadstone Boutique on Friday night to celebrate the launch of the Autumn Winter Collection – Chasing Butterflies…

The bubbly flowed, the cupcakes were divine and our glamorous gift bags went down a treat!

Oh, and then of course there was the reason we were there to celebrate in the first place - the fabulous new collection – which looked amazing! (Was there ever any doubt?)

Check out some happy snaps from the party…

Some of the lovely S&R girls..  

Nice spread!

 Some fabulous glamour devotees – Looking good ladies!

Click here for more pics!

 Be on-trend and fashionably fabulous this season with our divine Autumn Winter Collection…

Think 50s ‘Mad Men’ styles, ladylike silhouettes, oh-so-pretty leather bows and luxurious jewel tones…

See something you love but can’t find it on our website? Never fear! Our Autumn Winter Collection will drop in to stores and online over the next couple of months, so keep an eye out or give us a call for further enquiries… xx

A good friend of mine turned 27 this week. As we celebrated her birthday with margaritas and tacos, (as you do,) I decided to ask her the obvious question… What did her boyfriend (of 4+ years mind you,) give her for her birthday?

Now obviously I expected her to say some earrings from Tiffany’s, or perhaps a new pair of sparkly stilettos or adorable flats. Maybe a soft leather handbag, a sequinned clutch or even a luxurious silk scarf… (Okay, I’m getting carried away…this was expecting a little much from the poor guy.)

But her answer was none of the above. To my horror, she replied, “nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing?!” I asked. Not even the typical ‘boy’ presents, like a piece of sporting equipment, a football club membership or a trip to the local golf course? (I’m speaking from experience here…darn sports-obsessed boyfriend…)

Nope. Nothing, Nada, Zilch.

“We decided against getting each other presents this year,” chimed in her all too innocent partner, (*side note, he’s actually a really nice guy, just a little challenged in the gift giving department…) She nodded glumly, although she professed to not actually remembering the conversation where this ‘agreement’ took place.

Now I realise 27 is not a major milestone birthday, it’s not 21, 30 or 50 and I’m not talking diamonds or a fancy holiday here people, but the look of sadness on her face was almost unbearable and all of a sudden I felt very pleased that I remembered to grab her a bunch of flowers from the local florist on my way in (her only present she received that day.)

This brings me to a very important point.

Men, if you’re listening, (or reading as it may be,) here is some very important advice that will hold you in good stead for the rest of your days. NEVER believe a woman when she says she doesn’t want anything for her birthday, for Christmas, for your anniversary and especially for Valentine’s Day. While her words might say ‘I don’t need anything honey, its fine…’ what she really means is ‘that white gold and pink sapphire bracelet I pointed out to you in the jewellery store window the other day would be a great way to show me how much you care!’

And NEVER take it upon yourself to assume that she doesn’t ‘believe’ in Valentine’s Day or any other ‘commercial’ holidays as you might like to call them. While this may be a convenient excuse for you, it simply will not cut it with us.

Okay, okay… So we ladies are not all as ‘gift crazy’ as I might be making out… You don’t have to give us jewellery, (although diamonds are a girl’s best friend…) We can live without that evening bag (but did I mention S&R’s new Autumn Winter collection is divine??!) And I suppose we will survive without having the latest leopard print ankle boots… (but will we really be living??)

But guys, would it kill you to buy us a beautiful bunch of flowers or a little keepsake (I’m thinking a pink leather wallet perhaps…) every now and then?! ESPECIALLY on Valentine’s Day…

Trust me, treat your woman and you’ll reap the rewards… if you know what I mean… (I was talking about clean laundry and home cooked meals…get your minds out of the gutter people!)

With this in mind, I would like to direct all the men out there (slip this blog into the sports section of the paper tonight if need be…) to the final days of our Summer Sale. Go on, after all, ‘a happy woman is a woman with a new handbag’…

With February drawing near, (where has the year gone so far) we’re getting excruciatingly close to launching our shiny new Autumn Winter Collection! At this very moment the finishing touches are being made on posters, advertisements, VIP party invitations and other fancy things, unfortunately there’s no rest for the wicked in the world of fashion!

And take it from me, the new range is just fabulous… It features some very on-trend elements like rich jewel tones, soft leathers and pretty bow details…and of course the S&R staples like sumptuous fabrics, elegant shapes and girly details.

When designing the collection, our Creative Director Kim Michaelides was inspired by a whimsical quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne – “Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”  And you can certainly see the influence of both butterflies and an element of mystery and elusiveness within this collection.

Oh and don’t get me started on the new scarves… Ah-mazing!

I can’t show you too much yet, and I do hate to be a tease, but here’s a little sneak peak of the new range…

Cute right? You’ll get to see the full range soon don’t worry…

Calling all Tweeps!

Oh by the way, are you following our twitter page yet? We’re still learning the ropes a little there, so would love for you all to come along on the journey!

We’re at www.twitter.com/SnR_handbags  so pop over and drop us a tweet!

Shelley xx

There’s nothing quite like award season in LA to get one’s fashion blood pumping.

The show-stopping gowns, the amazing blow waves, the crazy beautiful jewellery and the jaw dropping accessories…sigh…it’s enough to make even the most jaded pop culture critic long for a life in La La Land…

Hollywood’s elite turned out in fine form for the Golden Globes this weekend and the fabulous fashion pack certainly did not disappoint.

So who were the major winners this year, (the red carpet winners of course…does anyone watch the actual awards?!) And how can you channel their old Hollywood glamour at home?

Beautiful Blush

Adorable gowns in blush, peach, beige and nude were everywhere at the Globes, with lovely ladies like Anne Hathaway (ah-mazing) in Armani, Emma Stone (rocking some fabulous ice blonde hair), Leighton Meester (channelling Blair Waldorf,) Claire Danes and Lea Michelle rocking the look.

Heading out in a nude number? If you’re super pale like me, consider a spray tan or a warm shade of pink, be careful not to let your dress colour get too close to your skin tone or it will wash you out completely and you’ll end up looking ghostlike and ill…not a good look! Keep your hair fresh and beautiful with a voluminous blow wave and soft curls. 

Accessorising? Get the ladylike look with one of S&R’s gorgeous evening bags in elegant muted tones…

Bold Colour

While I’ve always had my feet planted firmly in Team Jen’s camp, even I have to admit Ange looks amazing in this stunning emerald green Atelier Versace gown. Oh and then there is January Jones, Hollywood’s reigning blonde bombshell (after Blake of course,) super sexy and glamorous, also in Versace.

Bold gowns like these demand killer confidence and equally bold accessories – but keep it simple! Accessorise with Krizia – Speak Easy for a glam green gown and Lexis Hearts if you dare to wear a red-hot number like January! Keep your hair and make-up simple and let the dress (and your rocking bod) do the talking!

Show Stopping Glamour

I have to admit, I’m a sucker for a princess gown every now and then, and no one conquered the look on the Globes red carpet quite like Olivia Wilde in Marchesa.

Not only is her dress to-die-for, but she has complemented it perfectly with simple yet elegant soft brown hair and has passed on the fussy accessories, (with the exception of the spiky gold Louboutins of course!)

If you’re planning on playing the role of ‘belle of the ball’ anytime soon, pair your fab gown with a sophisticated clutch like Natasha or Lisbeth and an equally show stopping pair of shoes!

Sigh…a girl can dream right?!

A wise person once said “a happy woman is a woman with a new handbag”… In my opinion, truer words have never been spoken!

Okay, so it might seem a little shallow to say that all it takes to make me happy is a shiny new handbag, but ladies, surely you agree that there is hardly a better feeling than finishing off that cute summer outfit with a fabulous new accessory on your arm… (oh and maybe a new pair of shoes wouldn’t hurt either!)

Luckily for me, (and the rest of you shopaholics out there…) January is the perfect time to revamp your wardrobe with some fabulous new pieces, not only because it’s great to start the new year off with a fresh new look, but also because January is synonymous with one thing… SALES!

To my delight, (but to my credit card’s dismay) it seems like there are endless bargains to be found at this time of year, but unfortunately my overflowing wardrobe has left me wondering…

Can one person ever have too many bags?

Surely not, after all, I think every woman needs at least the following:

-          A classic black handbag (with a few embellishments of course…)

-          A soft leather bag in neutral tones (to go with all of your tan, beige and cream outfits…)

-          A statement bag that adds a pop of colour to a simple outfit (I’m thinking hot pinks, purples or blues…)

-          A jewel-encrusted clutch (for those glamorous nights out,)

-          A simple evening bag (to complement that elaborate gown,)

-          A beach/gym/overnight bag (for shoving in all the essentials, shoes, change of clothes, make-up…)

-          A work/laptop bag (big enough to carry your overflowing paperwork…)

-          A travel handbag (one that you’re happy to shove under your seat on the airplane!)

Oh and that’s just the shortlist, I haven’t even started on the special occasion bags – think weddings, engagement parties, 21sts, the spring racing carnival, music festivals, the list goes on!

On last count, I realised I had 32 handbags, clutches and travel bags… eek… And I still don’t think I have a bag to go with half of my clothes (nothing seems to match my blue and pink floral playsuit for some reason…)

So I guess as long as I can find room to store them, (anyone have a spare closet I can borrow?) then I’ll continue adding to my collection. If only my bank account had the same passion for fashion as I do…

If, unlike me, you haven’t already given your credit card a beating this season, head over to our website to check out the bargains on offer. Our appropriately titled ‘Handbag Addiction Sale’ is in its final days, so make sure you don’t miss out on bagging a bargain…

The summer holiday season is over (sigh) for another year and sadly it’s time to get back to reality!

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to revamp your life, be it your wardrobe, your diet or maybe your career.

If you’re after a career change or a new challenge, have a passion for fashion and would love to join the crazy world of retail this year, then we’ve got the job for you.

Our fabulous Chadstone store is searching for a sophisticated guy or gal to run the store! If you think you’ve got what it takes, head over to seek to learn more…

Click here to check out the details!

Lacking inspiration for 2011?  Never fear, we’ve got a completely glamorous year in store for you…  

H is for the handsome man (or heavenly woman) you’re going to meet,  

A is for the abundance of good luck coming your way,  

N is for the new, utterly decadent wardrobe you’re going to wear,  

D is for all the delicious cupcakes you’re going to devour,   

B is for all the fabulous bubbly you’re going to drink,   

A is for the amazing and totally exotic holiday you’re going to take,   

G is for going out with the girls more often, (after all, girls just want to have fun…)   

A is for always being fashionably late, (but not obnoxiously late… there’s a fine line!)   

D is for doing whatever you want, when you want!   

D is for your inner diva just waiting to get out (just embrace it!)   

I is for being incredibly fashion forward at all times, (it’s time to take some risks ladies!)   

C is for the calories that you’re not going to bother counting… (cheesecake for everyone!)   

T is for a toast to the amazing 2011 you’re about to have!  

Happy New Year xx

It’s 10 days til Christmas. You’re frantic at work, after hours you’re running around like a headless chook trying to source a hundred gifts and to top things off, you’ve got a different Christmas soiree on every night…

Sound familiar? While the lead up to Christmas is fabulously festive and exciting, it can also be tiring, very expensive and pretty stressful on your wardrobe!

Unless you have a bottomless budget, to survive the endless shindigs you’ve booked in, you’re going to need a versatile outfit that can be dressed up, down and accessorised in a hundred different ways.

Three words.

Little Black Dress.

The L.B.D is every woman’s best friend when it comes to the dreaded, (but often inevitable) outfit repeating scenario!

Not only is the L.B.D incredibly sophisticated on it’s own, it’s also a  fabulously simple blank canvas, making it super easy to transform your look with different accessories!

For an elegant affair, dress up your L.B.D with a jewel encrusted clutch (think Lisbeth Waiting) and sky high heels.

For a more casual approach, team with a classic wedge and a sassy shoulder bag (think Marlene Hopeless.)

To mix things up, add a belt, tie a scarf around your neck or throw a cute cardi over your shoulders. When it comes to accessories, the sky’s the limit ladies!

Need to accessorise in a hurry? We’ve got a fab collection of clutches and scarves in our online boutique, so pop over and check them out!

Oh, by the way, we’ve just released some adorable Handbag Charm Key Chains, perfect for those last minute Christmas gifts! For that person you’ve accidently forgotten to buy for perhaps?

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…and nobody loves the festive season quite like we do at Spencer & Rutherford!

With the weather warming up (finally) and fabulously festive decorations lining the streets and store windows, we’re really starting to get excited about the holiday season!

No, we won’t blame you for spending your afternoons daydreaming about summer holidays, sophisticated soirees, sumptuous cocktails, resort wear and embellished evening bags. Summer holidays are on our brain at the moment too!

So what do you have planned? Here at Spencer & Rutherford, most of the guys and gals are either headed home to spend time with family, (with the exception of our wonderfully dedicated retail staff, who will be managing our stores in the super busy Christmas/Boxing Day period) or they’re off to exotic locations to take a well earned break from the crazy world of fashion!

Our talented Design Assistant Pri is off to Bali (totally envious…) to chill out on the beach and soak up the sun, while our sophisticated Retail & Business Development Manager Sher is travelling to local hotspot Merimbula, to bask in the sun and drink margaritas while preparing dinner at the end of a hard day (oh and by hard she means reading a book on the deck overlooking the beach!)

Claire, our accounts extraordinaire, will be hanging out with family in Melbourne, checking out the Boxing Day Test (yes, girls can be in to cricket too…) and then she’s heading down the Great Ocean Road to Lorne for the famous Falls Festival.

Our uber-stylish Art Director Vittoria will be staying home with her large Italian family, not only to put on a traditional Christmas, (trust me, she’s an amazing cook…) but she’s also looking forward to christening her brand new swimming pool, how luxurious!  Oh and me, well I’m off to an amazing resort at Port Douglas, (I know, I’m totally pinching myself!)

On a totally unrelated note, (but completely helpful if you are still hunting around for those perfect Christmas gifts…) we’re currently celebrating our very own ‘Twelve Divine Days of Christmas’ with fabulous offers, gifts and discounts every day until December 17!

Head over to our website to check things out.

Spotted…

The divine Emaline – Heavenly tote bag being given a funky ‘industrial’ makeover in this editorial recently featured in Sydney’s Nine to Five Magazine. 

We love the bold colour and edgy styling… very eye catching and very fabulous! 

Looking for a sophisticated style that will take you effortlessly from day to evening?

Hark back to an Art Deco era and embrace a monochromatic colour palette. Black and white is continually chic and will never go out of style, just look at these stunning ladies!

Spring Summer’s Eternal colour series sees a fresh take on the classic black and white bag.

With clean lines and elegant shapes, these handbags will add that all important finishing touch to any outfit and will be your go-to-look for the upcoming Christmas party season!

Ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes at a fashion shoot? Well we’re giving you the inside scoop!

Head behind the scenes at our Divine Society of Glamour Devotees shoot!

Okay, so I’m sure that you’ve been wondering where we’ve all been the past few months!

No, we haven’t been hibernating through winter (although it has been mighty miserable in Melbourne as of late…) we have in fact been super busy, creating a fabulous new society for all of our devoted members!

We’ve just launched the Divine Society of Glamour Devotees, a delectably fabulous club created for our precious fans and all of those who adore exquisite handbags, luggage and accessories.

Our new society transports fans to a glamorous world of fashion and fun, and offers fabulous rewards, VIP invitations and a behind the scenes look in to the fashion industry. For more information, head over to our website and check things out!

And not only have we been busy launching our new society, we’ve also managed to find the time to squeeze in a brand new signature collection ‘Devoted to Glamour’ (one for the handbag addicts out there) and the launch of a shiny new website dedicated to all things glamorous and fun!

There’s never a dull moment at Spencer & Rutherford!

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The weather this time of year in Melbourne is notoriously unpredictable, but a recent Autumn Day just happened to provide the perfect backdrop for our Spring/Summer 2010-11 campaign photo shoot, in the stunning St Kilda Botanical Gardens. We were all a little on edge, with this being our first outdoors shoot and so much left up to the elements, but with our combined finger and toe crossing effort, somehow Mother Nature held up her end of the bargain and delivered a great morning! Suddenly at 2pm the skies opened up and the rain absolutely poured down. Luckily we had already shot most of the bags and thought to pack those samples into the car as we finished shooting each piece so we were able to save most of them from the rain. Thanks Melbourne!

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It’s with a touch of sadness that I inform you that winter is almost upon us…okay, I know you’re aware what season it is, but this year is flying by so fast, sometimes it’s hard to keep up!

Winter in Melbourne is, if nothing else, unpredictable. The weather in our fickle (but lovely) city can be anything from extremely frosty to blowing a gale, from rainy and miserable to, on the odd occasion, a soaking of sunshine! Read the rest of this entry »

What a whirlwind the past few months have been! Between opening our beautiful new Chadstone boutique, launching the glamorous Autumn/Winter Collection and debuting our sophisticated new luggage, I’ve hardly had time to stop and smell the roses!

While I’m sure some of you may have assumed I simply dropped off the face of the earth, it’s been that long since my last entry, I assure you it’s not the case! Since we last spoke, the world of Spencer & Rutherford has been moving at break-neck speed, so before you get upset, I promise my updates will be more frequent from now on.

Let me quickly fill you in on what’s been going on. Read the rest of this entry »

This week our gorgeous friends from Anthea Crawford invited us to share in their Spring Summer collection launch at a gorgeous reception at The Windsor in Melbourne. Lots of beautifully dressed ladies, plates of yummy sandwiches, miniature sweet treats and champagne… a perfect occasion for a Spencer & Rutherford bag! I had loads of fun and was invited up to the stage to chat about our collection, which we just launched also, so I thought you might like to hear what we spoke about.

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For most people the signs of Spring are all around – rain of course making it really cold, but also flowers starting to appear, the sun is rising a little earlier and that feeling of promise is in the air.

For me it is all about Winter, and no not this Winter, but next! I have just started my collection for next Winter and I am on the hunt for inspiration. I thought you might like to see this picture of a very Spencer & Rutherford Apartment – fabulous!

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Good morning, afternoon, evening to all you lovely Spencer & Rutherford devotees, it’s been way too many days since my last blog… but I have plenty of excuses!

There was a gorgeous two week break with my children, relaxing week at home enjoying our Melbourne Autumn; our range release for Spring Summer and a photo shoot; my daughter got glandular fever and was knocked out for many weeks; a trip to Hong Kong, and a mammogram. (Can I say here that I really, really, really hate mammograms. I have to have them every year as I have a family history, but I just don’t understand how putting your breasts into a sandwich press is helpful – I am so glad it is over for another year!)

Our trip to Hong Kong was to visit some trade shows and sort out production for the next season, but when my husband/business partner and I get the opportunity to travel together, we have a lot of fun.

The Luxe Manor

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Today has been a fabulous day. I can answer my emails in peace and even drink coffee without being interrupted. Yes… I am taking a work break from school holidays. Not to say that I don’t absolutely adore my children, but they keep me so busy that I am actually exhausted. At work I can sit and bond with my ideas. At home I am organizing things on the phone while mixing a cake, emptying the dishwasher, loading the washing machine and yelling at the kids to get dressed because they are due at play dates in 10 minutes.

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Hi to all, and welcome to my new blog.

It’s really a good time to start this because I have just finished designing my new collection for next Spring Summer, so I’m ready for something new. You probably all want to hear about what’s coming up for the new season – well there are a lot of beautiful mixed brights, plus soft baby pink, white and yes – black too. I have finally succumbed! Of course it’s not just plain black, there’s quite a lot of colour to make it look Spencer & Rutherford. I think black will work well for the races too. There are also some fabulous new styles. Once again, it will be hard for even me to choose a favourite. I like to look at it all for a while before I choose, so I will keep you posted.

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