Ah, home for the holidays... we all remember them well. You and your beloved wish for a tropical excursion, where you can lie on the beach, sip Mai Tai cocktails, and watch the sunsets. Then, bam! One phone call and you are snapped out of your fantasy into the reality of family obligations. Now, of course, it does not really have to be that bad; there is a certain comfort in embracing the family call and soldiering through it. That is why the film Four Christmases, a delightful new romantic comedy, is the perfect pre-holiday antidote for the upcoming holiday season. We may not be able to get out of our responsibilities, but we sure can laugh at seeing how other people deal with it on the big screen. Four Christmases - In Theaters November 26th!

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Clothing featured: Custo Barcelona Suvy Wayu Dress, Ugg Australia Fray Linen Bucket Hat, Elliot Lucca Pascale Hobo Handbag, Marc by Marc Jacobs Metal Tenacious T Bangle, Marc by Marc Jacobs Oversized Sunglasses, Kate Spade Sloan Sunglasses, and Michael Kors Pearl Ankle-tie Open Toe Wedges.

Quilted leather handbags have been a style staple amongst the fashion cognoscenti since its 1955 creation by the House of Chanel. They have come a long way since then, with many luxury designers from Marc Jacobs to Furla, throwing their quilted variations in the ring. What is Couture craving? Furla Shopper Grande Quilted, Costume National Patent Leather Tote with quilted-esque bottom, L.A.M.B. Music Rocksteady Tote with Accent Strip, and Furla Viktoria Shopper Grande Quilted.

Green means go, and emerald is full speed ahead this winter. Keep other adornments to a minimum if you wear it all over, like in dress or suit form. The rich hue is perfect in accessory form, making an all black outfit absolutely pop. Our pick? This lovely two-tone Costume National handbag.

Leave it to the Kaiser to come up with another all new handbag line for the house of Chanel just in time for the holidays. Forget about the house’s quilted toggle lock classic; push aside the glossy, patent leather shopper totes; move over the lambskin maxis with mini handbag attached; and make way for the new multi-monogrammed, glossy grey canvas clutches, hobos, mini and maxi purses. The bags, covered with the words Paris, 31 Rue Cambon, Coco and Chanel, which are repeated like a spoken mantra, are a departure from the design house’s classic, but are a welcomed fun and fresh take on handbag design. The bags also feature fun and innovative details like snap hooks, inside pockets, invisible zippers and leather reinforcements. The Couture team is a lover of all things Chanel, are huge fans of Karl Lagerfeld, but in reality, in these economic times, we may have to forego a whimsical logo Chanel, in favor of the investment worthy quilted leather Furla Grand Shopper bag we have had our eye on instead.

Want to join the navy? We’re talking about the trend of navy shoes and
bags. It’s the new black, after all. Navy accessories are making
headway in stores – this navy Alexander McQueen bag is perfect to take to the office.

'Tis the season... Fall has officially begun and there a few must haves for the season. The color purple is a big hit and looks great on almost every skin tone. Stacked heeled boots that slouch are another sure fire hit that can be paired with jeans tucked in and a funky tee. Espresso was percolating all over the Fall 2008 runways, so do add a dash to your accessory rotation. From the East Coast to the West Coast, sky-high high heel platforms are all the rage, do mix with colored tights and sheath dresses. Every Couturnista needs a dollop of effortless chic thrown in, what better way to do that than with a kid-skin slouch handbag. Who said the oxford could not be a sexy shoe? Clearly, they had not anticipated the stiletto heeled versions for Fall. Look for a smooth, supple leather or a patent leather version to add just enough sex appeal to any look. Cat calls are optional.

Our pics: Michael Kors Azurette Iris Patent Ostrich Print Pump, Furla Oxana Pochette Crocco Morbido in Lichene, Giuseppe Zanotti Cognac Patent Leather Shoulder Bag, L.A.M.B. Hamura Red Square Toe Hidden Platform, Marc by Marc Jacobs Black Calf Crinkle Cuff Stacked Heel Boot, Giuseppe Zanotti Menswear-inspired Oxford Pump, and Michael Kors Iris Colored Kid Skin Drawstring Satchel.

The Couture team is feeling the rebel yell of the changing season, torn between our ladylike underpinnings and our rebellious spirit. What better way to express it than merging the sweet with a little spice? Absolutely none! We are craving black leggings tucked into our navy buckle detail male-inspired punk-esque boots, a little pirate swagger with a dash of skulls and skeletons scarf, ladylike indifference with a leather fringed handbag, channeling a little Belgian punk spirit with lace up booties, and cuffed perfection with a crown insigna silver cuff.

Our pics: Paul Smith Navy Back Zipper Boots with Buckle Detail, Roberto Cavalli Black Patent Leather Lace up Ankle Boots, Alexander McQueen Black/White Tree of Life scarf , Jill Stuart Onyx Leather and Metal Fringe St. Germain Felicity Satchel, and King Baby Studio Crowned Heart Cross Cuff.

It is not often that a fashionista has the opportunity to come face-to-face with a classic, quilted Chanel bag circa 1955 that is large enough to sit inside of with a few friends, a DJ and a mini turntable, but that is exactly what the traveling Mobile Art: Chanel Contemporary Art Container, a collaboration between design innovator Karl Lagerfeld, and the celebrated architect Zaha Hadid, presents to you. The collapsible mobile pod designed by Hadid, will house all of the rotating exhibits that will travel to Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow, before settling in its final destination of Paris. The twenty artisans received a brief from Lagerfeld with the instructions of creating an exhibit that revolved around Chanel’s back catalog of the iconic handbags and would capture the essence of the house’s most famous bag, the quilted handbag. The original collaboration between Lagerfeld and Hadid began when the two were photographed for a W 092 Power Couple magazine photoshoot, where Lagerfeld chose Hadid as his architectural hero. The interpretations of the Chanel bag are vast and inspirational, from the oversized 2.55 quilted purse with a video installation, to a room lined with leather as though walking inside of a handbag, to a photo essay shot in an American landscape interpretation of the Chanel workshops. The exhibit will be making the rounds for the next two years, so don’t miss a truly unique experience, because if you do, fashion shame on you! For more information check out the following link at Chanel.com. http://www.chanel-mobileart.com/?lang=en_eu

Might we offer you a cup of fabulous espresso hues for fall? We’re talking rich java, cappuccino, mocha, chocolate enriched coffee, toffee and deep, deep milk-tinged espresso. Perfect with cuffed jeans and a simple tee or a little sassy with a cream pencil skirt and sky high heels. Our picks: MICHAEL Michael Kors' luggage-hued Lattington large leather satchel, Moschino's chocolate brown quilted multi-handle shoulder bag, Cole Haan's deep chesnut brown saddle shoulder zip and Giuseppe Zanotti's cognac-hued brown patent leather shoulder bag.

Fall is upon us, and that means exciting new additions to your wardrobe. Be 'red ahead' of the crowd with an eye-catching pop of color to add oomph to any outfit. The Couture team was quite taken with the saturated red hues in many of the designer collections for Fall 2008. What would any outfit be without a fabulous accessory (most notably, a great handbag)? Nothing. Our faves: D&G Dolce & Gabbana Lisa Shiny Soft Calfskin Medium Shoulder Bag, Jean Paul Gaultier Satin Mini Minaudiere Bag, Furla Clara Shopper Grande Crocco and the Kate Spade Savona Evan Shoulder Clutch.

Maverick designer Rei Kawakubo, of Comme des Garcons, that sought-after label of coolness, has signed on to design a line of evening bags for the luxury label Louis Vuitton. As we all know, Marc Jacobs, the designer for Louis Vuitton, has a wonderful eye for picking the right guest designer and/or artist to design handbags for the company. Just think of the Murikami handbags and pop-up concept shops, or the Stephen Sprouse grafitti logo handbags from a few years ago.

But getting Rei was a true coo, after all, the designer herself eschews labeled bags and only carries a plain black tote for a night out on the town. Known for her avant garde style, one can only anticipate the cutting edge designs that she will produce for Vuitton. My style bets are on lots of LBBs (little black bags), some futuristic materials and interesting shapes. Um, note to all, get on the waiting list. If these bags sell like the previous guest collections, they will be sold out before they ever hit a store.

The avid music loving Frida Giannini, Creative Director for Gucci, has tapped Lil' Ms. Sunshine, Rihanna, to be the spokesmodel for their fall advertisement highlighting its collaboration with UNICEF (United Nation’s Children’s Fund).

The ads were shot by the in-demand husband and wife team, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, in Paris, with the ads slated to premiere in December issues of fashion magazines. “So when we decided to dedicate a full ad campaign, more than just creating products, to really come out and show our commitment to UNICEF, we wanted someone with a strong personality,” Giannini said post-photoshoot, during her interview with WWD.

And of course we all know well, unless you have been living somewhere in the universe where fashion does not matter, that Rihanna loves rocking Gucci. She wore the emerald green criss-cross neckline gown with plunging back belted to the “A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF” benefit, a patterned belted mini at the Kids' Choice Awards and has been photographed all over the world carrying countless Gucci handbags styles.

So it would seem that this match, cemented after Rihanna’s rendition of Umbrella at the Malawi fund-raiser, is a match made in heaven, and a very worthy cause will benefit from the union.

I’m sure that Katherine Noel Brosnahan, now known as Kate Spade, never imagined from her humble beginnings in Kansas City, Missouri, going on to study Journalism, that she would someday invent a handbag that would launch a thousand imitations and would soon become the staple of her still flourishing Kate Spade international empire. Kate, while working as a Senior Fashion Editor/Head of Accessories at Mademoiselle magazine discovered the consistent lack of stylish and practical handbags in the marketplace. She would visit local flea markets for inspiration, and fabric swatches which led to the creation of her initial prototype — the black, stain resistant fabric handbag with dual handles, which officially launched her label in 1993. She quit the magazine in the early ‘90s and the rest as they say is history. Kate Spade, along with her now husband, Andy Spade, have built the Kate Spade empire into a brand which consists of handbags, shoes, stationery, personal organizers, address books, beauty products, perfume, pajamas, eyewear and home which was launched in 2004.

We here at Couture are never to be out done and were able to procure Kate’s shoes and handbags, which one third of the Couture team can’t ever be without. Our faves are: Kate Spade's Hera shoes, Kate's Anguila Flat Ava Clutch and Kate Spade's Becca Sunglasses.

You know the famous fedora tilted just so. The rough hewn linen fabrics. Roomy trousers or gauzy dresses. Sounds exactly like what is going on in the fashion industry right now, no? What better way than that to start off Couture’s themed How to Wear It series. Enjoy a funky little male-inspired hat, a sweet little breezy dress, a trendy gladiator sandal embellished just so and a structured leather satchel to throw effortlessly over one’s shoulder. Ooh la la.

The What: Styling a little ladylike Indiana Jones

The How To: Ugg Braid Fedora Hat (Natural) + Jean Paul Gaultier Horn and Moose Charm Necklace + MICHAEL Michael Kors Patchwork Stud Detail Belt + Radcliffe Denim Cheyne Tank Dress + Fossil Perry North/South Messenger Bag + Sam Edelman Ginger (Gold) Gladiator Sandal

The When: Daytime - perfect for work, luncheons or shopping

The Why: Because the look says summer cool, even if the movie did not live up to the hype

In 1928 Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan designed the first Cole Haan shoe. It was Chicago, the jazz age. Quality was everything — and style, like the sound, was smooth and sophisticated. So goes the intro on the Cole Haan website.

Today, like its early beginnings, creativity, luxury, technology and sophistication still reigns supreme in the company’s approach to design. Cole Haan has grown significantly since its first pair of shoes to include clothing, small leather goods, belts, luxury outerwear, watches and fabulous handbags. The company had been collaborating with Nike with their air technology for shoes and Nike eventually purchased the company outright in the late ‘80s. Of course, here at Couture.Zappos.com we carry a vast array of the Haan products. Our faves: the Air Ricki Sandal (women), the Air Granada Sport Ox (men), the Whitford Shave Kit (men) and the Village Soft East/West Triple Zip Bag (women).