GUCCI

Gucci offers a baby line but you’d need to be on the UK Gucci site to see the offering. It doesn’t seem like they offer much variety but the categories they cover are Diaper Bags, Shoes and Carrier. In the US, their carrier can be found on Saks and bags and shoes have more variety at Neman.

CHLOE

Chloe has a collection for children but only available at select boutiques. In the US, Neiman is their carrier but offering is very limited.

DIOR

I first came across the Dior Baby product when visiting the Desert Hills (Cabazon) Outlet on the way to Palm Springs, CA. Like many other name brands, their kid’s selection is not featured on US website and after digging, I did manage to see it on their Japan site. In the US, they can be found on Neiman (ofcourse) and eLuxury.com. Dior seems to have a lot more options when it comes to accessories and clothing and I just love their design and packaging!

ARMANI JR

Armani JR is Georgio Armani’s fashion line for baby, jr. and team. Here are just some of my favorites from their baby line.

BURBERRY

Burberry offers a more comprehensive baby line relative to the other high end brands. Burberry baby products are sold on Saks Fifth, Neiman and their online shop or physical stores.

DOLCE & GABBANA

D&G also has a JR line that covers from new born to JR. They have leopard prints for their infant line which I’m not too fond of. Some of their baby designs are a little too adult like for me.

FENDI

Who knew Fendi also offer baby products. I’m surprised to see some of the varieties they offer from baby carrier to shoes to bottles. I’m not a big fan of their design but it’s definitely a surprise to see what they got for the baby category. (Check out the bottle carrier below)

ENVIROSAX

Envirosax produces some of the most stylish and trendy reusable shopping bags that I’ve seen in the market. Their eco-friendly reusable shopping bags are available as single items or as an assortment of 5 durable waterproof, lightweight bags held in a small pouch that fits in a handbag.

REISENTHEL

Reisenthel is a German brand that designs with form, style and function in mind. Their Carrybag is a signature item and have seem similar styles carried by Catherine Zeta-Jones in No Reservations. I’m not sure how easy it is to carry around but sure looks very stylish!

BEAU SOLEIL

Beau Soleil created by Anne Salvatore Epstein, is an eco-friendly brand focused on sustainability, fair trade and labor. Along with the use of organic raw materials, it aims to offer consumers environmentally healthy fashion choices without sacrificing style and design. The Beau Bag is among my favorite finds in the eco-friendly bags:

B HAPPYBAGS

b Happybags was created by long time proponents of “just saying no” to paper or plastic.

METHOD

Method was founded by Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, who set out to create home care products that are design and environmentally friendly. Although reusable bags is not their main product line, they sure did a good job with the design of the market tote. My favorite is the blue Method/HSN version which is sold on HSN.com.

JUICY COUTURE

Juicy Couture also has caught on the green trend by offering its go-green tote. I did get a little side tracked while surfing for their bag category when I came across the Flower tote. Not exactly your grocery bag but I can’t help highlighting it here. Thought someone would appreciate the unique design. It comes in apple green and yellow as well. And like all their other bags, it’s quite pricy even for the Go Green tote, which I’m not sure if it’s worth it.

FOREVER 21

Forever 21 offers some of the most economical and design friendly reusable totes. The i Love Green and Love Your Mother Earth designs below are sold for $1.50. The pink Car Canvas Tote Bag is based on an eco-friendly print design on a vegetable fiber canvas. The interior has pocket compartments so not exactly designed to carry grocery but a good option for the designed, green and cost conscious.

MyBag Fold-Up Grocery Bag

MyBag grocery bag was found on a UK retailer site. I liked the unique design concept (opens up and you get a plastic bag looking reusable bag) so thought I highlight it here. It looks like you can purchase it from the US but the shipping cost is quite high for international customers.

SEA BAGS

Sea Bags is a Portland based company that makes custom tote bags out of recycled sails. The totes come in three different sizes and offers customization on numbers. A medium sized bag runs over $100. Not cheap for a tote but does help support for a good cause.

CHAPEL OF DAWN

Chapel of Dawn is another brand that I’d came across recently that I thought had some cool stuff. I couldn’t find much info about them but believe that they are a Hong Kong brand. The two items below that I loved are the limited edition of the Chapel of Dawn Eric Elms Colette Tote (limited edition: 100 worldwide) and Chapel of Dawn Hello Kitty Tote. I’d also recommend checking out Colette’s website, it has some really cool product designs!

FEED BAG

Lauren Bush, honorary spokesperson for the UN World Food Program, initiated the feed project to fight child hunger. “The FEED bag is a sturdy, reversible bag made out of natural burlap and cotton materials. The design of the bag was inspired by the big bags of food that I have seen being distributed to schools around the world. Besides being a cool bag, it is a tangible way to make a difference in the fight against child hunger. Every FEED bag sold will feed a child for a whole year in school!” This version of Feed Bag was designed for retail on Amazon.

Anya Hindmarch

Since we’re talking about reusable shopping bags, we can’t get away with not mentioning the infamous “I’m not a plastic bag” by Anya Hindmarch. The bag was a limited edition bag (I believe around 20K) that went on sale worldwide and was sold out within hours of its release. People lined up for hours and each customer was limited to one purchase, if they were lucky to even get to it. Since then, there’s been a lot of look alikes and can even be found on Amazon. For something that was a limited edition, I question where the bags came from.

Richart Chocolate

Richart is a French chocolate brand in the premium/fine chocolate category. They offer various flavors and personalization on the chocolate for a special gift or wedding favor.

Sprinkles Cup Cake

Sprinkles Cup Cake is based in Beverly Hills and has been a popular and trendy spot for the locals. I really like the simple elegance in the presentation. The individual packaging is also a great option for wedding or party favors.

Pinkberry

Pinkberry along with Red Mango are the pioneers in redefining the frozen yogurt experience. Although a new concept imported from Korea, Pinkberry has benefited from its Hollywood location with customers like Paris Hilton, to create buzz for the store. Since their opening, frozen yogurt stores alike are following their lead in not only the flavoring but the trendy experience associated with the taste.

Fortnum and Mason

How often to you see an embossed pinkish purple packaging for a Tea can? Fortnum and Mason is a British brand focused on selling to the high end market.

FRANCIS COPPOLA

The Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine from Francis Coppola has a very chic packaging. “The grapes for our Sofia are grown in northern Monterey County where gentle breezes from Monterey Bay contribute to the long, cool growing season.” 

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FUNMUM

Funmum.com, a British brand, offers maternity clothes from casual to formal wear. I think they are one of the few brands that actually offer great style at a reasonable price. I’ve actually purchased their tops in the past and the material is super soft and comfortable. Because many of the styles are stretchy and soft, they can be worn even after pregnancy. Their style varies by season and the summer line below actually wasn’t as good as last year’s fall/winter design.

ISABELLA OLIVER

Isabella Oliver is one of the few trendy and chic maternity brands that I’d come across in the US. They are also among celebrity favorites and you can see who’s wearing Isabella Oliver here. And with style and celebrity support, comes a high price tag. Prices for tops could easily run over $100 a piece but if money is no object for you, they have a great selections to help you stay chic and stylish while pregnant. They do have some styles that are reversible so you are getting two looks for the price of one.

TONYCOHEN

Tony Cohen is an Amsterdam-based designer who creates feminine fashion that’s breezy and chic on a minimalist palette. Although not intentional for maternity wear, the breezy and ruffle looks have been chosen as alternatives to maternity tops/dresses. Here are some of his designs and his lines are available in local boutiques.

L’AVENUE DES BEBES

l’avenue des bebes is a French brand currently without a presence in the US. They do, however, ship to the US. I’ve purchased their tops in the past and have mixed feelings about their products. The tops sometimes look better in the picture than in person so with an international purchase, exchange or returns are tough. However, they do have some cute pieces and here are some styles from their summer collection. I think sometimes it helps to use the model as a reference for what to wear too.

BURBERRY

Burberry offers a series of diaper totes and baby accessories. And like any other luxury product, it comes with a big price tag.

Baby Bag

This diaper bag comes in the signature black leather trim and buckle flap. I’m a fan of Burberry’s bags but not sure about having it for a diaper bag since the light color might get dirty easily. If money wasn’t an issue, it’d be nice to have a few and carry this around for special occasions. For a list of baby Burberry products, you can check out burberry.com or neimanmarcus.com.

Messenger Diaper Bag

Besides the signature prints on the Burberry diaper bags, I came across this one on Neiman Marcus that’s a little more unique. As seen in the picture, it comes in either pink or beige and a Burberry logo in the front of the bag. It doesn’t appear to come with any additional accessories so seems to be pretty slim down but only at $241. There are also other messenger diaper bag options that offers a bit more but at doubled the price. You can see more options here.

STORKSAK

Storksak is a British brand that focuses on offering fashionable and functional products for parents. They do sell in the US market and have been featured in many celebrity, fashion and maternity magazines. And any time you’re associated with a celebrity, you know the price is not going to be cheap, especially for a diaper bag.

UNISEX SAKS

One of my favorite unisex diaper bag is this Jamie Black style offered at Storksak. I think men will like this for not only the style but also its functional designs as the bag is designed to fit most laptops. Also see Storksak’s bag on June 2008′s Star Magazine featuring Brad Pitt (as the Dapper Dude) and his sons. Share it with the guys so they can feel cool in a diaper bag. (Compare prices on Amazon.com – $198 vs. $210)

Elizabeth Chalk

The Elizabeth Chalk line is another style from Storksak that caught my eye. I think it can do a bit better on the style but it’s already very stylish and trendy among diaper bags. The chalk color is a Spring ’08 design and seems like it’s a favorite among many. Other things that are unique with the Storksak design includes featured removable thermo-insulated bottle holder, micro-fiber padded changing mat, and key-ring clip. Again, price of this is pretty high among diaper bag selections.

LOUIS VUITTON

Louis Vuitton has a couple of selections for baby bags. They are very expensive, not surprising, but good to know that there are choices out there for LV lovers.

Monogram Mini Lin Diaper Bags

This LV diaper bag is listed for $2,120! I think it’s hands down the most expensive one that I’ve featured on here. The bag comes with a separate diaper mat (Monogram-embroidered of course) and has lots of space/compartments to store things. The straps are removable (with shoulder pad) so you can choose to carry on the shoulder or handheld. You can see more views of this bag and its inside compartments at eluxury.com.

FELIX REY

Felix Rey started with the goal to design colorful bags for smart and stylish girl-about-town. Their feminine and vintage inspired bags are often seen with their signature touches such as bows, ruffles and hearts. It’s also a brand that is featured frequently in fashion and celebrity magazines. See who’s wearing Felix Rey in Hollywood here. (Their bags can be found on Saks 5th Ave and Neimanmarcus.com)

Lucia Patent Diaper Bag

This Lucia Patent Diaper Bag is great for mom’s who need to look modern and professional on the go. The front of the bag is accented with bow detail and “FR” logo plate in the lower left corner. I’m curious about the weight of the bag since it features goldtone hardware straps and aluminum top handles. This might be one that you’d travel light to balance style and comfort. In addition to black, it also comes in Leopard prints at Neimanmarcus.

GINA ALEXANDER

Gina Alexander is a L.A. based designer offering customers to design their own bags using personal photos.

Medium Flower Leatherette

This was one of my most favorite designs. I really liked the feminine touch that the flower adds to this bag. There are several other designs available and since every bag is unique, I think it’d make a great present for new mothers. Especially to show off their cute babies. Check out more styles here. For those who are into name brands, Anya Hindmarch, a British brand, also offers persoalized prints for their “Be a Bag” line.

DEBBIE ROTT

Debbie Rott debuted its first collection in 2005 and focuses on wearable diaper bag designs. Their designs are a little more edgy and fun especially for moms who looks to show the rocker style in them.

Eva Rocker

This Eva Rocker bag comes in several different choices, including Leopard! My personal favorites are the light gold shown here and red. I’m not a rocker girl but I’m a denim girl and this would go great with a casual look. And with the rocker/biker style bags in fashion this year, it’ll sure make any new mother stylish and trendy. You can find a selection on carlapie.com.

AMYKATHRYN

Amykathryn was founded by designer Amy Hall, who turned her attention to her natural affinity for fine Italian fabrics, particularly in accessories after opening a gallery in 1999. Amykathryn is another brand that took celebrity notice after its launch in 2002 and like any other product associated with hollywood stars, it succeeded in the marketplace quickly.

Gladiola

The Gladiola weekender / diaperbag is among my favorites offered by amykathryn. It looks very trendy and seems like it’d go with either a casual or semi-formal look. The Gladiola comes with a matching diaper changing pad and the adjustable and removable shoulder strap and handles are convenient for switching up the looks. The bag is also medium priced making it more affordable than the other designer brands.

FLEURVILLE

Fleurville was started by two parents who couldn’t find inspiring products and designs for their new born. Their products are very modern in design and as the company grows they have began to focus on integrating design and environmental qualities into the product line. They’re a certified ‘San Francisco Bay Area Green Business’ and their eco-friendly bags were showcased on The View recently, among other celebrity coverages. See which celebrities own a Fleurville bag.

Escape Pod

This is actually a small bag that is intended for short trips since it only fits a wipe case, some diapers and a changing cloth. Despite the limited organizing space, I love their modern prints and eco-friendly product design. It also comes in other fabric designs.

ROMALAMA

Romalama is an Australia brand that has offerings in the US. It’s another brand that grew out of a need for more modern and stylish products for new mothers. What differentiates their style are the clean lines and shape.

AVA

The Ava leather diaper bag is my favorite Romalama bag. I think it must be the leather and the fact that it comes in both chocolate and caramel, my favorite colors for bags. The clean style and shape reminds me of J CREW style and something that I’d see a catalog model carry.

ROWDY

Rowdy is a new brand that launched just a year ago by parents who demanded better and more stylish products. They are also on the more edgy side which some would appreciate.

The Rocker Convertible

I have a mixed feeling about this design but nevertheless I think it fits the unisex design category and husbands might not be embarrassed to carry. I think what’s bothering me is the tassel and might look better without it. The bag also comes in black and Copper which might be better selections. Once nice thing about this bag is you can wear it as a backpack or on the side. (Click to see more views of the diaper bag)

JUICY COUTURE

Juicy Couture offers both maternity fashion and diaper bags, although their maternity clothes need to catch up a bit on style. There are some fun diaper bags offered by Juicy Couture and my favorite one is the below.

Scottie-Print Stroller Bag

The Scottie-Print Stroller bag comes in a pink or yellow tone. It comes with burping cloth, bib, and blanket from their Couture Baby and Juicy Couture lines. (See pictures here) Here’s where you can compare with the Camomile Lawn (yellow) style.

JP LIZZY

JP Lizzy also started with a designer mom who believed a diaper bag should live on after its purpose has been served. My favorite line is their Lesisure Totes collection which are stylish and fun.

Scarlet Poppies Leisure Tote

This Scarlet Poppies Leisure Tote is feminine and chic. The floral design goes well with spring and summer wear. The down side of this selection is probably the lack of accessories that other bags include, like matching changing pads. However, the price of the bag is a lot more affordable at $72. Matching clutch also available in the same floral design.

COACH

Coach also offers diaper bags and the one below is their Optic Signature Baby Bag.

LYCHEE LINE

Recently came across the Lychee Line brand, where the essence of the brand originated from South Africa’s rich culture, art and exotic tradition. Its Madeline line is a pleasantly disguised diaper bag designed for modern mom. “Each is handmade with high quality custom faux leather, lined and and flaunts a stretchy pocket on the outside that holds a bottle (water bottle, baby bottle, sippy cup, or coffee cup). Comes in chocolate, black licorice, key lime, green apple, blueberry, and raspberry.”

RIAN

Rian offers leather bags that features cartoon like prints of major cities around the world as part of its design. The design is fun but with a high price tag.

Tower Mommy

The Tower Mommy line features Paris as its print and comes in three different color choices. The diaper bag comes with changing mat and inside bottle holders an diaper pockets with dividers.

PETUNIA PICKLE BOTTOM

Petunia Pickle Bottom was also founded on the desire to bring style and sophistication to modern parenting. Its design uses bold lines and daring colors and fabrics to create a distinctive style to differentiate from other bags in the market.

Cosmopolitan Carryall Pistachio Layer Cake

This doctor style bag is vintage inspired with European cut velvet and coordinating Moss Green wool tweed and Moss Green lining. I’m not a fan of velvet but I’m sure there’s an audience out there for it. They also have the Society Satchel another unique design. I have seen the Satchel in store and to be honest it was a little too old looking for my taste.

OiOi

Oioi is an australian brand but available in the US market. It seems like most of their designs run in black or charcoal colors and my favorite is the Black Floral Jacquard Carry All below.

Black Floral Jacquard Carry All

This diaper bag has a slightly different shape than the others that I’d featured above with black/charcoal floral prints. The interior has green lining and comes with a large padded microfibre change mat. (See review on Amazon)

LeSPORTSAC

LeSportsac is known for its colorful designs and fun prints. Their casual nylong bags are lightweight and functional which makes it easy to carry around. Although the diaper bag shapes are not exactly hip and stylish, I like the cute prints on this and comes with a changing pad. (If you’re an Amazon.com shopper, don’t forget to check out the seller’s offers when comparing prices.)

CHLOE

Chloe, another expensive name brand label, also offers diaper bag selection. The white Chloe Diaper Bag below is made in France and being sold on Nemian Marcus for $812!

Dior

Dior offers a baby collection for their fashion line and the white Dior Diaper Bag below is a new find on Neiman Marcus. I can’t imagine keeping clean of a white diaper bag but I guess for those who are more concerned about fashion than function, this might be one for consideration. It looks like the inside opens up into a gray teddy bear-print changing pad and sold for $450.

GUCCI

If you’re looking for an Italian made diaper bag and not worried about price, this Gucci Diaper Bag is up for consideration. This beige-ebony diaper bag also comes in black and currently sold for $975 at Neiman. I’m not too fond of the style since it’s a little bulky looking like a camera bag.

Many of the brands I came across in the maternity category started by woman entrepreneurs who left their day job to start their own business. And most importantly, they were successful at it. So aside from the great designs, it was encouraging to find these success stories and learn from it.

i. Intimates: I’m starting with this category after seeing countless ugly bras designed for pregnant or nursing moms. Pregnancy is probably when women are most aware of their self image and having sift through hundreds of designs, I’m appalled at the lack of choices available in the market. To keep hopes out there, below are some of my favorite finds. Keep in mind that some international brands may not be available in the US.

BENDON

Bendon, a New Zealand brand, has several sub-brands in the nursing bra category. Few designs that were my favorites were:

Bendon Lace Nursing Bra

This style comes in two different
colors on nordstrom.com: crystal
blue and black. It provides
underwire-free support and
soft shaping. Can also be found
on figleaves.com.

La Mere Nursing Bra

This style is under the the subbrand
Elle Macpherson Intimates. It comes
in four different colors and can also
be found on nordstrom.com or
figleaves.com.

FREYA

Freya, a UK based company, offers chic and sexy lingerie to customers around the world.

Rosalie

Rosalie nursing bra is listed under
Freya’s best seller styles and comes
in couple colors. You can read reviews
on herroom.com. Freya has some very
cute regular bras you might want
to take a peak on, Charlie and Matisse are just a few.

BELABUMBUM

Belabumbum is known for its bold color choices with fabric imported from Brazil. It has a few great choices for maternity lingerie and it’s another cute site that is just fun to browse around.

Copacabana Nursing Bra

I liked this style for the simple
and casual look. It has also
comes in a set with boycut as
shown on the product site.
Belabumbum is also featured
in some of the well known fashion and parenting
magazines.

HOT MILK

HOT milk is another New Zealand based company who produces maternity and nursing lingerie. They are by far the sexiest and most stylish brand I’ve seen in the category. It’s too bad that they are currently only found in Europe and Asia markets.

Delicate and Dangerous

This style is made of pink satin
with French blue and cream floral
embroidery. It looks super sexy
in the picture and hope they will
become available in the US soon!

Baby Doll Delicious

Another favorite of mine is
this sunflower embroidered
maternity bra. I just love the
color and chic style!

BELLA MATERNA

Bella Materna is a Seattle company focused on luxury nursing & maternity essentials. On their site, they mention their products are all made in the US!

French Lace Nursing Bra

This is probably the sexiest style
I’ve seen among all US brand offerings,
with a premium price tag. It’s US made
imported French Lace and Italian
nylon/Lycra.

AMORALIA

Amoralia is a UK company started by Jules Fossett, an ex-advertising strategist, who saw a need for stylish maternity lingerie.

Nougatine

This was another stylish nursing bra
that caught my eye. It comes in three
different colors and my favorite is
actually the Caramel shown on the site.
Catriona Mackechnie in the US carries them.

Noisette

This is an interesting style that
combines vintage and modern look.
The cup has fresh balconette shape
for a feminine look. I’d only found this
on Amoralia’s site so check about their
international shipping policy.

CONDESSA

Condessa is an LA based company that offers “fine lingerie that is also nursing – accessible.” They don’t seem to have many options but the couple that they offer are quite good options for stylish nursing bras.

Cassandra (Lace)

The Cassandra-Lace line has the most
style among the selections available for
this brand. It is designed in 3/4 lace cup
and 1/2 cup cotton lining for comfort.
See more colors here.

Veronica

I was very surprised how this demi
cup nursing bra could be so simple
yet modern and stylish. Don’t know
if it’s good photography but I think
the shimmering material definitely
adds the extra shine needed for a
stylish glow.

In my recent search and guidance from a mentor, I came across some great resources that were inspiring and provided new perspectives on the things around us. 

VIDEOS

What Makes Us Happy : A series of talks from great thinkers at the Ted Conference. My favorite speakers are Rick Warren on Life of Purpose Tony Robbins on Why we do what we do, and how we can do it better and Malcom Gladwell on Spaghetti Sauce.

BOOKS

I seldom have the patience for reading but these two books I highly recommend. They were easy reads and provide tremendous takeaway (at least for me). 

i. True North

This was a book that my mentor had suggested when I first started asking  what I should really be doing with my career. Through the inspirational stories told in the  book, I was able to see what I was missing from my own career. Since then, I’ve passed the  book on to  many friends so I highly recommend it. (Read an excerpt on Amazon)

ii. The Secret

I had an interesting experience with this book. The first time I picked it up, I  couldn’t get pass the 3rd chapter. I doubted every word I read but kept it in the back of  my mind. When I reread it a few weeks later, I actually started believing it. The first read  made me more aware of the events happening around me and through stories of others,  I’ve come to see the spirit of The Secret. For me, the book help established a foundation that I needed to change my attitude. When I get discouraged now, I remind myself of The Secret to stay positive and motivated.