City Style Got Lux De Ville

OMG! this makes me so excited!

 Carrie at City Style decided to carry Lux De Ville Handbags! She just got them in this week, and they are so cool looking. 


She definitely ordered some of the best looking styles that Lux De Ville carries. You've got to go check them out! You will love the retro feel, and all the vintage inspired touches that they put on all their handbags.

You can contact Carrie at City style through her Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Style-Inc/60272536435

The Real Me-My personal Story!

Caia Koopman -Artist

 My struggle lately has been; "What Am I supposed to do? What Is my Career supposed to be? What is the journey I am supposed to take? I know what I DON'T want to do, but how do I do what I want to do?". 

My fashion career experience  has mostly been in retail stores up to this point; working in one store or another, usually working for someone younger than me, and not feeling so good about myself. 3 years ago I came to the realization that this trend MUST STOP! so I quit my job at the most recent retail store, and promised myself I was never going back.


A friend told me recently (something that completely stuck in my head), "You can take the girl out of retail, but you can't take retail out of the girl." It is so true and makes complete sense. I love shopping, and I loved helping people find the right outfit for whatever occasion. However that was a very small fraction of my actual day to day. 


I got to a point where I realized that I wanted more. I know quitting was the right choice and I wouldn't change that decision, but what I didn't know is that it would take so long to get to find something different. I tried to pin point what It was that I wanted to do, and tried to find it. 


I thought: "I have fashion sense, I love handbags and shoes, I love vintage rockabilly trends...OK so I will find a way to include those into my search." 


I initially wanted to work at small boutique,  where I can have fun, and grow with the company;  a small business, no big chain store drama like before. My  search came up to be super narrow. Not only were there hardly any options to fit that search, but most were out of state. I was finding this to be harder than I thought. I am still struggling to find that perfect job. I am very lucky that I  do have a husband  that is very supportive.  I know things could be a lot worse, but it still doesn't make me feel any better about my situation.  I know I have talent and for sure a passion for fashion. I love clothes and shoes and most of all handbags! If I could find a way to make a career working with a handbag designer, That would be my dream job! I'd love a chance to help with the designs of the bags, work with the design department on the finished product, give them my ideas of what I think would sell, and also be a "trend watcher"; someone who goes and sees what the latest trends are in handbags. 


I have the ideas, and want to work with someone who will give me a chance to share them. I even had a thought of working at a tattoo shop. I mean I have tattoos, I love tattoos, why not learn more about them. Then I realized that might mean a lot more tattoos for me in the future. 


Ultimately the search continues, I've realized now at this point, it's just about persistence, sticking to my guns and my gut and beliefs, and not settling until I find that dream job.


And now something about the art for this blog, since it's so awesome!


Just wanted to end this journey with a little info about one of my favorite artists! Artist Caia Koopman! 


Check out  her website at  http://www.caiadesign.com/index.htm

Her art is amazing! It speaks to me in a way that no other artist has. I had to share some of my favorite pieces in this blog! I'm thinking I may write a blog on her. She is amazing! I am definitely considering one of her masterpieces of hers for my next tattoo! 

Caia Koopman-Artist 

Caia Koopman-Artist

Harveys and City Style=Awesome!

Harveys Seatbelt bags is having a contest!

Here are the details;
Harveys wants their fans to decide where to have the next Limited Edition Release party. I have just the retailer in mind who should totally win this... CITY STYLE!! 
Carrie (The Owner of City Style) was so close to winning last year, I want to help try to make sure she wins this year! I know what your thinking, "why not recommend a store from Los Angeles where you're from?" Well lets see; I've had nothing but the very best shopping experience with City Style, they always have the most recent Harveys styles that I love, and if I have to choose the best retailer to win, then it's a no brainer, it has to be City Style! So head on over to the Harveys Facebook page and Vote! Lets Get "the Harveys" to come to Detroit, and party with the best Harvey Retailer in the Country....City Style!!

I Love my Dr Martens

As much as I love handbags I love Shoes! Most girls when they think of shoes to wear out they think of High heals or Stilettos. I am not a high heal girl just not me.  When I think of  Rocker chick Shoes I think of my favorite Dr Martens. Yes I know I might be stuck in the 90's but I cant help it. I love them! Every time I put them on I feel like I could kick some butt if I had to. Put on my black skinny jeans, a awesome band t-shirt, then of course a bad ass motorcycle jacket, my docs and I am ready to rock! Forget the high heals that I know in an hour I am going to want to kick across the room cause they hurt so bad. I want a pair of  Docs! I know they are not very feminine but I don't care. I think walking like a penguin is definitely not attractive. Docs are so much better and are not compromising comfort for fashion. They are for sure In my opinion very much in fashion. Plus they just scream tough chick! They make me think of Joan Jett.. I see her wearing some bad ass Docs! I LOVE her..She is so cool! Talk about a woman who does what she wants and doesn't give a F. That's the feeling I get in my Dr Martens even if they are hot pink! Here's a little old school Joan Jett to get you in the mood for buying some Rock and Roll Docs!! Rock on! Go get your own these are mine! 

Harveys First Friday-

 Harveys is my favorite handbag company! Every month they have a First Friday, which means the first Friday of every month they come out with a new handbag. Well this month there were 2! The first one of the year and it was a favorite! They released another Forever Blue Jean Bag- 

This is the 4th from the collection..and  this one is my favorite. Its got all the shades of blue that is traditional in the forever blue jean bag but they changed it up. The lining is awesome its a special denim lining that looks like the inside on a jean pocket! A Really nice touch. This year it comes in 2 sizes my favorite Large Satchel and The Convertible tote as well as a matching clutch wallet! Clutch wallets are my favorite, they can be used alone instead of a bag or as a wallet. 


The other bag that is new this month was INDIGO-a super rich beautiful dark blue! I am not usually a blue person but this bag looks so pretty! You can mix and match it with forever blue jean or the matching Indigo wallet.

Both of the bags are great additions to any ones collection but if I had to choose one  Forever in Blue Jeans in my favorite!! I cant wait to see what next month brings. (

In addition to the 2 new bags this month  they also mentioned another favorite coming soon...Tough Love! Usually a pink and red Valentine themed bag..no clue what its gonna look like, all they said was coming 1/21/12.. So stay tuned ill be sure to post that beauty when it comes out!

Lux De Ville Handbags Rock!

As you all know I have a great obsession with handbags. I am always looking for unique, fun and vintage inspired styles. I have always been a fan anything punk rock/Rockabilly and in my search for a handbag that fits that  style I came across Lux De Ville Hanbags! They are just like little bags of joy and are so retro inspired. Big Bobble dice, bullet style feet and my favorite leopard lining are just some of the added touches that make lux de ville bags so awesome!  They are so many styles to choose from and all are super reasonable and super cute! Kiss lock bags or the traditional zip top. Here are a few of my favorite styles that they carry. They also have a large selection of cool wallets and coin purses all to match your Lux De Ville bags. 

http://www.luxdeville.com

Check them out and fall in love with the style just like I did. Get your own awesome Lux De Ville bag !

City Style Rocks

This is a store that If I lived in Detroit, I would have to find a way to work at. Carrie Vestrand and Her Husband Tim Vestrand started City Style back in 2007. They bought a vacant building in downtown Berkley that use to be a dry cleaners, got some of their best and most talented friends to help them out and Poof! February 2007 is when City Style opened! Its a awesome boutique that is a little Rock and Roll, and a little Girly all in one place! Shoes, Handbags and awesome Jewelry, all the things Girls love!

City Style store floor

City Style  store floor another view

 I met Carrie online through Harveys Facebook Fan page. She is one of the retailers that sells  one of my most favorite Handbags. Harveys Seatbelt Bags! We hit it off right away. I can tell she loves handbags and shoes just as much as I do.  I bought quite a few bags through Carrie and every time its been a awesome experience. You might ask "why do you buy from an out of state retailer when you can buy directly from Harveys in California?" Well mostly because I believe in Carrie, and want to support her business any way I can. She understands her customers and gets to know them personally. Finds out what they like and learns about what they are into, and finds things that she carries to meet those likes. For example I love anything Rock and Roll. I love fashion that is a little edgy a little rocker chick and she always finds the perfect top or most recent perfect bag to match that exactly! I plan on someday making a trip out to Detroit to visit this awesome store and meet Carrie in person! Id love to go the local bar and buy her a drink and tell her Thank you for being so awesome, and having such a cool store. So few places offer great customer service and take it as  seriously as she does. Carrie is top notch and her store is a place that I will always have no problem spending money in! High Five Carrie! you rock! You can check her out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Style-Inc/60272536435 or her website www.citystyleinc.com