From the Taiwan News to the new Gucci

The Taiwan News Saturday fashion pages were quite an interesting read today. Remember how the latest Brand magazine is full of handbags, and how the Asian Wall Street Journal devoted a long article to Celine's new bag designer? Well, the Taiwan News can't stay behind. It has a piece from the New York Times about how expensive handbags have become the new status symbol. A couple of years ago you had to wear Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos, now you just have to have the right handbag, it doesn't matter anymore whether you're wearing jeans and cowboy boots, an expensive bag corrects that, the paper says. The article lists the Sofia bag by Marc Jacobs, the Fendi Spy bag in tulle, and the denim version of Louis Vuitton's Speedy as some of this year's popular choices.
The Taiwan News then also looks at the new collections Spring/Summer 2006 - yes, we're that far ahead - by Stella McCartney, by Ivana Omazic for Celine, and by John Galliano for Christian Dior. Galliano's new style is "nude," that means transparent, skin-colored, light and thin dresses and skirts. And finally, the paper looks ahead to Japan's fashion week in Tokyo next week. The major star there is expected to be Toshikazu Iwaya - the king of Japanese hiphop fashions - and his brand Dress Camp.
On a completely different note, after work today I rushed around a couple of shopping centers, on the lookout for books and food actually. First of all, I noticed that the new Gucci boutique at the Breeze Center is open now. It's a large and roomy place, with pictures of Gucci products and Gucci artisans at work. I also briefly passed through Taipei 101, where I noticed how Etro are looking more and more like Missoni, and where I saw nice bags from Prada.
This weekend is a three-day holiday weekend in Taiwan, so I'll have more time to spin around the next two days. Coffee rooms and book stores will be my major destinations, but I also could take in some fashion on the way.