Designer Spotlight: Rebecca Minkoff

If you like bags, you like Rebecca Minkoff. Simple as that. Her Morning Afters, Nikkis and Devotes are truly covetable. I got her to open up about where she gets her inspiration, the very first handbag she ever designed and even what we can look forward to in the coming season!

How did you know that you wanted to become a designer?
I started sewing at 8 years old and was immediately hooked. I’ve been designing ever since.

Where do you find your inspiration?
I get a lot of inspiration from vintage pieces. I also love to travel throughout Europe for inspiration. My fall 2010 collection’s theme is Paris Je t’aime and has Parisian influences. I typically put together a mood board with a mix of vintage designs, beautiful photography and sketches.

What was the first bag you ever designed?
The Morning After Bag! It took off right away and is still one of my best sellers.

I love the names of your handbags -- they're so cheeky and fun! How do you come up with them?
The Morning After Bag was the first one. It’s meant to hold everything for the night and the morning after ... I make the names flirty and playful like the bags. I typically draw from boy situations in my own life to inspire the names such as infatuation, trust, crush or lust.

If you could only pick one Rebecca Minkoff bag to take with you on a desert island, what would it be? What makes it so special?
A Cherish mini tote. It’s my go-to beach bag!

What do you think are the big handbag trends emerging for summer and fall?
Crossbody bags. They have an effortlessly chic appeal and are comfortable to wear.

What are your top 3 tips to finding the perfect handbag?
1) See what catches your eye. There are so many great bags out there so shop around.

2) Make sure it’s comfortable and fits your essentials. No matter how much you love a bag, you won’t want to wear it if you can’t fit your Blackberry in it!

3) Go with your gut! You know when a bag is right for you.

What can we look forward to from you in the coming season?
Lots of new styles! Of course, I’ve kept my classics around, but I’ve also introduced some great crossbody styles such as the Boyfriend, the Encounter and the Main Squeeze Foldover (pictured). Additionally, I updated my studded bags -- expect new variations on stud shapes and sizes.