Today's newsletter takes a look at one of our favorite handbag lines: Surly Girl. Yesterday they presented their latest creations to stylists at an event held at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club. Thank goodness it was inside, because it was pouring rain. Yummy sandwiches and sweets and lots of bags to look at...
BeansTalk (in a previous incarnation) was one of the first members of the press to own their AGENT bag. Alison Muh and Tim Webb came down from San Francisco in a mad meeting with editors to introduce their new line of handbags. The bags were primarily a sueded corduroy with a double handle, and came in pink, caramel, chocolate and black. Most distinctive were the two large rhinestone buckles. Cute touch. The bags had names like the Director Case (starlets love this one, check out the pics here), Producer Purse, and our fave, The Agent Baguette. There's a Starlet Clutch, a Script Clutch, too. Just a few months later, they introduced baby soft lambskin leather to the line...
Since then, celebs have gone mad for the bag. Britney Spears, she who is watched most closely, has three of them and has been photographed several times toting a Surly Girl. Hilary Duff, Kathy Hilton, Rhona Mitra (she carried one of the new lambskin leather metallic bags at the Emmys -- you know her as Reese Witherspoon's best buddy from "Sweet Home Alabama"), Rachel Hunter, Kelly Stone, Ryan Star, Lauren House, Melissa George, Lacey Chabert (soon to star in the final film directed by Christopher Reeve, the Brooke Ellison story), Tara Lipinski, Paulina Rubio, Deborah Gibson, Krista Campbell, Alison Sweeney, Kelly Osbourne, Kristian Alfonso, Traci Bingham, Summer Altice, Vanessa Lengenies, Maria Menounos, and many others (including yours truly) have carried it. Sharon Stone owns several styles.
But the most famous of all fans is Joely Richardson who was roundly named best dressed at the Emmy Awards in that Grecian inspired dress by Princess Diana's designer, Catherine Walker (Brits supporting Brits -- because although Richardson plays American in "Nip & Tuck," she's a real Brit). That sweet silver bag she was carrying? The one with the major bling of a Kwiat brooch? That was a Surly Girl.
The amazing thing about the line is that they introduced the bags in January. Of THIS year. In our years covering fashion, we have yet to see a line with such a major trajectory. It was introduced and within a matter of a couple of months, celebs were carrying the bags everywhere.
We wouldn't normally dedicate this much space, unless it was something truly unique. And these bags are. Check them out at www.surlygirlstudios.com (make sure you put studios in there or you'll get some Northern California couple's wedding invitation from August).
