Hasta La Ideas

Stay organized on-the-go and switch bags easily with a handy purse interior

Purse organizers might seem like fodder for a late night infomercial, but as our handbags grow and necessities change the desire to add some order to the chaos increases. Solving this problem in style is Inouïs, a luxe insert to organize the contents of your bag that also makes it easy to switch purses quickly. What sets Inouïs apart is that it actually looks good, bringing a heightened level of aesthetic to a historically bland and boring solution.

Inouïs provides a jet-setting woman access to her boarding pass, flight atomizer, mints and mobile phone with equal ease, at the same time neatly stashing the daily essentials of any urbanite who carries her life around in her handbag.

Each set includes three pieces: a core insert with more than twenty
pockets, a detachable wristlet for grab-and-go basics and a small business card holder.
Available in soft leather or silky fabric, Inouïs organizers sell online at
Inouïs, with prices ranging from $200-$350.

Hong Kong-based designers create ornamental statement pieces with pompoms and tassels

The husband-and-wife team behind the eco-friendly clothing line Ccchu, Ching Ching and Michael Chu, continue their exploration of what they describe on their Facebook page as “alternative ways of designing” with their recent collection of statement necklaces.

The limited series of unique necklaces combines brightly-colored pompoms with massive tassels for a variety of bold pieces for those looking to make a statement. Their pièce de résistance, however, has to be the front-and-back necklace that fits around the bodice like a delicate harness, held together with a fine steel cable. But one crucial element of Ccchu’s appeal lies in how each of the adventurous strands is still easy to wear, and versatile enough for many different wardrobe styles.

Based in Hong Kong, Ccchu jewelry sells online through London’s Darkroom store for £100-300 (about $171-480).

The Antlers’ guitarist shows us what’s in his touring bag

Flying frequently is never easy, and for Tim Mislock, touring guitarist for Brooklyn-based indie rock band The Antlers, packing can be even more difficult when you have to decide between the band’s essentials and personal extras.

“With flying and all that stuff, obviously we try to check as little as possible because we have so much gear to bring. So I need a small bag that can hold a lot of things. Being a guitar player I have to have extra strings, tuners, and string cutters. But I also need the fun stuff like my laptop, Kindle, and earbuds.”

Mislock uses his Bleecker bag to keep it all together. “Thankfully it’s wide enough that it fits my 13-inch laptop,” he says—adding that not only is his laptop a crucial Skype connection to his family while on the road, but serves as a mobile recording studio on the go. Plus, “the pockets in the front and back can fit my iPod, Kindle, all my headphones, chargers, European adapters—kind of all the things that I need to bring.”

While on the road, Mislock values the time he gets alone, however few moments they may be, and often spends them doing something productive. Whether it’s working on other projects or reviving the art of old-fashioned letter writing. “I bring envelopes and stamps and try to write my friends letters as much as I can. It’s kind of a weird, romantic thing to do. On tour, if you’ve got 45 minutes to yourself, writing a letter is probably a more productive way to pass the time than seeing what’s on YouTube… or drinking more,” he said.

Touring can definitely take its toll on the body, though, and that’s precisely why Mislock makes sure to take precautionary measures against getting sick and packs supplements in his bag. “There’s two pockets on either side of the back where I store Airborne, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and all the things you need on tour to stave off illness. We don’t really get a whole lot of sleep. We’ve only been home for three days and all of us have a cold.”

A great bag made of premium materials also makes him look more professional and adds the right amount of polish without ruining his casual style. “I used to work at a magazine in Times Square and I always felt like a recent college grad because I was always going in with my nylon messenger bag or a backpack, and it always felt kind of youthful,” Mislock remembers. “Walking around with a suede and leather messenger bag, you feel a little more adult.”

Now, even though he’s usually on the road, at a show, or in a plane, he’s able to take everything he needs with him, as well as a little extra luxury.

The Carry On series is brought to you by Coach.

Painter Irene Wood’s jewelry collection inspired by ancient royalty and tribal wear.

Painter Irene Wood makes abstract works exploring growth, displacement and decay. But when it came to the Seattle-based artist’s first serious jewelry collection, inspired by accessories of ancient Greco-Roman, Egyptian and African royalty, she delved into wearable art with a much brighter perspective.

Strands of geometric beads come in eye-popping primary hues, natural wood, stone finishes, metallic and clear plastic, in both monochromatic and multi-colored combinations. Called “History and Industry,” the big and bold accessories maintain tasteful simplicity in spite of their size, making the substantial pieces easily wearable. Materials—painted wood, vintage acrylic, quartz and India stone—figures importantly in these handmade necklaces, providing a warmth not often seen in costume jewelry.

The necklaces, which fall within a nicely-priced $120-200 range, sell through Irene Wood online or Etsy.

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