BagTrends: I’m deliriously excited to share your fall 08 collection with our BagTrends bagistas! So, in your own words, what can they expect?
Rebecca Minkoff: There are a ton of new styles and colors and lots of inspiration from traveling that I did over the past year. There’s going to be totes of different shapes and lots of structure, particularly in early and then a bit more ease closer to winter. I also thought it was time to change the lining. Right now we have a black and white kind of damask print. For fall we developed signature prints that pick up on the travel theme and pay homage to different historical buildings from around the world.

BT: What were your design inspirations for fall 08?
Rebecca: Paris and Italy! I love seeing new places and seeing the world. The culture there really made me want to do a throw back to older times. So for fall, you’ll see influences from the early twentieth and even the nineteenth century in terms of shape and design.

BT: What materials and colors did you work with?
Rebecca: Greys and plums and lots of prints. Prints are really big for me for the coming seeing. There will also be patent, canvas, and patches. I like to keep pushing the envelope and I think our girls do too.

BT: What trends are hot right now, in terms of women’s accessories?
Rebecca: The big trend right now is totes and prints.

BT: Which is your favorite style from the fall 2008 collection?
Rebecca:  I love the Cheri because it’s work and computer friendly, yet still fashionable.

BT: Oh, like that old sold … “Cheri, Cheri baby!”
Rebecca: Ya, I guess. It’s all about a glamorous throwback to a by-gone era.

BT: What’s next for your brand? Any category expansions?
Rebecca: Yes. I plan to revisit clothing which is how I started. That’s going to be the next big expansion. I also plan to do shoes and then take over the world.

BT: Do you have a vision for what Rebecca Minkoff shoes will look like?
Rebecca: Again, I would go with a vintage-inspired look and totally lush materials and colors. And the shoes would match in some way with the bags.

Pamela Pekerman, BagTrends Bag Guru