Back in July I held a conference call for all of our Founding Leaders and Representatives and invited them to email us their Shell name suggestions—but there was a catch! They needed to also tell us WHY they wanted a particular name. We were overwhelmed with all the wonderful stories that came in and we named many of our spring Shells after these submissions.

One submission came from Melissa Weaver, a Founding Leader from upstate New York.  Here is what she wrote:

My name suggestions: Janine and Anjali.

Here is my reason why…

“In October 2009 Janine found out her 2-year-old daughter Anjali had neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer.  After a seven-month battle Anjali ‘earned her Angel wings’, as Janine words it.

I only knew Janine from growing up in the same town, but I followed her heart-wrenching journey through her blog. That blog and the way Janine expressed herself touched me in more ways that I can even tell you.  I also learned that Anjali loved everything pink, and Janine always signed her messages ‘Big Love’.  So when the Silver/Pink Hope Bag came out, I felt compelled to give one to Janine.  With the pink “big love” right in the center I felt it was made for her.

I have bumped into Janine since then and she always has her Hope Bag with her.  I’ve also run into her family members who always tell me how much she loves her bag.  I know it would mean so much to Janine to have an Anjali/Janine set in honor of a mom and daughter who taught me more about life in 7 months than I had learned in my entire 34 years up to that point.

I know Janine and Anjali will capture your heart the same way they’ve captured mine.”

Since the launch of these two beautiful Shells, we have learned that Janine herself has also been diagnosed with cancer.  We wish her the best in the fight she has ahead her and we know she will come out swinging.

Note from Janine after the release of the Shells:

“Thank you so much Miche for naming two beautiful handbags after my daughter and me. You have really captured Anjali’s spirit in her lovely handbag! She would have been proud to have such a handbag on her arm. I was touched beyond words when I saw them. Mine is beautiful as well. Every time I look at them, my heart swells with love and emotion. I am so grateful for you, Miche. I will bring my handbag with me as I go forward in the fight against my own cancer and in the fight I [continue to wage] against pediatric cancer. Big love, always!”

If you have story and a name for a Shell that you would like to submit, please email us at design@michebag.com.

Love,

Academy Awards season brings both criticism and praise for the stars who step out in style. The year of 2011 in awards shows has been no different—from the SAG awards showcasing Tina Fey’s  jaw-dropping red gown to January Jones’s Old Hollywood-style dress—this season’s fashion is both vibrant and sophisticated. So how can you get red carpet glam style for less? Here are a few tricks of the trade taken from our favorite fashionistas, of course!

1. Always Have a Chic and Feminine Clutch on Hand

We loved that Louise Roe paired Miche Bag’s Clutch Wallet with a one-shouldered Tadashi Shoji dress and the ultimate foot candy, Jimmy Choo shoes, on the red carpet at the SAG Awards. Her Miche Bag Clutch was a classy, sophisticated touch of both glamour and poise. Take it from the celebs on the red carpet: always have a chic Miche Clutch on hand—it will take your outfit to an entirely new level!

2. Rock a Bright Color

Take a cue from Angelina Jolie’s eye-popping emerald green gown at the 2011 Golden Globes: Color is in! Don’t be afraid to break out of your regular routine by wearing a fun, bright color this season. The Miche February release Brynn Shell is a great way to show a quick splash of bright blue, while the pink Big Bag Cassie Shell is fun, flirty and totally fashion-forward!

3. Add a Touch of Metallic

Anne Hathaway’s full-length, glittery Armani gown at the 2011 Golden Globes scored major fashionista points with us! To replicate this classic feel, keep things simple—don’t overdo any element of an outfit, especially if you’re incorporating glitter or metallic! The straightforward, metallic Big Bag Natasha Shell is a great way to draw some attention to your outfit without overdoing it.

Bottom Line: you don’t have to be a millionaire to score huge fashion points! There are tons of ways to replicate a chic look for less. Just remember to keep things simple; and, of course, you can’t go wrong with a Miche Bag—it’s the ultimate accessory to any fashion-forward outfit.

Throwing a Home Party spotlighting quality direct-sales products is a great way to enjoy your circle of friends, meet new people, and maybe even pick up some awesome new stuff too! If you’ve never held this type of party before, there’s really no need to fear—it’s fun! Here are a few things you can do from the get-go to ensure that your Home Party one to remember!

1. Think Outside the Box When Creating your Guest List

One of the first things you need to address is who to invite! Remember—the more, the merrier! Instead of inviting just your usual circle of girlfriends, close family members and neighbors, take some time to brainstorm a bit and “think outside the box.” You’ll be amazed at how quickly your list will grow! Some folks to include may be:

• Co-workers
• Former co-workers
• “Friends” from the grocery store, hair salon and bank
• Friends from church or other organizations
• Parents of your children’s friends
• People you’d like to get to know better!

Encourage each of these folks to bring along a friend and you’re sure to enjoy a really rocking social gathering. Remember: it’s a party!

2. By All Means—Do as Much as You Can Ahead of Time!

Planning and budgeting time your time effectively is an essential ingredient for success; your Home Party will feel more relaxed and organized both to you and your guests if you’re not killing yourself running around at the last minute. Bottom line: the more tasks you can get done ahead of time, the more likely you’ll be to enjoy a highly successful Party. Make the guest list as far in advance as you can; you can also decide on a Party theme, do some preliminary shopping for decorations or other supplies and plan your menu at least two weeks in advance. Keep in mind it is very likely your invited guests will bring a friend or two—which is GREAT as long as you’re prepared for it! Remember this as you plan for food and drinks.

3. Keep Food Simple, but Plentiful

If you’re planning on serving hors d’oeuvres at your Home Party, good for you! Finger foods are always a great choice for this type of party. Here’s a tip to make sure you have plenty for everyone: On average, one guest eats about eight hors d’oeuvres. Multiply this number by your guest list (plus the extra guests you anticipate), and you’ll know exactly how many hors d’oeuvres to prepare. You also want to offer a variety of drinks; if you choose to serve alcohol, make sure that you provide non-alcoholic beverages as well so that everyone will feel comfortable. The key to your menu is VARIETY: serve various types of food that will satisfy different palettes, i.e., vegetarian, vegan, and meat-based dishes to make sure no guests go home hungry. When you know your friends are taken care of, you can relax and have fun—you really can!

A direct-sales Home Party is all about friendship, great food and discovering terrific new products. When you follow the above tips, you can be sure it will be a rousing success!

The concept of the Miche Bag’s interchangeable shells comes from the idea that women are versatile; women want to be able to not only express themselves, but to do so efficiently and effectively. At Miche, we offer so many different shells that it would be difficult to find one that didn’t reflect you! From suede, to straw, to plastic, purses are being made in every material possible around the globe. Because of this, women spend hours eyeing every handbag they can at the mall! It’s perfectly normal for a woman to spend between three to four hours at the mall, searching for that perfect purse that’s rightly priced. That’s why at Miche we’ve created an online gallery, so women can spend those three to four hours at home; and chances are, they’re going to find a unique Miche Bag shell that fits their personality completely.

As the holiday season approaches, the time spent shopping for gifts for friends and family will inherently quadruple; so what can you do to be prepared? And what makes a good gift in this cost-efficient economy? If you’re thinking of gifting somebody with a designer purse, look no farther. The Miche Bag has replaceable and easy to clean shells, making it easy to change your look within minutes.  Miche Bag allows every woman the opportunity to leave hassle and stress behind – and say hello to an affordable, chic purse.

Believe it or not, but the idea of men becoming “metro” started in the early 1900’s; in fact, the original handbags were designed specifically for men! However, this didn’t last long. As soon as women caught onto the functionality of these handbags, the term “handbag” skyrocketed and became a staple in women’s fashion. The tote bag quickly became a staple fashion accessory that fit in alongside the trendy fans, opera glasses, and cosmetics popular during the early 1900’s. Yet as the 1920’s rolled in and jazzy, shorter-skirts took over the fashion scene, tote bags began to diverge from their traditional, outfit-matching roots. During this decade handbags were crafted from thinner, lighter material that matched the cheeky flapper girl style of this era.

The 1940’s issued in a unique era for the handbag. As the war intensified and materials became more sparse, designers turned to unique mediums to craft their tote bags. Metal, leather, and even mirrors became popular elements for the handbag; yet as the 40’s moved into the 50’s, high-end fashion made its comeback, establishing fashion moguls that would go on to rule the fashion industry for another 50 years. It was during this decade that the original tote bag was created. This bag was called the “Boat Bag” and was purposely created extra large for the purpose of holding day trip and boating items. Yet as the free-love and free-thinking counterculture of the 60’s exploded, fashion took a backseat to flower power, homemade tote bags, and unshaven beards.

Today, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of designer handbags and tote bags in both the media and everyday society. The tote bag is both a household item and the must-have item for women around the world. With the endorsement of high profile celebrities, the oversized bag has established its niche in the fashion market. The large Miche Bag, with multiple interior pockets and interchangeable shells, has is the epitome of functionality and style. In addition to being the perfect tote bag size, the large Miche Bag goes above and beyond the normal oversize bag; the large Miche Bag allows women to change the look of their purse in a matter of seconds. Women’s lives are busy; so why spend extra time switching out the contents of a purse? The large Miche Bag is the next step in the evolution of the tote bag. And with so many chic styles to select from, it’s hard to pass up the Miche Bag in terms of both style and functionality.