Nica Kim Talks about her New Collection

I'm so excited to announce the launch of another new season collection, and I'm eager to hear which your favourite styles are. This time around, I've refreshed and refined my designs to create an original yet modern feeling range of styles. 

From the bags’ designs to the campaign shoot, I wanted this collection to be all about those clean lines and finishes. Here I am on the set of our campaign shoot explaining my vision with the help of one of my famous mood boards.

Just like a little magpie, I'm constantly collecting my favourite things, and I made this mood board from my favourite magazines… A little tip, never read a magazine after me unless you enjoy only being able to read half of the stories!  

My travels play a huge part in designing my collections but when I’m stuck in less of an exotic location, the design office on a rainy London afternoon and lacking inspiration I head over to Pinterest. It’s great knowing that tropical beaches and inspiring blooms are only a pin away. 

If you’re looking for holiday statement bags then you’ll love my new collection. One of my favourite pieces is the Laila tote which was initially inspired by my Sicilian travels at the beginning of the design process but turned into a piece that shouts Primrose Hill meets Coachella. 

It’s definitely the perfect collection for the woman who loves to wear a trend yet still likes to be a little bit unique.

You can check out the full range here and if you've already taken a peek, please let me know which your favourite pieces are by dropping a comment below or tweeting me @nica_handbags. That way, I can create lots more of the styles that you love!

Love Nica Kim

- x - 

Stylish Pets: New Style Icons to Follow

Here at Nica HQ, we have plenty of different style icons that we’re inspired by and that can be anything from celebrities like Alexa Chung to our favourite fashion bloggers.

Thanks to social media however, there are several new style icons bubbling up which are a little furrier than your average… in the form of stylish household pets! From Priscilla the mini pig to the French bulldog Trotterpup, these animals have got some serious style credentials. Let us share a few of our faves with you. 

@trotterpup

French bulldog Trotterpup is based in San Francisco and already has an Instagram following of 209K which lots of bloggers could only dream about. 

From occasion costumers complete with bunny ears and a faux carrot to classic ensembles with chic hats and heels that we’d completely wear, you have to check out this one’s #ootds.

@prissy_pig

Mini pig Priscilla is all about lady like dressing and is currently inspiring an audience of 501k! From pretty tea dresses covered in blooms, to hair bows and pearl necklace accessorising, Prissy Pig's got style! 

Based in Florida, her little piggy brother Poppleton also makes several appearances in her feed, and we just can’t decide who’s the cutest. 

@montjiro

This little Japanese based dog Montjiro has got more outfits than us! Be it street or high fashion ensembles, like any great model, he easily embodies all of the different looks.

We’ve even spotted the odd Burberry piece in his wardrobe too. He’d definitely give Cara Delevigne a run for her money. Fingers crossed for him being their next great campaign star. 

Have you been following any stylish animals on Instagram lately? We’d love to hear. Or better still, maybe there's a furry fashionista in your own lives? Simply tag us with your pics @nicahandbags on Instagram. 

Behind the Scenes at the Nica Style Edit Dinner

Did you catch our news last week? As part of our AW15 range, we’re launching the Nica Style Edit capsule collection, curated and of course designed by our very own Nica Kim.

Featuring a selection of trend led pieces which includes festival ready backpacks, smart clutches and covetable totes, we've definitely got your fashion accessory needs covered. 

To celebrate the occasion, we invited along a selection of the fashion pack including Editors from Elle, Cosmo, Look and Hello! to London’s quirky Bam-Bou restaurant. Fashion Insider, the lovely Bonnie Rakhit was our dedicated host for the evening and evoked upon an Insta-Takeover as guests enjoyed a few cheeky pre-drinks followed by an oriental banquet. 

Stand out pieces amongst the press included our striking Tary drawstring backpack in summer feeling snake mix, and its classic counterpart in monochrome snake print. Both are stylishly modelled above by one of our favourite bloggers, The Frugality alongside Senior Features Writer Delphine Chui from Hello!

To set the scene for the intimate dinner, Nica Kim even added her own personal touch to the dining table, as she created a beautiful centre piece from some of her favourite kinds of flowers and leaves with the addition of an obligatory candle or two. 

We dined on a fusion of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese food rounded off by a delicious selection of tropical fruits and mouth-watering sorbets.  

Here’s a beautiful photo of designer Nica Kim with our host Bonnie Rakhit posing with their favourite pieces from the Nica Trend Edit capsule collection.

If you’re excited about the sneak peeks on display, then you’ll also be pleased to know that you've not got too long to wait until you can snap up a piece for yourself, as the full collection will be available to buy at nica.co.uk in September. 

Which of the pieces from the #MyNica dinner are you most excited about? Why not tweet us @nica_handbags as we’d love to hear! 

The Nica Holiday Shop: Riviera Style

Nautical stripes and Breton brights are always a massive story when it comes to summer, and especially when the Cannes Film Festival hits town! There's no denying that we've certainly been inspired at Nica HQ when choosing our daily everyday outfits.  

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So, if like us, you’re ready to embrace that Riviera trend once again, then you have to check out our holiday shop to discover our latest summer trends and must haves.

Nautical Stripes

It’s difficult to channel that true Riviera vibe without adopting a stripe or two, and our Lukatote does just that. Finished with a pair or robust rope handles and a cheeky lemon hang-tag, it’s got holiday essential written all over it.

Our printed canvas tote is really well made with St Tropez good looks. There’s even plenty of room for all of your summer essentials from your beach towel right down to your sun lotion. 

Beach Ready Raffia

Nothing quite says summer like raffia so our Nikki tote makes the ultimate holiday companion. Perfect for strolling around the shops and dabbling in a spot of sightseeing during the day, or switch to the mini version as you hit the bars or enjoy some evening al fresco dining. 

Floral Prints 

We know that florals for summer aren’t exactly ground breaking but there’s really no better of a season to embrace a bit of print. All of our prints are of course uniquely designed by our head designer Nica Kim, and our Isla tote is amongst our favourites from the current collection.

Available in beautiful snakeskin soft berrie or directional monochrome mix, it’s ideal for the beach, the terrace and everywhere in between! 

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Now all’s that’s left to do is grab an ice cream and hit the beach with your chosen new arm candy. Which trends will you be opting for this summer? Tweet us @Nica_Handbags as we’d love to know. 

Plan your Bank Holiday Weekend with Nica

Thanks to all of the cheeky long bank holiday weekends, May is fast becoming one of our favourite months! For those of you who are still yet to make some fun plans, then check out our tips that are perfect for all budgets. 

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Shoe String

Weather permitting, grab your friends and hit the park for a picnic! Nothing meets sharing your favourite snacks with good company, and if you’re looking for something more memorable opt for a themed picnic. Here at Nica HQ, we’re obsessed with clean eating, so we’ll be hitting the park whilst giving our friends strict instructions to bring along their favourite Vegan dishes. It’s a fun way to add a little healthy eating into your diets whilst discovering a new recipe or two! 

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Treat Yourself

If for you a bank holiday calls for packing up your oven mitts whilst somebody else does the hard work, then why not hit a food festival? It’s more of an experience than simply dining at another restaurant and there are plenty to choose from nationwide. If like us you’re London based, then the ultimate FoodiesFestival is taking place at Alexander Park from Saturday 23^rd until Monday 25^th May. There’ll be masterclasses, talks and tastings galore featuring chefs such as Aldo Zilli!  

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Lavish

For those of you who don’t mind tapping into your savings and evoking upon a cheeky Euro getaway over the long Bank Holiday Weekends, then there’s no better of a time to hit the French Riviera then when the Cannes film festival hits town.

Sample some iconic French cuisine, indulge in the luxurious boutiques and do a bit of star spotting… You never know who you’ll see at this time of the year!

Where are you taking your #NicaHandbags this weekend? Tweet us @Nica_Handbags as we’d love to hear!