TORY BURCH Classic "Tory" Tote

When Barack Obama issued a statement about women leaders during his campaign, one of the names he listed (alongside the likes of Dr. Sally Ride and Billie Jean King) was fashion designer Tory Burch. (Perhaps not only because of her amazing career achievements, but also because of the Tory Burch Foundation, created by the designer last year to provide female entrepreneurs with economic opportunities.)

Although born, raised and educated (in art history) in the elite Philadelphia metropolitan area, Tory Burch was hardly a cookie-cutter uptown girl. She may live a privileged life, but this fashion PR veteran, fixture on the social circuit and self-taught designer has worked vigorously hard for the spot on fashion's highest pedestal. When the Tory Burch flagship store opened in New York City in 2004, it was almost completely sold out on the first day. In April 2005, Burch’s collection was endorsed on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and since then has grown exponentially into one of the most successful and most recongnisable lines ever, known for its preppy, north-eastern American style dubbed "socialite chic". And when Forbes magazine released its inventory of the world’s 100 most powerful women last week, Tory Burch, in spot 88, was the first of the only three female fashion designers to make this list. (The other two being Vera Wang and Donna Karan, who ranked numbers 91 and 96, respectively.)

Whether shopping in the city or hitting the beach, carry your everyday necessities in Tory Burch’s classic, roomy “Tory” Tote. This bag is also structured enough for the office -- especially on the days when you’ve got loads of stuff to bring.
(RRP US$225)
The stars (Nickhun of 2PM, Wonder Girls) came out for the opening of the Tory Burch’s super-gorgeous Seoul flagship store this past June.


A hand-built family "chariot" for three is among the countless goodies that bear Tory Burch’s eclectic, sophisticated aesthetic.
This "ultimate fantasy Christmas gift" can be yours for a cool US$4500.


Torry Burch guiding both Anna Wintour and Kanye West through her SS2011 runway collection.