Cancelled flights, thunderstorms, and more travel delays than one cares to experience in a day, could not keep me from heading to New York for coffee with Tory Burch. I began my journey Thursday morning to the Tory Burch boutique in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, two hours ahead of schedule since I am known for taking a wrong turn. My timing was perfect – actually 20 minutes early – which allowed plenty of time to snap pictures and get acquainted with a few of the Tory Burch staff, all of whom were very accommodating. A kid in a candy store best describes my excitement. The 1,600 square-foot Meatpacking District boutique, located near the corner of Little West 12th Street and Washington Street, opened in December and is the 17th Tory Burch boutique. At first glance, it appears more of a cross between a luxurious living room and walk in closet. It is cozy, plush and intimate.

As I entered the space, I first noticed the exquisite ceiling-to-floor wall that holds many fabulous pairs of Tory Burch shoes. There were several glass shelves of footwear framed with plum velvet curtains, along with a collection of belts worth fighting over! The walls on both sides of the store were lined with beautiful apparel from the summer and pre-fall collections. Matching handbags and shoes lined the display areas making it hard to resist purchasing a complete outfit from head to toe.

And then…there was the handbags and jewelry! I have never seen so many Tory Burch handbags up close! They are even more beautiful in person. I felt cheated because most of the time, I rely on what I see on various websites. There is nothing like holding a Tory Burch against your body and seeing the instant style transformation. The details are bolder – the hardware, the colors, the quality of each bag is perfection. Everywhere I turned, there was a handbag sitting pretty on a shelf. The jewelry is also a jaw-dropper! Each necklace is a conversational piece. They complement the entire collection, so it’s not just a one-time wear. They can be worn with any and everything because they are simply breathtaking!

Shortly after Tory Burch arrived, I was introduced to the woman I so greatly admire – not only for building a fashion empire in five years that is constantly expanding, but because she is also a mother and philanthropist. I won’t mention that I blog about Tory Burch almost weekly in my segment New at ToryBurch.com and have featured many bags as the Haute Handbag of the Day. It was a surreal moment because I have only seen and read about Ms. Burch in countless magazines. I confessed to loving everything in the store and how I’d been snapping pictures like a maniac. As I gave her my business card, she commented that she’s been to HandbagReport.com before! (It took everything in me to contain my excitement!) I did not expect Ms. Burch to be so friendly and down to earth as she made her way to the sofa while apologizing for being late. She took a seat and began discussing some of her favorite items from her summer and pre-fall collections.

While there were several favorites that Ms. Burch pulled off the racks to share with us, I will focus on the handbags. Shown above on the left is the Hadley Resin Clutch. The gold beetles were inspired from Ms. Burch’s trip to Morocco. She incorporated beetles into the design because they are considered good luck. (The white Hadley Clutch is now on sale at ToryBurch.com!) Pictured in the center is a Tory Burch tote with an crest style logo inspired by her father. Pictured on the right is the Stitched Clutch and Stitched Tote Bright (also on sale at ToryBurch.com). The natural color was inspired by the Moroccan desert. The bold contrast in color adds a modern twist.

Ms. Burch announced the start of the Tory Burch Foundation, which will partner with ACCION USA to support small businesses by making loans to aspiring entrepreneurs; plans of two Tory Burch boutiques in Japan; an office in Shanghai; growing the handbag line; and other exciting developments. Tory Burch is clearly a force to be reckoned with. She has a dedicated team with whom she shares the credit, and will soon become a household name. I look forward to many more Tory Burch events!

Staci and Jason Branson, Assistant Manager, Tory Burch Boutique Meatpacking District

This Thursday, June 11th is Tory Burch Facebook Fan Night from 6pm – 8pm. Now you have a chance to go to the Tory Burch boutique and mingle with other Tory Facebook Fans and receive a 20% discount (on all full-price items) all day! If you can’t make it to a Tory Burch boutique, you can shop online and receive the discount. Enter promo code FBFAN or mention Facebook in stores. Offer ends June 11th at 11:59 PM ET. Happy shopping!

If you aren’t a Tory Burch Facebook Fan, then you’re going to miss out on an amazing offer! On June 11th, Tory Burch Facebook Fans will receive 20% discount on any full-priced purchase at ToryBurch.com and Tory Burch boutiques. Visit Tory Burch on Facebook on June 10th for more details.

Shortly after writing an article on the 5th Anniversary of one of my favorite designers and inspiration, Tory Burch, I received an invitation to the Tory Burch Fall 2009 Fashion Presentation. When I realized that Friday marked the beginning of New York Fashion Week, I knew I had no choice but to get there. I apologize for the delay in sharing my Fashion Week experience. Who knew it would take three days to recover from a one-day trip to New York?! I have been riding an adrenaline rush since February 13th, and have wonderful memories to last a lifetime.

Outside view of building; stepping off of the elevator to the Tory Burch logo; entrance to the lobby

And, it gets better! I was in contact with a lovely woman at Tory Burch, who managed to schedule time for me to stop by Tory Burch’s office during their busiest time – market. For those who don’t know, market is when the sales team meet with buyers to view the upcoming collection and place orders. Although the sales team was booked with appointments, I had the privilege of visiting the showroom and seeing the Tory Burch fall accessories.

Inside view of the lobby; hallway leading to the showroom, Tory’s wall of inspirational photographs

I was like a kid in a candy store, as I tried to absorb all of the beautiful textures – leather, suede, shiny patent and fringe, to name a few. The gold hardware on some of the handbags and clutches glistened from the shelves, making it difficult to resist picking them up for a closer look. The collection consisted of new shapes and details – super sized canvas totes, elegant crossbody bags with gold chain straps, messenger bags with gold crests and more shoulder bags cleverly designed with adjustable straps. I especially loved the vintage shapes with Tory’s modern twist. Expect to see a little less of the signature Tory Burch logo.

After my appointment at Tory Burch’s office, I made my way to the Prince George Ballroom for the Fall 2009 Fashion Presentation.  The cold weather and rain could not stop me from the 10-block walk ahead of me.  The show began on time and was filled with new silhouettes and a more funky, edgy collection of ready-to-wear and accessories. Evening wear, camouflage pants, leather jackets, vests, velvet shoes with bamboo heels and several styles of boots were all a fantastic surprise and a trendsetter’s dream. I spotted a few celebrities – LL Cool J, Kanye West, and Kevin Lyles (who was incorrectly identified by some as Russell Simmons), all accompanied by beautiful women with fabulous handbags. Nothing and no one could distract me from the show. I attempted to snap a few pictures in between the crowd but decided to leave it to the professionals.  Below are a few taken by Imaxtree and pulled from New York Magazine’s Fashion Show coverage. Enjoy!

I want to thank Andre, Timiney and the Tory Burch E-commerce team for making my visit special.