New accessories collection Beirut - Arabstoday   The new Tod’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection is inspired by the lifestyle of women with busy lives and relies on accessories and clothing that is elegant and versatile. Tod’s aims to provide timeless, chic and stylish items that are made in a way that combines ancient craft with technical innovation. The inspiration is classic and yet actual, as Tod’s Creative Director Derek Lam says: “Flour, water, farm fresh egg and a pinch of salt. Simple ingredients combined to create the daily Italian essential, pasta. With a tweak here and there, a simple deft of hand and a slight recalibration, what is essential can be special and yet remains a daily requirement.” THE SHOES The highlight of the season is the Tod’s Ago (needle) sandal, which is based on a construction pioneered by Tod’s in 2001 and now revisited by designer Derek Lam for 2012. This is a classic shape built on flowing lines that have been refreshed and modernised. The key element here is the hand made craftsmanship, evident in how the rubber sole has been modelled to join with one single piece of leather – expertly hand sewn together to give the sandal the look of saddlery. With these high heels the perfect material to use is benson (half calf), which can be worked to accentuate the lines. Since the shoemaking involved in creating this model is so specialised, the Tod’s Ago comes as a limited edition. Tod’s has also applied the luxury treatment to its Wedges, a minimal style enriched by a leather sole to create volume, and featuring hand stitched seams and hand made straps. The design of these striking shoes is a triumph of simplicity. THE BAGS The new Tod’s shopper is an elegant, minimal piece, bearing the distinctive mark of expert craftsmanship in its construction. The material is exquisitely soft, natural calfskin, which appears almost translucent, allowing the colour of the leather to shine through. The companion shopper takes its inspiration from saddlery; relaxed, wide and soft, it is enhanced by handles and a shoulder strap. This new model manages to combine ease of use with effortless elegance and is set to become a classic of the future. THE ICONICS Tod’s presents its new take on the iconic D Bag: the new D Styling. This is a simple evolution of the original D Bag design, rendering the style in precious materials. Created in the most beautiful leathers and made to the highest levels of craftsmanship and technical expertise, the D Styling is super-soft, with a natural finish and contemporary silhouette. Similarly, the House’s famous Gommino loafer and Ballerina have been re-imagined in a variety of soft, natural leathers, and feature luxury details.