Last Tuesday morning was a stylish affair at the Empire Hotel’s Rooftop Bar and Lounge. Fashionable NYC moms stepped out to celebrate the launch of Musen Albert, a chic, versatile, and affordable line of high-quality handbags designed with busy on-the-go moms in mind. The event, aptly titled “Bags, Beauty, and Breakfast,” offered Julep manicures, BeachWaver hair styling, and plenty of delicious treats for attendees to enjoy while previewing the lush handbag collection.
The designers behind the brand are Melissa Musen Gerstein and Denise Albert, also known as “The MOMS” of Mamarazzi and SiriusXM Stars’ show, “The MOMS with Denise & Melissa.” Inspiration struck when the duo recognized just how challenging it can be to find a functional yet stylish purse that seamlessly transitions from office-professional to playground-chic. In combining innovative dual-purpose designs with their desire to connect with women who refuse to compromise fashion for function, Musen Albert is the perfect fit for active moms who can’t take time to slow down–even for the most stylish of reasons.
And speaking of style, there’s truly something for everyone in this collection. From backpacks and reversible totes to wristlet wallets and hobos, the line offers a wide range of fashions for moms who are too busy to switch out handbags for each new occasion or change of outfit. Most products in the collection feature rich shades of blue or red that add a subtle “pop” to any ensemble, but there are plenty of understated neutral or black options, as well. To further highlight the use of the dominant colors in the line, beauty brand Julep was on hand at Tuesday’s launch party, offering manicures in two very unique shades—a bold red polish called “Musen,” and a deep blue dubbed “Albert.”
Based on the combination of Albert’s surname and Gerstein’s maiden name in the label, it’s clear that The MOMS are family-focused. Each handbag in the line is also named after a family member of one of The MOMS, and each designer gave a special shout-out to her own mother during the event, as both moms of The MOMS were in attendance for the product launch.
“Bags, Beauty, and Breakfast” marked the official launch of the line, but Albert and Gerstein initially debuted their collection during “Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show,” a show co-created by The MOMS that took place during Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week. Each bag retails for under $80, and will be available exclusively on ShopHQ, formerly ShopNBC, as of October 19.
