Caribbean Style is in the Bag with Beach Totes by Nicolas Villalba

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– Limited-edition collection from Dallas-based couture designer to be the season’s “must-have” accessory on sparkling sands and city sidewalks –

St. John, U.S.V.I. (October 2007) – You can bring home the flora of the Virgin Islands National Park this winter, thanks to new limited-edition beach bags from couture designer Nicolas Villalba, available only at Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort on St. John, U.S.V.I. Sure to be the next “must-have” for the stylish set, the floral-design totes will be a statement not just of where you’ve been, but where you’re headed through winter 2008.

Caneel Bay has long been renowned for its low-key elegance, as well as one of the most stylish spots in the Caribbean. Consciously devoid of modern glitz, the resort’s 170 acres wrap around seven white-sand beaches and lush, flower-accented vegetation, as well as artful accommodations that blend into the surrounding landscape.

Designer Villalba’s limited-edition totes take inspiration from flowers found throughout St. John – especially those in Virgin Islands National Park, where Caneel Bay is located. Nicolas recently vacationed at the resort and was so inspired by the beauty and profuseness of the flora that upon returning home, he felt compelled to create something in his own inimitable style. Designs include vivid, orangey-red Flamboyant; hot-pink Bougainvillea; bright-yellow Allamanda; and lime-green Sea Grape, each taken from original oil paintings by Dallas artist Cathey Miller and based upon sketches and photos from Villalba’s recent visit to the resort.

Each tote is handmade of eggshell colored, fine-nylon-canvas exterior wrapped around a lusciously soft, 100% silk charmeuse lining of colorful animal prints. One exterior side is emblazoned with a flower portrait, the other with exterior pockets and the petroglyph symbol of Caneel Bay rendered in Swarovski Crystals. The totes measure approximately 14” tall x 20” wide.

How limited is the edition? There will only be 28 bags total – seven per flower design, and each will be signed and numbered by Villalba. The totes will be available exclusively at the Gift Shop at Caneel Bay, with a retail price of $350 each.

A third-generation Texan, Nicolas Villalba is owner and principle designer of NICOLAS – Couture for the Body + Couture for the Home in Dallas. After launching his own label and opening his first atelier in 2002, he was appointed in-house designer for Stanley Korshak in 2004, and was honored with the Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award for Fashion Design in 2005.

Winter 2008 rates start at $550/night. For more information or reservations at Caneel Bay please call 340-776-6111 or visit http://www.caneelbay.com.


Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort has been an alluring escape for loyal guests since its founding 50 years ago by Laurance Rockefeller. Set on 170 acres in Virgin Islands National Park on the island of St. John, the resort’s pristine natural surroundings and low-key luxury are its coveted signatures. One hundred and sixty-six charming guest rooms blend seamlessly into the landscape in close proximity to any of seven white-sand beaches that frame the resort. Four distinct restaurants and a private Wine Room offer an array of dining experiences and cuisine that honors the destination. Other amenities include The Self Centre, which is dedicated to nurturing the mind, body and spirit in addition to a fitness center, 11 tennis courts and Turtle Town, a dedicated facility just for kids. For additional information, please visit http://www.caneelbay.com.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages properties worldwide including Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas, The Carlyle in New York, CordeValle in San Martin, California, Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico, Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo, Japan, and a triumvirate of world-class Caribbean properties – Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, Caneel Bay on St. John and Jumby Bay on Antigua. For more information on Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, please call 888-ROSEWOOD, or visit http://www.rosewoodhotels.com.

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