She's Fergalicious

(NEW YORK) The endless queue of people that assembled in the Meatpacking District Thursday evening was not an early line for a club, but rather a batch of revelers waiting for Fergie's arrival to celebrate the handbag collection she designed for Kipling. "Showing off these bags is like putting on a concert; you put something tangible out there and hope it generates excitement," the singer told The Daily. The collaboration is her first foray into the handbag sector.

Divided into three categories, the line is inspired by Fergie's look: the Nice Scout, which is adorned with leather and mesh fabric detailing, comes in shimmery or matte black and gold fabric, while the Naughty Scout is embossed with fuchsia lips and "Fergie loves Kipling" text. "I was a girl scout and it's such a huge part of young women's lives," said Fergie. "But I was only a naughty scout in my Fergalicious video." The third Dutchess collection comes in two key prints: plaid and tassels.

Though it's not all monkey business for Fergie, she has taken a liking to Kipling's signature animal. "We spotted Fergie carrying the mandarin orange Kipling bags in a magazine and found out she was a collector," said Julie Dimperio, president of Kipling North America. "Then she had a monkey in her show and we knew she was a logical partner for us."

Guests were treated to a burlesque performance by dancers who modeled the bags. Come September, pieces, priced $38 to $198, will be available in Kipling stores and at select department stores nationwide. A second collection will debut in Spring 2008.

"I got to put my heart and soul into this, they let me be so creative," said Fergie, who danced on chairs in a Chanel dress and shoes. "When I saw the bags I almost cried."
NOLA WEINSTEIN