Rebecca Minkoff caught her big break in 2005 when the Morning After Bag was born. Fast-forward to 2011 and the woman behind the edgy-chic accessories collection and ready-to-wear fashion line bearing her name is adding “watch designer” to her resume.

After waiting my turn at a tiny table across from The Little Black List blogger (and star of the steamy Rebecca Minkoff for Baby-G commercial titled “The Morning After”) Tess, I was swept into the back room of the Lower East Side speakeasy referred to as none other than The Back Room (can we say “hipster chic”?) to talk with Rebecca about her newest collaboration.

Q: This is your first time ever designing a watch. Why Baby-G, and why now?
A: I used to wear Casio all of the time (the calculator watches), so I approached him [Tadashi Shibuya, General Manager of Timepiece Division Casio America, Inc.] and I said, “I see what you’re doing with your collaborations, and I’d be really excited to do one.” It was a great opportunity to try my hand at designing a watch.

Q: What was most important to you when it came to the designing process?
A: The color. I’m obsessed with rose gold, so I wanted to do something with that, but then to also make it cool with the matte black accents.

Q: How does the overall design reflect the Rebecca Minkoff aesthetic?
A: What the Rebecca Minkoff brand is known for is elements of hardware, so the little studs that are on the dial of the watch are reminiscent of the studs that are on my bags. I really wanted to tie it back to that, and I wanted it to be girly with an edge.

Q: You switched from designing apparel to accessories in 2005. What motivated you to revisit apparel in 2009?
A: We were getting calls from old retailers asking us if we were ever going to do clothing again and, eventually, we’d had enough of that happen that I felt like it was a sign we should bring it back.

Q: Your Spring 2012 collection was characterized by a lot of breezy fabrics, sorbet shades and flirty prints. What was the inspiration behind it?
A: The desert, and this architect Luis Barragon who has a beautiful use of color and had used this bright poppy color [in his work]. I combined those two elements when imagining our girl traveling through the desert in style.

Q: What can consumers expect from your spring accessories collection?
A: A lot of great exotics and faux exotics, a lot of color and more hardware details — not more studs per se, but just interesting hardware treatments.

Q: Do you have a preference when it comes to designing apparel vs. accessories?
A: I like them differently but equally. Apparel is still a great challenge, because you’re fitting it on a human body and women have very different bodies, and accessories are just really fun.

Q: Is there a specific handbag or accessory in your collection that you would consider your go-to?
A: I would say this little guy [pointing to her handbag]. This is from my Collection line, which is sold at a higher price point. It’s called the Lexington Clutch.

Q: You have a substantial gift section on your website. What’s on your holiday wish list this year?
A: Sleep. I have a new baby, so that’s honestly all I want.

Get a closer look at the Rebecca Minkoff for Baby-G Watch, available in select stores this month, at baby-g.com.

Photo: Baby-G