Snoop Bloggy Blog

Today was kind of a sad day for me. On my way to work I saw someone who from his profile looked exactly like Snoop Dogg, complete with baggie jeans, way-too-long t-shirt, and awesome corn rows. As I got closer, however, and saw him from the front, I realized that no, the man sitting on the stoop talking to a homeless guy and drinking Dunkin Donuts coffee was not, in fact, Snoop Dogg. I mean, what would he be doing in Boston anyway?

Today was also one of my best friend's last day at the company where we (used to) work together.

How exactly does one get over two of life's saddest occasions? How can one bounce back from losing an amazing co-worker on the same day that they confuse a snoop dog look alike for the real thing?

Some may drown their sorrows in booze in pills. I (not at all surprisingly) turn to bags.

To be honest, I was kind of underwhelmed. Fall bags aren't quite out yet, and I'm sick to death of everyone's Spring collections.

However I did come across this beautiful Metallic Python Puffy Bag by Zagliani. Fun Fact: the bag was designed by a dermatologist! According to Saks, "the snakeskin has been injected with silicone for the most buttery-soft, luxurious feel."

Maybe I should inject my skin with silicone. I want to be buttery-soft and luxurious.

Available at Saks for $3,385.

Beauteous Maximus

I'm absolutely loving this tote from Ferragamo. It's a bag that you could clearly use for the rest of your life for a number of different occasions, be it work, play, or anything in between. The cherry red color will make an otherwise drab outfit pop! The hardware is minimal, which means that this bag won't go out of style when the ubiquitous hardware trend eventually does.


My only gripe: you'd have to carry this bag in the crook of your arm, unless of course you look like Twiggy!

Also available in black from Neiman Marcus for $1,750

Black and Blue and Patent Too!

The Botkier Bianca Patent Satchel is perfect for daytime but can also easily transition into an evening or weekend bag. Patent is oh so in right now, and I think it's a trend that's going to stick around for a while.

The brass hardware provides a nice contrast to the leather, and the pockets are the perfect place to store your keys and cell phones. Also, the straps are long enough to wear on your shoulder, which can be difficult to find these days.

I personally love the blue color (assuming you don't pair it with Jeans AND a blue top - no one wants to look like a blueberry!!!), but if it's a little to bright for you then the black version is a great alternative.



Available at Neiman Marcus for $595.

A Limerick for Gucci. Can you write a better one?

I'm completely ripping off Emilie's poetry idea, except that I'm going to write a limerick. I'm far too verbose for a haiku.


















The "Hysteria" bag is from Gucci
It would be approved by Mr. Tucci*
The black leather is like butter
It sets my heart a-flutter
So jealous is Emilio Pucci!**

Available for $1295 in black and gunmetal.

*Rather, Stanley Tucci's character, Nigel, would approve. He was the fashion director at Runway in The Devil Wears Prada
**Because he designs bags that look like this (I know that he's dead, but the limerick doesn't work unless we ignore that fact):

haiku for chloe

delicate lambskin
a shock of colored padlock
essence of chloe





Paddington, $1,600

Handbags 101: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

One of the things I worried about when I started to like expensive bags was whether or not I'd continue to like the bag I purchased days, weeks, and months into the future. After all, I was dropping a chunk of my hard-earned cheddar and wanted to make sure that I was buying something I'd love for life! Fortunately, I came up with a few strategies to help ensure that my bag and I were MFEO. Follow this three step process and you'll get it right every time.

1. Is it love at first sight?

I'm the kind of person who can tell right away if I love a bag. I can easily glance through pages and pages of bags online and quickly determine which ones are my favorites. Therefore, i don't allow myself to purchase a bag unless it's love at first sight. If I don't love the bag initially, I probably won't ever truly love it. You can't have deep, insightful conversations with the bag to figure out if you are right for each other, so this is a purely superficial exercise.

2. Is it the only thing on your mind?

I never buy a bag right away. I'm not much of an impulse buyer, especially when it comes to things that can cost upwards of 500 smackers. So when I see a bag that I like, I leave the store and go on with my daily life. If I'm still thinking about the bag a week later, I know it's a keeper.

3. Is it functional enough that you'll actually use it?

If you've answered "yes" to questions 1 and 2 and have a bag that's similar in style / shape / color, go ahead: you've found your next purchase! But if the bag you're considering is a new style for you, I would recommend against making the purchase right away, even if YOU are in love. Here's why: you may absolutely love the look of a bag, but if it isn't at least somewhat functional, you'll never use it. And while some might be content with merely having the bag in their closet, I for one only want to buy bags that I know I'll use.

So if the object of your affection is new to you in some way, be it style, shape, or color, do a trial run. Places like T.J. Maxx, Marshall's, Target, H&M, Old Navy and Zara are full of bags that look similar to higher-end alternatives. I once bought a hobo bag (an unfamiliar shape to me at the time) at Marshall's for $12 that looked similar to a Coach bag I had my eye on. When I took the Marshall's hobo for a spin, it just felt right, and I made my Coach purchase without hesitation.

Another option is to rent the bag you have your eye on from sits such as Bag Borrow or Steal or From Bags to Riches (reviews on these services to come later).

If after a few weeks your trial bag seems like the right fit, then it is time to make your purchase. If something doesn't seem quite right, however, don't force it; your next great bag may be right around the corner.

New Designer Alert: To Bea or Not To Bea?

The other night one of my mom's friends told me about M Z Wallace, a handbag, luggage, and accessories company that has flagship stores in NYC and Tokyo. Said friend is a huge fan of the collection and told me to check out the "simple bags with great linings that won't cost you as much as other bags these days." Somehow in my post-party haze I was able to actually remember the name of the company and went to go check it out online. Apparently they've been around since 2000, but I'd never heard of them and suspect that many of you haven't either.

From the website:

M Z WALLACE was founded in January 2000 by Monica Zwirner and Lucy Wallace Eustice.

The line includes bags, luggage and accessories for women and men. Innovative yet classic, M Z WALLACE appeals to a multitude of personal styles. Its goal is to create a quality product whose style endures.

Women's Wear Daily hailed M Z WALLACE's debut, calling the collection "fashionable and refined." Harper's Bazaar wrote, "Lucy Wallace Eustice and Monica Zwirner design handbags with a studied simplicity." Wallpaper proclaimed of the collection, "they're the sort of pieces that say, I have arrived," rather than "I am running to catch up."

In short, the line is classic with a twist.

The collection uses contemporary materials to create clean, modern shapes. There is always an element of surprise that distinguishes M Z WALLACE's pieces, and the line is constantly evolving each season. Seen are the unexpected pairing of bright green and fuchsia on a sleek, modern shape; a traditional tote with leather handles in a camouflage print; quilted nylon canvas with silver trim; Italian tapestry fabric with solid brass accents.

In May 2000, M Z WALLACE opened its flagship store in SoHo. Designed by celebrated architect, Annabelle Selldorf of Selldorf Architects, the space was created to showcase the bags in an inviting and relaxed atmosphere. The store, raved WWD, "perfectly reflects the simple sophistication of the designers and their handbags."

I must say that I agree whole-heartedly with my mom's friend. The bags on this site are great, can be used forever, and have fabulous linings. The company designs several different bag shapes and then reproduces the shapes in multiple colors and materials.

My favorite by far was the "Bea" bag, which is available in orange, white, dark grey, light grey, and black. Take a look at the dark grey, or "gunmetal" version, complete with detachable purse and sassy hot pink lining. As an added bonus, the bag is stain and water resistant! $365.

Salvatore Ferragamo Icon Satin Evening Clutch

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope everyone is enjoying their extra day of freedom. I'm home in good old MD celebrating my Dad's official transition into old-fogie-ism. But do not fear: I've been doing my homework, even while wrestling with the packed schedule of family obligations.

I ventured over to Neiman Marcus's new arrivals section to find out if any Fall handbags have become available. They're definitely starting to trickle in, but I'm hoping that in the next few days the drip becomes a Tsunami; then we'll officially be in a new season, at least in "fashion time.

While I was looking at the new bags i came across this GORGEOUS Ferragamo clutch. It's made out of soft, luxurious satin and has Ferragamo's signature embellishment, which adds a touch of flair but still keeps it simple and classic. This bag is perfect for a black tie event or cocktail, provided you're willing to shell out the steep $950 price tag.

I'm Being Stalked. By a Department Store. That is Apparently Deaf, Dumb, and Blind.

Neiman Marcus has this cool new service where they send you product recommendations based on what items you demonstrate the most interest in on their website. Cool idea in theory, right? A little big brother-ish, but cool nonetheless.

Unfortunately, I think Neimans needs to do a little bit of work on their algorithms. Below are the recommendations they sent to me in a recent email. As you can see, they've committed some cardinal sins.

Note: Click on the image for an enlarged version.

I do not like a single one of those bags. They are drab and boring. The Kooba Jacinda looks like it's trying to break out of a straight jacket, while the Botkier Vixen is reminiscent of the yip yip bag Emilie mentioned in an earlier post. And I'm sorry, but the Juicy Couture bag is just unforgivable. You all know well by now how much I hate this brand. And it's called the Gossip Shoulder Bag. I may gossip, but I'm NOT 12 years old.

Nice try, Neimans, but apparently my preferences are too sophisticated and complex for you to understand. Kind of like a fine red wine.

New Feature: The Good, The Bad, and The Fugly

I've had some free time this weekend because of Memorial and was getting a little bit bored. The solution, obviously was browsing handbag websites and looking for things to post for my loyal reader(s?) This is how I stumbled over to the handbag sale at eluxury.

Now, I love a sale as much as the next person. I don't have anything against them, because they offer me the chance to save money (or really, to spend less of it, but who's counting?) on things that I like to buy. But man: the sale at eluxury was about as disappointing as it gets. It went from ugly, to fugly, to fuglier.

This gave me the idea of a new feature where I will post several bags from a specific designer, retailer, or trend, and divide them into three categories: good, bad, fugly.

Without further ado, the good, bad, and fugly from eluxury's handbag sale.

****************************************

GOOD

Simple, practical, no-brainer. Same pattern as Dior cellphones.

Cute, basic black bag with a patchwork twist. You can remove the straps and then use as a clutch

Love the turnlock closure. Grey, like Mugatu, is so hot right now

****************************************

BAD

By George, everyone's favorite swindler has done it again! Remember the completely overpriced red bag that involved attaching a handle to a sac of red fabric? This ridiculous "terry beach bag" was conjured up by the very same Martin Margiela. I think he walks around his house and thinks "hmm, what can I attach a handle to, mark up 1000%, and sell to department stores and online retailers? A towel! Perfect!". So, what's next for Martin? The new "convertible tissue box" tote? A shoe on a stick? A case of Bic pens attached to a long strand of dental floss?

This bag proves that designers should not use a boxing match as inspiration. 'Nuff said

No...just....no....(Michael Kors)

Requisite Juicy Couture bag, teetering on the line between bad and fugly

****************************************

FUGLY

A valiant attempt at ethereal. I'd maybe spend $5 for this if I was going to a marine-themed party. Maybe.


Hmmmm, how can we design one of the ugliest bags in history? Camo: check! Fringe: check! Totally weird and awkward looking handles: check!


MJ: Did you miss that day of kindergarten when they taught that purple and orange just don't go together?

Dior to Come out with $5,000 Mobile Phones

Believe it or not, I don't spend alllllll my time online cruising handbag, department store, and other online luxury shopping sites. I read the Wall Street Journal. Damn straight.

Today the WSJ posted an interesting article about Christian Dior coming out with a line of uber-expensive cell phones that will primarily target the Chinese and Russian markets. The move is another example of fashion houses expanding into new, unfamiliar categories to diversify their portfolios and increase revenues. The company hopes to reach annual sales of €200M in the long term, a lofty goal considering the entire company had overall sales of €787 million last year.

Says the WSJ:

Dior's move comes as high-end fashion houses are crossing the boundaries of traditional fashion items to boost sales. After the licensing heyday of the 1980s, which cheapened the names of many fashion houses by putting them on items ranging from lighters to toilet-seat covers, labels reeled in their branding efforts during the 1990s.

Yet in recent years, many companies have branched out again, this time with a pledge to be more selective about how they use their name.

With mobile phones, fashion brands have insisted on taking part in both design and marketing. Last year, when Italian fashion house Prada launched a phone with South Korea's LG Electronics Inc., Prada tinkered with the touch screen and preloaded content in addition to working on the phone's basic design.

The phones appear to be inspired by a line of wallets and handbags called "Cannage." See below for a couple examples of this line.

Cannage Zip Around Wallet ($460 at eluxury)
Lady Dior Patent Cannage Bag ($1,800 at eluxury)



Thoughts? Would you spend $5,000 on a Dior cell phone? Will Dior be able to achieve such lofty sales goals? How would you change the phones to make them more appealing?

I personally think the phones are pretty cool looking, but I wouldn't ever dream of spending 5 grand on something that would probably become obsolete after a few years. But that's just me.

A Lesson Well Learned

I think MJ must be reading my blog. After I saw this horror, I beseeched that he return to the basics and stop trying to set new trends. If the Marc Jacobs Mercer East-West Tote is any indication, it appears he was listening!This bag is a true classic: simple yet not boring; large enough to fit the basics yet not overwhelming. This is a bag you could use for life. This, ladies and gent, is how you mix fashion and function.

One of my favorite things about the East-West Tote is the handles - the knots are stylish but give the bag a somewhat funky vibe. In addition, the bag comes with a magnetic closure, which will allow you to get in and out easily but still deter pickpockets.

The front zippered pocket provides the perfect place to stash away your keys and cellphone. The handles are long enough to wear on your shoulder, and the bag also comes with a longer removeable shoulder strap.

Available for $1,295 pretty much everywhere:

• Barneys
• Neiman Marcus
• eLuxury
• Saks (slightly different version for $1095)
• and Marc Jacobs stores
  

in off-white, navy, or pistachio

The Epitome of Laziness

Apparently Fendi has run completely out of ideas. Maybe this is a good thing considering the results when they try to be creative.

But still, however ugly some of Fendi's bags are, at least they are original. At least they show that someone put in some thought, no matter how unfortunate and twisted those thoughts may be. At least Fendi was pretending to still have a point of view.

Well, they're not pretending any longer. Meet Fendi's new creation, the Paint-Your-Own-Baguette.
This is the deal: buy the bag, which comes with 10 markers. Decorate the bag yourself. Stay within the lines - they are your friends. TA-DA, your very own original Fendi.

You would think that a small crappy white canvas bag would come cheap, but no, you still have to shell out $1,300 to buy this baby. I don't know about you, but I stress out enough over a $20 Made-By-You plate; I would certainly not feel comfortable putting my (completely non-) artistic touch on something that costs 65 times more.

So unless you're richer than god and think nothing of flushing gobs of cash down the toilet, I would advise against purchasing this bag. To put it mildly.

(Available at eluxury)

seriously now?

dear judith leiber,

what in god's name are you smoking. please hand over your Bedazzler.

you cannot continue this charade of calling yourself a designer. gluing crytals into some hideous eye-sore best left to thai restaurants,

children's birthday parties,

or some poor contestant from best in show,

is the very antithesis of societal, much less fashionable, contribution. can you honestly imagine a woman approaching another woman at a dinner party to say "DARLING i just LOVE your pineapple! if you paid anything less than $5495 for it, honey, you're a fool!"

i thought so.

yours very untruly,

emilie

Sale at Net-A-Porter

Net-A-Porter just started their spring sale and is offering over 150 handbags at 25-50% off the original prices. Check out all the available bags by clicking here.

One request: please please please don't buy the "Juicy Says Relax" bag. Ick.

Sneak peak of what's available:























In order (left to right): Alexander McQueen, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu, Miu Miu, Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta

Handbags 101: Speedy Gonzales

Welcome to the second installment of Handbags 101.

Our next topic comes from a question emailed in by extremely loyal reader Lisa:

All-knowing bag women...why is a speedy bag called a speedy bag? Does it make you walk faster? Shop faster? I don't understand....

Lisa, great question. A question that I could not answer. I spent hours and hours googling and reading articles and thinking of every possible avenue to find an answer to this question, to no avail. Then it hit me: go straight to the source! So I emailed the gods at LV to find out.

First of all, for those of you who aren't aware, the Speedy is one of Louis Vuitton's most famous styles. The Speedy first came out in the 1930s in monogram canvas and has since been released in a number of other colors and materials.

Monogram Canvas

Damier Azur

Monogram Multi Colore

Epi Leather

"Enough with the pictures already," I can hear you screaming.

Without further ado, the reason a Speedy bag is called a Speedy bag:

Dear Ms. XXX,

We would like to thank you for your visit on our web site and your
interest in Louis Vuitton.

In 1930, following the successful launch of the Keepall, a smaller
version of the Keepall was introduced called the Speedy. This bag started
the trend of the carry-all bags and was geared to the new concept of
faster living, hence the word "Speedy".

If you are interested in purchasing the Monogram Speedy, please contact
Customer Relations at 866-VUITTON. A Louis Vuitton specialist would be
delighted to place a phone order for convenient direct home delivery
with FedEx, or suggest a Louis Vuitton boutique nearest you that may
carry the item, or you may order online at www.LouisVuitton.com.

We are looking forward to your next visit on our web site,
www.louisvuitton.com

Best regards,

Claire Monroe - LOUIS VUITTON
contact@louisvuitton.com
www.louisvuitton.com

Have a questions? Be cool like Lisa and email us at bagsforb.tches@gmail.com.

Until Next Time,
Professor Bag Bitch

The Color Purple

My mom's favorite color is purple, but I've never been that into it myself. Don't get me wrong: I love plums and purple flowers, and amethysts aren't so bad either, but I've never been one to surround myself with purple things.

Until...

This

This purple ostrich stam is a piece of Marc Jacobs' Fall 2008 collection and is not yet in stores, but as soon as it becomes available I will rush off to my nearest Neimans or Saks and bow down my new god.

There are no details about this bag on the MJ website, so I'm not sure if the leather is embossed or real ostrich. Although I think real ostrich is beautiful, I kind of hope it's embossed and therefore more affordable. For me. To buy. For myself.

As soon as I can get more information on this beauty, such as price, where to buy, etc., I will share.

they killed a yip yip

maybe i'm showing my age a bit here, but...
does anyone remember the yip yips from sesame street? if you don't remember, wiki defines them as "interplanetary visitors, presumed to be from the planet Mars. they marvel at devices such as clocks, telephones and computers. when frightened, each covers its face with the lower part of its jaw."

anyway, these things (used to) frighten the bejeesus out of me.


i don't hate this bag, but it does bear a remarkable similarity to the yip yips. behold:

apparently called the erva foldover clutch,
for $495 at barney's.









yip.

Handbags 101: A Hobo Says What?

Welcome to a new feature I am creating, Handbags 101. Think of it as a college intro class for those who are sick of history, psychology, science, French, etc. I don't know much about that stuff anyway.

Handbags 101 will educate you about all things bag-related. And the best part: no homework, no midterms, no final exam. You get an A+ just for showing up.

So, topic number one: Why is a hobo bag called a hobo bag?

Let's examine the evidence.

Exhibit A: Hobo

Exhibit B: Hobo Bag

See the resemblance? Yeah, me neither.

The real reason, courtesy of wikipedia:

This style of purse is called a hobo bag because it resembles the shape of the bindle on a stick that hobos are portrayed as carrying over their shoulder in drawings and cartoons.

So there you have it.

If you're looking for something a bit more authentically hobo-chic, check out this bindle, fresh off the hobo's stick.

Have a burning handbag question? Send an email over to bagsforb.tches@gmail.com.

Until Next Time,
Professor Bag Bitch

$2,580 transplant: miracle of modern medicine

Step 1.














Step 2.



















Step 3.




















whoever said Star Wars isn't fashion forward?

Bowling on the River

I know I've posted a lot of white bags, which is funny since I don't own a single one, but it's almost summer so I'm allowed. I thought it was interesting that neither Emilie nor I have written about a Louis Vuitton bag since we both own pieces (me: a 1970s Speedy 30 which used to belong to my grandmother; Emilie: a gorgeous monogram wallet from the Paris store).

Well, I'm about to break the Louis Vuitton seal. (I wonder if that now means I won't be able to stop posting LV bags? They'll just keep coming and coming and coming until I sleep it off!) Surprisingly, the object of my desire not a monogram canvas, the style for which LV is most (in)famous. A lot of people won't even buy monogram LVs anymore because they are the most knocked-off brand on the planet, and they don't want their thousand-dollar babies confused with a $20 replica from Canal street.

Louis Vuitton makes a number of gorgeous, classic bags that do not display their legendary logo. LV leather goods are very high quality, super-classy, and will last you forever.
This white Epi Leather Bowling Montaigne GM is simply gorgeous. First of all, I love the shape, but it is no secret by now that the bowling bag is among my favorite silhouettes. The epi leather is also great - it's strong and sturdy without being cardboard-like. I have a feeling you could carry around a bowling ball in this bag if you really needed to. And maybe a pair of LV shoes to boot.

Available at eluxury in ivory and cassis (dark purple) for $1,900.