Pink is the New...Everything

According to the most recent Pulse feature in the New York Times, pink, the "shopper's comfort color" is everywhere this spring. I'm not normally a huge fan of pink, but I do appreciate the color in small quantities (my hot pink skecher sneakers are a much-too-worn-in favorite.)

Below, a few of Spring's most eye-popping options:


For work or school:

Gryson Hanah Kaos Satchel in magenta

$695 at Saks

For everyday:

Kooba Leather Ryder Tote in pink

$595 at Saks

For the teens:

MARC by Marc Jacbos Puckered Birdia Bag in Fuchsia

$498 at eLuxury

For the paradoxically wealthy white trash crowd (I'm looking at you, Britney):

Dolce & Gabanna Candy Wrapper Tote in Pink

$1,195 at eLuxury

Pleats that Pop

Yellow can be a tough color to pull off. One of my first posts was about how I and the color yellow just did not get along during the early part of my life. And yellow shirts gave my face a certain pallor that wasn't going to win me any beauty contests.

But the beauty of accessories is that you can take colors - or styles, for that matter - that would not work on the larger scale and make them your own. I wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of yellow pleather pants or a patent yellow raincoat, but a small yellow clutch just may be what my wardrobe needs to go from bad to fab.

Thinking along those lines, as well as my commitment to feature more accessible bags, I discovered the La Regale Patent Gathered Clutch. The gathering is what makes this bag stand out - it adds an intriguing texture and draws attention to the eye. Just be careful about pairing this with too much black - the idea is to BE cool, not be a BEE.

$70 at Macy's. Also includes a 21 inch silver chain, because sometimes in life we just need two hands.

Yeah the Economy Sucks, But on the Bright Side...

Given the current state of the economy, I feel a little bit silly writing about multi-thousand dollar bags. So now I'm going to make a commitment to equally represent options that are far less pricey.

I start with the Lucky Medium Leather Slouch Shoulder Bag. It's available at Macy's in bright turquoise for a much more reasonable $158. Folks, I realize it's a bit on the bright side. So, yeah, probably not the best option for winter. But come Spring...you'll look like a million smackers carrying around this gorgeous slouchy hobo. Wear neutral clothing and let this bag be the pizazz in your uniform.

About Face

I'm all about the avant-garde when it comes to handbags, provided that it's attractive, surprising, and difficult to replicate.

This ridiculous purple tote bag just doesn't seem to fit the bill. Sorry, Sonia, but I could make this fourth grade art project with a $5 canvas bag and a few pieces of brightly colored felt from Wal-Mart.

Maybe that's what I'll do this weekend.
$320 fom Net-A-Porter, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel.

The Bag of the Minute: Goyardgeous

The streets of New York City are a veritable cornucopia of designer bags. Everywhere I look, Gucci, Prada, YSL, and Burberry bags are to be found. BIG step up from Boston, where Kate Spade and Louis Vuitton Speedy bags are pretty much as good as it gets.

In my brief experience wandering the sidewalks of NYC, one particular bag has stuck out. Primarily carried by the over-40 set, the bag comes in a variety of colors and is a great everyday tote. The designer is mostly known for luggage but has recently expanded into handbags. And by the looks of it, been very successful.

Most of you have probably never heard of the brand, so prepare to be educated. We'll turn to old reliable, Wikipedia, for some info.

La Maison Goyard was founded in 1853 in Paris. Edmé Goyard worked as a malletier for a company then known as Maison Morel (founded in 1792), which his son, François, bought out in 1853. At that time, the company was renamed Goyard.

Goyard is known for its hard-sided trunks and small accessories. All pieces are covered in a signature hand-painted patented chevron canvas made of cotton, linen, and hemp and displayed in various colors. The chevron canvas was created in 1892; and was traditionally produced in black and red.

Currently, Goyard is sold in fewer than fifteen locations worldwide, including three proprietary boutiques in Paris, San Francisco's Union Square and The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. Other locations include Bergdorf Goodman, select Barneys New York locations and Harvey Nichols Hong Kong.

So what is the bag I've seen all around town? None other than the Saint Louis, a reversible, structured shopping tote complete with matching wallet. The bag comes in ten colors; below are three of my faves.

How much does this baby cost? That's the question of the hour - the price isn't available online, so I guess I better head down to Bergdorf and find out!

Click here for more info on the bag.

The Designer Look for Less

Want your very own Chloe, but don't have $2,000 to drop?

Direct your browser over to Bloomingdales, and check out Chloe's significantly lower priced See by Chloe line.

My personal fave is the red canvas tote.

Cotton / Leather Reversible Tote

$495 - Available in red, navy, and white

Rainbow Logo Canvas Tote

$75 - Available in black and red

Oversized Rainbow Logo Canvas Tote
$135 - Available in indigo and red

patchDOESN'Twork

It's probably no surprise to you that I hate patchwork. I've truly never seen a patchwork bag that I didn't not like. The mixing of colors just really doesn't do it for me, and I doubt that it ever will. This is partially because I like my bags to be simple, and for me, simple = three colors or less (typically one for the outside, one for the hardware, and one for the inside). Start throwing in multiple colors on the outside of the bag and I just get confused!

The other reason I'm not a huge fan of patchwork is because the colors tend to be oh-so-ugly together. It's really bizarre to me, because designers should have pretty good vision when it comes to knowing what colors go well together, but they just don't seem to be able to figure it out. As evidence: this Celine Watch Me Dance clutch. Alone, these colors would probably make for a very nice bag. Red, black, blue, ivory, yellow: all compelling colors for a clutch, sure. But you put them together and suddenly you have a puzzle that doesn't quite fit. This is a case where the whole is equal to significantly less of the sum of its parts.

Am I on my own here? Do you have a patchwork bag that you covet, or do you hate it like me?

Celine Watch Me Dance clutch
$1,200 at net-a-porter

Elephantitis

Did you think these Judith Leiber bags were bad? I used to be one of you.

Until, of course, I came across the Ganesh Collectors Clutch. The pineapple, cupcake, and terrier are child's play in comparison. Because this clutch, ladies and gentlemen, is an ELEPHANT.

Now, don't get me wrong. The clutch is actually kinda beautiful. For, like, a statue or something. But as a HANDBAG? Um...no.

$5,595 at Neiman Marcus.

I Need Your Help!

I really really really really want this bag. It is so amazingly beautiful. I already established that I like the shape when I talked about the bronze version from Mulberry. The color, also, is to die for. I can just envision wearing it around with a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. Since this describes approximately 1/2 of my wardrobe, you can bet I'd get a lot of use out of it.

It's also made out of ostrich leather. I don't own anything made out of ostrich, but it's a leather I've always loved, if from afar - mostly because of the great texture it adds.

An added bonus: the bag is on sale! And I love buying things on sale!

So then, what's the problem? The price, of course! This bag clocks in as just over 2 grand (normally costs around 3K!), which is more than I've ever spent on anything that I own - by a HUGE margin, no less - including rent and vacations and other bags.

Since the bag is on sale, you can bet it won't be around for long. The logical part of my brain is thinking I'm crazy for even considering buying this bag, but the impulsive, bag-obsessed part is lusting after this coral beauty oh-so-much.

Sigh...what's a gal to do?

A Fun and Creative Time Waster

Are you working too hard? Does the left side of your brain need a break?

Then hop right over to Elemental Threads and get started on designing your own totes, pouches, and clutches.

It's easy as pie. Step 1: Select a shape. Step 2: Choose the fabric / pattern from over 50 options. Step 3: Select a zipper color and nylon lining.

And then you're done!

See below for some of my creations (click on image to enlarge).

Want to share your design? Send it over to bagsforb.tches@gmail.com

Tie-Dye for Dummies

Sigh...whoever thought that tie-dye and luxury handbags could go together was just plain wrong. Tie-dye should be reserved for ratty old t-shirts and summer camp arts and crafts activities and muu-muus - but not, I repeat, NOT, luxury handbags!!!

And if Ferragamo is trying to corner the sliver of a hippie market, I have news for you: they're not gonna drop $1,750 on a bag they could probably make themselves out of bed sheets and indigo and a wee bit of LSD.

Don't pick yours up today at Saks.

Salvatore Ferragamo
Tie-Dye Suede Tote

She's Got An Amazing Pair of Headlights

Yeah, I don't really get this one either. I wish designers would give up on integrating more than a few colors in one bag. Especially colors that don't even go together! Lime green, olive green, turquoise, beige, and brown combined into one item is not my idea of a good time. Throw in black and red, and you've really entered into headache-inducing territory.

Buy this multi-colored mess (or Miss Curly Colorblock Pocket Bag, as D&G refers to it) on eLuxury for...umm...$2,595! Biggest rip-off in history?

The Seven Circles of Heaven

Yet another exotic clutch to drool over. This purple and ivory clutch is made of python and is decorated by 5 rings with a purple stone inside the center ring.

It's not a bag I would typically go for, but I think it's absolutely stunning and would love to see it dress up an otherwise boring, monochromatic outfit. At $690, it's surprisingly reasonable for python!

Available at Barneys. There's also an all black sunsnake version available, a bargain* at $420.

Oh, and this bag is designed by R & Y Augousti. Pay attention to the name - you'll be hearing it often, I'm sure.

*You're all starting to think I'm crazy now, right? Remember - it's all relative

Update: The Color Purple

Remember about a month ago when I posted about this gorgeous bag, hoping against hope that it was faux ostrich rather than the real thing? Unfortunately I did not get my way - I just saw the first mention of the bag on the Elle fall preview website, and the purple gem is going for almost five grand.
Click here for the rather provocative image of the bag. Hint: not safe for work.

You're Taking this Whole Bow Thing a Little Too Far

Oh no. Oh no, Valentino. Oh no you didn't. Oh, but you did. Oh, NO!

I noticed recently that you were getting a little bit obsessed with bows, Valentino. At first it was kind of cute - an embellishment here, a garnish there. Then it started to get a bit out of hand. But still I kept my mouth (or fingers?) shut because I like you Valentino, I really do. Sorry, but I can keep it shut no longer.

I was ok when bows were PART of the bag. But when the bow BECAME the bag, the line was officially crossed.















For those of you who are even tempted to buy this "bag" - and don't draw attention to yourself if you are, please - I have another suggestion.

Step 1: Go to a costume rental store*
Step 2: Rent a costume for a clown
Step 3: Take the oversized bow tie that most definitely comes as part of the costume and cut a line in fabric at the top of the bow
Step 4: Sew a zipper into the cut, or take it to a tailor to do it for you

TA-DA! your very own bow tie clutch.

Or you can buy it from Neimans for $1,095.

[*Misc. personal services, haha. This is an inside joke that only 2 people on the planet (and maybe people who work at the BEA?) will get, but I couldn't resist. I mean, how often does one write about a costume rental store?]

The Three Cs

I love things that are Cheap
I love things that are Chic
I love Clutches

I hit the trifecta when I stumbled upon Nordstrom's private label Structured Silk Clutch.

First we must address the Elephant In The Blog: This clutch was highly "inspired" by Bottega Veneta's Lux Satin Clutch. I normally frown upon this; but at less than a tenth of the price, it's hard to stay peeved.











The Nordstrom clutch comes in four fabulous colors. Pick yours up today at Nordstrom for only 80 bucks!

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.

Love the Building, Love the Bag

This afternoon I went to Starbucks for a free coffee (thanks for the coupon, CC!), and I spotted a gorgeous bag across the store.Being the nosy, unafraid- to- talk- to- strangers gal that I am, I quickly found out that her bag was from Banana Republic, there are no bags left in any of the stores in Boston, and there are plenty available online.

During my next work break I clicked right over to the banana website and found the Flatiron embossed triangle satchel. If you're looking for a green bag but aren't willing to shell out $725 for the L.A.M.B., this $248 version may be a great alternative.

I've seen this bag up close and can assure you that it is even cuter in person. I absolutely love the navy trim and gold hardware. Even the profile is hot. Also available in yellow.

Small Satin Sac Bag

Dear Mom,

You'll never believe what I pulled off. Yesterday, I bought some pretty red fabric. Then I tied some string around the top and added some more red fabric to make a handle. Finally, I sold it at eluxury.com for $645!

See below for my inspiration.

Your Favorite Swindler,
Martin

Why I Hate Juicy Couture

Sorry Juicy Couture, but I hate you. I hate your bags. I hate your logo. I hate your name. I hate that you are suing Victoria's Secret for putting words on the asses of pants. I hate that your bags are made out of cheap materials yet you still charge big bucks for them.

Where does this deep hatred come from? Have a looksee at their products and make up your own mind. This isn't the 80s anymore. Leftover seatbelts are not suitable materials for handbags. And that shade of pink should be retired from the color wheel. 'Nuff said.

Thanks to bloomies for these hideous images.