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

New Designer Alert: Treesje

A few weeks ago while strolling through Saks' otherwise disappointing handbag department, I discovered my current handbag brand crush, Treesje. I have no idea how the intriguing name is pronounced, but I do know that they make some pretty sexy bags. The metro clutch was the first style to catch my eye, but the website reveals a plethora of wonderful and practical bag options.

Treesje bags have an almost universal appeal. They're a good size, practical, and functional, but are fun and unique at the same time.

Also quite impressive is the way that the company organizes its line. At any one time, say, the fall season, Treesje carries around 10 different "collections" to suit different personal tastes. Within each collection are 3-4 bags that contain similar elements but serve different purposes, end uses, and times of day.

For example, the metro collection, seen below, has 4 bags with simliar hardware and pleated leather, to remind us that they are part of the same collection (each bag comes in a variety of colors). First we see the lovely tote (Hudson), then two different size satchels (Asher and Asher Grande), and finally, my personal fave, the clutch. I can imagine that this simple organizational scheme makes for a simpler shopping experience.

Pick Treesje bags up in department stores, boutiques, or online.

Dolce & Gabbana, Magician

In the Lily Satchel, D&G has become the master of the optical illusion.

I saw the first picture and thought, cute bag! Great shape, nice long handles, good use of hardware (the lil key is so cute!), and a fierce bright colored lining - in all, a winner!

And then I had the misfortune of looking at it from a different angle. The bag quickly plummeted from winner to lahoo-zahur. This bag is absolutely HIDEOUS! I don't understand the shape at all, or how it could be at all comfortable to carry around. And, thanks very much, D&G, but I prefer to leave my rainbows in the SKY, not on my bag. Oh, and the gratuitous use of zippers...don't even get me started.


So now I feel cheated by D&G, the great bag tease of our time. I guess I learned my lesson: before getting excited about a bag, view it from all possible angles.

$1,400 at Neimans.

Tiny Purple People Eater

The floor of the building I work on is undergoing massive construction so that my company can take over the entire floor (as a move towards our ultimate goal of world domination). So far, it's been supremely annoying. It's loud, dusty, dirty, and, strangest of all, the construction zone smells exactly like Elmer's glue. I really hope the construction workers are using stronger adhesive materials than that.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with the bag I'm posting on. I just thought the Elmer's glue tidbit was interesting and wanted to share it, and try as I might I could not think of a way to link my anecdote with a handbag. Bummer.

A couple months ago I went on a historic rant about how I basically hated all handbag designers because they're unoriginal fuckwits who couldn't conjure up a classy design if their life depended on it. In that post I covered the Dr. Q Groovee Satchel, a great basic black bag for every day use.

Marc-y Marc has now come out with the Dr. Q Groovee Satchel in a lovely shade of purple and I LOVE it. It's dark enough that it's almost a neutral that you could use for every day. Buy it fast - this color won't last! (And then remove the ugly shoulder strap as soon as possible)

$498 at Barneys

From London With Love

I think I mentioned in a previous post that I recently lived in London for six months. My experience was a whirlwind of double decker buses, train rides, customs officials, cheap B&Bs, late nights, and much, much more. I took bus 148 every morning from Walworth, the "cosmopolitan" London semi-suburb that I called home, to my company's office located a stone's throw from Victoria Station.

My 40 minute plus bus ride typically consisted of scouting the upper deck for the most strategically placed seat, but every once in a while I was distracted by an object of such immense beauty that I completely forgot about playing musical chairs. Obviously, I'm talking about a bag.

It was a Jimmy Choo Malena Patent Leather Satchel in the most beautiful shade of ruby red. The woman who carried it always wore the same neon green faux-fur coat, and the contrast between the coat and the bag was simply to die for. I'd gaze at the bag, wishing it could be mine, hoping against hope that one day I would be the proud owner of the breathtaking patent leather ruby red patent satchel.

And so when I got back to the US, I made it my life's mission to find it.

Alas,

the color was nowhere to be found.

I should have stolen it when I had the chance.

But today's trip to bergdorfgoodman.com yielded something almost as good. It was another Jimmy Choo Malena Patent Satchel, but this time, in black. No, it doesn't possess the same whimsical quality of Ms. Fake Fur Coat's ruby version, but it's a hell of a lot more practical.

And in this case, practicality = good.

$1,895 at Bergdorf.

Does Life Imitate Art, or Does Art Imitate...Baseball?

I think I pretty firmly established in this post (under "the bad") that handbag designers should not turn to boxing for inspiration. And now apparently baseball has to be added to the don't-use-sports-as-handbag-inspiration-PLEASE! list.

I like baseball as much as the next gal. It is America's pastime, after all. And I played softball for many, many years when I was younger. So if anyone would like a baseball-inspired handbag, it would be me.

But, not so much. I don't know what the heck an Astor Grommet is (anyone? Bueller?), but I know that I don't want to eat it, watch it, or wear it on my arm

And it really kills me to say this, because Mikey Kors is by far my favorite Project Runway judge. Maybe it's time for him to stop the whole designer thing and to focus full time on PR.

Am I totally off-base here? Or are these bags fugtastic? Baseball as art: yay or nay?

MICHAEL Michael Kors Astor Grommet Hobo
$378
Bloomingdales
MICHAEL Michael Kors Astor Grommet Large Satchel
$498
Bloomingdales

victory

how serendipitous! i was searching saks for a bag to make fun of, when i stumbled upon the perfect woman's work bag!!


made of python, it's a tad more than the previous bags on which i posted ($2,450), but... that means it will last longer, right? and everyone knows, the real price of a thing is = (price/number of times used). let's be practical here

in any case, hooray to ferragamo for recognizing the working woman who can have it all, and have a beautiful bag to put it in.

p.s. i just google imaged "smiley face" and this beaver showed up. it was unwittingly, though undoubtedly, more clever than i intended

tu me manques!

sorry my darlings. i have, for the past several weeks, been quite the
but, work = $$ = bag, right?!
in any case, it got me thinking about work bags, briefcases, if you will, or lack thereof. i don't mean to say there *aren't* briefcases out there, but 99% of them are for men. do women not work? do i not enjoy buying my own bags with my hard earned money? if you cut me, do i not bleed? (where did that come from?)

granted i could just buy a "man's briefcase," but hey, if i have to be a woman in a world still run by men, i can at least kick their ass in style.
so i went on a quest to find quality briefcases with a feminine touch.

i present to you: lodis briefs (for women, haha!) and laptop bags reasonably priced at $260-$295

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.

For Your Re-Consideration

I recently found out that Emilie, my illustrious partner in crime, hates Coach - and I'm not talking about the TV show. I find this to be extremely disconcerting for a number of reasons:

1. I happen to like Coach bags
2. I own 3 of them
3. Working at Coach is pretty much my dream job

So, I've made it my goal in life (or at least in the next several minutes) to convert Emilie to a Coach lover.

Like any good debater, I will first start with the strongest counter-argument against liking coach: Signature - those pesky little Cs that are all over many Coach bags. I may like Coach, but that doesn't mean I have to advertise that to the world! Trust me, I get it, Signature can be hids. But guess what: even though I may not personally like Signature bags, I'm OK with them. I am clearly not their target audience. These bags are made for 15 year olds girls. Who are we to deprive these teens of pretty, age appropriate accessories, just because we don't personally like them? At least they provide an alternative to Juicy, my sworn enemy in the handbag world! Just because you like a brand doesn't mean you have to like every item that brand produces. If that were the criteria, no single brand on the face of the planet would be successful. So, let's move on from the Signature issue once and for all.

In late 2006 Coach launched the Legacy collection in conjunction with its 65th anniversary. I instantly loved the collection - it had me at "leg". I knew then that Coach had reached a critical turning point in its evolution, and I have not been disappointed since. In my opinion, Coach has become a go-to in the handbag world. Sure, I may love MJ, Gucci, and Prada, but I could easily look through the entire collection of one of these heavyweights and not find something remotely attractive, depending on the season. Coach, on the other hand, is consistent: you will always be able to find a well-made, attractive, and functional bag in their line. Some people may equate consistency with boredom. I, on the other hand, take comfort in it.

So to Emilie, and other Coach-haters, I say this: give Coach another chance. It's not just your 14-year-old sister's Bat Mitzvah gift anymore. The Legacy Collection has transformed the brand. As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words. So I will now STFU and leave you with a few thousand words that may speak louder than this entire post. (All available through the Coach website and retail stores).

Luci Leather Domed Satchel
$798

Lily Leather Medium Satchel
$768

Leigh Leather Pocket Flap
$658

I'm just mad about Saffron

Things I associate with the color yellow: jaundice, cowardice, snow you should never eat. Something not on that list: hot handbags.

I once wore a yellow shirt and it made me look sickly.

Yellow and I did not have auspicious beginnings.

Then I saw the Cole Haan Aerin Patent Satchel, and I think things between me and yellow are starting to look up.

This handbag just screams spring, and sunshine, and running through a field of daffodils (the first time I did this I got stung by a bee. A yellowjacket. Coincidence? I think not.) Although it's made of patent leather, it doesn't look fake and plasticky*. As an extra bonus, you can add this satchel to your collection for less than 400 smackers.

Also available in boring black. $350 at Saks.

*Plasticky is a real word. I looked it up.