French Connection Paradise Clutch
Infusing your look with a jolt of color is the easiest way to change the entire game. You could be wearing something as simple as jeans and a t-shirt, but grab this French Connection Paradise Clutch
Katie Holmes’ Louis Vuitton Aviator Bag
What’s that peeking out from behind Katie Holmes’ back as she picks strawberries with little Suri? Why, it’s a Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2010 Aviator bag! This lovely purse has been seen on many a celeb in recent weeks, from Katie to Rachel Bilson and Gwen Stefani. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of this functional tote. The bag isn’t currently up on the Louis Vuitton site, but if you have an extra $3,270 around, call 1-866-Vuitton to track one down at a boutique.
Photo: People.com
Hermes Jypsiere Shoulder Bag
The Jypsiere Shoulder Bag – it’s Hermes, it’s classic, elegant, and timeless. Aliens could visit this planet 34,000 years from now and find this purse in the rubble of our civilization and they’d be all like “jmis ok g brext tibstibble reuwix^fibbi” (which loosely translates to “damn, this is one hell of a bag“). The clemence leather holds its shape and color for eons so if you prefer a satchel with definition you won’t find a better material. The medium Jypsiere comes in a great array of colors so you can choose to go standard or unexpected. This little French leather pastry is available at Hermes for an astronomical $7,600.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Saddlery Mini Bag
Are mini purses that aren’t clutches really practical? When they’re this cute, I guess it doesn’t really matter. Check out this insanely adorable Marc by Marc Jacobs Saddlery Mini Bag. The colors are rich and perfect for fall, and that lush leather gives off an air of richness. While how much will actually fit in this mini purse on a daily basis is up for debate, it’s still a cute bag to have, especially for a die-hard Marc Jacobs fan. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $258.
If you don’t like this Nancy Gonzalez clutch, I don’t think we can be friends anymore.
It’s so rare that Nancy Gonzalez makes a misstep. Her handbags may not be revolutionary, but it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with exotic materials, beautiful colors and simple shapes. It appears as though she has handbag design nearly down to a science.
The Nancy Gonzalez Hand-Held Croc Clutch is merely the most recent in a long line of sartorial successes from the brand, and as always, I’m drooling over it. Bicolor bag design is difficult to do well (as we’re also discussing over at PurseBlog Savvy currently), but I have absolutely no complaints about this clutch. Well, other than the fact that it isn’t in my closet, of course.
The slouchy finish of the blue croc attracts me to this clutch more than anything else. Crocodile is usually a material reserved for structured, rigid bags, and I always enjoy seeing it used in a soft and touchable way. And if you purchased this clutch, you’d be touching it a lot – not only is it beautiful, but at 16 inches wide, day-to-night transitions would be effortless. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $3200.
The Prada Shearling Hobo gets a thumbs down from me
I grew up mostly living in parts of Florida. We may get a winter ‘chill’, but it is clearly nothing like a true northern winter. So when I choose The Ohio State University as my college of choice, I had no idea what I was in for. Note to any warm weather climate person about to embark on college somewhere with a true winter: anything you thought would be a winter jacket is not. You should have seen the ‘jackets’ I bought for the cold weather. They were glorified wind-breakers that kept me literally freezing. I did not understand what nature had in store for me. One of the coats I distinctly remember buying was actually rather ghastly to look at. And it also did not keep me warm enough (it was cheap). It was made with shearling.
Unfortunately for Prada, the Prada Shearling Hobo does nothing other than remind me of the shearling coat I owned in college. And that is not speaking in Prada’s favor.
I can visualize about zero outfits that this bag would possibly, maybe, kind-of, work with. This bag gets a huge thumbs down from me. I know fall/winter signifies warmer materials, but I have never been a fan of implementing that on handbags. Because then you get a bag like this, a total flop. What was Prada thinking?! I am truly struggling to see this bag as even passable. The shearling hobo has contrast trim and silver hardware. There really is just not much else I can say about this bag without really just being negative Nancy. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1,195.
Are designer iPhone cases too much or just enough?
Not long after the annual summer release of a new iPhone comes an inevitable parade of ways to personalize and protect your new gadget. Those options range from rubber cases that can be had for $19.99 at your local Best Buy to Louis Vuitton monogram sheaths that cost more than the phone itself (with a two-year contract, of course), and the prospect of choosing one can be quite the task indeed for style-conscious gadget-lovers.
Since it seems as though the iPhone 4 is making a case more of a necessity than ever, now is a good a time as any to talk about the odd submarket that has opened up for designer tech accessories. Would you spend a couple hundred bucks on a case for your phone, or are such things absolutely frivolous in your mind?
In many ways, the purchase of an iPhone or iPad is a style-conscious decision from the outset. Not only are Apple products notorious for excellent industrial design, but the company actively markets itself to people that value aesthetics in everyday life. It only makes sense that some of those people also enjoy significant expendable income, part of which they’re willing to expend in order to make their favorite gadget as pretty as can be.
Are you one of those people? Surprisingly, I’m not. I don’t have an iPhone (I have philosophical issues with AT&T), but my Blackberry is eternally covered by a boring black case, mostly because I’m convinced that I will one day drop it in a toilet (I worked at Best Buy for three years in college, it’s astonishingly common). If that happens, I don’t want to be out as much as a couple hundred bucks for a ruined case as well as a phone.
(From left: Nancy Gonzalez, $385 via Net-a-Porter; Fendi, $60 via Net-a-Porter; Rick Owens, $150 via Net-a-Porter.)
Lacoste Sport Retro Small Roll Bag
Grab this cute Lacoste Sport Retro Small Roll Bag for the gym or as a quick overnight bag. It’s subtle, sweet, and ultra trendy! It flaunts a dual handle with removable shoulder strap, zipper closure, and an iconic Lacoste Croc gummy patch. Plus, this bag is available in green, red, and white, all symbolic of the famous Lacoste logo detailing. Get yours at Lacoste for $85.
Zambos & Siega Brigette Clutch
There is an “at the copa, copacabanna” 50’s kind of flavor about this Zambos & Siega Brigette bag. There raffia basket weave creates a fine and luxurious texture and the dark wood handles are a beautiful contrast to the creamy straw. It would make an especially fantastic vacation clutch - lays nice and flat for easy packing and would look phenom paired with a flowy sundress and wedge sandals. Pick up this airy summer purse for $130 at Shopbop.com.
Lanvin Happy Satin Shoulder Bag
In a perfect world no one would go hungry or wage war and I would have a closet dedicated to handbags. And in that closet would repose this Lanvin Happy Satin Shoulder bag. The glossy smooth satin is so shiny that if I were a little girl I would want to rub my face on it (I still kind of do anyway). In no way is a hot pink satin shoulder bag practical for daily use, but in my perfect world I would take it out on a occasion and wear it with a stealthy LBD and patent Louboutins and we would all go get cocktails together. It was available at Bluefly.com for $1,468. But it sold out, so we can but yearn for its wonderment.