Dior Detective Bag

I love structured bags, so when I saw Dior's Detective Bag in a magazine, I was immediately hooked.

Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

It's a fresh take on a classic shape. Everything about this bag is subtly curved, from the handles to the pockets, and it's just so feminine. The contrast stitching really makes the red leather pop, and did I mention the logo flowers lining? Delicious.

The Naughty Monkey taunts me

Lord, where will it end? First people start wearing those cheap Chinatown plastic slippers everywhere, and now this.

Photo courtesy of zappos.com

Let me be clear: these are actual shoes. Made to be worn outside. In public. By adult women.

One reviewer writes, "These shoes turn heads!!!!" That's probably because people are wondering why the poor confused lady is wandering around wearing her house slippers, and where her negligent caretakers are.

Another person writes, "They look way better in person." I seriously hope so, because I don't know how they'd look worse.

Scorpion sandals

I can't tell you how long I've wanted these amazing sandals by Guiseppe Zanotti, who is one of the masters of bejeweled evening shoes.


Photo courtesy of bergdorfgoodman.com

That picture actually does the shoe no justice whatsoever. This sandal is simply a work of art. The the entire scorpion is articulated and adorned with rhinestones, and the satin is just yummiest creamy peach.

Of course, I have absolutely nowhere to wear these stunningly glamorous shoes to, and if I did, I'm sure would trash them in no time flat. But a girl can dream.

Magenta delight

Burberry's Floral Mini Sling is my lust object for the week.


Photo courtesy of burberry.com

It's such a fantastic color and print, but what I love most of all is the delicious red lizard trim. *Swoon* Well, it's actually just embossed leather, but it's quite convincing, and I kind of find real lizard skin a tad creepy anyway.

Handbags for the rich and dull

Am I the only person who is confounded by the popularity of Fendi bags? I find them rather boring and dowdy.


Consider the Zucca and Zucchino print bags, for example. I take one look at them and think "Meh." For close to a thousand dollars, I'd think you would want a purse that elicits more than a feeling of distant apathy.

Fendi just isn't very innovative with their handbag line. On the rare occasion when they do design outside the box, it seems to go hideously awry:

Dubious thanks to the Bag Chick for scraping this bag off the bottom of someone's shoe and introducing it into our future nightmares.

Photos courtesy of eluxury.com

LV Summer 2005 Shoes

I'm not a big fan of the Denim and Monogram Cerises line of bags that Louis Vuitton has released/previewed, but my God, the shoes!





They're absolutely marvelous. I love that they've scaled down and incorporated many of the accents from the handbag lines. The Cerises print, which I find kind of tacky plastered all over the Sac Plat, is just right on a slingback. And the denim mule with that adorable brass buckle and lizard trim is causing me to have heart palpitations.

And check out the espadrilles and thongs:




Note the tiny padlock and key charms. My wallet weeps in anticipation.

Photos courtesy of vuitton.com

The history of handbags

Jasmine sent me a really interesting article from the New York Times about "status" handbags, and how the idea of carrying a bag that displays individuality and wealth goes back much farther than you might think.

The article also mentions a recently-ended exhibition at the Louvre which was devoted to handbags from around the world and throughout history:

The exhibition was organized not chronologically but according to archetype. For instance, a primitive bag woven of coconut fronds was juxtaposed with a nearly identical organza bag designed by Christian Lacroix years later for his 1994 haute couture collection. Similarly, the heavy antique carpetbags of a Moroccan nomad seemed to be the model for the Japanese designer Junya Watanabe's creations in 2000. The rectangular shape and construction of a generic 20's school bag made way for a Chanel purse with the same shape and as many straps. The designers at Hermes, who underwrote the show, seemed to be inspired by 19th-century saddlebags -- their rough, heavily grained leather and sturdy builds were replicated in the classic Kelly, which was designed around 1930 and named after Grace Kelly in 1956, when she used the bag to shield her pregnant stomach from photographers.

How sad am I to have missed this?

Indulge your preppy side

For those weekend afternoons when your inner Charlotte York is just dying to bust out, I give you the Ralph Lauren Mini Pink Pony Handbag.


Photo courtesy of polo.com

It's so damned cute I want to pinch its non-existent cheeks.

Bad choices

Now, I know that picking on Irregular Choice is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. And yes, I do realize that the whole point of the company is create quirky and, *ahem*, distinctive shoes.

But sometimes I wonder if their designers have taken a few too many bong hits and drew up some shoes just to see if some misguided soul will buy them. It's entirely possible that they're sketching out a crazy pump with one hand and desperately clenching a fist to their mouth with the other in a futile effort to stifle hysterical laughter.

I mean, really. These shoes look like someone accidentally trod through a vat of Elmer's Glue and then proceeded to trample through the miscellaneous arts and crafts box at their toddler's preschool. And these boots...

Honestly, I don't even know what to say about these. Whatever these guys are smoking seems to be imparing both their jugement and their eyesight.

Photos courtesy of zappos.com

A visit to Kenneth Cole

Kenneth Cole has a rather small handbag selection, but there are some really nice pieces in there.

In particular, I quite like the Sunset Stripes Clutch in seafoam. It's a great mix of suede and metallic leather strips with an elegant frame snap closure. The bag is generously sized and has a drop-in chain strap. So simple and fabulous.

I also like the Love it or Weave it hobo, bright orange color notwithstanding. The contrast between the fabric and the woven leather pockets is really interesting, and I love the curvy shape.

I'm not a big fan of Kenneth Cole's shoes this season, but I'll definitely be stopping by soon to check out his handbags.

Photos courtesy of kennethcole.com

Bees and butterflies and pugs, oh my!

I'm impressed with the new line of handbags from My Flat in London.


Photo courtesy of myflatinlondon.com

Pictured above is the "Her Majesty's Bee" line, which features a queen bee applique complete with rhinestone crown. I'm also a fan of the rather unimaginatively named "Pugs and Butterflies" collection. All their items are very playful and girly, with a little dash of luxury. The very fact that they can pull off a satin pug-shaped purse without coming off as cheesy and tacky is really quite an achievement.

If you can handle their somewhat irritating flash site, do check them out. Their purses can be found at Nordstrom and Fred Segal.

Please, just let it die

I don't know who this Muriel Brandolini is, but I'd like to give her a swift kick in the pants for trying to foist this "belt bag" on me.


Photo courtesy of bluefly.com

Okay, this is a fanny pack, people. I don't care how many handy compartments there are, or how many animals are embroidered on it, this thing has no business being around your waist unless you were cryogenically frozen in it back in 1982.

And don't even get me started on how tremendously unflattering this is. Why in God's name would anyone want to spend $109 on a bag that adds bulk to the hip and tummy regions? And keep in mind that $109 is the sale price.

I've seen my share of ugly handbags, but this is the first to trigger a gag reflex. I think I need to go lie down now.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In celebration of St. Patty's, I present to you a pair of Manolo Blahnik sandals for this evening's festivities:

Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

Apple green and oh-so-yummy.

BCBG Spring

Look how precious this BCBG weekender bag is.

Photo courtesy of bcbg.com

It's so prim and ladylike despite its size, reminiscent of the Hermès Garden Party bag, but with just a bit of hardware and contrast stitching. And of course, there is that bow, which adds a nice little pop of color. So pretty! I'm glad that they appear to be stepping away from the slouchy yet austere styles of their fall handbags and towards a more structured and feminine look.

Pucci Purses

Emilio Pucci's exuberant patterns can get a little too loud for me sometimes, but once in a while I find some pieces that are more understated, yet still undeniably Pucci.

This East/West Canvas Tote in pink is fabulous, I love the large scale and vivid colors of the Congo print. The signature turquoise is in there, but is more subdued.

The Dance Silk Clutch is also gorgeous, and pretty generously sized. It comes with a lovely chain strap, which tucks into the interior when not in use. I like the elegant lines of this bag, and the leather trim is a really nice touch. It took a while, but these two prints have finally made me a Pucci fan.

Photos courtesy of eluxury.com

Get your cheap on

If you're looking for a casual metallic bag but don't want to break the bank, you might want to check out the Jennifer Hobo from delias.com.

Photo courtesy of delias.com

It's got a great shape and a decent drop, so it's comfortable to wear on your shoulder. Detachable purse charms are a big plus, and at $25, how do you go wrong? Just donate/toss it when the metallic handbag fever passes.

Spring Brights

Coach has some divine accessories in their spring collection.


Are these fruit coin cases crazy cute or what? Since purse charms are the big thing now, I want to get one (or three) and hang it from my handbag handles as a sweet little accent.

Then there are the adorable Ciara Ladybug Mules, which also come in pink and white, sans ladybug if you find these too cutesy.

And lastly, I'm looking to upgrade to this colorful schmancy-pants umbrella. Since the weather in LA has gotten so crazy the last few months, you never know when it's going to rain, and I'm tired of the cheap ugly drugstore umbrellas I've been using.

Photos courtesy of coach.com

Two strikes...

I hate to pick on United Nude twice in one week, but they're just asking for it.



This is the Mobius Closed Hi sandal. I suppose that a shoe modeled after a Mobius strip is an interesting concept, and I do like the inventive shape and patent leather. But here is where it gets offensive.



It comes with spats. Spats. There's only one person who should own a pair of spats, and it's this guy:


Photos courtesy of zappos.com and unknownnews.net

Yay, sunshine!

Now that the sun has actually reappeared in Los Angeles after months of crazy rain, I'm actually thinking about breaking out the sundresses and lightweight skirts soon. Obviously, I'm going need some fun spring bags to go with them.

This flirty little blossoms and berries bags is adorable. The pink stitching is a great contrast to the jute body, and it's very casual and girly. I'd wear this bag all summer long.

I also like this canvas tote. It's nice and roomy and could carry a lot of beach essentials. The flock of flamingos pattern could have easily been overdone, but it's actually quite subtle here. I was about to congratulate Lulu for getting it together, but...

She went and slapped me with this "I went berserk at Busch Gardens and all I got was this lousy dead flamingo" bag...

Okay, I'll grudgingly admit that I kind of like the bag, but subtle it ain't. I guess understatement is just not her forte.

Photos courtesy of anthropologie.com

Broken ankle free with purchase

I'm all for style over comfort, but I really have to draw the line at these:


Photo courtesy of zappos.com

Aside from lacking any actual style (does anyone still buy white pumps?) they're just confusing. What's the point? Exactly what is wrong with putting the heel under your heel? You know, where the majority of your body weight rests? I'm sure there's some rigid counterbalance dealie going on in there, but it just looks like the metal heel drives right into the arch of your foot. Comfy.

I don't know about you, but I think I'll pass on being a human physics experiment, thanks.

Kelly bags for a song

I was browsing ebay and I found two great (and more importantly, authentic) Hermès Kelly bags that are currently still under $650!


This beauty has less than a day left and is in the signature orange.


And I love the color of this one. It's still at $500 with less than 2 days to go. Both purses still have their removable shoulder straps.

Kelly bags are the most timeless and elegant handbag. It was designed in the 1930's and renamed the Kelly in 1956 after Grace Kelly appeared on the cover of Life magazine wearing one. It's still one of the most popular bags that Hermès makes, and there is usually a long waiting list to get one. Prices start at around $5000 new, and the resale value of these puppies is incredibly high, so these vintage pieces are practically a steal.

These are, of course, entirely hand-crafted and can be sent back to the boutique any time to be refurbished. Hermès bags are the best-made in the world, and are passed down from mothers to daughters. So splurge, and think of it as an investment!

Photos courtesy of eLOT Auctions

Python: Faux is the only way to go (in California)

Look how hot this Miu Miu bag is.


Photo courtesy of saks.com

Love the luscious texture of the gold nappa leather and the practical little drawstrings on the side. I'm sort of obsessed with metallics and snakeskins recently, and this purse has them both. Best of all, it's only stamped python trim, so us snakeskin-deprived Californians can actually buy it!

Purse Puzzler

Alexander McQueen alledges that this is an under-arm bag.


Photo courtesy of yoox.com

According to the item description, this leather bag has a self-tie closure, contrast trimming and a lined interior. This is all well and good, but I can't even figure out where I'm supposed to keep my keys, much less how to wear it.

Second childhood, courtesy of Christian Louboutin

I'm ashamed to say that I actually squealed out loud when I saw this Metallic Ribbon Halter shoe for the first time. And I was work. In a cubicle.


Photo courtesy of saks.com

It has the holy trinity of girly shoes: Pink, bows, and peep-toe.

I think I'm in love. And I'm a little concerned that I might slowly be regressing into a 9-year old girl.

Whimsy goes on a rampage

I used to love Lulu Guinness for her ability to create cheeky and vintage-inspired handbags. Lately, though, she's been exhibiting some rather poor judgement.



Take this Bordello bag, for instance. Yes, you read that right. It's a bag modeled after "a french bordello with Peeping Tom window scene." Hi, creepy much? Oh, but it's a french bordello. That's so charming! Or, to use Zappo's term, "feisty!"



Then there's this birdcage bag, previously featured on Coolchiq's style blog. Lulu, while it's certainly okay, even encouraged, to have your pet carrier resemble a stylish purse, it's never, under any circumstance, acceptable the other way around.

To add insult to injury, this bag "makes real bird sounds when you press button at base." So the world will not only see, but also hear that you have bad taste.

It's a small comfort, but I'm just glad that the Bordello bag doesn't make any sounds.

Photos courtesy of zappos.com

Everyday clutches

Last week, Carrie asked me to suggest a good clutch for everyday use. I'm partial to clutches that come with removable wristlets or shoulder straps, since I love to have options.

Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

I immediately thought of the tried and true Louis Vuitton pochette in the classic and durable Damier canvas. Of course, it is available in the standard Monogram canvas, but I find this one to be more understated. Additionally, the chocolate leather of the removable strap stands up to wear and dirt much better than the natural vachetta, which is something to consider in an everday bag.

Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

Another accessories pouch by Louis Vuitton, this time in their gorgeously grained Epi leather. Also available in Moka, New Red, and Myrtille Blue.

Photo courtesy of burberry.com

I'm loving this Burberry wristlet clutch, which also comes in black. It even has a little key clochette, which is completely unnecessary, but so cute.

Photo courtesy of saks.com

This Cole Haan leather wristlet has a great shape and a good price, but I'm not sure about the green. It comes in hot pink as well, but I unfortunately don't have a pic.

Photo courtesy of bananarepublic.com

Lastly, there's this wonderful washed leather wrist-strap clutch from Banana Republic, which is on sale and a steal at $34.99. It has spiffy hardware accents and is casual but elegant. I also like it in Vintage Beige, a great go-with-everything color.

That's all I found yesterday, any reader suggestions?