Felicity Clutch

I am such a sucker for frame clutches. They are quintessentially feminine and romantic, with a wonderful vintage flair. The handmade Felicity Clutch especially charming:


Photo courtesy of anthropologie.com

Vibrantly hued silk is overlaid with tulle and embellished with copper sequins and beads in a graceful scroll pattern. This beauty is lined in satin and hangs from a 13.5" golden chain. It's great for complimenting a gauzy dress or perking up a basic black number, and it can be yours for $168 at Anthropologie.

Luella does Hermès

Luella's newest purse, the Linda Hobo, is quite reminiscent of the Hermès Trim and Gucci's Jackie bag.


Photo courtesy of bergdorfgoodman.com

If you like elegant yet practical bags, but feel that Hermès and Gucci might be a bit too stuffy for your taste, this bag is a great alternative. The style remains a tried and true classic, but Luella has updated it with scalloped trim, ring and stud accents, and a playful shoe charm. It's available in Brick Red (shown) or Dark Brown at Bergdorf Goodman for $895.

Vacation daydreams

I must be sorely in need of a vacation, because I'm obsessed with luggage recently. And not just any luggage, mind you. Pink luggage. It seems that by skipping my "I love pink! *Squeee*!!" phase when I was nine, the fixation has come back to haunt me 20 years later, with a vengeance.

Which is why I adore this glossy pink polycarbonate carry-on from Hex. It's super lightweight, has wide-set skate wheels for smooth, stable rolling and most importantly, it's shiny and pink. It comes in 10 colors, including a blindingly bright fuchsia, but this hue is definitely the winner.



I also like these sweet matching travel pieces from Diane Von Furstenberg. The classic duffel look translated into rolling luggage is rather unusual, but it works. The collection is simple and feminine, and the bright pink is a great contrast to the natural suede trim.



When I reach the final stages of my regression to a 9-year old girl, I will be ready to carry the Roxy Bermuda collection. Very exuberant and fun, but not exactly age-appropriate. At least I wouldn't have any trouble finding these puppies in the sea of black Samsonite at LAX.



Well, I'm off to dream of piña coladas and white sand beaches before I have to check back in to the daily grind on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Photos courtesy of ebags.com

Claire V. Summer Sale

Claire V. has a great sale going on right now, and many of those lustrous silk purses have been marked down from their already reasonable prices.



Photos courtesy of clairev.com

Most of the bags come in rich colors that would transition beautifully from summer to fall. The styles above range from $38.50 to $87.50, and are absolute steals when you consider the quality of the hand woven silk and the long hours it took to embroider each of the pieces. Remember, 10% of the net proceeds are donated to training and education programs in Cambodia, so you can splurge just a little and still feel good about it.

Marc Jacobs Drummed Leather Adina

You really have to hand it to Marc Jacobs. The man really knows how to make a stellar handbag. Check out one of his latest, the Drummed Leather Adina:


Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

Composed of delectable goat leather and accented with chunky antiqued brass hardware, this bag is utterly spectacular. Generously sized at 13" x 6" x 8", it will carry everything you could possibly need, and then some. It has a rather sizable price tag to match- this lovely creation will set you back $1,400, but it looks oh so worth it. Also available in black and cobalt at eluxury.

De-vine or De-sgusting?

You know how dropped toast always manages to land jelly-side down, thereby picking up whatever unappetizing debris that happens to litter the floor? That's exactly what the Mary Francis De-vine reminded of.



This purse looks like it landed face down on the floor of the World's Kitschiest Flea Market. The coating of detritus is so dense, in fact, that bits are actually hanging off of it, like drunken revelers on a particularly tawdry Mardi Gras float.

Now, to be fair, not all of her handbags look like the result of a weeklong bender and a hot glue gun. I actually kind of like her Martinique bag:



With the coral-shaped hardware, it has a very tropical feel, and it's downright austere compared to the rest of her designs.

Photos courtesy of prettygirliethings.com

Prada Travel Bag

If you love to travel in style, but found the gold Prada Saffiano Trolley just a little too showy, the Canvas & Leather Travel Bag may right up your alley.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Natural canvas is paired with gold leather to make a simple, yet breathtaking piece of luggage. A bag like this inspires you to plan a glamorous vacation just so you have an excuse to buy the heavenly thing. The $2,095 gold trolley is already sold out, so this $985 piece surely will not linger on the shelves. Pre-order yours now for October delivery.

A note for RSS subscribers

Just a quick note: I will fixing some broken pic links and crediting photo sources over the weekend, so this may cause old posts to show up in your RSS feeds. Sorry for any inconvenience, I promise this will just be for a day or two. Thanks for your patience.

Lest we forget that it's still summer

To those of you still baking in the August heat and irked by the seemingly premature fall lines, I present to you the crisp, cool Ella White Wild Pebble satchel from Elaine Turner:


Photo courtesy of elaineturner.com

Vintage-inspired, with a clean, elegant shape, this is the perfect bag to carry you through the rest of the season. It features heavily textured Italian leather, lovely gold hardware, front flap closure and decorative tassel. Ringing in at $248, it's a charming bag at a reasonable price.

Dior Romantic Flowers Saddle Bag

I simply love Dior's leather Romantic Flowers line. While the Doctor's Bag was heavily promoted in the Dior ads, I find the Saddle Bag to be the real standout of the bunch.


Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

The graceful lines of the signature saddle bag are redesigned in buttery chocolate calfskin and embroidered with elegant flowers and butterflies. The polished silver hardware contrasts beautifully against the rich colors and vintage feel of the bag. It's a stunning piece, feminine without being cutesy, luxurious but practical. Destined to become a classic, and yours for a mere $1,190.

Marc Jacobs Velvet Ballerina Slippers

Despite my slavish devotion to sky-high stiletto heels, I have to admit to actually gasping with delight when I first laid eyes on these ballerina slippers from Marc Jacobs:


Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

They are so remarkably sweet and they actually look quite comfortable. Beautiful shoes that don't punish you for walking in them... Sheer genius! These plush velvet cuties feature contrasting grosgrain trim and bow, whipstitched sole, and a sensible 1/4" flat heel. I can already feel my feet breathing with relief.

Paddington Hobo

Sorry for posting two Chloe bags in one week, but I just had to mention the scrumptious Paddington Hobo:


Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

I've always loved the Paddington, but I felt like it looked better as a hand carried bag, as it looked a tad awkward on the shoulder to me. This hobo solves that problem with a single strap with a slightly longer drop, while retaining the elements of the Paddington that made it so popular: gorgeous leather, elongated slouchy shape, and the gigantic signature padlock that gloats "Ha! I got one and you didn't!!" Unlike the original, you actually have a chance to get your hands one of these. If you have $1,500, that is. Pre-order now, moneybags.

Update: This bag is now sold out at Neiman Marcus, but you can still get it in Khaki or Red from Bergdorf Goodman.

Valentino Small Jeweled Hobo

Normally I dismiss Valentino bags as kind of boring and matronly, but I really fancy this Small Jeweled Hobo.


Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

The bright, coral satin is quite eye-catching on its own, but the lovely flower appliqués and tonal beading are what make it sublime. It's got an adjustable shoulder strap, inside pocket and satin lining. The only problem I can see about this bag is that the ritzy jewel-trimmed logo plate might be a bit uncomfortable right under your arm, but I suppose sometimes your armpits need to feel pretty too.

Freshly reduced from $940 to $564, now at Neiman Marcus.

Chloe Keralsa Satchel

Chloe hits us again with another beautiful, wallet-busting creation.


Photo courtesy of bergdorfgoodman.com

If you weren't able to get your hands on the much-coveted Paddington, the Keralsa Satchel might just scratch that itch. It may not have a mile-long waiting list yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I absolutely love the way the khaki color sets off the gold hardware. The cross straps and smooth leather make this bag just a smidge edgier and more polished than the Paddington, and the tassels with the horseshoe charm and ID tag keep it fun and feminine. Best of all, it's (a little) cheaper! You can pre-order yours for $1,165, but do it soon- it ships out in less than two weeks.

A Public Service Announcement

As we head into the fall season, I would like to remind the ladies of Los Angeles (and other temperate cities) of one thing:


Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

Unless you're actually preparing for a trek across arctic tundra, you will look ridiculous in boots such as these. Especially if you pair it with a mini skirt and a wispy camisole. I beg you, stop this madness.

And Marc Jacobs, you know I love you, but I feel compelled to remind you that the vast majority of your customers are not Aleuts. Please keep this in mind before designing future footwear.

Wooden Leaf Handbag by Jacaranda

I'm aware that this is probably a love-it or hate-it purse, but I am completely charmed by this unusual guinea pig-shaped Wooden Leaf Handbag from Vivre.com:


Photo courtesy of vivre.com

It's covered with amber glass beads nestled in between an assortment of hand-carved wooden leaves and finished off with a silk shantung lining. The mix of colors and textures on this bag is so warm and appealing, and you're almost guaranteed to be the only gal in the room carrying it. Originality doesn't come cheap, though. Expect to shell out $800 for this unique beauty.

Childhood trauma for your feet

Remember when you were eleven, when your grandmother knitted you a sweater for Christmas that you absolutely hated but your mother made you wear it anyway? You know, that itchy old thing with the ridiculous reindeer on it that, despite its inherent cheesiness, at least ensured that you wouldn’t have to endure the indignity of wearing it past December? Well, the designers at Report have turned that sweater into a pair of kicky wooden slides.


Photo courtesy of zappos.com

No need to thank them... Your humiliation is thanks enough.

Prada Rose Print Pouchette

Prada pretties up their standard black nylyon pouchette with vibrant rose blossoms.


Photo courtesy of saks.com

It's just big enough to hold all your essentials, so this shoulder bag makes a lovely piece for evenings out. At $325, it's one of the more affordable Prada bags out there.

Spy Bags galore!

The lastest crop of Fendi bags are now available for pre-order from Saks.



Photos courtesy of saks.com

Having stumbled across a purse design that people actually like, Fendi is spawning off more versions of the Spy Bag than you can shake a stick at. The results run the gamut from ultra glam to something that looks like it was stitched together by Ma Ingalls on a journey from one homestead to another.

I do love the first two to no end. The velvet one with embroidery and rhinestones is so exquisite that I am almost willing to forgive Fendi for the horror of their Pleated Spy Clutch. And while I am certainly no fan of fur, even I must admit that the "over-the-top luxury" of the mink bag is just mesmerizing.

Sadly, prices range from $2,410 to $9,450(!!), so these bags are strictly for those "money to burn" types. Lucky bastards.