Miss Really Hot Bag

Dolce & Gabbana have labeled this shoulder bag as the "Miss Really Hot Bag," and I have to agree with the name.


Photo courtesy of saks.com

It's head turner if I ever saw one. Great elements include the stitching detail, adjustable shoulder strap, and of course the golden cut-out ring design. I love how the cool minty green leather exterior belies the racy leopard-print lining. It is Dolce & Gabbana, after all.

Anais Handbag

Most of the purses that I am drawn to are simple, sensible, and not especially trendy. When one doesn't have endless piles of cash to draw from, one tends to go for purses that are either really cheap or sensible in the long run. This purse from Anthropologie is decidedly neither.

Photo courtesy anthropologie.com

And yet I love it so! It's so frou-frou, fussy and impractical. Suede, feathers, and delicate silk flowers make a lovely mix, but I know myself well enough to recognize that it's just a matter of time before it's transformed into a sad mass of limp plumage and cocktail-stained blossoms.

The pragmatic part of me will have to pass. The other part is trying to think of the perfect outfit to wear with this.

Just to clear the air...

Someone recently asked me if I was affiliated with bagcrazy.com. The answer is NO. That site hawks badly-rendered knockoffs of designer bags, and I think we all know how I feel about those.

Jimmy Choo Tie-Dyed Python Hobo

Not to be outdone by Galliano's tie-dyed crocodile detective bag, Jimmy Choo is now offering a tie-dyed python hobo to those who couldn't afford Dior's $18,240 price tag but just had to have some psychedelic reptile skin.


Photo courtesy of bergdorfgoodman.com

At $3,800, this unique bag will still take a sizable chuck of your wallet. Wonderfully structured and lined with grosgrain ribbon-trimmed suede, this bag is luxurious inside and out. If you're looking for something brighter and a tad smaller, it's also available in orange from Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bulga Studded Leather Satchel

There has been quite a fuss made over Bulga's studded hobo bags, but the odd trapezoidal shape of the purse sort of put me off. The Studded Leather Satchel, on the other hand, is a bag that I consider to be truly swoon-worthy.


Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

I find the gently curving lines of this purse to be just a tad more dressy and elegant than the hobo. In soft, velvety eggplant suede dotted with golden studs, this purse is just begging to be taken out for night out on the town. Pick yours up at Neiman Marcus for $465. Also available in chocolate.

Celine Boogie Satchel

I am in awe of the way Celine is able to continually recreate the classic Boogie bag into fresh, yet timeless pieces.


Photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

Here, the elegant lines have been updated with rich Cinnamon leather and flap pockets with extended ring tabs. Check out the fantastic white cross-stitching on the handles and the golden hardware... It's details like these that make this handbag so fabulous. It's got a convenient open top and a large zipped compartment to keep your valuables secure. At $1200, it's not cheap, but you know you'll be getting a bag that will certainly last through years of ever-changing fashions and trends.

JJ Winters fringe bag

I'm not sure why HotterthanHollywood.com puts their bags on nude mannequins, making them appear as if they're being worn by the victim du jour on Law & Order: SVU or some handbag-crazed exhibitionist, but despite the unsettling picture, I'm quite drawn to the fun, funky fringe bag from JJ Winters.


Photo courtesy of hotterthanhollywood.com

It's not particularly refined, and I question whether I would actually wear it, but something about the movement of all that fringe is just kind of hypnotic. I love the rings in the handle, the unexpected pink silk lining, and the perfect-for-weekend-shopping size. For the true boho-hippie look, you can also get this bag in Hickory from Rapunzel's Closet.

LOST:

One leopard loincloth, with hanger.


Photo courtesy of nordstrom.com

If found, please contact this man:

Photo courtesy of cinemacom.com

It's finally settled.

Sadly, it looks like the Rose Twiggy is officially out of my hands now, snapped up by someone with far better decision-making skills than me. So I took most of your advice, which was a big "NO" on the Metallic Pewter and a general "Meh" on the Black, and went for a more interesting, less fleeting color. Namely, Sky Blue:



It's not Rose, but it'll do.

As an aside, I found a great Balenciaga authentication service by the lady who wrote guide for buying authentic Balenciaga bags. For $5 you can get up to three auctions evaluated, or one non-auction bag.

Thanks again to all that responded, you ladies are great!

Giorgio Armani Suede Logo Hobo

Of all the bags in Giorgio Armani's new handbag collection, the one that makes my heart beat a little faster is the Suede Logo Hobo.


Photo courtesy of bergdorfgoodman.com

It's every bit as elegant and timeless as you would expect from Armani. That rich, deep red in plush suede, those tassels... is it getting warmer in here? Simple, clean lines, and the subtlest embossed logo I've seen in a long time (take that, Dior) take this bag to the very top of my wish list. Pre-order now for October delivery, and watch me turn pea green with envy.

And the result is...

Not yet determined! Thanks to all that chimed in on the Balenciaga poll. The Rose Classique is clearly in the lead, but now that blasted bag is on hold for someone else, so I'll have to wait to see if that falls through. Just my luck!

Decisions, decisions....

On a "let's make this all about me" note, I need help making a choice:


Rose Twiggy?


Black City Classique?


Or Pewter City Classique?

I'm loving the color of the Rose Twiggy, but the Black City Classique is so versatile and stress-free in terms of wear and care. The Pewter is gorgeous, but I'm a tad afraid that big slouchy metallic bags will become the avocado green of 2005.

Or should I forgo them all and hope to get my hands on the delectable Rouge City Classique when they come out in September? I am so confused. Help me.

Banana Republic Suede Grommet Hobo

On the advice of the Purse Blog, I checked out Banana Republic for their new crop of accessories for fall. Boy, am I glad I did! In addition to the gorgeous quilted satin clutch that Megs featured, they have this fantastic Suede Grommet Hobo for the very reasonable price of $160.


Photo courtesy of bananarepublic.com

Grommet hardware seems to be shaping up to be the look for this coming season, and this bag rocks them in style. In yummy soft brown suede, this bag is casual, yet polished enough for the evening. It's lined in cotton twill, and has a zip-top closure and an inner zip pocket. A nice little touch: like pricier designer bags, this one comes with a protective sleeper bag.

The Redemption of Dooney & Bourke

After the Hearts, Charms, multicolor knockoffs, and the egregiously ugly Bolero, I was convinced that Dooney & Bourke were exclusively catering to overprivileged junior high schoolgirls and the legally blind. It was great relief that I spotted this elegant Small Flap Satchel.

Photo courtesy of nordstrom.com

It was the pretty blue jean color with the contrast stitching that so captivated me, but I also adore the graceful shape and the bold silver closure. This bag is part of the All-Weather Leather collection, and has protective feet, a cute duck-embossed charm, interior zip and cell phone pockets, and a handy key hook. The Ocean color (pictured) is my favorite, but it is also available in Black and Bone.

A conundrum in shoe form

Help me with something, if you please.


Photo courtesy of zappos.com

Can someone explain these shoes to me? I'm honestly baffled. I'm not sure whether these are boots, pumps, or victims of a vicious shark attack. Is it possible that they are a combination of all three?

What are these pump/boot hybrids called anyway? Poots? The designers at Bronx Shoes seem to be at a loss for a name as well, as they dubbed it simply "H3806." I think I'll just call it "ghastly."

Stud Age Satchel

Is it wrong to envy the headless Zappos mannequin for the wonderful selection of handbags it gets to carry? Even one-armed, legless, and clad in a dull gray cardigan, it somehow seems glamorous carrying a MAXX New York Stud Age Satchel.


Photos courtesy of zappos.com

This splendid suede purse is adorned with scattered gold studs and contrast stitching. I love everything about this bag, but I have to say that the detail on the twin buckled leather handles is especially lovely. On the practical side, it has four protective feet, an inside zipped pocket and a cell phone pocket. In addition to black, this great fall bag is also available in Wine and Rum directly from the MAXX website.

Happy 4th of July!

I tried to find an appropriately festive purse for the occasion, but found that every one I came across was uniformly hideous.


Photo courtesy of moynabags.com

Gah. It would seem that our flag does not translate into accessory form well. And really, how often can you carry a beaded flag purse? Aside from the occasional political fundraiser, this bag has very few practical applications.

I far prefer to feature three separate purses from the Suhali collection, arguably Louis Vuitton's most elegant and luxurious line.

Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

Photo courtesy of eluxury.com

The top two, the L'Impétueux and the L'Épanoui PM, are two of the newest bags in the collection, while the classic doctor bag lines of the L'Ingénieux PM are a tried and true favorite. They are composed of vegetable-dyed goat leather and sport contrast stitching, monogram lining, and of course, oodles of brass hardware. Collect all three! (If you have a spare seven grand.)