Get your Scotch Guard ready for this Marni satchel

Nothing strikes fear into my heart like light-colored suede, and as a result, the Marni Large Suede Satchel has me wanting to hide in the closet. Or better yet, build it some sort of giant hamster wheel so that I can roll this beautiful bag around town with me without endangering the lovely dove grey suede. Beyond that, I don’t think there’s any way to protect this beauty from the ravages of everyday life.

I’m not exactly easy on my bags; I believe that they’re functional objects that are meant to be used, and if you wear one out, that’s nothing more than a great reason to get a new one. I sit my bags on the floor in restaurants when there’s not an extra chair and don’t have a second thought about it. But Marni? Marni is making me have second thoughts and wonder if I could change my ways.

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Look to Michael Kors for a little pop of sunshine

This weekend, something truly strange happened – Atlanta had its first white Christmas since 1882, and thusly, I had my first white Christmas ever. When you’re born and raised in a warm climate, snow of any kind still has the ability to attract you, wonder-struck, to a window like a kindergartener, and snow on Christmas? I felt like a kid all over again. I even had a snowball fight with my little brother. (I lost.)

In the Northeast, though, things are a little less spectacular and a little more inconvenient. For those of you stuck in your houses, I recommend ordering the Michael Kors Gia Shoulder Bag. Just take it outside and wave it at the snow; this little bag is so sunny and bright that you’ll have that stuff melting in no time.

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NYC Holiday Store Fronts

Many design houses and fashion stores put a lot of effort into their holiday displays, their flagship stores in NYC particularly shine during December. Here are a few holiday impressions I gathered two weeks ago. Which one is your favorite?

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I can’t resist Mulberry’s blue Bayswater

At this point, I honestly thought that I had seen everything the Mulberry Bayswater had to show me. Yes, it’s a great everyday bag. I’ll never deny that. But I’ve seen it in so many leather, colors patterns and other materials that I didn’t expect to be surprised by it any more. I was wrong.

Never doubt the ability for a resourceful brand to have one more trick up its sleeve when you least expect it, and this time, that trick is luscious soft calf leather in the shade of blue that I imagine the sky would be on the most perfect evening in the history of weather. Somehow, Mulberry managed to wrangle that color and put it on a handbag, and for that, I salute them.

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Botkier brings the Venice back, this time in purple

I’m a longtime fan of not just Botkier as a brand, but the Venice line in particular. Great leather, lots of zipper accents…what’s not to like? Nothing, that’s what. The latest iteration of the Botkier Venice Crossbody just takes that to a whole new level.

You see, I have this thing for purple bags. I’m not exactly sure why, since I wouldn’t count purple among my favorite colors if you were to ask me, but a good bag in a nice shade of violet always pulls directly at my heartstrings.

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Amanda’s 2010 Christmas Wish List

I’d like to begin my wish list by saying that I am almost entirely opposed to the concept of the wish list. I’d much rather have a thoughtful surprise than something picked off a list based on price and/or availability, but with the way holidays go, that’s not always possible. Plus, I’m a difficult person to buy for in general; if something’s reasonably priced and I like it enough, I’ll probably buy it for myself long before any holiday comes around. Add to that the additional complication of my birthday falling on Christmas Eve, and I’m sure it’s just easier for people to pretend that they don’t know me at all during this time of year. But if my friends and loved ones had unlimited budgets and felt like being generous with me, these are the things I’d tell them to buy.

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Need a stocking stuffer? I love the Gucci Mouse Purse

My family is very health-conscious. When I was growing up, not one kid in the lunch room ever wanted to trade lunch items with me. Why? Because they had a Twinkie and I had cut up green pepper sticks. I was that kid, but I didn’t care. Except on Christmas morning, when I would run to find my stocking and open it, I’m not going to lie I was a bit disappointed. The bottom of my stocking would be an orange, I would have some organic dark chocolate, and that was it food wise. I wanted all that bad stuff. Give me Hersey’s Kisses, Butterfinger Bells, REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup Trees.

What I would take at the bottom of my stocking this year in place of an organic orange is this Gucci Mouse Purse because it is all kinds of awesome. No need to take life too seriously, and this coin purse showcases exactly that: HAVE FUN.

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Gift Guides 2010: The stuff dreams are made of

Now that most of us have our Christmas shopping done and will be setting out to deliver gifts to our relatives over the next few days, let’s talk about what we really want, when economic concerns and dollar amounts aren’t taken into account. We all have a few if-I-won-the-lottery items in the backs of our heads, and maybe for a lucky few among us, the contents of our Fantasy Gift Guide 2010 aren’t even all that fantastical. If you’re one of those people and you happen to be in the market to adopt a 25-year-old who can make a mean pot roast, send me an email. I also do light housework.

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Get a closer look at Chanel Cruise 2011

If you’ve been disappointed in Chanel over the past few season for the brand’s sometimes wacky handbags, take heart: Chanel’s Cruise 2011 handbags contain at least 75% less crazy than we’ve come to expect from Kaiser Karl. Although if you like your bags a little on the wild side, there are still a couple of pieces that should tickle your fancy, including a black patent mesh sack with a detachable Classic Flap Bag on the front. Full pictures, after the jump. For purchasing information, please contact Chanel at (800)550-0005.

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The holidays can be hard. Treat yourself to something sparkly.

I know that we’re all supposed to put on a happy face, sing holiday songs and pretend like we just love dealing with our various and assorted sociopathic family members this time of year, but let’s face it – Christmas is often as stressful as it is exciting. I’m blessed with a small extended family, almost all of whom I get along with swimmingly, but not everyone is so lucky. If you’re one of the people who will have to drink for your entire trip home so that you don’t stab your sister-in-law with a fork, then perhaps a little present to yourself is in order. Might I suggest something sparkly, fun and entirely anti-utilitarian like the Judith Leiber Crystal and Bead Embellished Clutch?

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