Smythson continues to be an amazing brand to look to for travel accessories and everyday handbags alike. We have already shared our love of Smythson travel accessories and now we will bring you more of our favorite accessories from a brand we cover far too little.

When I was in school, one of my favorite parts of the year was back-to-school shopping. I obsess over new notebooks, agendas, pens, tabs, highlighters, etc. Color coding and lists are my specialty. If I had discovered Smythson earlier, my back to school money would have gone to every kind of leather notebooks and covers from Smythson.

Net-A-Porter just nabbed a group of Smythson exclusives. My favorites are the pink leather Passport cover, pink Wish List notebook, and black What’s New notebook. For those of you who love your notebooks, covers, and lists, make sure to check out the exclusive set of accessories and travel goods from Smythson at Net-A-Porter here.

But everyone’s shopping agenda is clearly relative to their income and lifestyle, and being comfortable and happy with one’s own purchases should be the chief goal. A “reasonable” price means something different for everyone.

That being said, I’m sure someone out there has purchased the Lanvin Dice Charm Key Ring at some point in the past, but for the $380 asking price, I’m not sure how anyone could be satisfied with what they’re getting for their money.

I’m not sure what a key chain that’s “worth” $380 would look like, but I’m pretty sure it’s not this. At the very least I’d expect some precious metal and maybe some pavé Swarovski crystals – something super glam. As far as a key chain has the capacity to be glam, at least. But what we have here is a Lucite die, some signature Lanvin metal coins, and tassels made out of what appears to be no more special than regular grosgrain ribbon.

The look is classic Lanvin, but there’s nothing particularly luxe or special about it – the profit margin on one of these things has to be at least 90%. If there’s someone out there that thinks this item is worth $380, I have no idea how he or she came to that conclusion. Buy through Barneys for $380.

Indian summers can last into October or even November.

Although vacations have come and gone and it is time for back-to-school, I’m going to continue enjoying my endless summer. All you need to get in the mindset is the perfect beach attire.

I’ve found a cover-up at my favorite store for beach-y summer luxuries, Calypso. The “Adair” 100% linen dress ($150 at Calypso-celle.com) is delicately embroidered and can be drawn tight at the neckline and sleeves. Complement it with a pair of flat Tory Burch “Devin” thong sandals ($135 at Bloomingdales.com) and a pair of killer statement sunglasses.

In this case I’m sharing a pair of vintage folding Porsche aviators that I own and found for you at Net-a-Porter. I bought my pair three years ago and amazingly found them online today. They fold into a very small pouch and the gold-tone looks great with a tan (real or faux)! These glasses are also a treasure because they fit my ‘bridge-less’ Asian nose. If you are Asian you will know how hard it is to find over-sized sunglasses that fit!

Top off your look with a colorful canvas tote like the “Morning’s Call Tote” ($129.95 at Anthropologie.com) and a wide-brimmed straw hat to shade you from pesky UV rays. I found this 8″ wide sun braid floppy hat for only $24.99 at Marketworks.com. Little touches like lipgloss and jewelry will give you a polished look. The understated Me & Ro 10k multi disc necklace, ($790 at givingtreejewelry.com) will look pretty and delicate around your neck and the “Huge Lips Skinny Hips” lipgloss in Lychee Martini ($20 at Blissworld.com) will keep your lips plumped and shiny but not sticky. The gloss also contains Hoodia, an all-natural appetite suppressant to keep your summer figure looking trim until, say the time Thanksgiving rolls around.

via The Find

The notebooks and all of the products are made of luxurious full-grain patterned leather and can be personalized with your name, initials or any other phrase you desire. Smythson’s travel accessories are perfect for keeping organized on trips at home or abroad. I pawning over the Marshall travel which has compartments for wallet tickets, passport, boarding pass and currency. The Marshall wallet is shown here in Cerise Aruba calfskin. The high quality of the Marshall wallet makes the price very reasonable for $330.00 as this wallet will last for years. The aqua passport cover sells for $110.00 and has silver blocked pockets titled ‘Boarding Pass’ and ‘Passport’ and the cover can be personalized with up to ten characters. The aqua shade is bright enough that it will be easy to find in your bag as you speed through customs.

via The Find

The collection itself will feature the collage-like pattern that you see here as a representation of some of the iconic elements that make Jimmy Choo all that it is today. This should look familiar to anyone that involved in punk culture in their formative years – the gritty look is a clear take-off of that subculture. It will be printed on coated canvas for the line’s bags, clutches and pouches and also used in several types of shoes. Prices will range from around $100 for flip-flops to almost $1000 for a large bag. If you like the pattern or are a Choo fan, this is money you can feel good about spending.

And I totally get that’s it’s all in good fun and totally hilarious and kitschy, but seriously, a beach towel? Something made specifically for putting on the ground and messing up with Corona, sunscreen, and sand? At this point, all it elicited from me was a serious eye-roll. I know that people with money to spend will spend it as they please, as well they should, but I think we may be beginning to stretch the bounds of reasonableness. Maybe I just feel like that because of the price, however – if this was $150, I probably just would have chuckled and moved on, and wouldn’t even be writing about it right now. But it’s not, it’s three times that, and that’s not a typo. It’s also something that I can simply not abide. Buy via Vuitton.com for $450.

The collaboration between Jimmy Choo & Hunter has resulted in a sophisticated rendition of the Wellington boot with crocodile print and a branded top bind. Everything about these boots are perfectly stylish and wearability is key. For all the rain Florida gets in the summer, I would have use for these boots. And just looking at this picture I can imagine women around the world wearing this fashionable rubber boots and jumping through puddles. I am already decided to go on the waitlist for these boots. The boots will be sold exclusively in the United Kingdom and the United States and online at www.jimmychoo.com from June 2009. A waiting list will be available for the boots from 1st May on www.jimmychoo.com. Hunter & Jimmy Choo Retail Prices: £235, €295 and $395.

Inspired by stylish festival goers, this limited edition boot marries the quintessential design elements of Jimmy Choo with the original British tradition of Hunter – the ultimate fusion of fashion and function. The legendary Hunter silhouette with natural rubber construction has been embossed with signature Jimmy Choo crocodile print and branded top bind. Gold buckle hardware, metal rivets and an extra long eyelet strap add attention to detail. A leopard print lining provides a contrast against the black glossy rubber of the boot. Presented in the original black Hunter box and lined with leopard print, the boots have a unique identification plate, uniting the logos of these two iconic British brands.

“I was inspired by images from the festivals of the hip Brit girls in their wellies. This led to our collaboration with Hunter to produce a sleek interpretation of the British classic” says Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo President and Founder. Hunter is a symbol of the British way of life, whether city slicking or embracing the great outdoors. Established in 1856, Hunter Wellington Boots‟ outstanding performance, durability and comfort has become legendary, with a dedicated following worldwide embracing everyone from farmers to rock stars to the British Royal Family. Peter Mullen, Hunter Chairman, comments: “We are delighted to work with Jimmy Choo to create a superbly sophisticated incarnation of our original Wellington Boot. Both brands have a strong visual identity which works well combined – the resulting Boot has a unique DNA of luxurious practicality.”

It is not that I am a superfluous spender, though at times I may be. The fact of the matter is I have always had an affinity toward miniatures. Truly, not sure why, but it is a fact. So the Minaudiere’s from Judith Leiber have always been a favorite of mine. I pop on her website or into the department store to see what itsy-bitsy pillbox will show next. Believe it or not I do not have a collection of them yet, which is shocking. Not a very usable piece, and let’s be honest it is not even a practical pillbox, but I love the Judith Leiber Strawberry Pillbox. There is no use other than looking at this Leiber piece as art, a collectible. And I would love a little collection of pillbox collectibles. Is that totally weird or does it seem fitting? Some people buy Lladro’s and I want Judith Leiber pillboxes, running around $600 a pop. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $595.

Inspired by the ultra modern Perspex briefcases shown at the Chanel ready-to-wear fall ‘09 show is an emerging trend, clear accessories. Karl Lagerfeld’s briefcase for the modern workingwoman bears it all, exposing all of your personal belongings to the world. Perfectly proportioned for a compact, lipstick (Chanel of course!) as well as your iPod, glasses and shoulder bag. Practical, perhaps not, but a fashion statement, yes!

Are see thru accessories of all types on the horizon? Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren all have transparent bags each with their own signature look. Hollywood jewelry designer CCSkye has also created a clear Lucite Medallion Cuff. Also spotted are crystal clear cases for your iPod and electronic gadgets and of course the original vintage Lucite clear handbag designs. Keep an eye out for more clear accessories, but be sure to edit your handbag contents before bearing them to the world.

Image courtesy of Chanel via NYMag.com

Eluxury promises that this set includes three “luxurious” decks of cards, so please, help me brainstorm in the comments – exactly how does one make playing cards luxurious? The first thing that came to my mind was having the symbols ever so carefully covered in close-cropped mink, making them slightly furry. How would you do it? Buy through eLuxury for $105.

We all know and love Adriana Castro at Purse Blog and now she has the PERFECT holiday gift! This is something I would love to find in my stocking, along with a few miscellaneous makeup pieces that are always needed in my collection. Both the grape and black crocodile exteriors on the Adriana Castro Crocodile Cosmetic Case are lined with leather on the interior, which will be easy to wipe up if case of any makeup spillage. If you are not a huge beauty girl, the dimensions will be perfect, 7”L x 4”H x 1.25”D. And really, unless I am totally out of the loop, this should be ample space to carry your daily makeup needs. I would opt for purple crocodile first, adding a luscious grape punch of color! Buy through Lux Couture for $500.

Oh my goodness! Remember when beanie babies were all the rage – and I mean ALL the rage? Well, I don’t actually remember the last time I saw one. So, you can imagine my surprise and astonishment to see these Prada Beanie Babies. Now, these beanie babies are actually key chains, so they are a bit smaller than your traditional beanie baby. And can I tell you, I cannot believe I am writing about beanie babies right now. It makes me giggle. It looks like these little guys will range between $123 and $200. I’m not so sure I’d want one attached to my keys, but hey, to each their own. So, what do you think? Did Prada do something good here?

Via Blogue.us

So the first thing I’m going to bring you post-apocalypse is something that made me stop and look twice when perusing ShopBop today (Megs & Co. lured me to their site with news of their oh-so-rare sale code!), and rarely do I look twice. I popped over to their jackets section in hopes of finding a cute coat for winter (that I’ll never wear, since it’s going to be 85 degrees in Georgia for the rest of my life), and when I saw the LaRok VestEd Interest jacket (+1 for punning), I stopped and looked harder.

You see, the vest is actually part of the jacket, ensuring the perfect fit at all times – the jacket stays taught and won’t fall open or sag because the buttons of the vest secure it in place. Everything stays in place for the perfect look, and you get a great menswear-inspired piece for an unconventional night-out ensemble. Plus, use the BOPFORFALL code to save $50!

Do you ever wonder what you would buy if money wasn’t an option? Personally, if I had more money than I knew what to do with I can think of plenty of things I would spend my money on: a couple houses, a new car, maybe a boat, lots of traveling, establishing a foundation in my name, and so on. Now, I am sure that small list looks pretty typical. For those of us who dare to dream, why not dream big? However, when I come back down to reality, right now I am not in the kind of financial situation where I can buy everything my heart possibly desires. At the same time, I do wonder what people with more money than they know what to do with buy. I mean, their shopping sprees have to be much different than mine. I think I am splurging when I buy a new pair of designer jeans or a hot pair of sunglasses. But then there are those out there who splurge by purchasing a new yacht. I guess everything is relative.

Don’t get me wrong, I am very lucky; I get to buy things I like and continue to dream of the day I might be able to afford some of the things I would love to have. I would have to say, when I stumbled across the Leiber Mini Pillboxes and saw the price associated to them, I instantly put the pillboxes in the “what I might buy if I had tons of money” category. The pillboxes are without a doubt cute, but for something used to hold your daily vitamins and such, I would say they are way too pricey for me. Yet, if the price seems right to you, store your vitamins and/or pills in one of these pillboxes you can buy through Neiman Marcus for $625.

What would you buy if money wasn’t an issue?

I generally try to play along, though, but I bought something a little while back that I think someone out there might really like, so I’m compelled to share, even if it’s not a bag. So if you could humor me for just a moment, I would greatly appreciate it.

I have unreasonably dry skin (thanks, mom!). I’m 22 years old and using moisturizer made for post-menopausal women with wrinkles, and still, my skin is thirsty. This problem has always made it impossible for me to get the dewy, glowy look that so many women my age have on the red carpet, much to my chagrin.

Well, I got a product not too long ago that, all of a sudden, did it for me – the new Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer. Put the stuff on and boom – radiant, supple-looking skin that looks like I just slept a thousand years in a vat of Oil of Olay. I still have to wear my regular moisturizer and an oil-based primer under it, but with those things together, my skin feels and LOOKS soft and wonderful all day, something that’s normally not attainable to me.

A warning for girls with normal or oily skin: this product is SHINY. I imagine it would work great for you guys if mixed with your regular foundation (which is what it’s actually meant to do), but I wouldn’t advise wearing it all by itself. For girls with dry skin – give it a try by itself! If I get too much shine in one place, all I do is dust a tiny bit of powder over it and it goes away. Overall, it’s a great, easy-to-apply (all you need are finger tips!) product that I can see myself using for quite a long time. Buy through Sephora for $42.

And yet, I just can’t keep myself out of the shoe department, even if it’s only to look. The sculptural lines of high, high heels enchant me, and I can’t help but think of how wonderful my legs would look in any of them. I marvel at girls striding easily in them, because I know with complete certainty that it’s not something I’ll ever be able to do.

But if any of fall’s new shoes would be worth another dislocation or broken bone, it would be Christian Louboutin’s Trottinette Ankle Boots. It’s taken me a long time to hop on the ankle boot bandwagon, but for a shoe like this, I’ll buy in. I think what makes it different, to me, is the top strap and buckle – instead of looking unfinished like many booties, they looked tailored and planned, like they were obviously meant to be worn with tights or tucked-in skinny pants so that the entire shoe is on display. Also, the beautiful grey suede is versatile and appropriate on a multiple occasions and with multiple colors, including this season’s all-important berry tones.

The shoe’s concealed platforms allow for an even taller stiletto heel without breaking the clean line of the shoe, making it all the more prohibitive to yours truly. Which only means one thing: one of you have to buy it so I can live vicariously. Buy through Net A Porter for $1,195.

So, all of you ladies out in PurseBlogLand – what in your wardrobe gets YOU the most compliments??? Give us a link in the comments if it’s still out there for sale! Buy through Antrhropologie for $118.00.

I also prefer a chunkier watch – almost the size of a small men’s watch instead of a women’s watch. The way I see it, if I have to wear a watch, why shouldn’t it be one that makes as much of a statement as my other jewelry, which is usually quite a statement indeed (says the girl with the necklace that is 3 pounds of solid stone – I weighed it!). I also have wide wrists, so many watches designed for women look kind of disproportionate on me.

So the Toy Watch Plasteramic Watch has me very interested. At $175, it’s much closer to my price range, and although it does have a white band, I don’t feel like it’s a feature-for-feature Chanel rip-off (although, am I kidding myself with that? Tell me the truth). I wish that the face had a bit more personality to it, but for $175, I can placate myself with that beautiful white band.