Clutches

For all of you lovers of white, I’ve got great news. White is in style (don’t even act like you are surprised!). Better yet, white-on-white, aka white-out, is also in style for spring. I’m jumping for joy, because I am a lover of white. It is always so fresh looking and fun. Woo-hoo for white! Not only do I love white for clothing, but I love it for bags. And on top of all of that, I love clutches. So let me put all of these things together to find myself a great clutch (I know: me, me, me). The Lauren Merkin Embossed Leather Clutch will fit perfectly into your nicely tanned ready-for-spring hand. Made of white baby crocodile-embossed Italian lambskin with a gathered body, this clutch has me oohing and ahhing. The frame is covered and on the inside you will find fabric lining but no pocket. The dimensions are a cute 4 1/2″H x 9 1/2″W x 1/2″D. I’m completely smitten with this clutch and it’s not too shabby price tag of $180 via Bergdorf Goodman.

It’s Black Friday ladies, and that means the retail stores love you all for your day-long fanatic spending practice. I was never aware that this was indeed the single most busy day for shoppers and stores alike, but it must be true if they gave it even its own name. From Wikipedia I learned that the “Black” in the name comes from the standard accounting practice of using red ink to denote negative values (losses) and black ink to denote positive values (profits). Clever! I’m sure there’s gonna be a whole lotta black today.

The folks at Bergdorf Goodman would really appreciate writing down the black 6 digits if one of our readers decided to put down $110,000 for this exclusive clutch today. Chances are slim, but who knows. The clutch with the fancy name Minaudiere is encrusted with 320 cabochon tourmalines and 34 diamonds over an 18 carat yellow gold frame. Overkill for sure, it’s not even that enticing to me – but when it comes to a one-of-a-kind accessory, the Minaudiere takes the cake.

As a little girl I always dabbled between being a girly-girl and a tom-boy. One day it was Barbies, ballet, and lipstick and the next it was baseball, toy cars, and jerseys. Pink only recently became a color of choice for me. I actually was always a girl that loved baby blue, but my attention has turned to pink lately. So the combination of a beautiful material with some pink, all in a clutch, just makes my heart go pitter-patter. Thank you Jalda (umm, I did not know you until now but I am more than pleased to meet you) for you Jalda Pink Croc Clutch. I’m in love- which happens way too often, but I can’t help it. This divine clutch is actually made from crocodile patterned embossed leather in grey and pink. Closing with a magnetic snap closure, this clutch just comes together so perfectly. Yes, you may be fooled that the bag is merely croc embossed leather and not actual croc skin, but that sure does save the wallet some. The clutch measures 10″L x 3″W x 4″H. If you are looking for a nice holiday gift (doesn’t have to be for someone else, it is ok to be selfish sometimes ), make your way to Shop Bop and buy this for $201.

I know that I spent Friday covering clutches, but I’m going to have to touch on yet one more clutch today. I just can’t help it. Many bags end up costing us way too much, so a practical and adorable bag is not a bad idea ever. The DKNY Nappa Rose Clutch gives me reason to believe that many of you will not only like it, but also be able to afford it (well kind of, compared to those hugely high end few grand bags ). Made of soft Nappa leather with pleated gathers, this clutch adds a little chic to your day. The focal point and dainty feminine touch is the leather rosette that is neatly placed at one corner of this long clutch (which the pleats gather to). As if all the above isn’t enough, this bag also shows off a braided leather handle, which we all know is so in right now. Lined with textile and containing and inside zip pocket, this long clutch (11″ x 3.75″ x 1″), may be the perfect fit for many occasions. Check it out at eLuxury for $165.

Well, we did have a request for a “beautiful beaded patterned evening bag” by one of our most loyal readers and posters at the forum, Zippy. I’ve done some searching and I did come up with an evening bag that you may like. Or I may be way off and it is not at all what you are looking for. I’m going to take my chances. The Larisa Barrera Tribal Beaded Clutch is made of silky brown satin and shows off its hand-beaded body with all sorts of different beads. The impressive list includes golden/orange/brown natural tiger’s eye, pale cornellion, Austrian crystals, mirror crystals, and glass/plastic beads. Too add more glitz and glam to the long list of accents; there are also gold-plated brass medallion ornaments. I actually was not even aware gold plating was used often for bags, but this clutch has some. Check out the bling on the frame! The clutches plated frame is derived from 24-karat yellow gold. As if there aren’t enough beads and stones on this bag, the clasp shows off tiger’s eye beads and Austrian crystal while the removable shoulder strap has gold/topaz glass beads and brown tiger’s eye beads. Can you handle it? On the inside there is satin lining. Overall this bad boy measures 4″H x 9 1/2″L x 1 3/4″D. Zippy, I don’t know if this is what you were looking for, but this clutch seems to fit the description! If you are looking for a bag that is gonna shine like it is still summer buy this clutch via Bergdorf Goodman for $1195.

I have a feeling that I may be called crazy in a few moments. Maybe I am. Maybe there is still water in my ears from growing up on the beach, but I am lusting quite the crazy clutch. Nothing about this clutch is passive. Any lady who sports this is blatantly looking for attention. Well, for some reason, I feel like being one of those ladies. The Etro Crocodile Clutch takes a walk on the wild side, and makes a pit stop inside of the rainbow. After soaking up the rainbow, this clutch has come out with red, yellow, green, purple, black, and brown crocodile in an intricate swirl pattern. I guess at the bottom of the rainbow was a croc rather than a pot-o-gold?! A pretty decent size (6 2/5″H x 12 2/5″W x 4/5″D), this clutch shows off shiny silver metal hardware and a front flap with a turn lock closure. The clutch also comes with a removable shoulder strap which has chain insets and just looks overpoweringly beautiful to me. The trip through the rainbow and croc was not cheap- if you are crazy like me and love this clutch, you are gonna be paying the pot-of-gold price: $1170 through Neiman Marcus.

One of the main reasons why I love bags so much, is the simple fact that they can totally set the mood for your day or night. Whether you need to be classy and elegant or fun and flirty, a bag can turn your look into whatever you’d like. So if you are looking for a clutch to carry with you for a night on the town, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Eyelet Leather Flap Clutch may be a hit. The use of srunchy leather accented with brass eyelets and smooth studs sets you up for a night of fun and excitement- what many of us need a little more of! The clutch has a front flap which unsnaps to a well-organized gusseted interior. For all of you spendin’ ladies, the inside has 6 credit card slots, a zippered coin pocket, and one long flat pocket. Let’s hope that the 6 slots are enough for all of your plastic (hey, just triple up each space like I do ) Not only is the inside able to keep everything in track, but also is lined with fun polka dot lining. The outside small pocket is the most fun; it is found on the flap that covers the outside of the clutch. The dimensions of this beauty are 7.5″ x 4″ x 1″. Available in cream, black, brown, camel, and teal, this clutch is up for grabs via eLuxury for a very reasonable $168.

Since Friday is always fun day, and one of the best days of the week, Clutch Friday needs to be started off with a beautiful clutch that can be used right now (as opposed to spring time). The Moschino Bow Trim Suede Clutch is delightful for the end of fall and the cold winter who is just around the corner. This frame clutch is made of the softest chocolate suede and trimmed with black patent leather. Just to add a total girly touch, there is a black leather bow nicely placed on the front. There have been some bows in the past that we haven’t liked, but this is the perfect lady accent. The clutch comes together with a goldtone kiss-lock closure and opens up to satin lining and an inside zipper pocket. Measuring up at 5″H X 10½”L X 1½W, this clutch is quite the ladylike accessory. You can have this beautiful clutch for $295 through Saks.

Hip Hip Hooray! Viewer’s Choice Monday is back and ready to go!! Unfortunately, many of the bags I was asked to talk about, don’t have much info to go along with them. For starters Wendy asked for the feature of Labertson Truex because “they have some very simple clean styles, unusual these days”. Wendy, you are right- I completely agree. Many of the bags made by LT are simple, sturdy, and sexy. Those 3 S’s are a triple threat. I opted to feature the Lambertson Truex Gallery Twisted Texture Clutch which adds a bit of lines and texture, but still looks simple and clean. The gallery twisted textured bags are “made in a variety of cavallino patterns, trimmed in our fall color palette of Italian Chighaille.” The size of this cutie is H:5.5″ W:10.5″ D:2″. I love the stripped texturized pattern on this clutch- reminds me of a couch my grandma had that I completely loved. A little bit of a 70’s feel for quite the cute clutch. Either I have lost my ability to read price tags (which could possibly be true with my awful shopping habits), or there is absolutely no pricing involved with this bag. Venture over to Lambertson Truex and try to find some pricing for yourself!

Do you remember the song, “he was a one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater”? I’m not sure if that song or Barney made purple my not so favorite color, but I’m finding a reason to love purple as of today. Marc Jacobs is always making me smile and making my heart melt. He also helps to make my pay check melt away month by month. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Beth Leather Bag and Beth Leather Flap Clutch are both squelching my dislike of purple and also making my wish list continue to grow out the door.

Let me start with the Marc by March Jacobs Beth Leather Bag which is riveting with its shape and structure. To try to help with a great explanation of this bag, I will leave it to eLux who said, “Shaped similar to a retro bowling bag, Marc’s little tote gets a style all its own with a topstitched leather bow on the outer flap pocket. Nickel studs and a nickel-and-enamel MJ plaque call attention to the overall charm. Finished with a roomy interior lined in striped cotton.” The size of the bag is quite cute, but the leather bow is even better. The bag is made from beautiful grained Beth leather in blackberry and is accented with shiny nickel hardware. The front is where the fun is at. There is a front pocket with the oh-so-coy leather bow and a nickel-and-enamel MJ plaque. The leather shoulder straps are more of hand straps with only a 5″ drop. Final dimensions of this chic purple people eater are 9.5″ x 7″ x 5.5″. Buy it for what seems to be a not too pricey price (compared to many other bags we all love) for $328 via eLuxury. **If you don’t believe me on the beauty of this bag, check it out on the model (sorry for the COB in there!)

To make a matching addition option that I can not resist, my best friend Marc designed the Marc by Marc Jacobs Beth Leather Flap Clutch. Whether you chose to tuck this clutch away in your posh bag, or to carry it by itself to show your sense of style to the world, Marc’s great clutch is just one more reason why my lust in life is handbags and purses. The blackberry grained leather is beautifully finished with a topstitched bow detail and brushed nickel studs. Again, while a bow seems too girly to want on a clutch, it suits this clutch perfectly for me. To add a little something extra to the bow, there is a nickel-and-enamel MJ plaque on the bow. The gusseted leather interior of the clutch should keep you happy with its robust list of compartments: there are eight credit card slots for all of you spending plastic pleasure, a zipped coin pocket, and a flat pocket under the flap. Sizing in at 7.5″ x 4″ x 1″, this clutch is a purple plus in my book. Actually, I think I may just need to do a little pre-Holiday shopping for… me. Buy this cutie through eLuxury for $168.