Clutches

Ever find a bag that just SPEAKS to you? Like, on a personal level that other people may not understand? That’s what the Yves Saint Laurent Spiral Clutch is doing to me. And I’d love to…nay, I HAVE TO…have it.

See, I’m a writer. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was six. Writers often have an odd relationship with the old-school tools of our trade; pens, notebooks, things like that. I’ve even know writers that collect vintage typewriters. When I was little, I’d use the stray dollars and coins I collected from various things (mostly from my mom. Hi, mom!) to go to the school store (do they have those in elementary school anymore?) to buy office supplies. Pens, pencils, notebooks. I still have an inordinate amount of pens in my apartment and, until recently, had an entire cup-holder filled with them in my car. I also find it incredibly difficult to throw away a notebook I’ve written anything in, even if it was just schoolwork from a college career that’s been over for more than a year. It’s not a fixation I think about; pens and notebooks are just things I’ve always liked. And, as such, I love this clutch. The reference is done in a way that is so sleek and irreverent that I can’t help but smile when I look at it. Even for those that aren’t writers, I have to believe that this is interesting enough to have a certain sort of appeal. Buy through Saks for $395.

Been here, covered this. We were crushing on the first Alexander McQueen Knuckle clutch and the whipsnake rendition is hot hot hot. The Alexander McQueen Skull Knuckle Duster Clutch has every making of a memorable bag. It may not be for you, or not for the next person, but there is the gal out there that can rock this clutch so hardcore that it would be a show stopper.

McQueen is never afraid to make a statement. Every handbag shows more thought, more chances, and more bold statements. Red signifies intensity and is perfectly suited on whipsnake with the fresh water pearl and Swarovski crystal detail finishes on the knuckle handles. LOVE it, but do you think you can handle it? Buy through Saks for $1,895.

Judith Leiber is more known for her use of Swarvoski crystals in her evening bags and novelty pieces. And those pieces are not for everyone (take the owl clutch for example). But I am a huge fan of Judith Leiber and her pieces. There is something whimsical and playful about each piece that puts a smile on my face.

When I found the Judith Leiber Shimmering Python Clutch I was truly shocked. Is this really a Leiber piece? It is nothing like her crystal evening pieces, it is sleek, sophisticated and stunning. This is nothing like what we have come to expect from Leiber, and while I am caught off guard, I am staring at this clutch in amazement of its beauty. The dark indigo python offers a shimmer with a bronze hue. The flap top with tortoise ornament finishes off the clutch perfectly, without taking away from the natural beauty of the skin and simple design. Measurements are 4 1/4″H x 8″W x 1 1/2″D. Makes you re-think Judith Leiber, doesn’t it? Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1695.

Flowers speak of romance and femininity in the trend for floral embellished clutches. The growing trend for unique clutches inspired us to roundup the prettiest which tout three dimensional flowers. Made of everything from crystal gems to leather, horn, acrylic resin and even hand painted cotton. Each of these miniature bouquets of creativity makes a statement as a standout accessory.

The Fendi Floral Box Clutch or Lanvin Satin Crystal Flower Oulala Clutch would pair perfectly with a flouncy summer dress for a summer wedding. The Fendi Fendi Floral box clutch is the ultimate and most luxe of the floral clutches. It features actual hand stitched and painted cabbage rose style flowers sewn directly onto a box clutch. The Carlos Falchi Floral Box clutch’s large leather floral appliqué adds a whimsical downtown edge to this tone-on-tone mini sized clutch. The Valentino black patent Primavere clutch works well with dark daytime tailored suits or for evenings your favorite LBD. Marni’s goatskin clutch contrasts a soft leather with the hard badge-like flower cut outs. A sweet little clutch perfect for adding a dose of color under your arm.

via The Find

Finally. FINALLY. I’ve finally found a Christian Louboutin handbag that I love without reservation and without criticism. I’ve been looking for this bag for a long time, and I’ve seen lots and lots of mediocre (or worse) handbags from Mr. Louboutin during my quest for one that I adore. But the Christian Louboutin Loubistuds Clutch is here now, and it has comforted me and made my long journey worth the time spent.

Something that I’ve loved about Louboutin handbags since they started it is the tiny pair of red-soled heels that form the kisslock on top. Not only does this bag feature that cute little detail, but it also has row after row of shiny, pointy studs to satisfy the rocker trend about which the fashion world is abuzz. It looks like the folks at Louboutin took great care in considering how this bag would be carried, though – the studs come to a point, but appear to be a bit domed off and not at all sharp so they won’t hurt your hand. The double center pleats give the bag a bit of structural variation without taking away from the over-studded effect, and overall, this is a clutch that I would kill to have in my collection. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $1519.

Sorry, Derek Lam, I’m just not buying what you’re selling here. I know, I know – you’re trying to make a little niche for yourself among the scads of smaller high-end bag designers out there. And it can’t be an easy thing, because convincing people to spend a couple grand on a bag from a designer that doesn’t have much handbag cache is a bit of a challenge, to say the least. But that doesn’t excuse what we have here.

When you’re dealing with quirky, non-symmetrical designs, there’s a really thin line between one that works and one that doesn’t, and I don’t think that the Derek Lam Elsa Python Clutch does. The material and color are both beautiful, and some of the asymmetry is well-done, but beyond that, Lam totally loses me. The half-covered silver ring doesn’t appear to serve any kind of functional purpose at all, and things always go off the rails in handbag design when you start adding elements that would normally be functional that don’t serve any functional value. But I think that the final nail in this little clutch’s coffin is the enormous, luggage-like handle at the top. Not only is the material not the same as the rest of the clutch, but the style is also different. It’s traditional and staid while the clutch is edgy and hip, and on top of that, the proportion of the two doesn’t even work. Buy through Barney’s for $1450.

Sometimes you look at a bag and know immediately what it reminds you of, without having to give it much thought or effort. Those are my favorite bags – it’s like they come with a blog post built-in for my convenience! And really, it’s thoughtful for designers to help me out like that. Who said that fashionistas never think of others?

And today, fake-tanned mensch Michael Kors is here to help with the Michael Kors Runway Clutch. The little evening bag has the distinct look of the late 80s and early 90s to me – an era of bright colors, strong shoulder pads, and shiny accessories. Patent neon pink is probably one of the strongest color statements a designer can make with a bag, and a shade like this references a very specific period in time – about 20 years ago. The strong edges at the top of the clutch, combined with the super-shiny polished silver hardware, remind me a lot of the ’supermodel’ era – when Cindy, Christy, and Naomi strutted the catwalk in the things with huge shoulder pads and Kate Moss was just another skinny British chick. Such clear references combined with such clean lines give customers a great way to incorporate a retro trend in a super stylish way. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $595.

Everyone has that girlfriend in their group that is, after approximately a glass and a half of white wine, completely hammered, carrying her high heels in her hand, and asking everyone if they’ve seen her handbag. And no one has seen it, because she left it sitting on the back of the toilet at the last bar you were in, and its contents have already been pillaged. She will sleep on your couch that night, and you and your other friends will talk amongst yourselves, trying to figure out how anyone can lose her purse on a glass and a half of Santa Margherita. Her cell phone will be for sale on Craigslist the next day. If you don’t have that friend right now, think back to your early 20s – that girl, remember her?

Well, if you’re still friends with the drunken purse-loser, here’s what you should get her for her next birthday: the Alexander McQueen Faithful Leather Glove Clutch. See, she can stick her little hand in the attached glove, and she won’t have to worry about having to hold on to anything – the clutch will hold on to her! And even if you’re not prone to putting things down and wandering off, this clutch is a fabulously 80s addition to any wardrobe and something that no one else will at any party will be able to hold a candle to in the handbag department. It’s different from anything else on the market and so classically McQueen in a witty, winking way that it just may become a collector’s item. I can’t guarantee it, but it’s so fresh and funny that it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. Buy through Saks for $895.

This is an interesting one. Now, I’m not a big fan of animal prints, save for my tiny soft spot for zebra, nor do I consider myself a fan of furry bags, which inevitably bring up images of those gift bags with pink fur… yikes. But when I saw this Christian Louboutin Leopard-Print Clutch in person yesterday, it was pretty captivating. Maybe it’s the longer-than-usual length of the clutch, or the big bow, or the leopard print (I thought it was leopard fur at first), but it catches your eye.

As you know, I’m not so sure how I like bows on bags; I don’t like bags to look like gifts. But here, I’m not fixated on the bow because it completes the clutch. Think about it: how naked would this clutch look without the bow, with just the print? Though I can’t see myself wearing it, I can see that it would look amazing with a slinky dress and sky-high heels, and it just seems like something that some celeb will inevitably pick up for a red-carpet walk. If anything, the material itself –leopard print on pony hair- seems pretty ingenious to me. Buy through Saks for $940.

I think that this clutch is just about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, but I realize that it’s hardly everyone’s taste. I have a very particular look for things that I tend to buy – I sent Megs a link to a pair of Chloe motorcycle boots that I loved recently, and her reaction was “Oh, those are so you.” They were covered in zippers and buckles, black leather with silver hardware. I have a particular point of view, and I can’t even begin to estimate the amount of times that my friends have looked at something I wanted and said, “Huh. That looks like you.”

Which is not only why I like the Alexander McQueen Knuckle Buster Clutch, but also why I like Alexander McQueen in general. He has a look and he goes with it, particularly in his clutches, and he seems to care little whether or not they have a wide appeal. They’re kitschy, fun, and reflect the punk and goth subcultures in the UK with which McQueen has always been so intimately connected. The scull-topped “brass” knuckles that form the handle to this clutch are so utterly brilliant and weird that I almost don’t know what to say about them, except to say that they are so very McQueen. His insistence on making quirky, interesting things is something that we should all celebrate, even if those things aren’t your taste (but they certainly are mine). Buy through Saks for $1595.