Evening Bags

Pursebloggers, I am confused by the Barneys New York Chic Chain Bag on a few levels.

First, I’m confused that Barneys really makes house-brand bags. Of course, I knew on a factual level that they did, but really? Do luxury goods customers want house brands? Even if the house is a good house? I can’t imagine anyone looking to spend a large amount of money on a bag would look first to something not even made by a proper design house. As much as I like buying supermarket-brand milk and cheese at the grocery store (it’s the same stuff! Cheaper!), I would never do the same with money that I saved up to by something special and luxurious.

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We all know that my taste can be, at times, questionable. Loose. On the tacky side. I like loud bags in general, probably because I wear so much freakin’ black and grey (even in the summer). Without a statement bag, I feel a little naked or under-dressed. Formal occasions are no exception – not that I have many formal occasions. Or any at all. But if I did, I’d surely want to carry some sort of ridiculous, bling-tastic, over-the-top, questionably tasteful super luxe evening bag. Which is exactly what the Judith Leiber In the Wild Clutch is.

Because you see, my dears, it’s not just super sparkly. It’s super sparkly AND animal-print. At the same time. And that’s a stroke of quasi-tacky genius for which only the folks at Leiber, the home of the bedazzled watermelon bag, could be responsible. It’s combination of two of the tackiest bag idea inspires me to continue to find the awesomeness in all things moderately distasteful, and since I’m not cool enough to have anyplace to take it, I sort of want to have one just to sit it on top of my TV and admire it’s twinkling, zebra-ish glory. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $3895.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. While you might be planning a huge gathering which includes all the mother’s in your family or you are working on finding the right card and/or gift to send to your mom. Each year, I end up doing something a little different. Years past, I’ve flown into town and surprised her and other years I’ve sent a card with a Starbucks gift card (her daily must-have). This year, I am toying with the idea of getting her a new handbag.

The Salvatore Ferragamo Leather Evening Bag is a great contender for an ultra-fabulous Mother’s Day gift. The soft textured leather it topped with a bow trim on the chain strap. The lavender colored leather pictured here definitely hits that Mother’s Day/Spring Time feel. However, if you don’t want to seem too limiting, go for the black leather and let mom look fashionable with several outfits throughout all seasons. Buy through Saks for $520.

What are your plans for your mom or yourself on Mother’s Day? Share with us!

Doesn’t everyone need a bit of glitter in their lives? I think so. When Megs sent me a link to the Christian Louboutin Glittered Pump this morning, I couldn’t NOT write about it. Despite the fact that I can’t wear heels (a long-ago broken ankle, painful story), I could be easily convinced to risk personal injury for these stunning shoes. They’re a complete fantasy – like ruby slippers for a grown-up, urban Dorothy – except instead of taking you back home when you click your heels, they take you to a fabulous party with an open bar.

And what pair of over-the-top shoes would be complete without a similarly fabulous bag? I think that, in this case, a solid-color bag in the same shade would be a bit much, and I generally warn against an exact handbag-shoe match in almost every case. Instead, go for the glitter theme in a small proportion. The Judith Leiber Morning Dew Minaudiere strikes just the right note; it’s glittery but avoids the dyed-to-match look that trying to match a powerful shoe can often create. The color of the shoes appears in an important part of the clutch, but it doesn’t fall into the matchy-matchy trap. You’ll have to really work it to pull off this much shine, but with a solid-color dress (call me crazy, but I’m thinking maybe the green in the clutch could be that solid color…it’d be a totally unexpected but would pull together really well with the bag) and limited jewelry, I’d totally work it. I’m not sure where I’d go, but by God, I’d find somewhere to wear it.

Christian Louboutin Glittered Pump can be bought through Neiman Marcus for $745. Buy the Judith Leiber Clutch through Neiman Marcus for $2395.

British PurseBlog readers, I need your help on this one. As an American, I’m not too familiar with Matthew Williamson, although I’ve seen enough of his clothing to understand a bit of his aesthetic. So, to the Brits out there, I humbly inquire: what makes the Matthew Williamson Dark Escape Box Clutch worth $1200? Am I missing something? Because it’s not leather or any kind of exotic. It’s silk. Pretty silk, but still silk. Its information on Net-a-Porter doesn’t indicate that it’s hand painted or anything of that nature. It’s not crystal-encrusted. So…what gives?

Is the brand’s name strong enough in the UK to merit that kind of cash for a 6″ wide silk clutch? If it is, then that’s insane. I think I would scoff at any American designer trying to do the same. The colors would spice up a solid color outfit, and I like the name. The kaleidoscope effect is cute, as is the big tassel, but nothing about this is explaining to me why I need to spend so much money on it. Until someone else explains it to me, I think I’ll pass. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1200.

Has anyone noticed that this season, among the multi-thousand dollar bags and over-the-top looks, Marc Jacobs has quietly released several simpler, more classic bags that retail below (and sometimes well below) a thousand dollars? You have to look hard for them because most website don’t feature the less expensive, less showy bags, but they’re there. Not only do I think it’s fantastic that a designer doesn’t take themselves so seriously that they can’t make something less expensive, but it’s nice to see someone ACKNOWLEDGE the current economic climate.

We’ve talked a bit about it in the comments of a few previous posts, and I think a designer coming out with a small group of lower-priced bags along with their normally high prices is a great way to remain inclusive of their customers whose financial situation may be temporarily suffering. My favorite of these less-expensive bags is the Marc Jacobs The Single Evening Bag. I can’t help but think that, in seasons past, this bag would have been in the $775 price range, if not a couple hundred dollars more, but now we’ve got it for the reasonable price of $575. It comes in a variety of colors, but the metallic pink is so fun and works well for a small evening bag. Plus, it’d spice up any black outfit in a heartbeat and be a great addition to satisfy the current neon trend. I think the lower-priced bags are a great idea, and this is cute no matter the price tag. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $575.

There’s something very Old Hollywood about the Mary Norton Jones Clutch, isn’t there? I’m not sure if it’s the swoop of the top flap or the construction of the attached flower, but it’s reading retro to me in a very good way. I think the way that the photograph was taken is making the bag look cheaper than it would in person, so I’m going to ignore the shininess for now. It seems like it would have more of a subtle sparkle than an all-over gleam in natural light, and that would be gorgeous. I’m having one problem, though – I can’t figure out what era it’s from. Part of me says, “1920s. Definitely 1920s.” And another part of me says, “No, 1950s, you dolt.” Either way, those are my two favorite periods of American fashion, and this clutch would do either justice. It’s got the right amount of glitter, a super cute adornment that is pretty unique in the current clutch market, and it looks big enough to hold all the night-out essentials. Buy through Saks for $895.

Say what you want about Judith Leiber. Sure, the whole sparkly-squirrel-clutch thing is kind of weird, to say the least, and also kind of played out. They were making fun of it years ago on Sex and the City (remember the “Large Diamond Duck Ring” purse that Carrie got from Big?), and most cutting-edge fashionistas still thumb their noses at the brand in favor of things that are perceived as more subtle or modern. There’s one thing that no one can deny, however: the attention to detail paid when making a Leiber crystal-encrusted bag is second to none, and my favorite example as of late is the Judith Leiber Cresendo Bag. I didn’t even realize at first glance that the bag’s lace pattern was made entirely of crystals, but since it was a Leiber bag, I zoomed in to see if my eyes were deceiving me. And they were indeed – every bit of this intricate bag is covered in her signature Austrian crystals, creating the illusion of lace where there isn’t any. I’m a sucker for black and white patterns, and perhaps that’s why I can’t stop looking at this particular Leiber bag, even though they normally don’t catch my attention. For whatever reason, I think maybe I should give Leiber’s evening bags another look. Buy through Saks for $4195.

One of my favorite aspects of this job is when I get to peruse the web in order to bring you something you might not have seen before. So, before I get started, how many of you are fans of Mad Men?

Sadly, I haven’t seen the show yet, but I hear it is absolutely fabulous and rather addicting. In fact a few designers Megs and Vlad met with during their last trip to NYC mentioned that they too are Mad Men addicts. One of the things about the show that seems to be heavily discussed is wardrobe. It’s the old school elegance, style and grace that keep people a buzz. When I saw the Santi Yellow Satin Beaded Evening Bag, I thought this could be a handbag you might catch on the show. Santi handbags are hand-beaded and sequined which definitely emulates the 1960’s look that seems to be making a come back. The color, shape and bead work results in a handbag that could be a gorgeous way to add something very unique and special to your night-on-the-town look. I think I like it. Click here to peruse other Santi handbags.

Leiber Small Curved Minaudiere

Happy Valentine’s Day! This morning I woke up much earlier than usual to make breakfast for Vlad. As he is out running errands (I am assuming he forgot to pick up a card, hence he *has* to go to Target), I am deciding on my outfit for tonight. For some reason I can not think of an outfit without incorporating pink or red. Tonight you will see masses of couples out and the ladies are always wearing the color of love. Leiber pieces are collectors pieces, able to be carried for years and passed on for generations. I would love to have the Leiber Small Curved Minaudiere in my hand tonight as it is adorned with Siam red Austrian crystals. The silver tone hardware is the perfect compliment and the push lock closure finishes the clutch off brilliantly. You can buy this via Neiman Marcus for $1495.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day and the ones you love; whether it be a husband, significant other, friends, family, or pet!!