Handbags

So, I have a confession to make, I love karaoke. This past weekend while hanging out with some friends, the restaurant we were at turned into a karaoke bar and I have to say, it was a lovely surprise. Now, I don’t think I have the greatest of voices, but two of my best friends at my side, we decided to sing Lady Marmalade and we rocked it (at least in my opinion). When I saw this Christian Louboutin Cancan Satin Clutch it totally reminded me of the outfits worn on the Lady Marmalade music video!

Satin always makes me think “classy” and this clutch certainly is (IF worn with the right outfit). The black satin clutch is accented with a big sating bow and plenty of feathers. As soon as you open the clutch, you will see a rich and vibrant red satin lining which contrasts so well against the black. A magnetic snap will keep the clutch closed as you strut your stuff around town. Clearly, this is a bold statement and who knows if it can be pulled off by everyone, but hey, maybe it is worth a try? Of course, the only drawback with satin is that it can snag easily and for some reason when satin snags, my eye is immediately drawn to it. However, take care of it and you shouldn’t have an issue. Buy through Saks for $1,215.00.

After a wonderful trip, I am back in South Florida. LA was fantastic and I definitely look forward to my next trip out there! I didn’t get a chance to hit up any of the super trendy bars or clubs, but I couldn’t help but wonder what (and who) I might have seen. So, that got me thinking, what kind of handbag would I have carried if I did go out on the town? When I came across the Roberto Cavalli Metallic Bracelet Bag I had to share it with you. I think I really like this handbag. The gold metallic leather frame bag has a bracelet handle and leopard print lining. The leopard print lining shows that as much thought went into the inside of the bag as did the outside of it. All of your stuff will be secure thanks to the clasp fastening on top. We all know that a night out on the town could result in some dancing and who wants the contents in your bag all over the dance floor? Overall, this bag is fun, chic and eye catching. Plus, I think gold is a great color, especially during the Fall and Winter months! Buy through Net-A-Porter for $1,165.

Celine Watch Me Gauffre Bag

Who is the new girl you ask? Blake Lively. No one, including me, can get enough of this Gossip Girl. The natural beauty has garnered our attention being the star of the hit show, as well as being part of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (ok, so you do not all like that show, but I liked it!). Blake Lively made the Celine Watch Me Work a huge hit, with its perfect 80’s style which is of-the-moment.

Now my attention has turned to the sister of the Watch Me Work, the Celine Watch Me Gauffre Bag. This bag shows off its beauty with piercing lipstick leather with silver link chain straps. The front flap of the bag is where the Gauffre leather appears, popping out and adding oomph. There is a clasp at the front to fasten, press studs to expand the inside, and a zip compartment on the inside. My preference is with the version Blake Lively was carrying, but the red hue and textured material of this version would look stunning. Buy through Net A Porter for $1450.

I know many ladies must wear at least a pair of earrings and a necklace, bracelet, and multiple rings when they leave the house. While I do enjoy going through my jewelry and deciding what to wear for specific outfits and occasions, I stick with two go-to must-wear piece, one being my engagement ring. My new must wear piece of jewelry is a custom made necklace from Future Fashionista. I wanted to wear something that had meaning, that would be close to my heart, and remind me of the love I have in my life. Elana at Future Fashionista has always hooked me up, as well as all readers of Purse Blog and Purse Forum. She designed a 14K Pink Gold Custom Engraved Disk Necklace, to which we added two small engraved heart charms. The disk is made of pink gold and can have an engraving of up to 6 letters. I choose LOVE for one side and LIEBE for the other (the German word for love). I added the two engraved hearts with a V and M, for of course, Megs and Vlad. This is my favorite piece of jewelry after my engagement ring, but it is a piece that also has significant meaning to me. The simplicity of the design does not show to the world (unless they get very close to read), but it precisely what I was looking for. You can customize your own necklace through Future Fashionista online. Also you will get 20% off all orders at FutureFashionista.com with code: PurseBlog

To Enter: Visit The Sak website. Then tell us your favorite bag from their site and leave your comment in the comment section of this post.

Rebecca Minkoff vs Malababa

Final comparison for the day, the ever-famous Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini versus a new designer in our spectrum, the Malababa Superglue Bag. First thing I must compare is the names. Both are quirky and have that special punch. The Morning After has such a strong connotation, which I love! But Superglue is a funky one, as is Malababa of course.

Both bags deem that they are big enough to carry the essentials. Both bags size up nearly the exact same, only the Malababa has 4 more inches depth wise (other measurements are identical, 8″H x 12″L). The look is quite similar, both having the same shape, same body, and a zip front pocket. But for me, Rebecca Minkoff wins with the flap over the front zip pocket and the signature spring clasp details on the side of the Morning After Mini.

Buy the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini through Shop Bop for $575 and the Malababa Superglue Bag through Shop Bop for $532.

What do you think on the battle of Rebecca Minkoff vs Malababa?

Dior Small Babe Shopper

To wear white or to not wear white (after Labor Day), that is the question. I think we all remember growing up and hearing our mothers tell us that white should not be worn after Labor Day. With Labor Day weekend upon us, I figured, why not pose the question yet again. See, I have a super cute pair of white jeans I bought earlier this Summer and I would absolutely love to keep wearing them will a “Fall appropriate” top, but maybe I shouldn’t. And I am sure you’ve noticed all the white sunglasses around this year. Sidebar – I love white sunglasses and I hope they aren’t just a fad. So, when I came across this gorgeous white Dior Small Babe Shopper, I couldn’t help to wonder if I would be shunned if I bought it now and tried to sport it this Fall/Winter.

As you might notice, I am desperately trying to justify going against what my mom always told me and not only wear but also buy white items after Labor Day. I hear conflicting opinions all the time, but this handbag might just be enough to get me to break a (previous?) fashion rule. Dior completely hit a home run here. I love the white gently pleated Italian leather and metal hinged handles. And guess what else… there is a detachable clutch!!! That’s right, two handbags for the price one. Sure, the price is on the high side, but I feel it is definitely worth splurging for! So, *is* white a no-no after Labor Day? You can buy this fabulous bag through Saks for $2,290.

Dior vs YSL

This Friday is going to be the day of designer vs designer of similar looking bags. There are only so many things you can do with a handbag and for this very reason many designers have models that are eerily similar to another brand. Sometimes it is on purpose, sometimes not, and sometimes it is a downright copy. So for today, we are going to have a little fun with it!

First we are going to discuss the Dior Medium Dior 61 Tote versus the Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Medium Flat Tote. This YSL bag has caught our attention before with a really chic gold crackled leather finish. In fact, that exact design still has my heart. Dior has not been on the Purse Blog raider much because, well, let’s face it, some of their designs suck! Dior bags have not met my fancy much at all, until I ran into this one.

The Dior Medium Dior 61 Tote is designed with printed violent patent croc with a flat shape and long body. This is a great throw on your arm bag and stunning for work. The color is beyond divine, beyond drool worthy, beyond oh-so-my-style! There are double handles and this bag is on pre-oder at Saks for $1850.

Then we have the recognizable Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Medium Flat Tote. Again, this tote I love and most of us know the design well. It has been done in patent leather, cracked leather, and also croc-embossed leather. This flat tote is quite similar to the Dior tote, showing off a long body with a slight diameter. Perfect for papers but not big enough for the kitchen sink. Buy through Saks for $1395.

So now we have two bags from two very different designers that share a close resemblance. But which do you prefer? The Dior or the YSL?

Yesterday I wrote about a bag with tons of fringe. This feature seemed to get everyone talking quite a bit, so when I saw the Pauric Sweeney Ryder Python Bag, I figured we could keep the conversation going. As I mentioned before, I like fringe in small quantities, so the fringe on this bag is much more up my alley. But, I’m going to talk a bit about the bag itself first – I absolutely love it. The gold python leather is without a doubt a head turner. Colors can sometimes look dirty or warn out, but this gold looks nothing but shinny and new (which to me, is what the color of a new bag should look like). Speaking of colors, I absolutely love that the gold python skin is partnered with a brown leather shoulder strap and accents. The woven detailing on the shoulder strap continues to add flare and a sense of craftsmanship to the bag. And of course, that leads me back to the fringe. I love the amount of fringe on the bag. It seems like just enough flare to add a little something special to the bag. When working with gold python leather, I feel that there is a fine line when adding detailing and accessories to the bag. If you add too much the bag could seem cluttered or busy, but too little and the bag could seem unfinished or even boring. Pauric Sweeney got this bag right. They found the perfect combination of flare and class. Couldn’t you see yourself carrying just as much during the day as you might in the evening? To me, the bag is a total hit: gorgeous material, amazing color, fabulous flare and of course, plenty of room for the things I must have with me when I leave the house. Buy through Net-A-Porter for $1,595.00.

Fash-o-rexics: UK Females Would Starve for Fashion! [via My Fashion Life]

Sneak Peek: Anne Hathaway’s Lancome Commercial [via Off the Rack]

Handbag Designer Spotlight: Bird [via Fab Sugar]