So, my initial reaction to all what was said in part two of the Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion is this: it shook out very differently than I expected, but also, in a way, exactly how I thought it would. And maybe it’s because yesterday was such a sad day in the entertainment industry, or maybe it’s because this part of the reunion wasn’t really funny or ridiculous, but angry and brooding and kind of sad. I’m not sure, but I didn’t really enjoy it, which probably means I still have a soul. So hey, that’s good news. But I’m gonna recap it anyway – it’s a hard job, but somebody’s got to do it.

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Yesterday the world lost arguably the biggest pop star in the world. A man that redefined the music industry as we know it today, the world is remembering Michael Jackson. While many mourn, many are playing his music and remember the musical genius. Michael Jackson sold 3/4 of a billion albums, was known for his moonwalk, was in the music scene for 40 years of his 50 year life, and became known for his fashion choices such as his glittered glove. His influence on the music industry can be seen by many of the artists we listen to today and his fashion choices influenced the world of fashion as well.

The Rebecca Minkoff Matinee flaps on either end of the bag were designed after the legendary red leather jacket Michael Jackson wore in his Thriller video. We covered this bag before when we first saw the resemblance, which was then affirmed by Rebecca. Without knowing it, Michael Jackson’s influence made its way into the handbag world.

A small way for us to say we will remember the King of Pop. Rest in peace Michael Jackson.

Again this fall the leopard print has it marks on handbags of all shapes and sizes this season. Love it or leave it, leopard print handbags are not for everyone, yet the trend returns each year with out fail. Not to be overused, leopard print handbags add visual interest to your favorite LBD or all black ensemble.

via The Find

I’ve made no secret that I’m a huge and adoring fan of almost every clutch that Celestina has ever made. The materials used are those that are rarely found in such abundance in other clutches, and they’re used to amazing effect. The level of intricacy is unbelievably high on everything that they make, and they leave no detail unattended. But that doesn’t mean that their clutches are overdone – they’re usually sleek and modern-looking, despite their incredible uniqueness.

Which brings us to the Celestina Roseanne Blacklip Clutch. I can’t imagine that anyone could look at this and have a negative reaction – it’s sleek and simple, covered in diamond-cut tiles of blacklip mother of pearl. The colors are earthy and warm, but deep enough to function as a cold-weather event option despite the material. It reflects a great deal of light and would likely change colors fantastically in different settings. If you were to take it to an event, you’d easily stand out in a sea of boring black evening bags. Buy through Barneys for $1290.

Karl Lagerfeld is a fashion guru, a mastermind and creative genius in his own right. I can not imagine what sort of thoughts go through his head. To sit down with Karl Lagerfeld would be a dream come true for most. What has the internet buzzing recently is a handbag Karl Lagerfeld has been seen sporting and it is far from Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld has been spotted carrying a canvas Karl Who? Bag which is designed by Naco Paris. Fun fact, Naco Paris won a court case against Chanel over the use of the Chanel logo. One minute they are in court together and the next Karl Lagerfeld is wearing a Naco Paris design and not vice versa.

The Karl Who? Bag will be arriving at Colette and is available now through Arty Dandy for 49€

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.

Shopping for a bag deal is not always my forte. I attempt, but I end up wandering into the full-priced area and don’t leave there. Once in a blue moon I found a bag that I love and is on sale, it is rare, but it happens. This is precisely what has happened when I popped into the Saks 60% off sale and found the Zagliani Python Clutch. Zagliani is known for their treatment of their skins, injecting it with silicone to produce ultra luxurious and buttery-soft feel. Gold is such a bright color to wear so I love to see it in a clutch and the python skin help the light in any room glisten when it hits this clutch. This is an oversized clutch, 13″W X 8″H X 3″D, which no doubt will accessorize beautifully with many outfits. This is love: marked down substantially from $2,195 to $878.37 at Saks.

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.

If you’re a regular PurseBlog reader, then you know we’ve covered the Valentino Rose Vertigo Shopper in the past. I gave it a rave back then in a shade of Barbie pink, and I thought it was worth a revisit for fall.

We don’t normally revisit bags, but this bag demonstrates better than any other bag I can think of how the change of a color can change a bag’s entire look. In hot pink, the bag was like something Elle Woods would wear in Legally Blonde – flamboyant, over-the-top, and ultra girly. When you take the exact same bag with the same sumptuous leather and change it to a medium grey, though, the bag’s mood changes completely. It’s still utterly fabulous, but the effect is very different. Instead of being girly and glam, the bag is edgy and hip, which would appeal to an entirely different consumer. Plus, the wonderful grey would look amazing with jeans and a sleek sweater when cold weather arrives since the color gives the bag a more casual profile. How the bag differs from one color to the next is a reminder to us all how much just one thing can change a bag’s entire appeal. Buy through Nordstrom for $2395.

I think Bravo was getting ahead of themselves by making the Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion a two-part special. Sure, there were some interesting moments last, but not nearly enough drama to entertain me for an entire hour with footage that I’ve already seen. And that’s the first time I’ve been able to say that about this show – I’ve never before been disappointed or impatient, and I started looking at the clock last night with about 20 minutes left in the hour. So stretching it out to a two-parter may have been a bit, uh, ambitious on their part. So what DID happen? You’ll have to make the jump to find out.

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