We’ve been covering quite a few Marc Jacobs bags lately. And while I like to keep things spicy by switching up the designers we cover, I couldn’t help myself. The Marc Jacobs Fresh Heather Clutch caught me eye and I couldn’t NOT write about it. Usually, clutches are my go-to for evening events. It is very rare that I carry a clutch during the day. But this clutch got me thinking – hey, why not?

The blue coated cotton clutch has bold and noticeable goldtone hardware. When I say bold and noticeable I mean that in a good way, not a bad way. Open the front flap and you will find several pockets for any storage needs you may have. The thing I like the most (other than the color)? It would have to be the casual look of the bag. It isn’t over the top but it isn’t really that boring either. While I would definitely use it during the day, there are plenty of situations where carrying it at night would be perfect. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $495.

I’ve been hoping that Saks would start carrying Costume National handbags ever since they began selling their shoes several months ago, and now that I’ve gotten my wish…well, I’m a tad underwhelmed. This particular brand is known for it’s innovative, deconstructed brand of downtown cool, and I can’t help but think that the Costume National Foldover Shoulder Bag is a bit on the safe and blah side for them.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly serviceable bag. I really like that the shoulder strap is extra wide compared to a lot of single-strap bags, since that’s usually a feature that makes a bag really comfortable and easy-to-carry. So I appreciate the effort on that aspect, and I also appreciate the color. At first look, it’s kind of boring, but I love dark grey and I think more bags need to embrace the color, so I’ll give it a pass. But overall, the feeling I’m getting from this bag isn’t cutting-edge or downtown or young. It’s just kinda meh, and I was really hoping for an innovative and interesting line of handbags to write about. If their entire range of offerings is represented accurately by what’s currently available, I’m more than a little disappointed. Buy through Saks for $990.

Check out Heidi Montag with her LAI Python Pamela [via Bag That Style]

Tory Burch Vintage Metallic Aldwin Clutch [via Purse Blog Savvy]

Victoria Beckham: Look for Less [via The Budget Fashionista]

The latest trend, Studly Vests [via Fab Sugar]

Cannes: Another day of gorgeous gowns [via My Fashion Life]

Alexis Bledel’s New Role: Model with IMG [via Off the Rack]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a handbag so desperately while simultaneously having so little use for it as badly as I want and don’t need the Lanvin Liz Pouchette. Just look at it. It’s a sparkly, retro, crystal-encrusted reference to Art Deco and everything that was fabulous about the Roaring 20s. And since I wasn’t born until more than half a century later, I have to fawn over things like this to live vicariously through the era’s fabulous, rococo aesthetic.

In all seriousness, folks, I think this bag is pretty perfect. I’m not entirely convinced about the weird sort-of-tassel in the corner, but I think a more literal flower would have been a little too obvious and precious, and what I really like about this bag is it walks the line between fashion and costume really, really well. You wouldn’t have to be dressed as a flapper on Halloween to wear it, but the reference is well-played and people that aren’t devoted fashionistas would probably still understand what it was going for. And isn’t that the ultimate test? Fashion is at least somewhat of a democratic art form, and I think all of my friends would understand just why this little fantasy bag is so completely fabulous. Buy through Barneys for $1900.

Sometimes even I get a little sick of looking at bags. You can only see so many boring brown hobos and black tote bags with no personality before you get a little bit of handbag ennui from time to time, and it makes you wonder how many mediocre bags with mediocre leather will be sold out there before the market for them is saturated.

Which is why I like the De Couture Woven Chain and Suede Bag, even though I suspect that I might be wrong and it might be ugly. At this point, I don’t even care – let it be ugly, as long as it has a personality to it. It’s so rococo and blinged-out and over-the-top that you almost can’t judge it using the same framework as you would, I don’t know, a Tod’s bag. They’re apples and oranges, and this is one sparkly apple, if you catch my drift. But it manages to be sparkly while still being slouchy and a bit on the hippie side, and straddling those two looks is a difficult thing to do. De Couture manages to do it with considerable aplomb here. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for €884.00.

Some say the Holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but in the fashion world there are two other ‘most wonderful time of the years’. 1) Fashion Week. 2) Sale Season. The sale season is in full bloom and I am feeling like a kid in a candy store. Check out the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale, where there are handbags, clothing, and accessories marked down at least 33%! Love it.

Yesterday Vlad and I drove for 18 hours straight, from Columbus, Ohio to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Our initial thought was to stop and sleep somewhere overnight, but once Vlad had the idea that we drive straight through there was no way he would allow us to stop. We drove through pouring rain and arrived home at 3 a.m. to find our bikes stolen and a quickly depleting flat tire. Go figure. At least the tire was kind enough to wait until we got home rather than go flat on the highway.

Today is a blah day for us which is why I was thinking a new handbag would brighten my spirits up. But I waited a bit too long to purchase some of my favorites from the Net A Porter Sale (Proenza Schouler and the Miley Cyrus Marc Jacobs Bag come to mind) but there is still a great offering of bags marked down. Grab them while you still can!

We’re not going in any particular order this week. It’s late and order is not my strong suit at this point (that’s right, kids, I write these things the night before so that all the ridiculousness is fresh in my head). I think you have to be feeling at least a little bit addled to truly understand the Real Housewives of New Jersey, though, so really I just do this all for you guys. The theme of this week’s episode was the wretched (well, mostly wretched) children that all of these women have brought forth, so we’ll talk mostly about that, mmkay?

Click here to keep reading, because you know you want to.

Everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the Marc Jacobs Safety Pin Stam that we talked about last week, even though I was personally feeling a little bit Stammed out. Well the very next day, this bag right here appeared on the Internet, and relations between Mr. Marc Jacobs and I once again returned to normal. Because I love, love, love the the Marc Jacobs Safety Pin Clutch, particularly in this uberchic combination of blue and black (which may be my second-favorite color combination of all time, after dark red and black).

The way that the material is faux-wrapped and then safety pinned in place in the center of the clutch reminds me a lot of a traditional Obi belt, but it’s not so literal and obvious that it will be out of style when the Japenese influence that we’ve been seeing in some parts of fashion lately runs its course. The safety pin is oversized enough that everyone will notice the clutch’s cheeky little details, and of course it’s a great (but understated) way to reference this season’s 80s punk inspirations. I haven’t liked one of Marc’s clutches this much in quite some time. Buy through Nordstrom for $595.

Ladies, I’ve done it. I’ve done the impossible, and now we can all rejoice and hold hands and sign songs of happiness. I’ve found a Chloe bag at a somewhat reasonable price point. I thought that this was a feat I would never accomplish, but today I dared to dream, and when I opened my eyes, the Chloe Victoria Tote stood before me.

And it’s…perfectly serviceable and at least as nice as some of their designs that are much more expensive. We’re not breaking new ground here, design-wise, but the leather does look quite nice (if a bit too glazed and shiny for my taste) and the bag looks like it would be enormously functional and useful for women with all kinds of different personal tastes and lifestyles. I could see it on everyone from a working mom to a downtown hipster, and at the somewhat reasonable price point (for Chloe), a lot more people will be able to consider adding it to their collections than with most of the brand’s other bags. I can’t find anything to dislike here, and I even tend to like the shades of tan that Chloe uses, as much to my own surprise as anyone else’s. Buy through Saks for $1295.