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.

I am, more or less, on board with the Mulberry Creased Jenah Bag. It’s on-trend in several ways – it has a chain strap, it’s a flap bag, and it’s smaller than the bags that we’ve seen in the past few seasons. It’d be a great addition to a spring wardrobe to satisfy a lot of the new bag looks in one package, theoretically. But the one thing that’s stopping me is…the color. I know that a lot of people will disagree with me, because I can see where people would think it was pretty, but I just can’t do it. Pastels (and this is basically a pastel) are not good on me. I have yellow undertones in my skin, and it’s just not a particularly lovely contrast. Also, for some reason, wearing any kind of pastel makes me feel like an enormous, 5-and-a-half-foot-tall toddler. I’m willing to admit that this is probably a hangup that only I have, but until I see it in another color (a medium-to-mustard yellow would be nice, if you’re listening, Mulberry), I’ll have to pass. Buy through Shop Bop for $1195.

The tribal theme has caught on at Jimmy Choo and there are two accessories that not only look amazing together but also give a smashing effect. Pairing the Jimmy Choo Martha Clutch with the Jimmy Choo Corsica Sandals will make a bold impact. My attention has moved from the calming ivory and neutrals of my wedding theme to in-your-face animal prints. Opposite ends of the spectrum, sure, why not? Wear the perfect little black dress and add vavoom with your accessories, that is our motto here. This Jimmy Choo clutch appeals to my need for animal print. What I love most is the leopard printed pony is broken up in the middle of the bag with tan suede. This gives you the animal print you desire without going overboard. The clutch is zip expandable and is featured, along with the stunning shoes, in the SS09 Advertising Campaign. Buy through Jimmy Choo for $1,595.

Every single person told me my wedding day would fly be. I listened to each of these people, believed them, but did not fully grasp this fact until it was the end of the wedding night with everyone on the dance floor chanting for one more song from the DJ. Just like that, my wedding day was over. I am super detail oriented so we took care of every tiny detail known to man. My mom and I had lists that had lists which had color-coordinated lists. I loved it all and I already miss it. I was lucky enough to carry the most amazing bag ever (read about it here), but I found another bag that would be perfect for a wedding day bag. Fact of the matter is that my Hermes bag was absolutely more for looks than for usability that day. I toted my larger Lambertson Truex bag into the bridal room with me which had all the necessities. Read full review...

Halston just got finished showing their new line on the runway at fashion week. And while the clothing line behind Halston continues to sell well in retail, their handbags are just starting to grab attention. The last Halston bag that grabbed our attention was no more than a mere sack, the Halston Zai Messenger Bag. And that messenger bag was a big miss as far as I am concerned. But now I find myself drawn to animal prints, so much so that I am gravitating to them for accents in our home. Looking through my closet I realized that I am completely lacking in the animal print compartment, owning no bags that have an animal print whatsoever. Too safe I think. Time to divulge into the animal print world.

Read on...

When we set the date of February 20th, 2009 for our wedding it seemed as if that day was so far away. Slowly but surely the day creeped up on us and as it got closer to the wedding day, the amount of work for the wedding grew exponentially as did my excitement. And finally, when the day arrived, I was overtaken with excitement, nerves, and love. One week ago today, I was lucky enough to marry the man of my dreams. Seems so cliche, but it is absolutely true. Vlad and I have been together nearly six years. We swam together in college. He moved to Germany. We started a website together which turned into our company and full time job. He moved back from Germany. We moved to Florida. We went though so much together, but from day one I knew I was going to marry him and live my happily ever after. Our happily ever after began six years ago, but the wedding last Friday was the last little piece of the relationship finalization.

See all of my wedding day accessories...

So, the 1980s throwback trend is, like, a thing. I get that. I’m even a moderate supporter of it, when done correctly. The 80s were a time of excess and fashion-forwardness and questionable taste, and everyone loves that, right? Right. Except when it’s done like the Pauric Sweeney Padded Patchwork Top Handle, I don’t love it. At all. Not even a little. It kind of makes my eyes hurt to look at it. This isn’t just a winking reference to 80s ridiculousness – this is taking something that was already fug back then and making it more fug and more expensive 25 years later. And I, for one, am not fooled and not impressed. In order to do “retro” correctly, a designer has to somehow make it sleeker and more modern than it was to begin with, and there’s nothing about this bag that looks updated in the least. It wasn’t cute then, and it’s not cute now, sadly; it’s a retro-gone-wrong monstrosity. Even if this bag was given to me for free, I sincerely doubt I would wear it to anything but a costume party. Buy through LuisaViaRoma for € 810.00.

In commenting on one of my previous posts over on the Forum, our lovely member gacats mentioned a piece of classic style advice that I think many people (designers and fashionistas included) have totally forgotten lately: when dressing, always remove one accessory before leaving the house. It may sound a bit conservative to some folks, but it’s a great way to ensure that you don’t look like a fashion victim or someone wearing a costume. Now, if only certain bag designers would take that advice. Consider the Thomas Wylde Colossus Scorpion Bag, for instance. There are things about this bag that I love – the leather looks so soft that I have the strange urge to rub it on my face, the bike-chain handle is a cool, industrial touch, as are the spikes at the handle attachment, and the overall effect is full of edgy-but-fashionable personality that could really do wonders for the average outfit. And then…there are the scorpions emblazoned on the front in silver studs. I know that’s sort of Thomas Wylde’s thing, with the random stuff depicted in studs, but I wish his look would evolve a bit and maybe become a little more subtle. This bag would still have attitude to spare without the bugs on it, and with them, it seems just a wee bit silly. Part of me also thinks it looks a lot less luxurious than it could – the scorpions break up all that delicious, wonderful, touchable leather. So, Thomas Wylde, please consider heeding some sage advice – next time you get the urge to put bugs on a purse, let it pass. Buy through eLuxury for $2500.

I don’t even really know how to begin. I am bringing you a Christian Louboutin handbag that isn’t a clutch? I think this is a first. While there are times I write about handbags for no reason other than shock or surprise; this time, being surprised is a good thing. I am so pleased with the Christian Louboutin Piercing Softy Hobo I almost don’t know where to start. The soft “makeup” colored leather is a shade that can go with so many outfits during so many different seasons. The way the leather is gathered as well as the pleating and vertical welts draw the eye to the detailing that went into designing and crafting the bag. And of course, as you might be able to tell, this is a bag that would be perfect to use during the day. Yet at the same time, I could see myself carrying this during the evening as well. If you aren’t a fan of the color, fear not, the handbag comes in black as well. If you ever doubted that this was truly a Louboutin handbag, open it up and you will find the signature bright silk satin lining. Gorgeous. And since you are pretty much sure to drop a pretty penny or two on a Louboutin, maybe a larger bag like this one can be more justifiable than one of the clutches. Buy through Saks for $1895.

Lately, Marni has been going slouchy and I like it. Sure, growing up my mother, grandmother and various family members would always tell the kids, “don’t slouch”. Well, I’m going to go against that and tell the folks over at Marni to keep slouching their way into our hearts and our closets! A little while ago, Amanda brought you the Marni Slouchy Leather Bag. Although that bag received mixed reviews from our readers, I had to bring you another Marni bag. The Marni Slouchy Shoulder Bag demonstrates how a bit of asymmetry can actually work. The caramel slouchy leather with silver-tone hardware, shoulder strap, zip across the top and turnlock fastening all come together nicely. In a season full of bright, Bright, BRIGHT colors, it would be nice to add a neutral bag to your wardrobe. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1410.