Totes

I feel like we have been lazy around here- but it is not laziness- rather Vlad and I both are seriously swamped with traveling etc (ah yes and fine-dining and shopping- what can I say? ) Vlad did an awesome job at making my birthday special- and so did all my friends and family. Being pampered should really be everyday of the week if you ask me. Today I realized that I have looked at and thought about Botkier bags but have actually never mentioned them. Sometimes there are just so many bags to write about and not enough time to do them all. Botkier bags have made a huge appearance into today’s fashion world and have been loved by many of us out there. I really just love the Black Botkier Clyde Bag which is made of soft Italian cowhide and polished hardware. One of the main aspects that defines this bag are the long, diagonal zippered front pockets with tassel pulls and the horizontal back zippered pocket. There are also beautifully cinched side pouch pockets which also have tassel pulls. The new thing to do is have a removable leather shoulder strap along with the tote handles which makes all of us happy on any given-day. The inside of the bag also contains quite a few goodies having both interior patch and zippered pockets along with and interior key hook. These bags make a bold statement with their simple but defining look. The price of this black beauty is $625 on eLuxury.

While I am vacationing in Europe, my family is out of power in South Florida after Hurricane Katrina hit. I am sure they are fine, but I feel kind of bad- although none of that is in my power. So I woke up a little worried/annoyed with the news of the Hurricane (although it was a low category storm it has already killed 4 people and put 1 million out of power), and decided to write about a bag that fits my annoyed mood. This is an early apology if I bash this bag too much; after all I have a few other things on my mind.

So I ran into this Prada Nylon Passamentry Tote. Saks, where it is being sold, does not offer much information on the bag, but I’d like to take a stab on some of what they left out. The tote has a zip top and measures12¼”H X 12¼”L X 2¾”W. Simple enough. But now comes the interesting part to me. The focal point of the tote is the grommets which surround the passamentry details. Anyone want to enlighten me on what passamentry details are? I’m not really sure. The passamentry details look to me like they form the shape of a cross. Humm. Better yet, the grommets are placed on nylon. I know Prada makes quite a few nylon bags (I own some), but with a name like that it is time to not call your nylon bag a runway look. Because this bag is “straight off the runway” the price tag also adds a “runway” fare. This nylon bag costs $1265 via Saks. Now, I did not really call the bag ugly- just not my style. For sure not my style with the price and knowing that the bulk of the bag is made of nylon. Even I am not that dumb to be suckered into buying a nylon bag for $1300. What do you all think? Am I way off on the price/overall look of the bag? (If I am we are so blaming it on my bad mood!! )

I’m not even sure how I got to the site Belen Echandia, but it was somewhere in between my usual morning internet searching. I start every morning off checking out my own blog (as if I don’t know what is on here), then checking out my usual favorites, and all of a sudden I realize that I have clicked my way into the internet highway. If you could be lost on the internet, that is me every morning. Most of the time, I just stop- because I really end up down the wrong alley. Any of you find that your search for fashion or celeb’s turns into something you sooo were not looking for? Like blogs on some man’s sex life with his wife. Yup, happens to me often too (or wait, maybe it’s just me?? Please tell me it has happened to you before also?!). So this morning I found my way to a site new to me on some luxurious handbags and purses.

Belen Echandia is a company whose founder, Jackie Cawthra, started in London. Much of her ideas came from time she spent in Spain, taking on new colors and imagination. Her bags focus on quality and luxury. I ran into this site and really was drawn to the styles and colors offered. One bag I nabbed a liking for is the Belen Echandia ‘Take Me Anywhere’ Model no. 636. Yes, that is quite the mouthful. ‘Take Me Anywhere’ is the name of the collection. The designer has chosen to name collections with fun little phrases like this. This is a bigger bag for us women who love to carry our lives around with us, sizing up at H: 27 cm W: 40 cm. This bag has 3 zip compartments and 2 inside pockets. I especially love the G-Aqua Marine color on this bag. Divine! The bag goes for £347 (roughly $625) on Belen Echandia.

Anyone remember the song, “I don’t want to grow up, I’ma Toys’ R Us kid!” That song was my personal song for quite some time. I never wanted to be ‘old’. Gasp, it happened. Without me even knowing, I went through school and life and now I’m a grown-up. Somehow I’m not surprised that I didn’t dodge growing up. But with age came a job and a new look. A new look means new clothes and bags! I love being a grown-up (only for those shallow reasons really). Kate Spade has designed a new ‘grown-up’ bag that I have fallen in love with. The Kate Spade Glazed Calfskin Tote is a rich chocolate brown glazed calfskin tote with ring top handles. The bag is also has white topstitching, a stamped logo, and golden keepers. I don’t think I would carry this bag everyday (sometimes there are too many things that need to be carried thus I need the use of shoulder straps), but this would sure make an impression in the board room. Think of the scenes in the movies where the boss lady goes into the board room for an urgent meeting, throws her briefcase down on the table, lets out a loud sigh, places both hands on the table, looks at the room and says, “So where do we stand?”. My story may be far off, but just pretend it made sense, and just picture the lady carrying this Kate Spade tote. It works, doesn’t it? If you want to make a statement in the world of ‘grown-ups’ you can buy this bag for $455 through Neiman Marcus.

Giorgio, we need to sit down and have a word. Is everything ok? Are you confused or lost in life? No? Then explain to me why you used a curtain and its tassels from Napoleon’s old house. It’s just all wrong. This seriously looks like you would find it in the medieval period carrying around an apple or something medivalish (hey, I was never a fan of history so I’m not quite sure what they carried around then). My biggest problem is the price. For this you want $1695? Are you out of your mind?

This Giorgio Armani Velvet Tassel Tote is simply all wrong. Armani, which is usually known for its high end fashion, should have never made this bag public. The tote is made of chocolate velvet with brown crochet embroidered trim on the body. There is a woven double shoulder strap with the infamous tassels. Now, for this bag Armani wants $1695 of your hard-earned cash (Bergdorf Goodman). Are you going to splurge on this?

I have a little question; how many of you think you could head on over to your local craft store and make this bag yourself? If I have a little free time when I head back to the states I just might do so and show pics later to see if it resembles this bag. What do you all think??

Sorry all of you for the slight lack in posts from today and yesterday. Vlad and I took the train down to Frankfurt to visit his family for the weekend and just made it back to Bonn right now. We drove back along the Rhein River which was absolutely beautiful {pictures to come next week!}. Anyhow now that I’m back and able to access a computer easily and freely, it’s time to start talking about bags!

One of my favorite things is to come across a new bag from a designer that just blows me away. I love to see a pattern, shape, or design that is different from what we usually expect from our usual designers (some of who forget that we remember what last season’s bags looked like and want something different). I have never been the biggest Emilio Pucci fan, but all of the bags I have covered by Marchese Emilio Pucci di Barsento (yup that’s his whole name- he is a debonair Italian aristocrat), have usually been the signature print patterns. This is why I am really happy to see this differently designed bag by him for fall. The Emilio Pucci Tweed Turtle Print Tote Bag is made of a woven turtle print tweed and smooth rich brown leather. The tweed uses entrancing hues of aubergine, amber, and olive green. The rolled leather shoulder straps feature antiqued brass links and Pucci-engraved rivets. For any little treasure you may have, there is a secret snapped pocket under the front leather flap. Going for $990 via eLuxury, this beauty of a bag is just in time for fall!

After my first year of Girl Scouts (yes, I was a Girl Scout- Troop 76), we got to take an end of the year trip to go horse back riding. I was ecstatic. But a few little problems arose. First, my horse was by far the biggest horse out there since I was very tall. Secondly, my over-powering horse decided to get spooked and scared all the other horses- which in turn bucked some of the girls off of their horses. And thirdly, I was allergic to that sucker. But nevertheless, I loved the experience. I wanted my own horsey, like most little girls, and I would not give up on bugging my dad about getting one. I never did get that horse. I’m still a little bitter to this day. But since I never got that pony, I will allow my father to make it up to me by buying me this Gucci Large Boston Bag.

This fall bag by Gucci is absolutely gorgeous. The bag is beige horsebit velvet with violet/mandarin/violet signature web and buckle detail. The horsebit detail in the velvet really makes the beauty of the bag’s design stand out and grab attention. The dimensions are 11″H x 16″W x 5 1/2″D. Being a Gucci bag, the price is of course a bit high. This bag runs for $1,990.00 through Neiman Marcus (pre-order).

Usually UGG has put the UGG in FUGGLY with their handbags. I just never liked ‘em. I looked at them and thought they used left over pieces from their all too common shoes/boots they make. But when I looked at this new bag this morning, wham, I liked it. It’s different. Now don’t get me wrong, I sure would not carry it around everywhere. But the infamous jeans and a sweater could use this bag easily. So why not give this UGG a try?

The UGG Main Street Grab Bag is a roomy suede-trimmed leather tote. My favorite part is the two colors used on the bag, teal and dark brown. The tote includes two outside pockets and an inside zip center compartment. If you look closely you can see that the majority of the bag is made of leather. That’s a nice change from the usual UGG Fug. Other features are the magnetic closure, adjustable handles, and flannel lining (god forbid your cell phone gets cold). This bag is available via Nordstrom for $230.

Usually people connect Versace with ridiculous, over-the-edge and pomptuous glam. Not so Versace’s new Large Monogram Buckle Bag. The tote comes along with a very sophisticated shine that indicates luxurious refinement. A colorful satin-finished monogram twill is paired with smooth, dark brown leather and polished golden ornaments, while the spacious interior is held in luscious silk. Delicious! Polished golden metal hardware adds blends in very nicely with its appearance, and the signature Medusa medallion on the front flap does not leave anyone in doubt that the bag is indeed a true Versace at heart. An absolutely gorgeous tote — the Italian made bag goes for a reasonable $1,092 and is available online via eLuxury.com.

I never liked work. But I sure liked to play dress up. I would dress up in anything, my mom’s clothes, my dad’s clothes, I’d write on my clothes, kitchen pots and pans, dirt, anything. As the years kept passing me by, I realized I would have to stop playing dress up and actually be forced to dress up because real people in the real world do that (Fake world, please take me back!). But I have always been able to find the positives in everything in my life, even if it is absurd. This positive I have found in work is absurd to my rational father and frugal mother, and probably the rest of the practical world, but in my world it makes perfect sense. If you must get a real job, why not spend that real money on a really nice bag? I refuse to ever be the business lady with the ugly suit and the uglier bag. No way! For all of you ladies who have been saving up for a new work bag, I have my eyes set on one that most of you will let your mouths drop and drool over. The Dior Romantic Flowers Leather Tote is to die for.

Dior has always had a way of drawing attention to their glamorous bags, and this new tote is nothing less than astonishing. Made with polished grained calf leather, the bag manifests its beauty in warm brown and shimmering floral embroidery with a butterfly on the front of the bag. The handles are topstitched leather with leather-covered polished silver metal C and D links and CD rivets. The brown logo jacquard interior provides a zipped pocket, patch pocket, and cell phone pocket. The dimensions are important to follow, because the tote is not huge- so make sure before you buy it if it is for work purposes it will fit all of your grown-up supplies. The measurements are 12″ (at top; bottom length is 9.75″) x 8.25″ (at center; height at sides is 7.5″) x 4.5″ (at base). So be that dress up girl that does the real world right- buy this fabulous little Dior tote via eLuxury for $1,080.