Alexander McQueen Leather Biker Satchel

We are self-proclaimed Alexander McQueen fans here at PurseBlog. And this bag is no different.

The Alexander McQueen Leather Biker Satchel infuses a design that I wasn’t completely in love with to make a bag that is speaking to me. With all of the pockets and zippers from the Alexander McQueen Leather Biker Tote and the laid-back satchel style, I am loving this bag from Alexander McQueen. Confession: Amanda wrote about a grey version of this bag before and thought it was a misstep from McQueen. I too felt like that bag was lacking something. Actually, in grey it is completely blah for me.

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Dooney & Bourke Kristen Animal Print Tote

I have a large stable of straight, male friends as a result of my three collegiate years spent working evenings and weekends at Best Buy, and even though they’re always very polite and make sure to ask me how my job is going, it’s rare that they have specific inquiries for me about handbags. Which, I suppose, is as expected.

That’s why it caught me off guard when one of those guys asked me about a type of bag that he had seen over and over again while we were at dinner not long ago. His description was vague, but we eventually figured out that he was talking about bags like the Dooney & Bourke Kristen Animal Tote and its many doppelgangers.

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Paris Couture Week: Chanel

First, I’d like to say that I’m so incredibly happy that Chanel Haute Couture chose to do something more interesting for their show this season than they did for their show last season. Although, if you find silver and white boring, this may be another loser for you.

It was a winner for me, however. For the first time in his lengthy career, Karl Lagerfeld created a collection that completely eschewed black and navy – in fact, it eschewed color of any sort, save for a few traditional Chanel suits with a culotte twist (I just dry heaved a little bit there), which were rendered in various pastels. The collection was beautifully draped, beaded and rendered in the most unforgiving color palette you can imagine for the construction of clothing, but it all worked exactly as it should have. Of course it did; it’s couture.

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Tumi Albuquerque East/West Messenger Bag

If you’re one of those girls (or guys) who stares quite jealously and longingly at every person who passes who seems to have a perfectly worn leather messenger then, you’re in luck. This Tumi Albuquerque East/West Messenger Bag will completely one-up that mythical messenger you’re lusting after.

It’s simultaneously sleek and minimalist while appearing classic, which is quite a difficult balance to strike. Consider: the leather is nicely pebbled, and with Tumi’s history of unbelievable quality, it’s safe to say that this messenger will carry bunches and age particularly well. And they’ve added in a modern twist: rather than using the more traditional brassy buckle for the messenger’s closures, there’s a simple button-press that renders the whole concept futuristic. Well, considering how little the messenger has changed over time, it’s practically lightyears away.

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Paris Haute Couture Week: Givenchy

Of the few shows that we’ve seen so far Givenchy Haute Couture felt the most like couture to me. As the line between a normal runway show and a couture show continues to blur and fewer brands present the highest of high fashion as time goes on and the customer base dwindles, I still thoroughly enjoy seeing a full-on, beads-and-feathers-and-funny-hats shindig.

Thankfully, that’s exactly what Givenchy gave us. Modernist lampshade-esque hats topped looks from ballgowns to jumpsuits, rendered in lace, beading, feathers and ruffles and then dipped in pure, unadulterated fabulousness.

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Franchi Carrie Crystal Cage Clutch

I wish I had more places to carry sparkly little bags. Not that I want more weddings to go to (in fact, don’t invite me to your wedding, I won’t come unless the catering is going to be really good) or things like that…it would just be nice if life was a little more glamorous, you know? I fabulous party here and there, maybe a premiere. Tiny, sparkly clutches and dive bars don’t mix.

If I had more places to take such bags, the Franchi Carrie Crystal Cage Clutch would certainly be among my collection. We’ve had the whole cage shoe “thing” going on for a while now – why not a cage bag?

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Louis Vuitton Core Values: Annie Leibovitz with Mikhail Baryshnikov

I have a hard time putting into words the excitement I felt when I received the press release on the latest Louis Vuitton Core Values campaign. As with the previous campaigns featuring outstanding personalities like Sean Connery, Michail Gorbachev, Keith Richards and the famous astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Jim Lovell and Sally Ride, the latest campaign could not have chosen better Core Values icons.

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Botkier Harper Studded Leather Hobo

The truth is, I wouldn’t use the word “studded” to describe this particular Botkier Harper Studded Leather Hobo. No, this hobo is much more subtle, with a few quiet, strategically placed studs in lieu of the masses of the things on a bag that could truly merit that name.

That said, I’m one of the few people nowadays who isn’t participating in the Great Stud Revolution of Fall 2009 and Winter 2010. I prefer my studs to be small and simple, much like these round nickel button studs on this particular Botkier. The seriousness of those studs nicely contrasts with the thick straps encircling the bag.

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Paris Haute Couture Week: Christian Dior

Good news, everyone – it’s cool to be an uptight, rich plutocrat again! Adjust accordingly.

Really, where would those ideals be more appropriately on display than at the Christian Dior Haute Couture show this week in Paris? John Galliano styled his Cruella-meets-English-nobility show with riding crops and streaks of Bride of Frankenstein grey hair, and although I didn’t adore this collection as much as I did the lingerie-as-outerwear show from six months ago, I couldn’t help but smile. Haute Couture Week is like getting a big, beaded, sparkly fashion hug.

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Yves Saint Laurent Linen Roady

The biggest release from YSL in the past few years was the Roady, which launched last September. The Roady is an utterly simple design that brings in an added touch which bumps up the aesthetic. I know many of you did not like just how simple the original Roady was, so this post will bring you nothing more than the first. But if you loved the Roady and you love having a spring bag in your collection, the Yves Saint Laurent Linen Roady may be for you.

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Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Nylon Leopard Print Bag

This is going to be another one of those posts where I wax poetic about how much I simply cannot resist something that is objectively quite tacky, so if you’re the sort that is going to roll your eyes at me over this (again), you might want to stop here and find another post to read. There is absolutely nothing that you’re going to enjoy after this point.

Now on to the business of the Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Nylon Leopard-Print Bag. For some reason, this bag takes a lot of things that shouldn’t work together, combines them, and somehow pulls it off. I have a theory as to why.

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Gucci G Coin Medium Hobo

When I first saw the Gucci G Coin Medium Hobo, I couldn’t help but think that the whole thing seemed kind of sedate for the Gucci aesthetic. I know that the brand has plenty of simple, clean-lined bags at a variety of price points, but whenever I see one of them, it just seems like they’re missing the point of being Gucci, for cryin’ out loud.

I’m one of the horde of Tom Ford fangirl holdouts, although I enjoy what Frida Giannini is doing with the brand more and more as the seasons go on. In fact, when I disregard the brand, I like what this bag has going on quite a bit.

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