August 2010 - Page 3

The Yves Saint Laurent Studded Suede Roady reminds me that cold weather is coming

Aug 23, 2010 by Amanda Mull

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m craving winter so badly. Yesterday I wore jeggings (don’t judge me) to the mall in silent protest of the 95-degree temperatures we’ve been having since…May. It’s been a long summer.

I live in Atlanta, so I have about six more weeks of genuinely warm weather before I even get to think about breaking out any kind of long-sleeve options for daytime wear (and even then, that’s only if I’m lucky), but the sight of the Yves Saint Laurent Studded Suede Roady has me wanting winter even more.

Louis Vuitton Python Artsy

Aug 20, 2010 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Louis Vuitton may not be known for their small array of exotic handbags, but they should not be ignored. One of the most exciting parts of visiting our favorite Louis Vuitton boutique at the Bal Harbour shops in Miami is seeing what exotic bags they have on display. I have never owned one but I have always coveted them. And why wouldn’t I? Some of the most classic Louis Vuitton designs are re-vamped in exotic skin touches, adding an extra level of allure and luxury.

Right now the Louis Vuitton Python Artsy is luring me. Available in both gris and noir, the Artsy is a double threat because of its classic hobo shape and design.

New at Net-A-Porter 8.20.10

Aug 20, 2010 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

This week’s new bags at Net-A-Porter give us the feeling that fall is coming soon. We have deep reds, dark browns, and lots of black bags arriving at one of our favorite online shopping destinations. I have never been much of a fan of designer backpacks, but this week I cannot help but covet the Alexander Wang version (review to come soon). Take a look at all of the new items to Net-A-Porter this week!

Shop What’s New at Net-A-Porter Now!

Jimmy Choo impresses for the first time in a long time

Aug 20, 2010 by Amanda Mull

Things from Jimmy Choo have been a bit “blah” lately. They’ve continued to make a lot of popular styles from previous seasons in new materials and finishes, which should make the brand’s devotees happy, but I always prefer to see something new alongside old favorites.

The Jimmy Choo Rosa Satchel maybe not seem all that striking or innovative to the casual observer, but for Choo, it’s something a bit different. Many of the brand’s bags have been a bit over-designed in recent seasons, and with that in mind, the restraint and editing that went into this design are admirable, not to mention very attractive.

Did Hinge skin a horse for this bag?

May 9, 2011Aug 20, 2010 by Amanda Mull

No, they didn’t, but they somehow managed to make it look like that’s exactly what happened.

Haircalf and animal print are big this season, but I don’t find myself as skeeved out by the average leopard print bag as I am by the Hinge Animal Print Calf Hair Hobo. At first I wasn’t sure why, but then it occurred to me – animals like the one from whence this pattern (which seems to fall somewhere in the realm of “generalized livestock”) came are exactly the animals used to manufacture bags. Just like most of us have probably never plucked a chicken before, it’s a bit unsettling to be confronted by what appears to be an untreated, untouched hide. No one’s making bags out of actual leopard, so those bags don’t give me the same feeling of unease.

Valentino is all about Lace for Fall

Aug 19, 2010 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Fall is all about fur and one of the other fall trends is lace. Of course Valentino released countless lace items, from shoes to clothing to bags. Seeing as how Valentino has perfected the art of feminine designs, it is only fitting for Valentino to tackle lace. As far as this bag goes however, it just isn’t quite cutting it for me.

The Valentino Day Lace Medium Duffle features a familiar shape (Louis Vuitton Speedy anyone?) with a black floral vine lace over.

Bored of diamond quilting? Alexander Wang has something a little more intricate for you

Aug 19, 2010Aug 19, 2010 by Amanda Mull

Chanel (and more recently, Marc Jacobs) has made an empire out of diamond quilting, but even for the most ardent fan of the Classic Flap bags, it can get a little repetitive. Still, quilting is one of the best and most versatile ways to add texture and detail to a handbag, and it shouldn’t be discounted just because so many others have done it in the past.

Alexander Wang has the right idea about how to make quilting unique with the Alexander Wang Isis Frame Clutch. The classic motif reminds me a bit of what another famous Alexander (McQueen) has done for Fall, but Wang keeps the colors dark and the details industrial in order to tie the look back into his brand’s style.

Dior reminds us why fur bags are a bad idea

Aug 19, 2010 by Amanda Mull

On the one hand, fur bags are usually atrocious, not to mention dubiously ethical. On the other hand, they’ve certainly given me plenty of fodder for posts and given you guys lots of stuff to talk about (or, more accurately, to talk smack about), so maybe they’re not all bad.

The Dior Libertine Fur Hobo, though, is pretty awful. Not only is it pink, but it needs a good conditioning treatment and a blowout something fierce. Much like the Lanvin pumps I posted about recently on TalkShoes, I feel like I shouldn’t have to pay such an exorbitant amount of money for a bag that needs a salon appointment.

The Kenneth Cole New York Emcee Squared Satchel is no shrinking violet

May 9, 2011Aug 19, 2010 by Amanda Mull

If you had told me yesterday that today, I would look at a black leather satchel with small silver studs and think it was interesting or inventive, I would have told you to shut up. No kidding.

And yet, the Kenneth Cole New York Emcee Squared Satchel is both interesting and inventive. It’s also pretty stylish and reasonably priced, all of which can sometimes be hard to find in a functional black leather bag. Valentino wishes it had come up with this idea first.

Are Maison Martin Margiela’s conceptual bags worth the money?

Aug 19, 2010 by Amanda Mull

If someone were to tell me that they were going to design a bag based on an oversized jewelry box, that might sound like kind of a bad idea. Surprisingly (or not so surprisingly, depending on how much you follow the brand), Maison Martin Margiela was able to do so with a signature minimalist flair. The Maison Martin Margiela Jewelry Box Clutch might look like it’s supposed to hold a pair of very, very large diamond studs at first, but it’s really meant to hold your night-out necessities. Personally, I’d prefer the giant pair of earrings…

Isabella Fiore tries out heavy metal

May 9, 2011Aug 19, 2010 by Amanda Mull

I think I’m a bit biased in my generalized love for Isabella Fiore, and here’s why. Five years ago when I first joined the Purse Forum, it was to gain more information on an Isabella Fiore bag that I had been eyeing. I eventually bought the bag and decided to stick around the forum for a while, which only had a couple hundred members back then. Half a decade and a couple hundred thousand members later, I’m now a full-time employee of the company; if it hadn’t been for my curiosity over that bag, there’s no telling where I’d be today.

Not that any of that information is directly related to the Isabella Fiore Valentino Satchel, which I like very much. Even if I didn’t have a special place in my heart for the brand, this would still be a pretty cool bag.

Fashion meets Technology: Oscar de la Renta iPad Clutches

Aug 18, 2010 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Oscar de la Renta continues to prove he is not only ahead of the curve but also completely able to relate to all of us who spend our days glued to gadgets.

Today we have the exclusive preview of the second batch of Oscar de la Renta iPad Clutches. The first iPad cases (which Oscar endearingly calls a clutch) were spotted on the runway of the Resort 2011 show. Just before that show, Oscar himself purchased an iPad which prompted him to create a fashionable clutch to cover his new omnipotent tablet.