I’m a really, really big Marchesa fan. That normally wouldn’t have anything to do with affordably priced handbags, but today, it does.
Marchesa’s finely ruffled confections cost many, many thousands of dollars, but the same aesthetic can be had at a lower price from different sources. This time, it can be had in a handbag with the Sondra Roberts Floral Organza Clutch.
Perhaps some of the black dye from my hair appointment yesterday has seeped into my brain, but I find the Fendi Seleria Zucca Horse Tote almost…charming. It has chutzpah, and I respect that, even if I don’t necessarily want to spend money on it or carry it around town.
Some leather-goods brands tend to be so self-serious about their origins in equestrianism and saddlery, and it seems as though Fendi is deliberately poking fun at that kind of slightly stodgy traditionalism and humorlessness. And a giant leather horse head on a logo bag, from a company which largely has no such origins? That’s hilarious, if only to people who spend far more time thinking about bags than is healthy.
Both Megs and I hold a special place in our hearts for the Proenza Schouler PS1 Bag, and I only find myself liking it more as time goes on. Jack & Lazaro’s decision to have their black-on-black beauties hand-embroidered with a grey pattern for fall just makes my heart flip all the more, and it was already flipping quite a bit over the simple leather PS1s.
Sadly, I won’t have to start making arrangements in my budget and closet to accomodate one of these lovely bags, because they sold out almost immediately upon their Net-a-Porter debut yesterday morning. But a girl can still dream, right?
We’re all conditioned to pay a certain amount of markup for exotics, particularly ultra luxe skins like python. If you’re careful and choose correctly, though, you don’t have to. More and more small brands keep popping up to give us python without the premium prices, and Abaco is my favorite of the moment.
The Abaco Python Dana Crossbody is similar to the larger bag that we featured over at PurseBlog recently, but it’s a mini crossbody and the price is even better than you would expect.
Since we’ve been noting a clear move from monogrammed cute to sleek and chic in Tory’s shoes and bags, it’s no surprise that the Spring 2011 presentation was nothing short of gorgeous. It also confirmed that the 70s really are going to be in style next spring – I know, I know, Marc Jacobs confirmed it too but Tory Burch has the power of mass appeal. Plus, her 70s-inspired pieces were paired with other items that gave them a decidedly modern twist. For example, bell-bottom pants were paired with things like a fine-knit sweater that reminded of Peruvian striped styles or just a simple long-sleeved tee. The shoes were pretty high, yes – giant-heeled espadrilles or high wedges – but there were easy sandals as well.
I have been in the midst of moving mayhem, where looking pretty is near impossible. But I took a break to shop online (what else is new), and found the most ladylike feminine handbag Valentino has yet to release. This bag combines elegant structure that is always welcomed along with a twist of fun with the leopard print.
My brain is frazzled with all sorts of moving on my mind but I want to buy the Valentino Aphrodite Leopard Bag. Never mind the fact that this is the price of a nice leather couch, I want to sit on the ground in our new apartment and keep this bag next to me. Then I would tell everyone how lovely she is. Because really, she is gorgeous!
Marc Jacobs is almost inarguably the king of New York Fashion Week, and his Marc Jacobs Collection show is always the most sought-after invitation of them all (at least stateside). This year, the show livestreamed online to thousands of fans while the editors and buyers looked on in Manhattan, and what a splendid show Marc created to kick off the digital age at his company – if you like a good 70s reference in your spring wardrobe, that is.
Jacobs will also join us in the 21st century by launching online retail at MarcJacobs.com today, but you’ll have to wait until next year if you want to scoop up the collection’s fabulously wearable printed dresses and (slightly less fabulous) shiny pantsuits in a palette of plum, pumpkin and raspberry. While you wait patiently, we have photos of the best looks to entice you, after the jump. Oh, and the bags! How could I forget the bags? Jacobs took a refreshing turn back to normalcy this season, and the richly hued day clutch seems to be his bag of choice for spring.
From his runway to God’s ears, as they say.
Ok, so maybe this is actually cheetah print, as the play on words in the name of the pattern implies. That’s just a technicality, and the word “cheetah” didn’t fit nicely within the alliteration of this post’s title, and I’m not sure I could tell the difference anyway. Although I’m pretty sure that there is a difference (besides the obvious fact that cheetahs and leopards are different animals).
Anyway, now that we have that cleared up, let’s discuss the bag. I have travel on my mind lately, and the LeSportsac Cheater Passerby Bag seems like a good way to keep it there.
It’s been an undeniably fabulous year for Mulberry. The Alexa bag took off into the stratosphere with the endorsement of namesake Alexa Chung and brought hordes of new customers to the brand’s signature British It Girl look, and it appears as though things won’t be slowing down at all for Mulberry Spring 2011. At the brand’s New York runway show earlier today, a well-edited collection of style mavens and fashion bigwigs looked on as the brand presented a polished-yet-fun line of ready-to-wear, shoes and bags.
And it’s the bags, of course, that we’re worried about here. Fans of the Alexa won’t be let down – the design will be coming in several new colors and finishes for spring, and the brand has launched a new, similar satchel called the Tillie for anyone who already has enough Alexas in her closet. My favorite bags were the (little m) mulberry ones – purples with lots of red undertones have a spot in my heart and wardrobe any day. We have tons of detailed photos after the jump, and you can either let us know what you think in the comments or over at our Mulberry Spring 2011 discussion thread on PurseForum!
I thought we had seen Rebecca Minkoff‘s popular Morning After and Morning After Mini Bags in just about every iteration you can think of – studded, embossed, bicolor, bimaterial, zippered, riveted – but it looks as though there was one option that we missed – quilted. Luckily for us, the fine folks at RM didn’t forget about it, and we’re here to present the Rebecca Minkoff Quilted Morning After Mini Bag
When done correctly, quilting imparts a wonderful sense of depth and texture onto a bag, and Minkoff has done well with this version of the bag that made her famous. The flat leather accents provide a nice visual alternative to the quilting, and the sparse domed studs add to the on-trend military feel of this bag.
By far one of the best parts of my first week back at school was Fashion Week – I jetted (well, ok, I took the subway) to shows before and after class. But I was highly anticipating the Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2011 show, and now I can say with full confidence that it exceeded my expectations.
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