April 2012 - Page 3

The Look for Less: Ombre Woven Clutches

Apr 17, 2012 by Amanda Mull

When I was looking for bags to feature in one of last week’s wedding guides, I came across the stunning Kotur Barnes Ombre Woven Clutch. I was immediately smitten – the way that the ultra bright colors mingle in the middle is so unique and so memorable that I couldn’t get the bag out of my head. It seems as though I wasn’t the only one who had that reaction; since that post went up, I’ve had a few friends mention the Kotur clutch in particular as a standout.

$450 isn’t an outrageous price in the least when you compare it to some of the bags that we write about, but we try to be sensitive to the fact that it’s still a lot to pay for a bag that you might only use a few times per season. Naturally, that’s where this edition of Look for Less and the Serpui Marie Marrakech Minaudiere come in.

Shop authentic Chanel bags both past and present, don’t miss out

Apr 16, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Finding places to buy authentic Chanel bags online sometimes feels like finding a needle in a haystack. One of our favorite flash sale sites, MyHabit, is having an amazing Chanel event today that is not to be missed. I’m getting all kinds of competitive feelings inside of me to click faster and get the Chanel … Read more

Live auction newbie? Learn how to bid like a pro!

Apr 16, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

As you have noticed by now, we are working closely with Heritage Auctions for their amazing Spring Luxury Auction. So far, we’ve showed you some of the items up for auction and invited you to our private preview and event. (Seriously, you should come to that, it is going to be awesome!) However, what we haven’t shared is the part that seemingly terrifies most of us, including myself, which is how to buy at auction.

I am sure many of you use eBay or similar sites to buy and sell items, but large auction houses run differently and I feel like an outsider to this world. I took some time to sit down with the team at Heritage to figure out some of the best tips and tricks so that all of us, whether we’re attending the auction itself or bidding via phone or online, can learn more about the auction world. So let’s learn about this together and then we can all bid and win the items of our dreams!

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: The greatest handbag romance ever told?

Apr 13, 2012Apr 13, 2012 by Amanda Mull

As I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are an item. Somehow, the two biggest publicity hounds in the entire entertainment industry have come together to make tabloid magic, although whether this pairing is true love or all business remains to be seen. (Take an educated guess and see where you find yourself.) The greatest news of all, though, is that Kanye is going to be featured on the upcoming season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians – that sound you just heard was E! executives involuntarily gasping with glee.

It’s well known in these parts that I’m a bit skeptical of Kim (although awed at her ability to make money), but I’m an unabashed Kanye fangirl. The more ridiculous he becomes, the more Yeezy I want in my life, which means that his “relationship” (scarequotes necessary, obvi) with Kim is a truly fortunate turn of events for me. If you’re a bag lover, it’s also oddly fortunate for you – Kim’s collection is legendary even among those who despise her, and Kanye has the best collection of man bags I’ve ever seen on a celebrity. But whose bag game is tighter? Let’s examine the evidence after the jump.

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Coach teams up with artist James Nares for limited edition totes

Apr 13, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Louis Vuitton may have pioneered the idea, but now handbags designers collaborating with high-profile artists is all the rage. Everyone from Dior to Coach has given it a shot, and in the case of Coach, it seems as though the company has judged such collaborations to be a roaring success. Fresh off of a much-loved menswear teamup with Hugo Guinness, the American handbag company has tapped New York artist James Nares to lend his prints to a collection of totes that will debut a week from today.

Coach x James Nares will feature the artist’s signature waves, which he paints on huge canvasses while hanging from a harness above them. Coach has translated those pieces into a set of six tote bags, each of which will be made in limited editions of 175. The leather-trimmed canvas totes will retail for $798 when they hit Coach stores and Coach.com on April 20. Check with your local store to see if they’ll be receiving pieces from the collection, or better yet, sign up for notification of the bags’ arrival at Coach.com. More images of the collection after the jump.

The Best Non-Traditional Wedding Bags of Spring 2012

Apr 12, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Yesterday, Megs mentioned that it’s wedding season and gave us a great rundown of what a bride looking for a traditional feel should carry on her wedding day. I had just started working for PurseBlog full time back when Megs and Vladi got married and have seen their wedding photos many times since, and believe me, it was a beautiful, classic event that anyone would be proud to call their wedding. If my frequent and vigorous viewing of Say Yes to the Dress (what is it about that show that makes it so addicting, even to people like me who don’t really care about getting married?) is any indication, though, a fair number of people want a celebration that’s a little bit lighter on tradition and heavier on…well, whatever it is that their little hearts desire.

I’m not married and never have been, but if I ever do get hitched, I anticipate being one of those brides. (Sorry, mom.) That’s why I’ve put together a selection of the season’s best wedding bags for those who don’t identify as readily with the white silk and rhinestones that so often permeate the category. From color to texture to embellishment, we’ve got a little something for every bride who wants to break the mold on her big day.

Celine, Proenza Schouler still top handbags at retail

Apr 12, 2012Apr 12, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Not long ago, a friend who works for a major fashion brand asked me, out of the blue, which handbags designers I thought sold the best at department stores. For some reason, it was a question I had never quite thought about in those terms before; so many of the most sought-after accessories labels don’t retail through third parties that it’s hard to gauge where the rest of the pack ranks without solid facts and figures in front of me. Thinking about handbags while disregarding Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes (all of whom control their own retail outlets, even within department stores) seemed entirely foreign.

My best guesses at the time were Celine and Proenza Schouler. Those are the brands who get the most slavish response from fashion people, and I know from personal experience how hard it can be to put your hands on the Celine bag of your choice. As it turns out, I was right – Women’s Wear Daily reports that Celine and Proenza are still a huge highlight in an accessories market that has grown by double digits in the last year. Who else is popular? Some of the names might surprise you.

The Best Traditional Wedding Bags of Spring 2012

Apr 11, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Wedding season is upon us! Since I grew up in Florida, I didn’t realize how big a deal wedding season was for those living in more temperate climates. There’s a true wedding season outside of the tropics, though, and it is just about to begin. Every bride has her own style and own ideas for the perfect wedding; some prefer a fairytale, some want an outrageous event and others simply want something traditional.

The wedding dress tends to be the most important aspect of every bride’s wardrobe followed closely by her shoes, but I don’t want any bride to forget the importance of a chic handbag. I carried my Hermes Kelly Longue on my wedding day and used it in many of our wedding photos in place of flowers. (Yes, I am that obsessed with bags.)

If you consider your style more traditional, here are nine amazing wedding options for you!

Proenza Schouler PS1 Wallet now available in suede

Apr 11, 2012 by Amanda Mull

It’s rare that a designer with as big of a name and as much of a reputation for trend-setting as Proenza Schouler makes anything that is both functional and reasonably affordable, which is why Megs and I have been fans of the Proenza Schouler PS1 Wallet since the very beginning. It was originally planned as a limited edition piece to celebrate the launch of Proenza’s web store, but they were so popular that the brand has been producing the wallets ever since, most of them at the very reasonable price of $165.

Calling all Hermes lovers, we have exclusive peek of the colorful Madison Avenue Couture Event on Rue La La

Apr 11, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

I am officially naming April the month of Hermes. No matter where I click, Hermes bags are popping up everywhere online, and I for one could not be more thrilled. As you all know, and probably many of you have felt similarly, being able to track down an Hermes bag or accessory of your choice is extremely hard. But with trusted sources putting together the best Hermes items both old and new, we can all own a piece (or ten) of Hermes heaven.

Following the much loved Chanel Madison Avenue Couture Event from March, Rue La La is following up with an extensive 65 bag Hermes offering for the month of April. In all colors of the rainbow, in all the skins we love, in a wide variety of options, this Madison Avenue Couture Event from Rue La La should not be missed. The event doesn’t go live until tomorrow morning at 11 AM, but we have the first and the only exclusive sneak peek on the web!

Watch out for a Louis Vuitton price increase coming April 16!

Apr 11, 2012 by Amanda Mull

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but this morning, that’s exactly what we have to be. This is the kind of news you want to know as soon as possible, though, so that you have enough time to adjust, make your plans and complete any purchases that you were contemplating. Yep, we’re talking about a Louis Vuitton price increase. After the jump, we have all the info and a few suggestions of what you should scoop up before everything gets more expensive.

ALERT: Shop Prada bags on sale at Rue La La now

Apr 11, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Looks like our friends at Rue La La are listening to our every want and need: they are filling their boutiques with designer handbags. Almost hidden within the other offerings, the European Luxury Renaissance boutique from Rue added both Fendi and Prada bags. I am more of a Prada girl than Fendi, and these cool Prada Python Bowler Bags caught my eye.

The prices are marked down nearly $1,000 on each bag, which is quite nice considering all of these bags are easy to consider classics. Each Prada bag features exotic python skin in a variety of different colors, my vote personally goes to purple.