August 2012 - Page 3

The Many Bags of Jennifer Aniston

Sep 18, 2012Aug 16, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Jennifer Aniston has been a longtime favorite leading lady of mine because she’s the beautiful girl next door with a smile that lights up anyone’s day. Jennifer is a natural beauty, dressed impeccably all the time in a way that is casual, accessible and easy to appreciate, even for people who don’t care about fashion at all. Jennifer mixes high and low, and can often be seen in her favorite jeans paired with a premium designer blazer. Her personal style is simple and refined, which shows in her handbag collection as well. I’ve never seen her carrying a bag with any sort of obvious logo on it, which totally fits Jen’s style. She is who she is, and no one will change that.

A major congrats to the newly engaged Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, and we’d like to celebrate their special occasion by taking you behind the scenes to explore The Many Bags of Jennifer Aniston.

Purseonals: Coach Willis Bag

Aug 16, 2012Aug 16, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

The first bag I ever begged my parents for (and eventually started off my handbag addiction with) was a classic Coach bag. It was the beginning of what has changed my life and turned into a full-time job, so as you can imagine, Coach holds a very special place in my heart. Over the years … Read more

Get out your needles and thread – embroidery is everywhere for Fall 2012

Aug 16, 2012Aug 15, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Now that aggressive colorblocking (and to a certain extent, pattern-mixing) has run its course, designers have moved on to mixing textures. One wonders exactly where the fashion industry will go once piling beads, fur, studs and jingle bells onto the same outfit becomes tiresome (all the way back around to stark minimalism, probably), but for the moment, your style pursuit for fall is to load up on all the wonderful textures you can.

We all know that fur and bags often don’t mix, and beading can make your purse look a little too precious for regular use, so what’s an accessories fiend to do? Embroidery is one big option for fall, and if you don’t mind channeling grandma (or maybe you really dig it), it might just be the perfect, detailed, texture-rich way to go. Check out our picks for the season’s ten best embroidered bags, from Jason Wu to Alexander McQueen, after the jump.

I could fit my whole life inside the Reed Krakoff Uniform XL Satchel

Aug 15, 2012Aug 15, 2012 by Amanda Mull

And in order to own the above alligator version, I’d probably have to do that literally – rent payments would have to go toward a bag mortgage of some kind. (Feel free to make up your own joke about how New York City apartments are tiny anyway and insert it here.) The Reed Krakoff Alligator Uniform XL Satchel might be worth it, though, particularly if I can get an air conditioner installed in there. It’s certainly more stylish and luxurious than my current walk-up building, if perhaps less functional. Unfortunately, this bag rings up at a whopping $34,000. Plus tax, without air conditioning.

If you have an extra 12K lying around, maybe buy this Valextra clutch

Aug 14, 2012 by Shannon Mahoney

Full disclosure folks, this bag is not cheap, like, at all. I’ll get into the specifics on the price later, but now that I’ve been up front, I feel as though I can talk about this beautiful bag without the guilt. After getting over the immense sticker shock that the price tag gave me, I actually found myself in awe over the Valextra Alligator Isis Clutch.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: The best of the Celine Luggage Tote look-alikes

Aug 14, 2012 by Amanda Mull

At a certain point, a popular bag design reaches such full saturation that designers who make bags in its image are no longer ripping off someone else’s work, but simply designing to fit a trend. It’s a bag designer’s job to interpret what consumers want for their own brand, of course, and lately, consumers want the Celine Luggage Tote. That’s great for Celine, but it also works out well for everyone else; at this point, the shape of the Luggage Tote has become a short-term icon, and consumer demand for it far outpaces both Celine’s ability to produce bags and the market’s ability to provide consumers who all want to carry exactly the same thing.

That’s where brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Reed Krakoff and even Marc by Marc Jacobs come in. By designing to the shape (flared, articulated gussets, short top handles, a body that’s taller than it is wide), companies can imbue their work with a vague feeling of aesthetic relevance, which can even rub off on people who aren’t familiar with the suddenly ubiquitous shape’s original inspiration. Fall 2012 seems to be where the tide has finished its turn and everyone has some version of the Celine shape on the market, so to start the season, we’ve rounded up some of the best non-Celine north-south totes out there. Check out our picks after the jump.

Match your spirit animal to your favorite designer with the Bloomingdale’s Premiere Designer Lookbook

Aug 14, 2012Aug 14, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Since fashion’s Internet explosion, the art of lookbook production has changed quite a bit. What used to be straightforward product catalogs that brand and retail employees used for reference have turned into artistic spectacles, pored over extensively in the style-conscious corners of the Web. It’s rare that you see a model in a full outfit against a white background anymore; instead, the books are styled and shot like a season’s second ad campaign. It’s enough to make our Pinterest-loving hearts swell.

For the Fall 2012 edition of the Bloomingdale’s Premiere Designer Shoe and Handbag Lookbook, the legendary New York store has taken a selection of its favorite brands and matched them up with animals that fit the designers’ look and personality. So which one are you? Pick one of our furry (or feathered!) friends above and find out which designer you match up with after the jump. Want to peruse the lookbook in full? Head on over to Bloomingdales.com.

Proenza Schouler rolls out its subtle Book Bag online

Aug 14, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Some people just don’t dig a recognizable bag, and that’s fine; most brands produce lots of bags that don’t make a big enough splash to draw huge amounts of attention from passers by, so flying under the radar and still maintaining a high standard for your bag collection is always totally possible. It’s been hard lately if you’re a Proenza Schouler fan, though. All of the brand’s PS1 styles, plus its PS11 shoulder bags and clutches, are hugely recognizable, despite the lack of actual logos or monograms. What are the It Bag-averse to do?

Proenza would like to answer that question with the Proenza Schouler Book Bag. Available only in the brand’s online shop, the bag features…a buckle! A buckle that looks like all the buckles you’ve seen before, against a background of neutral leather. It’s a Proenza bag for people who don’t want 99% of people to know that they’re carrying Proenza.

Load up with the Miu Miu Bow Bag

Aug 13, 2012 by Shannon Mahoney

On Friday, I navigated the streets of NYC with way more in tow than a typical day. I had a flight to catch after work and was going directly to the airport. So, in typical New York fashion, when you most need a cab, not a single cab is available. After waiting far too long in the morning heat, I decided to make my way to work with my suitcase, carry on and purse in tow. Needless to say, it was an ordeal. The worst part was the fact that my carry-on was better suited to being held in one’s hand, but since I had a ways to go, I forced it onto my shoulder. It was at that point that I swore off of all large bags that don’t boast a lovely shoulder strap.

Naturally, when I came across this gorgeous Miu Miu Bow Leather Tote, I was hoping with every fiber in my being that it had a shoulder strap. To my utter excitement, it does!

Check out the Bloomingdale’s Fall 2012 Premium Designer lookbook

Aug 13, 2012Aug 13, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Bloomingdale’s is among the most storied of American retailers, and if you don’t include it in your regular online shopping rounds, you’re missing out. Beyond the brands that you might expect to find, Bloomingdales.com also offers lust-worthy pieces from the likes of Chloe, Giuseppe Zanotti, Ferragamo and more, including some of the hottest shoes and handbags that you’ll want to have on your radar for Fall 2012.

To remind you of all the goodies it has to offer, Bloomingdales.com has released its Fall 2012 lookbook, complete with tons of pieces that have already made it onto our shopping lists at the PurseBlog.com offices. (In the case of the featured Chloe Scrivia Booties, they’ve also already made their way into one of our closets.) We took the liberty of picking our favorite pieces from the Bloomingdale’s Fall 2012 Designer Lookbook, and you can check out those picks after the jump. To peruse the entire book, head over to Bloomingdales.com.

What’s In Her Bag: Lucy Sykes-Rellie of Rent The Runway

Aug 12, 2012Aug 12, 2012 by Vlad Dusil

PurseBlog Asks: What do you think of the Gucci GG Flag Collection?

Aug 12, 2012Aug 10, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Everyone I know has been enjoying watching the Olympic Games. My twitter feed, which is typically filled with fashion world updates, has been non-stop overflowing with tweets about the different countries and their respective Olympians and I’m so happy to see it. Olympic Spirit binds us all in a special way.

Many of our favorite designers have jumped on the bandwagon as well, showing their spirit and support for their home countries. Now you should include Gucci on that list because they’ve recently released their GG Flag Collection, and while it coincides with the Olympic games, this collection also celebrates the launch of UNICEF’s “Schools for Asia” initiative. This program aims to provide access to quality education for disadvantaged children in China, and 25 percent of the price of each item sold will be donated to the program.