August 2012 - Page 4

Excuse me, there’s something on your shoulder

Aug 9, 2012 by Shannon Mahoney

Give me a minute while I collect my thoughts. As soon as I came across this bag, I knew I had to write about it. But, guys, I am not even sure where to start.

It’s no secret that Christian Louboutin is known for show stopping stilettos. And while I am not so certain the Christian Louboutin Artemis Ostrich Feather Shoulder Bag will end up on my shoulder any time soon, it is quite the statement piece. One of the first things I found myself pondering was which celeb might rock something like this. This eccentric bag needs to rest on the shoulder of an equally as eccentric lady. Perhaps someone like Rihanna? This is a bag with personality!

Salvatore Ferragamo takes luxury travel to the next level

Aug 9, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Summer is the season of travel and it looks like luxury house Salvatore Ferragamo knows how to design for its elite clientele. Ferragamo Creative Director Massimiliano Giornetti designed a variety of exotic cases for Pre-Fall 2012 with the fashionable jet setter in mind. He said his inspiration came from Italian royals traveling throughout Europe. If you always dreamed of being a real-life princess and it never happened (join the club), you can still feel like one by carrying the Salvatore Ferragamo Exotic Beauty Case which are fit for royalty.

The Many Bags of Taylor Swift

Nov 14, 2013Aug 9, 2012 by Amanda Mull

First, some real talk: Despite the fact that I am a purple-haired, motorcycle-booted, full-grown woman with a fondness for the musical stylings of Killer Mike and UGK, I have, uh, more than a few Taylor Swift songs in my iTunes library. They aren’t there by accident. Something about Swift’s very literal, incredibly over-emotive songs about teenage love and heartbreak finds the confused middle schooler inside of me and pulls her right on up to the surface. Based on how many records Taylor sells, I suspect I’m far from the only unlikely fan she has.

Taylor has also made a fan out of my imaginary boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal in the past, and she’s currently make news for dating a Kennedy scion – not bad for a little fun between albums, eh? Today, Swift is the latest recipient of our The Many Bags of… treatment, not only for her place in pop culture, but also for the age-appropriate style inspiration that she can give to her younger fans. While Taylor has some spendy bags, a lot of what she carries fits in with her attainable everygirl image. Check out Taylor’s bags after the jump.

For Louis Vuitton lovers, the perfect bag charm

Aug 9, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Despite having its detractors here and there, Louis Vuitton is a brand that’s overwhelming adored in the fashion industry in general, but by handbag lovers in particular. There is a certain amount of respect given to any brand that has a brand identity as strong as Vuitton’s; that’s not a simple feat to accomplish by any stretch of the imagination. (Just ask all the people who’ve tried to restart Halston over the years.)

Sporting the very recognizable LV monogram, along with the monogram flowers, the Louis Vuitton Fleur D’Epi Bag Charm would make a perfect gift for any of Vuitton’s many hardcore devotees.

Fill in the Blank: “The Lanvin Sketches Shopping Bag is worth…”

Aug 9, 2012Aug 8, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Lots of designers talk about their “woman” in abstract terms. The Marc Jacobs woman, for example, enjoys a bit of humor in her wardrobe. The Rick Owens woman wears a lot of black leather and will only date those who subscribe to a similar aesthetic. The Rebecca Minkoff woman has a Tumblr. Who’s the Lanvin woman? Well, she’s right there on the front of the Lanvin Sketches Shopping Bag, of course.

Just Can’t Get Enough: Rihanna and her Celine Nano

Aug 8, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

There are so many magazines that I peruse that have an ongoing feature on how celebrities are just like us. You know, they eat food, they go places, they have families. But typically, all that I think from those silly features is they are like “us” in that they are human, but their lives are … Read more

Rock out with the Jimmy Choo Sweetie Clutch

Aug 8, 2012 by Shannon Mahoney

If you’ve been a longtime PurseBlog reader, you might recall my obsession with clutches. I mean, I am certifiably obsessed with clutches. Everyone gravitates towards a certain style of handbags, even if it’s just slightly, over other styles. When Jimmy Choo pumps out a clutch like this one, I am reminded why I sway the clutch way.

The Jimmy Choo Sweetie Acrylic Clutch reminds us all that it’s ok not to take handbags too seriously. Like most things, there is a time and a place for this clutch. So, if you are on the hunt for the perfect evening bag to pair with that gown in your closet, this one isn’t for that occasion. However, if you are looking for something to add a hint of edge to your outfit, this clutch might quickly make your list.

For fall, Gucci simplifies

Aug 7, 2012 by Amanda Mull

The spectre of Tom Ford still hangs heavily over Gucci, all these years after he left the label and well into the era of Frida Giannini’s success at the Italian house’s helm. Giannini’s brought with her a quieter, for feminine version of Gucci sex appeal, but my louche expectations are still largely intact, even when it comes to something as sexually neutral as handbags. The Ford accessories era at Gucci was characterized by heavily embellished horsebit bags, and even long after he left, the look endured in many ways.

Gucci’s accessories have been changing slowly since then, and Gucci Fall 2012 offers what may be the most distinct departure yet. Where small, showy bags and logo pieces had once been the brand’s primary stock and trade, this season brings with it a selection of large, neutral leather totes, all of which have almost no obvious external branding to speak of except for a sedate pieces of stirrup, horsebit or bamboo hardware here and there. Even the runway portion of the collection is relatively simple functional, if slightly more textured. Check out our favorites from the collection after the jump and let us know if you like the direction in which Gucci is headed.

The clutch cult of Olympia Le-Tan

Aug 7, 2012Aug 7, 2012 by Amanda Mull

“Cult” is a word that can be easily abused; just because a brand has a small, relatively enthusiastic group of fans does not a cult favorite make. That fans have to be so dedicated, so ardent in their love for a designer’s work that they create a high-entry point that’s almost prohibitive for newcomers. Those are the kind of fans that Olympia Le-Tan‘s handmade book clutches have attracted. If you’d like to join their ranks, good luck getting your hands on your favorite title. You’re going to need it.

The Balenciaga Tube S is a lovely non-Motorcycle bag

Aug 3, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

The name Balenciaga is synonymous with the brand’s highly coveted Motorcycle bags. That can’t be what Balenciaga had in mind as the brand’s modern iteration grew; along with the motorcycle bags, the brand designs ready-to-wear, many other handbags, shoes, and accessories, almost all of which are overshadowed by the omnipresent bags. Most of my research for Balenciaga involves seeing the new season colors as they are released.

But while I perused the Balenciaga website, I ran into a new handbag recently added to the brand’s collection, the Balenciaga Tube S. This bag has a different aesthetic, a touch more refined with its lines and design. In fact, there is a bit of a Givenchy feel, and that dear readers is a great thing – as we believe Givenchy is about to have the next big handbag moment.

Fine Wine: Oxblood is the new neutral

Aug 3, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Color is a bit of a tricky proposition for cooler months; brights can feel inappropriate, and as much as I’m a fan of aggressive season-pushing when a piece is amazing and just must be worn immediately, the reality of winter is that even most people who love brights have to embrace darker, more neutral colors, at least for a few months. Fall has spring beat in the texture department, but what’s a color-lover to do?

This year, jewel tones are the way to go. In particular, oxblood was nearly inescapable on the Fall 2012 runways, and it’s a beautiful alternative to more mundane neutrals like brown. It’s richer, more noticeable and combines well with gold hardware, all of which makes burgundy and oxblood ideal for fall handbags. Brands from Louis Vuitton to Madewell have jumped on the bandwagon, and we’ve combed online retailers to find your best bets for fall’s biggest shade. Check out our picks after the jump!

Friday Eye Candy: Vintage Hermes at Moda Operandi

Aug 3, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Let’s cut right to the chase here: Hermes bags are fun to look at, even if you can’t afford one. If you can afford one, particularly one like the Hermes Blue Roi Crocodile Birkin up top, they’re even more fun to look at. Thus, to help you speed through your Friday morning and straight into the weekend, we bring you a gallery of the bags up for grabs in Moda Operandi’s latest vintage Hermes sale in conjunction with Heritage Auctions.

Some of the bags in the gallery have already sold out (there’s only one of each, after all), but there are still a choice few left, including some incredible exotics. Take a look at the full assortment after the jump, and if you’re so inclined, you can shop the sale via Moda Operandi until August 9. Warning: You might want to grab a Kleenex before clicking through if you’re prone to handbag-related drool incidents.