October 2012 - Page 4

Alessandra Ambrosio goes to the pumpkin patch with her Givenchy bag

Oct 16, 2012Oct 16, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Different times of year bring different types of paparazzi photos. Summer is high time for beach shots, of course, and big film festivals each have their own genre. (Cannes? Yachts. Sundance? Celebrity ski bunnies.) What I always forget about every year, though, is the Halloween paparazzi encampment at Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in West Hollywood. For the last three days, it seems as though nary a photo from the pap agency we use has failed to include a pumpkin. Some of the people who show up to have their pictures taken at Mr. Bones don’t even have kids to ostensibly take pumpkin-shopping. It’s very much a scene.

Victoria’s Secret supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, on the other hand, totally has kids to take to the pony rides and face-painting booths that accompany the pumpkins at Mr. Bones. In these photos, she’s doing just that, along with her grey embossed croc Givenchy Pandora Satchel. The Pandora is the rare bag that divides the PurseBlog staff – I don’t love it, but Hilary loves it so much she’s plotting to purchase her very own. In this kind of outdoor, hands-full situation, the slouch shape and crossbody strap do make total sense, though. Check out a few more pics of Alessandra and her Givenchy bag after the jump or pick up your very own via Barneys for $2180.

Change seasons smoothly with the Gucci Cruise 2013 Collection

Oct 16, 2012Oct 16, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Anyone who’s had to get dressed and leave the house in the past month knows that choosing clothes and accessories when the seasons are shifting is tricky at best. Which colors are will work? Which textures? How do you make sure that the things you’re buying now will work both immediately and in the coming months? When looking for handbags, the best thing you can do is buy yourself a solid leather bag in a neutral or mid-range bold color and use it as a wardrobe staple into the coming season and beyond. Lucky for you (and all of us, really), the Gucci Cruise 2013 Collection, which includes the Gucci Soho and Gucci Sunshine handbag lines, just popped up on Gucci.com for your buying pleasure.

The Soho Collection includes everything from the fun, casual Disco Bag in a slew of leathers both bright and neutral, to several larger, more businesslike shoulder bags that would look great paired with either a suit or a T-shirt and jeans, depending on your plans for the day. The sleek Soho bags feature leather construction in classic shapes with the iconic Gucci interlocking-G logo embroidered on the front, while the Sunshine bags feature the brand’s Micro Guccissima monogram embossed on leather in a variety of fun colors. Check out our picks from the collection after the jump, or shop the whole Gucci Cruise 2013 collection (including a new chapter in the legendary Gucci Flora pattern) via Gucci.com. As an added bonus, Gucci will be offering free two-day shipping on all orders through October 19! Get it, ladies.

Kylie Minogue kicks it with with Christian Louboutin on her feet and her shoulder

Oct 15, 2012 by Amanda Mull

If you know Kylie Minogue, then you know that she takes her accessories, especially her shoes, very seriously. At barely five feet tall, the globally megafamous pop star likes to get an extra lift from high heels, no matter what the occasion. Not only that, but her lifelong penchant for heels has made her shoe choices a bit more adventurous than your average star – she’s not Lady Gaga levels of crazy, but she does like to make a strong shoe statement.

In these photos, Minogue is sporting Christian Louboutin Calf Hair Booties, which is a fairly conservative shoe look for her, believe it or not. What’s not conservative, on the other hand, is Kylie’s Christian Louboutin Farida Messenger Bag – the colorblocked red, pink and tan panels with bold black accents stand out strongly against an all-black ensemble. We think this is one of Louboutin’s best bags to date – what do you think? Check out more images after the jump or pick up your own Louboutin Farida bag via Neiman Marcus for $1595.

Get luxury beauty exclusives and an inside look at 29 Cosmetics at Coterie

Oct 15, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Beauty shopping online can be kind of a bummer. Not only is it often difficult to find exclusive products and special sets anywhere but in-store, but you’re almost always stuck paying full price for anything worth having. In a shopping landscape that’s been revolutionized by the Internet, the beauty industry has clung to many of its old ways. Until now, that is – that’s where Coterie comes in.

Coterie is a members-only online beauty site that gives consumers access to special offers on exclusive sets and products from in-demand companies like Stila, Kevin Aucoin and Perricone MD. We’ve teamed up with Coterie to bring you an interview with Lydia Mondavi, founder of 29 Cosmetics, which launches on Coterie today. Check out the interview after the jump or head straight to Coterie to sign up to get shoppin’. Oh, and make sure to tell your friends – for everyone you refer who makes a purchase, you get $20 toward your next order.

The Best Handbags of Paris Fashion Week Street Style

Oct 15, 2012 by Amanda Mull

My biggest complaint about street style photography has always been that there aren’t enough detail shots. Sure, it’s nice to see the overall picture, but so much is lost in the exclusion of the details – the grain of a piece of fine leather, the thousands of little crystals that make a piece of jewelry gleam, the subtle colors in printed silk. Also, the handbags – SHOW US THE HANDBAGS, PLEASE.

Luckily for us, PurseForum member Cari284, better known as Carin Olsson of Paris in Four Months, staked out Paris Fashion Week earlier this month to bring us all the best handbag style on the editors, stylists and buyers entering and exiting the biggest shows in the world. She was kind enough to share a bunch of her best bag photos with us, and now, we’d like to share them with you. Check out the gallery after the jump, and to see more of Carin’s work, visit her blog!

In My Bag: Bindya NY Scarf

Oct 12, 2012Oct 12, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

If you have followed our In My Bag series so far, you will realize I carry a variety of odd items around with me. I’m a Virgo, so I am fairly Type A and I really love planning. I see my handbag as a portable hold-everything kit. I keep all essentials at all times and find a way to keep my bag from being too heavy, even with my somewhat ridiculous mix of items.

I typically leave scarves out of my bag in the summer unless I am traveling, but come fall and winter, I almost always have a scarf in my bag when I leave the apartment. I’m one of those people who gets cold really easily, like yesterday when it was in the 50s and I kept asking Vlad if it was about to snow. Yea, I am that person. I was introduced to Bindya NY earlier this year, and since the first time I met the designer and tried her scarves for myself, I’ve been hooked.

RHOM: “It’s only $12,000, it’s not that much.”

Oct 12, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Last night’s episode of Real Housewives of Miami was one of those where Bravo’s editors gave us all the foreplay and none of the action. Everyone was talking about the same ol’ conflicts they’ve been talking about (and not making any progress on) since the beginning of the season, and it looks as though none of them are going to come to a head until next week.

So, in the meantime, what do you guys think? Is Karent as much of an obvious fame hound as she seems to be, above and beyond the regular amount of Housewives famewhoring? Is Romain cheating on Joanna? Is Marta really as shiftless as she’s been made out to be? Does Lea have a single thing to talk about besides her party and Marysol? Let’s explore all of those questions.

Kim Kardashian kluches Louis Vuitton and Kanye West

Oct 12, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

I have a love hate relationship with the Kardashians, just like many of you do. I catch their show, I find some of their antics funny, and I find many things they partake in ridiculous, one of which being their constant paparazzi and news presence. I already know I am playing into it by covering Kim on our site, but what can I say, I kind of love her.

Kim is fun to watch. Her mom realized she was a dollar sign and she went gung-ho to promote Kimmy as best she could, and it has worked so far. Whether you like her or not, you know her name and you also know about her love life. Kim has been clinging to Kanye West recently like a magnet, and they seem to be using one another as an accessory. After his return from Paris, Kanye jetted down to Miami to be included on Kim’s reality show and do things reality stars do, like dress up and go look at houses. Kim wouldn’t leave Kanye West’s side, nor would she put down her Louis Vuitton Yayoi Kusama Zippy Wallet in red monogram dots.

Fill in the Blank: “The Tom Ford Skunk Fur Minaudiere is…”

Oct 11, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

We’ve talked about Tom Ford bags a bit on PurseBlog, and it seems that our team has mixed feelings. I tend to like the direction of the line, while Amanda thinks that the designs are lacking. Just goes to show you – our taste is similar, but it’s definitely not identical.

But a bag that I recently found staring at me from my computer screen isn’t like the rest of the Tom Ford collection. It’s furry and totally out-there, and guess what, the fur of this bag isn’t just made to look like skunk, it is skunk. That’s right, for $1,660 you can own a designer bag made from skunk fur.

The Many Bags of Blake Lively

Oct 11, 2012 by Amanda Mull

If you follow along with horrible TV as closely as we do (and believe me, we follow it closely), you might know that perennial guilty pleasure Gossip Girl started its final season on Monday. I still haven’t caught up on last season, but when the whole mess finally makes it to Netflix, you can guarantee that I am going to spend lots of rainy evenings and weekends stuffing my head full of the Upper East Side travails of Blair and Serena. They’re like long-lost friends who I’m itching to get a cocktail with, no matter if the show has fallen a bit from its gleefully melodramatic heights.

To celebrate (mourn?) the beginning of the end, we’ve assembled a comprehensive look at The Many Bags of Blake Lively. Blake’s been in the news lately, and not just because of the return of Gossip Girl; she wed Ryan Reynolds in South Carolina several weeks ago in a ceremony that surprised pretty much everyone in the entertainment world. So what does Blake carry, both on set and off? We’ll explore that, as always, after the jump.

PurseBlog Asks: What do you think about the Chanel Tie Dye Classic Flap?

Oct 11, 2012 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

We are huge Chanel lovers around these parts, and if you visit our site you know this fact very well. The Classic Flap is the ultimate timeless bag and Chanel continuously creates different varieties of the design to please its massive fanbase. For the Spring 2013 pre-collection, Chanel is taking a cue from the 70s … Read more

This Classic Prada Tote Won’t Steer You Wrong

Oct 11, 2012Oct 10, 2012 by Katherine Callaghan

Two weeks ago, we saw the debut of the Prada Spring 2013 handbag collection, where Muiccia Prada put on a handbag showcase with lots of eccentrism. You name it, it was featured on her handbags: studs, fur, and flower prints just to name a few.

So after the Fashion Week hype and with a little time to digest all of the upcoming bold, vibrant and sometimes unconventional designs, sometimes it’s nice to look back at the classics. A classic is a classic for a reason; it holds a certain charm, charisma and a timeless appeal that will always be striking. For me, nothing beats a Prada classic like the Prada Saffiano Lux Tote Bag.