Lucite and I are having a moment lately. Well, not just Lucite, but any kind of clear acrylic – it may be best known as the main component in stripper heels, but it also has many lovely modernist applications, particularly in home decor.

It also has its place in a slightly more retro aesthetic, which the Judith Leiber Streamline Frosted Lucite Clutch displays beautifully. (more…)

Last night I was watching Ace of Cakes with Duff Goldman (typically I am a Cake Boss gal). Duff and his crew were prepping a cake for the Oprah show and they decided to make an enormous cherry pie piece with a scoop of ice cream on top, because the group is known for making cakes in the shapes of food. Just as much as Duff Goldman and Charm City Cakes are known for food shaped cakes, Judith Leiber is known for animal shaped crystal clutches.

From Judith Leiber we have seen a peacock, jaguar, camel and elephant. The latest animal clutch that I want to feature is the Judith Leiber Rabbit Clutch, one of the most wearable of the animal pieces I have seen from the brand. (more…)

When you were young, do you remember dreaming about all sorts of grandiose events you would attend when you were a “grown up”? I know I did. It wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about what it stood for, it was, well, about being a grown up. Now that I am a grown up, I’m still not attending the kind of events I used to dream about. I’m not complaining but I just am not there yet.

I remember being young and watching my mom get ready before she went out to a huge event with my dad. I remember her slipping on a gorgeous evening gown, fastening her necklace and any other jewelery. But more than anything else, I remember her grabbing a gorgeous evening bag and packing just the essentials into that bag. I thought about that night for myself for a while. Now I am a grown up and I think of carrying a Judith Leiber bag to one of those events. (more…)

‘Tis the season, you guys. For gifts and days off from work and family togetherness, of course. Oh, and also for sparkly clutches for use at holiday parties. Don’t forget that one, it’s important. (more…)

Some of my personal favorite handbags are ones that so accurately capture a bygone era that they could probably be passed off as really fantastic vintage finds. So much in fashion is predicated on what has been done in the past that a designer deftly recreating the mood of a time period can show a great deal of skill, if done correctly.

And with all the glitz and glitter that’s popular for winter, I can’t help but think that the Judith Leiber Sunburst Clutch is totally disco-tastic. (more…)

With the popularity of animal print this season, it stands to reason that before long, someone would make a bag that is actually an animal-print animal. And of course that person was Judith Leiber – who else could it have been? And she’s really the only one that could get away with it; she has a gimmick and she sticks with it. Even if you don’t like her bags, you’ve got to give her that. But I can’t exactly decide how I feel about the Judith Leiber Jaguar Clutch. (more…)

IT IS HERE! The annual Neiman Marcus Christmas Book has arrived. Expect the expected holiday gifts from clothing to handbags along with over the top crazy expensive gifts and gift packages. This year I am a bit disappointed with the absurd. I have no use for a cupcake car, but I really want a tree fort built on a private island while Bono sings for me and Chef Ramsey cooks.

Included in the book are two new pieces from Judith Leiber. Judith Leiber found inspiration in the animal kingdom and designed the regal “Gobi” Camel and noble “Maharaja” elephant minaudieres. Both are hand encrusted with Austrian crystals as they open to store evening essentials. There is a 19″ tuck-away chains shoulder strap. Camel is 4 1/2″H x 5 1/2″W x 3 1/4″D; elephant is 4″H x 5 1/2″W x 2 1/2″D. Again, there is no way to label these pieces as anything other than art work, worthy of your china cabinet at home. These regal ornate pieces are fun to look at. I am not about to drop $4,995 for the camel or $5,995 for the elephant; however, I will continue to look for free and find beauty in her designs. Buy through Neiman Marcus.

Finally: the Judith Leiber Sphere Clutch is a disco bag that really means it. (more…)

Doesn’t everyone need a bit of glitter in their lives? I think so. When Megs sent me a link to the Christian Louboutin Glittered Pump this morning, I couldn’t NOT write about it. Despite the fact that I can’t wear heels (a long-ago broken ankle, painful story), I could be easily convinced to risk personal injury for these stunning shoes. They’re a complete fantasy – like ruby slippers for a grown-up, urban Dorothy – except instead of taking you back home when you click your heels, they take you to a fabulous party with an open bar.

And what pair of over-the-top shoes would be complete without a similarly fabulous bag? I think that, in this case, a solid-color bag in the same shade would be a bit much, and I generally warn against an exact handbag-shoe match in almost every case. Instead, go for the glitter theme in a small proportion. The Judith Leiber Morning Dew Minaudiere strikes just the right note; it’s glittery but avoids the dyed-to-match look that trying to match a powerful shoe can often create. The color of the shoes appears in an important part of the clutch, but it doesn’t fall into the matchy-matchy trap. You’ll have to really work it to pull off this much shine, but with a solid-color dress (call me crazy, but I’m thinking maybe the green in the clutch could be that solid color…it’d be a totally unexpected but would pull together really well with the bag) and limited jewelry, I’d totally work it. I’m not sure where I’d go, but by God, I’d find somewhere to wear it.

Christian Louboutin Glittered Pump can be bought through Neiman Marcus for $745. Buy the Judith Leiber Clutch through Neiman Marcus for $2395.

Say what you want about Judith Leiber. Sure, the whole sparkly-squirrel-clutch thing is kind of weird, to say the least, and also kind of played out. They were making fun of it years ago on Sex and the City (remember the “Large Diamond Duck Ring” purse that Carrie got from Big?), and most cutting-edge fashionistas still thumb their noses at the brand in favor of things that are perceived as more subtle or modern. There’s one thing that no one can deny, however: the attention to detail paid when making a Leiber crystal-encrusted bag is second to none, and my favorite example as of late is the Judith Leiber Cresendo Bag. I didn’t even realize at first glance that the bag’s lace pattern was made entirely of crystals, but since it was a Leiber bag, I zoomed in to see if my eyes were deceiving me. And they were indeed – every bit of this intricate bag is covered in her signature Austrian crystals, creating the illusion of lace where there isn’t any. I’m a sucker for black and white patterns, and perhaps that’s why I can’t stop looking at this particular Leiber bag, even though they normally don’t catch my attention. For whatever reason, I think maybe I should give Leiber’s evening bags another look. Buy through Saks for $4195.