Stylish with Substance

Louis Vuitton opened a new fabulous store in London, and RDujour showed some fabulous photos, ineed.

1: Are you a bag head, too?

Bonus, 2 & 3: Walls of purses!!! Ahhhh.

View more photos / news at RDujour.

We're not quite ready to give away our own things at the moment, but in the spirit of this recession we love highlighting some other sites' giveaways for you. It's really all win-win in one way or another. (Unless you're sad to lose, sorry if you do.)

In the Tech Category:

• $50 iTunes Gift Card - deadline: Feb. 19th
• iPod Touch - deadline: TONIGHT Feb. 13th (is it your lucky day?!)

In the Jewelry Category:

• $100 Andzia Gift Certificate - deadline: Feb. 17th
• LeelaBijou Leaf Pendant (pictured) - deadline: Feb. 20th

In the Bag Category:

• Bunch o' Louis Vuitton! - deadline: March 3rd

[caption id="attachment_1372" align="aligncenter" width="405" caption="Louis Vuitton art from eLUXURY"][/caption]

I absolutely get giddy when Louis Vuitton and eLUXURY create art for/from their most classic bag(s). The "cool" thing is this sculpture looks even more do-able than a simple ball-y snow man! So brighten yourselves up, those in the cold - when the flurries have fallen, make yourself something better than an angel!

Besides, a bag made of snow is not just priceless, it's free!

#10: Red Jersey Roxanne Bag by Mulberry for Gap

#9: The Matelasse by Balenciaga

#8: Monogram Canvas Mirage Griet by Louis Vuitton

#7: Damier Azur Collection (Speedy 30) by Louis Vuitton

#6: The Foldover (Mahala) Clutch by Jimmy Choo

#5: The Riveting Collection by Louis Vuitton

#4: The Coffer by Miu Miu

#3: The Downtown Bag by Yves Saint Laurent

Practically self-describing as the bag for urbanites (with money, though) is the Downtown tote by Yves Saint Laurent. Seen on celebrities from summer through autumn, it's still more the unique shaping of this tote that makes the bag surpass any inspired copies by far. Quality and branding aside, it caused this bag to win out over "competitors".

#2: The Bay Bag by Chloé (especially in quilted)

#1: I'm Not a Plastic Bag by Anya Hindmarch

It's some eye-candy via eLUXURY's home page. They may not be all mine, but it's still a delicious treat. (A good diet dessert---but you know, with a little bit of dark chocolate in the stomach.)

Louis Vuitton Speedies all in a row

Sacré Bleu! Non, Sacré Noir! What I've hoped for from Louis Vuitton is here; black monogram, in their signature denim this time in their newest shapes. Funny thing is they call it "Monogram Black Denim" instead of "Monogram Denim Noir", which is just a tiny little setback in my dream come true -- I mean I've just envisioned it a different way. Another setback; no Speedies. I do love their Neo Cabby MM, but the Speedies are more toward my price range these days. :-P

The Louis Vuitton Monogram Black Denim Neo Cabby GM features side buckles to adjust size, boasts grained calfskin trim, is sized roughly 15" x 10" x 5" and runs $1,500.

Well more good news is that these bags will age quite gracefully for eBay in years to come.

Britney lost the law suit defending against LVMH, but what we care about second to that bit of news is finding this music video, natch!

Britney Spears - Do Somethin'

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=lb-oyK3t7tI[/youtube]

I've added the vid to our No Knockoffs playlist on our YouTube account: Lipped Media, as well, so check it out.

And of course you should check out the news story, if you don't already know all the details.

This post is part of our Early Gift Guide Week.

For the handbag lover, the perfect gift above a certain budget range of course depends on the specific (bag) lady, but one choice, and my top pick, is the Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Speedy Croisette (only in size 30). How many fashion-minded women wouldn't be thrilled with a Louis Vuitton, especially one both classic and modern. What put this pattern over the top for me was its new color option; an understated red with overall pale tones, making this bag subtly festive for the holiday season, while classic enough to tote all year round; for years to come.

The LV Mini Lin Speedy Croisette (not a direct link, as the LV website [where it's only available] is flash, apologies.) only costs $750.00, too! Not bad! It would be the best gift of the holiday for most women out there!

And if you want to pass this on to someone as a hint -> there's an e-mail forward linkto the side, above ->>. Or if you're wishing for something only similar by Vuitton, browse or pass on this link for eLuxury's LV Holiday Gift Catalog.

Furthermore, please leave your comments on how you feel about this pick (hey, it's a tough call) and what would be your choice. (Better for forwarding to others, my dear.)

Consumers are cutting back, even fashionistas, even bag ladies - yes, even I am. Are we maturing? singularly, most of us (and me!). Is there a higher cost of living? Of course. Perhaps, it might be due in part to a growing awareness of "right" and "green" and all that. Does the American public have more of a conscience with spending?

I for one have cut back on my IT bags because I've gotten my own apartment, am struggling to work hard enough to keep my income rising and fit it in with managing a home. As a first-time parent-free lass, I have a boom of immediately worse costs, as well. Most of that will get better, but responsible times are ahead. It's today, it's the future.

But one blog, Luxist, suggests maybe designers' efforts to produce drool-inducing must-haves in fact brought upon a terrorist attack on arm fashion beauty. Case in point: Louis Vuitton's "explosion" of popular styles all in one tote. The LV Patchwork Tribute bag may have been the eye-opener to strike some sense into accessory fetishists everywhere. Maybe it's caused us to see ornate handbags as sillier, or perhaps designers' creativity (and sense of aesthetic sanity?) was lost or temporarily damaged in pursuit of dollar signs.

It's something to think about. But rest assured, or perhaps the opposite: the handbag is here to stay of some importance to modern, stylish women. Everything goes in cycles, so if IT bags have either lost their appeal or there just aren't worthy gorgies to satisfy and salivate us --- it'll come back big time again. The market rises and falls, economies change, budgets are balanced and blown --- and presidents swear in and lame duck-tail it out. Fashion is a vicious world of the wild, and it too follows the laws of the circle of life.

Or ... perhaps the IT's still got IT. I mean, handbag always trumps shoes as the iconic symbol of women's true sinful desires .. doesn't it?

I waited & waited for the miroir collection LV bags to go online in some form, eLUXURY or just LouisVuitton.com, but the bags are just that limited that they didn't. Really wanting to feature them at least as history on the blog, I finally turned to Google, and I found photos from Twiggers on the Purse Blog. So thanks.

But no, the Miroir Speedy will not be on my arm. I don't even particularly want it there. Not the fairest bags of them all, featuring metallic ... PVC? It's not only gaudy, but ... cheap? at only $1380 for the Speedy I could easily save and afford (well, by now it's too late anyway, but perhaps eBay) to buy it, but I'd rather not.

In silver or gold Monogram and offered in the Speedy, Alma GM, Papillon, Keepall and a couple accessories in non-monogram, the Miroir collection is both famous among divas and history for the great fashion house.

But why PVC? Why not metallic monogram patent leather? I've been thinking about that lately, and it seems like a rockin' idea. *Shrug*

Search through eBoutique on eBay for authentic Miroir items.

So where are my beautiful princes of LV bags? Not here, but we'll see.