Stylish with Substance

I begin a new year of content, coming back from technical and then personal problems, with a reflection upon the greatest hand styles from the last. Without further ado...

#10: Red Jersey Roxanne Bag by Mulberry for Gap

When an IT bag goes discount and it's legit, there must be huge hype. Not only is that true for this Roxanne bag by Mulberry and Gap, but 50% of the proceeds go to a charity fighting AIDs. What could be hotter than this product Red bag, then? Made out of jersey fabric, it still looks just as haute. Watch out though, it's only available in one store (a Gap flagship) in London. Burned?

#9: The Matelasse by Balenciaga

Edgy and carefree Balenciaga bags suddenly have someone in the family with a classier, sophisticated style. Still holding on to the signature elements, the quilted, classic Matelasse was a major new style to come out in 2007. It could not be left off the list, especially since I covet one so. In 2008, I plan for a Balenciaga (or 2) to be mine.

#8: Monogram Canvas Mirage Griet by Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton's best bags are their classics, but of course. But new bags can be much more exciting. So the house's best new bags are the ones with modern details meeting classic lines. It's all there in the Mirage collection, especially this Griet bag. The LV Monogram Canvas Mirage Griet is one of the ultimate Vuitton bags right now, also winning our poll for top bag of 2007's fall/winter season!

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

Biggest LV debut of a 2007 collection for its popularity, waiters list and the fact that it was a whole (sort of) new pattern collection, was the Damier Azur. Comprised of the classic Damier checkerboard, now in white and light blue (classicly in brown shades), this line actually debuted in November 2006, but it was a 2007 resort collection. (Pictured here on Vuitton's Speedy 30, a very popular bag.)

 

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

Ushering in a new era of vastly oversized clutch bags intended for day carry is none other than the Jimmy Choo Mahala Foldover Clutch. Not only was this a top bag of 2007, but it's a milestone bag in the history of purses! Add IT bag status to that with many celebs carrying it and its details being copied all over the inspired brands/stores and we have a verified dream bag.

#5: The Riveting Collection by Louis Vuitton

Riveting indeed, almost all of the pursie community was clamoring over this little LV line covered in strategically placed studs, with sewn together (or on top of?) rectangles of leather or lined-up monogram canvas. The alignment, the details, the ... exclusivity of this Limited collection! This time modern all the way, the only thing classic about the bags was probably just the monogram. This bag will surely be a landmark for the year 2007 in handbag history.

 

#4: The Coffer by Miu Miu

A Miu Miu to rival Prada and win hands down. What a feat by this sister line of Miuccia's. Featuring matelasse quilting and double flaps over supple leather, this bag had many women drooling. It might have even stood as a turning point for the trendier line. Who says Prada is better than Miu Miu? I don't!

#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)

Hailed as the biggest bag of the year by die-hard Chloé fans, one of the hardest to die fan groups among designers, the Bay was hu-u-u-uge for 2007. Unique, classy, and in so many wonderful colors, this was an easy purse to fall in love with. With Chloé consistently inspiring their fans to propel the name's styles to the top of the IT lists every year since 2005, starting with the Paddington, an IT by Chloé is an IT indeed.

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

Marked up on eBay, way up; super limited edition; yet good for the environment with an eco message. It was the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" tote by Anya Hindmarch. This is the bag that helped drive the movement of re-usable grocery totes into a fashionable craze. For that this silly little bag does get a lot of credit. It is the queen of all market totes, in a year of them blossoming.

I've thought up a feature for the blog of posting videos of blogistas inspecting authentic and fake bags to educate fellow shoppers.

The first video is not by me, but you will see me do some (thanks in part to me just joining Bag Borrow or Steal, so even though my budget restricts me from buying many bags even at the COACH level, I might be renting some occasionally!), although I have limited access to counterfeit purses to vid. This really is a practice all designer lovers should try to follow, if you can take a vid that is - post it on YouTube - just like those bad products videos that caused such a stir!

Today's video features a fake Prada, a replica of a gorgeous Prada indeed. I hope you learn something, although it's hard not being able to touch it (it always is), but I figure that seeing it in video-dimension will add something to the education process! (Let me know if you agree, and contact me if you make a video like this!)

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=BH406dfPhWY[/youtube]

There will be more to come, and if you'd like to see similar videos or send me one of yours, check out my new YouTube account: LippedMedia (I still need to flesh my page out [and of course make some vids!] - any tips on using YouTube? - I'm a little behind in the whole thing!). Also, we could connect as friends on there! (I didn't know YouTube was social - geez I AM behind!)

Anyway, the real point to these posts are to help you shop smarter on places like eBay; so best of luck!

Made of soft metallic calfskin, this teenybopper-golden shiny bag by Miu Miu may come in ritzy leather, but the clutch says all daytime ... and then some at --- over 17" wide! This clutch is for the big bag lugging girl who needs something extra for her evenings out. That may just even be me; and even with my ban, because this treasure only costs 715 American smackeroos! Hey, when I pay my Neiman's credit bill, I'll even have enough of a line to charge it! Oh joy.

This bag is me, but even I have my doubts. It's certainly not for everyone, but it does make a big statement, no?

Some of you may be glad to know that there is a choice of the smaller impact colour choice: black. (Same size though.)

Spring Break is here, with sandy beaches calling to us and actual sightings of green grass. A great travel handbag for your later winter getaway is this Prada Frame Bag. Natural straw with green leather trim, it's just enough Summer sand with greens of Spring for the upcoming weeks. Featuring a removable green leather luggage tag, it's good to go as your carry-on purse, as well!

13" x 9" x 5" this cute satchel costs $1,350. That's probably less than a trip to Disney World! So if you cut back on the fabulousness of your March break trip, perhaps you can afford this purse. Hey it will last a lot longer than a mere 7 days! (Two seasons, year after year!) Putting it that way, it almost seems like you need a new bag!

I love the look (and feel) of python. I love it for Spring and I love it on a classy satchel. So naturally I love this python frame bag by Prada. (Pitone is Italian for python, natch.)

In tan tonal python with braided handles and a framed top, this piece of high luxury is sized 17" l x 13" h and more than squeezes past my budget at $2,620. This fine bag is available for pre-order now through Neiman Marcus, though not in California.

Don't hiss and moan about the price, you have plenty of time to save up. And Californians, think about moving to Florida now - where python is plentiful and you don't have to smuggle the goods. ;-)

An IT bag from Miu Miu offers more of the ruching that Miuccia Prada likes to do, but is otherwise completely new and different. The Miu Miu Coffer's front flap with lock tab and flap pockets give it a unique look, sitting on a round body a single short, braided handle and detachable long strap.

Like it, hate it? I can't quite decide, but the general bag-loving public has spoken about this IT bag. Have to have it? This Italian-made piece of camel nappa leather costs $1,445 and sells at Neiman Marcus.

It's cute and sweet. It's classic, yet bold, fresh and young. It's all about the flower-&-stem charm on this Miu Miu Floral Appliqué Shoulder Bag, with stud and gem stones. But there's even more: its yellow hue is lovely for Spring & Summer and strikingly different. It's not even a very large bag, standing nicely against a woman's frame, although at $840, I might like it larger.

Available now at Net-a-Porter.com

This Prada Straw Tote screams not only fun summer color, but "shape, shape, shape!" The pocket alignment, the angles, the wide buckled strap, and the cute heart-esque top curve all mark this bag top-notch in design.

Additionally, the sizable straw body (10 1/5"H x 13"W x 5 1/10"D) makes it the perfect upscale bag to bring on picnics and trips to the beach.

It all makes it the best bag for this summer, and now it's marked way down to just under $800, from $1,140!

SmartBargains is the only store I can find that features this stunning floral mini bowler from Prada. It retails for $895, but their price is $529.99.

• Top zip
• Inside open pocket
• Prada triangle logo plaque on side of bag
• Mirror in matching satin pouch included
• Straps are 12" long
• 7" wide x 4.5" high x 3.75" deep

Find the bag in Women's Accessories Prada The bad news: ONLY 3 LEFT!