Stylish with Substance

Tweed is the new cool. It's no longer for librarians, but perhaps for chic school girls, whom like to study and shop; drink a cocktail with the girls, and write her own grade-A essays, learn chemistry and experiment on boys--no, men.

Maturity is sophistication, and it's a growing trend. But this tweed (or bouclé) appeal has roots deeper than that. If you put on your (face-flattering, of course) eyeglasses and examine a true designer bag weaved with wool and threads (including subtle shimmering threads for this Coach bag), you'll see the beauty and intricacy.

Yes, this COACH Chelsea Bouclé Demi embodies everything one might desire in a tweed accessory, or any designer handbag, perhaps? Each bag, due to the handmade crafting, is unique. With my perfectionist predilection, I found my absolute perfect dream bag. In my new fall bag, the bolder orange "stripes" are aligned in an even, balanced manner. It speaks to my symmetrical eye.

There are more details, of course, including trimmings of leather and soft suede. Two brass buckle rings wrap in a leather strapped flap. And along the edge of the classic Coach reinforced edges, is golden piping.

You should be aware that the online store's photo is incorrect. The strap is simpler, with a one-side dog leash clip. I suspect with that design removal, is when they added the sparkling threading. My calculations say it is quite worth it.

Show a little sexy in these funkified classic fall pumps from Manolo Blahnik.

This "Kusino" 3 1/2" towering heel is made of black hair-calf, suede, and patent leather with clear PVC insets.

Again, wild, in it's own way, and every aspect of its structure. Stand out in true daring design.

Ella and Kiss Me, Stace have a formal retraction to make. I have been shopping around quite a bit recently and have discovered both a heightened love for heels, and a feel for walking in them. I, and YOU, can walk in backless heels (mules or slides).

Yes, now walking in heels feels exhilarating, even comfy (arch support!) When I step out of heels and into flats, I find my toes wanting to curl upward, oh, I do miss that height. Because of my shorter feet; over 2 1/4" heel I just cannot do, but higher heels are easier to walk in for women with longer feet! It really is easy, no lie.

As for backless varieties, it takes a snug fit (you might need to go a 1/2 size down), and a good gripping leather upper sole. I still do urge you to try before you buy-or judge.

And so, I would like to show you, again, this pretty shoe; the Steve Madden - Rudey, with a review.

First of all, it is fairly easy to walk in. The footbed is gripping, and the heel is a great height, but the placement of strap(s) right over the toes does sometimes make the heel of the foot rise above the shoe. This shoe still stays on well, nonetheless.

(In some styles, in which the heel is too thin or precarious by other design means, a woman's foot can sometimes flop like a fish.)

Even shoes like the Rudey are easy for the experienced heel walker. I'm not even using the word "experienced" here too conservatively. After some walking out in heels, and many trips around the shoe sections of department stores, I feel "experienced," myself.

These sandals from Franco Sarto and Vaneli (respectively) bring up another point. With straps that hug the foot closer to the ankle, shoes indeed have no trouble staying on the foot. There is no *flapping*.

Also, t-straps, even up-to-as-thick as the Vanelis, are slimming for the foot.

Choose mid or manageable heels in these styles, although women with longer feet might still be able to do over 2 1/2". It's a Rule that longer feet can feel less pressure on the arches from high heels. With the right height heel, backless shoes will be easy to walk in and stay on the foot with absolutely no trouble.

Dooney & Bourke has a new collection, Signature "Quilt." Yes, the name actually includes quotation marks, because the quilting is really just a flat pattern. It's not completely ugly, though, in fact it's a bit cute. But it doesn't say quality, when competitors have actual, lush quilting on their bags. That being said, I'm not a fan of that, "old lady look," and I kind of prefer the Dooney, in a way. This small hobo is attractive, and I love a detailed strap.

Dooney & Bourke has a new collection, Signature "Quilt." Yes, the name actually includes quotation marks, because the quilting is really just a flat pattern. It's not completely ugly, though, in fact it's a bit cute. But it doesn't say quality, when competitors have actual, lush quilting on their bags. That being said, I'm not a fan of that, "old lady look," and I kind of prefer the Dooney, in a way. This small hobo is attractive, and I love a detailed strap.

Wild Manolo Blahniks. Hair-calf in pony and giraffe prints on one shoe. When you want to look wild, go in style.

50 square feet of Heaven - or just plain, the Coach store - allowed me to examine the bags more fully for this post, which discusses my personal favorites and runners-up for my new fall bag. (I should hire my own choir for trips to COACH.)

It's been more hard work that was both agonizing and exhilarating. Mostly agonizing - I want, want, want. Enough complaining, and on to the list.

Soho Suede Demi Flap

In a lot of these fall bags is the new strap style of double-intermittent rings. De-lic-ious. They compliment the flap strap buckle very well, but mostly, I love a little extra design intricacy. Designers should design!

Some of these bags also have a new inner pocket set-up. There's the standard security-zip, one slightly larger multi-function pocket, and the back lining has one really large pocket. Yumness!

The positives: Brown looks gorgeous against my coloring (dark haired/winter). The pink version looks rich. The price tag is a very nice $198. It's perfectly sized at roughly 10 x 5 x 2.

The negatives: Suede is likely to get worn, and this bag is almost entirely made of the natural leather. The top is a little rigid-looking. (And I'm not really going to count lack of signature, nope, nope, nope. I have one signature bag, so it's fine. I'm all for grown-up, sophisticated, merely-about-quality designer. Yes.)

Mini Signature Demi Flap

Here is an example of the poor photographers this season for the Coach catalogue. I edited this image drastically to show you a color more similar to the one in the store. I love this purple. It matches one of my favorite cardigans. It's a great, dark fall color.

It's in mini signature, which I'm feeling for its more subtle qualities. I'm growing. (My current bag is in [large] Signature, so a difference would be nice.)

It has the nice size, the nice pockets, and the nice price, but the suede is on the bottom. This worries me. The bottom is the part of the bag that needs the most protecting. It's what touches dirty "cash wrap" counters in stores. Granted, the full-suede bags still have it there (and suede is big for fall 2005 Coach).

Soho Demi Flap

Bordeaux! Oh, the color. It's actually a little more purple in person. It's the best mix of the two above purses. It has all the niceness, without any suede.

What I love the most about this bag is the contrast stitch detail; there are three seams along the bottom and each gets bolder pink as they wrap down. It looks fab.

These reasons make this my 1st choice. But it doesn't win the grand prize, I've saved the best for last.

Shoes.com is having its BIGGEST Saturday Sale Ever! Today! I wouldn't take their word for that, I'd have to check it out for myself.

I can't post many product links this weekend, because my affiliate program that offers all the juicy styles is out for technical tweaking. I know I could just save my own picture, post it, and let the issue go (even if someone wants to buy that Ugly Shoe in the Walk of Shame) but well --- I'm selfish. It's the shopping addiction that has turned me material.

And yes, I was on vacation most of last week, too. I'm bad to my visitors! It's the last time we could get away before fall, and we can't do all those nice planned outings (we're a very close daughter-mum pair), because my mother and car (I'm fine) were injured in our accident (a mall and Coach store trip does await me, thank goddess, while my mom is at the salon [waxing is a simple necessity of life]).

So you see I need this extra cash with all the physical therapy, cab rides (yes, I know, a whole other horror, sacré blue), etc (like my fashion-queen-requisite designer bags).

Yes. You understand NOW.

iVillage is an online portal for women's interests. They now have a fun tool anyone can use to test out makeup and hairstyles (including many colors!) on a model or a photo of one's self (which is free to upload).
Makeover-o-Matic.

My winning colors: Neutrogena Violet Ice Lipstick, Rapid Fire eyeshadow, M.A.C. Revenge (also Clinique Bronze Blush).

Glamour.com (from Glamour Magazine) has a changing array of current fashion to try on computer-generated, customizable models. Currently, they're showcasing a multitude of today's top denim. My winning pair: Antik Denim from Bergdorf Goodman.