Stylish with Substance

I'm back in it baby. Back big with COACH. Less signature, though, and more quality, durable leathers.

See, two "quality" brand bags I recently bought started to tear or otherwise fall apart on me and I've given up on Wilson Leather's either plainness or copying high design. Bleh. And COACH is what I can afford (only almost, at the rate I buy, but whatev!), and they can make some really nice details, and even some signatures are done well. They aren't perfect, but I have to stick with them.

I visited the COACH Factory Store for the first time. No signature products, really, at all. And no shoes. I had wanted to browse shoes and signature wallets (so I turned to eBay). I did see two pebbled leather satchels that I had seen before on eBay. I bought them from the site (ordered green, then divulged in the black) and I did save money from even the outlet prices (and some on shipping).

Also, the start of COACH's Preferred Customer days came while I was away and at the Boca Raton mall. I went to town. My mother even bought a bag. I preordered a very special bag and also splurged on three small goods. Although, I realized they weren't exactly, quite perfect for me, and I'm trading them for just two and for less money on eBay (yeah, the signature wallet and a matching wristlet). But the bag, the bag is all mine. Stay tuned for more, because it's not available on retail, yet.

What first caught my eye about these low-heeled wedges was the multi-brown pair. I did order the "black" (more dark brown) though because they were running out of sizes. I love them, too. And the 2 1/2" heel is really great because there is a platform to lessen the feeling. They are really so comfortable, by a new Clarks brand called Artisan, with a padded heel.

They do start to hurt during a lo-hot of walking, especially with the friction from the toe to the leather sole (and the straps, at first). But I still can't wait to wear them again in shorter distances.

While on vacation, I went to the finest malls and stores in South Florida. Oh, yes.

• Burberry: First was the outlet, which had great prices. I'll be back!


• Burberry: The retail store had all of the new check-piping bags ... and I saw my favorite Cinda!!!


• COACH: The Factory Store had two bags I already bought on eBay (pebbled leather satchels) but they were more expensive there! I lucked out.


• COACH: The retail store started their preferred customer sale that day, and I went to town (center) ... actually, I went full on crazy. I preordered a bag at which I was lucky to sneak an early peak (and got a few small items) and I'm sure I spent over an hour there total comparing and analyzing the goods. My mums even bought a bag!


• Louis Vuitton. Was scary. The workers wore suits ... or were those security guards? I wasn't brave enough to venture into the trés-by-a-million expensive store, this visit. BUT! I did spy those lovely new monogram Onatah suede bags! Squeal.

All this was at the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills and the Town Center at Boca Raton.

It was a nice vacation and I did a couple other things beside visit malls. There was ... one day I didn't shop at all!!!

Here is what it looks like when designer fashion goes from the catwalk to the high end shop:

(From Fall's Marc Jacobs Spring 2006 runway collection (right) to the pages of eLUXURY.com in March 2006.)

Steve Madden Nadinee is the sexiest shoe I've had on my feet in a long time. And it's practically flat. It has the hot peep toe and wooden wedge. Trendy and chic. Perfect?

Unfortunately, it's a little rough around the edges. As in hard edges that poke my feet. They're not the most comfortable.

I have this lovely picture to keep of one shoe on my foot, but unfortunately, these must be returned to Zappos.

DenverPost Blog House: Reading Janse’s book (The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu : Guerrilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work and in the World) allowed me to come out of the germ closet with built-in support. Alison, along with co-author Charles Gerba, showed 20/20 how dirty bathrooms really are.

Not surprisingly, the floors were by far the dirtiest, with 200 million bacteria per square inch. This is 200 times higher than a sanitary surface.

Well, if you’ve ever had to put your purse or bags on the floor it affects you. The dynamic germ duo found fecal matter on the bottom of a woman’s purse. Makes you think twice before you lay your purse on the kitchen table, doesn’t it?

Many people don't wash their hands, either. I witnessed this last week, at school. (After leaving the ladies room, having washed, myself, I used my antibacterial lotion.)

But the purse on the floor thing made this to be my issue. Bathroom floors actually have fecal matter and traces of urine. I won't go into pondering how they get there.

I'm shocked and appalled when/that people put their handbags on any floor, but the bathroom!!!! I have never done that. I have always only used stalls with a hook on the door. Now I'm afraid to go in at all, touching myself or my things to any surface. I was told that sink counters are infected with bacteria. Now going to the ladies room is a horrifying ordeal, with juggling my coat and large school tote, and getting too wet at the sink.

Oh, the humanity!

And, people, never rest your handbag on the floor! Use a chair or even one of those special hangers!

For chic's sake!!!

It's not just overweight or chubby people who have issues with swimsuits. Petite ladies have their own special needs when it comes to looking perfect. The solution is twofold and quite simple;

1. In order to keep a long visual line on a short body, keep the mix-and-match suits matching. One solid color or the same exact pattern work, but so does a one-piece.


2. No boy shorts! These cut some of the length of the leg off. A bikini-cut bottom will look good.

A great online store for Mix and Match swimsuits, each year, is Delia's. I love the side-tie bows on this suit, which comes in other patterns (that would work as well).

And short girls, don't fret. It's a small problem.

If you want to participate in Spring's nautical stripe trend, but have issues with the overload of sailor or issues with a wider body, I have a suggestion. When I saw Alloy's Canvas Espadrilles, with criss-cross stripes, I was reminded of the trend. And I think it's a great way to do it. It's different from the images with which we are constantly bombarded, yet I really get the same feel in a good way. And hey, the criss-crossing is unique for any shoe. To get more different, they come in light blue and dark brown. Cute cute cute.

Coach's preferred customer 25% off sale event for the Spring season is Wed. March 22 - Sun. March 26.

25% off is actually a good deal with Coach. I think you'll feel the biggest bang for your buck going for big ticket items.

During this special sale, it is worth purchasing over through eBay bargain hunting, because you don't have to deal with searching, bidding, and shipping. Plus, you can touch and try.

If you haven't received an invite, then you're excluded, but there's still hope for Coach fans. Start buying a few Coach items every so often, now, and you could be added in time for next season. The best part is that purchases during these periods, only, will keep you on the list!

Note, this event is only valid in store and does not include outlets.

Straight from the cover of a romance novel, comes this top from Nanette Lepore and this photography from eLuxury.com. This satin blousey top is definitely reminiscent of the Victorian period. It takes Nanette's almost-quirky overly-girly femininity to another level, while keeping some practicality.

But then they matched it with a model with wind-blown curls and glistening skin; definitely giving in to the image. Fun. Now we need a horse in a meadow.