Stylish with Substance

It's IT Bag Monday (late afternoon) ... with a wallet!

If you want a hot wallet, you've found it. If you want a teeny tiny bit of a Chloe Paddington, for a lower yet not highly reasonable price, well I think you've got it.

I do like it, don't get me wrong! I like the padlock, of course---and I really, really like the way the key is attached: on the zipper pull.

You know blatantly in this case that the lock is not a utilitarian device, and I like that ... worrying if I have to unlock my purse to get inside is too much for me.

But wait, in the case of a wallet, it might be nice. One could keep the key elsewhere and maybe be a little bit safer from card & identity theft?

Anyway, it is a nice look, at least. Tongue in oh, so chic? Oh, so chic.

Specs: Anthracite leather, zip fastenings for cards and coins, 7 ½" l x 4" h x 1" d, $615.

Stay tuned for IT Bag Monday, next! Right now, it's also Marc Jacobs sales day!! All of these bags are currently under $800!

Net-a-Porter:
-- Metallic Venetia Tote
-- Gold Small Multi-Pocket Hobo Bag
(pictured)

Neiman Marcus:
-- Calfskin demi-style pocket bag

eLUXURY:
-- Side-pocket Tote

*Update* I am not feeling well, so hold on 'til later for the rest of today's posts.

-- Out: Orange, streaky Fake Bakes.
-- IN: Sunless and natural (if light) skin.

-- Out: High platforms and stilettos.
-- IN: Stacked heels a la Marc Jacobs.

-- Out: Belts through loops, to think!
-- IN: High-waisted, wide belts.

-- Out: Naturals fabric bags (straw).
-- IN: Animal print bags.

-- Out: Embossed leather bags.
-- IN: Quilted leather.

-- Out: Loong out, since we were kids: Fake patent leather.
-- IN: Patent leather (do you know how nice it feels, too?).

-- Out: Boring, utilitarian boots.
-- IN: Boots with wraps of leather and buckles.

-- Out: Brights.
-- IN: Black.

Disclaimer: This is just for fun.

(Note: This post contains a little helpful information on recognizing authentic Louis Vuitton bags.)

The Louis Vuitton Speedy is a great bag. I love LV's signature layout, it's simply the finest with the greatest attention to quality and detail. The Speedy bags are made using uncut leather, pretty much one strip, so the back side of them have upside down LVs. I just love this so much, it's pretty much how I would do things.

But then there's the material. It just doesn't hold it's shape. It slouches no matter what. So however much I like the Speedy, I can't carry one.

My new favorite is the Louis Vuitton Alma. I always loved it perhaps the most, for its classy, unique shape. It has a leather bottom, and so the rear has upright monogram, but the incomparable aligning and the fact that LVs are never cut off the side measure up to standard.

Anyway, it's mostly about that sophisticated, classic shape. When I buy a Louis Vuitton, it will be an Alma. (Just a bit too bad the Alma's a few hundred more dollars than the Speedy, at $880.) You can buy the authorized Alma at eLUXURY. Do you think I should save up, or perhaps research further and go for used and a little discount on eBay? I might even get one at the boutique, I imagine there would be no better feeling when buying a Louis. Yes, in a couple years time, for sure, although I hear LV's pricing always rises. Well, my professional writing income will probably be raised quite a bit, so I think it will be less cash to me! Most of you, maybe act now on this forever classic bag.

This isn't the newest of news, but apparently I wasn't on my 'puter when I first saw the commercial:

The Hot Mac Ad Guy is in a movie: Accepted!

And apparently his name is Justin Long.

The movie looks stinky but it's nice to see the (more) ads, I guess.

I love this style, the Marc Jacobs Quilted Venetia, it is my favorite and my most coveted of Marc Jacobs, although it is too wide for me at 16", so I will quite contentedly settle for the Blake. I just need to find one. Must be blue!

Anyway, my little tizzying search led me to this bag, and after wanting it, of course I did my research before moving forward.

I learned how to spot a Marc Jacobs fake, and I could tell with the styles at which I looked.

Whether you can see it right away or not, this is a bad, or at least easily-seen fake.

The tell-tale signs:

• There is no belt loop that the strap/belt sits through. Instead, as many fakes have it, the strap is placed through the decorative strap of leather.


• The bottom of the strap is higher than the top of the pocket, it should be slightly lower, especially for the Resort 2005 collection quilted version (further below). (Perhaps this higher strap happens from stuffing the strap into the decorative piece?)

Here are some alternative views of the same (fake) bag. The issues are more obvious, even. See the real views further below.

• On the back, there is no decorative leather strap to match the one on the front.


• On the side view, the piece of leather below the zipper is small and rounded, but should be larger and triangular.

Here is the inside compared to the real inside.

• The real Venetia bags have a flap pocket, and the logo plaque is on that pocket, as well. (auth image credit)

Here is a second bag with a few more problems:

• The proportions are just off, it's sloppy, and the leather looks to be lower quality as the pocket flap is bent.


• The pocket flap looks to be made of pebbled leather, but no classic Marc Jacobs handbag is made of pebbled leather.

Now for more authentic pictures, you'll really be able to tell after seeing them!

You could never see the preceding bags the same way again! Still, you need to continue reading tips from my information source: Vogue1966 on eBay. It's all Marc Jacobs classic bags. By the way, that user has nothing to gain, because she doesn't sell! (She has 0 feedback, literally.)

Now are you ready to attack and shop Marc Jacobs on eBay?

If you find a fake or a faker on eBay, report it to us. We're putting together a database.

PCs with fingerprint sensing technology marketed to make computers more secure may not quite do that job as well as hopefuls assume.

Hackers can scan what your fingerprint looks like and skilled techies can copy it. Could this then open a Pandora's box of identity theft? If fingerprint identification becomes bigger in other areas of life & business, watch out.

This means in terms of Internet hacking, it's not safe at all.

Which does also mean that password protecting your PC may just leak your password out, so be careful which characters you choose. Although, a tough one to type will make it annoying to boot up, and especially annoying for closing and opening notebooks. I say forget it.

These may just be opinions, but I've discussed with knowledgeable people (I do admit, I'm just one of those "dummies").

Read more about fingerprint scanning PCs on SmallBusinessComputing.com (image credited to them).

Leopard print bags are hot for Fall, but personally I don't like leopard to be that large. Perhaps in a little wristlet, yes that would be nice. And I do always love leopard on fabulous shoes. Overall, though, I'm not the leopard girl I used to be. (Oh, boy, did I love a little leopard touch in the past.)

But this Leopard-Print Satchel by Valentino seems to be the best of the coming crop. The $2,150 pricetag seems to scream that as well.

Neiman Marcus has no note on how large this bag is, but being made of leopard-print hair calf, dark brown buffalo leather, plus that logo closure, this bag is all luxe.

What do I like best? The low ratio of leopard to leather. It's nice and subtly leopard, while not exactly being a subtle bag overall.

Noo!!!

Neiman Marcus claims that cross-body bags are trendy for Fall. Garbage! True fashionistas know better. Right??!

I love these new "Meredith" boots by Coach! I saw them in my catalog long before they finally got in stock, and they really must be seen as large as that full page.

They have embossed C Signature on the vachetta leather shaft. It looks so great. The buckles are hot too (and a bit Chloé, but not completely, as they're of the new Coach "Legacy" style). Add in the thicker stacked heel and they've hit the trend mark!

The only thing that's keeping these from being truly IT is that they're not a more coveted brand than Coach. If they were, that subtle signature, quality and style would be in high, high demand. Well, at $498, they're certainly not low end.

I say, give these boots a chance to steal your heart. You know I'm in love.