Stylish with Substance

This bag is all silver and gold, and perfect for the holidays. That's gold metallic leather (very structured) with silver hardware. This "Crystal" clutch by Gucci would be a great gift for your girlfriend if you're still stuck on what to get - as good as jewelry! Hey, it's much better than some afterthought "present" - natch. All you need to do is take a trip to your nearest *nice* mall and go in to Neiman Marcus, look for the Gucci section or room (it's really nice in that store fellas, can you handle it?) and of course fork over the $495 dollars. Trust me, that's a pretty good price!

It'll work out, with gifts like these, you'll be virtually written a pass to get out of the dog house until your choices for Valentine's day materialize. Plus when she carries this beauty to your New Year's Eve event, you'll definitely get a nice kiss at midnight ... or something more later.

Single ladies, or less fortunate coupled gals who won't get such a nice treat, you might want to use your card money and invest in this fabu clutch as your New Year's party evening bag. This on your arm is better* than a man tying you down anyway!

*Apologies to the fabulously in love, it all depends!

Actually, I've "come down" with a case of depression. I'm prone to it now and then. I've messed up posting this past week at least, and I just have to admit it. I shouldn't do any series until I'm feeling all better, but I still want to try to do holidays things, you know?

Anyway, here's a great send off to Hanukkah. An expensive designer bag by Dior ... in blue! The My Dior Medium Frame bag, for $1790 at Neiman Marcus. Carry it year after year in all future Hanukkahs!

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

Garbage Bag of the Week:

Jay McCarroll Bowler - Fred Flre $60

Is this how the winner of Project Runway makes a bag? See, this is what we get when the rules for the contest are as such; "the designers must sew" and "they must design women's-wear" instead of the important things, like talent in aesthetic design. I mean of course sewing is an important factor with how the competitions are run, and sticking to ladies' fashions keeps the show running more consistently, but with the popularity of purses, and the presence that handbag designers bring to the scene, where is the TV show for those aspiring to design bags?---Huh?!

Really, how does someone who won a major, famous contest for fashion design then make a bag that disregards color combination and basic knowledge of modern strap attachment? There is no talent in this cheap POS. Why make something for fabbing Fred Flare, wih fugging vinyl trim?! No respect for you, McCarroll.

You're out!

This is partly why I don't like the show.

If you don't already have a system to organize your handbags, especially if you switch them out often, you might need the miracle of the Purse Brite. To many of you I ask, why haven't you tried one already?

This purse organizer has several pockets to keep your junk neat in your bags, but it also comes with a little light, which can be turned on to give a little boost to those with tall bags or if you constantly lose belongings and fight to find them in your cave-like purse.

Unfortunately, the regular Purse Brite is too large for small and even some medium-sized handbags.

And please, ignore the hideous bags on the website. Ugh!

How? They've collaborated with the new creative director of Mulberry, Katie Grand, to produce a jersey fabric version of the house's famed "Roxanne" handbag, in the name of "charity" for (Product) RED.

And I want you to turn red with outrage. Why?

(Product) RED, if you need a refresher, is a part of the AIDS awareness organization, Join (RED), and 50% of the profits from their products with Gap go toward the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. Oh - that must be why this (Product) RED Mulberry bag is marked up 50%, at £85, or $175. Except the purse is not available stateside, anyway, (only in Gap flagship stores in London and Paris) and will surely be marked up much further later on with either eBay bidding wars or profitable bid openers.

(That's great, put out a highly exlusive handbag, so that unrelated parties can make profits without giving any proceeds to help! Ridiculous [and 150% foreseeable].)

What can we do, besides go along with this or ignore it?

First of all, Fashionistas must make being Patriotic mean we'll support politicians who will turn our poor, laughable economy around. We also must create an uproar in response to designers catering to the fancy European cities (what about Anya Hindmarch's original release of "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" only being available in the UK?)!

Then, when the bags start showing up on eBay, perhaps we should chastise the sellers and/or request they give 100% of their final listing value, minus fees, to the same charity. I bet they won't do it! But we'll hopefully leave an impression in some of their minds.

To sum up, and most importantly: It is just not right for a company or the designers to not take a pay cut when producing for charity. To pass the act of donating 100% toward the consumer, mostly poor fashion fans, is not quite right. Even at $85 American, it would be a tad overpriced. Sure, there's the designer's name and of course the great, recognizable shaping, but it's a fabbing jersey material bag! (From Gap!)

Part of what makes designer purses worthwhile is the quality of genuine leather! One can't get the same use out of a simple nylon bag (sorry Prada, NOT) or, in this case, fabbing t-shirt material! Besides, it was probably manufactured by Gap, not Mulberry!

Ridiculous!!! Unacceptable!

(And for a similar matter, do not send me any more invites to NYC events. Geesh! -- Unless you pay for the plane tickets. And no - I do not want to offer reports on NYC's sample sales to my worldwide readers. Gah.)

*Via Fashion Week Daily*

Don't have a reason to party? You might if you had this clutch by Zagliani (at Browns). Taking python to a new elegant level is this skin's ruching. How do they do it? It's clear there's some major craftsmanship behind this purse, so you shouldn't feel too sad to read its price: $1165. Not convinced it's faaab enough to merit the UK Pound exchange rate (nothing is worse paying more than double, to moi!)? Well how about its truly innovative closure: not only does this purse have a toggle in the center, but each side features zippers, so one may optionally undo the bag further. Fun! At least, in the mind.

Still, we Amercian chicks will mostly just enjoy the photos on this blog, while the UK bagistas can snatch this clutch for a mere 565, their currency.

Bullocks! Party on, you lucky, fabulous ladies, you've won again. (But don't forget to check out those pictures!)

*Via Purse Page*

 

Sometimes one just finds the most unique accessories when searching for the more budget-friendly brand handbags. This opalescent clutch, the Nannette, from Claire Sanchez, features the pop of a little faux fur tuft. The mixture of shine and powderpuff is really interesting, and surprisingly attractive. Plus it makes this bag a fun, refreshing choice for holiday parties.

The bag is sized 10" x 7", made from iridescent silk dupioni, and currently going for a holiday sale price of $57.60. Buy it soon for the holidays at www.ebags.com! (affiliate)!

(By the way, it's also great that it comes in blue; the color of Hanukkah!)

 

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 line also comes in Neo Cabby GM, XL Denim (Hobo), gorgeous scarves, a belt, and two pairs of shades (although I don't think they have actual denim on the sunglasses).

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.

For you Jewish fabulistas, after you switch on your electric menorahs and eat your candy "present", you'll probably be left craving more. Why don't you treat yourself?!

So... "On the 1st Night of Hanukkuh, I Gift to Myself..."

Hanukkah gifts are known for being small, but that doesn't mean they have to be piddly!

The first small, yet totally fab gift for the first night of Hanukkah (although a little late in the evening), should be from COACH - and what's small from Coach? Key Fobs, of course! The company even produces two ring styles that are totally Festival of Lights Friendly.

First, we have a blue snowflake key ring. Perfect! Next, we have the long-lasting, fashion equivalent of chocolate coins. I make no statements and follow no beliefs on why chocolate coins are a part of Jewish tradition, but I still say, why get a gift you eat away, when a girl can receive a brass and leather goodie for her purse!

Coach Snowflake Keyfob - $28. Chainlink Coins Keyfob (which represents the brand's symbols, not currency) - $98.

Those may not be your personal faves, so here are more key rings from www.coach.com.