Stylish with Substance

Iiiii'm siiiiick! I come home from vacation for this to set in on me. I never get sick, and this is sick like I've never been (not the worst though, but certainly different). What a good day to start this feature up again, because I'm not sure how much original brain power I have in me. Oiiii.

Pictured is the "Get Your Own Bag" message canvas tote. It's simple, filled with attitude and I also see loads of irony in it. A shapeless cartooned tote bag conveying envy and pride over a bag---what bag?---even the mini bag pictured is not "cute". I believe it must be made with rightful intention, making fun of bag lovers. Still, it's notable. Find purchase info (for the uncensored version too) at The Purse Blog.

Introduce yourselves to Eco-Bag, an online shop for bags designed by indies that are all recycled materials. The once soda bottle, once seat belt buckle, and once ... boat sail? Yep, all hand made and all environmentally friendly. Shop via In My Bag.

Love that luxury trash bag style of the Coco Cabas, but for a well, still more expensive than trash pricetag? The Chapman Large Slouch Hobo by Charles David is a brandy copycat of Chanel's bag. For less the money, but it's not like you like the Chanel aside from its logo anyway! Via Se�ora Cartera (Mrs. Handbag).

Model Lily Cole designed a line of bags for Monsoon Accessories, EBelle5 featured a rainbow striped small purse.

Ooh, an umbrella case! What a nice change of pace. In cute rainbowed stars, the umbrella with case from Top Shop costs 12 pounds, and is only available in stores in the UK. Boo hoo, this sick girl is crying! Via The Bag Lady.

And finally, this doesn't have to do with bags, but when I saw this billboard last week, I thought it would be perfect about for Counterfeit Chic to write. It's Coke's new billboards for Coca Cola Zero, like, "tastes so much like Coke, we should sue ourselves". Funny?

Visit these great blogs, and we'll see you around.

Nanette Lepore shoes, which debuted just last year, are sugar, spice and everything just right; a mix of trendy now and Lepore girlishness. This season they stand on bases of chunky heels and wedges, with uppers detailed, scribbled, or at least colourful. A nod back to vintage times, most of these shoes would perfectly suit the antiqued images of pin-up girls - a la Betty Paige.

With pricepoints in the 400s, the heels are sky-high, but Lepore does a second range for Keds, sandals and ballet skimmers, some mimicking the "higher" designs. I urge fans (like I) not to let these lower-height and more affordable shoes go, and true devotees to scoop up at least one pair of these early-on haute designs for history!

Immediately we see Nanette knows her craft, and can make a shoe with the rest of the masters.

Purchase Nanette shoes at Neiman Marcus and her line for Keds at Nordstrom.

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�A new great style from Marc Jacobs is this Deborah Bag, a shoulder tote with zipper details. Selling now in white, the bag also features a signature push lock (on�the zipped attachment closing the large front pocket) and classic square strap buckles, in addition to the double zipper feature toward the top of the bag.

The Deborah measures 15" x 10" x 2.5" and costs $975.

I'm hoping this purse at some point, or in another store, is released in other colours. Yes, white is trendy and attractive, but practical alternatives need to be offered. I like this bag, and it has a little bit of everything Marc (aside from quilting, a chain strap, or anything Stam-y) but I don't desire it nor see IT in it. Still it's a very pretty purse, with a great price especially for its size and amount of style. If this is your dream bag, grab her!

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The Dior Gaucho bag just keeps getting better. When it first came out, ehh not so good. But with style re-inventions there have been improvements, like interesting texture and different straps.

Now they have the classic in a shimmering gold metallic washed calfskin. My BFF's mother picked that out as her dream bag, and I say "good choice!"

But here's how the conversation went with my BFF, introduced here for the first time (who otherwise will be known as the Evil Fashionisto! dun dun dunnn).

Ella: "And that's an It Bag!"

TEF: "A **it bag?"

Ella, ignoring: "I found the price! It's about the same as my dream quilted Bay; $1760."

TEF: "**** ****."

Ella: "It's less expensive than the Gaucho she liked last trip to Neimans. Over $2,000."

TEF: "****. Ma, you should get a fake."

Ma: "I don't want a fake."

TEF "No, don't they have inspireds?"

Ella: "Yeah, I can find one for you, without metallic leather though, probably on ASOS."

TEF: "What's that, pesos? It's for pesos? That's a perfect price!"

Ella, laughing: "That's priceless. Ooh, get it?!"

It's a summery tote with gold metallic fabric. It's quite trendy, I suppose, but that won't cut it. Where are the Louboutin signature elements? They should think of some - I can:

They have platform shoes, espadrilles, and wedges right? So the bags could be raffia, have wooden elements, or even have pockets on the bottom a la the Zippy by Chloe. That compartment could be a different colour - a tan, perhaps in raffia?

Then of course all Louboutin shoes have the red sole - I think bags could be subtler; red fabric lining. That is a definite must and I will lose all hope if all bags don't have that already. (The store description doesn't say.)

The details it does have are a chain drawstring strap, nice, gotta hand them that - but then a dangling key charm? Everyone does that!

Oh sigh, why am I such a better designer than the professionals? Hmm? I need this job and this job needs moi!

The plus side, this seemingly (Neimans doesn't give size) roomy bag costs only $950.

Here are my opinions on what's hot or not in shoes NOW:

Boots that aren't too warm and aren't too Fall, so unique! These flowered boots are by Miu Miu. Embroidered calfskin boots by Miu Miu. Purchase here. ON SALE! and going fast.

Those sky-high platform wedges soooo prevalent last year by Christian Louboutin are now boring me to tears. Puh-lease. Move on. Or not? Purchase here.

This tote is from Chanel's new Paris Biarritz collection for SS 2007. Wow!

If all my body fat were removed (please god) all my extra matter would easily fit in here.
My whole torso would fit in here.
Both of my legs would fit in here.
My paddington collection could fit in here.
A weekend's worth of clothing could fit in here.

You get the drill, but ...

It wouldn't fit in ...

On my lap,
Just barely on a car seat,
On a shelf or hook or in my closet.

Oh boy.

Preview more Paris Biarritz below.

What green bag are you carrying this St. Patrick's Day? Post your photos in our forum!

I'm making mine a Saint Paddy Day with my Chloe Paddington "Mousse" Satchel!

Have a fun yet safe holiday!

According to New York Post's Page Six

"Anna Wintour is as picky with words as she is with her wardrobe. According to one Vogue-er, 'They are expanding the Vogue Web site and getting more involved with the Internet. But Anna hates the word 'blog' so much, she refuses to call anything on her site a blog and has charged her staff with coming up with a new word that isn't as garish-sounding. She wants it ASAP - in time for launch.' However, a source close to Wintour said, 'Anna just doesn't want people to refer to stories as blogs, because they're not. It's an improper use of the word.' A rep said, 'Anna has nothing against blogs.'

It's true that some people are uncomfortable with "blog", so many choose to leave the word out of site titles or domain names. It makes sense to follow that if you're looking for closed-minded people to still dedicate time to visiting you, but it's silly. Many readers of Slashdot didn't used to realize they were devoted readers of a blog. Why was it so underground and nearly taboo?

But it isn't blogging itself that Anna has a problem with, it's the word. Although the reason is unknown (and isn't it interesting to wonder why?). Don't you think that all website surfers would like blogs just fine not knowing what they are? But many people discredit articles if they're found on a blog. They think the content or information is unreliable.

Well that must stop! Blogs are what they are, mostly opinion, personal views even on professional blogs. Bloggers are writers or just passionate fans, all experts in their fields. Throw us a bone.

Maybe their new terms could be "the Vogue Bone." Tongue in geek chic! Whatever "new" word her staff picks, let it honour the medium, please.

*Via Bag Snob*

In site news, this coming week is Spring Break for me. I'll be largely on vacation. See you around though!

Photo credit: AM New York

And the Heavenly music plays in behold of this shoe. Louis Vuitton's Andalucia Wedge Sandal has the little logo charm flowers from their monogram print, on a t-strap. Love! It also has a sculpted two-toned, wood/cream wedge heel and rivited and gold straps.

The Andalucia has a 4" wedge heel and sells for $725 through eLUXURY.