Stylish with Substance

Coach has actually made an accessory line printed with a red/pink fragrance theme in celebration of their new perfume. They've also made up a limited edition compilation of the LE Jasmine XL Straw "Basket" bag filled with pieces from the line, plus a pair of shades and the exclusive to the "gift basket", bronzer compact (which I think is a pretty awesome little beauty case).

The main feature of this LE gift set is the Jasmine XL Straw Basket ($998 separately, limited on its own as well) which features a rounded body of straw, orange leather and snake skin trim, brass hardware with ringed full-height straps and fragrance-print lining with 5 interior pockets. It's sized 24" x 13.5" x 10.5"!
The official list of items included is: Fragrance-print crusher hat, beach towel, Framed coin purse, Patti sunglasses, and an exclusive Bronzer Set in the Fragrance Print Case.

The cost of the package is $1600 (eek) too steep for me even though I'd love to own this, but instead I can pick up a little piece of the "fragrance" line separately. My choice is the unique "Brush case" which can be used as a beauty case or even a clutch! Love it. If you can't get the package, which is in limited quantities, perhaps look on eBay for that exclusive bronzer, as I will. (No low price guarantee, though.)

If you have the cash/budgeting and love for Coach or just plain cute accessories, go for it, it's sold online at coach.com or in select boutiques, but you can always have it shipped free by calling your favorite store location/favorite SA.

Below are photos of what's included in the Limited Edition Fragrance Straw Gift Basket:

And here are photos of separate items from Coach's Fragrance-Print collection:

 

Coach has actually made an accessory line printed with a red/pink fragrance theme in celebration of their new perfume. They've also made up a limited edition compilation of the LE Jasmine XL Straw "Basket" bag filled with pieces from the line, plus a pair of shades and the exclusive to the "gift basket", bronzer compact (which I think is a pretty awesome little beauty case).

The main feature of this LE gift set is the Jasmine XL Straw Basket ($998 separately, limited on its own as well) which features a rounded body of straw, orange leather and snake skin trim, brass hardware with ringed full-height straps and fragrance-print lining with 5 interior pockets. It's sized 24" x 13.5" x 10.5"! The official list of items included is: Fragrance-print crusher hat, beach towel, Framed coin purse, Patti sunglasses, and an exclusive Bronzer Set in the Fragrance Print Case. The cost of the package is $1600 (eek) too steep for me even though I'd love to own this, but instead I can pick up a little piece of the "fragrance" line separately. My choice is the unique "Brush case" which can be used as a beauty case or even a clutch! Love it. If you can't get the package, which is in limited quantities, perhaps look on eBay for that exclusive bronzer, as I will. (No low price guarantee, though.) If you have the cash/budgeting and love for Coach or just plain cute accessories, go for it, it's sold online at coach.com or in select boutiques, but you can always have it shipped free by calling your favorite store location/favorite SA. Below are photos of what's included in the Limited Edition Fragrance Straw Gift Basket:

And here are photos of separate items from Coach's Fragrance-Print collection:

 

Spring Break is here, with sandy beaches calling to us and actual sightings of green grass. A great travel handbag for your later winter getaway is this Prada Frame Bag. Natural straw with green leather trim, it's just enough Summer sand with greens of Spring for the upcoming weeks. Featuring a removable green leather luggage tag, it's good to go as your carry-on purse, as well!

13" x 9" x 5" this cute satchel costs $1,350. That's probably less than a trip to Disney World! So if you cut back on the fabulousness of your March break trip, perhaps you can afford this purse. Hey it will last a lot longer than a mere 7 days! (Two seasons, year after year!) Putting it that way, it almost seems like you need a new bag!

Ahhh resort, they call it a vacation line, but I call it gearing up for Spring. Resort collections are for early Spring buyers or those excited by "lighter" designs, anxious to go on to the next round of bag buying and of course, those making wish lists. Resort collection time is also the time to plan what to buy oneself after we once again have self-spending-money come January. I'm getting a Paddington and sometime later definitely a Marc Jacobs.

But anyway, what excites me in resort is the scarf tote, done best by Gucci. This season the company offers many bags in the general style, so be sure to check them all out, but perhaps most notable is the "Positano" medium tote.

Actually far from medium, it's 15.6"L x 5.1"W x 12.2"H! With a high-quality straw body and a gold chain link printed silk scarf woven through slots at the tote's top. Add in platinum-colored metallic leather trim and as always, Gucci's light gold hardware.

This ray of sunshine (in a winter so unseasonably not lacking of the sun) runs down at $1,350.

Shop Gucci Resort.

Where has Coach been hiding this lovely bag? The Soho Straw Basket is billed as *new*, but is already sitting in (and only in) the "Last of Summer" special section on www.coach.com!

The beauty's trimmed in red leather with golden turnlock hardware and a brass logo tag, but it's not of any usual recognizable style of Coach, so that could explain the very limited aura.

I'm so glad I found this, and now you have too. It's another great option for straw bag lovers. At 20" wide, it's a part of that "huge" trend, too, with a $398 pricetag to match. (But there's free shipping until Friday afternoon, remember.)

Now there's one more question, Last of Summer: really? Today, the 21st of June, marks the first day of Summer. So all Summer bags must be off the shelves? I am not looking forward to Fall, and sure, I shouldn't and don't need to buy more Summer bags, but now all that's to come is Fall bags, with Autumn colors. I don't know. I do know that the thought of Coach Fall lines excites me, though, since I already am anticipating and wondering about the new renditions of styles, and what I might want to buy!

My first pick from the first peek into Coach's Fall bags is tomorrow!

A dear two-tonal maize straw tote with a cute printed lining and matching fabric tie closure---that is this J. Crew Bicolor Straw Tote. With a triangle shape and a juxtaposed tie to match its cotton poplin lining, this bag is sweet to stroll the boardwalk and I'm even thinking it would be a wonderful accent around the house to hold knitting or magazines, or stand on a table in a sitting room. Call me crazy! But at only $48, this tote could serve any duty.

There's a new Fendi B. bag, and it's quite pretty; the B. Fendi Python Woven Large Bag, made of natural woven wicker with embroidery, beading and snakeskin trim.

It looks like a stroll through a blooming, green park, em-bag-bodied, but I don't think it's worth the pricey detail of python, when the skin used doesn't have that python look, just general snake. (The handles) in the other hand, the wicker material looks soft and the embroidery makes me think of a Grecian garden. It's lovely ...

But I'm still waiting for the next B. Fendi to arrive on e-shelves, I recently caught a peek at a decidedly different clutch!

I suddenly feel like discussing the longevity, throughout a single year, of straw handbags.

They first pop into style right before Spring begins, and as soon as we see a sign of the season, we rush out to buy a straw bag or start feverishly using a straw bag we already have.

It's novelty, and this original fever wears off.

But the straw bag trend picks up in the heat of summer. On vacations, at the beach, in country club luncheons and upscale sea food shacks -- whatever---the straw bag is again hot.

Then in late August, we use (or hunt for) our straw bags with a passion--like they're going out of style---because they are.

The straw bag is a novelty, but as I see it, it will come back every year. And a few times every year says "worth it" to me, but I wanted to warn you ladies about the practicality before the breezes turn to scorchers!

A day at the beach, hands in the sand, without all the mess, and much more luxury ... that's this Pauline Straw Clutch by Anya Hindmarch. It's made of natural straw, with golden leather trim, stitched sea-designed embellishments ... and, yes, those are actual sea shells, as well. What could be better? Take this $225 baby out to fancy sea food establishments for special-occasion dates. I'd take precious care of this dainty accessory, though, it is very special.

Express got a recent shipment of items for Spring, among them were some interesting bags. The brand doesn't have an online store, so when I find great items, I like to snap some camera photos and inform you all!

So summer-ready are the lukewarm-toned wooden beaded wristlets and beaded sack hobos. While showin' some toesies and baring arms, it's also fun to celebrate the sultry and carefree time with special accessories just for the momentous period; like espadrilles in shoes and for bags: raffia, straw, wood, bamboo and ... and ... the hot new trend: tortoise shell.

But Summer is also fleeting, so it's great to participate in its trends for bags at stores like Express, with lower prices. Except with no online shop and an early stock primed to sell out, are we in the mood enough to brave these winter winds and snow flurries, in time to buy?