Stylish with Substance

These photos are rarer, so I couldn't get many details. Enjoy a lesser known and her bags!

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Credit: Scott Wintrow for Coutorure

Suffering succatash!!! OK enough with the S alliteration, but my tongue is practically hanging out of my mouth anyway. Or it's closer to my eyes bugging out. After I saw this new bag from Marc Jacobs my mind went into a tizzy.

Buy the Marc Jacobs Cecilia

I think I like it better than the beloved Stam! It's such a refreshing re-take, which is confoundedly rare in the bag design world, actually. First of all, doesn't that strap give hope that it can rest on one's shoulder?? The gathers are made even better, and you know what, that straight horizontal zipper on the Stam always looked too much like a grumpy mouth anyway. This is a bit less edgy, aside from the lack of the frame closure with HUGE kiss lock - and I really like the classicism of the Stam look. (And finally, I hate to say it but the Stam also has an odd look, sure its uniqueness is amazing, but um hmmm.... me lovey this more!!)

The good news for all is that unlike many designers, this new and later version does not come complete with price hike. This Quilted Cecilia sells for the same as the standard Stam - well just a few dollars, literally, more - at $1375.

The bad news for me is that I now have rent to pay and have less to spend on fashion, since my money goes mostly to purse making and fibre art supplies (oh yes, after bills ;-)). I did just get a new job that starts in a month, but ... mmmmmmm. That's supposed to go toward me *not* "borrowing" rent money from my mother, actually. Te he. (Hey I'm still weak, weak Designer Ella, even with my new making the bags things!)

Now I'd love to sell off a bag to get this, I would really looove to buy this bag, but I sure don't actually want to sell my Stam. Someday though, I hope hope for someday.

Until now I plan on making a details-altered inspired bag. More inspired, less knock off, trust me. I'm going to chronicle this journey here on the blog, too! Stay tuned, and please, if you love, see in person, find more colors or buy the bag (affiliate, but not subliminal), comment and let's chat!

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.

We could get soo excited about model Lydia Hearst's new bag for Puma, a re-do of last year's now called the Lydia 2 Holiday Bag, a multi-function bag in either black with blue trim or silver. The bags aren't too expensive at $120, and yet they are for "environmentally-friendly material" or pleather? (Unconfirmed.) Which actually isn't eco-friendly, due to the manufacturing process of plastic. Hmm.

Right photo from TheRunwayScoop

Let's get right to it. The bag looks totally cute and fresh with that very Miu Miu/Prada ruching, until one sees it from just the wrong angle (left). The ruching part sticks out in a trés poofy way. It looks weird, but it functions as an outer zipper compartment that even has its own zippered pocket inside.

The generously-sized bag is out today, and available on store.puma.com, just in time for your holiday business/exercise/shopping/gifting.

If you're not sure, this video interview on FlyPaper with Hearst showing off both colors should answer a lot of wonderings!

This post is part of our Early Gift Guide Week.

Is definitely THE Coach bag of the year (chosen upon the merits of my Coach devotion and knowledge): Legacy Signature Satchel (preferrably the 2nd version of this style, available now on www.coach.com). This bag has it all (Classic Signature, famed new Legacy, its black and brown/tan people!, and this Fall's rendition on the style has the added bonus of side buckles, which is my personal favorite touch to a purse) and then some (unfortunately it's heavy). But there's another bonus, the dogleash clip on the front does not flap over the closure, so it's a bit more practical than last year. It's the ultimate, this year (and the entire year!), for the biggest COACH fans (so be sure she doesn't already have one, ha).

Such an important purse does come with a higher-end pricetag; $698, but GOD will she love you! (I would!)

Combining a few of the hottest trend aspects of the season: unique closures, gathered leather and ... maybe a high price point; is the new range by little-known Smythson; the Nancy bags.

In the styles of clutch, small satchel and large, and standard colors of white, tan, black and dark brown; there's almost something for every fashionista this Fall with the Nancy collection ... except that these bags are propelled into the IT race with a price range of $1,032 to $1,981. Somewhat much for a little-recognizable status bag, but the purses really are nice. And did I mention trendy? They have a lot of the appeal of a Stam, plus the more practicalities of a medium size option and no heavy hardware. The gathered leather is done in a sophisticated and unique way; sort of appearing like a diamond quilt pattern but not - and the clasp is not only fresh, but covered in luxurious leather - the same calf skin the entire exteriors are made of.

Besides the major minus of toting your new prize causing some to think you merely have a brandy inspired bag, is the lack of a fun color - which to me is the most important trend of today. A punch, some jazz! Still, these are purses meant to display elegance, maybe they need only be subtly beautiful.

And who knows what we'll see in the future if the Nancy catches fashionistas' fancy!

I need to tell you the back story that brought on the awe for this bag .....

Sunny in autumn, newly a Floridian, I tried a familiar hair salon company's new hometown franchise. I had wanted red for Fall, orangey, yet natural. What in MA had been friendly, professional, but amazingly inexpensive, here there was a big language barrier, only "one" shade of "red" hair color (????), assumptions, blindness, stubbornness, greed, and well ... one disastrous hair coloring and a plain cut later (surprisingly, she got the bangs right) and I went browsing the mall ... apparently for a pick-me-up.

An obviously designer-inspired handbag lured me inside for a little guilty pleasure browsing. The bag, metallic, tacky --- wayyy too Chloé Bay. But another. Clearly the constructor took liberal cues from what had to have been a far more talented eye. Another designer copy - probably. But not already knowing, and thus knowing, no well sorry hoping, it wouldn't be an obvious leech --- I just had to purchase this awesome-looking bag (with the "unique" closure). I needed a little giftee for my pain. (For an almost painless price, $70 is steep for pleather.) But it was red! I had to start collecting red things to match my new crayon-hued tresses. Oy.

Not being able to work as much on the computer, setting up my apartment, being on my own with all these expenses -- (No flashlight or cooking oil of my own..... all the building blocks piling on the hundreds of dollars in actual necessary spending) -- means I have to wait and save for Coach bags at a discount, forget some pipe dream IT designer name. While I still didn't know the true creator, I could buy innocently.... enough.

Then last night I came across it. MY bag. In a sea foam green -- there were hints at a name, so further investigation brought me to the true design.

A Ferragamo Marissa Bag aka Capra Vernice Satchel. (Find at Neiman Marcus.com)

Oy. $1,1900. Barely any being sold. Nary a color choice. So for now I love, commit a fashion crime red-shouldered (cause I love that big, deep bag, I tell you!) while I wait for a red version to drop below retail authentically. Don't you understand? It must be red!

Actually, there's a new Paddington with lock on a chain, or off the chain, even if in a ghetto-fabulous way.

Other new features of the Paddington Capsule Satchel by Chloé, are a front flap pocket, ID-tag-like zipper pulls, C-shaped rings on adjustable straps, and the design of the smaller padlock and key, themselves.

You know I'm starting to see potential for classin' up the bag when paired with the right ensemble!

So far I see this will be available in "elephant" tan, black (noir), blue nuit (navy), and vanilla.

Owwwwwww, my designer-purse-ban hold over me is weakening a bit for this bag. What can I sell to afford its $1,780 pricetag of the tan or the more beautiful charcoal at -- eek! -- $1,980? Ummm, Gucci... ummm... other Chloés... ummm... ...

See more photos below..

Largely reminiscent of Hayden-Harnett's Mercer Clutch (I told you they were trend inspirers), this tote-ish bag by little known Corto Moltedo is also half strangely new. With a top rod/cut out - type handle and two side bottom pockets, plus loads of other doo-dads and design features, the bag's a little much to take. It's notable though, being a foldover convertible bag with attachable shoulder straps, plus it just looks so odd ... so what else does Moltedo have to offer anyway? Should we keep a look-out?

The Priscilla sells for $2080 on Net-a-Porter.