Stylish with Substance

FOSSIL has a new line of finer leather bags, but the style boost is only minimal from their ever-classics for everyday. The cutest purse in their current collection is quite trendy though, and will accessorize you well right through Autumn. The multi-colored strips on the canvas version of the Julianne Clutch are not only fun and eye-catching, but the unique pattern of color-changes makes you want to run your fingers along it. You won't find what appear to be stringy pieces of strippy fabric, but you'll probably love the newer, more luxurious leather - goat skin, precisely. The canvas clutch also sports strips of brown leather trim and another trend of a turn-lock clasp, as is the Julianne style.

Haute skins and a more contemporary look boosts this collection to $125 for this canvas clutch. The entire new line ranges from there up to $465.

They're bras with ... breastises inside (check 2nd picture--mature)! This is the most inventive handbag creation since the first person correlated purses with vaginae (probably the first man to see a woman with one, and I vouch for the concept).

These wallets are open inside like pouches, with one zippered pocket, so they could double as small clutches, too. Just be careful who's around when you pull your cash out of the - um - cups. Whoo! Bag flash!

What a riot! This custom Money Bag (different bras/skin tones) is available from Freckleface for only $35. Beyond a steal for a must in any purse collection!!

And for more fun, check out the beyond saucy baldie lady, the Britney - it's the um, other part. ;-)

I love my bold, large, yet apparently understated - compared to these - giraffe print Medium Sac. Now Dooney & Bourke has new Zebra-printed handbags in several over-the-top color schemes, for their new twisted-strap Sacs. With their slight metallic sheens, I do love the white/grey, as a large day to night, "I'm-fabu" bag. But if you still need a little more tameness in your already sassy animal prints, then the Twisted-Strap Sacs in the zebra line are still available in black/white!

The Medium Sac is sized 15.5" w x 12" h x 5" d; the Large Sac: 19" w x 14" h x 5" d. Despite equality in size and a snazzier design, the new sacs are actually lower in price from the basics, from $325 and $395 to $240 for medium and $260 for large.

And all that's "less" in this version is a thinner strap, as far as I can tell. So really, it's a win overall. A serious no-brainer. There's no sin in this temptation, why not make the kill and buy one of these wild steals.

*Via Purseuing*

There aren't more fabulous bags than the more colorful or textured Chanel purses to make a girl happy this dreary winter. This resort season, the funkiest bag is this Sequined Denim Flap Purse. It features little bows of striped denim with large white sequins fluttering about the otherwise classic flap bag, complete with chain strap.

If this bag makes you gleeful, consider contacting Chanel for purchase info.

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.

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*

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.

This post is part of our Early Gift Guide Week.

For the handbag lover, the perfect gift above a certain budget range of course depends on the specific (bag) lady, but one choice, and my top pick, is the Louis Vuitton Mini Lin Speedy Croisette (only in size 30). How many fashion-minded women wouldn't be thrilled with a Louis Vuitton, especially one both classic and modern. What put this pattern over the top for me was its new color option; an understated red with overall pale tones, making this bag subtly festive for the holiday season, while classic enough to tote all year round; for years to come.

The LV Mini Lin Speedy Croisette (not a direct link, as the LV website [where it's only available] is flash, apologies.) only costs $750.00, too! Not bad! It would be the best gift of the holiday for most women out there!

And if you want to pass this on to someone as a hint -> there's an e-mail forward linkto the side, above ->>. Or if you're wishing for something only similar by Vuitton, browse or pass on this link for eLuxury's LV Holiday Gift Catalog.

Furthermore, please leave your comments on how you feel about this pick (hey, it's a tough call) and what would be your choice. (Better for forwarding to others, my dear.)

Kaboodle.com is a social shopping wish list site I'm sure many of you have heard of. One cool feature is the ability to make and vote on "Help me choose" polls. You can also publish them to you blogs, so here we go!

It's a cool, fun and helpful feature to get more exposure if you really need the help. Don't have a blog, but have a cool handbag poll - send it to me through my contact form (which has a new script, finally)!

*Update: I just realized that the code doesn't work AT ALL in WordPress, so I've added a link to the image leading to my polls page on Kaboodle. Sorry!*

Wow, Zazzle has really improved their stock canvas totes for creative sellers to put their designs on to sell. I've just received word that they have lots of Trick-or-Treat designs to use for totin' candy stashes, or even by adults as Holiday market totes. They have two different orange-accented bags (not to mention an orange-y floral and black, natch), which is great, too.

The bags are 100% cotton, no mention of organic, but it's still pretty good. Go Zazzle, go good eatin'!

Free shipping on bags at Zazzle with coupon code FREESHIPBOOO (there's an extra o).

(Shown in photo, Got Candy? by T-shirt Fun and The Batty Tote by Jamie Creates 1.)