May 2007 Archives

I am still in New York, shopping and hanging out with girlfriends who live here and several who have flown in from LA and Miami. Shopping is serious business for us, we branch off on our own and meet up only to go off to the next store and start over again. We re-group at the end of each day to cap off our shopping expedition with a glass of champagne at Bergdorfs or Nobu to share our goodies and to gossip. (Is there anything more fun than shopping and gossiping with your girlfriends?) My favorite purchase so far (I am here for 10 days, give me more time and I'll have more favorites to share with you :) is a fabulous Valextra Boston bag in Nude patent leather purchased from Aggie at the Madison Ave. Barneys New York. Not only does it match my nude patent Louboutins perfectly, it matches everything else in my wardrobe! How can you go wrong with a gorgeous nude shade of patent leather? It's glossy but not too bright and has just a touch of glam. Nude can be blah in the wrong leather but in patent, it is sublime! Like my Melanzana Boston bag, it has an outer pocket to store cell and keys and a roomy interior pocket that spans from side to side. I am telling you, Valextra Boston bags are as addictive as Birkins, if not more so! The Valextra touch is evident from every angle of this flawless bag, the perfect stitching, the luxurious leather, and of course the meticulous workmanship. I feel polished when I carry it, even if I am still wearing my pajamas and running down 5th Ave after my toddler. At Barneys New York. Call Meeghan at Barneys Dallas 469-221-4700 or Aggie at Barneys Madison 212-826-8900. $1,750

P.S.(Yes, it has 4 square and perfect metal feet to protect it on the bottom!)
P.P.S(And yes, it is very light and very roomy)

Beauty Snob gets healthy and gorgeous with CARE by Stella McCartney!

Check out New York designers on display in London at Fab Sugar!

Our friend Annie at Blogdorf Goodman has Linda Evangelista's beauty secret!

Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti of Vivre picks her favorite summer looks!

I know we stopped paying attention to the Spy and all its incarnations but this one cannot be ignored even if it is just for a quick laugh. Apparently commissioned by a rag doll, this patchwork craft bag is full of beads and velvet details. But whatever. The thing that is shocking about this bag is that it is $6040!! Hello!!!! Who the @#$% would pay 6 grand for something Holly Hobby threw out? This is by far the worst way to spend $6,000. Burning it or gambling it away still has its merits compared to wasting it on sewing room floor scraps - not to mention your friends will never stop laughing at you (that is, if you have friends, assuming that if you did they would have stopped you from buying this or forced you to return it even if they weren't with you when you bought it). In case you don't believe this is actually being sold, it's at Saks.

Beauty Snob shares a drugstore find to reducing eye puffiness with Olay Regeneris Eye Pods. It will leave your eyes and wallet happy!

Fab Sugar has a Fab Bag Giveaway!

Coquette falls in love with the prints and patterns of Diane von Furstenberg's spring dresses.

eBelle5 discovers 5 Designer Laptop Bags at an affordable price.

Second City Style 's Must-Haves (and Must-Not-Haves) for Summer 2007 is a Must-Read!

SheFinds - Celebrity “It” Bags: Which Is Your Fave?

Stripper shoes or top dollar chaussures? Stylebites looks into the case of the catwalk trend!

This is a rhetorical question of course. What is she wearing here? This is like half of a 5 year olds overalls she has on. I am really trying my best to be nice these days but I have to step over the line for just a second here and say that I think she is trying to recapture the youth her face has given up on. Let's just be totally frank and objective and say that she has not aged quite as gracefully as she would have liked (although she is nowhere near Melanie Griffith's head to toe tragedy of the skin). It is so important to look and act your age and this is not easy for me to say because it took me a long time to give up mini-skirts and t-shirts that are 3 sizes too small for me but I would never consider wearing demin mini overalls. The only thing that would be worse here is if she did a Jessica Simpson and opted to not wear a shirt with it.

Photo courtesy of People.com

Sometime we forget the luxury of a well made timeless, simple classic from a designer we know and trust. We are always looking for new designers but the tried and true will always hold that special place in our hearts and that is why this bag makes me feel so good. This is your classic tote that will stay with you for years and as a summer piece will carry you through thick and thin. We love the Y collection especially the ingenious reversible tote (I love it in purple - a must have!!) because the "Y" is brilliantly incorporated in the design as a nice detail rather than an obnoxious billboard. There are so many fine structural details on this bag that may be overlooked, like the way the gusset comes together, the way the corners are darted and sewn perfectly neatly, that makes this bag an obvious luxury item. I am obviously trying to convince myself that this is a great addition to my collection and being that it is available at Bluefly for only $956 makes it that much harder to pass up. I mean, it was originally $1195 and it's still early in the season so I will still get a lot of use out of it. This is when I call Tina and she talks me out of it because she will say that canvas is not worth it. Decisions, decisions!

Here is a quick review of the fashion at Cannes on opening night at the premier of Wong Kar Wai's "My Blueberry Nights".

Bai Ling is shockingly appropriate and might I say looking kinda cute in a flirty pink gown. Juliette Binoche is unfortunately looking her age. I don't know who Judith Godreche is but her dress is like some microscope image of a virus.

Liz Hurley shows up with Valentino looking beautiful as always even in a plain, nothing to comment about dress. Diane Kruger as master of ceremonies is way matronly.

Norah Jones looks amazing in a perfectly tailored navy gown. She and Jude Law look so cute together! They star in "My Blueberry Nights" together - in one scene, Jude Law licks ice cream off her lips as she sleeps. Yummy!!! Taiwanese actress Qi Shu might benefit from a subscription to Vogue. And Andie MacDowell, don't care what you all say, I love her, she is doing what I would be doing if I were there, being a total tourist (although my camera is a bit more modern than hers). We can't wait for the rest of the celebs to show up. We will have more fashion coverage later this week.

Photos courtesy of Reuters and AP.

I am digging this refreshing minty green croc hobo from Nancy Gonzalez. I love the boldness of this green without it being overpowering. We have been preaching green for a while but like moss green or forest green but this minty green is totally unexpected and worth a mention even if it is not the best investment for a croc. The bag itself is not bad either, the simple braided handles and gathered body are nice details to give the otherwise ordinary hobo a boost in design. I would love to see this color on a tote for the summer - in leather though, or oohhh maybe satin, cuz I don't want to spend half my mortgage on something that I'll tire of after the summer is over. And it's not something you can keep taking out again and again, your friends will start nicknaming you "Minty". Maybe because I am experiencing early LA June gloom so this color is really speaking loudly to me right now. At Bergdorf Goodman for $2750.

I've been on many many cruises and I am always the best dressed on the ship of 2,500. Not that that is much to brag about considering everyone looks like they are in some kind of contest to be the most cheesy. But looking at this collection makes me want to hop on another ship and flaunt these outrageous but gorgeous creations from Galliano. I would love to show up pool side with the giant hat and this full length kimono overcoat! Or sashaying through the grand dining room in the frilly layered gown. But that's not what this was intended for. This collection was designed for the ridiculously fabulous vacation Tina and I are planning with our hubbies once all our babies are all born (and our bodies are back to it's original form). Casino, gambling, champagne, cholesterol laden French meals, sailing, golf, beaches ..... it's going to be the ultimate in decadence!!! The new bag is really really great, I just love the throwback style of housewives from the 50's but in today's terms it is old lady chic and very very hip!! I am inspired and feel spiritually rejuvenated just looking at all this!!!

It is so nice to happen upon new designers that have something new to offer. I love this Ecaille bag from Minority with great interesting textured leather that is super light. The light chain is braided with in leather for a softer look and more comfortable wear on the shoulder. I love that the details and unique look of this bag comes from the use of the material rather than a crazy weird shape or the use of giant hardware because it allows the bag to be practical but still stand out. I can think of so many occasions for this bag - from shopping to travel to a long day out - where I need to carry lots of stuff without the extra weight of the bag itself but still be chic and cute. Minority bags available at LuxCouture.