June 2007 Archives

Nichelle at 55 Secret Street has a Q&A with Author (and yes, Lucky Beauty Editor) Jean Godfrey-June.

Yet another affordable fashion line has gone the way of the designer capsule collection. Stiletto Jungle shows off Courreges for La Redoute.

Beauty Snob reviews Lamisilk Foot Therapy.

Modern fashion with a vintage twist has Coquette falling in love with Jovovich-Hawk's Fall Collection preview.

KRiSTOPHER's not into not carrying a plastic bag, but she digs the cheeky chic "I'm Not a Smug Twat" bag.

Second City Style shows you How To Shop the Summer Sales for Your Fall Wardrobe.

SheFinds'' has the scoop on celebrity sunglasses -- get the shades seen on Angelina, Ashlee, Aniston and more.

Trend alert! Bye bye bubble skirts says Stylebites says Stylebites says Stylebites!

Stylehive Hive5: Kick it up a notch with one of summer's hottest trends - bright, bold and beuatiful technicolor eyes!

Boy are we in a mood latley! But it's not our fault; I swear we're not crochety old ladies, in fact, most who know us think we're really cute and spunky but you wouldn't know it by reading this week's "On the rag" posts. The fact is there are just so many crappy bags out there lately we can't stand it! I know I sound like a total snob when I say that I CRINGE when I have to walk by a Coach store (I try to cross the street or the mall if I do see one coming up- I'm serious). The other day I was busy wiping my son's face after an ice cream cone treat and I inadvertently stopped in front of a Coach store. I looked up and was assaulted by a wall to wall display of their hideous Patchwork bags! I almost passed out and wanted to run but could not tear my eyes away from these deformed looking bags! There was denim, leopard, Coach monogram, polka dots, zebra stripes, and a few unidentifiable patterns that I can only call "trash scrap" all on ONE bag!

I was completely over stimulated by so many ghastly prints that I almost had a meltdown. Then I noticed there were HATS to match these dreadful bags, who would wear this? Who would want look like they were in a paper shredder with Holly Hobbit and Joan Collins' pillows? I know some of you will hate me for bashing your beloved Coach and call me a snooty snob but seriously, go see for yourself and tell me if you don't get an eye cramp just from looking at these beastly bags. And by the way, the bags are way more hideous in person if you can believe it.

Dearest Bag Snob (hello Tina and Kelly!),

I just bought my first designer bag ever, the Lanvin Heroine in chestnut, which was massively on sale at Barneys and which I love love love and seems to match everything. Only problem is, I have discovered a mere drop of water will stain it. So what can I do -- other than carry a plastic bag everywhere in case it rains? That wouldn't be very elegant. Should I waterproof it? Ask at Barneys? Email Lanvin? Your advice would be very welcome. Thank you!

A Friend at WWD

Hi Friend,

Love,
Bag Snob
p.s.(We love WWD and read it everyday!)

Dear Bag Snob,

Marvelous, I will do just that. Thank you so much for the excellent advice.
Hope you guys are doing great. I really enjoy reading Bagsnob. Your judgment
is spot-on.

A Friend at WWD.

No, we are not starting to review bags from Ann Taylor. This is in fact a bag from a designer that we used to dearly love so our disappointment really hurts. Marni always has cute young bags so why is Paulo Melim Andersson (Chloe's current creative director) designing bags for the Golden Girls? This rehashed, old lady wool and leather embroidered bag is just not something women who care about looking good would want. This is up there with home knit cardigans with snow men embroidered on them. And of course, the sweater and this bag should be worn together. So maybe you don't get laughed at when you wear this bag with a sweater and jeans but the pedastrian look should not cost you more than $129 (and I'm told Ann Taylor is quick to discount so you should only end up paying $29.99). But this is at
Net-a-Porter for $1670. As a helpful point of reference, for a few hundred more you can get a classic Chanel if you like the flap bag with chain style.

This fabulous Bottega Veneta daily tote bag (named for Julie Gilhart of Barneys New York) is on sale at Bluefly for $1,240! As Julie told me herself, this is a bag you will use for years and will be perceived only as a great bag, regardless of the designer's popularity at the moment. I have been wanting this for months now and the discount is the perfect excuse to get it! It is super big but I plan to use it as a weekend travel bag or for days I have to take my son from gym class to lunch and have to tote around clean sets of clothes for him. This is made of sturdy deerskin which is less delicate than all of my other lambskin Bottega bags and will be able to withstand the beating it will get from my toddler son and I. I told Kelly to get this and that we could trade later but the more I look at it the more I think I should hoard this to myself.

Bottega Veneta blush deerskin 'Julie' oversized bag
at Bluefly (also available in ivory and brown). While you're there, don't forget to check out all the other amazing Bottega bags on sale!

It's the first week of Summer but stores are starting to feel like Fall. I am always perplexed by this strange retail phenomenon of selling Summer clothes when it's snowing outside and hawking Furs in the dead heat of August. I understand they are trying to maximize sales by putting it on the floor early but wouldn't it make more sense to sell bikinis and hot pants in June instead of Feb? Maybe then they wouldn't be forced to mark it down to 75% off. Not that I am complaining, I grabbed the most amazing Summer stuff at Barneys and Neiman Marcus this month, just in time for the warm weather!

But let's get back to the real reason I am writing you, the arrival of Fall bags at Net-a-Porter. I haven't seen any worthy to mention until this Jimmy Choo Alex suede bag caught my eye (cuz I am a sucker for chocolate suede and overdose in it each Fall). This lush suede hobo looks very comfy and soft, and I love that it is secured by a strap above the opening, good for people in big cities who are concerned with pick pockets. I also love that it has little metal feet; a feature not often found on slouchy bags which means they get all scruffy on the bottom, especially in suede. The light stitching is also a nice contrast to the rich brown suede as is the divine snakeskin trim. The bag is a bit big for my taste but if New York girls are any indication, big bags will continue strong for a very long time! I have never seen so many girls lugging giant bags around, my New York friends tell me it's because they literally carry everything I keep in my car in their bag! Can you imagine? It's a good thing I have a big car cuz I like my bags to be smaller than my Range Rover. $1,975 at Net-a-Porter.

What do you guys think of the Alex suede bag from Jimmy Choo?

You know we adore Tod's but the Treccia bag from its Fall collection is ugly and creepy. Those giant buckles look like Alien googly eyes staring at me and no matter which way I turn, they follows me. That's not the only thing hideous about this bag though, the shape is old and frumpy and the braided handles look like a last minute attempt to salvage this bag. It's like someone had enough sense in the design process to say "holy shit, this is a piece of crap, let's at least add braided handles so it will look Bottega-ish" Nice try but this don't fly. And that dangling logo tag is a departure from its usual subtle logo placement, a huge thumbs down from the Bag Snob. Did I mention it is monstrously large? Can't even imagine how heavy this must be. It comes in dark pukey grey or shiny black. Tod's Treccia Bag at eLuxury- $1,490.

The latest cheap thrill bag rage in Hollywood? Moni Moni bags by Cinzia Moniaci! As seen on the arms of Brooke Shields and Linday Lohan, Moni Moni bags bring new meaning to wash and wear. All bags are handcrafted in Italy then washed and tinted to get that groovy vintage look. Imperfections are what make them special and you can lug them around and bang them up without worry cuz it will look like you paid extra money to have them trashed (kind of like the Chloe paddington bags but much lighter and a quarter of the cost). Most bags are under $500 so they're not a big investment and if you don't mind looking like Lindsay Lohan, you should grab one of these cute and trendy Moni bags and hit the town! At Moni Moni.

Are you loving this green or what? I have to have this! I am in the market for a new bag and I think I just found it (it is exactly the amount I have to spend). It is new for Fall and is just what I need when the outdoors is no longer as green as I want it to be. This is a classic Bottega style, super easy, functional and will always be your trusty friend when you need a good standby. I am really excited about being able to buy another bag right now when I thought I had to wait. Although I have to admit, colors like this do go on sale so maybe I should hold off, or maybe I should get something else for now and then get this on sale? Decisions decisions. Neimans is having Last Call, everything is so tempting! Well, you know how we love Bottega Veneta so even if this is not a bag for you, just looking at the color should make you happy. Pre-Order at Neiman Marcus for $1480.

It's link time with our favorite websites and advertisers! Please take a moment to check them out and help keep Bag Snob in business :)

Fab Sugar has a Fab Bag Giveaway that ends this week!

Purse Blog gets down with Jessica Simpson style Blur Mail Bag!

Last chance to sign up to win $1,500 worth of Natura Bisse products at Beauty Snob!

Check out the latest in eco-power, Reware Juice Bags with solar panel will juice up your iPod or laptop while you walk in the sun!

Toss your flip flops! Michael Kors has the cutest flat sandals for summer in must have metallic gun metal!
KORS Michael Kors - Gypsy flats (Gunmetal Metallic Nappa)