A reader sent this picture to us and we just had to share. How fabulous is this little girl going to be? I bet her mommy's got some nice bags, including a few of the 2.55.
Don't forget to sign up for the Smythson giveaway, today is the last day. We will have a new giveaway tomorrow so make sure to check back for that.
We wish everyone a fun and safe Halloween!
I woke up this morning and went through my usual ritual of reading emails, publishing comments and checking out my favorite sites for the latest and greatest bags. As I sleepily went through the pages, this insanely ugly bag caught my eye and woke me up instantly. What am I looking at? Are those two dead skunks hanging from the bag? Is Fendi recycling road kill yet again? I enlarged the photo and realized with great relief it was not dead rats hanging from the bag but wool made to look like dead rats (not much better in my opinion). In addition, the geniuses at Fendi decided to place multi-colored fish scales in the middle of the bag, you know, just in case our senses have not been assaulted enough. I then looked at the price and that's when I went into serious shock. SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR WOOL SCRAP MADE TO LOOK LIKE ROADKILL AND A FEW PIECES OF LEATHER? Karl, maybe it's time to start eating again, when your belly was rounded and happy you gave us the Baguette. Now starving and angry, it is assaulting us with this abominable beast. A journalist from the Wall Street Journal recently asked me if the bag craze will ever end and I had replied "Absolutely not! Women will always love handbags." But not if they all start looking like this. In fact, if all bags became this appallingly gross, we'll have to do what Carine Roitfeld says she prefers to do, putting things in her pockets and not carry bags at all. Fendi Sequin and wool embellished mess
Our dear friend, award winning writer Linda Grant (who propelled us to international attention when she featured us in an article for British Vogue), has joined the wild world of blogging! You MUST bookmark the site and read her thoughts on fashion, books and other matters. I've always been a fan of Linda's writing and I am excited to to have access to it daily. So go on, take a look, you'll be addicted with the first word. Go to The Thoughtful Dresser site.
Here is a Cheap Thrill selection that is certain to come in handy for everyone. You want to add punch and glam without over spending? You get it all with this beauty from Elliot Lucca - style, trend and function all for $198. There are so many things I love about this clutch, the cut out handle makes it interesting, the shape makes it functional (it even stands on it own with feet hardware on the bottom, how often do you see that in a clutch?), silver is my favorite metallic as it goes with everything, and of course woven leather is the style du jour. Another important fact to point out, no annoying logos anywhere! You don't have to baby this baby too much as you spill drinks and cocktail sauce on it and the quality is totally acceptable for a bag that will get you through one season of use at this price. Jennifer Garner has been seen with the Elliot Lucca Bettina all around town so you are not compromising a bit here with this Cheap Thrill because we know she doesn't have to (now that her husband is working again). Get it at Nordstrom.
Totsnob has found the most precious trinkets for your little one!
Jewelsnob: Faceted Rings by Luisa di Gresy!
Beautysnob touts a manicure's best friend!
Purseblog: We're so over LiLo but she does have a hot bag!
Take The Hills fashion quiz on Fab Sugar! (I know I know so embarassing I actually record and watch the Hills, but its sooo bad its good, right? I'm totally addicted!)
I am feeling the need for super ladylike bags that will spice up my humdrum wardrobe of late. I am in a slump as I try (and not very arduously) to get myself back to pre-baby weight but thank god for bags, right? More than ever I am relying on my beautiful bags to carry me through the rough patches of a non-optimal weight crisis. Just look at this 
Oscar frame bag, can't you just see it with a simple dress? What simple dress? Doesn't matter really because all focus will be on this bag with the chocolate patent goodness and interesting pleating detail. I absolutely love the matte gold hardware in all its detailed glory with the chocolate, it is divinely elegant. The shape of this bag is irresistibly adorable, I just want to give it a big hug (but of course I wouldn't want to crush and crease the patent!). But I will clutch it close to me like a security blanket as I wade through the sea of underweight women in Los Angeles. Kind of makes me miss Boston where physical appearance was not so scrutinized (I feel myself getting in politically correctness trouble as I type this) but then again, how fun is that for fashion addicts, right? To make preemptive amends with those in Boston, congrats Red Sox!! Bag at Net a Porter for $2695.
Photo courtesy of Style.com
I went to Barneys recently and found Valextra heaven! They have really expanded the Valextra inventory and it will most likely destroy my long term savings plan. If current stuff doesn't do it, their Spring 2008 line will for sure. Like this structured frame croc in dreamy cream that is sure to tug at any Bag Snob's heart. It is the perfect classic piece - ladylike, fresh and gorgeous beyond words. Are you not just gushing over the single piece skin that is perfectly proportioned and placed? The quality and construction is like something you find back in the olden days when craftsmanship meant something, that is the #1 reason we are so in love with Valextra. Their attention to detail is unparalleled and every seam, stitch and thread is so precisely in place we are convinced their factory is full of OCD type A artisans. This bag is 9" x 6", the perfect size for a bag that will last not only many seasons but generations. It will be available in March (Dallas will get it first so chances are Tina will be the first to be seen with it!) and is $8040 for the shiny croc and $8070 for matte croc. This style will also come in leather ($3700) and lizard ($5200) which will be absolutely fabulous!!! If you want to get on the list for this bag contact Adrienne at Barneys at 469.221.4726 or you can email her.
So this is what crocodile looks like inside out! What a great alternative to our fave exotic skin but let's hope it wears better than its leather counterpart, suede. We discovered Shiro bags almost a year ago and American retailers are finally catching up to speed. I love the nubuck brown crocodile with patent crocodile trim, it's fun to see what designer Massimo Calestrini will come up with next. He is inventive and creative, a dynamite about to explode in the fashion world! The olive green color is also to die for; I am really into all things olive right now, so luscious and yummy. Exotics continued strong on a host of Spring 2008 runways, do not expect the affair with all things croc to go away anytime soon! $12,300 - $13,500 at Neiman marcus. It is also interesting to note that prices have increased by more than a few thousand dollars since we first wrote about Shiro crocodile bags in January, seems a bit steep for a mere 10 months. Is it really the cost of crocodile skins rising or just retailers' needless markup? hmmm
Left: Anya Hindmarch Carker Right: Jil Sander Patent Work Bag
Seeing double? These are in fact different bags but the similarity is totally crazy!! Anya Hindmarch's carker has been around for a few seasons now and Jil Sander, one of my all time favorite designers, came out with this Work bag that is almost exactly the same - hardware, lock closure, everything! What is going on? It's from a designer not Canal Street in Chinatown! So what are the differences then you ask? Jil Sander is made in Italy and Anya Hindmarch in China, which leads to the Jil Sander being more than double in price (it is also bigger but not twice as big). Anya Hindmarch Carker at Net a Porter for $995 and Jil Sander at Browns Fashion for $2130.
(Hum to tune of Donny and Marie classic song) I'm a little bit Chanel, I'm a little bit Bottega, I'm the result of a lack of imagination and a little bit of hallucination. Seriously now, I expect a lot more from Marc Jacobs, the designer touted as boy genius of the fashion world. Just look at this mishmash of confusing details, it's almost as if "someone" took a little bit of "something" when they hallucinated this bag- not pointing fingers, really I am not! But woven leather with garish gold chains on a foot and half long bag? It reminds me of a sack of rice and not even as functional because you really couldn't carry rice in this now could you? Boy, we are not happy bag snobs lately. How do you expect us to be with bags like this shoved in our faces daily? As if the hideous design (or lack there of) is not enough, they stick a $3,000 price tag on it! (okay, I am exaggerating, it's $2850 but add shipping and handling or whatnot and you'll get pretty close to 3k.) Ugh! For that amount I can buy a REAL Chanel or a REAL Bottega and not some third rate knock off.
To buy and risk ridicule or just for a good laugh, Marc Jacobs Elsa woven leather bag available here. TGIF everyone, let's hope next week brings us an abundance of fabulous bags!
