I was at Barneys yesterday and saw an amazing array of new bags from Lanvin for Spring! It's been a few months since we have featured Lanvin (even though I adore Alber Elbaz and have a closet full of Lanvin dresses) because their bags last season lacked inspiration (and had so many returns due to faulty hardware!). For Spring, however, the line gets an overhaul. Though Lanvin bag designs were always stylish and fresh, the functionality and quality did not quite translate as well. I am excited to see the bags that would droop when full are now slightly structured, considerably lightened, and the chains improved. In all fairness, it does take a few seasons for a new bag line to work out the kinks and I think they've finally got it! The "Happy" bag above is indeed a happy sight. What could be more cheerful than a cheery white bag? I saw this in person and dutifully played with the clasps, pulled at the chains (with leather pads so the chains won't hurt your bare shoulders!) and tag to ensure its sturdiness and stuffed my things inside to see how it held up and am 'happy' to report it all stands up to Bag Snob par. The best part is the very durable white leather that will clean much easier than lambskin. 13"x8" is also the perfect size to wear with your breezy summer frocks! $1,795 at Barneys New York- or call Greg 469.221.4700
February 2008 Archives
“Fall in love” with your heart this month and get pumped up about a heart checkup today! This is also the day to take a stand against the number one killer of women and learn about the risks of heart disease. Please be kind to your heart and take the Go Red Heart Check Up by visiting Heart.org or call 1-888-AHA-2222.
HURRAY FOR CAMPBELL'S!!! For every 'click' Campbell's is donating $1 to the Go Red For Women movement. Heart disease is the number one killer among women, but the good news is that heart disease can largely be prevented. That's the goal of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement—empowering women with knowledge and tools so they can take positive action to reduce their risks and protect their health....So go ahead, click with your heart!
OK, it looks like I may have rushed to buy the other Henry Beguelin snakeskin bag because my "source" sent me this picture of this bag from the LA Henry Beguelin boutique and I ended up buying this one instead. It is way more my speed. This big slouchy hobo style is something I can take with me on my daily circuit (you know, grocery store, gym, Neiman Marcus). I love that designers are making casual exotics because the croc bag my mom gave to me is really unwearable for everyday. It is like a perfect box. Times are different now, thank god. I know people weren't crazy about the other bag, but I don't care, I love it! But I love this one more =) This bag is $1425, call their store in West Hollywood at 310.659.9320.
Cheeky Author Jill Kargman (and daughter of Arie L. Kopelman, CEO of Chanel Inc.) sported the coolest bag of the night at a dinner thrown by Tamara Mellon (who kept Christian Slater by her side all evening, they were quite the cute couple) when I was in New York during Fashion Week. I got a snap of the bag in between munchies and got the lowdown from Jill- it is a customized, hand painted Goyard bag named the COMORES purchased at Barneys by her mother. I have never been a fan of Goyard bags but was quite taken with the skull and cross bones which made the classic bag so cheeky chic!
I know I said you shouldn't (and I certainly don't) buy bags to coordinate with Valentine's Day but I do love pink and there are lots of these bags out there so I thought that I should feature at least one cute bag that is acceptable for every other day of the year. This satin clutch with tulle camellia from the Chanel Cruise collection is absolutely adorable and lady-like and can be a mainstay in your closet for date night or now that it is almost spring, this would be delightful with a flouncy summery dress. This is a clutch but as you can see it comes with a little wristlet length strap which makes it extra cute when you carry it on your perfectly manicured fingers. I had to include the shoes in this picture, but I am not going to comment on them because it is too much coordination with the bag and without the bag, you would have a hard time matching it without trying too hard. And I just don't like them. The bag is $2995, call Alexis at Chanel at 214-520-1055 for more information.
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to give our planet some needed loving! We are spreading the love by reminding people to use reusable bags at the grocery store (almost one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year, can you imagine what like looks like in our landfills?) and are giving away 20 totally adorable Valentine's shopping bags from Envirosax. All you have to do is answer our question correctly. We will select 20 random winners from all the correct answers. Please put your answers in comments by 11:59 PM tonight. One entry per person please!
Green is officially the new black! In a leather dominated market, those of you who take the vegetarian/vegan stance have been long awaiting the newest thing to tread down the red carpet, vegan shoes. What environmentally conscious, Hollywood actress has started her own line of vegan shoes? Bonus points if you know the name of the collection (you don't actually get anything for knowing other than to gloat in your knowledge)!
Thank you ENVIROSAX for sponsoring this giveaway and for making cute bags that we love to use for more than one reason. If you do not win, or just want to purchase these anyway, they are $8.50 each or $37.95 for a set of 5 at Envirosax.
As you can imagine, I am pretty particular about the bags I buy so it is rare that I see a bag that I lurch towards in absolute must lust. This is such a hot bag, and not just because it is red. Everything about it excites me, in fact, I made sure I ordered this before doing anything else to make sure I get mine mine mine!!! This is snakeskin and can you believe the price is only $1300!!??!? Henry Beguelin bags are handmade, the quality is infallible so I am totally shocked by the price, it is truly the best value I have seen in a long time! And what did I say about red? It is THE color for the foreseeable future. I know it's Valentine's Day tomorrow but who the heck would buy red and pink bags just to coordinate with a made up holiday? I'm telling you, red is here to stay. There are the signature pull through closure in contrasting black leather and the white stitching, but the shape of the bag is a bit of a departure for the normally loose unstructured styles of Henry Baguelin. But I love that about this bag because it is snakeskin so it requires a bit more sophistication. I don't mean that this is a totally serious bag, that would not be me, the white stitching tones down the formality but an overall classic look is maintained by the boxy shape. Of course there is still the whimsical and adorable stitched stick figure that marks it as a Henry Baguelin. I would not want one of their bags without it! The distressed black leather trim makes this apple red totally wearable for everyday. And that's what I plan on doing when I get the bag, wear it every single day. Until I get my next new bag that is =) At Neiman Marcus for $1300.
Anya Hindmarch wants you to have a memorable Valentine's Day, and in case you've forgotten some moves, she's got hidden instructions for you printed inside the Kama Sutra edition of the Maud Clutch. The depictions from the book of love, pleasure and spirituality may be just the thing to get you and your valentine in the mood for romance. I'd be careful when digging in your clutch for your valet ticket or money at the bar if you are a single girl, you don't want to invite the wrong kind of attention (unless you aspire to a Paris/Britney type of night). $395 at Anya Hindmarch.com
Bag Snob pick of the Season: Oscar de la Renta's GOYA bag in Graphite Shagreen is expected to have a waitlist a mile long, call you local boutique now to reserve one!!! (Dallas boutique- 214-346-0400, ask for Mindy)
I know you have been waiting all week to hear more about the GOYA in Graphite Shagreen from Oscar de la Renta and I don't blame you. We are totally excited about it as well and knew the minute it appeared on the ODLR runway that it would be a hit. What we didn't know, however, is that it is made of a rare and unusual soft stingray skin. As most of you know, stingray leather (often called shagreen) is usually quite stiff and heavy but Oscar scoured the world's finest tanneries to find this pliable and stunning shagreen for his GOYA bag. The details of the bag are ultra luxe, the "invisible" seams (the pieces of shagreen are patched on to a soft and gorgeous metallic gray leather which is also the interior of the bag, you can literally turn it inside out and the interior is just as meticulously made as the exterior!) keep the lines of the bag clean and unstructured, and the subtle side piping holds the stylish rounded shape. This bag appeals to both Kelly and I even though we have totally different tastes- she is a casual and easy going type of girl and I am as high maintenance and demanding as they come so it is indeed quite rare for us to both lust for the same bag!
The GOYA fits all of my requirements for a must have bag; it is elegant (for my many social obligations), timelessly stylish (this is a bag I can pull out 30 years from now and still love), roomy without overwhelming- 16"wx10"hx8"d (as a busy working mother, my bags have to fit both mine and my toddler son's needs), it is soft and folds flat for travel (so I'll have more room to pack my Oscar dresses), and its simple lines and logo free leather is impossibly chic (which means I can wear just about anything and look well groomed!). The GOYA will also be available in leather but the shagreen is the one for me (see how high maintenance I am?). Call 214-346-0400 to get on the waitlist or email ODLR personal shopper directly, I will keep you posted of the launch date in late summer!
How stunning is this calf hair bag from Gerard Darel? It is one of my favorite moderate price brands and they continue to please with this beautiful, sleek and sophisticated everyday, every occasion carry all. This is truly the bag to get for those who don't want trendy and don't want to get caught up spending thousands on a soon to be irrelevant "editor's" favorite. This is my Cheap Thrills pick for this week because it is only $995 for calf hair, although you are only saving cash because this baby is worth double its price in style. The shape is very similar to other Gerard Darel styles but I love the special leather panels on the sides, it is fluid and harmonious with the shape. I just got a calf hair bag last week and I am thinking of getting something else so I can have this one. This rounded, kind of hobo shape is so comfortable and easy to use that I would recommend this as the bag to get for those looking to get only one bag right now. Will be available starting today at Shop Rumor.
