August 2009 Archives

How exciting to have not one but two bags named after me this season!  It's hard not to like a bag with my namesake but I have to admit this one is for a much much younger Tina.  One who enjoys her cigarettes (if anyone in my family is reading this, I never smoked!) and her vodka (on the rocks, with two lemons and an olive) while dancing til dawn (hence the body strap, very handy while dancing the night away!).  The current Tina, the one you know now, lectures her friends on the peril of smoking, is excited when she drinks two glasses of wine without passing out and likes to be in bed by 11pm after a game of Dance Dance revolution on Wii.  But at least I'm not too old to appreciate the edgy coolness of this square shaped camera bag with multiple zippers (the better to stash stuff in).  I just think it'd look better on Agnyss.  The price is not bad at $590-- Alexander Wang Tina Zip Clutch at Shopbop.com
What do you think?  Snob or Slob?

This striped crocodile tote from Nancy Gonzalez is really unique and interesting, not to mention a thousand times better looking in person.  The strips of crocodile meticulously sewn on to the suede gives it the accordion looking pleats that I find most appealing.  It's like getting the look of fringes without actual fringes.  I'm also into contrasting textures that we're seeing a lot of this season (Derek Lam's Henrietta contrasts suede with python)-- suede and crocodile is an unusual combination as well and offers us the look of luxe exotic without the price tag.  This pretty baby is $2,750, not bad for crocodile and the handles are croc which makes it look substantial.  Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Striped Tote at Saks here!

Above Beyonce is pictured in the Dior Samourai 1947 Woven Frame Bag. This crazy looking concoction retails for $4,200! Every time I see this bag I think of that Food TV show 'Ace of Cakes'...this Dior doesn't look like a real purse to me; it looks way more like one of those tacky purse-shaped cakes! I mean is there a better display of overkill? Between the fuchsia color, the twisted trim, the Louix XVI-style picture frame Dior tag, the rings, and serpents the only thing that's more over-the-top than this bag is Beyonce's polka dot jumper!

What do you think about the Dior Samourai 1947 Woven Frame Bag? Snob or Slob?

Is Derek Lam on fire or what? His is one of the strongest bag collections of the season, every single bag speaks to me! A good friend of mine in New York asked me to find her a leopard bag recently; she works in PR and has a packed social schedule. Her specifics were "something cool, in a simple shape and for use from day to night". I immediately thought of the Kashmira clutch from Derek Lam. I tote around my Elsa python clutch while shopping in the day and at night for cocktails. Derek's urban and edgy clutches are generously sized without being monstrous, have functional multi-compartments to fit the million things we need and always have a feminine and whimsical touch-- perfection? Pretty damn close. The Kashmira clutch is made in Italy of hair calf and is 15" x 15" (unfolded as a tote) or 15" x 7.5" (folded) and is $1,295 (a bargain considering its size and multi convertible use!). Call Wayne to order and for more info-- 212-966-1616 or email him ! I ordered mine already and plan to wear it with my white Derek Lam dress with chunky gold jewelry.

Derek Lam Kashmira Clutch also available at Shopbop.com

UPDATE: Derek Lam also made this clutch in a luscious taupe/grey suede version for those of you who are too timid to do jaguar. It retails for $990 and has the same dimensions! Call Wayne :)

Bag Snob Derek Lam reaches perfection.

Beauty Snob Grow lashes and fight autism now!

Couture Snob looks to InStyle for the Fall Fabs.

Fab Sugar Tennis star makes this weeks fab faves.

Tot Snob's Tot found Ponyo, Lovely but Scary.

I don't talk much about Burberry bags but I have to admit, they seem to improve each time I walk by the store because they are doing less of the tartan canvas. They are now doing the tartan laser cut into leather which is more subtle but still annoying. This drawstring tote however, has none of that and has a small Burberry horse logo on the bottom. And the slouchy casual feel is a nice change from the serious stiff collar image the brand has. I am not big on drawstring but it works on a tote where it does not close completely but just bunches up. The leather is really amazing for the price, this is a fantastic buy! At Saks Fifth Avenue for $550.

Say you are doing a girls night out, or maybe even more exciting, a bachelorette party! Of course you need a super rockin hot bag for the rare chance that the bad girl in you is making a public appearance but you know the night will end with you losing, barfing on or spilling drinks on your bag. Sure you can get a Jimmy Choo or YSL but do you really want to risk it? And then what if the wild side doesn't come out again for years and this aggressive rocker chick trend is no longer? The wise choice before your night of endless bad decisions is to get your kicks with this Frugal Snob BCBG Urban Rock Zipper Clutch. Yes, it is not as cool as the YSL zipper clutch with the wavy zippers but this has the same effect and has a easy to hold cut out handle! At Saks Fifth Avenue for $248.

Joy Gryson told me of her latest collaboration with MCM bags when I hung out at her showroom last spring but swore me to secrecy. I've been holding it in forever and am so excited to finally announce the collection! I have to admit when she said "MCM" my first reaction was "that cheesy line of bags with logos from the 80s?" But I should have trusted that Joy would bring her urban edge to anything she touches, the line of bags are not even recognizable as MCM. The collection is priced from $695-$2800 (for exotic skin like the one pictured here) and will be sold exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue and the MCM Plaza boutique in New York at the end of August.

Love the color of Cameron Diaz's Bottega Veneta Montaigne! She's toting around the Uluru version of the duffle-shaped classic from the line's fall 2009 collection ($2,280). It's truly the perfect size for an unobtrusive everyday bag. I know that for a lot of people bag weight is an issue and this style is utterly light -- we all know there's nothing quite like the supple leather of a Bottega bag!

Call 214-265-0136 or 877.362.1715. You can also visit Bottega Veneta online.