Recently in Beaded/Embellished Category

This Gucci heir is not cashing in on her famous surname, well, not directly anyway (And if she did, she'd get sued by the Gucci group. Oh, and her mother is in jail for arranging a hitman to kill her father. The Gucci tale is one of murder and madness!). Alessandra Gucci's line of handbags, called AG Limited Edition has created quite a stir in the fashion industry because of her name but they will be remembered for their unique designs. I am not a big fan of over embellished bags without much function but I do appreciate the unique design of the one above-- it is the perfect bag for Fancy Nancy in her chauffeured Bentley! There will only be 99 AG Limited bags made in three styles and three colors, wholesale price is steep at $6,665 to $10,134 (meaning retail will be a bit more than double that). What do you think? Will the line sink or swim, in other words: Snob or Slob?

Source: WWD

Top: Felix Rey Allison, $220; Badgley Mischka Saffron Mesh Clutch, $795
Bottom: Laura B Mesh, $822; Maison Martin Margiela Brass Mesh, $1055

We are not behind every trend but this one has really baffled me as to why it is even exists; for some strange reason there is a predominance of a highly impractical material for bags, mesh or chain mail. My stuff by itself is heavy enough, I do not need to be weighed down even more with a bag made out of steel. I mean, if you need to fend off sharks, get a lawyer. I have seen chain mail used a lot actually, I had dinner at Craft (love Tom Collichio, but of course Rocco Dispirito is my boyfriend, so cute!!) and the interior was done with chain mail curtains. It was really amazing and I can appreciate chain mail curtains because it will not cause severe deformity to my back. I will also admit, it has an interesting look and the draping is very dramatic and it makes that really cool swooshing sound. But for bags, it just does not make sense. Like the Maison Martin Margiela bags (I feel bad for making fun of his bags but how does one go from designing classic Hermes to bunchy saggy sacks?). I will say that other than the weight factor, the Margiela mesh bag is adoring to the eye, if I can just pretend for a moment that the alluring slack of the mesh is not due to its heft. It is so simple and I love the use of cream with the silver mesh, and it's the mesh that gives it the edge. I guess you call this a fashion catch 22. I can't say anything upbeat on the other mesh bags here though. A farmer's market sack in mesh is hardly inspiring and the Felix Rey chain shoulder bag just looks trashy (it comes in black and red, double and triple trashy, respectively). OK, I already changed my mind, I will say something nice about the Badgley Mischka evening bag, at least it is small so it won't cause a rotator cuff injury.

It looks like both Tina and I need therapy. Either that or YSL is seriously paying us some big bucks to gush non stop about them (people at YSL, please email us if this sounds like something you would be interested in). Well, neither of us have discipline when it comes to YSL because I just bought the Marjorelle in blue patent, it is a different blue than the Muse blue but it is so bright and beautiful!! I love it!! Then I saw this picture of this embroidered Downtown on Elle.com and immediately picked up the phone to call my girl at the YSL boutique. It is so fun for Spring, I started fantasizing about how great would it be for the beach and for traveling!! Uh, turns out this is the mini version of the downtown, as in, it is in total, 6 inches tall (just slightly bigger than this actual picture). Useless you say? Not for my 3 year old daughter who would think it's cool for about a day. Seriously, what is the meaning of this? I was told it was only done in that size and none of the buyers bought it so it will not be made. Gee, what a surprise. Just when we thought YSL could do no wrong. Well, just the merchandising was off, I would have totally gotten this in the medium Downtown, if it was about $875 (because it is canvas). Maybe instead of giving us money, they can hire us to merchandise for them.

I saw this bag a few days ago and I really hated it, I thought it was too strange looking but then I saw it again today and I had a total change of heart. Sometimes my conservative side get the best of me and I shut out things that are out of the ordinary. That is why this bag is so supremely chic, it is different and fun (because it is a Marni and yes, there is a bit of an obsession with Marni this week). It is a medium size bag (14.5" x 11") so this is not your evening tiny pouch, which makes it a plus because sometimes you still need a normal size bag in the evening and your choices become limited. It is a bit too hip to get all traditional black tie on it but this would be great fun with an outfit you want to dress up. The drop of the handles aren't meant for it to go on the shoulder but even if you can, I would not recommend it. The tinsel is quite itchy - they really do stick out and are all over the place. At Net a Porter for $1250.

Whoaaah!!! This is like a gory horror movie scene for bag lovers. A patchwork of dead animals arranged in a assailing swirl of repulsion. I keep getting emails about the Fendi bag assault this season but this has to be the absolute worst thing ever. Like, of all seasons that ever were. I am disturbed by the hairy patches of ponyhair that is arbitrarily shrewn about along with the big and small always tacky double F canvas. I am really baffled by the obsession with patchwork, even Hermes has a patchwork bag which we are not happy about. I go to the mall and all I see are people with patchwork Coach bags in every size and design variation. I cannot believe, or I am unwilling to believe, that this look is attractive to people. That just is beyond my comprehension. And I can't even make excuses for those who just have to buy whatever bags they can afford when Hermes, Fendi, LV, etc. are making (and selling quickly) patchwork clutter f$#% eyesores. Seriously, vomit is more attractive than this. At Net-A-Porter for $1860.

Happy New Year! Here is another amazing bag for your fun fabulous (and safe!) night out. Clutches are great, we love them, but when there is drinking involved nothing is better than a wristlet to free up the hands to keep your champagne from spilling. No matter what you're wearing, the silver satin and oversized rhinestone embellishments will be perfect. New Year's eve is the time to get a little exaggerated and have some fun! But our choice to celebrate the new year is Herve Leger. Tina and I went bonkers over their sale recently, how could you not just love the fact that this giant 80's trend is back? Sexy and simple and as flattering as you can get. This Herve Leger black bandage dress ($1250) is HOT HOT HOT, you will ring in the new year in perfect style and if you happen to meet the man of your dreams you know you will be looking your best. Truly the ultimate LBD!! And if this trend continues for another 20 years, this will be the most worn dress in your closet. Devi Kroell Satin Frame wristlet $1290 at Net a Porter. Happy New Year everyone!! We are looking forward to another incredible year here at Bag Snob.

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 $7,190 at Net-a-Porter.

Anthracite patent leather clutch with beading details. When you hear the description it sounds pretty good but just look at this thing, it looks like a dissected sea creature. The scalloped beading detail looks scale-y and scary and the proportions are all wrong with the middle strap awkwardly cutting into the design. I guess it does make sense to have the middle clear of beading for when you're holding it but isn't it the job of the designer to think of these things AND make the bag look good? To be fair, the beading detail is actually really not that bad, it's just the use of it on this bag is all wrong. And the double F cut-out, are you supposed to use it as a handle by threading your fingers through there? I would be tempted to do so because it just looks like a handle but it would make the bag look even stupider with its odd scale. The real shock with this bag is that it is $2370. This is a small bag and there is nothing on there that warrants a big price tag (even with the double F logo, it's more expensive than their B and Spy bags). What gives? At Net a Porter.

Halloween is the ugliest holiday. There is no need to decorate your house with spider webs and dead people, it is absolutely disgusting. I saw Martha Stewart today making glitter bones and skulls and she was like, "Isn't this pretty?". Uhhhh, NO!! I don't care if you encrust diamonds on bones and skulls, it will be a waste of diamonds and most definitely not pretty! And that is how I feel about this clutch. I know the Thomas Wylde line is all about the skulls but a giant bad Halloween decorative skull on a clutch is totally uncute and not uncute in a "cool" way either, it is just bad. This skull is totally scary looking and combined with the cracked distressed bronze leather, it just creeps me out. And this is not a small clutch, it is 12.5" x 10" so that skull is at least 2 inches! I guess it is very pirate themed which is popular with the kids, but I don't know any grown woman who would think this is cute or fashionable. But Happy Halloween everyone! At Net a Porter for $1495.

I went to the Chanel Resort trunk show last week and was impressed yet again over the many creative incarnations they manage come up with each season of the classic 2.55 bag. There were so many great bags to choose from but the "Ice Cube" caught our eye because it's so different and fun (okay, we really picked it because we loved the name)! (My assistant of the day was my beautiful friend Christine Handy who patiently took notes on style names and prices on all the bags I liked. We had a lunch and shop date but ended up working with no lunch. Thanks honey, I owe you one! My friends all know they may be called into action at a moment's notice and they all comply without complaint!)

Made of clear vinyl "cubes" placed on metallic lambskin leather to resemble the iconic Chanel quilting, the "Ice Cube" manages to maintain the classic flavor of the 2.55 bag while being completely modern and charming. On any other bag the look risks being absurd and tacky but on Chanel, it works. For Chanel addicts who crave something young and fun, the "Ice Cube" is it! The price is also budget friendly (for a Chanel bag that is!) at $1,650. Call Alexis, our fave Chanel SA at 214-520-1055 to order.