Custom Design

Firstly, I must apologize for the extremely slow start to the week on PurseBlog. You woke up, checked PurseBlog, and saw no new posts. That is because when my alarm went off this morning I somehow convinced myself that it is Sunday so I could turn off my alarm and sleep as long as I wanted. It is nearly 11 am. That is bad. Part of the reason why I am so tired is because yesterday Vlad and I went horseback riding. It was pretty much our first time and nothing about horseback riding it like in the movies. It is hard, intense, and has me much sorer than I imagined. That is the story of why things are off to a slow start today.

And that is also the reason why I am reviewing the Be&D Dodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag. You see, yesterday I didn’t even think for a moment about what bag I would take horseback riding. I had been using my Rebecca Minkoff Matinee and popped that on my arm and took it out the door. I had to leave my bag in the car, obviously. But I imagined if I took a great/compact messenger bag I could have slung it over my body and taken it with me on the horse.

No, I do not need my bag with me on the horse, but this is just hypothetical. And it is still a great idea to have a good messenger bag in your handbag collection, which will free up your hands. Be&D is such a great brand. Their bags are edgy and funky with great attention to detail and the materials being used. The Be&D Dodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag features whipstitched leather, a chain link strap, and a few silvertone studs. The leather is entirely soft. Actually after talking about horseback riding and thinking about where I was yesterday, I can even see a bit of a Western vibe from this bag.

The shoulder strap can either be worn as a single or double strap, which will give you a 14″ or 25″ drop. The inside has functional pockets; zipper and two open pockets. Overall dimensions are 13″W X 8½”H X 1½”D. I may not wearing this bag next time I horseback ride, but I still need a great messenger bag. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

*Note: Saks had labeled this bag as the Dodstock, but it is actually the Woodstock*

Firstly, I must apologize for the extremely slow start to the week on PurseBlog. You woke up, checked PurseBlog, and saw no new posts. That is because when my alarm went off this morning I somehow convinced myself that it is Sunday so I could turn off my alarm and sleep as long as I wanted. It is nearly 11 am. That is bad. Part of the reason why I am so tired is because yesterday Vlad and I went horseback riding. It was pretty much our first time and nothing about horseback riding it like in the movies. It is hard, intense, and has me much sorer than I imagined. That is the story of why things are off to a slow start today.

And that is also the reason why I am reviewing the Be&D Woodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag. You see, yesterday I didn’t even think for a moment about what bag I would take horseback riding. I had been using my Rebecca Minkoff Matinee and popped that on my arm and took it out the door. I had to leave my bag in the car, obviously. But I imagined if I took a great/compact messenger bag I could have slung it over my body and taken it with me on the horse.

No, I do not need my bag with me on the horse, but this is just hypothetical. And it is still a great idea to have a good messenger bag in your handbag collection, which will free up your hands. Be&D is such a great brand. Their bags are edgy and funky with great attention to detail and the materials being used. The Be&D Woodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag features whipstitched leather, a chain link strap, and a few silvertone studs. The leather is entirely soft. Actually after talking about horseback riding and thinking about where I was yesterday, I can even see a bit of a Western vibe from this bag.

The shoulder strap can either be worn as a single or double strap, which will give you a 14″ or 25″ drop. The inside has functional pockets zipper and two open pockets. Overall dimensions are 13″W X 8½”H X 1½”D. I may not wearing this bag next time I horseback ride, but I still need a great messenger bag. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Kate Hudson is in the spotlight again. This time it is not for being in another RomCom (romatic comedy), but because of the man she is reportedly dating, Alex Rodriguez. We have a full review of her look on Bag that Style, but I can not get her clutch off my mind.

Problem is I have a clutch on my mind that I can not identify. So for a pre-thanksgiving present to me, who can help Name that Bag!

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Unless you weren’t already convinced of Alexander McQueen’s dark genius by the pictures of the clothing from his show, we submit to you: the shoes.

What we got from this collection (among other things) is perhaps the most ostentatious, progressive approach to footwear that we’ve ever seen from a major designer, at least in recent memory. The shoes were, on average, a full ten inches tall with huge platforms in the front to make them at least somewhat functional for walking. I pray for the models’ poor little ankles, but it was worth it to see these looks in their full form.

They came in three main varieties: first, ultra-high booties that looked more like prosthetic lobster claws than shoes you might see on the racks at Neiman Marcus, in keeping with the apocalyptic-aquatic theme of the show. These came in exotics, smooth leathers, and a variety of exterior embellishments, including shards of turquoise. The second type were booties that looked like something a resident in Wall-E’s post-apocalyptic Earth might wear. The heels were covered in an amalgamation of industrial metal, creating perhaps the most wearable shoes of the collection. The third type were intricately carved porcelain platforms that were reminiscent of a coral reef, held on to the foot by clear plastic straps.

These are the shoes that a mermaid would wear, if a mermaid had feet. Luckily, the ones in McQueen’s show did.

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Images via NYMag.com & Style.com

Original post by Amanda Mull

We’ve had some harsh words to say over the past month or so about Prada’s fall handbag collection. Some of them are covered in fur, some of them are unfortunate combinations of velvet and nylon, and a lot of them look a little “grandma.”

As a result, I’m not sure if I’m being more charitable to the Prada Craquele Tote than I would be otherwise. It’s easy to argue that it’s a pretty decent bag when compared to the line’s other fall offerings, though.

To me, Prada bags always seem to be at one end of the spectrum – either they bore me to tears are they’re so far off in WTFland that I can’t conceive of how I would incorporate them in to my everyday life. This bag is somewhere in the middle, though, and I think that’s why I kind of like it. It’s not completely plain, but it’s also not completely over-the-top.

The gold studs on the contrast leather that runs along the seams and handles are a well-edited response to the studded trend, and the textured leather is interesting without looking too processed. It’s not knocking my socks off, but it’s easily my favorite bag of theirs that I’ve seen in a few months.

cite: http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446231645&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574492709740&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395222441&bmUID=1252424844786&ev19=2:25

Original post by Amanda Mull

Here at Purse Blog, we love to shop. I speak for all of us when I say we love shopping both in stores and online.

Another great gem is when we come across smaller boutiques or design houses that might even be a bit more regional than national or international. Now, for those of you who frequent the Purse Forum you may have read about Malibu, California store Tylie Malibu.

This is the kind of store that doesn’t bring in outside designs, instead they house their own. Every item in the store captures the essence of LA. The combination of casual and glamour is noticeable and welcome. Gorgeous materials and great attention to detail can be noticed as you peruse the collection.

All of the items are inspired by natural textures of leathers and colors of the natural and fabulous landscaping that surrounds Los Angeles or even more specifically, Malibu.

With the rocker chick stud craze in full swing, Tylie Malibu is a store where you can definitely get that fix. Even if you consider yourself more of a traditional fashionista, there is bound to be something in this store that would add just the right amount of urban chic to your wardrobe. And since we are all about the bags, you have to check out some of the great bags that this store has to offer.

The Runaway Rose Suede Bag which we have pictured here is a great bag full of texture and just the right amount of that urban vibe that just about any woman can pull off. Are you looking for a little more color? This particular bag comes in several colors: moss, grey, black, violet, navy and wine. All of the colors and rich and perfect for the fall!

Click here to look around and shop!

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

Another day, another studded bag. If you’re sick of this trend, wait a month – you’ll be more sick of it. I promise. But as it stands now, I still love it, and I’m still happy to write about it. Studs have not jumped the shark just yet.

And despite my lack of love for shiny gold hardware, and in particular shiny gold studs, I can’t help but enjoy the Be &amp D Garbo Convertible Tote. Even though it’s over the top and a bit gaudy, the bag just works.

As I’ve said before, Be & D has as much of a right as anyone to be taking advantage of fall’s stud-happy trends. They were doing it years ago, to limited success, when everyone thought it looked fairly weird. Now, they’ve taken their much-loved studs and paired them with tougher, more subdued materials for fall, and it works much better than it once did.

Yes, even the gold. When juxtaposed with matte black leather, you can’t help but get their point. For me, the variation in stud size is key. They’re uniform on the front and back, larger at the gussets and handle attachments. It’s not too much change to make the bag confusing to look at, but it’s enough to know that they took great care in how the chose and placed the studs.

The slouchy shape and handles also help take a bit of the edge off the bag, and in this case, that’s a good thing. If the bag had been more structured, it would have been too much when combined with the all-over studs. As it is, it can be worn as a slouchy tote or a fold-over messenger, and although I’m not much of a fan of convertible bags, it works well with the stud placement in this instance. Buy through Saks for $1490.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Sorry, Marc Jacobs, you’re going to have to do something more interesting to get me to sit up and pay attention than what you did with the Marc Jacobs Studded Satin Bag.

Yes, yes. Quilting, tonal studs, chain handle, we get it. And it’s on-trend, but for some reason it’s just not exciting. Or maybe it would be more exciting if this bag, which is made of absolutely zero leather, were priced in a more appropriate way for a non-leather bag. So exactly how much is it?

It’s $1695, which blows my mind – Jacobs is usually much more reasonable on pricing when it comes to his satin or nylon bags, but not here. And that’s not to say that this bag doesn’t look well made – it does. The quilting is incredibly precise and the satin is just plush enough to make it look luxe. The tonal studding is a nice nod to one of this season’s big trend. It has some things going for it.

But overall, $1695 is too much to pay for a satin evening bag without obvious proof that some serious artistry or hand work has gone in to it, and that’s just not evident here. Knock about a thousand bucks off of the price tag, and maybe we can talk. Maybe. Buy through Nordstrom for $1695.

Original post by Amanda Mull

You know, I didn’t really expect Yves Saint Laurent to go along with the stud trend. Their bags are so consistently understated and sleek that I didn’t think they’d subscribe to such an edgy and obvious trend, but I was wrong, and very happily so. The Yves Saint Laurent Studded Satchel is a trendy bag with a decidedly refined touch.

The base of the bag is one that we’re all very familiar with – YSL has done a million and one things with it over the past few seasons and has produced more iterations than I’ve been able to keep track of (the stamped sequin version has been my favorite until now). It follows logically that if they were going to chase a trend, they’d do it with this bag as the root of the design, since it’s the shape that they use as a canvas most often. Instead of spreading the studs throughout the bag, they’re all concentrated on the stitched Y-shape in the middle of the bag, and they’re not the studs that we’ve been seeing from other designers for fall. Instead of grungy looking and industrial, they’re smooth, flat, shiny silver circles that fit easily into the minimalist bags that we’ve seen from them lately. They’ve taken the trend and made it their own, and I’d love to have this bag in my closet. Buy through Saks for $1895.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Look at what we have here. This is the kind of bag that I actually find myself yearning for yet I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it is the intricate detailing that goes into the Lanvin Happy Mini Pop Satin Bag that has lured me in. I don’t have a plethora of mustard colored items in my closet because sometimes I feel as though the color looks a bit drab. But this is definitely not the case here.

The stitch detailing throughout is gorgeous. This is a look that can be executed perfectly on a small bag like this one. Now, add the chainlink handle that is woven with grosgrain ribbon and boasts a floral crosage and this look is just perfection. And you know me, I love when handbags can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you see it right now or not, this bag is actually rather versatile. A clear favorite would be pairing the bag with one of your fancier outfits. However, I’d love to sling it over my shoulder as I wear a pair of boyfriend jeans and a white t-shirt while letting the bag speak for itself. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1240.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney