Custom Design

There’s almost nothing I like better in fashion than when it reminds me of something slightly fantastical or science fiction related. I know, clothing and handbags are supposed to be useful and realistic, because we need to protect our bodies and belongings from the elements… Well. To that I retort: we’re beyond that age, and now fashion can look to the future. Plus, we can always wear our impractical gear indoors and not worry about a tornado ruining it or something.

That element of fantasy is what attracted me to the Be & D Leather Convertible Bag. The raised spheres on the flap of the little cross body reminded me of futuristic armor or something equally awesome. But then, I made the mistake of looking at the bag in a fleshy color, a color that Be & D calls “citrus.” Friends, I’ve never seen a citrus fruit in this color. It’s fleshy, a salmon-esque shade at best.

Sadly, this color ruined everything. If you really are curious, this bag then reminded me of the pustules on the Baron Harkonnen’s face in the 1984 movie adaptation of Dune, one of my favorite science fiction reads. Rather gross, right? So let’s just ignore that and focus on the bag in black, because I’d much carry a bag that’s cool like a Dune stillsuit. Buy through Saks for $495.

Original post by Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez

Hold on to your hats, ladies, it’s time to get into the PurseBlog wayback machine and take a trip to 2005. The world economy is still humming along, I’m still in college, and It Bags rule the world – none more so than the Chloé Paddington. In its wake, however, was another bag that the brand managed to convince a lot of women that they wanted – the Chloé Silverado.

I haven’t seen or thought of a Silverado since approximately 2007, although I don’t know when the brand officially stopped making the model. Not that it matters now, however, because the bag is back, presumably to remind us all of the need to keep searching for the next must-have accessory. I don’t know about you, but that’s just not a message of which I’d like to be reminded.

The Silverado, always the Paddington’s second banana, was just never a good enough bag to make a comeback necessary. Sure, it had some python iterations that looked pretty nice, but it didn’t have the design flourishes that really made stars out of bags from that era – the Paddington’s lock or the Fendi Spy’s secret compartment and thorny woven handles. The Silverado is a leather satchel with a lot of whipstitching, which is all well and good, but doesn’t merit a special comeback in the average brown iteration that we see here.

I don’t remember how much a Silverado went for back in the day, so I can’t say if they’ve raised the price or not, but if they did it probably wasn’t by much. That’s nice, but the bag just doesn’t seem current or interesting anymore, particularly considering the tailored midcentury looks that showed up on the recent global runways – would any of you consider buying this bag? Buy through Saks for $1495.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I am really happy to see Bloomingdale’s expand their online handbag inventory. It’s something they’ve been working on and now that their inventory keeps growing we are seeing more and more great bags. And not just any handbags, but designer and highly coveted designer brands – like Marc Jacobs. So, on this dreary South Florida Friday it’s nice to look at a bag with just a hint of color and pizazz.

You know as well as I do that certain Marc Jacobs bags are completely over the top but still really nice. Then there are others that seem a bit bland and boring. Then there are others, like this Marc Jacobs The Firebird Rio Studded Leather Satchel that combine the previously mentioned elements perfectly.

The taupe leather satchel has a hint of shine and shimmer to it which really complements the studs wonderfully. While so many people are over studs, when the design and layout of the studs are different, like that on this bag, it’s hard not to give the bag a chance. The double handles (6″ drop) are adorned with gold-tone hardware which also looks really nice with the studding. Personally, I’d let the shoulder strap hang off of the bag and carry the bag primarily with the double handles. All in all this is a nice bag from Marc Jacobs with just enough sparkle to catch my eye. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $1395.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

I am in love. Valentino continues to make me a happy handbag fan. Yes, in the past, I’ve snubbed Valentino and thought that some bags were less than impressive. Today is not that kind of day. I am highly impressed with this Valentino Glam Tote. In fact, if I had some cash saved up, I would have bought it on the spot.

Before I get started, I must say, I really wish that Bergdorf Goodman would have larger images of products they carry available. However, luckily, they do have a zoom function. This zoom function has allowed me to fall in love with this bag. If it wasn’t for that function, I probably would have passed the bag by. But instead, I was able to look at the bag a bit closer and completely admire the exquisite and intricate bead work.

This tote is comprised of nude napa leather and has double top handles. With the tote being as large as it is, I do wonder if slightly larger handles would do the bag a bit more justice, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me. I wasn’t really interested in the drawstring sides, but I can let that go too. See, this bag, it is just downright gorgeous. The stripes of mini-studs and crystals intertwine splendidly. And since some of the studs and crystals happen to be on the two-layer ruffles along the front of the bag, there is a bit of movement. I can picture myself carrying this bag as I walk through a restaurant and the the light being reflected off of the studs and crystals – amazing. It typical Valentino fashion, this bag doesn’t come cheap, but like I said earlier, if I had money saved up, this bag would be mine! Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $2690.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

You guys, it is the most beautiful day in the history of forever right now. A week ago it was snowing in Georgia, and now it’s 70 degrees and perfect, without a cloud in the sky. Come lunch time, I am going to be violating many a fashion rule by wearing white and flip flops long before Easter while I sit on a blanket at the University of Georgia’s leafy campus and eat a packed lunch. I will have a picnic with myself and my laptop, so it will be like all of you are joining me, right?

Ok, so, the weirdness of working at home aside, this is the weather that makes me want to put on my best spring purchases thus far and find some grass. I generally hate the outdoors, but for a few precious weeks before Georgia’s heat gets oppressive and insufferable, I can’t help but enjoy the gleaming promise of a new season. The only thing that could make it better would be having the Jimmy Choo Cecile Woven Bag by my side.

img src=”http://www.purseblog.com/images/2010/03/Jimmy-Choo-Cecile-Woven-Bag.jpg” alt=”” title=”Jimmy Choo Cecile Woven Bag” width=”527″ height=”339″ class=”aligncenter wp-image-21502″ />

Bringing this bag to a picnic is probably not the wisest decision unless you’re very careful to keep it on the blanket and far from the food, but I’ve never been that good of a decision-maker (or particularly careful), so I’d probably do it in an instant. And with the basket-mimicking white woven leather and preponderance of shiny gold hardware, this bag is screaming for its turn in the sun – direct lighting is where this bag is going to look its best.

Don’t get me wrong, this bag would also be a champ under artificial light, but when a bag makes such a clear bid to be paired with the bright colors of spring and summer, I can’t help but hope that it gets at least a few moments outside with a fastidious owner that will make sure that the bag remains unsullied by the unpleasant realities of outdoor living. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my picnic blanket. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1495.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Hey MCM, Donna Karan called. She wants her bag back.

I’m a firm believer that there is nothing really new under the sun, and that well-worn Biblical adage is doubly true when applied to the fashion world. Everything is recycled, reinterpreted, or deconstructed, if not outright ripped off. The best designers manage to borrow from the past and create something new and interesting from their influences. The worst? Well, we might have an example of one of them here in the MCM Leather Crossbody Hobo. When I saw it, I couldn’t help but assume it was one of Donna Karan’s bags – her brand used EXACTLY the same dying technique on several bags last season. Obviously, I was mistaken.

Take a look at this bag. Also, this one. Now look at that bag up there. Those Donna Karan bags were released in the fall, which means that they had been in the industry pipelines for about six months after their initial presentation for buyers and editors. So, knowledge of those bags has been around for about a year, long before this bag was probably conceived.

Fashion’s timeline is wonky, and this could be an unfortunate case of the company sourcing the same leather in ignorance, but that’s just not passing the truth sniff test for me. In a competitive industry that values exclusivity so highly and where lead times are so long, you’d have to think that the Powers That Be at MCM were probably aware that someone else had used the exact same leather with the exact same effect in the exact same color scheme. Karan’s bags were all over the internet and on the websites of several of the industry’s largest retailers at the time that these bags were probably being designed, and if MCM wasn’t aware of them, then someone was seriously not doing his or her job.

Don’t get me wrong – I love this effect. I just loved it more when it felt original. Buy through Saks for $1195.

Original post by Amanda Mull

This gloomy day just got a bit gloomier.

It’s really nasty here in South Florida today. While we don’t have snow or bitter cold, we have torrential rain that just doesn’t seem to want to let up today. I was hoping to come across a great bag to boost my mood, but instead, I came across a Christian Louboutin bag that I don’t really like. Now, you have to understand, that is saying a lot because I usually love all things and everything Louboutin. I want to like this bag. I am actually trying really hard to like this bag, but I just don’t think I can.

I see what the designers were trying to get at with the Christian Louboutin Mia Mirrored-Leather Shoulder Bag, however if not paired with the perfect outfit, the bag will appear a bit cheap. And the thing is, no Christian Louboutin handbag is cheap, this one included.

The mirrored-leather shoulder bag is in fact a nice bag for a night out on the town, but I don’t think I’d drop the money it would take for it. In typical Louboutin fashion, the bag has the signature shoe clasp at the frame and is lined with signature red twill. But there is something about the mirrored silver leather that reminds me of something I would expect to see at a middle school or high school dance. I’ve seen so many other Louboutin bags out there that are so much better than this one. Do you agree? Buy through Net-a-Porter for $960.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

I’m so utterly pleased to see the bags from the Fendi Spring 2010 catwalk starting to land in stores. This bag collection is my favorite from Fendi in…well, almost forever. It had a bohemian grace and ease to it that is difficult to capture, and they did a fine job.

The Fendi Wood-Frame Leather Clutch is a great example of the slightly boho vibe that the collection had, and unlike the emerging clog trend (no no no, I cannot live in a world where clogs are ok), the wooden touches on this leather handbag are totally acceptable. They might even be pretty.

I was slightly more unsure of the wood when the collection first walked than I am now. It was featured on several different styles of bags, and I didn’t know if its use on these clutches would fly once I got a better look at them. Well, as it turns out, my concerns were completely unfounded.

The walnut handles are totally chic and feel really modern, despite their retro roots. The juxtaposition of such a hard material with the soft black leather brings out the best in both, and the small gold studs that dot the confluence of the leather and wood are like little cherries on top. Buy through Saks for $1450.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I’m too young to remember when MCM was a big deal the first time around, but I have been assured that it was and I have no reason not to believe it. I’ve seen those bags, though, and I have a hard time imagining them being widely popular, but, you know, the 80s were a weird time.

I’m thankful that their logo bags haven’t returned in the 80s nostalgia wave (a wave that I’m ok with, in general – I just bought another pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers, after all), but if they keep making bags like the MCM North/South Leather Hobo, I wouldn’t mind at all if the brand became a trend all over again.

Since this bag is completely empty and not hanging on a shoulder, I think that the uber-slouchy, uber-soft leather would look a bit more tailored when worn. If it does, the bag would be nearly perfect for people that like a casual, easy sensibility to their personal style (or really, just about anyone that like wonderful leather in a neutral shade).

The knotting, tassel, and minimal use of hardware are enough to vary the texture and visual appeal of the bag. If tassels aren’t your thing, then it’s removable, but I’d recommend leaving it on – it lends a nice vertical line, not to mention a little bit of motion, to this beautiful, modern bag. There’s not a note of 80s tiredness anywhere near this one. Buy through Saks for $995.

Original post by Amanda Mull

This bag is worth discussing. I came across the Burberry Prorsum Medium Osprey Leather Tote and I had an overwhelming need to look at it closer. While I couldn’t put my finger on why I needed to look closer, I knew I had to.

As much as I can appreciate the signature Burberry plaid, I really love how they continue to put out other fabulous bags that might not jump out as Burberry until you look at the label. This bag completely fits that bill. This silver leather tote has the slightest fringe effect throughout the bag. I barely think fringe when I see the bag, but we can work with it. I love how chic, eccentric and unique the bag is. You definitely do not see something similar every day.

The one handle looks completely fabulous and supple has a 5″ drop. If you choose to put it on your shoulder, it will fit snugly, but it won’t be uncomfortable. The ruching at the sides pull the leather and its fringe in a clever way to draw the eye and curiosity in. Open up the bag and you will find black designer-stamped lining, two internal sections and a couple of pockets. This bag made an appearance on the runway and I’d love to have it make an appearance on my arm. I might dare to say this is one of my favorite Burberry bags I’ve seen in a while. Do you like this look or do you prefer the traditional Burberry bags? Buy through Net-a-Porter for 1695.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney