Custom Design

I fully admit that I’ve never been the recipient of a Valentine’s Day gift from a real Valentine this is excluding the bouquet of wildflowers my lovely father sends me every February 14. And just last week, I received a wonderful care package from my mother including a plastic lunchbox with a printed smattering of pink and white hearts. That was very interesting, but in the case that I do have a real, live Valentine this year, this is what I’d love him to get me. But keep in mind, pals, the flowers are enough. Remember that you’re talking to (erm, reading about) a girl who was massively excited by a plastic case.

1. Purple Irises: Part of the reason why I love my wildflower bouquets is because they often come with some irises in a vibrant shade of purple, my absolute favorite color. I know, purple foxgloves can appear in these bouquets as well but I find them alarming because they are tubular and can induce poisoning. Sorry to ruin the mood, guys. Buy through Beyond Blossoms.

2. Alexander Wang Darla Pyramid Clutch: This clutch is neither pink nor red, but it’s my current clutch obsession so I see no objection to including it on my wish list for the most lovable of days. It represents the birth of my now-growing love affair with Alexander Wang, so despite its rugged, pebbled, and studded exterior, it’s symbolically perfect for the holiday. Buy through Shopbop for $490.

3. Hunter Stripe Socks: Since I have an inordinate amount of stuffed creatures from my childhood years, and apparently stuffed animals are commonly given on this day, I’ll substitute those for a lovely pair of socks. I know, they’re two totally different things, but I need some new long socks and these ones nearly knocked me down by their softness a few weeks ago in Nordstroms. Since I don’t wear pink, I’ll happily take the navy and yellow version and tuck them into my obscenely high Sam Edelman Zoe Boots- that’s right, the ones I asked for in my Chanukah Wish List. Buy through Nordstrom for $14.90.

Original post by Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez

While Salvatore Ferragamo is known for some exquisite handbags, I love when I find something a little different than what I am normally expecting. This bag fits into that category.

I am always on the look out for hot handbags perfect for day time use. When I am at the grocery store or out running any kind of errand, I tend to see way too many ugly handbags. Trust me when I say I understand that not everyone can afford to drop big bucks on a handbag, but there are plenty of fabulous bags out there to choose from. Hey, even take a look at some hot bags and find something that looks similar at a different price point, you know what I mean?

Luckily, whether you can afford it or not, the Salvatore Ferragamo Miss Vara Calfskin Hobo is a beautiful handbag for both day and night time use. The reason I am spotlighting this bag as one you can find at a different price point is because it has everything you need from a great handbag: a fabulous shape, versatile and timeless. So many bags hit all of those marks.

But, now onto this bag. I love the touchable black calfskin with an ever so slight cinched bow at the middle of the bag. Without the cinched bow, the bag might be boring, but with out, it is a knockout. A single shoulder strap boasts O-rind details and bronze hardware. Dimenstions: 18.9″W x 17.3″H x 3.9″D and a 10″ drop. As any good hobo has, this bag has plenty of room for your daily as well as night time essentials. Once again Ferragamo hits the mark and I am not at all surprised. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $1450.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

A few months ago, we brought you news that friend-of-PurseBlog Carlos Falchi would be collaborating with his daughter on a new line of graffiti-inspired bags to debut in the coming months.

Well, the future is now: the bags are here! We already had some pictures of what they would look like, so that isn’t much of a surprise, but it’s nice to see something so unique and fun arrive in stores nonetheless.

What we know now is that the bags are made of snake-embossed microfiber (great for animal lovers) and priced accordingly. The tote pictured here is available via Bloomingdale’s for $295.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Sales, Sales, Sales, OH MY! If you haven’t done so already, make sure you head over to Bloomingdale’s and check out their Buy More, Save More Sale that is going on now through December 6th, 2009. No matter which department you shop in, you can enjoy some major savings.

Shop Bloomie’s Buy More, Save More now!

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

It is pretty fair to say we all love to shop. In fact, I think we all love to shop even more around the holidays. I know I certainly do. That’s why I am so excited for Bloomingdale’s Friends and Family Sale this month. Obviously this sale extends beyond handbags. However, since we love handbags here, it is note-worthy to share that this sale includes handbags from some of our favorite designers like Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs!!!

The sale starts today, November 9th and goes through November 15th. All you need to do is to enter promo code: BFRIEND at checkout to receive your 205 off! Make sure to head over to Bloomie’s and start shopping.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP AND SAVE!

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

As an ode to the iconic 2.55 Chanel handbag there are a number of handbags incorporating this the quilting trend. Quilted handbags feature various patterns primarily stitched onto leather. Many of the Marc Jacobs handbags incorporate quilting into the styling of the bag as well.

Quilting can also be seen on accessories like this Stella McCartney Wide Quilted Waist Belt (upper left on model, $525 at Net-a-Porter) and of course winter puffer jackets. Embroidered patterns are laid out in vertical and horizontal patterns overlap to create diamond or other patterns that add dimension and texture.

We’ve spotted some of our favorite styles that incorporate the quilting trend. Juicy Couture’s Serena Quilted Duffel Tote (upper right, $198.00 at ShopBop.com) is constructed of nylon and has plenty of room to store your essentials inside 3 zip front pockets and two interior patch pockets. The double rolled handles ruffled banding and Juicy Couture logo charm give this bag a youthful appeal.

Already on its way to becoming a classic, the Marc Jacobs Women’s Quilted Bruna Satchel (middle right, $1,295.00 at Bloomingdales.com) is shown in black leather and features double handles and gold tone accent hardware. This quilted handbag is tied up with a front belt accent, Marc Jacobs logo, zips closed and is embellished with a faux gold tone turnlock.

Balmain’s runway looks continue their influential appeal with this Mat quilted leather bag (bottom right, $1,915 at Net-a-Porter), which is quilted in Italy and assembled by hand in France. Tory Burch’s wearable modern classics are inspired by the designer’s globetrotter adventures. The Tory Burch Quilted Nico Tote, (bottom left, $295.00 at ToryBurch.com) is made of coated quilted poplin. Options for handles include both cross body and dual leather handles. Inside you’ll find two pockets and one side zip pocket just the right size for stashing your keys, phone and other essentials.

via The Find

Original post by Guest Blogger

I’m having a vintage moment lately. Last weekend, I spent 3 hours on Friday afternoon looking for vintage art deco costume jewelry on eBay. I really want a 70s faux fur jacket. The Stephen Sprouse collection for Louis Vuitton won me over long ago. And then this morning, I was lucky enough to find the utterly charming Chanel Vintage Le Train Bag.

When there are so many bags that are weathered and treated to look old when they’re actually brand new, it’s refreshing to look at a beautiful bag that is actually a piece of fashion history. The train illustration on this coated-canvas tote is so adorable and utterly Parisian that it serves as a wonderful reminder of not only the brand’s inventiveness, but also its cultural significance.

I like this bag better than most anything I’ve seen from Lagerfeld & Co. lately, and I wish that more of the irreverent French influence found its way into bags like this today. I don’t know that I’d be willing to pay the asking price for this piece (particularly since it’s not leather), but if I had the extra money laying around, this would absolutely be at the top of my list. Buy through ShopBop for $2420.

Original post by Amanda Mull

South Florida is an amazing place to live. The ocean surrounds us and the palm trees are endless. But the Sunshine state is missing my absolute favorite season, fall. Everything about Fall is amazing for me. The leaves turning to warm hues of red, orange and yellow while the air is crisp and cool puts an automatic smile on my face. It is great to live in Florida, but I am in desperate need of fall. Luckily we have a trip to NYC and Ohio planned for next month.

So it is time for fall colors and wardrobes to be brought out of hiding. South Florida is full of bright eye-catching colors all spring and summer, and while they work mostly year around, I still like to bring out my fall bags. I absolutely adore gray in my wardrobe. As I was going through my closet I noticed a lack of gray bags. WHAT? I do not own many gray bags? Actually, unless I have a stash of handbags hiding in my imaginary closet, I am nearly gray-bag-less. And that is oddly shocking to me.

The hunt for a new gray bag begins. You will be seeing many gray bags in the upcoming weeks, so I apologize in advance for those of you that dislike gray bags. Gray bag option number one, the Mulberry Suede Bayswater with a light gray crocodile stamped finish.

The Mulberry Bayswater continues to be a coveted design from Mulberry and in the handbag world. The double top handles and simple box shaped body is gives a classy and clean vibe. But you all know the Baywater, lets delve further into this rendition.

Suede is always hard to to keep clean. But gray is a great color option on a suede bag. The corners will wear more easily, which on some bags actually gives a bit of character rather than looking unkempt. I adore seeing crocodile stamped leather, Yves Saint Laurent perfects it. The large stamping on this Bayswater adds an extra dimension. Overall, this is a great design, a great version of the design, and the price comes in under $1000. Buy through Net A Porter for $995.

My hunt for a new gray bag has only just begun…

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

In my world, this is one of the biggest weekends of the year. Last night marked the first college football games of the 2009 season, and the majority of teams will kickoff their schedules tomorrow, including my one true love, the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

I can’t be the only purse fan that’s also a football fan, surely, and this being Friday and all, I thought we might briefly explore where fashion and football collide – game day attire. More specifically, game day handbags. You have to carry your stuff in something, and you always want it to be chic and match the colors you’re wearing, even if you’re sporting a combination that you would never wear if you weren’t supporting your team (royal blue and orange, anyone?). This isn’t just true of college football; it’s true of all sports for fashionable female fans, but this is the only sport I care about, so there’s no time like the present.

If you get a little creative, there’s no reason you can’t find something that can do double duty as a game bag and something you can wear outside of a sports setting as well, as long as you’re willing to keep a close eye on your purse while tailgating and cheering. I’ll make some bag recommendations for my own alma mater and a couple of the country’s other big football schools, after the jump.

Christian Louboutin Sweet Charity Flap Bag, The University of Georgia Bulldogs
Admittedly, red and black is one of the easiest school color combinations in the country, and we take advantage of it from our earrings to our toenail polish while dressing for football games. This bag is a medium size, which is ideal for football – big enough to hold your stuff without being too big to lug around all day – and it fits easily on your shoulder for stress-free carrying while in the stands (please, I beg you, unless you’re in a luxury box, don’t put your bag on the ground). I deduct points for the fact that it’s made of felt – it’ll stain if you get a little too excited and spill a bourbon & Coke on it. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1495.

Mulberry Daria Hobo, The University of Texas Longhorns
Alternately, orange has to be one of the most difficult team colors to dress with, particularly considering that every orange school has a very specific shade that they find acceptable. As best I can tell, this particular bag would be most appropriate for the slightly burnt orange that they prefer in Austin, TX, and proper team support becomes even more important when you expect your team to be playing for a national championship in a few months. The Daria Hobo fits the basic requirements for a game bag – it’s in at least one major team color, it’s fairly lightweight, it’s not too huge, and it can be carried on your shoulder. It also has the advantage of being leather, which means it’s less likely to stain than a fabric bag. Buy through ShopBop for $995.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Twisted Q Lil Riz Hobo, The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
I hate Notre Dame, so I was tempted to find the ugliest handbag I could find in one of their colors (or better yet, plaid or something), but having Charlie Weiss as a coach appears to be punishment enough. So instead, I fount one that almost exactly matches their team’s home-game pants. At this point, the trend should be clear – easy-to-carry, lightweight leather shoulder bags are your best bet for both inside the game and for regular wear during the off-season. Buy through Nordstrom for $428.

Alexander McQueen Houndstooth Tote, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide
My mom is going to hate me for including this one. She’s an Auburn alum and Auburn/Alabama is one of the bitterest rivalries in all of college sports, maybe in all of sports, period, but I have to give credit where credit is due. Alabama’s love for houndstooth is one of the coolest fashion statements that I’ve ever seen from a sports fan base, and they do it all because of the houndstooth fedoras of legendary coach Bear Bryant. If Net-a-Porter were to look at their records, I would guess that they have already shipped a number of these bags to wealthy alumni in and around Alabama that may or may not actually have any idea who McQueen is. Not that it’s impossible for Southerners to be fashion-conscious, obviously; it’s just that in the pursuit of all things houndstooth, designer labels are really not the point. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1995.

One notable big-name school that I left out is Ohio State – Megs, Vlad and Shannon are all Buckeyes, and perhaps one of them will grace us with their OSU bag pick in the comments.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Jimmy Choo may have just accomplished the impossible - they may have designed a beige bag that doesn’t make me feel totally blah. I guess the secret to doing that is not actually making the bag beige.

For some reason, they want us to believe that this bag is gold. Maybe the lighting is bad, but Nordstrom’s pictures are usually among the most accurate on the Internet, and on their website, the bag looks beige. Metallic beige, maybe, but beige nonetheless. In my household, the color is much reviled and derided, but on the Jimmy Choo Metallic Mandah Hobo, it works pretty well. The shimmery finish goes a long way towards banishing my boredom, and I could see this working really well as a metallic winter white. How cute would it be next to a fuzzy grey sweater? Buy through Nordstrom for $1595.

Original post by Amanda Mull