Custom Design

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 know, when it comes to handbags and the reviews we do here on PurseBlog, we can be all over the place. Sometimes we (me, Megs, Amanda and Anna) can be in complete agreement and other times we don’t see eye to eye at all. This all makes sense, of course, because, well, we all have different likes and dislikes. (I know, I am stating the obvious here, just bare with me.)

However, I feel as though we tend to be most polar on our view points with some of the big time designers, like Valentino. But, when it comes to Valentino, Amanda said it best in her review of the Valentino Laceland Tote when she said is not completely comfortable claiming she loves or hates a given Valentino creation. I feel the same exact way.

So, as I sit here contemplating how I feel about the Valentino Rouches Napa Hobo, I also wonder not only what my fellow PurseBlog writers think but also what you all think about this bag. There is a large part of me that really wants to like the bag, but there is a nagging part of me that thinks it is nothing more than heinous. So, let’s break it down.

No matter what the state of the economy is, there is something to be said for possessing one of the big name brand bags – which Valentino is a part of. The leather itself is downright gorgeous. It is supple, beautiful and flawless. As a hobo, the dimensions are pretty much spot on: 13 1/2″H x 15″W x 8 1/2″D with a 5″ shoulder drop. I wish the drop was a bit larger, but I won’t make that a point of extreme discussion. I love satin lining, so the fact that this bag is lined with black satin, I obviously like it a bit more. Yet again, is that enough to make or break a decision – no.

The ruffles. The ruffles have me on the fence. When I think about really tapping into my feminine side, I like the ruffles. When I think about how borderline gaudy the bag looks, I hate the ruffles. But that is the thing. The ruffles are *supposed* to help the bag stand out they are supposed to make the bag unique and one-of-a-kind.

Finally, the price. Yes, this is Valentino and yes the prices tend to be a bit inflated compared to the rest of the handbag market. However, would you throw down almost $2600 for this ruffled, leather, hobo? The price is what is making me quiver. If the bag was cheaper, I would go out on a ledge and buy it. I need a statement piece and frankly, this bag is exactly that – a statement. But with everything being said, does this bag make so much of a statement that you would be willing to throw down big time bucks? If so, buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $2595.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

So this week (and in particular, this weekend) are all about red, right? Well, according to the people that have a vested interest in selling you (or, perhaps more accurately, your significant other) lots and lots of Valentine’s Day swag, anyway. We’ll have more on V-Day throughout the week, but for a moment, I’d like to celebrate something that’s red that has blissfully little to do with anything other than good taste: the Valentino Premier Bow Hobo.

Everyone that reads this blog has probably picked up on the fact that I have a strong personal bias both the color red and almost anything made by the fine folks at Valentino, so of course I can’t help but fall for this bag.

For those that don’t follow fashion closely, red is a Valentino tradition (which is putting it very, very lightly). Under the creative genius of the company’s namesake, the color became a metaphor for the brand’s vision and an omnipresent staple in the brand’s clothes, accessories and especially their evening wear.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that, despite the retirement of the brand’s founder, Valentino is still one of the few designers that manages to do a red handbag and do it right. That’s because the company will accept nothing less than the perfect shade of red for any of its products, and that’s exactly what they managed to get out of this leather.

I’ve already explained my love for this bag’s design back when the shape first came out, so I won’t rehash those feelings, which are very much still intact. I will say, however, that the bag’s deliberative pleating is much more handsomely displayed in Valentino’s traditional red. It doesn’t even need to be Valentine’s day to appreciate that – or should I say Valentino’s Day? Buy through Saks for $1895.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Get ready to be surprised and astounded, you guys: I’ve found a Valentino bag about which I am totally and utterly ambivalent. I know this doesn’t happen often, so if you feel like you need to take a moment to let that sink in, please go ahead and take one. We’ll wait.

You back? Great.

In fact, I’m having trouble rustling up any thoughts about it at all. However, one continues to reoccur: for two grand, not only can you get a better bag in general, you can get a far more interesting Valentino bag.

The ruffles are suitably rich and textured, I suppose, and the graduated size from top to bottom is ok. Something about it is just not impressive to me at all, however, and maybe it’s because I’ve seen the brand do ruffles in so many more interesting and intricate ways. Perhaps the problem is that they do such an out-of-the-ballpark job with designs that are much more complex, and in comparison, it’s hard to celebrate their ability to pull off something so comparatively simple. Buy through Saks for $1995.

Original post by Amanda Mull

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

Yves Saint Laurent is loving the chain under leather look for this season. First we saw all the celebs crushing on the YSL Roady. The Roady of choice for many of the celebs and customers alike is the black leather with metal chain insert. And that version of the YSL Roady has a very familiar feel to this YSL bag.

The Yves Saint Laurent Nappa Leather Clutch mixes chunky chain metal hardware with sleek gray leather. There is an optional shoulder strap which is always a nice touch. To go hand held or shoulder strap is the question? Sometimes I like to use the optional shoulder strap as a wristlet handle. I know, so bold and daring. Back to this YSL bag.

This is Yves Saint Laurent afterall, so we can be assured that the Nappa leather, chain detailing, and chocolate suede lining are all completely divine. I am sitting on a fence about my overall feeling on this clutch. If someone gave it to me I would take it in a heart beat, but I am not feeling a deep yearning for this clutch either. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great classic, but would I buy it? Long answer short is no. This clutch simply does not have the wow factor which is entirely surprising as the simply Roady hobo did it for me but this simple clutch counterpart does not. Buy through Net A Porter for $1,495.

What do you think: Love it or leave it?

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

For all of you who love brown handbags, I apologize profusely as it seems you got stuck with a group of gals who share more of an affinity to black handbags. When we find a great brown bag, we will not cease to share it with you. This time I think I found a brown bag with a black counterpart that I like even less. Ridiculous, right?

We reviewed the Yves Saint Laurent Studded Satchel and were pleasantly surprised to see YSL take on the studded trend. YSL did so gracefully with a refined touch. The studs on their bag are flush with the leather rather than protruding. Let’s take a more in depth look at this brown YSL handbag.

The leather on this bag is chocolate, which looks to be a rich hue of brown that will melt in your hands. The gold studs gives this bag a snazzy finish. We continue to see black leather with gold and silver studs, but seeing brown leather with gold studs is fairly new in the studded handbags department. This handheld bag is a chic piece from YSL with the studs creating a Y on both sides of the bag. Buy through Browns for $2,360.53

What do you think of brown leather with gold studs?

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil