Lanvin Amalia Large Leather Shoulder Bag | Parisian Chic Quilted Black Leather Bag

Posted on: Dec 1

Lanvin Amalia Large Leather Shoulder BagLanvin’s line of Amalia bags are iconic and classic, and, personally, I think this is the best of the lot. It manages to look terribly sophisticated and still be totally practical at the same time.

The black leather on the Amalia has a softly wrinkled and quilted texture. The matte finish emphasizes the textural elements, and gives the bag a low key, sophisticated appeal. It also contrasts nicely with the elegantly minimal gold hardware. I love the slim, grosgrain and chain link strap, which is kept comfortable by a long  leather handle that allows the bag to be worn across the body.

The shape of this larger version of the Amalia is softer than the other styles. Its rounded bottom gives it almost a kettle shape, which is nicely offset by the sleek inset zipper placement at top. Lanvin has gone pretty minimal on this one, in terms of embellishment, and limits itself to the small hanging coin, which is pretty unobtrusive.

This fabulous bag makes me want to up the limits on all my credit cards and hop on a jet to Paris. It has that unmistakably French charm that just can’t be found for less than its $1,450 price tag. Not in America, at least.

More Features Of The Lanvin Amalia Large Leather Shoulder Bag

  • 15″ x 11″ x 5″ size
  • 19″ handle drop
  • Fully lined in designer-stamped twill

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Lanvin Faubourg Cabas Printed Cotton Tote | Bold Snake Print Cotton Carryall

Posted on: Dec 1

Lanvin Faubourg Cabas Printed Cotton ToteLanvin is one of those lines that inspires a cultishly loyal following. Its designs sit right on the edge of avant garde, but stay close enough to the mainstream to be totally wearable. This Faubourg Cabas tote combines the line’s edgy sensibility with a strong dose of practicality.

The snakeskin print on the bag is bold and eye-catching. It’s successful because it doesn’t even pretend to be “realistic”, it’s a straight-forward graphic interpretation of snakeskin. The black grosgrain logo across the front looks like melting graffiti, and although I don’t love prominent logos, this one looks showy and interesting, and it goes with the pop art style of the bag.

The Faubourg Cabas tote is giant, big enough for a weekend’s worth of groceries or clothing. The leather handles make it comfortable to carry and are also durable. The only drawback is that they prevent the bag from being machine washable, although I’m not sure many people would throw a $690 bag in the washer, anyhow.

Speaking of the price, it’s just too high. I love Lanvin as much as the next girl, but $690 for a cotton tote, no matter how big it is, is just unacceptable.

More Features Of The Lanvin Faubourg Cabas Printed Cotton Tote

  • 17″ x 15″ x 6″ size
  • 9″ handle drop
  • Fully lined in designer-stamped twill

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Ananas Shauna Shoulder Bag | Retro Minimalist Citrus Leather Handbag

Posted on: Dec 1

Ananas Shauna Shoulder BagIn a world of fashion followers, the designers that love to walk alone really stand out. Ananas is one of those intriguing brands that refuses to bow to trends. And with bags like the Shauna shoulder bag, it shows us the beauty that comes from original design.

Ananas knows that a material like this lush lambskin needs few embellishments. It’s so compelling all on its own, especially in that intriguing green-yellow shade known as citrus. I suppose some conservative fashionistas might long for a more neutral hue, but I think it could be just what we need to liven up our outfits.

The only embellishments are the wooden tab closure, buckle strap, and handle studs. The smooth, brown wood is a surprisingly lovely complement to the vivid leather. I also appreciate the size of the tab closure. We saw a much larger one on the Ewa waist pack which dominated the design. Here everything is in harmony.

But of course we can’t sell a bag on surface alone. The interior clinches things for me, with its generous dimensions and durable leather trimmed pockets. The printed plain weave lining is also darling; that probably won’t sway you but it is a nice touch.

At $530 this is one of Ananas’ most expensive bags, but considering its generous dimensions it deserves to be.

More Features of This Ananas Lambskin Shoulder Bag

  • Magnetized tab closure
  • A single shoulder strap with an 8 inch drop
  • Measures 10 x 17 x 3 inches
  • Made in the United States

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Stella McCartney’s New Baby Girl | British Designer Gives Birth to Reiley Willis

Posted on: Dec 1

Stork CityIt’s a baby girl for handbag designing mom Stella McCartney. The staunch animal activist gave birth to daughter Reiley Willis on Tuesday November 23.

Reiley is the fourth child for McCartney and her art dealer husband Alasdhair Willis. The new bub was born in London, the day after the annual Christmas lights party at McCartney’s flagship store. She wasn’t in attendance that night, and now we don’t need to wonder why!

Reiley joins her brothers Miller, 5, and Beckett, 2, and three-year-old sister Bailey.

I’m not sure about the name Reiley personally, but it’s a variation of an Irish surname meaning “courageous.” I love that symbolism, but I think something a bit more feminine would have been much more appealing. Then again, considering the names of McCartney’s other three children she’s clearly not one for convention! Do you like it?

Name debates aside, congratulations are in order for the ever growing family!

[Source: Vogue]
[Image Source: Martine Lemmens/Stock.xchng]

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American West Lady Lace Tote | Practical Triple Compartment Hand-Tooled Leather Handbag

Posted on: Dec 1

American West Lady Lace ToteAmerican West’s frontier styled handbags aren’t to everyone’s tastes, but at least you always know what you’re going to get. The brand fiercely clings to its creative vision with Western bags like this Lady Lace tote.

This is one of the most feminine American West handbags I’ve seen. It gets its name not from real lace, but the lace like effect of its delicate hand-tooled finish. This pretty effect is complemented by tiny silver studs, which are artfully arranged around the bag’s perimeter. The studs meet near a larger silver decal, which reminds me a bit of a cowgirl’s belt buckle. It’s a little kitschy, but that’s not altogether a bad thing.

Whether the exterior revs you or not, it’s easy to appreciate this tote’s practical design. A zippered center console separates the main compartment into three separate spaces. There are also zip and slip pockets in the walls to take care of gadgets and other valuables. It can be tricky to keep one large space organized, so I really like American West’s compartmentalized approach.

Considering the work that’s gone into this tote and its sensible styling, I think it’s very reasonably priced at $220.

More Features of This American West Hand-Tooled Tote

  • Zip top closure
  • Dual handles
  • Measures 13 x 8 x 4 inches
  • Comes with a lifetime guarantee

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Porsche Design’s New Lean BriefBag | Streamlined Luxury Office Briefcase

Posted on: Dec 1

Porsche BriefbagPorsche Design has created a new briefcase for business folk who like to streamline their workdays. The Porsche Design P2150 2.2 Lean BriefBag minimizes wasted space with its “lean management” design approach.

Porsche has done its research here. It realized that most briefcases contain too much excess space, which leads to overfilling with unnecessary bits and pieces.

With this new BriefBag, there’s a place for everything, so you’ll always have everything in its place. For example, there are colored markers on the pen loops so you’ll quickly realize if one is missing. The large outer pockets are also designed with travel documents like tickets and passports in mind.

With the design for the lean briefcase, we wanted to transfer our experience as business consultants to a tool that would be used by managers every day. After we launched the prototype, purely as a study, in our customer magazine, many of our readers wanted to order the bag and the sooner the better. That is why we are thrilled that our sister company, Porsche Design, has developed the prototype and brought it to market,” said Eberhard Weiblen, Chairman of the Management Board at Porsche Consulting GmbH.

The BriefBag also comes with a removable meeting bag inside. It’s large enough for a laptop and documents, so you can easily carry it to the boardroom without taking all of your belongings with it. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also an extra tech bag for your mouse, USB drive, and computer cables.

No release date or price has been announced, but with the Porsche name attached I’m betting this office bag doesn’t come cheaply.

[Source: Luxist.com]

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Alexis Hudson Hope Tote | Convertible Pebbled Leather Turn-Lock Handbag

Posted on: Dec 1

Alexis Hudson Hope ToteAlexis Hudson has always been one of those labels that fly underneath the radar. That’s a good thing for its fans, as it keeps smart bags like this Hope Tote reasonably priced.

At $565, this tote isn’t exactly cheap but it offers us a lot of value for our dollar. The first attraction you’ll notice straight up; that soft pebble leather is gorgeous. It’s lush and buttery, and more luxurious than the hides many big name designers use. The quality of the skin only makes the gentle pleats on the flap look more feminine.

I’m in two minds about the turn-lock clasp though. The dual turn-lock is unique and really stylish, not to mention a practical addition, but its golden plate sadly interrupts the soft leather ruching. This clasp leads to a large pocket, and there’s another compartment on the back.

The leather drew me in, but the convertible design has also impressed me. The dual handles might be long enough for petite girls to carry over their shoulders, but some of us may struggle. That’s no matter though, because Alexis Hudson also offers a much longer strap. This converts the Hope from a shoulder bag to a cross-body in a cinch. It gives the tote a more casual look that’s perfect for running errands or catching up with friends.

The interior is luxuriously large, but it never feels unmanageable thanks to all its pockets and perks. There are zip and slip pockets, and a key leash too so you don’t need to scrounge for them when you’re ready to start your car.

It doesn’t follow the trends so it might not attract the envy of some It purses, but it also won’t fall out of favor any time soon.

More Features of This Alexis Hudson Convertible Tote

  • Magnetic frame
  • Cream fabric lining
  • Dual handles with a 6.25 inch drop
  • A detachable shoulder strap with a 20.5 inch drop
  • Measures 13 x 10.25 x 5.25 inches

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Marc By Marc Jacobs Jumble-Embossed Neoprene iPad Case | Cute Designer Logo Sleeve

Posted on: Nov 30

Last Christmas, when I was in New York City, I went to buy gifts at the Marc by Marc Jacobs store in the West Village. The lines were literally down the block, and it was all I could do to grab a few pairs of fingerless gloves and get out the door. Cool, casual accessories like this one are the reason why the line is so popular, and given the newfound ubiquity of the iPad, this is sure to be a hot seller this holiday season.

The durable black neoprene material has been embossed with Marc by Marc’s “jumble” logo design. I’m not a huge fan of logos, but since this one is sort of scattered and puzzle-like, it doesn’t really bother me. Plus, neoprene is the most protective fabric for its light weight. The interior is fully lined in contrasting white faux fur, which is a quirky, luxurious little touch and adds to the padding around the iPad.

This sleeve features a convenient top zipper design. It will keep your iPad safe from spills and scratches, and at only $40, it’s a very affordable designer gift. Even if you can’t afford to invest in an iPad for your best friend, you can make sure theirs stays fashionably outfitted if they already have one. It will also accommodate a thin, larger-screened netbook.

More Features Of The Marc By Marc Jacobs Jumble-Embossed Neoprene iPad Case

  • 9″ x 11″ x 1″ size
  • Designer stamped rubber patch at front

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Tory Burch Logo Leather Clutch | Classic Uptown Crinkled Ivory Leather Clutch

Posted on: Nov 30

Tory Burch Logo Leather Clutch

Tory Burch’s understated, classic accessories are the stuff that uptown dreams are made of. This logo clutch is a stylish, but conservative, clutch that will work for day or night.

The textured ivory leather on this bag is more pebbled than crinkled. However you want to interpret it, the effect is subtle and refined. The ivory color is the definition of neutral, but it has a rich, buttery tone. The pale color, as well as the minimal styling, make it usable for day or evening wear, although I know that purists will resist carrying a clutch in the daytime.

The shape is rectangular, but it’s been smoothly rounded off to create a more feminine look. The flap front closure opens onto a zippered compartment that’s conservatively sized: big enough for the essentials, but too small to weigh you down. The circular gold Tory Burch logo has been accented with ivory enamel to create a coherent design.

For $350, this is a fabulously classic piece that will make a beautiful, versatile addition to your wardrobe.

More Features Of The Tory Burch Logo Leather Clutch

  • Fully lined in cream fabric
  • Detachable vanity mirror
  • internal zipped pocket

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Juicy Couture Velour Tote | Classic Studded Daydreamer Handbag

Posted on: Nov 30

Juicy Couture Velour Classic Studded Charm Daydreamer Bag ToteThere is nothing in the world that is quite as cheery as a rainbow. Perhaps this is why this Juicy Couture tote is quite so fun, because of that studded rainbow logo all across the front.

And OK, so this tote is velour, and that is pretty hard to get past. However, that does make it comfortable to carry, and there are plenty of people out there for whom an easy going velour bag is a favorite item. Plus, the bright colors and relatively calm design make this quite versatile, far more so than many of the bright Juicy Couture totes out there!

Inside the Daydreamer tote is surprisingly practical. Those leather reinforcements and dual handles are continued with a spacious interior and leather cell phone pocket.

This is a surprisingly useful purse from a fun designer.

More Features of this Designer Juicy Couture Handbag

  • Studded multicoloured monogram
  • Dual leather handle
  • Gathered bow detailing
  • Leather cell phone pocket

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