If you were to ask me what one of the most coveted and famous handbag was I would tell you the Balenciaga City. Of course there are others, but from Balenciaga the black city is a classic. Of course Balenciaga is known for their colorful array of dyed leathers, but black is time-honored. Balenciaga was one of the first brands to start the huge craze in the handbag world. The Fendi’s and Gucci’s preceded, but the Balenciaga craze was entirely new. People scouring the world for the best color, the right seasons leather, and the perfect combination. Celebrities went into a B-Bag wearing frenzy as well, only making the buzz surrounding the brand grow more. And when it comes down to it, the house favorite size, shape, and color is perfectly combined on the Balenciaga City in black leather. Buy through Balenciaga for $1395.
Tags: balenciaga, Handbag
It is not just Coach that moved its factory to China, many designer houses have also moved. But those that remain with their “Made in Italy” tags are claiming a little more than they are worth at times. The fact is, many designers have the majority of their bag made in China and then some finishing touches are completed in Italy etc. And this renders a Made in Italy stamp? I think not. Why am I talking about this? It is all about quality of what we are buying, and many times our luxury items are not high quality. This actually is not a start for me to go against Coach purses, but to say that they are not the only ones that have moved their factories to keep up with the demand and costs. Quality matters to me, and at times it is lacking. To be honest, I have not seen a Coach Alligator Bag in person, so I will need your insight on this. Coach has continued to branch out to bring exotic materials to its clients. The Coach Legacy Alligator Pocket Flap is designed with imported alligator and leather trim on the iconic Coach Pocket Flap bag. One thing that I find great about this bag is its functionality; with an inside zip pocket, cell phone pocket, ring to clip keys, and two outside front pockets. I have a major issue with the exotic outside that is then lined in fabric on the inside. I would definitely expect a more luxurious interior for the price, like suede lining. Either way, Coach exotic purses already has fans in Rebecca Romijn, Mandy Moore, and Eva Longoria. This bag costs $7000 through Coach.
Tags: Coach, designer Handbags, hadbags
I’ve written about many a clutch on this site. At barely 23, I find myself at a time in life when clutches are possibly the most important bags I have - they have to go with the largest variety of outfits and fit in to the largest variety of situations. Dive bars, bottle service at a club, dinner out at a variety of restaurants, shopping with friends the next day when I’m too lazy to switch back to a day bag - my clutches go everywhere. I have a million inexpensive ones, but if I could pick just a single glorious clutch to have, I’d give all my cheap ones in exchange for the Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope Clutch. There are a few reasons why.
First of all, Balenciaga is my favorite of the big designers. I’ve had several of their bags in several different styles since I started my handbag obsession, and I always get tons of questions and compliments on them. Their bags are often among the most functional I’ve encountered, and their featherweight construction makes it pain-free to carry everything you need. Second, the giant silver hardware is my favorite of the Balenciaga hardware varieties. It’s a bit punk without being over the top and I like designs with some edge to them. Third, few brands make colors as sublime and saturated as Balenciaga. They change every season, so if you see something you love, buy it before it disappears. We’ve got it pictured in mandarine, but Balenciaga makes too many beautiful colors to mention. If the orange isn’t your cup of tea, you can surely find a color, whether it be bright or neutral, that is. Megs also wrote about her love for this clutch a while back.
Tags: balenciaga, Handbag
My love of Balenciaga continues to grow and I often find myself wondering why is it that I literally do not own one Balenciaga bag? I know, it is some sort of travesty that I do not own a Balenciaga bag. My collection is vast and covers many designers, but for an amount of time I could not see the craze behind the bags. When the giant hardware was added, Balenciaga got me right in the heart. As a self-proclaimed clutch lover, the Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope is a stunning funky and edgy clutch. Designed with the signature lambskin, the wrinkled flap front with a magnetic closure offers a fun take on a fold over clutch. There is a zipper pocket and silver-toned hardware. I love this clutch and if I could figure out exactly what color to buy, I would (of course if in my small allotted bag budget for the year). Measurements are 7? x 12? x 1.75?.
Tags: balenciaga, Handbag
Oscar de la Renta smaller sized handbag with corded rope…a nice touch.
Isaac Mizrahi layered look three-tone handbag. This is really neat. I love the fanciful sateen like fabric with drawstring. It looks like you can pull it up and create a whole other look.
…and slouchy studdy pebbled handbag by Alexander Wang.
Tags: designer Handbags, hanbags, Handbag, Oscar
As always, the Oscars last night were all about glamour. Echoed in the gowns and the bags, Oscar fashion was at its best… and the bags were a big part!
My favorite handbag choice of the night had to be Taraji P. Henson’s Mary Norton Roseanna clutch. The style and shine of the bag made it perfectly elegant for the occasion and a fitting complement to her stunning Fred Leighton necklace. The deep red of the bag really popped against the ivory of her Roberto Cavalli gown, and the addition of a bold color really reflected a fun and outgoing personality. Great choice all around for the Best Supporting Actress Nominee!
Henson wasn’t the only star who chose a red clutch for the evening. Amy Adams paired her beautiful red Carolina Herrera gown with a simple VBH clutch in the same red tone. Amy is quickly becoming a favorite on the red carpet, and I applaud her choice of an understated style with her bag to not compete with her dress or her bold Fred Leighton necklace.
Heidi Klum followed suit by pairing a red clutch of the same shade with her origami-inspired Roland Mouret gown. She chose a red dress again this year as her Oscar fashion in support of awareness of women’s heart health, and I think only Heidi could have pulled off this asymmetrical gown with such ease.
But all the clutches didn’t match the red carpet. Gold was also a favorite of many of the stars, no matter what color gown they had chosen. Anne Hathaway paired a gold Roger Vivier clutch (with his signature buckle) with her creamy paillette-covered Armani Prive gown. I love how the slim shape of her bag reflected the slim silhouette of her gown.
Another celebrity who chose to pair a gold clutch with a cream-colored dress was Miley Cyrus, who (like Taraji P. Henson) chose a Mary Norton Roseanna clutch to complement her dramatic tiered Zuhair Murad gown.
Jennifer Aniston also chose a similar color palette, choosing a gold clutch to go with her slim Valentino Couture gown. Aniston’s less structured clutch reflected her usual style of being a bit more casual and laid back on the red carpet than most.
Not all the gold clutches were paired with light-colored gowns though. Alicia Keys chose a gold and silver Zufi Alexander clutch to set off her gorgeous pink Armani Prive gown. I loved the detail of the gathering on the bodice of her dress, but since the Oscars tend to be dramatic, her choice to add some sparkle with her clutch was a great one.
Amanda Seyfried paired a gold Kotur clutch with her fiery orange-red Valentino Couture gown. With the detailing on her gown, in this case a large bow, she didn’t need too much detail in the bag area. Even though this wasn’t one of my favorite looks of the evening, I applaud her as a newcomer for showing some style drama on the red carpet.
And Halle Berry accented the gold detailing on her Marchesa gown with a bright gold Jimmy Choo clutch. I really like her choice because I really think it helped to accentuate her gown. I don’t think choosing a black clutch would have had the same effect.
And, of course, classic black clutches were a staple as they always are on the red carpet. Angelina Jolie matched her black Lana Marks Cleopatra clutch to her Elie Saab gown. Though I usually enjoy when Angelina wears a color since she’s so known for being in black, this time I really loved how her black gown and clutch were a perfect backdrop to her dramatic emerald Lorraine Schwartz earrings and ring.
Diane Lane took a page out of the same Oscar fashion book, pairing her black Lauren Merkin clutch with a black Dolce & Gabbana gown. Though Diane has also worn some fabulous colors in the past, her understated choice kept the focus more on her Best Supporting Actor Nominee husband, Josh Brolin, making it perfect for this year’s show.
Jessica Biel also chose a black clutch (by Prada), but she took a different route, pairing it with her draped off-white Prada gown. Though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the gown (looked like a bit too much material all around for her beautiful figure), since it had such a grand detail, she made a great choice going simple with the clutch.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a red carpet without some bags from Judith Leiber! Penelope Cruz carried a gold clutch (yes, another gold clutch) by the handbag giant that added a pop of color and sparkle to her Balmain Couture gown with ornate lace detailing. I think her bag choice made the ensemble a bit for modern, as her gown was vintage.
Freida Pinto, of the night’s big winner, Slumdog Millionaire, paired a sparkling silver Judith Leiber clutch with her very detailed John Galliano gown in a bold blue. A great choice in my opinion, as the silver picked up the detailing in the dress, and they complemented each other very nicely.
Not one to fade into the crowd, Viola Davis choose another silver Judith Leiber to contrast with her striking gold Reem Akra gown. With her jewelry in silver, the clutch fit right into her ensemble.
What was your favorite Oscar fashion on the red carpet? What bag-gown pairings did you love? Were there any where you think the star got it wrong?
We don’t talk a lot about Coach handbags on this blog, and maybe that’s an oversight on our part. What better way to start correcting it, then, than by talking about the line of bags named after yours truly (ok, well, they’re not necessarily named after me. But I came first. So there.)? The Amanda Satin Mini Satchel is, by my standards at least, kinda cute. There are disadvantages to using a material like satin (snagging!), but the advantage that Coach has realized is that it takes vivid color much better than almost any kind of leather. You get a sheen and brightness with satin that you don’t usually find in a handbag, and in small doses (this satchel is “mini,” after all) it can be a beautiful addition to an ensemble. I wouldn’t suggest buying a massive satin handbag, but something petite and bright could potentially be a lot of fun, methinks. Particularly at such a friendly price point.
Tags: Coach, designer Handbags, Handbags
I’ve been on the look recently for a very tiny pouch or wristlet to use as a clutch. I want something small enough to fit easily in my hand that will hold only the very essentials - house key, car key, ID, cash, phone. But the phone is where I’m hitting an impasse, because I have an enormous Blackberry with an even more enormous clear plastic shell to keep it safe (gotta brag for a minute - it’s one of the new click-screen ones! I love it!). As such, the thing is approximately the size of a small computer, and even if I can find a wristlet into which it fits, nothing else will fit alongside it. So I’ve decided to get a bit creative in my current search, and this morning came across something that could potentially work very well - the Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Cosmetic Pouch MM. I realize that it’s meant to hold lipsticks and whatnot inside of a larger bag, but since it doesn’t have cosmetic pouch emblazoned on it anywhere, I doubt anyone would know the difference. Besides, I’m all for repurposing things (kinda of like the tv stand holding the microwave in my kitchen. Ahem). At any rate, it looks like it’s just small enough to fit in my hand while being just big enough to contain my giant brick of a phone, and it zips all the way across the top, lest I drop it or hit anyone in the head with it. Perfect! On top of all that, amarante is my favorite color of LV vernis ever and would go really well with all the black I tend to wear. Now if only LV ever went on sale.
Tags: Handbags, Louis Vuitton
For every brand there are a few signature bags that everyone seemingly knows and loves. For some reason my brain is not working great right now so my example is beyond obvious: What bag to you associate with Hermes? For all the wise-guys who didn’t say Birkin, you should be ashamed of yourselves for not taking my game seriously When it comes to Louis Vuitton there are a few signature bags that stick out in my head. The Speedy is one for sure, but so is the Alma. There are some beautiful Alma’s that can not go unnoticed right now.
The Louis Vuitton Damier Alma is an alluring shape with the chic Damier print and is accented with smooth ebony leather trim. This bag is the perfect size for work or fun measuring 12? L x 9? H x 7? W. The Alma opens wide with a double zip top closure to show off terracotta canvas lining and a cell-phone and patch pocket.
But if you are looking for no print or pattern and only simply divine leather, give your attention to the Louis Vuitton Epi Leather Alma. Available in myrtille or black/silver this Alma shows off gorgeous textured Epi leather and is accented with smooth leather trim. While the myrtille is gorgeous, the black/silver makes me go ga-ga. There is a full double zipper closure with a padlock which opens to alcantara lining along with a small inside pocket and cell phone pocket. This Alma also measures 12? L x 9? H x 7? W, and looks like the perfect work bag to me.
Tags: hadbags, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Epi Alma
I have never denied or hidden the fact that I am a huge fan of Louis Vuitton. While the monogram line does not always tickle my fancy, I find Louis Vuitton to be one of the longstanding luxury brands left designing bags. Not every bag is a homerun, but there are plenty of great options every season. But if you do not want the glitz and glam, opt for the Louis Vuitton Epi Line. I have brought up the Epi line often, speaking of its ease of cleaning, lack of logos, and overall likability. The Alma comes in a classic shape, is light-weight, and available in an array of colors from the Epi line. Cassis, Ivoire, Black, Red, and Grenade are the colors available in the Louis Vuitton Epi Alma, the textured hand-held carryall which is a staple of the house. The bag is named after the Place de l’Alma, the grand Paris square at the end of Avenue Montaigne. The Alma features textured leather and is trimmed with smooth leather. The inside is lined with Alcantara lining (which is precisely what Vlad goes gaga over in his favorite luxury cars).
Tags: hadbags, Louis Vuitton
