Balenciaga City bags

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.

And luck you! We have teamed up with Ideeli for our January giveaway. All you have to do is sign up at Ideeli and you will be entered for a chance to win a fabulous City. Contest runs until February 5th, 2009. Also, if you are already registered at Ideeli we will be providing a new link later today for you to use and sign up as well.

Balenciaga Arena Crocodile Weekender


And now I have more visions of myself driving along the coast in our old-timer on our way to a weekend getaway. The old-timer is not had and I haven’t had a weekend getaway in quite some time. Who doesn’t daydream about it though? So back to my dream world. Anyhow, in that dream world I would have the ultimate travel bag. I change my mind on what exactly it would be. Something very large and exotic. Possibly the stunning Salvatore Ferragamo Alligator Tote, or the Hermes Crocodile HAC, or maybe the fun Balenciaga Crocodile Weekender. I love all three bags for different reasons. The only one I have actually tried on and carried around is the Ferragamo bag and it was beyond every level of luscious and divine.

We covered the Balenciaga Crocodile Weekender previously in a rich hue of yellow and now are covering it in dark brown. Brown is always a wearable color, perfect for both genders, and will hide some wear well. Better yet it can be purchased through Barneys directly. So no need for calling up many numbers, just a few clicks of the mouse away.

Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope Clutch


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.

Balenciaga Crocodile Weekender bags


After bringing you stunning pictures of the Balenciaga Crocodile Work Bag, I had to find out more information about Balenciaga crocodile bags. It seems Balenciaga does dabble in the art of exotics every now and again, and when they do the skins are stunning and the colors pop. From the Fall 07 collection, the Balenciaga Crocodile Weekender in yellow was released and it is quite the show stopper. The weekender is just as large as its name suggests, and this yellow crocodile version will be sure to capture every eye on your weekend getaways. If you are in the market for a crocodile B-bag, you can speak to the boutique as they are all custom made. Balenciaga is known for their wide array of beautiful colors, so imagine picking another bright bold color and placing it on a crocodile bag. The price will surely capture your attention, at $22,500.

I called Balenciaga America Inc, and experienced amazing help from the people on the other end of the phone. A special thank you to Anette for going out of her way to find out more on this bag for me. If you are interested, call the Balenciaga NYC store, +1 212 206 0872, or inquire about other Balenciaga items from Balenciaga America Inc., +1 212 279 4440.

Balenciaga Giant City bags

They say when away the mice will play. That was quite true during my last trip; as I traveled around Spain, Vlad broke into my closet and attempted to photograph my entire bag collection. He got most pieces, but did not find them all :wink: . One thing quite a few of you noticed is my lack of a Balenciaga bag. Truth be told, I do not have one stashed anywhere, I simply do not have one. I do not have a BBag because I have spent years literally racking my brain trying to figure out which color on which style I want. Bubblegum has always looked delicious or what about the baby blue all the celebs carry. So many choices. On our next trip to NYC I plan on purchasing my first Balenciaga bag. Typically it is nearly impossible to find BBags online, but not anymore. Balenciaga has opened up their website to online shopping for the US only! This means more learning about their bags and being able to indulge online, which I am all for. And Balenciaga does not do anything small, as they have designed an exclusive online, the Balenciaga Giant City with Coquelicot Japonais print. I fell for the Balenciaga Giant Seau bag with the floral print when I first saw it, and now this exclusive has my heart. The colors are perfect for fall and winter! There is lambskin offsetting the printed textile and palladium plated metal hardware. Enjoy what Balenciaga has done, opening up online sales through their site! Buy this bag exclusively through Balenciaga online for $1595.

Balenciaga Giant Part Time bags

When Balenciaga introduced giant hardware on their already hit handbags, the accessory world was split. I specifically remember many not being fond of the large chunky hardware. The thing is, I always loved it, it fit my style perfectly. One of many top handle purses from the house, the Balenciaga Giant Part Time implements soft vintage crafted lambskin to give the perfect supple slouch that Balenciaga has become known for. The funny thing is, I am in no way a Balenciaga expert. You know who is? A huge group of BBag lovers on Purse Forum! This group can know the difference between a BBag because of the leather (some seasons has softer leather that people yearn to hunt down), color, and hardware. I just look and know what it is that I like. The Giant Part Time in pink bubblegum is a perfect mix of feminine colors with gold plated oversized metal hardware. There is a removable shoulder strap which helps with ease of carrying. Dimensions are 16.5” x 5.9” x 9.1”. There are quite a few colors offered, but the girly side of me has always loved Balenciaga Pink Bubblegum. Buy through Balenciaga online for $1,645.

Balenciaga City bags


There is this huge worldwide Balenciaga craze, and somehow I have never been part of it. It is not that I do not like Balenciaga bags, actually I like them quite much. I would go on to say I adore them even, as they are just my style. Is there a particular reason why I do not own one yet? I suppose the last few times we have been in NYC we had on our list to take a trip to Balenciaga, and we just never made it.

But our next trip to New York City will surely have a stop at Balenciaga and I will leave with a new BBag. Which one is not the question. Which color is the question. The color variety that Balenciaga churns out is so massive, so unbelievable, that it makes my super huge Crayola box look skimpy.

For one of the iconic Balenciaga styles, the soft vintage crafted lambskin looks sultry and stunning in black cherry on the Balenciaga City. The City is one of the most well-known designs from Balenciaga, and this color, well, I DIE! Love it. The deep black cherry is accompanied with aged brass hardware. The signature Balenciaga signs are evident; hand stitched handles, leather strings on zips, and leather framed hand mirror. Dimensions are 15” x 9.8” x 3.9”. Once I jump into Balenciaga, or even before my NYC trip, I know I will be coming to you all for suggestions! Buy the City through Balenciaga online for $1,295.

Balenciaga Giant City bags

Over the weekend Vlad and I made the journey up the state of Florida to Tallahassee, home of Florida State University, where my brother goes to school. It was family weekend, and we went up to visit him and go to a Florida State game. If you know me, Vlad, or my family, you will know that we are rather obsessed with college football. This was my first FSU game and we had a great time, who wouldn’t? Even better is FSU won. I did not own a FSU tee-shirt and had to head to the school store to FSU myself, Vlad, and my mom out. We got shirts and finally fit in with the rest of the school population. What worked out perfectly is that I took my Rebecca Minkoff Wine Nikki and my mom had her Linea Pelle Dylan Croco Shoulder bag in yellow. Perfect bags that showed off garnet and gold and we didn’t even plan it.

When I went to Ohio State I had a hard time finding the perfect red bag to wear to the games. Red bags are not always my cup of tea as far as the color goes, too bright, too dark, not enough oomph. So why not skip over the red and carry a grey bag to an Ohio State game (colors are indeed Scarlett and grey). I figured out the perfect college football game day bag, the Balenciaga Giant City in charcoal grey. This is the precise bag I would buy from Balenciaga, and next week while in NYC, we will most likely raid the Balenciaga NYC store. This Balenciaga bag is designed with soft vintage lambskin and accented with large palladium plated metal hardware. I have been a fan of the oversized hardware from its inception, so here it is, the ideal college football game bag. It is young, hip, funky, stylish, and comes in a plethora of colors that can suit your college team needs. Of course it would work for NFL, MBA, NHL, NBA, etc. And even if your school looses, a la Ohio State vs Penn State this past weekend, at least you will be cheering and feeling lousy over the loss in style.

Balenciaga Lune Tote bags


I think that one of my favorite things about Bluefly is that their selection is so vast and random. They carry brands that are rarely found elsewhere on the Internet and bags that may not have made it onto the radar of the casual aficionado, in addition to lots of reliable favorites. A perfect example of the breadth of their available bags is the Balenciaga Lune Tote. As one of their rarely-noticed non-motorcycle bags, the Lune may have been overlooked by many, but I think that anyone who appreciates a statement bag should give it some serious consideration. It’s a bicolor, multi-textured beauty made of soft denim-colored goat leather and smooth, slick black calfskin with enough buckles, straps, and trim to keep anyone entertained. It’s big enough to handle all of its accoutrement, though, and the Balenciaga bag designers stopped just before it got overdone. The more I look at it, the more I wonder why we never saw Victoria Beckham carrying the Lune – it kind of looks like something she would like, doesn’t it?

Bottega Veneta Handbags

Bottega Veneta Handbags

Balenciaga Giant Lattice City bags


The first version of the Balenciaga Giant Lattice City that I saw was the smaller multicolor version, and let’s just say that my feelings were, at best, mixed. The combination of colors seemed kind of muddled, and the abundance of blue trim sorta took away from the effect of the latticed leather. But today, I stumbled across the black and white version, and my opinion changed immediately. Since the bag is bicolor instead of multicolor, the careful precision with which the leather is woven becomes much more apparent. At first it looks scattered, but if examined closely, there’s an almost-symmetry to the pattern that indicates just how much care was taken when deciding where the bag would change colors. If it had been completely symmetrical, it wouldn’t nearly as interesting to look at, but as it is, I find it almost fascinating. I love the Balenciaga aesthetic in general, and I REALLY love their bags with giant silver hardware, so all of that combined with the intricacy of the black-and-white woven detail really makes me wish I had an extra $2700 laying around. If I did, I’d be all over this.

Balenciaga Metallic Crocodile Wristlet


Whether or not you believe that clothing and accessories can qualify as art, you have to look at the Balenciaga Metallic Crocodile Wristlet and see, first and foremost, an art object. It’s uses (and, most likely, it’s production) are decidedly limited, but if I was to get my hands on it, I think I’d probably just hold it and stare at it anyway. The crocodile skin is treated in such a way that it almost reminds me of mother of pearl – it’s shiny, but in a way that does a beautiful job picking up the colors and the light around them, making the bag look eternally different. It’s finished with polished blue-green accents, which might be either polished stone or lucite, it’s impossible to tell, and a bold box-chain wrist strap. It doesn’t look like it would hold much, and I’m sure it costs an arm and a leg, but it’s just so stinkin’ beautiful that I don’t really care. Where do I sign up?

Balenciaga: In Praise of Giant Hardware bags


For almost everyone, I think Balenciaga is one of those brands that you either understand or you don’t. Yes – they make more or less the same bags in different colors year after year. Yes – many of them haven’t changed drastically in design since they were first introduced. Yes – many people are happy to do what basically amounts to buying the same bag in a bunch of colors. And some people may think that’s nuts, but I think it’s AWESOME. I love Balenciaga, and anyone that’s familiar with the Balenciaga section on the Forum knows that the Bal girls get in to the details of their bags in a way that few other brand’s customers do. Leather texture and hardware are discussed heavily, even though the differences may not be huge to the casual observer. As a result, when one thing changes about how Balenciaga builds their bags, tongues are set wagging about it for months, if not years.

Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope bags

This clutch is a favorite among the Purse Blog team. Amanda covered this Balenciaga clutch a few months ago, and as far as I know she still did not buy it. Then there is me, who has a slight obsession with clutches and loves the giant hardware on Balenciaga bags. So an oversized clutch with giant hardware is pure love for me. Why have I still not purchased one of these clutches? The answer is truly beyond me. I keep wanting to wait and get it at the Balenciaga store in NYC. Our next trip we are tacking on at least one day for shopping, this I promise not only you but myself.

For me, the Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope is an ideal clutch. It is a fold-over clutch with lambskin and giant silver-toned hardware. A magnetic closure is easy to use and there is a zipper pocket. I need this clutch. It is a perfect addition to my collection. I always have the same problem with Balenciaga, what color is best? The many color options actually send my head spinning rather than give me clarity on what I want. I am thinking pink. Once I finally get this clutch (and more BBags that I keep talking about), you all will breathe a sigh of relief not having to hear me try to decide on my ‘firsts’ for Balenciaga.

Louis Vuitton leather handbags 95096







  • Model: Louis Vuitton leather handbags 95096
  • Size: 41.5x33x18.5cm
  • Calfskin, microfiber lining
  • Natural cowhide trimmings, golden brass pieces
  • Wide zip top closure
  • With Louis Vuitton signature on the bottom
  • Internal patch pocket
  • Elegant straps for shoulder carry

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Balenciaga Day Bag in Pommier bags

One of my favorite parts of every new handbag season is waiting for the new Balenciaga colors to start hitting stores and websites. They’re my favorite brand and consistently product some of the most vibrant leather colors of any high-end designer. Since their bag shapes are simple and iconic, it lets the ever-changing leather shades take center stage, where some become highly sought-after and collectible.

My favorite from Fall 2009 is Pommier, a beautiful bright green that this photo doesn’t do justice. From what I’ve seen, it’s more of a Kelly shade in real life, and I couldn’t think of anything more beautiful to wear with the blacks and greys of fall. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a green like this from Balenciaga, which is refreshing – they’ve taken to repeating some of their most recent hits in the past few seasons. I’d prefer it with giant silver hardware (since I prefer everything with giant silver hardware), but I’d settle for the regular hardware pictured here if I had to. Maybe if I can save my pennies, I’ll have one of these lovely bags to show you ladies in the future.

Dolce and Gabbana Sequined Sandals

These Dolce & Gabbana sandals ($536 at Luisaviaroma) are my pick for for walking shoe disaster of the week. There are a lot of reasons to pick on this shoe - the over-the-top sequins, the large buckle at the ankle (I have fat ankles), etc. but it’s the arch , or lack thereof, of an arch support which bugs me the most about this sandal. Towering at 4.5 inches, this shoe is already going to tough to walk in, but without the support, it will be tortuous. I can’t even rationalize the lack of arch support because of aesthetics either. Surely Dolce & Gabbana could have added a thin gold sole without impairing the design aspects of the shoe.

What are you thoughts - am I overly rough on this shoe?

Christian Dior Fall 2009 Couture Paris

No one does couture like Christian Dior. He set his show in the Dior Headquarters on Avenue Montaigne. This line was presented very much like the clothes were traditionally presented to press and clients in the 40’s and 50’s. The clothes were reminiscent of 40s and 50s styles only with bright, sophistocated color.

The difference was that the models were “half” dressed.

I would imagine real world clients will combine tops and skirts from these different outfits for real world wear. I can’t wait to see how Charleze Theron wears this look on the Red Carpet.

Here are close ups of the shoes. Note the sparkly hose.

The embelishments, make me think of old girdle connectors. I can’t tell you how many times I watched my mother squeeze into her girdle and hook her stockings with those little dealies.

My favorite pair is below.

I love the hand work detail of couture.

Chanel’s Cutie Boots and Sandals

Chanel isn’t just for matrons or uptight Heidi Montag types. They’ve got some adorable things for younger girls, too. I spied some remainders of the popular Chanel Camellia Jellies at Saks. Unfortunately, they seem to be unavailable on Saks’ or Neiman Marcus’ websites. However, I can affirm that there were pairs in store at Saks. Whether they’ll have them in your size, I’m not sure. Call 212-753-4000 for more information or to see if they’ll check for your size. They supposedly run a tad small, so you’d be wise to check for the size above as well. They were in the low $200 range, as I recall.

The colors they had were clear, green, yellow and pink.

Here’s a better promo shot of them. Aren’t they adorable? I wore jellies a lot as a child, so these bring back memories for me, but are much more fashionable than my netted pairs!

It’s been a VERY rainy summer in New York. Annoyingly rainy, as I’ve mentioned before, bringing out the boots in droves. It’s threatening to rain this morning, in fact. I wish I had a pair of these, which I instantly fell in love with when I saw them at Saks. How have I not seen them before, I wondered. With the black camellia and off-white camellia, as well as the quilted sole, these are too cute! Hurry into Saks to get them, they’re not on the website as far as I can tell!

Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope bags


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″.

Shoe Showdown: Chanel Spring 2009 Bowtie Bootie

It’s time for another shoe showdown. Who do you think wore these Chanel peep-toe booties, from the Spring 2009 collection, better? The runway model, Diane Kruger, or Alexa Chung?

I’m going to give this one to the Chanel runway model, despite the hairpiece. Alexa looks mismatched in a biege dress with black/white booties. While I typically love what Diane wears, the crossover messenger bag seems off with her outfit. I have come to expect more wow from her.

Lovely and Lacey Louboutins for Fall

Today I just wanted to give our readers some happy Saturday eye-candy.

So, I went straight to Louboutin in search of some drool-worthy choices. What I found were variations on timeless lace.

This first one is my favorite, even if the shape is all wrong for my particular feet. The all-over lace and that peek of red sole are superbly matched.

Christian Louboutin ‘Ronda Dina’ 140 mm platform pumps; $1025 at Net-a-porter.

But, if you are more of an ankle-boot gal, this next style may be more your speed. Cute horizontal lace patterns make this a nice update on a classic allover lace boot.

Christian Louboutin ‘Paola’ 100mm ankle boots; $1155 at Net-a-porter.

(The Paola is also available on pre-order at Saks)

For a more conservative take (using the same lace as the Paola), is this classic pump designed with a lower, sturdy heel. This is a great look that is not likely to go out of style.

Christian Louboutin ‘Ambro’ lace peep-toe pump; $825 at Nieman Marcus.

Finally, for you gals that like to show off a bit of bad-girl vibe, check out this shoe-confection made with lace, studs, and a zipper bow. This is glam-rock for a new generation.

Christian Louboutin ‘Candy Stud’ pumps $965 at Saks.com.

So, this is just one designer’s take on lace. Are you anticipating more fabulous lace creations from other designers this fall?

I know I am.

Diane von Furstenberg Roberta Stud Wrap Baga

Diane von Furstenberg Roberta Stud Wrap Bag
Studded handbags have been everywhere lately, and Diane Von Furstenberg has gotten in on the trend with the Roberta Wrap Bag.

The Diane von Furstenberg Wrap Bag is oversized with a whole lot of studs all over it. There is a pleat at the front and back of the bag and a buttoned drawstring at the top of the bag. I think the exterior of the bag looks fabulous but the pleat’s and buttoned drawstring make the handbag look like a mess when you look inside. The picture of the inside of the bag on Shop Bop literally looks like a dark tunnel, but lets hope this is just bag photography.

Some other details of the handbag include: metal feet on the bottom of the bag; gunmetal hardware; double handles; lined interior; and interior pockets. The measurements of the handbag are, 12″H x 18″L x 5.5″D, making the handbag quite large for all of your stylish essentials. Of course, if you can find them through all that commotion that is caused at the opening of the bag.

The Diane von Furstenberg Roberta Wrap Bag can be purchased at Shop Bop for $600. Being that the handbag is beautiful and was made by Diane von Furstenberg, a high price was expected. If the opening of the handbag is a lot easier than it looks, then this handbag would be a great buy.

Gucci Original Backpack

I actually took a class on review writing in college. Yep, they teach you that in journalism school. If you’re lucky, anyway - it was pretty hard to get in to. We reviewed all kinds of things, from restaurants to plays, and did lots of exercises to make us better reviewers - things like reviewing oranges and writing TV show reviews the length of a Twitter message. And the one big takeaway I got from that class was this: reviews of things you like are hard to write. Reviews of things that suck? They write themselves.

Gucci Original Backpack

Which is why I feel like I’m cheating by writing about the Gucci Original Backpack. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. I mean, look at this thing, y’all. It’s been out for a while, I’ve seen it in personal multiple times…and I just don’t think it’s cute. At all. It’s oddly shaped and confusing to look at and I haven’t wanted a backpack as a purse since mini-backpacks were in style when I was approximately nine years old. I had a pleather one, and I wore it to school very excitedly. But that was 1994, and this is 2009, and I feel like we should have progressed since then. Gucci is trying to hold you back - don’t let them! But if you must, Buy through Saks for $2590

Chloe Ethel Tote bags

chloeetheltote.jpg Chloe is slowly but surely making its way back into our hearts. It was my friend Connie's birthday yesterday and we chipped in to buy her the Chloe Paraty in chocolate python. We have a "birthday" group of girlfriends-- there are 4 of us and we have been celebrating each other's birthdays together for 5 years. There is always champagne involved of course (and a LOT of dessert), sometimes the lunches end at dinner time! The birthday girl gets to pick out whatever gift she wants! We decided a long time ago that we're too old for surprises (unless it's from our hubbies and involve any kind of diamonds and of course anything made by our kids!) so it works out for everyone!

If you're looking for a gift for a girlfriend or for mom, here is another Chloe worthy of consideration. The oversized Ethel tote (15x15) in delectable berry is cheeky bright with a flash of brilliantly contrasting orange leather-- an edgy detail that makes the simple tote more interesting. Thankfully Chloe is over the heavy hardware of the Paddington days, the subtle gold tonal hardware is very understated and the lambskin with goatskin trim make the tote super lightweight to boot. Really a fab summer tote to travel with and play with-- I'd never thought I'd love a purple bag trimmed with bright orange but hey, never say never, right?

Bottega Veneta Large Veneta Crocodile Bag

Bottega Veneta Large Veneta Crocodile Bag

If you’ve got some big bucks to spend on a not so common handbag, have I found a nominee for you. Take a look at the Large Veneta Crocodile Bag by Bottega Veneta. When I hear Bottega Veneta with crocodile in the same sentence, I’m thinking the asking price sums up to a big stack of cash. Sure enough the asking price for this piece is a good $19,500!

This Bottega is definitely way out of my price range, as it would easily cover a good year and a half of my college tuition. For the fortunate ladies who can obtain such a piece, this timeless and elegant shoulder bag sure is stunning. This luxury handbag comes in caramel hued crocodile leather, which is different from your typical brown or black croc skins, yet the color is neutral enough to match with practically any color of clothing. Plus the slouchy hobo style is practical enough to carry through day and night; I don’t see how this style would be uncomfortable to wear. Weaved trim and brown suede lining can also be found on this hobo.
Bottega Veneta Large Veneta Crocodile Bag Modeling Pictures
Measuring in at 20” x 12” x 2” you can pick up this luxe handbag via: *NET-A-PORTER*

Thrifty Thrill Alert: Prefer leather over exotic? Oh and of course, how does 20% off sound? Over at Bluefly they just added a dozen NEW Bottega Veneta handbags, which can still be found for full price at most other department stores. Just check out that new aqua tote!!
Bottega Veneta Handbags

Bottega Veneta Mini Crochet Ball Bag


I really have no words for this ball (spare tire holder?) bag from Bottega Veneta. It's 18" around so I don't know how one is supposed to carry it, balanced on your head? Clutched to your middle like a pillow? Yes, I know when you pick up the all leather version it slouches like a ball but this one is more structured and holds its shape as a flying saucer.

I imagine the crochet technique is very difficult because they are charging $5,200 for this thing. Wait, I just thought of more uses for it-- moon cake carrier or a pizza delivery bag but hello, five grand?!?!?

I am quite concerned-- with news of Prada losing $50 million a day you'd think everyone else would be scrambling to produce bags that people will actually want to buy and use (not to mention afford!). At Barneys New York. What do you think? Snob or Slob?

Prada Moss Tessuto Patch Shopper

Thrifty Thrill: Prada Moss Tessuto Patch Shopper
Look at what I ran into today. I would say this is yet another designer experiment to see if a product really sells for it’s quality or it’s brand name. Bright and Summery is Prada’s colorful Moss Tessuto Patch Shopping Tote.

It’s not your typical luxury Prada bag as this tote lacks the luscious Prada leather, shiny hardware, and the versatile, everyday theme. Instead, this bright shopper seems perfect for your spring/summer wardrobe, and that’s about it. This artistic crafted accessory carries an arrangement of moss green, pink, purple, yellow and white nylon patches, forming what looks like an irregular sun or floral design.

My question for the House of Prada is, who designed this and why? I apologize to any fans of this piece, but I don’t understand its concept. It’s too juvenile and way out of the ordinary. Plus for way less than the $796 asking price, I can find a handbag as bright and detailed as this shopper is. More details found on this Prada include an enameled link chain, and ID tag and a magnetic snap closure.

Measuring 18” x 13.5” x 6”, shop this funky Prada bag

Chloe Shelby Shopper bags

I’ve never owned a Chloe bag before, but I’d really like to before my bag days are over. They’re a bit out of my current price range, but I’ve fondled many of their bags at stores in the past few years, and their leather quality and feel never cease to amaze me. Why can’t all high-end bag manufacturers use leather that thick and soft and wonderful? I mean, if they can, why not others?

Which is why I want to talk about the Chloe Shelby Shopper today. Holy crackers, look at that leather. I can almost feel it through my computer screen. This is one of those bags that, if it were mine, I would be constantly petting it. The Shelby has that super-matte, velvety texture that reminds me all over again why I love handbags in the first place. And when you combine that leather with a beautiful, rich, unexpected color that can be used year-round, you get a handbag that will be on my mind for some time to come.