Mistress of Naplak bags

I just love that crinkled texture! A cousin of the traditional patent, naplak is of a similar method by which a plastic coating is heated to adhere onto a fabric surface. The effect looks less uniform as if the process was done by hand versus a machine. The “distressed” look of naplak has been wholly embraced by high-end designers as it miraculously transforms any form of accessories into something modern and street-smart. Goldenbleu was on the bandwagon a loooooong time ago, and I am a big fan of Rene Huber’s designs. Her bags ring very Old World classic without being stodgy or stuck in a time-warp. It’s still a relatively new brand. If you are unfamiliar with this brand, you may think the prices are a little bit on the high side for such a green label. BUT, if you have ever seen or even own one, you will understand that these bags are made to last beyond this season. They are well-crafted and heavy, as the hardware and the heft of the thick suede inside can load you down even with just a wallet and pen inside. In fact, that suede lining can be very well used as an exterior of a handbag (it’s that substantial). Even with the weight, do consider. Hey, many have heavier bags (ummmm…Chloe?), and the love is still there.

40% off Online Sales Promotion

Update! The Alexis Hudson promotion has just been revised… to your advantage. You are now able to receive 40% off and the promotion has been extended to Tuesday, November 25th! What a great opportunity to start some holiday shopping or snag something for yourself!

It’s true, we have another amazing offer for all you Purse Bloggers out there. Starting today, Alexis Hudson handbags has a special promotion available. You might be familiar with Alexis Hudson as the handbags seem to be popping up all over the place. Just a little while ago, over on Purse Blog Savvy, I wrote about the Alexis Hudson St. Germaine Hobo which is still a handbag I would love to see hanging in my closet.

So here is the deal. This two week online promotion starts today, Thursday November 6th and will end Thursday November 20th. After you select the Alexis Hudson handbags you’d like for yourself or to give to others and are ready to check out, simply enter the following discount code: PURSEBLOG. There are plenty of gorgeous handbags to choose from AND you will receive 25% 40% off. You simply can’t go wrong! 

Personal Appearance

WHAT: Nancy Gonzalez Trunk Show and Personal Appearance by designer, Nancy Gonzalez

WHERE: Saks 5th Avenue, Bala Cynwyd , PA

WHEN: November 14th, 2008 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Nancy Gonzalez bags have become highly coveted accessories, focusing on exotic materials and popping color palettes. Nancy’s bags have graced the arms of handbag lovers worldwide who turn to her for a beautifully made bag, with a luxurious material, that sets an outfit apart from the rest. Her focus on color comes from her Colombian roots, as not only the culture affects her designs but so does the climate. “The 365 days a year of brilliant blue sky, the incredible plumage of birds, a green like nothing I have seen anywhere else – that is the beauty of Colombia,” says Gonzalez. The collection is designed and produced in Colombia and is available at retailers including Harrod’s of London, Aizel of Moscow, Isetan of Japan, Joyce of Hong Kong and Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Unfortunately, this PA is not near us, so we can not attend. But those of you in PA should make sure to check it out, it is an opportunity you do not want to miss!

Miu Miu Napa Ribbons Frame Bag

I’m hit or miss on Miu Miu bags sometimes, but I think the Miu Miu Napa Ribbons Frame Bag is a total hit. it’s could be just the simple combination of purple nappa leather and ruffled ribbon detail that just make it. The top handle just adds also to the indisputably gorgeous design and has the ability to turn heads.

Available for $980 at Bergdorf Goodman

Irene's Tote bags

I am loving this pattern. I love that you use heavier fabric, so no need for lining. I love how fast and easy it comes together. (Still not on the SMS payroll!)

Anyway, the next night after making my first Classic Tote, I made two more! They are both a bit smaller than the original.



This is may be a teacher gift, but I am hurting looking at my bad sewing in this! It's a bit smaller than Irene's original because it was made from... curtains. Yes, another great find from Target's clearance rack, only $3.24. If I pick all the seams out for maximum yardage, I am hoping to get 3 more bags from this one set of curtains! I like the pencil pocket on the front.



Here is a bag for my three-year-old son. I was rummaging through the stash, thinking he wasn't paying attention, but when I pulled this fabric out, he said, "I want that one." Made over from a little curtain I had made to hide the cat box in our old house (yes, it's been thoroughly washed). This bag is quite a bit smaller, and the pocket is divided to hold four pencils.

Show us your bags!

Bag Specification

Code: 80113
Length: 29 cm
Height: 17 cm (with handle: 34cm)
Width: 8 cm
Color: White/Green/Yellow/Gold

Chloe chain link bag

Hey, so we've featured an almost identical bag to this one before (in a grey/green colourway) but this mauve one looks like a whole new bag in my opinion, with it's overload of chains and links, python trim and adventurine stone detailing. I am very much in Team Yay for this one (I was in Team Yay for the grey 'Yak' bag too) but are you? Vote below.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Dare to Dior?

I love to watch designers reinvent themselves. Actually, I will go as far to say they don’t need to necessarily reinvent themselves, but keep us on our toes. Over at Luxaholics, trendsetting and style watching is paramount. There are always certain celeb trends I’d love to be able to sport and of course there are others I could do without. Megs wrote about the Dior Medium Dior 61 Tote about a month ago. And in her post, Megs mentioned how the color of the bag was one of the best parts of it. Since then, we’ve seen countless celebs carrying this statement of a handbag around. But, let’s be honest, dropping $1,850 to get the look might not be an option.

Christmas Gift Suggestions for your GF

Longchamp Le Pliage Tote USD 145

Chef Tonio left a comment in one of my earlier posts. He was asking for possible Christmas gift suggestions for his significant other.

Here are his requirements:

a) Bag must be only between 8-10 thousand.
b) GF is not sporty.
c) She likes brands, she doesn't like big bags.
d) Bag must have a touch of simplicity and class.

Thanks for writing in, Chef Tonio! I have to apologize for the slightly delayed response. My injured ankle has severely hampered extended window-shopping expeditions so I've just started going around lately.

Anyway, here are my initial suggestions. I promise to post some more in the coming weeks. So you have plenty of time to come up with your choice that is guaranteed to make you the "star" BF with the best Christmas gift.

Marc Jacobs Cats and Dogs Handbag

Marc by Marc Jacobs Cats and Dogs Handbag
Marc Jacobs has designed some of the most beautiful handbags I have ever seen. Timeless, classic, elegant, and functional. For many people, he is a creative genius. But he is a creative genius that also has a huge sense of humor, especially when it comes to handbags. Meet the Marc by Marc Jacobs Cats and Dogs Handbag. This little bag is covered in cute doodles of cats and dogs. And this isn’t the first time Marc has taken a virtual marker to a handbag. Doodle-inspired designs have been featured in almost every season, including the very famous Miss Marc handbags. So how does everyone feel about this handbag? Are the cats and dogs cute? Personally, I think they are cute. I love the silver metallic images against the bright orange background. But this bag would be extremely hard for someone to wear. It would definitely be appealing, however, to the younger generation. And since it is from a few seasons ago, the price is actually affordable for the more youthful customer. What a fun little bag to brighten up an outfit.. if you’re 12.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Cats and Dogs handbag is available in Poppy (shown) or White. It measures 9″ x 6.5″ x 0.75″. Originally retailing for $148, it is now available at Bluefly for only $103.

The perfect handbags

For some reason I started doodling my perfect handbag. Since I got my new camera, I'm struggling to get everything in my old Marks & Spencer one. I did get a big patent leather one from Next, but it is a bit too heavy to carry around if I'm in Edinburgh or Glasgow for the day.

Carlos Hobo Pouch

Carlos Falchi Slim Proof Hobo Pouch

Vlad and I are headed back to Florida today after a great stint in NYC. Our favorite part has been meeting all of the designers. We will be bringing you many designer interviews shortly. And one of those interviews will be with Carlos Falchi. His story is amazing, and I will leave it at that until we share more. And his handbags are amazing as well. While Carlos Falchi is known for exotics, he still has some microfiber bags and other materials that look astounding and have a much more affordable price point. One of my favorite snake-embossed microfiber bag is the Carlos Falchi Slim Proof Hobo Pouch. This bag is designed with Barbarella, the textured snake-embossed microfiber, which I mentioned earlier. This material brings volume to the bag and looks like snakeskin, without the cost. The hobo shape of this bag I adore. I saw it and tried it on in the showroom (in CROCODILE, drool) and have been hooked since. There is a detachable shoulder strap with a 25″ drop and double handles with a 5″ drop. The drawstring and slide closure is something I am drawn to; simple, hardware free, and casual-chic. On the inside you will not feel disappointed, as there is a zip pocket, cell phone pocket, money clip and key holder. Dimensions are 10½”W X 11″H X 5″D. Buy through Saks for $370.

must have this handbags

The latest must have guilt free handbag comes from Pibiones by Antonello.

“Pibiones pay tribute to the best of Italian eco luxury fabric choices. Trialling authentic Sardinian hand weaving methods in ethically managed factories, the collection of accessories are handcrafted by a handpicked group of leading handbag manufacturers in villages in mainland Italy.

Shedding light on Italian textiles and putting localised Italian handiwork and the importance of its preservation back on the map, Pibiones designer Antonello Tedde prides himself on only working with experts in accessories production and ultimately bringing Sardinian production methods back into the global consciousness.” London Fashion Week, BFC

evening bag

From Wallis.

Design Your Own Handbags

Clover Company has come up with a

new way for crafters to make and design their own handbags - plastic templates instead of paper patterns! So far there are 2 different templates - The City Collection (6 handbag designs) and The Town & Country (6 handbag designs).

Town & Country Collection

The designs available for the Town & Country Collection include the Suburban Bag, the Suburban Plus Bag, the Metro Bag, the Metro Plus Bag, the Cosmo Bag, and the Cosmo Plus Bag.

Designs available for the City Bag Collection are the Portfolio Bag, the Portfolio Plus Bag, the Savvy Bag, the Savvy Plus Bag, the Chic Bag, and the Chic Plus Bag.

City Bag Collection

Henrietta's Handbags is now offering these 2 templates for only $19.95 with free shipping in the USA and Canada.

D&G Dolce&Gabbana's mustard 'Emy' bag

It's gorgeous, no? I'm not entirely sure about the colour, but the shape and the details are just beautiful. In fact, I'm yearning here.

I love it so much that I'm thinking £585.00 isn't *that* expensive, for such a lovely bag. (I know it is really. It is. Isn't it?) Get it from my-wardrobe.com.

The camera bag

Lucy Hedges writes...

The fundamental purpose of this rather tasty 14-inch bag is to transport your photo taking equipment around. I'm not talking compact digitals (they can handle being flung into the pits of your bag for transportation), no, this bag is for your big and bulky DSLR and SLR cameras

Gucci Large Tote bags

I feel bad writing bad things about Gucci. Sure, their Cruise collection…ain’t cute. To put it mildly. But I already wrote about the bag I liked least, so now I want to give them a fair shake and write about the bag I like best. I’m guessing it wasn’t the bag I was supposed to notice, but I quite enjoy the Gucci Sukey Large Tote. Sure, it’s not revolutionary. It’s just a canvas tote with some cream leather trimming the famous Gucci monogram fabric. Maybe a bit played out? Sure. Logo bags aren’t nearly what they used to be. But still, compared to the other Cruise offerings, this tote is entirely unoffensive and beautiful in its lack of adornment (particularly its lack of odd tattoo-like adornment). For a Gucci bag, it’s price is relatively low, and I’ve always loved the cream leather combined with their signature fabric, although I’m not sure why it stick out to me. The shape is nice, it’s entirely functional, and it’s not at all ugly. Buy through Saks for $850.

Patent Clutch

I’m choose the purple because it’s got a bit of trendy side to it, but its still classic because of the cluth style. All these bags are patent leather (of course), have amazing top stiching, great silver metal hardware with the engraved Michael Kors name written on it. They measure 12 inches by 8 inches by 2.75 inches.

Which color would you choose?

Mulberry's new 'Shimmy'

Just the word "Mulberry" makes me feel all warm inside. Lovely, lovely, classic bags. This new 'Shimmy' is no exception.

This is the large version in 'straw'. I can't help feeling that, since it's called 'Shimmy', it'd be nice if it was a bit shinier and, you know, more shimmery, but maybe that's just me. It costs £895 (my pound sign isn't back, I had to copy that one from a previous post - what the hell?!).