Oh oh oh! I love this bag!
Marc by Marc Jacobs – Hillier Hobo snake-effect PVC shoulder bag $300
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handbag
My ultimate dream bag has for years been the original Burberry Prorsum Knight bag (which had a recent makeover that just isn’t the same). I’m still in total love with this bag but while the chances of having it were slim to none already, they’re even worse now.
It’s time to move on old friend.
Now, I think I have a new favorite unattainable bag. The Mulberry Alexa. This is my kind of bag. The size, shape, details… I’m also a sucker for a cross-body strap these days.
This one is a wild card. I actually got to hold and rub and smell this Alexander Wang bag back in July. I had no real reaction to it at first but I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. The shape is not one I gravitate towards. It feels so bohemian but it’s grown on me and the tons of studs at the bottom seal the deal. Now, it’s being replaced by a new AW style. Things always fade away when I finally decide to love them.
What’s YOUR ultimate dream bag?
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A year later, here is a new bag post. This is entirely ridiculous but I will say that I usually don’t apply make-up until I get to my folks’ house in the morning. I do it for both my mom and myself at the same time so the cosmetic bag is always with me. (If you didn’t know already, I’m her primary caregiver as she has M.S.)
Since I got this new Deux Lux bag, which only has one large interior pocket, I had to add the Nick & Nora hula girl bag (I got that thing on clearance at Target years ago). Now all the random things are contained and easier to find.
Here’s everything neat and tidy:
Here’s the product explosion:
- the old wallet finally died so here’s my new one
- pewter flower cosmetic case (a freebie from Sephora) – Hard Candy primer, Bare Minerals powder foundation, brush, liquid foundation, concealer, cream blush, tweezers, clear mascara for my brows, lash comb, mascara, liquid eyeliner, 2 eye shadow brushes, 2 shadows (Lancome, Hard Candy quad), 3 lipsticks, 2 glosses (one not shown), lip liner – oh, and since I took this pick, I switched up the eyeshadow – you haven’t seen the cosmetics I have squirreled away!
- Blackberry phone
- cigarettes and lighter (gross, I know)
- keys (in the front door)
- In the hula pouch – mini hairspray, comb, nail file, pen, mechanical pencil (+ lead and erasers – I am obsessed with quality mechanical pencils), skin serum, hair ties and clips, hand lotion, band-aids, ipod, usb stick
- (usually) a to-do or grocery list
- sometimes my camera, sometimes my laptop squeezed in
It’s amazing how much I can downsize when carrying a clutch and I still manage to stay alive!
Is this ridiculous? What’s in your bag?
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Some of us manage to carry our lives around with us and for those of you who don’t… how on earth do you survive? Last year I did a post on the contents of my bag. I should do a new one soon. It’s gotten better.
The $2000 Proenza Schouler PS1 bag seems to be THE bag this Fall season. It’s being touted as an investment bag that will survive trends. Well no kidding, since there’s nothing too special about it. It’s simply a leather messenger bag but, it’s selling out everywhere. At 16″ wide and 12″ tall, it’s hardly huge but the structure and shoulder strap makes it a great bag for a laptop, work papers, a camera, a large wallet, make-up bag… only it’s $2000!!!
I used to carry a canvas Dickies messenger bag in high school. Didn’t everyone in the 90s? They’re $25 and pretty much indestructible + machine washable. The zippers crap out before anything else does. Serious old school punk appeal and I had a hard time finding any online right now.
Thing is, when I see messenger bags… I think messengers. Bike messengers and avid bike riders use these. The flap is good protection against the elements for your contents. The flat form rests nicely against your back and the strap frees your hands.
This whole crossbody strap trend is really big right now and I jumped on the bandwagon with that covered stud bag I just got but, good grief it kills my neck and squishes the boobs when I have it across my chest! I still find myself using the shorter shoulder strap more than anything but definitely appreciate the longer strap giving me more freedom when I need it.
Here are some bags whose looks I like, that don’t cost $2000.
FOSSIL Vintage Re-Issue Messenger- $168 – leather and also comes in black. Nice vintage feel. The Fossil site has a ton of really nice leather bags.
BCBGeneration Lucy bag – $49.95 – leather and on sale! This doesn’t have the flap but the same general shape. More ladylike and apt for a night out.
Delias – Mallory Military Messenger – $29.50 – canvas
Cambridge Satchel Company Briefcase Bag – $158 – these are all over the web right now. They come in a ton of colors & different sizes at various stores so do a search.
Will you be sporting this trend? Do you already carry bags like this for work and carry a regular handbag as well?
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In February, I did my big Fall/Winter 2010 fashion post after all of the runway shows, sharing what tickled my fancy. Now that Fall items are starting to fill the stores and the September issues were starting to line the magazine racks the first week of August, you can begin to see what the buyers picked out and what trends will be prominent in stores. Nothing seems so out of the realm of what you might already have hiding in your closet, or you could pick up that missing piece easily and inexpensively to feel current.
All photos via Style.com.
- If I see the word “classic” one more time, I’m going to scream. Classic styles are never not in style. Do we need to be told that they’re really really in style this season? White button ups, pencil skirts, blazers, trench coats, ladylike bags… got it.
- Lace. I don’t do lace. Never have. It washes terribly. I wasn’t expecting to see so much of it (and really piled on) but I guess the pendulum always swings back after all the hard edgy stuff saturating the fashion world the past few years. The metal bracelets that look like lace are kinda neat though.
- Leopard print! I really think it’s going to be the biggest trend for A/W 2010. I wore leopard so much during my punk rock years and even slept on leopard print sheets for about 10 years so I’m still taking a breather. It would be easy to add some leopard bangles, a little cardi, a belt, some flats… The only leopard things I have kept are heels. They may make an appearance, paired with a bright dress.
- Fur. Everywhere. The vintage stuff doesn’t bother me so much. I mean, that game is over. (I do worry that it encourages new production though, since the vintage market can’t fill the demand.) I have a black fox fur muff that belonged to my grandmother. I’ve never used it but part of me is willing to hop on this furry bandwagon for at least one outing when it gets cold out. It’s a vintage muff for crying out loud! How glamorous is that? I also just like saying muff.
- Capes. Get outta here. I’m not wearing a cape. Maybe if I were taller but, I feel like I would look like a Hobbit at 5’1″.
- Proper trousers. Cropped, wide legged, straight leg… whatever. I may just pull out some of my old wider legged pants for the hell of it and feel chic.
- Statement jewelry. The bigger the better.
- Another thing that my height will be nixing – long body-con skirts. That was also part of my grunge days, with Doc Martens. My poor mom had to hem them. All of my velvet and long skirts are gone and I don’t miss it. Yeah, velvet is back in a big way too.
- Ruffles! My god the ruffles! The only way a ruffle is getting on my body is if it’s part of a structured jacket or interesting cardigan. This is my kind of way to do ruffles:
- I already have enough belts, blazers, coats, and I’m covered in the boot department now. (You’ll be seeing more of my boot shopping soon!)
- Longer strapped bags – messenger or just your average bag with a longer strap. I’m going to admit, after using shoulder satchels for sooo long, I finally got one with a shoulder strap and long strap as well. That long strap across my body drove me insane! I got a neck cramp and It’s difficult to maneuver over boobs. I am glad to have it though because there are times when you simply need to have your shoulder free. So, I will use the cross-body strap for those times only. Maybe I just need to quit carrying 20 pounds of crap with me.
- I’m dying to mix neutrals when it gets cooler. Greys and camels and creams and black all together. So soft and cozy!
- I’ve only seen one editorial include the white tights. Dun dun dun dun! I am totally making that look happen this winter. I can’t get white tights out of my head! They were paired with graphic b&w looks, bright minis and with neutrals. We’ll see how this works out in real life, solid or textured. Maybe just some cream leggings worked into a layered look (which are impossible to find for dirt cheap and not at AA).
- Sweaters, sweater knit skirts, sweater dresses (I have two chunky knit dresses I haven’t worn in 2 years and forgot all about! They’re coming out!)
What is your perfect Fall outfit that you have worked out in your mind?
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Isn’t it great seeing things you love in a swanky shop then going home and finding it online for waaaay cheaper than the store price? The bf and I are the most ridiculous bargain hunters. If you had a $20 bill in your hand, would you flush it down the toilet? I didn’t think so. If you don’t comparison shop, that’s pretty much what you’re doing. Plus, with smart phones, it’s so easy to look up a brand and the style online while in the damn store to see if it competes. All that saving adds up and you end up being able to treat yourself a lil bit more.
While I love supporting local business, the mark-up can be ridiculous. I got this same bag I fell in love with at Pink from Moxsie instead with a 15% discount on their already much cheaper price + free shipping. 30% cheaper than the swanky store price. I can’t wait until it gets here! It reminds me of Natalia Brilli and her amazing leather work.
So, I checked out this handbag line Deux Lux. I had never heard of it until I saw that bag. They’re vegan (nice word for fake leather) but a really nice thick quality with a lot of heft.. It was started in 2005 by a mother and daughter team. They’re mainly sold in boutiques and Anthropologie. Urban Outfitters has some exclusive designs. I found this new without tags bag for UO on eBay and managed to score it for $18 and free shipping! I think I’m set for bags now.
Here’s the Urban Outfitters pic in black.
Here’s the one I got in mahogany.
It’s been so long since I’ve bid on anything on eBay. I was really inspired by Adrien (from Looks Good From the Back) who scored this Marc Jacobs bag for $50!!! I see other bloggers finding amazing stuff for crazy cheap and Wendy B is always reminding you to snipe to make sure you don’t get outbid at the last second.
Yeah, about sniping… I didn’t do it. I sat like a moron watching the clock tick down on the auction, with two other tabs open with two larger bids ready to confirm if I got outbid at the last second. Ridiculous. No one jacked my bid up though. I got really lucky. This time.
Speaking of hunting… I finally started using Shopstyle and I’m loving it hard! It takes a minute to register and you can search for anything under the sun, tag things for sale alerts in email, put things in a wish list, etc. The interface is really nice. You mouse over something you like to get more info and tag, and click on it to have a new window pop up of the actual place where it’s being sold. (This is how I also found that black bag up above. I never checked the brand at the store so, “covered studs” in bags was the winning search.)
My friend Jen fell hard for this pair of heels at Fab’rik this past Thursday. Unfortunately, they were too wide. She was crushed. So, I hunted for “woven heel” on Shopstyle and found a bunch of other options for her at different price points. (Oh, and I found Jen’s shoes cheaper online too so if you have a wider foot, have at ‘em!)
RIP hot shoes, RIP
I think I would make it okay in a hunter/gatherer society! How do you hunt?
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- One of the coolest handmade gifts I’ve ever seen: Anabela from the blog Feildguided is starting a new feature of people’s homes called “Homebodies” and was allowed to take pics of Melinda Josie’s adorable home. Josie is the creator of this great kitty buds fabric (in addition to many other wonderful things). Anyhow, her fiance carved this as a Christmas present for her. It’s Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird in her ham costume. Amazing.
- Today, I had a lady day with my dear bff Jen (have you checked out her new food blog yet?). I had a half day at work and met her in Carytown after she got her wig smoked. We ate a great lunch at Can Can, talked and talked, and then wandered around checking out a ton of shops we had never been to. We went to Roan. Holy hell! I didn’t know those brands were sold in Carytown! I pawed Lanvin, Chloe, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang (still not impressed), Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Jil Sander… all in all, we were dying in there.
sigh, Louboutin
At Need, Jen did her own version of Man Repeller in this sweet union suit.
I also spotted this Miu Miu knockoff. No bueno.
At Pink, I was sooo tempted to get this bag. I’m still thinking about it. A cross-body bag would be nice. We finished up with margaritas at Nacho Mama’s and called it a day. Phew! I’m worn out!
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Layers&Swathes beat me to the punch and posted about an incredibly patient/talented artist Kate MccGwire. Check out her post.
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- I get the whole #firstworldproblem hashtag on twitter. Really I do. People like to complain so it’s a way of acknowledging that your bitching is really whining when there are so many bigger problems out there, but you’re going to whine anyways. (Example: “Why do I always manage to get the shopping cart with the bum wheel? #firstworldproblem”) These tweets get on my nerves like no other. Really? Are we starting to feel that damn guilty for the lives we lead? Feeling guilt for the only life we’ve ever known? No matter how many sad things you see in the news, you will never truly know how people in third world countries feel. Do all of them want to be like us? No. Get over yourself, and if you really want to make a difference, donate to a charity and move on.
- I am half Serbian and I am so ashamed and disgusted with a new movie that has come out called Srpski Film (A Serbian Film). Here is a review by one of my most adored bloggers. I am so incredibly sick and tired of “art” being an excuse for depravity. Political statements can be made in so many ways other than this.
- Everything I’ve added to wish lists or bookmarked for further contemplation ends up being sold out before I decide to purchase. Either it’s a sign that I need to quit shopping or I need to make up my mind faster.
- No way in hell.
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- Nine years ago, a friend found an abandoned kitten and brought him to my house. He was only 2 weeks old and still needed to be bottle fed. Everyone said he wouldn’t make it but for 2 months, every 4 hours, I bottle fed that kitten and he is the gigantic monster cat known as Ringo that I live with today. I want to bottle feed a kitten again soooo badly but no kitty adoption places will give them to you that tiny and young.
- Every bag I buy is pretty much this style. Love love love this See by Chloe bag.
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This post pretty much sums up my thoughts when I go shoe shopping as well.
- OMG these paintings! By Yago Hortal, via But Does it Float.
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- Excess packaging. I recently bought a new camera which meant I had to buy a bunch of other crap to go with it. The SD card I purchased could’ve fit nicely into a small size manilla envelope and would’ve cost less than $1 to ship but instead they put it in a ridiculous sized box and charged me $4. The most asinine thing though was that postcard I got so I can get it enlarged for my kitchen. It was a $1 postcard that ended up costing $5.99 after shipping. It too came in a big box. Seriously people!? What the hell!? I’m in no way on the brainwashed green train but blatant waste is just damn stupid and raping people on shipping charges is shameful.
- I have soooo many blog posts bookmarked that I want to leave comments on. It’s getting ridiculous. I promise I will get to them this weekend.
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Holiday season is upon us and that means everything in the stores has a thick crust of sequins on it. I would like someone to tell me how all these things are going to wear over time because I have experienced nothing but heartbreak. (We aren’t even going to talk about glitter because if you own it, you deserve to suffer the consequences. In the early 90s, my bff bought a pair of fuchsia glitter Doc Martens and they started looking pretty rough rather quickly.)
Sequins are made of fragile plastic with a metallic paint coating that rubs off and eventually looks worn out. They are also prone to cracking in half and falling off. Then there are the ones that are glued on. You can spot a missing or misaligned sequin a mile away. At least I can, but I may have a mild case of OCD.
If you must wear them… there are good sequins and bad sequins.
GOOD SEQUINS
Not much can happen to this embellished tank. You still have to carefully hand wash it in cold water and it won’t last forever but you still have a chance.
To avoid looking like a Miss America contestant, sequined dresses should be short and to the point. This dress will also require special care but with no belt to rub, cap sleeves, each sequin neatly lined up (not shingled) and tightly secured, and being all one subtle color, this would work well. Minimal accessories needed.
Other good sequins can be found as a light mist on something sheer, a pair of panties you don’t plan on keeping on for very long, and as the most delicate of details that makes something plain very special.
BAD SEQUINS
You know how your shoes wear, so what’s going to happen at the bends of these Converse? They’re part of the fabric so you can’t even sew on new ones to repair!
These sequined leggings are almost $350 at Saks. What is your ass and the backs of your knees going to look like after a while? Like a worn out Las Vegas hooker, that’s what. $350 at Saks or $20 at F21… they’re both going to look like hell after a few wears.
More bad sequins – on jeans but at least they would be easy to remove when they go bust, on handbags (those giant sequin bags and tiny 80s prom clutches), those hoodies everyone got obsessed with (my hoodies earn their keep), and anything else tight that would bend harshly with your body, and doesn’t respect your hard earned cash.
So ladies, you may want to spare yourself the trouble and financial waste and just put on a sparkly cuff bracelet instead!
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