Rebecca Minkoff’s Neon Rendezvous clutch, $275 @ RebeccaMinkoff.com
Archive for the Bags Category
If I were to buy a $$$ bag anytime soon - trust me I already have it figured out it would be a *vintage* Balenciaga motorcycle bag (my only option is vintage at this point!). There’s not a ton of high end bags that I usually obsess over - lately they’ve been so over-embellished and trendy, the offerings are always the same. I like to focus my efforts on the outfit itself - and so love being able to throw the same bag with a multitude of looks over and over again. All I really want is beautiful leather, unique hardware, and forward styling. I am so sick of the YSL Muse and Marc by Marc trickle down, which is why Mulberry is so refreshing. The label doesn’t scream IT bag, or the question “is it or is it not fake?” - they’re just classic, gorgeous bags.
Its-las-tik is a company based in New Orleans that creates reusable, stretchable, adorable totes for those of us trying to live a green lifestyle. All of the manufacturing, design, materials, and brains come straight from New Orleans, which isn’t an easy feat considering the factory was rebuilt after being demolished by Katrina. The great thing about these bags - beyond the fact that you can carry a statement tote to the store or gym, rather than a bunch of heavily advertised eco bags sliding off your shoulder - is that 5% of the profits go to Hope House New Orleans, a non profit organization that helps to feed and clothe New Orleanians. Be a softy and buy, buy, buy - they’re only $25 each!
Check out Its-las-tik at WhatsurBag-USA.com & read up on the good work of Hope House New Orleans at HopeHouseNewOrleans.org.
Shop the Sterling Tie Dye fringe bag $322, at SusanFarberCollections.com
Hayden-Harnett hit Target this past Sunday - and will be available in stores & online (along with Thakoon) until March 15th. I actually have a tiny six-degrees-of-the-fashion-industry history with this label. As a senior at FIT I am proud to say I held down an internship at Vogue, freelance styling gigs, and a regular part time job at a start up accessories company. This may explain my angst with the Hills and the cost of living in Manhattan. Regardless, Hayden-Harnett was one of our competitors at the start up, and luckily so – because I was able to cite competitive shopping of sample sales and boutiques as hourly pay. As I clearly couldn’t get too invested - I had to keep my neutrality in check for business’ sake - it was all price point, materials, and merchandising. Now, however, the love is all out in the open.
The great thing about the evolution of Hayden-Harnett is that they bring a kind of boho-contemporary aesthetic to luxury handbags - super versatile that can go from day to night, from dive bar to club, and from mood to mood. It’s really rare that an indie label will break up the Marc by Marc, Juicy, and Botkier that have the market pretty saturated (have you heard about Project Alabama in a while? Nada -that’s my point). And although the price has jumped significantly in the past few years during their growth phase, it can only be due to the high quality leathers and expert construction. The aesthetic embodies Brooklyn completely - it’s not trying to be the crème de la crème of Manhattan - it’s laid back and youthful and still incredibly lux and aspirational.
Hayden-Harnett is the perfect answer to those damn hipsters running around Williamsburg in their American Apparel, wayfarers, and Chanel cocktail bags. And luckily - Target is the perfect answer to those of us who can’t shell out the bills, or keep a bag free of ink or wine for more than a week.
Shop Hayden-Harnett for Target
Canvas hobo $39.99
Double flap bag $29.99
Hobo $39.99
Umbrella $22.99
Poor, Poor Paris. The guilty gang is actually called the Pink Panthers - which alone is a huge reason to keep reading. There’s something very Sherlock Holmes about this article, like an old school jewelry heist you would see in the movies. Definitely glamorous, also ridiculous. How do people rob stores or banks anymore? It seems so wild, wild west - when I had my baby fender bender and had to interact with the police, one of them said they had just come from a bank robbery - and out loud, I blurted “Really? People still rob banks?” Oh, Texas.
NY Times article “The Heist at Harry’s”
Harry Winston online is actually having a sale (ha)! www.HarryWinston.com
…Or, admit defeat in style - Chris Caccamise for Banana Republic $35 - The New Museum Store, NY
Gucci recently unveiled their new tattoo collection to benefit Unicef - who girl of the moment Rhianna is the face of. Is it just me or this too Ed Hardy for one’s gag reflexes? This movement needs to be kept out of the luxury market - there is only so much the non-Housewives of Orange County of the world can handle!
This is so Serena (Gossip Girl) - I’m really down to earth and cool, but I rely on my parents to pay my rent and furnish my style. Oh I know I’m so bitter, but it’s only because the sale price is still completely out of reach! And thus the category “Pining Week To Date”.
Shop Ralph Lauren Windowpane Plaid Wool Ricky Bag, $2399
Just got back from this super eclectic, one stop shopping experience (AKA the E.A.S.T. Austin Design Tour)! I can’t say enough about Amy Barber of Sweet Tooth bags (see post: ATX Sugar Rush: Sweet Tooth’s Amy Barber) - she had the cutest setup and most colorful & inspiring studio - where I was schooled on her use of vintage fabrics and estate sale embellishments. She also partnered with Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club for the tour, who made that adorable bracelet above (fledgling IPhone photograph aside).
I’m constantly amazed by the designers here - the design oddities are a little reminiscent of Williamsburg, but I was never really a huge fan of the Brooklyn art/fashion/creative scene. It always seemed a bit contrived, a little too full of unemployed 20 somethings carrying Chanel cocktail bags. That’s where Austin has it’s niche, the pieces from both of these ladies comes from a place where you know it’s just their innate creative ability and persona to put together birdies on bobby pins - or scrabble pieces on a bracelet. My girlfriends and I pretty much bought out the place, as actions definitely speak louder than words - so I’m dying to show off my Sweet Tooth bag & birdie bobby pins around town. So Austin!
Read more about the E.A.S.T. design tour & an interview with Amy from The Austinist
Shop Amy Barber @ Sweettoothbags.com
Shop Jennifer Perkins @ NaughtySecretaryClub.com
I am in desperate need of a new bag. I used to do nothing but spend my cash on frivolous accessories, and I used to think it was a serious problem because I couldn’t buy anything I actually needed. I still try and change my bag once a week, but the scenery is old school. Now that I’m in a new environment - and H&M isn’t a guilty pleasure on the way home from everywhere I go - my checking account has been doing fabulously, but my insides that get really excited about accessories have been wilting. It’s like all I see on the girls here are Chinatown bags - played off as cute and trendy, because nobody knows that yeah - that quilted kiss lock bag with the chain strap, is Marc Jacobs most well known bag, and it’s all over the 5 boroughs like a virus. I could get a way with a faux Hermes here in a second, and maybe I should.
First thing’s first, I need patent. Patent has been a strong finish in my closet since my time at V, and I think of it as a really classic element. I remember every single bag we got in was patent, and of course in that office things move at the speed of light - so it was one big visual trip of high gloss Valentino & Vuitton. Patent just seems so delectible, so smooth. And I do mean smooth, I’m not into cracked patent, even if it’s Chanel - it’s just not as polished - the great thing about a patent bag is that it’s on trend (not trendy), sophisticated, and usually structured. You can be on the Upper East and fit like a glove, have it as a great work bag, or as a key piece to your weekend shopping stroll. Weekend shopping outfits in New York are what I like to call silent fashion face-offs. It’s almost as good as the other game I call out-shining the bride. Joking.
Anya Hindmarch for Target $49.99
Newport-News $29.00
Spiegel $49.00
Nine West $14.99
