TGIF! I've had the longest and most confusing week trying to recuperate from my overseas trip. There was a lot of cooking at my house (by me) to appease a sulking boy (not the 5 year old) for my absence. I'm looking forward to a weekend of fun with friends (4 birthday parties!) and thought i should feature a fun clutch in case you're in the mood for something different. This Blue Gioia Feather Clutch is like a piece of art, made of pearlized lamb suede-- it has a grille inspired by a traditional Japanese screen crafted from 18K gold-plated brass set over bright blue peacock feathers. Fabulous? With a capital F! Has detachable chain, flap closure and is 8"× 4 ½". Made by by Raven Kauffman for $1,395.00 (not bad for such a unique accessory!) At Vivre.com Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
I've decided I am all about convertible bags for traveling from now on. Ms. High Maintenance with 4 suitcases @ 200 lbs this last trip to Asia pissed off everyone who had to load and unload them (best friend's hubby, brother, cousin, housekeepers, etc).
So for my next trip, I'm downsizing (by at least half, hey it's an improvement!). Am contemplating this ingenius MEZZO Folding Shopper tote in black natural gloss python from our friend Sang A-- it's large enough by day for my small laptop and folded in half, it's the perfect oversized clutch! Sang A is really in tune with what modern women juggling multiple roles as wife/mother/career girl need cuz she is one herself. Her bags are never fussy-- chicness and simplicity rule, as do functionality. It comes in multiple colors and skins but I prefer the black/white combos-- very sophisticated and will be easy to use while traveling. 12.5" x 9" (folded is 6.25"x9")-- $2,500.00 for the BLACK NATURAL GLOSS PYTHON Here. And $1,800 for the COOL WHITE VINTAGE PATENT LEATHER version.


Did Vanessa Hudgens think that all the zippers on her JJ Winters Multi Zipper Bag ($439) would distract from the fact that she wearing barely -- if any -- pants? Well, she kind of succeeded actually! There is way too much going on with this bag. It's like Christian Louboutin's Pillow Medium Softy Satchel and BCBG's Urban Rock Zipper Clutch on steroids. The multiple zippers are headache-inducing; I don't like the contrasting colors and not only does the bag not zip closed, it's wide open on the top. My vote on this one is a slob.
What say you? Snob or Slob?
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It was a bit of a Bagsnob reunion in Beverly Hills last Thursday, as Tina and Kelly (fresh back from Asia) and Liza (fresh back from the grocery store) convened at Bottega Veneta on Rodeo to check out the trunk show for Spring 2010. Liza spent much of her time in the dressing room trying to wrestle her way into samples of the chalky silk, Karate-influenced dresses (which were gorgeous, inventive and ingeniously constructed), but from what she could see through cracks in the doors, Tina and Kelly found plenty to add to their ever-growing Bottega wish lists. Of note: An insanely beautiful, bright blue crocodile doctor's bag ($24,000). Made from impeccable skin, the color strikes an ideal balance of electric vibration and aquatic depth. To ground the brightness, the bag is structured, simple, timeless, with a rigid top and double handles. The overall effect pulls focus from fifty feet away but somehow remains serene, drawing the eye with an almost centrifugal force. There are no images of the bag in that color, so you'll have to go see it in person for yourself (or jump to see the Twitter shot Tina took).
The Orchid Esperanza Ayers clutch (above left- $1,980), with brightly contrasting chartreuse zipper pull lends lightheartedness to the usual Bottega sophistication. The Ebano Intreccio Nuance Bag (above right--$1,480) is reminiscent of the Hermes Picotin, but much more supple and intricate with functional interior pockets. There is a larger size in perky yellow and white (Tina's note: but we think the smaller is much cuter).
The signature Cabat bags (which, in the large size, are truly ample enough to carry a large baby or medium-sized dog) come this season in a light straw color leather (Paille shiny calf $7,800) which was ingeniously treated by leather craftsman to sound (crinkles and crackles to the touch) and feel like... straw (except it's leather, kind of the reverse Stella thing). Come spring, it will be a nice stand-in on those days when you just don't feel like taking your Birkin to the farmer's market. Call Bottega in BH to order- 310-858-6533! Bottega bags also available at Net-a-Porter.com

I'm getting kind of bored with Fall bags already, it's the end of the season and everything is starting to look alike to me. One way to get out of the funk is to shop vintage. This Chanel with the swirl stitching is so edgy and cool because it looks vintage, and you get a great price for it! A win-win if you ask me. Portero is better than going to vintage shops because they authenticate all their bags and it is less time consuming to shop online. Sure I love sorting through random things to find the gems and that's fun while on vacation but honestly, who has time to do that on a regular basis? Chanel Vintage Black Lambskin Leather Swirl Stitch Envelope Shoulder Bag is $588!! Shop Chanel at Portero.com.
I'm a little upset with Gossip Girl at the moment; not only have the story lines gotten increasingly unrealistic (and this is coming from someone who grew-up going to an Upper East Side private school and graduated from college just a few years ago), but Blake Lively's character Serena keeps wearing the most RIDICULOUS outfits! Slutty cocktail dresses in the middle of the day!? No. Just NO. Given this you can imagine my surprise when, in character, Lively was photographed on set in the above outfit sporting the Mulberry Bayswater suede bag ($995). Versatile, age-appropriate, and well-priced, my only beef with the bag is the crocodile-stamped suede which I think cheapens it a bit.
What do you think about Serena's Mulberry? Snob or Slob?
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