Designer Handbags

A fashion staple are sexy simple shoes and a sexy practical bag. Do you ever notice how the perfect pair of jeans and a perfect fitting white tee can be the sexiest outfit ever? The same goes for a handbag. Refined and to-the-point is just as sassy and elegant as ornate. My go to designer for great shoes that are easy to wear for many occasions is Salvatore Ferragamo. Looks to me like Ferragamo is attempting to make its way into the handbag world with the same idea in mind; slowly conquer with usable bags. This is exactly what is being done with the Salvatore Ferragamo Dama Tote. I’d opt for the creamy and luscious magnolia leather which is intricately pieced together. The only detail that pulls the eyes in are the small tabs that continue up to the top handles and rings. Dimensions are 10 3/5″H x 15 3/4″W x 5 1/5″D. Come on in Spring and Summer, buh-bye gloomy and weird late snowy winter. Via Neiman Marcus for $1090.

This bag is downright hilarious. It is completely impractical in my life, but can not be touted a fug bag because it is just too funny. I prefer big dogs over little dogs, but if my pup were sporting some bad-to-the-bone aviators, I’d take him if he were little. Anya Hindmarch shows her creative, funky, borderline weird style with the Russo Canvas Tote Bag. You can not tell me that you do not look at this bag and laugh. But like the class clown, this bag can not be taken seriously. A sturdy canvas build houses a chihuahua print on a 14 by 13 by 4 inch body, through Saks Fifth for just under $400.

Who could you see wearing this bag?

Not only do I love Derek Lam clothing, but Derek Lam handbags are making quite a splash in the world of accessories. Personally, I am developing a crush on the Derek Lam Hildegard Hobo Handbag. Love the removable shoulder strap, love the supple white leather, love the pleats, and love the Aires ring on the front. Can you dig it? The price is not as amazing, but if you want a white bag and have a bit of extra cash, why not splurge a bit. Via Luisa via Roma for approx $2026.

NUTI is known for impeccable Ostrich that can make any woman swoon. This creamy Pirite Ostrich bag is accented with two gold ruthium rings. Named the NUTI Sevillana, this handbag can also be referred to as an East/West hobo and prides itself in being a perfect size, shape, color, and material for any woman. On the inside, signature orange lining is found alongside inner pockets for storing your essentials. Measurements are 18″ w X 13″ l X 3 1/4 deep with an approximately 5″ drop for the shoulder strap. The words that I hate to see after a bag I year for are “out of stock”, but I am sure Lux Couture will get you on a list or take care of you the best they can (GREAT customer service there!!!!). Make sure to check out all other Nuti items. Sevillana for $2700 via Lux Couture.

Way back in once upon a time, I was in grade school. Come 6th grade, there was a school dance. I wore some dress of horrors I am sure and had really fugly lipstick on too I am sure and no doubt stood at one end of the gym while the boys were on the other end. At the odd chance that any of the boys and girls danced, the nuns and teachers ran up to us, pulled us apart with their hands, and said ‘Keep Jesus Between You”. I am not kidding. And during that time, I carried an evening bag that was most probably cheap and not chic. Come to think of it, the Miu Miu Crystal Embellished Purse looks as if at its best it could be carried by another 6th grader to an awkward dance. One side has crystal ‘embellishment’ flung about it as if a 6th grader bought fabric glue and took a trip to JoAnn’s fabrics, and on the other side there is plain black silk with the Miu Miu logo. I’d advise all Miu Miu personale to remove the logo and let this purse go on looking as if it were made by the 6th grader to be carried to the 6th grade dance. Via Net-A-Porter for $550.

Too much, too fast is the theme of our ski vacation. If you could all see me now. Picture this: A fashionable gal wearing my boyfriends shirt because it is all that will fit overly my arm somewhat comfortably with my right arm (my writing arm of course) snuggled close to my body in a sling and wrist brace waiting to be checked by my ortho. Ah yes, I am that first time snowboarder who breaks her arm on her first run ever. So I come to you all a bit pissed, major bummed, and left handed typing from my vacation; you envy me, don’t you. My reaction to this atrocious bag may be somewhat cynical, but now you can understand why.

We all know only a select percentage of women can pull off red lipstick, and the same goes for red bags. So attempting to pull off this racy color in a larger bag is a bit more complicated and adding ridiculous amounts of braiding and pockets makes my eyes hurt. Really Valentino? You found it necessary when designing the Valentino Braided Handle Shoulder Bag to fug out this bag with gaudy braiding thrown all over the place, tacky black stitching that is borderline trashy, and flaps and pockets that make this handbag look like a bloody mess. Don’t get me wrong, I love red bags and truly think they can be so classy (love my rouge Paddy), but all the ‘extra perks’ flung on this bag make it so fugly my eyes cringe. Do you notice the cow tongue used as a flap closure? Come on, give us something better than this. The only purpose this bag would play in my life is if it were there to catch my fall on the slopes of Jackson Hole.

Via BG for nearly $1,600.

Anya Hindmarch is making her name known with her straight edge designs and perfect handbag compilations. Sure she has a quirky bump or two along the way, but for the most part she is dead on and this is exactly why we will all be seeing much more of her. A completely sexy and lovable clutch has been designed by Hindmarch which makes a glittery and gold statement but looks sophisticated rather than teenage. The Anya Hindmarch Libertine Woven Leather Clutch proves to be an attention grabber with the gold woven leather, silver trim, frame body, and small pocket on the front. Love love love it. The size is perfect and little-black-dress-approved, at 9″x4.5″x3″. You know you want it (or is that me that wants it?) Through Net-A-Porter for $795.

I can not call this handbag a fug bag because I don’t consider it completely ugly, but for this price is makes me have a deep down tummy chuckle. Stella, are you seriously going to charge people $745 for the Stella McCartney Sea Grass Clutch that could easily be designed by me? And trust me, I am an average gal who can get her hands on some sea grass, a charm, and a small accessory body. I could even use simple twine and a hot glue gun and meticulously wrap the twine around the nearly free coin pouch body I buy from the fabric store. Sure it is cute for a summer day, but for this price, I would buy something that does not look MacGyver-ready-in-3-minutes tops. A whopping $745 via Neiman Marcus.

All of the people out there who do not love cookies; who are you??? What happened to you and your taste buds?? Cookies are probably one of the best inventions ever. I always pondered over the thoughts of the genius who decided to combine flour, sugar, eggs, and butter to make a cookie. Cookie inventor of the world, you deserve a medal of some kind. One of my favorite furniture stores, Horchow, also sports some irresistible accessories for the handbag and cookie lovers out there. Behold Handbag Cookie Jars, the perfect immersion between the kitchen and fashion world. Choose from either Zebra (9″W x 6″D x 9″T) or Leopard (8″W x 6.5″D x 10.5″T) and have a chic ceramic jar to store your treats in. Such a perfect gift for any of your fashion and cookie oriented friend (seriously, who does not fit into that category?!). Through Horchow for $24.90 each.

Thanks for pointing these out Maxter!!

I am confident that Valentine’s Day is a day made for women. Any girl can say she could care less about Valentine’s Day, but I think deep down most love it a bit. I am not saying we all need some huge big deal, but a nice dinner and a day to celebrate your love with your significant other, friends, family, is always needed. Too many times we are busy with our hectic lives to remember the great love we have right next to us. That being said, I am *totally* at a loss of what to do for Vlad. He has been planning and planning and I am stumped. Browsing online I have only found what not to get Vlad. Putting this on the internet is not helpful I realize, but who knows what kind of trick I have up my sleeve. For now I do know what would be a downright awful gift. Behold the ridiculously expensive Daniel Hanson Cashmere Robe which can be paired with a Crown Cap Muskrat Fur Hat for the chilly days. Pair these together and you have a laughable outfit to wear to your at home candle-lit dinner. Not that I wouldn’t want to indulge in a 100% cashmere robe, but the purple robe with green piping is an awful match. Even worse is the price tag: $2195 at Bergdorf Goodman. And the hat, well sure, it looks warm. But it reminds me of something I have seen Vlad wear before in his pre-meeting me days. And in those days, sometimes Mr Vlad was known to pair stripes and checks in the SAME outfit. Gag. Hat is $365 via Bergdorf Goodman. So while this is not the perfect gift, it can make you laugh late this Thursday night