Colorful Handbags- A Summer Must!

During the summer - anything goes!  So when it comes to color we tend to go all out.  The accessory that is easiest to change up is your purse so it's no wonder that designers emerge with bright and bold pieces this time of year.  I have to admit that I'm a sucker for these bags, and there are a few brands I always turn to when I want to change it up.

One of my favorite brands for sophistication and color is Kate Spade.  The brand takes simple silhouettes and makes them stand out by providing bright and bold colors or patterns that are extremely unique.  I'm a big fan of this leather Anisha.  If you like green - this is the season for you.  It has emerged as the palette for almost every designer.  This bag still overs a structured silhouette but the color makes it instantly fun.

Kate Spade Chrystie Street Large Anisha, $445

Another brand that offers a great collection of bright and fun handbags is Tory Burch.  Almost every girl loves the satchel bag - and the current Robinson collection offers a piece that is available in a gorgeous yellow.  Still versatile, still spacious, but fun!  

Tory Burch Robinson Satchel, $550

And of course, who could leave out Marc by Marc Jacobs when it comes to color?  If you are looking for a certain color - turn to this brand.  It's youthful and fun while still providing practical and functional bags.  I love this teal color - magnifique!  

Classic Q Hillier Hobo in Reef Blue, $398

How can you say no to color?  It's cheerful, it's beautiful - and it will get noticed!  

XOXO, Allison

Buying an Investment Bag - Rules and Guidelines

Recently a friend came to me with lots of excitement - after doing so well in her job she had gotten the okay from her husband to buy the purse of her dreams!  As we can began discussing her wants and needs I realized how important it is for girls to know what a good "investment" purchase is vs. a bad one.

Trust me, it's not that the bag is a bad purchase, but sometimes when we see a popular look on a celebrity that we are dying to get we forget that tomorrow they will probably be carrying a new bag and you'll be stuck with the Pink Mulberry bag you had to have.  Unlike celebrities, most of us are on a budget and therefore when we go to buy an expensive purse it's important that we are happy with it on down the road.

Now here is something that you may not want to hear - and trust me, I've been a victim of this.  In college I really wanted a Louis Vuitton bag.  I definitely don't think I wanted it because I thought it was the nicest bag in the world; I wanted it because it was a status symbol.  So my boyfriend at the time shelled out the $1000 to get me this bag for my birthday.  Now I will say that I did choose a bag that was functional and spacious (the batignalles vertical as shown below) but what I didn't consider at the time was what I was paying for.

You see, even though the canvas is a durable material it is not leather.  The straps and the edges are in leather but the purse is not.  Therefore, you are paying a lot for the brand, and not as much for the material.

These days I tend to be a leather person - I love the feel of leather.  However, beware of soft, buttery, caviar leathers.  They feel wonderful, but are terribly difficult to care for.  Brands like Chanel excel in this leather (which is part of the huge price tag) but this leather wears much more quickly.  You are much better off to go for a pebbled or grained leather.  Although you may not like the look and feel as much, it will be much more durable.

Additionally, you have to consider color.  Now I don't just say this because I think you will run out and buy a blue or a pink bag.  If you think you'll be happy with that in a few years than go for it!  However, what I do warn you of are the gorgeous lighter shades of white, ivory, and browns.  As gorgeous as they are they show every move you make.  So if you travel a lot, or wear dark denim, or tend to be a little hard on your items go for a darker shade.  I was so disappointed when I purchased this Botkier Bianca bag several years ago in Ivory.  I hadn't even carried it for a few hours before my denim started to show blue streaks on the ivory leather.  Sure, it was in a location that was not visible, but after making the large purchase it was extremely disappointing!

Lastly - opt for functionality and styles you enjoy carrying currently.  If you see a satchel bag you love but know that you hate carrying things on your wrist - don't buy it!  Even though it looks great, you will be disappointed!  This happened to me with a Marc by Marc Jacobs satchel I had been eyeing for some time.  When it went on sale I knew that it had to be mine!  However, after carrying it for a week I was annoyed.  The satchel straps were not adjustable and I couldn't carry it on my shoulder at all.  It even had a crossbody strap but I couldn't adjust it to fit perfectly.  I ended up selling it on ebay about a month after purchasing it...

So there you have it - look for functionality, durability, and the price.  You want to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck - and I have to tell you that with some higher end brands (like Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton) that will not be the case.  If you want a classic bag you will be happy with for years to come look into Chloe, Prada, Mulberry and Miu Miu.  These are brands that have intricate, modern leather craftsmanship for about 1/2 the price that you would pay for similar styles on the other brands.  Here are a few of my favorites from these lines: 

Chloe Marcie Leather Satchel, $1595

Miu Miu Matelasse, $1695

Mulberry Alexa, $1150 

Start saving ladies - you won't be sorry!  

XOXO, Allison

Perfect Bags for Less

Yesterday was a big day for me.  In case you haven't noticed - I have expensive taste.  When it comes to clothes or trendy items...I can normally control this taste.  However, when it comes to handbags I have a hard time settling.  Perhaps it's because I love the smell of the real leather and the soft feel of it.  And I love all of the little details and the wonderful compartments.  Handbags make the world go round for me.

I blame the Fashion Mall at Keystone in Indianapolis for this.  The mall (my go to spot for everything great) is filled with fabulous shops and anchored with Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue - i.e. a recipe for disaster.  When I moved to Memphis, one of the most disappointing aspects was that there was no longer my Fashion Mall - and therefore none of my favorite shops.  My husband and mother seemed excited about this; they both like to give me a hard time about my champagne taste.

Well, since I'm here in Memphis by myself and need something to do, I sometimes go to the nearby mall.  It's a nice, roomy mall with an amazingly huge food court and some common stores like Forever 21, Ann Taylor, and Gap.

While I was at the mall yesterday (looking for goodies for my April Giveaway) I walked by the Aldo window and did a double take.  In the window was this fabulous looking bag and I just had to go in and look at it.

Aldo EREKSON Crossbody Bag 

I picked up the bag from the store display expecting to be disappointed with the quality.  However, I was shocked with how buttery and soft the leather felt and how well done the hardware was.  "Great," I thought, "even great stores like Aldo are carrying expensive bags now."  - Right?  I mean, I assumed for a bag that looked and felt this nice had to be at least $150 - if not more.  So, that's when I nearly passed out when I saw the price tag - $45....$45!  You don't even want to know the last time I spent $45 on a handbag!  I was flabbergasted and bought the bag right away before they decided that the bag was worth more.  

Doesn't the bag look familiar?  I thought so too.  So when I came home from the mall I immediately got online and found the below - one of the structured bags I mentioned in my post a couple of months ago.  The price tag?  $365!  And I have seen this bag in person...and from the horse's mouth...no noticeable difference in quality.  

Badgley Mischka Melissa Bag

So, I learned a big lesson today (that I'm sure some of you savvy fashionistas already knew) - some stores offer the same fabulous looks as the higher end brand at a similar quality level for 1/10 of the price!  Man...now I can buy like...10 handbags!

XOXO, Allison

The Perfect Beach Bag - a MUST HAVE summer accessory

Okay, so I have turned into my mother.  I don't even have children, but no matter where I am going I feel like I have to take items for every possible circumstance.  What happens if my monthly visitor comes early, what happens if I have a headache, what happens if I get hungry - I think you get the gist.  Right?

Well, I'm even worse when it comes to the beach or laying by the pool.  I want to make as few trips as possible either back to my house or back to a condo - so I need size without looking dumpy.  With technology these days, you have to have room for your smart phone, your ipod, your reading material, your beach towel, and sun protection - and those are just the necessities!

Fortunately, beach bags are making a come back, and there are some brands that might surprise you that have come out with affordable and fashionable pieces that will amp up your summer style and still be super functional.

One brand that really shocked me was Vera Bradley.  Now I'm not going to sit here and diss the brand because I do like their luggage!  However, I'm more of a classic, leather girl and some of the patterns are just a little loud for me.  Some people can pull them off great...I'm not one of them!  However, I am in love with their new Dockside canvas.  This classic collection offers simple silhouettes in neutral or bright shades, depending on your personal taste.  I am in love with this large tote - especially in the Sand shade. And for $68 it's an affordable price and a style you will get lots of use out of!

Large Tote, $68

Or...you could jump on the monogram bandwagon and go for a simple canvas bag and accentuate with your favorite color and initials.  It is available in open top, zip top, and several sizes.  Accessories are also available for the lady who craves compartmentalization.  

Natural Open Canvas, $22.50-$35.50, Zip Canvas (not shown) $29.50-$42.50

And, there are also options for the woman who needs a bag that can do everything in one. I love this Lands End canvas look that goes from the office to the beach.  The structure makes it instantly fashionable and the stripe gives it a little something extra compared to other totes.  And for $34.50, it's in most everyone's price range!  

Land's End Ragtop Stripe, $34.50

And for the girl who has everything (and a little more money to spend) here are a few higher end options that are just as versatile - with a little something extra up their sleeves!  

Kate Spade Small Coal Chain Strap Bow Straw Tote, $345 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bianca Dreams of Monte Carlo Straw Tote

Tory Burch Small Crescent Straw Tote, $350

It's hard not to look effortlessly fashionable with these totes on your arm as you catch a few rays.  So make your life easy and pick up a tote - you'll have more tricks in your bag and look fabulous at the same time!  

XOXO, Allison 

One of my March Favorites - the Summer Wristlet or Clutch

As I mentioned in February, gone are the days of the large, shapeless bags.  Something with a little more structure is the desirable style these days...and for those summer days when less is more the wristlet or clutch is the way to go.

Personally,  I love the looks of leather.  To me, I am always looking for the best, most functional, and beautiful bag vs. the style embellished in the brand's logo.   However, the great thing is that most brands make styles to fit your individual preference.  For example, I am in love with this Coach Kristin Large Leather Wristlet.   I find the champagne tone to be luxurious and a perfect compliment to almost any summer style, and the price is fairly affordable ($108) if you believe you'll be using it a lot.  However, as I mentioned it is also available in Coach's CC signature pattern if you do not prefer leather.

Coach Kristin Large Leather Wristlet, $108

Another clutch/wristlet style that is becoming more present in department stores and boutiques is the envelope clutch.  I happen to love this look, because it's simplicity in style allows for some boldness in color and material.  I tend to go for classic looks, so I adore this Tory Burch style from her latest collection.  It's a little pricier than some styles out there (at $275) but if you opt for the right color this style could be seasonless - still receiving compliments for it years on down the road.   

Tory Burch Robinson Envelope Wristlet, $275

Looking for something with a little more color?  Well, I love this Rebecca Minkoff Quilted Clutch.  The bright color (also available in black or nude) and the stud detail ensure that it will stand out.  I think it would look perfect with your LBD during a night on the town.  But at $360, you will want to be in love.  

Rebecca Minkoff Quilted Clutch, $360

Now obviously these have been some of the higher end options, so here are a few pieces for the girl on the budget.  

Simply Vera Vera Wang Crocodile Clutch, $23.40

Daisy Fuentes Turn-Lock Clutch, $21.60

Forever 21 Soft Leatherette Clutch,  $14.80

So there you go, 6 summer clutch options in a wide range of colors, prices, and styles for you to peruse through.  Just remember, if you decide to invest in a higher end brand, be sure to choose a style and color that is classic so that you will be able to use it several seasons from now.  And with any handbag purchase, be sure you are in love - no matter what the price!  If you don't love it in the store, you're going to like it even less at home.  However, I usually don't find many handbags I can't justify purchasing...and the affordability and versatility of clutches just helps with that even more!  

XOXO,

Allison