A Cynthia Rowley sample sale coming to you!
HauteLook just posted their next up-and-coming handbag sample sale will be one by C.R., that is expected to kick off this Friday April 3rd at 8: am PST / 11: am EST.
Expect up to 65% off.
To get a little idea of what bags will be at the sale, log on to hautelook and watch the video.
A little birdie told me that fringe details will be hot for Spring 09. My first reaction? Oh no, not again! I’ll admit it, I have never been much of a fan of fringe. And yet, these past few seasons kept having a few fringed styles showing up here and there. But this year, the fringe somehow seems different. Instead of screaming “hippie”, these new bags have more of a western feel to them. So I thought, maybe — just maybe — I should give fringe a second look. The key to making this look work, in my opinion, is to limit the rows of fringe to just one or two.
Above I have pictured two fun, fringe-filled styles. The first is the J.J. Winters Suede Fringe Bag. I think Vanessa Hudgens wore it well with her floaty top, skinny jeans, and boots. The bag measures 16.5″ x 11″ and it retails for $420. Find it in Grey at Pink Mascara.
The second bag is the Linea Pelle Janis Fringe Clutch. This simple clutch features a single row of fringe around its outer edge. I’m not sure why, but fringe seems so much more fun when it comes in such a small package! The clutch measures 10.5″ x 6″ and it retails for $235. Find it at Linea Pelle, where it is available in a variety of colors.
And for those of you that think maybe you’d like to give the fringe trend a try, but you’re afraid of making a major investment…
Check out this bag from Urban Outfitters (pictured above). This beauty is only $60! Find it at UrbanOutfitters
The Chat: Fringe Handbags
As much as we love the established designers with their signature handbags, we get giddy for new designers offering handbags that we must have. It does not happen often that there is a bag that I see that I absolutely MUST HAVE. I can rave about specific bags and even profess my love, but if I am not out buying them up, they are not on the same level. Recently, I had to have the latest DvF Bag, and I went out and bought it. Of course there are pricing restrictions, but once you catch me raving incessantly, that is most likely a bag that will be added to my collection.
The next designer that will be added to my collection is Proenza Schouler. Their clothing line is established yet their sporty handbag line is new. And I love it! We have covered Proenza Schouler bags quite a bit on Purse Blog (a sign of a must have for us) and now we are thoroughly obsessed. I desperately want to see one of their python PS1 bags in person, to touch and feel the python that they use, but now I want to see the Proenza Schouler PS1 Crocodile Satchel. Of course Net A Porter had to go out and decide that not only is Proenza Schouler producing some lust-worthy bags, but they also decided to tease all of us with a crocodile version that has not been posted online elsewhere. I want to feel this bag, try it on, hold it, see how the skin moves and if it gives a bit. And with a large price tag, this crocodile version is out of reach right now, but it is only furthering my love and want of a Proenza Schoulder bag. Watch out, one will enter my collection soon. Buy the crocodile PS1 via Net A Porter for $14,500.
There are parts of the Sonia Rykiel Emma Crystal-Embellished Tote that I like, and then there are the parts that I don’t. I usually have a bit of both with all the bags that I review, but the dichotomy between what I love and what I hate with this one is so huge that I’ve got to split this one in to two parts. First, the things I like. I like the shape of the bag. An easy-to-carry satchel that’s not too big or too small. It’s got a frame up top to give it some structure, but it still doesn’t look like it would be too heavy. The color is nice - not too light or pink that it looks like a pastel, but still light enough to be an interesting neutral. The leather looks soft. I like the closure.
And now, what I don’t like. Care to guess? All the crap stuck on the front. I can kind of see where they’re going with it, but I don’t think they quite got there. Maybe the crystals and studs vary too greatly in size and shape, I’m not sure, but I don’t like the end result. It looks a little too craft-project for me, and I know Sonia Rykiel likes to do her own thing with the adornment of her bags, but this just isn’t quite right. Also, the handles are too long. But mostly it’s the art store bedazzling on the front. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2450.
Girls, I know I’m not going to be popular for this one. I’m probably not going to gain any respect from any of you for my opinion on the Marc Jacobs Iconic Glitter Robert. Am I ok with that? I think so. And I’m going to have to be ok with it, because I can’t seem to do anything but smile every time I look at this bag.
Is it practical in any way? No, it probably weighs a ton and it’s ginormous. Would I buy it? Highly unlikely, particularly for that price. Do I have anything to wear it with (or to)? No, not that I can think of. So why do I like it so much? That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I have always liked the concept of these bags; purses, in reality, are nothing but big pockets that we carry around with us, and having the front pocket of a bag be another purse is a cute play on the normal construction that we all know so well. I particularly like this version because of the combination of materials - the back bag is leather, the front bag is suede, and it’s then covered in Swarovski crystals. A surprising number of you guys liked the Marc Jacobs Jeweled Stam that we talked about previously, and I like the black version with grey crystals even more. This is probably one of those bags that functions better as a concept than something to actually use, but I continue to applaud Marc Jacobs for doing something innovative with these. Buy through eLuxury for $2650.
Megs with Ferragamo. Stunning couple.
In my opinion, the Burberry Westcott Shoulder Bag is a very clear case of a bag that looks much better in person than it does online. This is the best picture I could find to see the immense detail of the bag’s construction, but it still looks stiff and kind of messy, don’t you think? In reality, it’s anything but. The neat rows of buttery soft leather ruffles are cropped close enough to the bag to not look silly, but still long enough to give the bag tons of texture that makes it much more than just another black leather hobo.
The leather that makes up the base of the bag is just as soft as that that makes up the ruffle decoration, which gives the bag a slouch that would probably break in even more with a bit of use. The strap was plenty long to carry the hobo easily and it also has an extra crossbody strap, if that’s your think. The bag is big but not oversized, and still muted enough, with ruffles and all, to use as an everyday bag that could be carried to work. On the whole, I think Burberry did a beautiful job with this bag, and it’s really too bad that it doesn’t show up well in photos. This is definitely a bag you need to see to appreciate. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2195.
