The London Handbag Shopping Centre

White after labor day is no longer seen as a faux paux. Fact of the matter is many people are no longer putting away their whites after labor day. The key to wearing winter whites is picking a key piece and not overdoing it.

I like to opt for colors that are a shade darker, whether it be ivory or a touch of gray with the white. Don’t overdo stark whites, try to pick softer options. Do choose one piece to focus on rather than the entire outfit. The key is to soften up your dark winter wardrobes with a beautiful winter white.

These are some of my favorite winter white handbags, accessories, and clothing:

Diane von Furstenberg Georgette Ruffle Blouse | $285
A dramatic feminine white blouse, this piece is daytime chic and night-time fancy

Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal-Embellished Earrings | $210
Perfect evening wear, these gold-tone crystal earrings would look great with an updo

Miu Miu Coffer Matelasse Leather Hobo | $1,520
A classic Miu Miu shape in an off-white (stone) leather

Christian Louboutin Studio 120 Peep-Toe Pumps | $1,895
Intricately multi-sized studs adorn this pair of off-white leather peep-toe pumps

Judith Leiber Package Clutch | $3,995
Perfect for holiday parties, New Years Eve, and everything in between

Fendi Silk-Chiffon Tiered Gown | $3,070
A romantic and vintage cream silk-chiffon gown features delicate ruffle detailing

Christian Louboutin Lolita Large Montone Leather Bag | $1,195
Super supple ivory leather with a gold chain

Burberry Fold-Over Leather Wallet | $350
Simplistic and stark white, this wallet will look sleek against dark winter colors

Most of us Bagista’s are quite familiar with Christian Dior’s spacious shopper totes and throughout the seasons, we’ve seen the modification of the different textures and colors on these handy totes.

For S/S ’10, Dior presents a quilted coated canvas in the stunning shade of fuchsia. I could settle with quilted coated canvas, but when it comes to this Dior style, rich leather would have been my pick.

Regardless, this tote looks great and its cannage design is presented lovely. From a distance, I assumed the chunky, oversized hardware consisted of gunmetal; instead, it’s something a bit more exotic that gives this tote that eye-catching summery vibe.

Wooden links and the oversized “O” charm compliments this tote bag wonderfully and gives this sunny day pick a very unique appearance.

In regards to the few wooden accented handbags I’ve ran into, nothing had really caught my attention, but this Dior tote is definitely an exception. At the moment, the Panerea tote with wooden accents is available only in the rich fuchsia with purple undertones through SAKS.

You can pre-order this cheery tote for $1,300 at: Saks Fifth Avenue

The Chat: Panerea!

After seeing the Gustto Occhialli Bag featured during the 30 Days of Giveaways going on here at Bag Bliss and The Bag Forum, my interest in the brand was instantly rejuvenated. But how could it not be? After all, the bag was beautiful! And I have always had this deep admiration for Agathe Planchon. Her company began as a small, internet-based business. It certainly didn’t take Agathe long, however, to climb her way to the top of the fashion world and now her handbags are loved by celebrities and bagistas alike! Gustto handbags are simple, gorgeous, and unique. What more could a girl really ask for?

Well, I’m glad you asked because just when it seemed like it couldn’t possibly get any better, it actually did! Introducing a brand new line from Agathe Planchon — The Miss Gustto Handbag Collection! This new line was created for young and adventurous ladies on the go. It offers trendy and versatile pieces, everything you would expect from the Gustto name. But get this ladies, these new handbags are set at a lower, more affordable price-point. So if this was the “more” that a girl could ask for, then I think Agathe needs a big round of applause!

Pictured below are a couple of my favorite groupings from the new Miss Gustto Line. The Fiore Collection features beautifully embossed leather and is reminiscent of the Gustto Pavia Bag. The Vintage Collection features adorable little studs and woven detailing.


For more information about the new Miss Gustto Handbag Collection, please visit Gustto’s official website.

Otherwise, be sure to look for it at stores such as Bloomingdales. The collection is due out after January 1st!

The Chat: miss gustto!

Ladies and gentlemen, we are just days away from 2010. Can you believe it? I remember being younger and never quite understanding adults saying “Where has this year gone?”, yet now that I am, I guess an adult, I get it. It’s as if you blink and half the year is gone. But that’s really neither here nor there. With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, I try to mentally plan what I am going to wear and carry. When it comes to New Year’s Eve, I want a shiny, noticeable and gorgeous handbag in my hand.

Whenever I have a certain look in mind, more often times than not, Marc Jacobs pulls through in the clutch – no pun intended. The Marc Jacobs Night In Rio Swarovski-Studded Clutch is just the kind of handbag I would love to have in my hand once the New Year’s Eve Ball drops. There is a bit of understated elegance about this bag.

Not only does it look gorgeous from afar, but once you hear the details about it, I am sure you could become a fan. This black satin clutch is adorned with Swarovski crystal and gold-tone stud embellishments. I am a huge fan of the way the embellishments come together on this bag: structured yet elegant. While I could do without the gold-tone padlock at the front, it actually adds a bit of dimension and weight to the bag. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $895.

Whether it’s purses or shoes Christian Louboutin is one of my ultimate weaknesses. Unfortunately, I don’t own any Christian Louboutin pieces but the accessories definitely make me drool. The shoes have always been eye candy to my eyes. I absolutely love heels, and to own a pair of black high heeled Christian Louboutin heels would complete my intense shoe collection.

Even though I can’t purchase any Christian Louboutin pieces at the moment, it doesn’t mean I can’t admire them. When I spotted the “Lolita” Wristlet my mouth dropped. Yes, it’s not as pretty as a pair of shoes, but it is adorable!

I love clutches and I especially love the color black. The “Lolita” Wristlet is so simple, but yet classic that it’s fabulous. The goldtone hardware accents the wristlet well because it does pop out at you with the dark leather. Since the bag is black you can’t help not to miss the gold “Louboutin” logo on the front of the clutch.

This would be a perfect wristlet to carry when you are going out for the evening. It has that classy look that would make it go perfect with any evening outfit, but it’s also small enough to only carry your essentials instead of a large purse with tons of things in it. Once again, here is a case of a beautiful little accessory with a price that’s so high it’s not even worth taking a second look at the wristlet.

You can purchase the Christian Louboutin “Lolita” Wristlet at Saks Fifth Avenue for $695, which I think is an absurd price for this clutch. The wristlet is way too small to cost that much but being who the designer of it is, the price comes as no surprise.

See the Christian Louboutin “Lolita” Wristlet at: Saks Fifth Avenue

The Chat: lolita!

This is not the first time we are seeing Valentino using a bow with their handbag design. In fact, I am not finding fault with the bow design, in fact, I am quite a fan of it. However, I actually didn’t even see the bow at first with this bag. Instead I was a tad overwhelmed with all of the studding. We’ve gone back and forth for months now about the use of studding on handbags. Yet, this is the first one that actually stands up and says, “love me or hate me, you WILL notice me”.

Leave it to Valentino to pull together a handbag with a very noticeable look. The Valenitno Shiny Nappa Studded Tote has a fabulous design which is nothing but lost behind all the studding. I for one am a fan of studding, when done correctly. However, here, it looks as though someone was a bit too stud-gun happy.

I am completely disappointed that such luxurious, creamy and soft leather has been overtaken by mini studs. This handbag would be a knock out if it weren’t for all the studs. Don’t you think? Per usual, Valentino handbags come with a hefty price tag, but the overall design of the bag is timeless and classic. So, if I were looking for an investment piece and was willing to drop big bucks, this bag would be right up my alley if it weren’t for all the studs. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $2695.

I’ve always had an obsession for exotic leathers especially when they are featured on handbags. Exotic leathers can always make a handbag look more unique, as well as gorgeous. I dream of the day when I’m able to own my very on Hermes Birkin made from crocodile leather but until then I just sit admire gorgeous handbags on the computer. One exotic handbag that I’m currently in love with is the Chloé Elsie Python Satchel.

The Chloé “Elsie Python” Satchel is made entirely from Python skin, and it’s absolutely stunning. The handbag itself is pretty sophisticated and the Python skin just adds to the beauty of the bag.

I’m not sure if I would ever use this bag if I actually owned it, but it’s pretty to look at. It’s not really my style, but I can appreciate a beautiful bag that would look amazing in my collection. To me, exotic leathers make any bag look that much more appealing and that’s exactly what happened with the “Elsie” satchel. I think if this bag was in regular leather it wouldn’t look as amazing as it does with the exotic leather.

To me, this would make the perfect work bag. It’s big, classy, and the whole look of the bag screams professional. I can totally see a doctor or lawyer walking around with this bag. You don’t have to be in one of those professions to carry around this bag though.

The Chloé “Elsie Python” Satchel can be purchased at Saks Fifth Avenue for $2,895. The price is high, but when an exotic leather is featured on the bag we can expect a super high price. It’s a gorgeous bag, but I would never pay that much for it. If you have the look and style to rock this bag out with, then I suggest buying it! It may be pricey, but this bag is too beautiful to pass up!

See the Chloé “Elsie Python” Satchel at: Saks Fifth Avenue

The Chat: elsie!