Sloaney Fun
Not being a Sloaney cow myself does not get in the way of me enjoying this lovely Alessa tote from Kate Spade. It’s made in a beautiful blue (and yellow, and black) cowhide with bendy tubey handles and gold fittings.
This is one of those flexi-purses Kate Spade excel at — smart yet practical, pretty yet durable. It’s perfect to be used on a day out shopping, and is designed to fit comfortably on your arm and shoulder. This tote is also roomy enough to fit winter essentials such as gloves and a scarf (and perhaps a small umbrella) so you’re always prepared.
Get shopping!
Fendi Bender
It’s not often that I consider myself baffled by a purse, but today, I must confess to feeling a little bewildered.
We’ve had something of a clutch theme of late, so I thought it would be perfect timing to talk about this clutch from Fendi. It’s only recently that I realised it was a clutch at all (it also comes with a gold chain handle, this caused a bit of confusion).
Well anyway… Jesus, I don’t know where to start. The leather itself is absolutely beautiful… soft nappa in cognac brown. Very scrunchy and fun, I’ll give it that.
Unfortunately, and I’m sure this is just me, it reminds me of something unpleasant you’d see on the street after a few people had trodden on it. I think you know what I’m talking about here.
I’m as open-minded as the next girl when it comes to ‘different’ designs, but I honestly cannot connect with this purse. Frankly the white rabbit fur one was much nicer.
Stop playing around, Fendi!
Too Sexy For My Purse
We rely on Marc Jacobs to give us sharp, sophisticated glamour and they haven’t let us down with this little beauty.
It’s an evening purse from the current collection — it’s a quilted gold purse with chain handle — absolutely no logos anywhere apart from a subtle little "Marc Jacobs" on the clasp — and the only way anyone is going to see that is if they are envying your purse or trying to steal it. The inside lining is a gorgeous mulberry-burgundyish colour suede — soft and sultry, just like the purse as a whole.
It’s just perfect for a very glam evening out — team it up with some high Chloe shoes and a short black dress for maximum impact.
Hot!
Delicate Dior
How lovely is this little clutch from Dior?
Now normally, I have to say, I am only really a fan of vintage clutches — I prefer there to be something of a shoulder strap, or handles. But this one here is undeniably sweet.
It’s a mish-mash of satin and patent leather, with a pink and white wrist strap. The strap is what keeps it from being too little girlish — it adds practicality and style. Even if you don’t use it as a day purse, it can be used as a cosmetics case, or just a special bag to put secret stuff like love letters or photographs.
The pattern is very delicate and feminine — soft yet sturdy. and the strap ensures you won’t leave it behind by accident (I don’t know about you, but I tend to do that with clutch purses…).
It’s simply bubblegum-delicious. <3
All Aboard!
When you hear the words "Jimmy Choo" I’m sure the first thing that springs to mind is either "Oooh, shoes!" or "Oooh, Sex And The City!"
Well today we are here for neither shoes nor tv — it’s all about purses, and Jimmy Choo are responsible for some rather fabulous ones. You can pretty much guarantee that if a design house knows what they are doing with shoes, they will know what they’re doing with purses. It’s like strawberries and cream, yin and yang, both complementary and contradictory. The same concepts that go into the creation of shoes also go into purses. On a side note, Jimmy Choo are one of the few designers to be able to create a genuinely comfortable three-inch-heel. It’s a joy to behold.
Now this purse here is from the current evening collection — beatiful python leather, available in three different colours (black, bronze and blue) with a python clasp. It’s so gorgeously, ancient Egyptian-ishly glamorous, and certainly not a purse for everyone — I strongly suspect it’s a love-it-or-hate-it purse.
I know which side of the fence I’m on…
King Kooba
I am head over heels in love with this Chiara bag from Kooba.
It’s that <i>green</i> — I <i>adore</i> green. It’s the calfskin leather and the little brass studs and the slouchy, gorgeous relaxed style of it — so very very very beautiful. It’s a tiny little thing compared to the Claudia bag but that’s why I like it so much — it’s not going to knock anything over when you spin around suddenly.
It’s also available in bronze, which is <i>also</i> very pretty, but you know the green is just more… yummy. Or hell, get both. It’s the holiday season coming up and I know in advance you deserve a treat. Trust me. 
Lulu’s Ladies
It seems almost indecent to actually <i>use</i> a Lulu Guinness purse, doesn’t it? You get the feeling the purse should be placed on a pedestal somewhere and just gazed at by all and sundry. They’re always so gorgeous, it never ceases to amaze and delight that so much love and attention can go into making, well, anything.
The one on the left is a black satin coin purse with classic clasp and beading. I love the profile of the be-pearled lady, just like on those old-fashioned brooches. This is a purse for the good girls.
The purse below is a fishnet design wallet, made of laminated cotton with plenty of room for both coins and cards. It’s naughty without being crude and sexy without being smutty and just so fun and burlesquey — a purse for the cheeky girls.
They are both so delicate and lovely it’s almost too much. This is the sort of design the girls at Benefit try to pull off, but they can’t quite get the right level of class.
Despite the fragile <i>look</i> of these darlings, they are extremely durable and very high quality — much like the girls in the time period Lulu takes inspiration from.
Too scrumptious for words.
Amanda Huggenkiss
This purse is smiling at me. No seriously, it is. Just look at it. It’s smiling because it knows full well that anyone who so much as glances at it has to own it. Why? Because, like almost all Marc Jacobs purses, it’s so… grabbable… cool and sexy and almost too hip for the likes of you and me.
This purse is special. Almost every other ‘hot’ bag this season is made of leather and fur, but this little beauty — "Amanda" — is made of… have you guessed it?… denim.
It really is an absolute joy just to look at. A nice, strong, solid design that’s offset by the softness of its powdery-blue colour. It’s perfect for everyday wear and tear, can easily dress an outfit up or down, and thanks to the bags reassuring bulk it’s one of those purses that is a real comfort to have under your arm.
Nine out of ten on this one Marc — I’m taking away a wee point for not making this purse in more colours. Send me a free handbag and we’ll call it even, ‘k?
<3
Coach Conundrum
I don’t know what in the holy hell is going over at Coach HQ right now, but this new ‘holiday themed’ purse is like nothing I have ever seen in my life.
Is it interesting and warmly seasonally cute? Or is it just one big mess of a bag? I am on the fence here.
I mean, ok: patchwork, that’s pretty cute. And then you have both patent and nappa leather, and suede, and jacquard fabric, all in the same purse! How many bags can claim the same? I’m guessing none. It’s all cute and buckly and detailed. I love it.
On the other hand: a patchwork purse? What is this, Little House in New York City? Patent leather <i>and</i> nappa leather <i>and</i> suede <i>and</i> jacquard <i>all in the same purse</i>? How many bags can claim the same?
None, because it ends up looking like <i>that</i>. It’s all cute and buckly and detailed, yes, but all I can focus on is a patch of what looks like leopard/giraffe skin on there.
To the lovely, gifted people at Coach — it’s November 1st, for the love of God. <i>Way</i> too early to be hitting the eggnog.
