Imitation = Flattery?

I know a big part of what Pat Field likes to do is play with the high and reinterpret to the low but sometimes I think she goes a bit wrong... off into the tacky direction.

The obvious original piece - the YSL Mail clutch. Sleek, shiny and classic. I have to admit I adore this.

Pricey... yes, that too.



I applaud Ms. Field for making the style accessible but the way its done just looks a bit chintzy to me. It's too colorful. Too trying to look like a real piece of air mail. It loses the streamlined graphic design that makes the YSL version so appealing.

Express Mail Clutch by Pat Field -



I know you don't want a total knock-off but it is obvious to me where the "inspiration" came from. By trying to distance itself from the original it just came out messy. Rather a closer inspired design in maybe a new fresh color (hot pink? bright aqua?) that would have been a better way to go.

Voila! An Adorable Bag Just For You.

I was just on Simply Soles and saw this adorable little clutch from Cate Adair. I just love the Ottoman Empire-inspired shape.



Not that I'm wearing any of the newly resurged harem pants, but if you want to be cheeky, pair them with this.

Give Me Liberty!

I mentioned I was going to an antiques festival this past weekend and hoped to come home with some great finds. As always, even when you go with an idea in mind, you never know what you are going to come home with.

Liberty antiques festival is actually pretty good. I was looking for things like vintage feathers and pins but didn't come home with either of that. I did buy a monogrammed pillow made from vintage grain bag fabric and a folk are mini vanity mirror. I also got this adorable little silverplate pitcher for $5.



I shined it up a bit. It isn't perfect but that doesn't bother me. I like how the silver looks like gathered fabric.



On the fashion front I got two vintage bags. This first one is a red, probably '80s, leather clutch.



It's a good large size but not over-sized and has two compartments. I think it was $20.



I also got this adorable little faux croc bag in black patent. It's very petite but just adorable.



I wouldn't classify it as pristine but I'd give it a good 90 - 95%.



Liberty was the source of my vintage lizard bag. So don't overlook the antiques festivals. Typically it's furniture, jewelry and housewares but this year there was a dealer who had only vintage lingerie. Miss C went with me and she got a lovely piece there.

You never know what you're going to find!

Y, oh Y Do I Love Paris???

I'm not sure why I want this so much. But I just do.

I am adoring this Yves Saint Laurent "Y-mail" postcard clutch. I don't even use clutches or evening bags all that often. Not often enough to have more than the few I own now which I also don't use that much. And especially given that it's $395.

But it's also very cute and cheeky. I love the lady's profile in the faux stamp. And the Paris address to which I aspire someday.

I'm just going to pine away for this over here for a little while. Okay?

Available at Neiman Marcus (but not online) and at the YSL online store. It says it comes in white too, although I haven't seen a picture.