Tickled Pink

I am not a purse or bag person. I like don't covet the latest "it" bags and I don't have a huge amount of purses. I'm also pretty picky about what I look for in a bag. I like a classic shape in an interesting color.

I don't want it to be too huge and I usually prefer to carry it on my arm rather than over my shoulder. I don't like soft-sided bags; I actually want them to have some structure to them.

I have a few small bags and clutches but they rarely get used and are usually vintage. Most of the purses I own I keep for years and years and tend to be very lazy about changing them out. I carried my Emerald Alto bag for 2 years straight. The color range for my day-to-day purses includes emerald green, dark orange, sky blue, white and a croc brown. In the Fall I was thinking about a black patent but didn't findy anything I really wanted so that's by the wayside for now.

But for some reason I'm really considering pink.

I started out looking at this pink Emily Satchel from Coach.



It has a great shape, just the right amount of detailing, is the right size and gives the options of carrying on your arm or over your shoulder.



But I wanted to see what non-leather options were out there too. I don't really go purse shopping that much so I thought this would be a great opportunity to see what's out there.

I started out at Matt and Nat, purveyors of some of the best, most stylish vegan bags around. After searching by color I found this cutie - the Tundra-Stellar. It's also a good size and very cute. A bit more of an edge than the Emily but you could carry this to work and out afterwards.



If you are a bit more casual, I think the AstroSatchel's Cherry Blossom messenger is the cutest. This line has a ton of fun graphic designs.

I branched out into more vibrant pinks with this larger Verena satchel. I love the buckles on the end. Plus it comes in five equally eye-catching colors.

The Morgan has a bit of the "doctor-bag" shape to it, which I really like. It was tempting to show it in the gorgeous dandelion versus the raspberry, plus there are two other colors!

If I still want a patent bag in the Fall, I'm coming right back for this Mariah design. It's hard to choose between the amazing colors. The maroon and olive ones here are my favorites but there is also a stunning sapphire and a dark grey. Plus it's under $50, if you can believe that.

As I was searching for vegan options, I found these amazing Vegan Queen pieces. These are expensive but they are amazing. I first spotted the Eco It Bag, as bowling bag shaped piece with vintage hardware...

But then I was stunned by the City Bag. This piece is decadent and simply gorgeous. As I said, I'm not an purse girl but this almost makes me reconsider.

Well, we ended on a high (priced) note but most of these are very resonable, plus vegan, plus CUTE! Have you seen any I should add to the list? Make me into a purse girl too.

; )

Acme Made Laptop - Kate

I have been on the lookout for a good laptop bag for a while now. I've already broken the straps on two because I have a tendency to carry way too much stuff and carry it around all the time.

I have a lot of criteria too and because of this I actually resorted to, after breaking the straps on one bag, tying the straps together just so I could keep using it.

This is not classy or professional.

I don't think what I want is really that outrageous but apparently laptop bag companies do not agree.

Here is what I was looking for:

- Able to hold my 15" laptop
- Room to hold all the cords, portable disc drive and files I bring home with me every night
- Sturdy straps that are long enough to swing over my shoulder and wide enough so that I don't cut off circulation in my arm in the process
- Be cute
- Not be too expensive (ideally $100 or way under)

I have had cloth bags and vinyl, so the material was less of an issue to me than the style but I did want to avoid leather.

I was reading VegNews a few months back and saw this really cute bag highlighted but at the time I wasn't sure of the material or the size (and my current bag and not fallen completely into shreds yet) so I waited. But I was at BlogWorld this past week and saw a girls carrying the exact bag I was looking at, the Acme Made Kate style. She very graciously let me check it out and I decided then and there to order one from the site.

Even better, when I went to place the order, the bag was 35% off! Just use code AMSIG9 at checkout.

This bag meets all of my criteria above, is made of a great faux animal leather material so it seems very durable and it's super cute!

The inside is roomy with a cushioned laptop sleeve and lots of pouches for pens and space for papers and files. The two zippered outside pockets are perfect for stowing those things you need to grab fast like cellphones, business cards and pens.

It even comes with this cute matching pouch to tuck in side (or use as a clutch).

I just got this tonight but I'm already excited to take it to work tomorrow. It fits on my shoulder great and I was able to comfortably fit in all the crap I carry around. I ordered the white with orange stitching but it also comes in the black with purple.

This is the most perfect case I've seen in a long while but check out their other styles too. If they are made as well as this one, you will be in good shape.

Botkier for Target

I'm not a huge bag person so I can't say I'm overly familiar with the Botkier brand. Maybe that helps to give me an objective opinion of the new designer pairing with Target.

But the pictures leading up to the launch of this line made me interested in seeing the real thing.

I like distressed leather especially in metallics. So I really wanted to see this hobo bag in particular.



Well, I was in Target yesterday and I did get to see them.

And, well, frankly they sucked. Big time. They looked like cheap vinyl which is, I guess, what they are.

I didn't see every style in the line but what I saw wasn't good.

Not recommended.

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!

To Heck with the Cheerleader

I know I don't watch a lot of TV and all but is Hayden Panettiere really that big a celebrity? Are people clamoring for Hayden Panettiere-branded high ticket items?



I mean, it's a cute bag and all, but do I really want to spend $500 on this bag with her giant initials dangling from it?



Ummm.... Nope.

Confessions and Second Guesses

Okay, I have to make a confession. When the first images of the SATC movie came out I was swept up in the excitement and giddy fashion. And I was especially enamored of the Timmy Woods Eiffel Tower purse.



I mean, being in the move aside, it's a really cute bag. Especially the version covered in Swarovski crystals. 'Cause I love stuff embellished with crystals.



But, yeah, it's $2500. But I really really wanted it. And it's going to be an "It" bag, right? And I could get my hands on it first. So when the movie came out and everyone loved it I would have had it for months. Cool, right?



Yeah, but it's $2500. And even I am not going to spend $2500 on this. A Judith Leiber, yes (maybe). But I just couldn't justify it.

So I thought, I'll get the regular, non-crystal version (eeewww... regular. blech!). Which just happens to be $375.

So I ordered it. In the months it was backordered I kind of forgot about it and, I guess, lost my giddiness for it. Because when it arrived at my doorstep and I opened the box all I could think was: "Crap! I just paid $375 for a painted piece of wood."



The other thought that entered my mind, besides that fact that the interior of this thing is so small I could barely (and this is totally serious) barely fit a tube of lipstick, was "Will I look like a complete poser, dork, wannabe if I carry around this bag especially after the movie comes out?"

Now normally I don't think I would care as much what anyone thought but it is such an obvious bag that it would beg the comparison all the time. So I sent it back. Only a little sad but very much more relieved.



Now maybe if I had the crystal version I might have kept it.....hmmm....

Flowers in my Arms

To to along with my flower feet, I would love to have this bag from Susannah Hunter. It's a limited edition bag for the Chelsea Garden Show (and I love limited editions!) but I also love peonies and the pink and champagne color combination.




As reported by Vogue -

"I love peonies," Hunter tells us. "They're out at that time of year and they're such lush, opulent and generous flowers - I thought they'd be just perfect."

All the bags have been hand-made in her central London atelier and have a velvet lining and an exclusive Chelsea label embossed with the RHS logo - making them the perfect place to tuck your Chelsea Flower Show Bloomsbury Bag by Susannah Huninvitation, designed by the formidable Manolo Blahnik. The Bloomsbury Bag by Susannah Hunter is priced £440 and available now at her site - www.susannahhunter.com

Loeffler Randall for Target

While I'm not a fan of the Loeffler Randall shoes for Target this season, I am kind of smitten with this hobo tote in cream.



I think this is the nicest piece in the line. Granted, I haven't seen it or felt the material in person but it looks like a nice large size and I am a sucker for a white/vanilla bag. Since it's leather it should wipe down fairly easy.

It also comes in brown and is only $39.99

If you see one or get one let me know what you think of the material.

Emerald City

I've decided that I need a new bag (okay want). And because I don't like to be too trendy and I don't get get all into logos and labels and "it" bags, I tend to favor solid bags with strong colors.

And right now I really really want this Dooney & Bourke Alto Medium Rounded Satchel in Emerald.



It's kind of pricey at $525 but I know I would wear it for years and years. I have a light blue Dooney Alto in a kind of structured hobo shape and I still wear it and get compliments on it. This is even eclipsing the Brahmin bag I want.

Moo Roo on the move

Moo Roo, along with Moyna, were unique bags that came on the scene about 6 years ago. I remember seeing their bags and being entranced with them. Other than Leibers, there were not a lot of other fancy evening bags that hat whimsy and wit. At the time they came out and I first heard about them, they were a little out of my price range being in the $300 range. But they inspired me because they were started in the founder, Mary Norton's home. They soon became adopted by celebrities (this is pre-big bag craziness) and just stood out. I appreciated their artisan details and attention to quality.

I was glad Mary did well with her bags and felt they were worth their price. They were high-end but not inaccessible. I'm sad to say that this is about to change. From what I've heard, Moo Roo has been bought out and a new company under the Mary Norton name will be the sole company. I've looked at the new site and product line and all I have to say is "yawn".

They are beautiful and glamorous but they are safe and soul-less. They are also twice as expensive. I'm all for a company doing well but this almost seems like gouging to me. You can tell when an artisan company becomes corporate. It's kind of sad to me really.

They also have a line shoes. I'm not sure if I will be shopping with Ms. Norton however. I'd feel like any other chick buying a pair of expensive shoes, not patronizing a craftsman.