Almost Packed

Caveat Emptor and The Danger of Bag Blogs

In The Cult of The Amateur Andrew Keen makes a few low blows about the ability of the average consumer to understand his consumption choices as a buttress to his central thesis that blogging is quite reprehensible. Apparently the fact that all of us are constantly blogging with very little discrimination makes the addled consumer even more confused about what is and is not worthwhile in life. The trouble phenomenon of extended adolescence aside, we aren't much for a didactic press.

Perhaps it makes it harder for some consumers to have a multitude of voices vouching for their fashion preferences. But our mothers always told us you can't always believe what you read. And seeing is not always believing. And even at a low resolution we are pretty sure you can still tell which bag is a Balenciaga Matelasse and what is a random quilted bag from Forever 21. And if you can't, or won't, be bothered to do a little due diligence on your shopping then you don't have much right to complain. Caveat Emptor now more than ever!

Budget Bag Blog: Under $50 Budget Holiday Party Bags

Christmas is coming and we are getting fat! Please put a penny in an old woman's clutch! The holiday season is upon us and the money is being spent and furiously and generally not on ourselves. And yet somehow we are still expected to look respectable at any number of parties. Thus we have decided a list of Under $50 Holiday Party Bags is in order. You may break your back this season but you shouldn't break the bank right?

Beginning at top left and spiraling in clockwise: La Regale Gold Beaded Satin Frame Clutch $32, Cold Water Creek Black Moc Croc Embossed Clutch $37, Savanna Crinkled Satin Red Frame Clutch $32, Asos Jessica Simpson Black Hard Case Glitter Clutch, $36,Paul's Boutique Copper Bow Clutch, $44,Nine West Black Satin Bow Clutch, $39, Nine West Pink Satin Girl Clutch, $49,Asos Mischa Barton Mini Gem Detail Box Clutch in Black, $24

Ann Taylor Rectangular Box Evening Bag

Theodor Adorno said modernity is a qualitative, not a chronological, category. And while his beloved Frankfurt school that typified so much of the philosophy of modernity (and indeed Marxism as well) seems dated now in our post-post modern world we can in that sense we can still have fashion design that is modern. This Ann Taylor Rectangular Box Evening Bag is modernity in a box. And while Adorno had problems with mass production and aesthetics we hope that as a consumer you can see beyond pseudo-individualization and use this bag to make your own style.

Travelpro "Wall Street VIP" Executive Rolling Brief

We remember a time when we seriously considered taking a management consultant job. The allure of The McKinsey way for a college student has very little to do learning how to manage projects or work with Fortune 500 companies and much more to do with a decent paycheck.

But then you realize that the projects you are put on involve such fascinating subjects as the bovine growth hormones in Iowa. And then all you have to keep you occupied is flirting with fellow travelers as you head to Des Moine.



But if this commercial for VIP bags is in indication the biggest factor in getting that hot chick into your room at the Ramada is having attractive luggage. We say go for Vuitton if you really care but this Travelpro "Wall Street VIP" Executive Rolling Brief isn't half bad either. Just substitute the Mac for a Dell and you really are on the right track. Be warned, the consequence in the "Up or Out" world of management consulting could be devastating.

Budget Bag Blog: Forever 21 Vintage Lady Bag

It has been said that  “The more you act like a lady, the more he'll act like a gentleman." But what do you do when you are a lady without means living in a culture of crass, mass, and very little class?

Find a way around the system of course. Impress an otherwise hookup obsessed guy into acting like a gentleman on your next date with this Forever 21 Vintage Lady Bag. Just because you can't afford a Chanel 2.55 doesn't mean you can't put yourself together beautifully are we right? Who knows maybe by saving all that money on dinners you can buy yourself a nicer bag next time. That's right, use the patriarchy. Or is that acting less like a lady?

Lauren Conrad for Linea Pelle

We have tried to watch The Hills but every time we turn it on we find ourselves stymied by a language barrier so impenetrable we are reminded of the work of Willard Van Orman Quine on post modern translation and language. We believe they are speaking English and yet we cannot understand their words or references. His work on the indeterminacy of translation (i.e without a common frame of reference translation may in fact be impossible) seems remarkably apt in that with their inscrutable intentions we can only observe their behavior and hope the speakers environments provide us some clue.


But today we found a reference point we can understand. Lauren Conrad is a guest designer for Linea Pelle. We have always appreciated the contemporary handbag line and thought their bags a decent value. Clearly if they are reaching out to promote themselves via Lauren Conrad it must mean we have something in common. We still don't know what it means, but with Linea Pelle as a reference point perhaps some day communication will be possible. Either that or all meaning is now so blurred that the panoptica of reality culture has skewed all our understanding. With fame whoring being the way to decent sales in an overcrowded market space we might have to go with blurred though.

Budget Bag Blog: Shop Intuition Patent Tote With Front Pocket

Dusty Baker once said that "everyone has a budget, I don't care who you are" he probably wasn't referring to bag budgets but we think it has some wisdom. Everyone wants a decent bag, most of us are at least nominally concerned with trends, and more than a fair portion of us would prefer that our bags not cost rent. That is one reason we so enjoy pointing out budget bag alternatives because we are sure that even our richest readers have a budget too even if it tops out with more bags relative to their poorer shoppers.


And with this Shop Intuition Patent Tote With Front Pocket we can all squeeze in another trendy bag before hitting our limit. This black patent textured tote is only $75 and yet it contains so many of the elements a girl could hope for in a bag for the coming seasons. We highly recommend!

Bamford Mink Small Tote

While we have taken issue with mink bags in the past we think that this Bamford Mink Small Tote might be an exception to the rule that all fur bags must be silly, ostentatious or otherwise unappealing. Simple in design, almost elegant in execution, this mink tote is something a very classy old lady could get away with.


Though we imagine that some very ambitious Russian Oil Wife blondes might be the more likely owners of the bag. But its nice to know that even the worst bag ideas can be reinterpreted into something worthwhile with the right owners.

DKNY Must Have Calf Hair Zebra Print Tote

While we take issue with this DKNY Must Have Calf Hair Zebra Print Tote being any sort of "it" bag, though we can't really blame them for giving it the old college try. "It" status is the best marketing gimmick in bag land. But we do really like the idea of a reasonably priced zebra tote nevertheless.


It has just the right amount of sass for a girl with class. And at $325 you don't have to carry it every single day for the rest of your life to justify the price tag. You can carry it only when you feel the need to take a walk on the wild side.

MCM Patent Medium Duffle Tote

Giant patent leather bags of all styles and colors can be found almost anywhere this season. One of the more intriguing iterations of this beleaguered trend is the MCM Black Patent Medium Duffle Tote


During the '80s, MCM was famous for their monogrammed bags that apparently all chic European girls adored. They recently relaunched and so far so good. This bag is a mix for form and function. It measures 9" tall by 13" by 6" wide, has patent leather top handles, a long detachable strap to make it a crossbody bag, white topstiching, silver hardware and lots of pockets. That logo is going to set you back fifteen hundred big ones though.