Almost Packed

Yves Saint Laurent Grey Flannel 'Downtown' Tote

Aesop's Fables cautioned "beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." We can't help but feel that Yves Saint Laurent's accessories are beginning to lose the substance of their style as they grasp at the dark shadow of "it bag" success. Charging thousands of dollars for flannel bags like this Yves Saint Laurent Grey Flannel Downtown Tote is a way to turn a tidy profit but the danger of losing the substance that gives you cachet is an ever present danger as markets tire of bag saturation. A cautionary tale indeed.

Particularly Poignant Purples For Pleasing Purse Purchases

For whatever reason we feel the urge to be alliterative. We think this may come from sheer laziness or perhaps a perceived need for content but the idea of consonance is so appealing. As we learned today the relative formal accessibility of alliteration makes it one of the most commonly used literally tools in English, tracing its origins back to Old English and other Germanic languages.

Alliterative verse in which the poetry relies heavily on consonance and assonance rather than rhyme was used most notably in the epic Beowolf. And while we rather disliked the new animated 3D version with Angelina Jolie as Grendel's mother we still like the alliterative poetry of these particularly purple purses They really POP from the page as you might say.

   



Clockwise from Left: Boy Renwick Purple Bag, Purple Quilted Balenciaga Bag, B Romanek Caimon "Rock Star" Clutch, Foley and Corinna The Little Clutch, Linea Pelle Angie Bag

Rebecca Minkoff Dream Bag

When traveling it is easy to focus on others. Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent or Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people is never more true than when on a trip. Waiting to pick up bags is an exercise in jealousy at times. But it is possible to avoid that grass is always green mentality. Who wouldn't be completely satisfied with this Rebecca Minkoff Dream Bag? It is a tidy little duffle style shoulder bag that just screams stylish travel!
-

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.

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!

Top Ten Bags For Cruise/Resort 2008 According to Net-A-Porter.com

The weather is just starting to cool but savvy fashionistas are already planning what to wear when they escape the chill to their winter warm retreats! Net-a-Porter has the Top Ten Bags Of Cruise 2008


They include Anya Hindmarch Clutch Control, Bottega Veneta's Under Canvas, Devi Kroell Satin Touch, Marc Jacob's Guilt Trip, Jimmy Choo Meshed Up, Zac Posen No Strings Attached, Be & D Ruffle Your Feathers,  Miu Miu White Out, Mulberry Gold Dust, Botkier Get Strappy, and for good measure Marni's Balloon Ridge.

Sounds like the copy writers had fun huh?

Jessica Simpson Loves Michael Kors, Python Bags And The View

We caught up with Jessica Simpson on her trip to the View thanks to Popsugar and noticed that Jessica's love of printed goodies from Michael Kors goes beyond just leopard print dresses.

She carried something very close to the Michael Kors Python Zipper Shopper with her darling sweater dress.

Hayden Panettiere May Design A Cute Bag With Her Dooney and Burke Hayden Bag But The Dwindling Affordable Luxury Market Might Take Its Toll On Her Good Taste

We have never watched Heros and only recently figured out who Hayden Panettiere is but we think she has fantastic taste. Or at least she is very good at following trends. Her Hayden Bag is right on target with its red patent leather, buckle closure and big pleats.

What if you had the chance to design the handbag you’ve always wanted? For Hayden Panettiere, currently starring in NBC’s hit show Heroes, it was an exciting opportunity. She began by describing to Peter Dooney just what she envisioned: a large leather shoulder bag with puffy pleats, a buckle closure and great style. The design team made some sketches, then Peter Dooney transformed her ideas into prototypes at Dooney & Bourke’s design studio in Florence, Italy. After several revisions and lots of input from Hayden, the limited edition Hayden Bag was born. Hayden Bag - $500
H 11" W 7.5" L 17"

But the bag isn't due to be delivered till December and we wonder if this might be troubling for the success of Hayden's bag. The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a serious slowdown in the affordable luxury market which sadly this pretty bag happens to fall in with its $500 price point, celebrity endorsement and trend conscious design.

Though the luxury sector is expected to put in another strong performance this season, the lower end of that market -- selling so-called affordable luxury to aspirational buyers -- is starting to feel the pinch of the weak economy, due to cutbacks by folks like Ms. Maine (an engineer who makes just over six figures). Only the most elite brands and the retailers catering to the richest customers are likely to escape unscathed.

Poor Hayden! And poor Dooney and Burke. Nice effort though. We think the bag is pretty cute. Maybe an Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen bag for Lanvin is a better bet for luring in the truly rich shoppers this season. Though frankly those women can design their own damn bag at Hermés.

Check out some other perspectives on the bag from ShinyStyle and StyleIt

 

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.