Goyard: Must-Have or Status Symbol?

the reputation: elite
the canvas: stunning
the monogram: classic
the price: outrageous

This leads me to wonder: Goyard- must have or status symbol?
Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to own one. What I question: is it
worth the money? Are people buying it for the second glance and extra
attention, or is it actually so stylish that its worth a mortgage
payment?
Founded in 1853, it is the oldest Malletier (trunkmaker) in history.
In the past, Goyard was a travel necessity for many aristocratic
families. Their royal orders have always been an important part of
Goyard's reputation. The brand is so exclusive that is only available
in four American locations (Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, and the Goyard
store in San Francisco's Union Square.)
Obviously you can't argue the success of the world-renowed brand. I
just second guess my desire for it because it really and truly is the
ultimate luxury item.
So when it boils down to it... do we really love it or do we lust over
the label? Well, I guess the only way to do extensive research is for
me to own one and test it out. I am happy to accept all donations.
Until that day comes- I will keep my eyes on the prize.

~ Allie Bashuk

The Laptop Bag

I will be getting a laptop soon and you know what I am most excited about? If you guessed the laptop itself, you are wrong! Nope, a computer, no matter how many bells and whistles it has does nothing to excite me; to me a laptop is a laptop. No, the thing that makes my heart go pitter-patter is the chance to go shopping for a laptop bag.

Seriously, this really is more important then the computer itself. I refuse to carry my laptop around in some canvas tote emblazoned with my company's logo! Besides, you can’t use just any old bag to hold your laptop. It has to be sturdy, easy to carry/hold and, most importantly, look good with any outfit.

So off I went to find the perfect laptop bag. Now, you could settle for the laptop bags available at the office supply store or the computer shop, but why not let your fingers do the work? Online shopping is the perfect way to get access to an amazing assortment of laptop bags, more than you will ever find in the store. I expected to find a good assortment online, but even I was surprised at the variety.

The problem soon becomes how to choose the perfect bag from so many wonderful options. Finally, companies have realized that people take their laptops everywhere; and they want them to not only be safe and secure, but stylish, too. In fact, I am considering getting a more toned down, “work-a-day” bag for the office and a cute, colorful little bag for taking the laptop to the coffee shop on weekends.

My first stop was the website http://www.kolobags.com/. This site carries an enormous assortment of laptop bags in a variety of prices. If you can imagine it, they have it. From a simple sleeve that just protects your laptop to wheeled laptop bags. I imagine these wheeled bags come in handy for those that travel extensively with their laptops and a ton of paper work.

Of course, you can always find stylish laptop bags from the designers. Gucci has an adorable laptop case. Also, later this fall White + Warren will be releasing a beautiful leather laptop bag. So happy shopping!

~ Jennifer Flaten

Clutch Me

Sometimes you just want something small and tasteful. Especially for a night on the town, nothing will spoil your look more then carrying a giant purse.

No woman should step out of her house for a hot night out carrying her everyday bag. Don’t get me wrong, your everyday bag is your go-to bag for work and casual weekends (even going out directly after work) but it simply will not do for an evening at the theatre, gallery opening or even dinner with that special someone. No matter how sexy the dress a 10lb purse dangling off your arm will ruin your look.

Time to get a "night out" bag. If you spend all that time and money getting beautiful for your night out you need a bag that is beautiful, sleek and, most importantly, small. Your dress-up bag should be complementary to your outfit; your purse is a great way to bring a little color into your safe LBD; it also should be sleek and sexy. What it shouldn’t be is the huge, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bag you take to work.

The ideal look would be no purse at all, but we all know that is impossible. So the next best thing is the clutch! Yes, this is the clutch’s time to shine. It is small and discreet, but able to carry everything a girl out on the town will need. Of course, the clutch would never do for anything more then a night on the town, it can never carry all your day-to-day essentials. But for a fabulous night out it is all about the clutch.

Yes, a good clutch complements an outfit, then stays out of the way. You can get a clutch with a secure little wrist strap if you are worried about it getting misplaced or if you are really daring you can get a clutch with no strap at all. Either way these little guys are powerhouses. What else do you know that can add a little bling and carry your lipstick too?

~ Jennifer Flaten

Marc Jacobs Frog Clutch

In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, basic human needs must be fulfilled in order to function. For me, one of my principle needs is shopping. Call it superficial, but it helps me get through the day. So get your daily dose of shopping and think outside the box.

I have accepted the fact that I have an unhealthy obsession with clutches. Thankfully most are so overpriced that I can only drool over them. Here is an exception to the rule, and it is mighty fun to boot. Check out this Marc Jacobs Frog Clutch; amphibians everywhere will be complimenting you.

I still believe you need basic clutches to complete your wardrobe, but sometimes you need a little twist.

You wouldn't settle for a mundane life, so why why should your accessories wardrobe be an exception? It is the perfect alternative to a standard black or gold clutch. I love this evening bag with all of my might. So bring out your inner animal lover and leap into action. Treat yourself to this exceptionally precious clutch.

~ Allie Bashuk

One Woman's Trash is Another Woman's Bag

The winners of the Independent Handbag Designer Awards (IHDA) were
recently announced. I love this competition. It recognizes up and
coming designers who stand out in a crowded market. Plus it is a great
way to find new and inspired designs. "It" bags are nice but they all
start to look alike after awhile. The IHDA contests showcases
cutting-edge design and fresh ideas.

Helen Marchoschamer for Ecoist won the Best Green Handbag category.
Ecoist is a fascinating company committed to sustainability. Ecoist
recycles candy wrappers, soda labels, subway maps and newspapers,
diverts them from landfills, and uses them to create stylish,
eco-friendly bags.

The bag that wowed the IHDA judges was Slim Portfolio in Shades of
Brown. Slim Portfolio is an oversized clutch made from repurposed candy
wrappers. It is made in Mexico by fair trade workers.

The company has an extensive collection. My favorites are the silver
metallic bags made from foil gum wrappers. As they say, "One woman's
trash is another woman's treasure." And then there is my new motto,
"Doing good by looking good!"

˜ Liz O'Donnell

You In A Bag

I just spent the last three days at the Atlanta Apparel Mart’s June Apparel & Accessories Show. Bags galore! With trends coming and going, hot looks that become mass produced and then fade away, what style is really you? Can we trust trends to tell us what’s good enough to carry on our shoulder? And even so, what does that translate to once everyone else has the same bag!?

You’ve seen it, maybe even bought one, maybe even still carry it. The bags with the certain print - leopard, giraffe, etc. - or the fabric print brand with millions of followers are bags that take off almost overnight and wake up to instant stardom. Was the trend really you? Did you buy in because your best friend, neighbor, mom, and aunt did? Or was it something you genuinely favored and regretted that everyone owned a copy?

Let’s get something straight. Bag=Expression. Certainly the expression is somewhat lessened when everyone is expressing the same thing. Maybe even the expression is to express the same thing? A sense of belonging or in-the-know? Ok, really deep there when all I really want to accomplish is a simple bag experiment.

Here’s the shake down. I want you to come up with a bag that describes you, in its style, form, function, etc. Basically, show us you in a bag. If a bag could sum you up, your style, let’s see it! I want to know what funky, hip, classy, edgy, indie, rocker, preppy Modo Facile Bag Lady fans we have out there!

So here’s mine.

L.A.M.B. 'Los Feliz - Larchmont' Double Pocket Satchel

Gwen Stefani may be a singer, not a fashion designer, but she’s still my icon and something hits home with me in this bag. It’s the black and white, the big-bag feel, the trim, the style. I love it! This would be me in a bag.

Now send ‘em on! I’m ready to see what you’ve got! Let the whole world know your ultimate bag expression and we’ll dote and share our bag fetish together! Just post your favorite bag and why to comments and let the expressing begin.

~ Rebekah Lovell

Child's Play

I miss recess. A lot.

Why is it that this normal daily routine is abruptly ripped away from us? Are we suddenly deemed too old for child’s play?

Thankfully, handbag designer Kathrine Baumann misses recess too – or at least she’s never lost her sense of wonder, whimsy and wackiness. The former Miss Ohio (and first runner-up Miss America) has created a handbag collection (www.kbaumann.com) that not only appeals to the couture kid in all of us, it provides the perfect party accessory!

Baumann’s playful purses are adorned with eye-catching Swarovski crystals that become the center of attention, no matter what the outfit. Her bejeweled designs range from classic clutches to pop-art masterpieces.

Dubbed the female Andy Warhol, the designer has many famous names and American icons in her collection – the Pink Panther, Kermit the Frog, Diet Coke, Campbell’s Soup and the Titanic - and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The latest addition to the all-star cast is the Ms. Green Bag, a silly take on the sexy green M&M.

But when it comes to these Swarovski-studded bags, if you want to play, you gotta pay! Baumann’s playful pieces go for serious bucks, with most of the bags priced in the $1000 - $3000 range. The popular Big Kiss bag is a red-hot favorite and sells for $1937.50. The limited edition Ms. Green M&M is priced at $2495.

The great thing about Baumann’s collection is that there is something for all tastes, whether it’s pop art, animals, food, sports or flowers, from kitsch to classic. The one on my most-wanted list is the director’s clapboard – and as soon as I sell a screenplay, that baby is mine!

No matter what, the pricey pieces are sure-fire attention-getters, whether you’re kicking up your heels on a girls’ night out or sauntering down the red carpet. In fact, many of Baumann’s fans are A-list celebs - Jennifer Aniston, Hilary Swank, Christina Applegate and Brooke Shields have all had a Baumann bag in their clutches.

Bringing whimsy to a wardrobe is what these accessories are all about. The designs are exclusive, yet effervescent – and will definitely dial your fashion-fun quotient up a notch…or five! I’m already planning to bring one along to my high school reunion, and as soon as recess returns, you know my Baumann bag is taking center stage on that playground!

- Christine Cipriani

Celistina Clutch

Oscar Wilde once said, "One should either be a work of art, or wear a

work of art". To me, clothing is my portable art. Not following
mainstream trends, being unique, and working on your intuition is what
sets you apart from conformist fashion.

If daring art pieces aren't for you, but you can appreciate it- here
are your training wheels. I promise you will have instant confidence
wearing this Celestina clutch. It is certainly unconventional, but
stays within the boundaries of good taste. Handmade from Tiger Pen
mosaic shells with ebony wood trim (it just SOUNDS elegant) no two
will be exactly the same. So here is a one-of-a-kind beautiful piece
of art where you are the canvas.

I'm sure your doodles deserve their own museum and your Valentine's
card to your aunt in the third grade is fridge-worthy, but I think you
need to channel your creative side in accessorizing. It will save us
all time and money.

~ Allie Bashuk

(purse available at www.net-a-porter.com)

Tote-al Do's and Dont's

The other day I saw a woman with a tote made with quilted fabric-college sports team fabric. Now this would have looked very cute-sporty even had she been at a game. I mean I personally don’t get the need to support a team by emblazoning myself with their logo, but I understand that some people do! Anyway, the problem I had is that she was dressed in a very nice outfit, obviously headed to the office, using this fabric sports team tote to ferry her items to work. It just ruined her look.

I see it everyday - ladies taking their lunch, extra shoes etc. to work in ugly totes, sometimes even plastic grocery bags (shudder). Yes, I understand Wisconsin is not the fashion capital of the world, but that doesn’t mean we have to lose all respect!

Come on ladies, pinky swear with me-”I will use a nice looking tote to take my stuff to work.” You are all dressed for work, wearing good clothes, good shoes, and carrying a nice handbag. You spoil the whole thing by having an ugly tote or worse yet, a ratty, plastic bag hanging off your arm. It isn’t just sports team logos that ruin the look, it is bags with overly cutesy themes: puppies, canvas bags that are dirty, and the worst tote bags that have photos (usually of the family) on them.

Admit it, we spend a lot of time making sure that our outfits and jewelry project the right professional image, so how come we tend to forget that our tote is part of that image? Let’s start taking that extra step and put effort into choosing a nice looking tote bag.

So from now on the rule is-A patchwork bag that proclaims our love of a certain sports team is fine for the weekend trip to the stadium. Not for bringing our planner et al to the office!! Agreed?

There are many fantastic totes out there in all shapes, sizes and colors (and yes-prices). I myself, prefer a sleek, single color tote. I usually play it safe with black. But feel free to mix it up with a little color! Just remember NO sports teams, NO cute kitty faces and NO pictures of your children emblazoned on the side of the bag.

~ Jennifer Flaten

Mixin' It Up

Not since my 5 year-old hands found 2 matching monkeys on Garanimals tags have I been so ecstatic about the prospect of mixing and matching my fashion!

French designer Francois Renier has developed a concept that not only gets hot little hands clutching a great bag, but also allows them to mix and match. His company, called un jour, un sac, has separated the handbag from the handle – allowing you to put together the combination that best suits your style. Switch out the handles…swap out the bag…and conceive every possible combination to go with each of your looks! I know, I know it sounds like a fairy tale – but I swear on my vintage Gucci that this is not fiction!

The bags come in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can choose from structured or soft leather to tweed or canvas fabrics. The designs range from sophisticated leather handbags to whimsical beach-inspired totes.

The handles, made of leather, croc and even PVC, come in an array of colors and easily clip and unclip to your bag of choice.

Un jour, un sac has turned handbag shopping into a creative game, filled with endless possibilities. You are now shopper, designer and stylist! Transform your black office bag with the “business” brown handle to a flirty, after-work purse complete with fire engine red straps – a perfect compliment to that red pout and those sexy red slingbacks!

Now that you’re dreaming of all the damage you can do with these bags, listen up, because getting these bags takes a little more effort than a click on a website. (But believe me, it’s worth it!) While Renier sells his bags all over the globe, they are only available in one place in the U.S. Chicago has Oprah, the Cubs and now, these bags – at a boutique called Fabrice Chicago.

Now don’t despair - a friend of mine who lives in Florida is addicted to these bags and she contacts the store through its website (www.fabricechicago.com) when searching for the newest styles! For you first-timers, I suggest checking out all the possibilities first at www.unjourunsac.com. Seriously, it’s more fun than a barrel of Garanimal monkeys – and a heck of a lot more fashionable!

- Christine Cipriani