A Whopping Handbag Mistake

Over the Halloween holiday, I had the unfortunate task of dissing a Bottega Veneta handbag. As much as it pained me to criticize such an established purveyor of refined leather bags, it still needed to be done. Why? Because it's important to point out when designers go wrong. It's easy to sing the praises of a label like BV simply because they are always spot on. Usually when they falter it tends to be a whopping mistake.

I'm bringing this up because I had the misfortune of coming across another blunder from a trusted designer with impeccable taste. Would you be shocked if I told you the hag bag in question comes from none other than exotic handbags queen Nancy Gonzalez? I know what you must be thinking, ladies. Nancy Gonzalez couldn't possibly screw up a bag. Oh, but she did! In fact, it's probably one of the ugliest creations I've come across in a very long time. Just look at the Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile and Mink Tote and not much further explanation will be necessary.

The carpetbag design is posh and sophisticated, but combining crocodile and mink is just plain absurd. That should never, ever happen. It's ugly and a waste of two very precious materials. The $3680 price tag doesn't help either. This is one of those cases when a flawless designer "jumps the shark". I suppose it happens to everyone. Let's just hope our favorite exotic handbag designer never strays this far from her error-free path.

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile and Mink Tote available via Vivre

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Sale Alert: Saks Private Sale - Up to 40% Off

This is one heck of a sale. Do not, I mean DO NOT miss out on the Saks Private Sale. You can save up to 40% off of designer items. The handbag section of this sale is insane. I would normally post a list of bags that are attention-worthy, but I lost count at 50. That's right, ladies. I found at least 50 designer handbags that are not to be missed. There are literally over 150 bags in total for every taste and budget. Let me just single out my particular favorite, the YSL Majorelle in magenta patent leather that has been dropped in price from $1395 to $976.50. See, I told you this sale was great! Click here to browse the entire sale.

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Marc Jacobs Casey Double Quilted Tote

I've never been a huge fan of Marc Jacobs' "quilted" bag obsession (case in point - the 'Stam' bag, of which the non-quilted versions are my favorite). However, I can still appreciate an elegant, quilted bag when I see it. The Casey Double Quilted Tote, done in a serene shade of beige, is the perfect tote for those who want to look sophisticated even when they must carry a large bag.

Measuring a roomy 15 x 14 x 5, the 'Casey' is crafted from supple leather and features a wrap-around buckled belt. Jacobs really loves to use standard closures as decorative elements such as the kiss-lock on the 'Stam' and the turn-lock on most of his MARC by Marc Jacobs line. Last season we saw a heavy focus on the push-lock which is thrown on the 'Casey' as a purely decorative feature as well. I really love the bag's open top and magnetic snap closure which gives it just the right touch of "casual". Surprisingly, the Casey Double Quilted Tote is priced under $1500. In today's inflated designer handbag market, finding an appropriately priced bag like this is a tough task. Perhaps Jacobs' is poising himself as the designer who'll provide fashionistas with quality accessories that are still within reach. As $2000 and up price tags become the norm and the global economy continues to remain at best unstable, both Jacobs and his followers can strike a mutually beneficial balance. Keep up the good work, Marc. At least until spring, that is, when those garish hodge-podge bags you previewed on the runway in September are set to make their debut.

Marc Jacobs Casey Double Quilted Tote available for $1295 via eLUXURY

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It's Halloween! - When Bad Things Happen to Good Handbags

Since it's Halloween, I feel obligated to find an ugly designer bag and rip on it because.....well, just because. It would be simple to just find a usual suspect (like Fendi, Versace or Juicy Couture) and pick on it for all the obvious reasons, but I like the challenge of discovering a bag that should have been fabulous and got sidetracked. The Bottega Veneta Woven Boston Bag is a perfect example of what can happen when a trusted and error-free designer label "jumps the shark". The satchel's elegant shape and overall design is fine, but then we're hit with a myriad of woven strips clad in every imaginable color. I can't figure out why this bag was ever made and especially by Bottega Veneta. What's even more egregious than the bag itself is the mind-numbing price tag - $5200! Say what? I wish this were a trick, because it's certainly not a treat. You can pre-order the Woven Boston Bag and receive it some time in March - just in time to use it as a colorful (and expensive) Easter basket.

Bottega Veneta Woven Boston Bag via Neiman Marcus

Happy Halloween!

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Saks Shoe and Handbag Gift Card Event

The Saks Shoe and Handbag gift card event is pretty much any shopper's dream come true. The very straightforward event earns you a gift card to spend on future purchases when you spend on shoes and handbags. No need to twist my arm, Saks! I know a great deal when I see one. Pre-order items are excluded so there will be some great bags that won't qualify toward earning a GC. The event ends Monday, November 3rd so you have all weekend to browse and decide what to get. Just click on the banner above to take you to Saks's event page.

Happy shopping!

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