YSL “Large Melon Patent Leather Muse”

Tina has already written a post about the Muse bag, the croc Muse to be specific or, as she called it - THE Muse. But since we have spring knocking on our doors, it is about time we covered the new Muse version accordingly. I personally adore the color - it saved the crinkled patent leather from looking AW. The vibrant color is this bag’s key feature and I found it on Bluefly for less than a $1000 just for you!

There is nothing much to say about it except to repeat Tina’s words that reflect her adoration for this bag. As for my personal preferences, this particular size is most appealing and if I was getting myself a Muse, that would be the size I would be going for. The oversized version lost most of it’s femininity and charm in the process of making it big enough to be considered an oversized bag… It just got lost on the way there I guess.

I will give you the scoop on the features eventhough I am sure that more than 90% of you bagddicts know this bag better than your hubbies/bf’s. As you can see, it is featured with a top two-way zip closure, the interior is satin lined with zip and cell phone pockets and there are five protective metal feet on the base. I have to repeat myself again - the color is simply fabulous. Grab it before it’s gone!

SIZE: 17”w x 11”h x 5”d

PRICE: $956.00 (retail $1,195.00) @ Bluefly.com

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Kooba “Josie Clutch”

I have been eyeing this cutie for the past couple of days. It didn’t stirke me as something extra special to be honest, and since I usually prioritize the bags I am going to post about based on how much I genuinely like them, this one hasn’t been on the top of my list. Having realized just a moment ago that Bluefly has it in stock at a really good price made me push it up the list and write about it today because of the more than generous discount Bluefly usualy offers compared to usual retail prices (40% off in this case). You do the math..

So, Josie is a refreshing combination of pleated linen and shiny gold leather which translates into a perfect summer clutch. The flap, wrist strap, belt and the trim are made of leather and the rest of the bag is crafted out of linen. If you are not a linen fan, there is a version in pink leather, which I would personally go for (it looks much classier in my humble opinion).

Josie has two sepparate compartments, both featured with a zip top closure which is something I didn’t actually notice untill now. This really had a positive effect on how much I like it. It is very practical if you think about it.. At first you might think it is pointless to make a small bag like this with dual compartments, but it is really highly practical. I own a bag with two compartments, and all my important things, such as my wallet, cell and keys, are in one compartment, and all other things are in the other one which really saves me from a lot of headaches I would otherwise have.

Along with the zip top closures on both compartments, the clutch is featured with a double magnet flap closure for extra security. Both compartments are featured with patch pockets and twill lining. The glod toned studs on the belt are also unique, they actually look like small gems, and a small change like this can do so much to improve the overall impression a bag leaves on me.

I am sincerely sorry for not covering this one earlied. You really do not want to miss on this one - a practical, very cute clutch for less than two hundred bucks - perfect if you ask me.

SIZE: 11”w x 6”h

PRICE:
Linen Josie $147.00 (retail $245.00) @ Bluefly.com

Leather Josie $177.00 (retail $295.00) @ Bluefly.com

Antik Batik “Juddy Fringed Bag”

This is what a fringed bag should look like. Everything about it looks and feels just right and I’m going to enjoy every single moment of writing about it. It’s not too big, but still big enough to look beautiful with the fringe details on the simple leather body. I don’t like bags that have the whole body fringed - fringes should be an extra detail on the bag and only in that case they work their magic as far as I’m concerned. Then comes the flap detail which goes perfectly with the cross body style of this bag because it gives the bag a comfy and laid back look which I just adore. It’s wearabilty is unquestionable, whether we’re talking about a night out or a casual Sunday get together. The gold toned charm gives the bag an extra playful note which is ok, even though you might have to think twice with the jewelry so you don’t overdo it. The bag is made of colored leather and the long shoulder strap is braided. Interior is featured with one zip pocket and secured with magnetic snap closure.

Seeing me write about Antik Batik might come as a surprise to those of you who are familliar with my obsession with LV and other premier brands, but this one really got to me and I had to share!

PRICE: $290.00 @ Net-a-porter.com

Louis Vuitton “Pochette Bonbon Rose”

Uh oh! I think I will have to stop writing about my issues with patent leather since there have been so many SS bags I really liked recently, which happen to be in patent but are simply too gorgeous for me to look the other way. I will say this now and I won’t bring the subject up any more. I do not feel like patent leather anymore, but I will overlook it if it is incorporated into the design in a way that the bag looks like a SS bag at the end of the day. I am not thrilled by the patent on SS bags, and it really does have a strong impact on how much I like the bag, but from now on, I will do my best to either ignore the patent leather, or if it really looks messed up, I will simply say the bag looks like a past AW bag instead of a SS08 bag. Case closed.

Having said all this, I think it would be about time I start writing about this cuter than cute pochette. First of all, I love the fact it is a pochette. It would really be too much for my taste if it were any bigger, since the design, or color scheme to be more specific, is somewhat bold and leaves a really strong impression. I feel that in a bigger size it would leave too much of an impression, if you know what I mean. This size is just fine.

The pochette can be hand held or carried on the shoulder - in this case, I would prefer to carelessly carry it as a top handle. The handles are adjustable and the top is featured with a zip closure. Some of the other features include contrast microfiber lining, golden brass hardware and an interior patch pocket. The address label is removable, and I am not quite sure what I would do with it. I am not much of an address label fan to be honest, but in this case it seems like it is giving this pochette more charm.. I would most likely simply remove it the moment I got my hands on it regardless, I don’t know..

Anyhow, the Bonbon Pochette comes in two versions: the turquoise version with pink leather details and in pink version with red leather details. I prefer the turquoise one because it feels really light and carefree, as we all feel in springtime, and the pink version seems too heavy for my current taste.

Both versions are bold, but also very refreshing, which is exactly what I love about them. I ceirtainly wouldn’t mind having this one in my collection, although I have to say that this is the kind of bag you would buy when you already own a considerable collection, since it is not a bag that will suit any occasion or complement any outfit. If you can’t restrain yourself from buying it anyways, who am I to blame you.

SIZE: 13″ x 8,3″ x 2,8″

PRICE: £730.00 @ LouisVuitton.com

Miu Miu “Framed Fold Over Clutch”

Having covered the Miu Miu Nappa Mini Hobo and the Small Shoulder Bag, I think it is fair we make some room for this one as well. I purposely put this one in the same context with latter two bags because of the same type of nappa leather and the colors the bag comes in. We started with a small golden top handle hobo, moved on to a small turquoise shoulder bag and now we have this vibrating pink clutch. I’ve already stated my opinion about the nappa leather used on these three bags - it is so soft and gentle I wouldn’t mind having my pillow made of it - it’s totally delicious.

This bag attracted me with this bold pink color at first, but seeing the one in green made me think twice. I honestly don’t know which I like better. The pink one is vivacious and playful, but the subtle and calming note the green one has works even better for me. It’s not even an everyday green tone, it’s a very nice dimmed shade of green which looks just beautiful in contrast to the polished gold toned hardware and the interesting push lock closure placed on the front gold frame.

Perfect for the spring season, I really like it!

SIZE: 9″ x 6″ x 1.5″

PRICE: $720.00 @ Net-a-Porter.com

Burberry “Leather Sling”

I noticed this bag some time ago in one of the Burberry stores and having bumped into it online today, I decided to make a post about it. It is nothing spectacular, but you can’t deny it’s elegance and alluring simplicity which is what drew me to it in the first place. The version I’ve seen in the store was in black leather and the one I found online is in gold, which I like even more since the gold toned hardware is not as noticable as it is on the black version.

Another thing I love about it is it’s versatility. The shoulder strap can be removed which allows you to carry the Leather Sling as a clutch or transform it into a wristlet. This is always welcome because it allows you to choose which style you’ll go for, depending on your mood and/or outfit. However, the clips would look more elegant if they couldn’t be detached, but it is not a major setback.

Apart from being completely transformable to your liking, being in this color, this bag would look just right in any season which further reinforces the versatility of this little gem. It is big enough to carry all your essentials on your night out (I just can’t imagine myself carrying this bag during the day, possibly in another color, but in gold definitely not).

As for the features, it has a zip top closure, the interior is lined in house check and featured with a zip pocket and on the front you can see the D-ring details and the Equestrian knight logo (which is pracitcaly invisible in the golden version).

SIZE: 5,5″w x 12″h X 1″d, shoulder strap drop 8,5″

PRICE: $595.00 @ Saks.com

Fashion in Action @ Saks.com

The Saks Fifth Avenue online store presented today it’s “Fashion in action” web video catalog which takes online clothing and accessory shopping to a completely new level. Introduced featuring the top 17 of the season’s top contemporary looks as selected by Saks, this innovative feature allows shoppers to see the styles “flutter, drape, wrap and whirl on models without ever trying them on”. Along with the opportunity to see how the items actually look when worn or carried, the background audio commentary offers additional styling suggestions and the items presented in each “look” can be purchased by simply clicking the image.

I must say I really like this innovation as I have been annoyed what seems to be a million times by not being able to see how a bag or a piece of clothing would actually look in real life. Some stores seem to completely disregard the fact that people want to see how a bag looks when carried by a live person since sizes can be decieving. Regardless of how much attention and effort is put into making the photos and descriptions of items offered through a web store as accurate and informative as they can be, seeing a video with a live model is the closest that online shopping can currently get to real life shopping, and while this might not have as much impact on shopping for bags as it does on shopping for clothing, being able to see how a bag looks when carried is a welcome change and I really wish more online retailers will follow suit.

Well done Saks! To celebrate the launch of this new feature Saks is offering free shipping for every Fashion in action purchase from today to March 30th. See the Fashion in action here.

YSL “Bouganvill Patent Leather Medium Downtown Tote”

Tina has already written a post about a limited edition of this piece of arm candy - the Transparent Downtown. I have seen a few spring Downtowns at Saks and I decided to cover this one because it stirred my emotions the most. You might have noticed by now that I usually have a problem with patent leather on spring bags, but I couldn’t let this one pass regardless. The main reason behind my decision to cover this one is the divine bouganvill color - it has taken the Downtown tote to a completely different level.

I will even completely overlook the patent leather because this is a type of bag which can look amazing in any material. I feel this is a perfect bag for a bussy weekday when you have to run around town running errands. I am not saying I’d never take this bag with me when I’m going on vacation, but I feel as if I would carry it in the situations simillar to the one above mostly, and that makes the patent leather much easier to stomach.

No, no, no, every time I switch to the Saks tab with this bag on it I end up totally neglecting the fact that it is in patent (crinkled if I may add, which in this case makes it more acceptable for me, unlike in the spring Hillier hobo). This color has gotten under my skin instantly and the whole thing is way beyond the point of no return..

Let me give you the scoop of the Bouganvill Downtown features - there is a pocket on the front, which I really like because the versions which don’t have it look as if something was missing. The top is open, but the sides are featured with zippers (this is also important to me because if the whole top was left open I wouldn’t like it this much) and the interior is canvas lined and features a zip pocket.

To end my post I will satisfy my urge to say how much I am enchanted by this version of Downtown, and how the color is simply breathtaking enough for an impulse purchase you will not end up regreting.

SIZE: 10,25″w x 13,75″h x 9,75″d, shoulder strap 7″ drop

PRICE: $1,395.00 @ Saks.com

Longchamp “Lumiere Tropicale Tote”

Zoe will hate me when she sees that I’ve covered this bag . She’s the Longchamp fan here at Bagddicted, and I covered this one before she had a chance to do it - she’s not gonna be too happy, I can tell you that much. Anyway, It’s not like I don’t like Longchamp designs, it’s just that Zoe and I have our attention focused on different types of bags so I usually don’t focus on what she does. At least I know she’ll back me up on this one because I have never heard her talking about a Longchamp bag in a negative context. She recognized the value and the unique style of Longchamp bags a long time ago and has been a fan of theirs ever since. She could easily have been the one who started the trend of covering Longchamp handbags among blogs with the same topic as ours. I havent’s seen so many Longchamp bags being written about before she started covering them and believe me, I have been studying every single bag blog out there obsessively since the first ones popped up.

Anyhow, what made me stop and stare at this bag are the multicolor stripes implemented beautifuly on a simple Longchamp tote design. That is what set me off originaly, and then come the practicality of this type of bags and the durability of the canvas which every Longchamp bag boasts. The signature closure with a press stud secures the roomy interior featured with one zip and one cell phone pocket. Double shoulder straps are of a 8″ drop so there’s no question about how it will fit your shoulder. All in all, at this price and being this big, stylish and durable you should definitely consider it.

SIZE: 13.5″ x 13″ x 4″

PRICE: $198.00 @ Saks.com

Prada “Glace Calf Satchel”

This one looks really impressive when you see it irl. The “glace” in the bag’s name is there for a reason because it really looks glaced and that is what makes it look kind of massive and gives it a special luxurious touch. Add the gold toned hardware, which creates a great contrast to the color of the bag, and you have a winner.

The price is pretty steep at over $2000 and that is the only turn off with this one. Regardless of the fact that I really like this one, don’t think I would actually consider spending over two thousands dollars on it because I wouldn’t. There are bags out there in this price range which I would pick over this one any day, and I’m not talking about other designers but about Prada itself. I’ve noticed how everyone always mentions LV and Chanel when it comes to high price tags, but I haven’t stumbled upon a single comment about Prada handbag prices, which let’s be honest, make you feel like spending only a thousand on one of them is a great deal.

I’m not saying Prada isn’t worth the money, it most definitely is, and I am fully aware of the fact that quality comes at a price, it’s just that the prices are constantly going up and keeping up with all the great stuff Prada comes out with is getting pricier and pricier. And don’t tell me how we have Miu Miu if we want a more agreeable price range because it’s a matter of when, not if, the prices of those two labels will be equal. Miu Miu isn’t Prada’s little sister anymore. No, no… You can say what you want, but it’s all in the mechanics of supply and demand. Miu Miu is sought after and wanted more and more with each passing day, and this can only lead to one thing - prices going up. On the other hand, that’s something we have to learn to live with if we decide to chase designer bags.

As for this bag… It definitely has the looks to go with the price tag. It’s looks will make everyone around you turn green of envy because it is undeniably gorgeous, even if it really isn’t all that unique, but the subtle touch of true luxury it has to it is what makes it different from many other bags. It doesn’t ask for admiration and respect, it gets it without asking, and that’s exactly what you will also receive as it’s owner.

SIZE: 16″ x 8.5″ x 6.75″

PRICE: $2,120.00 @ Saks.com