Gucci “Pop Bamboo Medium Top Handle”

I’ve had a discussion about ostrich bags with my mother (who is just as much of a bagddict as I am) just yesterday and that was what made me write about this bag today. The conversation took off after my mom mentioned the Victoria Beckhams purple ostrich Birkin bag she’s been seen toting around, and no matter how big of an exotic and Hermes fan my mom is, she says she finds that bag repulsive. I can’t agree. I absolutely love the bag and I love the ostrich leather.

This Gucci beauty is everything but ordinary. The material, the bag itself and of course the price tag… Do we really need to comment on those? The shape and the size of the bag are nothing new. If you don’t like it because of that I can totally understand you, but if you like the style and the fact it’s an exotic ostrich, there’s no doubt you’re already drooling over it ;).

As a true bagddict, I must say that Pop Bamboo is a very nice bag which has left it’s mark from the very first time it was released. At this price however, many of you would probably turn to Hermes or Bottega rather than Gucci. This bag hasn’t got that “it factor” that will put the roof on fire wherever you show up with it, and that’s it’s biggest problem in my opinion. An exotic handbag as expensive as this one is has to justify its price, it has to be on top of the game and everything, really everything about it has to be more than extraordinary. With this one you will be recognized as an insider and all, but still it won’t make a true impact.

All in all, in it’s essence, I do like it… But still, this time, the grass IS greener on the other side…

SIZE: 16″ x 10″ x 5″

PRICE: $9,590.00 @ Saks.com

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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

Marc Jacobs “Little Patchwork Stam Bag”

I have already covered this spring’s big Stam bag, and now I bumped into this very cute small Stam. I just love it when designers decide to play around with sizes for already established and popular bags. I always end up liking the new version better and even if I already have the original version, I crave the new one as well. It sometimes happens that I want the new version more than I wanted the original one. You know, something looks just fabulous but you get used to it over time, and seeing it in a different size brings back that original desire you experienced with the first version, and you simply MUST have it!

The main difference between this smaller Stam and the original Stam is the absence of handles. I am not sure if I really like that. The chain on the original Stam was a bit too much for my taste, and I’d carry on the crook of my elbow and not on my shoulder. I would have to see the little Stam irl to be able to form a deffinite opinion - in the photo it looks somewhat thiner and that definitely works better for this color, since every detail blends in, as opposed to other stams (the black one for example) which are dominated by a complete contrast, emphasizing the gold toned chain to the maximum (something I do not fully like). However, if the chain is making your shoulder sore, you can always detach it and carry it under your arm.

The color is really alluring, very bright and beautiful, and it looks much better than rapsberry and fluo pink, so I would definitely consider buying this one. Remember my remark about the rapsberry color, how I liked it but how I would never carry it.. Well, this color has nothing to do with that remark.

SIZE: 13″w x 9″h x 2″d

PRICE: $995.00 @ Saks.com

YSL Small Satchel

It takes courage to carry a white bag around becuase they get stained so easily if you are not extra careful, easpecially when it’s an expensive bag or one of your favorites, it becomes impossible to shake off that fear that it will get stained and dirty.. White bags are, as far as I’m concerned, reserved for rare occasions, and they are deffinitely not meant to be carried all the time unless of course, you are super cautious when you carry them… I rarely go for white bags because of that, and even when I decide to go for one, I often end up buying it in some other color regardless of the fact that I liked the white one the most.

All that won’t stop me from posting about this beauty though. Seeing it really makes me want to take all I’ve said before back and just rush to whip out my credit card and buy it. Coming form the house of YSL, there’s not much to say about it because we all know what YSL stands for in terms of quality and attractiveness. The leather is top quality and the style is timeless, no matter how edgy some of their bags look at first sight. This one isn’t edgy at all, it is a true classic collectors piece worth having in your collection - pretty odd because white usually works best for smaller trendy bags - something this one most deffinitely isn’t.

Detailed only with gold toned hardware, this shoulder bag can be carried it as a top handle as well. Interior is satin lined and featured with zip and cell phone pockets. Five metal feet at base are placed to secure the bottom and to minimize the chances of the leather getting dirty.

Simple, beautiful!

SIZE: 11.25″ x 7.5″ x 6″

PRICE: $956.00 (was $1195.00) @ Bluefly.com

Dolce & Gabbana “Miss Easy Way Ayers Snakeskin Patchwork Satchel”

Oh my, even though I’m an exotics fan, this one makes me want to feel very sorry for the poor snake. I’d rather have that snake alive in my closet or in my hand than carry this bag, that is how much I don’t like it. Ok, so they wanted to make an exotic, patching this many pieces in all these colors isn’t the way to go though. If it was made for exotic-lovers like myself, there are many more alluring and more beautiful exotic handbags out there which all beat this one by miles. I simply don’t like, nor would I recomend it, and the price is defintely not justified regardless of the expensive snakeskin.

The shape is ok, nothing special, but it’s not a miss. As for the removable shoulder strap, just like on the other Miss Easy Way Satchels, it is absolutely unnecesary - no real function aside from being a visual detail. But I’ll tell you something, that removable shoulder strap is the only thing about this bag that I like. If you have this much money laying around somewhere, and you don’t know what to do with it, you can buy this bag, hide it somewhere and just use the shoulder strap. Try detailing something with it Ok that was evil. No, really, this isn’t a bag you really want to have in your collection. Even if you like it, which I totally understand because bags have their way of making us women totally irrational, I would think twice…

The bag is detailed with exterior front zip pocket and a traditional hanging logo engraved metal plate. Interior is suede trimmed, featured with zip and cell phone pockets and closed with top zip closure.

SIZE: 13″ x 8.25″ x 7.75″

PRICE: $2995.00 @ Nordstrom.com

Salvatore Ferragamo New Arrivals feat. “Large Capra Vernice Satchel”

Attention Ferragamo lovers… We spotted some new arrivals at Neiman Marcus which we cant let go unnoticed here on Bagddicted. I’m not up for anything too demanding these days to be honest, what I’m trying to say is I’m in a down to Earth lay-low mood and something like Prada Cervo Folding Shopper best defines my current state of mind. Browsing through the new SF arrivals, I just couldn’t avoid stong emotions, not neccessarily negative (or positive) but deffinitely strong. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there is not a single bag among these new arrivals which made me feel relaxed and that’s how I want to feel right now.

There is not much to either praise or criticise in this bunch of bags, but there’s one which I feel is a total miss. Ok, patent leather is still cool and maybe we still aren’t sick of it but come on… This is too much. There’s no way you’ll feel comfortable carrying something as formatic and lifeless as Large Capra Vernice Satchel is. It’s like they filled a mould with some kind of lacquer mixture and used it to make a bag instead of making a stage prop mummy out of it. I really don’t like it at all… The bag is so surreal and strange it’s creepy. Maybe, but just maybe I can let the black one have a pass, but the brown one - no way. Silver metal hardware, belted sides and the Gancini detailed extended tab, a well known feature on Salvatore Ferragamo bags - doesn’t sound bad, but the overall look - no, no! Available in black and brown, the former one emphasizing the bags rouched shape better. Not my cup of tea. Must end post. Later.

PRICE: $1190.00 @ NeimanMarcus.com

YSL “Muse Two” @ BergdorfGoodman.com

Muse Two has arrived @ BergdorfGoodman! I have to share a piece of information with you about the name of the bag before I start my post. It was originally meant to be called “Forever”, but guys from YSL decided to go for Muse Two (a good marketing point if I may add), but, it is named Forever Satchel at BG, I honestly do not know why. Just so you do not get confused and think: hey, is this really the Muse Two, because if it is, why the hell would they name it something else? Yes, it is Muse Two, no worries

In the first post about Muse Two we had only the ad, which showed the navy croc version, my favourite by the way, and some basic info available. This is a multicolor version made of buffalo leather, a bit more interesting due to the contrast in color, but less fresh than the one in the ad. But I think there is not a single version of Muse Two that could beat the navy croc in my case so please do not find me as an objective source in this case.

I read the Muse Two impressions that the Bagsnob ladies shared on their site after seeing the bag irl. There are two more things you should know about if you are considering buying the bag, and thanks to Bagsnob I can share them with you. The bag is actually made of canvas and the leather pieces are sewn on a canvas base. I personally do not find that to be a setback, since it is a part of the SS collection, but I presume some of you will not like this at all. The other thing that worries me, but just a bit, is the fact that due to the handle being attached to the flap which has a lock closure, you can’t possibly carry this bag while it’s open, since all your things would fall out, and if not that, it would look hmmm, let’s say not so good. But I think I can overlook this issue as well, since pretty much every bag that finds itself on my shoulder or on the crook of my elbow is closed. But, I have to admit, it is something they should have thought of.

To sum it up - although this info may leave a bitter taste for some ladies, thus decrease the euphoria they may have experienced over it, I have to say that I feel about this bag the same as I did when I first saw it - fabulous - period.

PRICE: $1,895.00, pre-order @ BergdorfGoodman.com

Marc Jacobs “Quilted Stam SS08″

The Stam bag is definitely a hit for the house of Marc Jacobs. I see a lot of young, fashionable women, but also a lot of celebrities carrying it. The designers at Marc Jacobs are fully aware of the fact that Stam has become an IT bag and they already have SS08 versions prepared. During the winter we have been seeing patent Stams, metallic Stams, all kinds of Stams, but for SS08 the designers have more softer, but still bright colors in mind.

The ones I saw on the Marc Jacobs official site are raspberry and fluo pink. The pink one does not have the detachable chain strap, but an ordinary leather shoulder strap instead. I think the chain strap is the key detail of this bag and I do not understand why would they change that particular part. The only thing that pops up in my mind is the concern about it being more comfortable, but all the girls carry it on their elbows with the chain attached, transforming it into a trendy detail, and not exactly using it for its original purpose.

I personally do not like fluo pink, not because the chain issue, but because of the colors chosen for it. On the other hand, I do like the raspberry one. It is very tender looking in this shade, but I would never buy it myself. This is because I am not one of the tender girls and it would look silly if I carried it, if you know what I mean. I would probably go for a black or red Stam myself.

What I like about Stam is how the designers managed to incorporate the kiss-lock closure with the size of this bag. I’ve seen many day bags with such closures that alltogether looked hideous, but Stam looks balanced, which is obviously a difficuld task to accomplish.

SIZE: 11″h x 15″w x 5,5″d

PRICE: Quilted Raspberry Stam $1350.00 @ NeimanMarcus.com

Versace Fashion Collection Satchel

This one reminded me of Bottega Veneta so much that I really liked it from the first sight. The resemblence is, however, there only at the very first glance. Giving it a bit more attention, the differences are more than easy to spot. Bottega Veneta wouldn’t use that amount of gold toned hardware on a bag of their own, nor that buckled belt which encircles the top, but there is something Bottega Veneta-ish to it. I’m always a bit afraid, in a strange way, whenever I’m about to take a look at a Versace handbag because I never know what to expect. The problem isn’t them being unpredictable, it’s just that their style isn’t always preceivable. This one doesn’t fit the usual Versace type of bags, and maybe that’s the reason I like it. It’s not like I’m head over heals with it, but I like it enough to let you know.

First of all, this satchel shaped bag is just the right size, and as I said already, it is well proportined and the top handle isn’t too big. Lambskin is implemented in a nice way, making the bag look more luxurious and richer. As for the polished gold tone hardware, it is also a bit overdone - I can handle it, but anything more would be hard to endure.

I am glad to say that I like this bag, not in a head over heals kind of way, more like in a cool headed way…

SIZE: 17.25″ x 9.5″ x 8.25″

PRICE: $3720.00 @ Nordstrom.com

Botkier “St. Tropez Satchel”

I was really torn when I was deciding whether to write about the St. Tropez satchel or tote. I eventually decided to go for the satchel St. Tropez because I personally like the satchel shape better and the bag in whole looks more compact. The St. Tropez satchel is a part of Botkier Holiday 2007 collection and it has a warm summery feel to it.

This bag is available in various colors and materials: gold canvas, white and black cowhide and a combination of canvas and woven leather in white or in black. My favourite is the one I found on NeimanMarcus.com in black leather because you can carry it not only during summer, but pretty much any season. However, if you are considering buying this bag for the warmer times of the year, all combinations are great. I personally would not buy the gold canvas version, it seems a bit