Chloé has put out soo many fantabulostest bags this season, it’s mad! Many aren’t happy with new (and recently sacked) designer, Paulo Melim’s clothes, but come on - those bags! I’d hire him if I didn’t do all my own designing and well, owned a huge company. Just for bags, of course. To me, this will be Chloé’s big year, aside from 2005 - there are just way too many bags I’m dying to blog about, even with my newer philosophy to stick to only the most notable (good or bad).

So yes, I’m behind this Spring… and where to start? Well why not where I have a little pun already popped into my mind - even though it’s just an update on my favorite, and I recently blogged about the Paddington, but oh well! It’s a fave for a reason, perhaps.

Yes, the Paddy, that I have dubbed…

The Pattenton

Basically, the Paddy’s out in patent now, which actually is notable for a bag known largely for its smooshy leather. I say since they recently failed to keep up with the quality, why not just go patent? Not forever, but it’s amusing, aaaaaaand surprisingly gorge! I love the matching tone on the new padlocks, too, and that blue is giving me cravings! Other tiny details were altered, as well, which always keeps the bag-candy browsing interesting … even if I can’t afford such a bag right now. And it’s not one I can easily “copy” and make, either. But that does just keep the love deeper.

If you want to and can snatch one up - good luck - Paddies are widely sold out, at least online.

Even though the Paddington is my favorite designer bag, it’s not for the lock. In fact, it’s quite despite it’s more silly features and is largely about those side belts.

But the silliness does not end at that huge padlock, I suddenly this morning found myself pondering why the Chloé brand is so insistent on using only the silver-tone (nickel?) metal for their zippers, no matter how aged-brassy the rest of the hardware is. Apparently it glides better - but the problem is the bag is still a pain in the tush to zip up! Half the time those unsecured ends come undone.

I’d say give us a little less “quality” metal and give us a feature that will actually help speed up the toting of this purse, because most of us just “fling the lock over”, and we could use at least one easier step.

… On the other hand, it kind of tickles me that the bags may seem fake to some when they are the true ones (however I’ve never seen a matchy-matchy fake, sigh).

Now I must go remind “Choccy” I love her. (”Mama didn’t mean it!”)

Suffering succatash!!! OK enough with the S alliteration, but my tongue is practically hanging out of my mouth anyway. Or it’s closer to my eyes bugging out. After I saw this new bag from Marc Jacobs my mind went into a tizzy.

Buy the Marc Jacobs Cecilia

I think I like it better than the beloved Stam! It’s such a refreshing re-take, which is confoundedly rare in the bag design world, actually. First of all, doesn’t that strap give hope that it can rest on one’s shoulder?? The gathers are made even better, and you know what, that straight horizontal zipper on the Stam always looked too much like a grumpy mouth anyway. This is a bit less edgy, aside from the lack of the frame closure with HUGE kiss lock - and I really like the classicism of the Stam look. (And finally, I hate to say it but the Stam also has an odd look, sure its uniqueness is amazing, but um hmmm…. me lovey this more!!)

The good news for all is that unlike many designers, this new and later version does not come complete with price hike. This Quilted Cecilia sells for the same as the standard Stam - well just a few dollars, literally, more - at $1375.

The bad news for me is that I now have rent to pay and have less to spend on fashion, since my money goes mostly to purse making and fibre art supplies (oh yes, after bills ;-)). I did just get a new job that starts in a month, but … mmmmmmm. That’s supposed to go toward me *not* “borrowing” rent money from my mother, actually. Te he. (Hey I’m still weak, weak Designer Ella, even with my new making the bags things!)

Now I’d love to sell off a bag to get this, I would really looove to buy this bag, but I sure don’t actually want to sell my Stam. Someday though, I hope hope for someday.

Until now I plan on making a details-altered inspired bag. More inspired, less knock off, trust me. I’m going to chronicle this journey here on the blog, too! Stay tuned, and please, if you love, see in person, find more colors or buy the bag (affiliate, but not subliminal), comment and let’s chat!

Just wanted to introduce you to Style.com’s Candy Pratts Price’s fave accessories from the Fall shows, and their new pictures, descriptions and — ah! — official names.

Ah, the benefit of being an insider journalist. Well, at least we get their info when they give it.

Read it (well, view it) here on Style.com.

By the way, so far, I’m noticing at least one of the same handbags. (I’ve hardly begun looking, thanks to life and its foibles getting in the way.) It’s a Dolce & Gabbana silver number.

Apparently, it’s fur and feather PRINTED with a crocodile leather edge. And called — “Miss Edge”. Ah, a new thing, eh? fur print! Brava to the D and the G for something new!

The IT Chloé Heloise at Net-a-Porter has lowered in price from $1,670 to $1,169. Pretty good difference! I almost want to jump, but I think I’ll wait for a bit more of a decline. If you don’t want to miss a shot by any chance, it is absolutely at a fine price now!

Oh, my! This color! I had just started preparation for a “what trends I’m into for Spring” post, and pastels top that list, my friends. And then I come across this, this pale plum Stam! It’s gohhhhgeous!!

I don’t know if the photography is off or the copy writer for Neiman Marcus handbags is blind, but there’s no mention of how this Stam just look so different! The handles, the width, what is it? If I find out, I’ll let you know! (Oh, won’t you do the same for moi?)

The purse sells for the usual Stam price of $1,350. *Shrug*

Well I *drooooooooooool* over the colour, it’s my new fave!!

I begin a new year of content, coming back from technical and then personal problems, with a reflection upon the greatest hand styles from the last. Without further ado…

#10: Red Jersey Roxanne Bag by Mulberry for Gap

When an IT bag goes discount and it’s legit, there must be huge hype. Not only is that true for this Roxanne bag by Mulberry and Gap, but 50% of the proceeds go to a charity fighting AIDs. What could be hotter than this product Red bag, then? Made out of jersey fabric, it still looks just as haute. Watch out though, it’s only available in one store (a Gap flagship) in London. Burned?

It’s some eye-candy via eLUXURY’s home page. They may not be all mine, but it’s still a delicious treat. (A good diet dessert—but you know, with a little bit of dark chocolate in the stomach.)

Louis Vuitton Speedies all in a row

How? They’ve collaborated with the new creative director of Mulberry, Katie Grand, to produce a jersey fabric version of the house’s famed “Roxanne” handbag, in the name of “charity” for (Product) RED.

And I want you to turn red with outrage. Why?

(Product) RED, if you need a refresher, is a part of the AIDS awareness organization, Join (RED), and 50% of the profits from their products with Gap go toward the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. Oh - that must be why this (Product) RED Mulberry bag is marked up 50%, at £85, or $175. Except the purse is not available stateside, anyway, (only in Gap flagship stores in London and Paris) and will surely be marked up much further later on with either eBay bidding wars or profitable bid openers.

(That’s great, put out a highly exlusive handbag, so that unrelated parties can make profits without giving any proceeds to help! Ridiculous [and 150% foreseeable].)

What can we do, besides go along with this or ignore it?

First of all, Fashionistas must make being Patriotic mean we’ll support politicians who will turn our poor, laughable economy around. We also must create an uproar in response to designers catering to the fancy European cities (what about Anya Hindmarch’s original release of “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” only being available in the UK?)!

Then, when the bags start showing up on eBay, perhaps we should chastise the sellers and/or request they give 100% of their final listing value, minus fees, to the same charity. I bet they won’t do it! But we’ll hopefully leave an impression in some of their minds.

To sum up, and most importantly: Click for more (photos: angles, colors, etc.) »

Perhaps a good blogger should cover more than she can cover, to really cover as much as she can - or can’t? Anyway, I’m bringing back (after I’ve just come back) weekly bagopshere posts. But I’m trying to expand into bag-related posts from non-bag blogs, too. Tough! I also would love to discover new bag blogs (I’ve receieved some recently and I’m late on adding your wonderful links). Anyway, if you have a post you’d like to suggest - comment us!

• Apparently this Fendi bag ate the wrong part of a turkey this Thanksgiving (and the meal didn’t agree with it) - or, well, what would purses eat anyway? Anyhoo! I don’t enjoy animal cruelty symbols for my heartwarming meets feast (and mashed potatoes) holiday, but I do enjoy giggling at this fab but overcooked purse! –InMyBag
• Plum plaid/croc framed satchel by River Island — you see this is a handbag I would never find to post, especially since it’s from the UK! But gosh, I kind of fancy it! –TheBagLady
• The Addict’s Mantra: The Logo is Not Who You Are –TheRunwayScoop
• The dream find = Vintage Dior Bag for … $8 — leads to the TOUGHEST question of all = is it or is it not—real? (I hope it is, and oh! It makes me want the perfect vintage Dior-at any price!) – Help a girl out over at StyleBytes. (The post is older, but the bag was featured recently in an ensemble.)
• And finally… Of course one must feature a post with one of the fabbest bags in the world, but only in a bagosphere recap when - alas - it is the rare pipe dream of a 30cm Blue Jean Hermés Birkin that is not my own, nor for sale. Whose is it? Megs. I can only dream on my little blogger’s pay, but I’m happy to stay the blogger anyway (and hope to grow, at least)! For the rest of those like I, let us ogle these really well-taken photographs! –ThePurseBlog
  

Today we sum up this holiday week in bag blogging, turkey and graciousness (not to mention a more Christmas-themed than Thanksgiving parade, as usual). Luckily, the graciousness might just continue on the Internet–if we all try hard, we may still have those mashed potatoes whenever we’re able to peel the spuds, we still have all that we give thanks for, and at least hopefully the turkeys are a little bit safer, for now.

At least when it comes to eating them.

No, we must worry more about the cows. Back to life!