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.

It’s Florida (my first year living here), it’s June and I’m …. not feeling Summer.

It doesn’t feel like it to me. Bring on the plaids, the tweeds, the knits… sighhh…

I look at this:

Pucci Bag

And I’m blinded. It’s not a bad pattern, I just cannot take the bright hue right now.

I’m truly afraid I’m going to have to either phone it in, to praise such bags as this “Sundial” - or just look ahead to the Fall collections.

Humph.

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!

Coach calls this bag a pleated framed satchel, but I see this shape as the famous hobo. Calling it by that name also adds to its visual appeal the fact that a framed hobo is rare, if unique, and done well by Coach, to boot. The side view (below) shows a kiss lock framed closure, neatly tucked behind a rounded (hobo) shape and those pleats. Its straps continue in patent leather from the bag’s top “hem” area, which combined with the pleats lends to this bag a vintage feminine charm. The bag comes in pink, navy and camel patent leathers. Running $498, this purse is sized 15.5″ x 8.75″ x 4.5″ w. Buy this bag from COACH.

Wa-wa-woo! This ritzy Chanel bag is super fab, no? The Crackled Metallic Calfskin Flap Bag with cut-out signature appears to double as a clutch, making it a great party bag. Of course, who goes to such fab parties? Oh well! At least Chanel is playing up the clutch trend, which is huge I’m feeling, bigger than last year even - and that makes this bag even more fun to fancy. I can only imagine its ritzy price, but you should contact Chanel if you more than fancy. Unfortunately its a brand not-too Internet friendly, even if their photography sure is.

Here is an adorable clutch by Fendi with that hand-crafty look, done very well this time. Every grey cloud must have a silver lining, or at least so when it comes to good designers. I like to refer to this bag as their Embellished Rainbow after the Storm Clutch. 3D and complete with beads, this funky purse is obviously very Big Name, and not to be found at your local craft fair, with its signature F buckle and $6,280 pricetag. Contact the company or your local boutique to purchase.

This is still not all from Fendi, as they’re celebrating a very big month. Stay tuned.

This bag looks like it started out with trends from the indie scene. First the designers layered cutout circles atop each other, then added beads. Then the designers moved on from today’s looks, with the most popular of ancient handcrafters’ marks, the Native Americans’ “feathers”, embroidery and thick stitches.

Unfortunately instead of hip and/or homey, the bag looks more like a trashy “professional” in a barely-there fringy skirt complete with diseased boils.

Instead of made with love this $2680 monstrosity is made with extra fug.

Source

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!

Very detailed, yet less overdone and more sophisticated (even mature) for Dolce & Gabbana are their upcoming Fall 2008 bags. Seen on the recent runway:

Burnt Orange Python & Leather Satchel Handbag w/ Shoulder Strap

Silver & White Satchel Handbag w/ Shoulder Strap

Brown Patchwork Leather Shoulder Bag

Multicolor Suede & Leather Demi

Over all, really nice, quality bags - but in a dream world they’d run for less than an IT price.