Perhaps proving that Juicy Couture designers never had true talent, and have now run out of trend-scoping steam, they’ve come out with this tote.

It. is. a market. - read - grocery - tote. in. leather. Oh, with a. little logo. creed. %&I$&#$@

Yeah, I say it right back to Juicy. You’re NOT “couture”. You produce this in the name of the purse, I say to you, f*(k you right back.

Poor animal that died in the name of this line.

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!

I love my bold, large, yet apparently understated - compared to these - giraffe print Medium Sac. Now Dooney & Bourke has new Zebra-printed handbags in several over-the-top color schemes, for their new twisted-strap Sacs. With their slight metallic sheens, I do love the white/grey, as a large day to night, “I’m-fabu” bag. But if you still need a little more tameness in your already sassy animal prints, then the Twisted-Strap Sacs in the zebra line are still available in black/white!

The Medium Sac is sized 15.5″ w x 12″ h x 5″ d; the Large Sac: 19″ w x 14″ h x 5″ d. Despite equality in size and a snazzier design, the new sacs are actually lower in price from the basics, from $325 and $395 to $240 for medium and $260 for large.

And all that’s “less” in this version is a thinner strap, as far as I can tell. So really, it’s a win overall. A serious no-brainer. There’s no sin in this temptation, why not make the kill and buy one of these wild steals.

Click for more (photos: angles, colors, etc.) »

Combining a few of the hottest trend aspects of the season: unique closures, gathered leather and … maybe a high price point; is the new range by little-known Smythson; the Nancy bags.

In the styles of clutch, small satchel and large, and standard colors of white, tan, black and dark brown; there’s almost something for every fashionista this Fall with the Nancy collection … except that these bags are propelled into the IT race with a price range of $1,032 to $1,981. Somewhat much for a little-recognizable status bag, but the purses really are nice. And did I mention trendy? They have a lot of the appeal of a Stam, plus the more practicalities of a medium size option and no heavy hardware. The gathered leather is done in a sophisticated and unique way; sort of appearing like a diamond quilt pattern but not - and the clasp is not only fresh, but covered in luxurious leather - the same calf skin the entire exteriors are made of.

Besides the major minus of toting your new prize causing some to think you merely have a brandy inspired bag, is the lack of a fun color - which to me is the most important trend of today. A punch, some jazz! Still, these are purses meant to display elegance, maybe they need only be subtly beautiful.

And who knows what we’ll see in the future if the Nancy catches fashionistas’ fancy!

Wow, Zazzle has really improved their stock canvas totes for creative sellers to put their designs on to sell. I’ve just received word that they have lots of Trick-or-Treat designs to use for totin’ candy stashes, or even by adults as Holiday market totes. They have two different orange-accented bags (not to mention an orange-y floral and black, natch), which is great, too.

The bags are 100% cotton, no mention of organic, but it’s still pretty good. Go Zazzle, go good eatin’!

Free shipping on bags at Zazzle with coupon code FREESHIPBOOO (there’s an extra o).

(Shown in photo, Got Candy? by T-shirt Fun and The Batty Tote by Jamie Creates 1.)

Made of soft metallic calfskin, this teenybopper-golden shiny bag by Miu Miu may come in ritzy leather, but the clutch says all daytime … and then some at — over 17″ wide! This clutch is for the big bag lugging girl who needs something extra for her evenings out. That may just even be me; and even with my ban, because this treasure only costs 715 American smackeroos! Hey, when I pay my Neiman’s credit bill, I’ll even have enough of a line to charge it! Oh joy.

This bag is me, but even I have my doubts. It’s certainly not for everyone, but it does make a big statement, no?

Some of you may be glad to know that there is a choice of the smaller impact colour choice: black. (Same size though.)

Pictured here is an actual handbag for sale by designer, Marni. It’s huge, it’s design-less, it’s shape-less, it’s detail-less. Oh but it has a pricetag! $1230 for a sack of leather is fabbingMy F-ing word ridiculous. I would expect to see this at Target for $49. And only that much for the size and being genuine leather. And I would never expect something that looks like this to be actual leather. Or even a handbag, because this obviously is the closest thing we’ve seen lately (or EVER) to a bag just being a container for old food you don’t even want to give the dog. The ginormous size helps this image. There is nothing about this “bag” that warrants a price nearly like that, not even the Marni name (no one buys for the Marni name). I hope the brand sells 0 of this unit and they learn the hard way that the designers need to wake up in the morning and actually work at what they do, not just nap all day and be so proud of themselves that they’ve almost learned how to sketch a circle (it was a pretty shaky ellipse, the sketches of this style). Seriously, the one lone detail of the hanging plain fob just makes a bigger mockery of this whole charlatan of a purse. F for Effort for Marni on this one. You’d better do make-up work over the Summer, and when I see you again in the fall, try to be most improved.

More pictures of Spring 2007 Runway shots of Marni fashion and fuglyfabulously ugly bags.

Coach has actually made an accessory line printed with a red/pink fragrance theme in celebration of their new perfume. They’ve also made up a limited edition compilation of the LE Jasmine XL Straw “Basket” bag filled with pieces from the line, plus a pair of shades and the exclusive to the “gift basket”, bronzer compact (which I think is a pretty awesome little beauty case).

The main feature of this LE gift set is the Jasmine XL Straw Basket ($998 separately, limited on its own as well) which features a rounded body of straw, orange leather and snake skin trim, brass hardware with ringed full-height straps and fragrance-print lining with 5 interior pockets. It’s sized 24″ x 13.5″ x 10.5″!
The official list of items included is: Fragrance-print crusher hat, beach towel, Framed coin purse, Patti sunglasses, and an exclusive Bronzer Set in the Fragrance Print Case.

The cost of the package is $1600 (eek) too steep for me even though I’d love to own this, but instead I can pick up a little piece of the “fragrance” line separately. My choice is the unique “Brush case” which can be used as a beauty case or even a clutch! Love it. If you can’t get the package, which is in limited quantities, perhaps look on eBay for that exclusive bronzer, as I will. (No low price guarantee, though.)

If you have the cash/budgeting and love for Coach or just plain cute accessories, go for it, it’s sold online at coach.com or in select boutiques, but you can always have it shipped free by calling your favorite store location/favorite SA.

Below are photos of what’s included in the Limited Edition Fragrance Straw Gift Basket:

And here are photos of separate items from Coach’s Fragrance-Print collection:

This tote is from Chanel’s new Paris Biarritz collection for SS 2007. Wow!

If all my body fat were removed (please god) all my extra matter would easily fit in here.
My whole torso would fit in here.
Both of my legs would fit in here.
My paddington collection could fit in here.
A weekend’s worth of clothing could fit in here.

You get the drill, but …

It wouldn’t fit in …

On my lap,
Just barely on a car seat,
On a shelf or hook or in my closet.

Oh boy.

Preview more Paris Biarritz below.

Ooh, I’m seeing indication of an IT bag budding! Featured in InStyle Magazine, and now carried by Madonna, this unique tote by Yves Saint Laurent is prepped to be the house’s next big bag.

Featuring side belts (yummmmmm, mmmmmmmm *drool*), horizontal zippers and a trio of studs, the YSL Downtown Tote is certainly identifiable.

But is it all that attractive? I only kind of like it. But I say if I were to buy into this trend, I’d go for the Raffia version—it’s in two-toned brown and less expensive.

Madonna’s black leather style costs $1,395 and pre-orders through Neiman Marcus.