Designer Handbag,Luxury Bag Reviews – 21Purse

I must have come down with yellow fever (does turning your half Colombian husband into an honorary Chinese count?) because I can’t get enough of yellow bags. Maybe it’s all the cheery, clear weather we’re been getting inLA this weekend – everything’s coming up sunny. Whatever it is, a big yellow tote is made to be enjoyed in a carefree way.

If you just want a spring fling with a bright bag, at under $300, Rebecca Minkoff‘s “Cherish” tote is perfectly priced for such an affair. Unlike Dsquared2′s smooth”Quebec” bag that has the shade right-on but a distracting logo, this frugal variation has depth and texture for needed richness. Warm brights this bright are bit tricky and can look cheap without purposeful dimension.

An easy, functional tote for all your vacation or work needs: think laptop during the week and beach towel on weekends. And a soft floral print any day, a great pairing with bright yellow, for an unexpected burst of happiness sure to perk people up all day long. On ShopBop for $295.

Pair with: Bright yellow and warm gray is always a winning combination, especially when you throw in the high interest of Camilla Skovgaard‘s patent-leather sandals. Camilla Skovgaard Patent Leather Sandal, $470.

It’s been too long since we’ve seen a major bag presentation from the Master of Beauty. For 2012 Resort, Oscar de la Renta reminded us he is gentleman who knows true ladies need complimentary carryalls – just like exquisite dresses need arm candy to finish them off.

The 2012 Resort collection not only brought flamenco flair and major artsy influences (Cubist Picasso was clearly cited), it brought an upbeat array of new bags. Multiple-roll clutches in gorgeous hues, shots of bright coral-red with glossy nails to match, and a large Trocodero hobo bag round out the tasteful line. My favorite of the collection? The chic and ladylike “Lipp” bag in flamingo and aqua python (also in black calf with a covered chain).

Cheery and uplifting with flavor and class to spare, this collection is a celebration of color as much as it is a toast to women. Reminding us that no one does color like Oscar – exuberant yet refined. Remember, this is a man who once told me he is not a minimalist designer nor does he aspire to be!

Tomas Maier served up a realistically glamorous 2012 Resort collection that suits the glamorously realistic woman. He showed us exactly how a sophisticated – and rather smokin’ – woman dresses from the time she leaves her city stomping ground until she arrives beachside.

For departure: a sleek turtleneck and a mysterious trench to wear with an urban-perfect neutral tote (intrecciato, dual-toned, and ombré). Just as the modern jetsetter sheds her overcoat as she hits the seaside (or luxury hotel pool), the collection gets more revealing and colorful, ideal for showing off bronzed legs. Maier also revealed his Miami roots: a hot pink and firey red dress with matching satchel radiates heat. So do shades like yummy yellow and lagoon blue set against vanilla neutrals.

The bags not only speak for themselves. As well-conceived bags should, they define the collection: no in-between sizes, just big, welcoming totes – equally ideal for city-dwelling which demands you carry your life in your bag and lazy poolside lounging – and tiny clutches for pops of color and evening adventures absolutely anywhere

The Lanvin “Pop” has always been just fine. Passable and pleasant but not standout enough to make my shortlist. But now, a sudden change of heart! The mini, metallic “Pop” is totally different. Proportions change everything, but of course, python plays a major role in my new outlook (I’m a sucker for snake skin, what can I say?).

The cross-body evening bag is a cagey character – it’s also an essential – and this one is simply fab. I can’t peel my eyes away from the glittering python. In addition to ensuring you have the most glam bag in the room, this golden metallic gives it an organic, distressed feel that’s only for the coolest of snobs. Add a textured, woven chain and a too-cool-to-care floppy bow, and it results in the best kind of relaxed chic, elusive unless you’re the likes of SJP with her power team of stylists. On Ssense for $1,725.

Pair with: A cocktail dress that goes “pop” in the subtlest of ways, like Helmut Lang‘s leather and silk dress, black and sequined so all you see is your silhouette and some shimmer. On Net-a-Porterfor $995.

CoStume National, the coolest brand around, is having a major 50%-off sale, which starts for the public on June 1st. But the private sale, only open to VIP, which, of course, Shoe Snob readers definitely are, starts now! Use codeSNOBEXCLUSIVE at checkout and click “Apply”.

Maje Has Us Craving the Classics, With a Parisian Twist For Fall at FabSugar.

Frugal find! Jewel Snob loves the look of a sculptural cuff, and this one by Cara Accessories is out of a modern high-art gallery at a very low-art price.

Soccer Mum Maternity Style: Victoria Beckham atRed Carpet Fashion Awards.

Just what your splashing, swimming tot needs for all of her water activities: Mini Boden’s cover-up atTot Snob functions like a wearable towel and you can’t get cozier than this!

Forum Street Style: From Blacks and Whites to Citrus Brights at The Fashion Spot.

Jeans, meet your new BFF. Couture Snob is in love with this Dsquared2 jacket, the perfect mix of uptown sophistication and old boyfriend’s varsity jacket!

The Budget Fashionista has Summer Beach Cover-ups on Sale.

For Dads Who Barbecue: Monogrammed Steak Brand & Cutting Board at TheFind.

Beauty Snob loves La Prairie shadows – they look beautiful and have that extra benefit of being good for your skin, and their Cellular Treatment Eye Colour Ensemble comes in a variety of five summery colors that are soft and warm.

Steal Her Shoes: Get the Louboutin Look for Less at the Recessionista Blog!

It’s rare that I get the urge to refer to a handbag collection as “tight,” but the more I look at 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2011, the more that seems like the most appropriate word to use. The color palette, shapes and materials are all limited to a very cohesive few, but the resulting designs are surprisingly varied and covetable, so long as you subscribe to Lim’s particular brand of contemporary minimalism.

The upright satchels strike me as a less expensive alternative to the much sought-after Celine Luggage Tote, and the smooth leather shoulder bags with bold metal closures and a witty puff of contrasting fur are an office-friendly option that would work even if you don’t work in an office. These designs are mostly neutral and functional without being boring or forgettable, and towing that line requires the sort of aesthetic confidence that makes these bags very much worth noting for the coming season.

Today I spent a solid five minutes at lunch trying to figure out if today is Tuesday or Wednesday with Vlad. This is the downside of a blogger’s life, we get a little confused with our wonky schedule. Amanda told me the only reason she knew it was Wednesday is because of the New Arrivals at NAP. Why didn’t I think of that?!

This Wednesday Net-A-Porter brought in black classic bags along with a bright pop of purple color and some luscious red. Which design is your favorite?

One of my favorite Rebecca Minkoff designs is her MAC clutch. I own six of these bags in different colors and materials and never get sick of it. The design tranitions flawlessly from day to night and is sizable enough to carry plenty of objects.

In fact, I carried my new copper snakeskin effect MAC today and it fit my continental wallet, keys, iPhone, lipstick, eyeglass cleaning cloth, inhaler, and lollipop. Actually, there was probably more in there, but it packed in nicely and was not bulky at all. This clutch is clutch.Canvas Rebecca Minkoff MAC Clutch, $135 via ShopBop.

This canvas print Rebecca Minkoff MAC Clutch features the typical trompe l’oeil spring-lock and pocket graphics in place of hardware. The antiqued gold hardware, zip closure, and chain strap are the only metal additions to the bag. Some RM bags tend to be a bit heavy and I would imagine this canvas version is relatively light. Buy via ShopBop for $135.

While paging through the handbags from Fendi Fall 2011, I kept waiting for the brand’s trump card. For the bag that would pull the whole thing together and make me sit up and pay attention. And while there are some very attractive options from the collection, unfortunately that bag never came. Perhaps after Spring 2011′s stellar lineup of Fendi accessories, I was expecting too much.

Fall continues some of the biggest hits from that line, including the ladylike multicolor satchels with crocodile flaps, and it also introduces several more multicolor options in the form of slouchy totes and shoulder bags with elongated straps. Some of these asymmetrically shaded designs work better than others, and I hope to see them hit retail in bright combinations as well as the neutrals seen here. For now, my collection winner in the blue patent shoulder bag that you see above.

Yves Saint Laurent Muse Two Artisanal Recycled, $1720 via YSL.

Usually, women only ask two things of their handbags: That they be fabulous and functional. Increasingly, though, some women are making a third request of their clothing and accessories: That it also has a sense of social responsibility. Admittedly not everyone cares about what impact their purchases have on the world or on the people who produced them, but the number of people who do are growing, which makes it fashionable for global brand to debut products like the limited editionYves Saint Laurent Muse Two Artisanal Recycled Bag, which was produced by artisans in Burkina Faso with Fair Trade cotton and recycled plastic bags. For real.

Although I’m betting that most people will balk at paying over $1700 for a cotton handbag even if it is part of a 60-piece handmade run that’s only available online to US and UK customers, the more luxury companies undertake projects like this, the better. Mainstreaming responsible manufacturing processes is a slow process, but this bag makes it hard to argue that the results aren’t every bit as good as their traditional counterparts. Available via YSL.com for $1720.