Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags

Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags
The artsy accessories are in full bloom. And do you know which line I am loving most? Louis Vuitton! From the Watercolor Speedy to the Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags, Louis Vuitton has taken a light and fun approach on their spring bags. I’ve caught the LV bug. The Louis Vuitton Tahitienne Bags are hard not to love. They are monogram, but not overly splattered monogram. In fact, while the logo is large, it is still hard to decipher for many that do not know the new items from the brand. The bag is designed with woven cotton canvas and a monogram print with a hand painted effect inspired by a 1924 LV catalog cover. The inside only brings more fun, with smaller Tahitienne print. The shape is perfect for me and the feel is perfect for resort and summer. Actually, I look at this bag and picture myself with my bikini on headed to the beach or out for a day on the boat (or even better on an exotic island vacation!). The rich, vibrant colors are inspired by Paul Gauguin, a Post-Impressionist painter who is known for his bold use of color. Another perk is the adjustable leather shoulder straps and interior strap that can be adjusted to change the shape and capacity of the bags. Ok, I am kind of obsessively in love, I’ll admit it. While the prices are not super cheap,

Prada Stripes Hobo

Prada Stripes Hobo
This trip in New York has been filled with the most stunning weather and the most Prada bags I have seen in a long time. I have been utterly shocked at seeing bag after bag of Prada. Is Prada the new bag of NYC? And these are not the nylon bags, they are the runway bags with large studs, prints, and non-recognizable to the masses. Today I saw a bag that again made me fall in love. While we were at a fashion show in a spacious and jaw-dropping loft overlooking the Hudson River there she was, the Prada Stripes Hobo in black. Of course it was in black, but I am not obsessing over the black, rather the purple hues. The violet medium hobo and dark lavender small hobo offer the perfect hue in a bag that I have already confessed my love of. Purple is associated with giving peace of mind, hence it is used often in offices and work spaces. Not only does it give peace of mind, but it looks amazing on blond hair blue eyed gals (can’t you see why I love it!). The supple Nappa leather on these Prada bags melts in your hands and the stripes add the perfect amount of dimension.

Prada Stripes Multicolor Small Hobo

Prada Stripes Multicolor Small Hobo
On Friday night my parents had a dinner party that Vlad and I attended. Of course all of my moms friends know that I am the ‘bag lady’ and many times they ask me what I think of their handbag. The same handbag-loving-friend of my mom who carried the Michael Kors Watchband Clutch to the last event we saw her at was again carrying a new stunner. As she walked in the house and greeted us, my eyes were drawn to her Prada bag and as I stared at the bag I instantly fell in love. She was carrying the Prada Stripes Multicolor Small Hobo in the turquoise-violet combination which looked divine and really was the perfect size. The small version adds the right amount of color splash and spunk, while not taking away from the overall outfit or look. The leather is supple Nappa, which is smooshy to the touch and perfect to showoff the colors. The top handle and shoulder strap are detachable, but I loved this being carried with the small top handle. Dimensions are 9½”W X 7″H X 3½”D. I first posted about the Prada Trembled Blossoms Bag and found it captivating yet pricey for the small size. Now I find it captivating, pricey for its size, but worth it.

Gucci Hysteria Bag

I fell head over heels in love with the ultimately expensive Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag. The price is not practical for me at all, but the color, the feel, the shape, was beautiful. I kept staring at it and studying it and I truly think the SA thought he made a huge sale that day. Unfortunately I was just an oogler, not a real buyer. And last week I went to Gucci Bal Harbor and fell in love again, but this time that bag is more affordable, relatively speaking. The Gucci Hysteria Bag is designed with yellow/white patchwork on the front of the bag with black leather on the back. The leather is ultimately sumptuous. I mean super soft, the kind that just melts as you touch it. I kept grabbing the bag thinking it was from Bottega Veneta, not Gucci. This bag has me back on Gucci’s side, in love with a bag that is absolutely fierce. The body is very slouchy, actually allowing the bag to fold over if you carry it with the messenger strap. The Hysteria bags feature Gucci Crest detail. There was still one more of these available at Gucci Bal Harbor but you can also find it online via Bergdorf Goodman for $3150 or plain patent via Saks for $1790.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Galliera

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Galliera
The countdown has officially begun for those on the Louis Vuitton Watercolor Speedy list! Luckily I am on the list and I am quite excited to get my Speedy and use it for summer. The only unfortunate part is that it arrives in stores on May 1st, and I fly out May 1st for my trip to Spain. Oh well, I can wait 11 days to get back and get the bag! The other bag that is highly coveted and newly arrived to eLuxury is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Galliera. This is a new addition to the Monogram Canvas line for LV and the perfect touch for spring and summer. This bag features the monogram canvas that we all are very familiar with, shiny golden brass hardware, and a LV inventeur plate on the front. The shape will give this bag the perfect slouch, with an adjustable belted leather should strap. The inside is lined with microfiber and there are ample pockets for storage. The PM is already out of stock but the GM, 18.7″x 14.8″x 5.3″, is still readily available on eLuxury for $1,360.
If you are hoping for a Watercolor Speedy make sure to call your local LV! My LV of choice is the fabulous Bal Harbour shops!

Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag

The craze over the Gucci USA Flagship opening was unprecedented. Many people wanted to see the store, but most wanted to grab one of the coveted Gucci Loves New York bags. This limited edition line of bags are completely sold out, but the excitement surrounding the store still exists. Today we wound down with a trip to Gucci, as it is about half a block away from our hotel. The store is HUGE. Floor one carried many bags, but floor two and three did not disappoint either. The thing is, lately I have not had much love for Gucci. The brand is one of the most recognized luxury houses in the world, and while their ready-to-wear has been amazing, the handbags have been lacking that special touch that I need. The Hysteria line brings a fresh touch to Gucci, giving it the extra nudge that it needed to get me back on board. The Gucci Hysteria line drops the expected Gucci GG logo and brings in the family crest. The emblem adds the perfect touch that is not expected but much appreciated. And with New York being the new US Gucci flagship, the handbag selection is to die for. I have never seen so many exotic Gucci handbags. Everywhere we turned there were ostrich bags, python jackets, and crocodile skins. My absolute favorite was the $300,000 Gucci Crocodile Trunk. The trunk is a taupe crocodile and a stunning collectors piece (not to mention it is the only one of its kind). Going along with the crocodile craze, Gucci took one of its best bags of the season and dressed it up in yellow crocodile, creating the Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag. This is unlike any other Gucci bag I have seen in the longest time. The crocodile is buttery soft as it is taken from the belly of the crocodile. The inside is lined with goatskin that is even more supple. In fact, if they could make me a big pillow out of this exact material that would be heaven. This bag had the perfect slouch, the perfect chic feel, and the color was stunning. Only problem (for me at least) is the $37,500 price tag. I love this bag, love it so very much, but the price tag is way out of my range. Instead I could settle with the goatskin version ($1950). Saks also offers a python version for $3990 and a patent version for $1790 via Saks.

Louis Vuitton Watercolor Speedy

First and foremost, much of the information on this new bag from Louis Vuitton is still not set-in-stone nor is anyone 100% sure of the truth behind it all. We have all heard conflicting stories, information, prices, release dates, etc. But you know a bag is a sure hit when the rumors begin (sick but true!). Richard Prince collaborated with Marc Jacobs to design artistic bags for the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2008 line. The hottest item right now is the Louis Vuitton Watercolor Speedy which is said to be released in the US on May 1,2008. The release date has been changed numerous amounts of times. Another piece of information that everyone is uncertain of is the price. The early look book says the bag will be $1,185 but I have heard prices going up to $1,600. My wonderful SA at Bal Harbour did some research and believes it will be around $1,300. The next piece of information that has many confused is the size. While the Louis Vuitton Speedy is available in a size 30 and 35, this bag is said to only come in size 35. The monogram pattern is designed in a manner that has the orange, red, and yellow paints looking like they were painted on with watercolor paint. This bag has an incredibly long wait list at many stores and the masses are clamoring to get the next ‘big’ Speedy. The price is said to be around $1,300 via your local LV boutique when available. You can always check eLuxury also.

Gucci 8-8-2008 Special Edition

For this year, Gucci announced a special limited 8-8-2008 collection of just 8 fashion accessories that will be available exclusively through Gucci Hong Kong and China stores. The special edition pays homage to competitive sports and is supposed to epitomize sporty luxury, according to Gucci creative director Frida Giannini. Cornerstone of the campaign is the new I-Gucci watch, which is unique to the 8-8-08 campaign in both coloring and sporty appearance. It also happens to be the first digital time piece Gucci has ever released - its digital face is capable of displaying both numerical and clock-hand formats. Other specs include a 44 millimeter steel frame casing, a red monochrome rubber strap (embossed with Gucci’s iconic GG pattern on its inside) and selection of multiple time zones.

The 8-8-2008 collection also features an unlikely accessory in form of a bicycle. The bike is built for leisure and sports bold red double GG leather details such as the seat and the handle bar grips. On a personal note: Being somewhat of a bike fetishist myself, I feel like the Holland-style bike defies the whole concept of the campaign. If the collection is conveying a sporty spirit, why not collaborate with a real competitive race bike maker such as Specialized and give Gucci lovers a real sport toy for their money’s worth? I suppose my perception of “sports” are quite a bit different than the creative department at Gucci envisions. Judging their frail Chinese campaign model, his stature and lack of sporty appearance, entirely justifies my criticism of the nature of the campaign. In my humble opinion, this collection’s ties to competitive sports should have been dropped for the sake of real athletes around the globe.
Moving on from an athlete’s rant, the limited collection also features two pieces of luggage in the bold red “La Pelle Guccissima”. The first is a study leather duffel bag and the other a soft-leather messenger bag with Gucci’s Green-Red-Green web on its shoulder strap.
You can view the full limited edition here, while this page offers an exclusive video, giving insights into the shooting and creation of the campaign pictures. As mentioned, most items will only be available through Gucci boutiques in HK and China, the I-Gucci watch will be available globally.

Louis Vuitton Epi Leather Montaigne Clutch

Louis Vuitton Epi Leather Montaigne Clutch
Today has been an absolutely fabulous day! It is raining outside and windy, but we had our first meeting with the wedding planner and I could not be more thrilled. Now the fun part comes; deciding on the venue and every other detail involved. I am narrowing down the colors that I would like to use, and while I think I know the exact colors I would like, pink and purple hues are near and dear to my heart. They are so feminine and stunning. And as my mind rambled, and as I have been in love with these two colors, I found one of my favorite Louis Vuitton Clutches in the exact colors that I adore. We loved the Louis Vuitton Epi Leather Montaigne Clutch when we first saw it in black and white, and have fallen in love with it all over again in purple and pink. The sleek and clean lines of the textured Epi leather, smooth leather trim, and stunning shiny palladium hardware combine to make this bag a show stopper. The flap top is closed with a stunning large logo-engraved push-lock closure. I loved this bag so much that I bought one for my mom at Louis Vuitton Bal Harbour. Somehow I decided not to get one for myself, and now I know why. It is because these two colors have my heart! The only issue is deciding which color to go for. The more wearable hue of purple or the girly pink? Sure, this has not gotten me far in my wedding planning, but the side-tracks in life always end in stunning shopping purchases.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Tisse Rayure Clutch

Louis Vuitton Monogram Tisse Rayure Clutch
Late last week Vlad and I avoided all work for a day and spent the day out enjoying the weather, a great lunch, and some shopping. Shopping in South Florida is like no where else. I could sit and people watch for hours everyday. We were walking down Las Olas (a chic little strip filled with boutiques) in Fort Lauderdale when I noticed a group of 3 women who were incredibly chic. They were chic and at least 80 years old. As they sat on the corner of the street chatting away I caught them reveling in their new purchases for one another, from Louis Vuitton Monogram Tisse Rayure line. While two of the ladies were carrying the Louis Vuitton Monogram Tissé Sac Rayure PM, one of the ladies was carrying my favorite, the Louis Vuitton Monogram Tisse Rayure Clutch. The bags in this line are designed with linen and cotton monogram canvas with a grained leather trim. This line has been designed by Mar Jacobs and pays homage to historical Louis Vuitton trunks. As I watched these ladies, who were dressed fabulously, I fell in love with the bag. It is different, elegant, and timeless. Just as I thought they could not be any more fabulous, their driver pulled up in their Bentley to wisk them away. Sure a Bentley doesn’t always mean you are chic, but these ladies sure were. The clutch has a removable strap for carrying and dimensions are 12.8″x 7.9″x 3.7″.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Sac Baxter PM

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Sac Baxter PM
Am I the only one that immediately thinks of Anchorman when I hear of a dog named Baxter? Ok, so maybe you did not like the movie, maybe you did not see it, but those of you that did will understand how hard it is to hear Baxter and not think of Will Ferrell’s trusty dog. I could not see Will carrying Baxter around in a pet carrier, but I know many people love to keep their pets with them at all times. Jessica Simpson has been one of the leading ladies seen carrying her pup Daisy in Louis Vuitton dog carrier. Now there is a new version released by Louis Vuitton, the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Sac Baxter PM which is designed with monogram canvas and trimmed with natural cowhide. This dog carrier looks more like a handbag from the front, sporting a flapped pouch pocket with polished golden brass hardware. The side panel unzips, folds over, and secures with snaps to give the perfect luxury room away from home for your pet. Measurements are 13.8″x 10.4″x 6.5″. I have only had one dog in my life, and he is a black lab who can not fit in a dog carrier. I am not sure that if I had a small dog I would take him/her around with me everywhere, but this is a great option for the owner who loves luxury and their pup.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Bellevue PM

Easy to clean, the Louis Vuitton Vernis line has become a LV favorite. The Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Bellevue PM sports triangular sides on the new (and perfect for Valentine’s Day I might add) Violette color. The vernis is monogram embossed patent leather and is accented with natural cowhide trim.
The nameplate on the front of the bag spotlights the Old English Louis Vuitton signature. Having a zip top closure, this handbag becomes perfect to carry an array of things without worrying about anything falling out. Dimensions are 14.8″x 8.9″x 7″.