4.25.2008

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.

4.23.2008

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.

4.09.2008

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!

4.04.2008

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.