Taxidermy Chic

I can't get over the texture of this Armani bag. Made of perch skin, it walks a fine line between deliciously decadent and vaguely creepy. Personally, I like the taxidermy-esque look of it, but then, I'm also thrilled by the recent flourishing of natural history references in design in general. Discovering the beautiful in the strange can be so uplifting.

It helps that everything else about the bag is totally understated. Delicate, discreetly glowing gold hardware, utterly simple shape. And obviously, given my obsession with pale grey, I think the color is fantastic too.

Bag by Giorgio Armani. Image from Harper's Bazaar UK Shoes and Bags Supplement, March '08.

Minaudiere Magic

Most of the minaudieres out there just don't do it for me. They're too fussy, too flashy. This one's a stunner with a timeless quality and a traditional luxury that it would take a long time to tire of. Despite the fact that minaudieres are impractically tiny and rigid, sometimes their formal precision really is called for in place of a softer evening clutch.

The intricately molded metal on this piece reminds me of my favorite pieces of gold jewelry and I think it would pair beautifully with any carefully-worked gold jewelry. The black lining melts into the shadows and keeps the piece versatile enough for a range of color schemes.

Minaudiere by Yves St. Laurent. Image from Harper's Bazaar, October '07.

Large Structured Bags

On my recent trip to Alabama, I made a much-regretted impulse buy. The saleswomen were so nice, the store was about to close and the price was so reasonable. I talked myself into it and am living to regret it. The item? A cream/putty-colored handbag with substantial gold hardware. There's a lot to like about the bag, especially the fact that you can remove the long chain handle and carry it by a short handle, or else you can unfold it and carry it by cut-out handles. So it's actually like three bags in one. But unless I can find a way to incorporate it into my fall/winter wardrobe, it's going to lounge neglected at the bottom of my closet. What I was hoping for was a new summer handbag, but with all that gold, it seems too blingy for my day-time summer clothes and the color is too muddy for them as well.

The trauma of pulling the trigger too fast on a summer bag has led me to muse about fall bags. I'm hoping to chalk my recent mistake up to experience and redeem my handbag-purchasing track record with a solid pick for next season. Here are some of the day handbags I'm eyeing. I notice that they're all large and structured, with short-to-medium length handles.



I probably like this bag because I'm mildly obsessed with diamond patterns, a trait I first observed while choosing fabrics for my apartment. Personally I wouldn't get a lot of mileage out of graphic black and white, but I imagine that plenty of people would.



Love, love, love the unusual but still neutral color on this one. Subtle gold hardware keeps it understated, while the cute, rounded lines and shiny patent finish are playful and vaguely mod.



Now maybe *this* is the kind of summer bag I should have gone for. The ivory color might not work as well for fall, but I love the unusual texture and the way the handle straps are looped though the hardware. The texture and the casual looping remind me of grosgrain ribbon. I also like that the hardware is utterly discreet but the structure and material keep the bag from seeming cheap. Ah, Bottega Veneta, how tasteful thou art!



My favorite thing about this bag is the so-subtle-you'd-almost-miss-them bows. They aren't too prissy, either. I could see this bag traveling through all four seasons.



Eye-catching tapered and ladylike shape. I'm a sucker for textured skins and this rich burgundy has such a luscious, ultra-glossy finish.

First image from Self, August '07; bag by Lambertson Truex. Second image from Harper's Bazaar, August '07; bag by Yves Saint Laurent. Third image from Harper's Bazaar, August '07; bag by Bottega Veneta. Fourth image from Lucky, September '07; bag by MiuMiu. Fifth image from Lucky, September '07; bag by Cole Haan.

Raffia Clutch

I really like how understated this clutch is. Often they're are designed like flashy jewelry, with lots of embellishment and bright colors. There's nothing wrong with that, and glittery ones certainly have their place when an outfit needs perking up. But clutches like that practically shriek: "Here I am, out for a fancy evening!" Sometimes you really don't want to look like you've dolled yourself up in your finest for that rare night out. In fact, usually when I'm going out in the evening, I just need someplace daintier than a tote or a hobo to stash money, keys and a cell phone but the last thing I want is to carry something precious. I think this clutch would be great for those occasions. The color is neutral. The raffia is summery but finely woven enough to still be sleek. The silk ribbon adds a little prettiness and luxury. The one tiny detail I'd change would be to make the clasp were gold, instead of silver. Then I'd want to carry this clutch out every night, all summer.

Clutch by Franchi. Image from Lucky, August '08.

The Oversized Clutch

I like this recently hailed trend: the oversize clutch. I know, I know, clutches are a pain because you can’t just throw them over your shoulder and have your hands free. The thought of an oversize clutch is maybe even more terrifying, because it combines cumbersomeness with the potential to be heavy and therefore more difficult to keep a grip on. But I think an oversized clutch could work, as long as you don’t feel the compulsion to cram more stuff into the extra space, and also, if you don’t make it the bag you reach for when you’re heading out on errands. An oversized clutch is a way of acknowledging that handbags keep getting bigger and bigger, while trying to keep yours polished and ladylike, but not prissy. The fact that it would add a dash of uniqueness to a look doesn’t hurt either.


Image from Harper’s Bazaar, June ‘07.

All Gold

I love the two gold items in this photo - the shearling coat and the oversized bag - but wearing them together seems a bit flashy. Individually, though, both are stunners.

The bag is so luxurious, with its textured, luminescent gold snakeskin and classic lines. The jumbo size piles excess upon excess but the structured shape, courtesy of the rigid gold frame, lends the piece a whisper of prim and proper.

The jacket, meanwhile, is also a jaw-dropper. The finish on the material has been so carefully thought through, the shininess of the gold contrasting with the mattifying properties of the skin. The plush wide chocolate lapels promise decadent warmth and the zips at the cuffs lend a bad boy edge. The motorcycle shape makes it a piece to wear with something polished and ladylike underneath, just like the model is doing with her dark wool-and-cashmere dress. Pointy-toed shoes would be right at home here.

Jacket by Ralph Lauren Collection; Bag by Oscar de la Renta. Image from Elle, June ‘07.