ShopDiary

Belen Echandia 3-Day Sale

Belen Echandia is a handbag brand that I have yet to own. It’s a British label that has gotten quite a huge following via word of mouth. I heard that the exquisite quality and excellent customer service can’t be beat. So I’m looking forward to their upcoming 3-day biannual online sale starting on Wednesday, June 18 (10am PDT/1pm EDT/6pm GMT) and running through Saturday, June 21 (10am PDT/1pm EDT/6pm GMT).

The discount is 35% off all current stock and only one or two of each bag will be available. The sale is available to mailing list members so if you want to shop the sale, get yourself registered pronto. You don’t have to be registered to make a purchase during the sale but it may speed up the process considering the limited stock on hand and the legions of fans ready to add another bag to their collection. The super popular weekender bags will be 30% off on special order only since they aren’t currently in stock. Click here to find out how to order it during the sale and for other tips and more information about the sale.

My picks are after the jump.
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Gossip Girl: Serena Van der Woodsen’s Burberry Prorsum The Mason Warrior Bag

Spotted: Serena van der Woodsen toting a metal studded bag from Burberry Prorsum called The Mason Warrior Bag. The metal studs look a bit hardcore for Serena’s sweet image. Perhaps it will come in handy when she eventually goes to battle with her arch-nemesis, Georgina Sparks. $3195 at Net-a-Porter.

Images via youknowyouloveme and Net-a-Porter

Gossip Girl: Blair Waldorf’s Valentino Couture Braided Tote

Still another must have handbag from Gossip Girl’s latest episode, “Desperately Seeking Serena”, is Blair Waldorf’s red braided tote. Although the style has been around for several months now, the Valentino Couture Braided Tote just looks hot in red, doesn’t it? It’s made of napa leather that is buttery soft. The woven details and braided handles are unique features that go well with the bugatti shape. Seeing all these gorgeous handbags in one show suddenly makes me rethink my recent handbag purchase. Ah, if only I’ve got an extra $1950 to spare!

Image Sources: CWTV.com, Neiman Marcus

Gossip Girl: Georgina Sparks’ Gucci Hysteria Python Bag

Georgina Sparks (portrayed by actress Michelle Trachtenberg) made her debut on Gossip Girl’s latest episode, “Desperately Seeking Serena”. She’s back to stir up trouble for reformed former bad girl Serena and it looks like she arrived with a deadly accessory on her arm. I just watched the episode last night and I couldn’t get my eyes of her black python bag. It fits Georgina’s snakey, er sneaky, personality.

But seriously, the bag is Gucci’s Hysteria Python bag. For someone who isn’t usually drawn to Gucci and python (snakeskin gives me the creeps), this bag is to die for! The bag’s shape is distinctive and comes with a hefty price tag of $3990. Neiman Marcus has already sold out of the style but if you must have it, Saks Fifth Avenue still carries it. And if you live in California (where python is banned) or prefer a non-snakeskin alternative, Gucci Hysteria also comes in black patent ($1790) and gun metal leather ($2150).

Images via CWTV.com and Saks.com.

Even Express Has Gotten on the Marni Balloon Bag Bandwagon

Stores like Forever 21 and Steve Madden love Marni’s balloon bag as evidenced in their own incarnations of it.

Even designer Cynthia Rowley has her own version. (For those of you keeping track, she was ahead of the copycat pack; her Deena Handbag was released last summer).

Don’t look know but Express has gotten on the bandwagon as well.

Which version do you prefer?

(Left to right, top to bottom: Marni, Cynthia Rowley, Steve Madden, Forever 21, Express)

It’s My Birthday and I’ll Buy What I Want To

Hahaha. Don’t I sound so defensive? I know I’m going to get some flak for what I got myself for my birthday. (Yes, don’t wait for anybody to get what you want. Get it yourself!) But I know I will, especially from those in New York. Call me nuts but yes, I got myself a Goyard again. The brand isn’t as ubiquitous in Los Angeles as it is in New York. And I haven’t seen Goyard knock offs yet, so I’m still immune to being turned off with the brand.

I wanted something bright and cheery for spring, particularly a marine blue (royal blue) fidji hobo. And when I lock onto an idea, I can’t let go of it (that must be the Taurean in me). But Barneys didn’t have it. So I gravitated towards yellow and light blue. The colors look good against my Marimekko for H&M top, don’t they?

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Goldenbleu Caldwell

Last weekend I went to a multi-designer sample sale to exchange a Gorjana ring that I bought online. I met the lovely Iva from Gorjana who graciously allowed the exchange.

I also checked out the stuff on sale and came away with a Karen Zambos Vintage Couture St. Barts dress for $30 and this Goldenbleu Caldwell bag in crinkled patent at over 80% off retail, tax included (that’s $155!).

I normally don’t gravitate to the color purple but I’ve been looking for an inexpensive but well made bag lately so I was happy to find it when I did. The bag’s front pocket is actually a detachable clutch. Watch it in action here.

I would have bought more (Gorjana rings were $15, bangles $25 etc.) but I didn’t bring enough cash and I had to run to Barneys New York for my splurge handbag and dinner with friends later that evening. Remind me to go to this sample sale next time.

Momaboma Recycled Bags

The motivation to create bags from recycled materials is often a noble one, but the products usually turn out to be lacking in design and appeal. Some even look downright kitschy. Who would want to buy one, let alone wear it?

Momaboma is a clever fusion of aesthetic and ethics, or “recycled estethic“, the Italian brand’s motto. The company’s philosophy is to discover old and used objects “to communicate how much value our history has and how much value can be obtained by it.”

Their one-of-a kind bags are made out of rare newspapers, vintage magazines, fabric tape measures, vinyl records, cement sacks and even discarded homework sheets. Those made of paper are reinforced with polypropylene, lined with vintage t-shirts or textiles and are coated with resin to give each bag a glossy finish. Check out the production process here and more unique creations here. For availability, you’ll need to contact these showrooms in Italy and Belgium. Older styles are also carried at Yoox.

Italians do make their handbags better, don’t they?

[via Chuvaness]

Deals on YSL, Chloe, Balenciaga at SmartBargains.com

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came upon these discounted handbags at SmartBargains.com today. They’ve got YSL, Chloe, Balenciaga at up to almost 40% off. While the styles are from last year, these are styles that are still selling at full price at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. And the styles and colors look classic enough not to look outdated by next year. Unless you’re the type to keep track of course (Thank goodness for the demise of the It Bag, it was already getting ridiculous). Now I haven’t shopped here at all, but the general consensus from the savvy gals at the Purseblog forum is that Smart Bargains sells authentic items. It is the online outpost of Loehmann’s. So now I’m very tempted to spring for one of these. The question is, which one? Decisions, decisions…

Balenciaga Distressed Olive Leather Hobo
Balenciaga Giant City
Balenciaga Green Distressed Leather Hobo
Balenciaga Leather Hobo
Balenciaga Royal Blue Leather Tote $1585 $999.99
Chloe Bay Black Leather Tote
Chloe Bay East West Black Leather Satchel
Chloe Bay Large Black Leather East-West Satchel
Chloe Bay Large Quilted Black Patent Satchel
Chloe Bay Quilted Brown Patent Leather Satchel
Chloe Bay Red Leather Tote
Chloe Bay White Leather Satchel
Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Metallic Leather Bag
Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Patent Leather Bag

You’ve Got Y-Mail by Yves Saint Laurent

How cool are these embossed leather and satin goods from Yves Saint Laurent? Giving a nod to the nostalgic days of snail mail, the Y-Mail collection features the brand’s first official headquarters in Paris embossed in founder Yves Saint Laurent’s personal manuscript. An imprint of a French postage stamp and a YSL logo complete the look. Available in black, gold, silver and red (exclusive to Asia), prices range from $180 for a mirror case to $1,840 for a medium-sized tote. The collection was first released in Asia in January and will be launched in the U.S. this month. Colette Paris will also exclusively carry this limited edition pewter clutch (only 10 pieces made) that opens like an envelope and has Colette’s return address of 213 rue Saint-Honoré on the flap.

Via Asia One and V Magazine; Image Sources 1, 2, 3
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