Designers Handbags

William Shakespeare once said that “Love is the most beautiful of dreams and the worst of nightmares.” Hey Shakespeare, I can totally relate to the beautiful and worse comparison of love when it comes to my handbag addiction. To love a bag is easy, to love the price tag is a bit harder for most of us. Right now my dreams are surrounding this Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Leather Clutch because of the subtle pink hue on top of the most divine and supple metallic gold woven leather. The design is simple but just as stunning with a slight pyramid shape and inner central zip pocket. BV, I love you, but your endless line of beauties are giving my wallet nightmares. Not an *awful* price via Net-A-Porter for $1100.

GASP! I’m so smitten I can’t even think of a clever preamble for this post! This Bottega Veneta Soft Crocodile Clutch is just dreamy. I love Bottega clutches. The pillbox structure and the signature pretzel knot detail on the closure are so elegant. Not all Bottega clutches are created equal, however, and this is one of the most beautiful clutches I’ve ever seen. The crocodile! Well, first of all, it’s freakin’ croc, so it’s pretty much as luxe as you get. Second, it’s amazing croc. This croc leather doesn’t even look reptilian in that scaley vaguely creepy way some other lesser exotics do. The texture is almost tiled in a gorgeous, soft, yet natural pattern. I feel like I could touch this and it would feel as buttery as the most delicate lambskin. The color is utterly wonderful too. I can’t even put my finger on what color it is. The description doesn’t help - it’s called “ebano,” and if that’s a color, it isn’t in English. Anyway, it looks like a soft rich brown with some purple and silvery undertones. I would love to see this bag in person as I imagine it would be even more breathtaking. If you’re swooning like I am, but with a lot more cash to plunk down on an evening bag, pre-order this gem from Saks.com for $2,400. Seriously, that isn’t bad for croc!

Contributed by Shopping Nerd(phanie)

Separately, these four items may look killer (the Juicy shirt is a bit over the top and a bit look-at-me-look-at-me-spoiled-teenager-ish, but hey - it is kinda cute). All together, would I look like Britney Spears on her way to 7-11 for some Cheetos if I paired these four items together? I can’t quite decide, but green is undeniably a huge color for Spring 2007, gold is still as fashionable as ever, skinny jeans are sticking around and sticking tight, and a quirky shirt could be pulled off here and there. In my eyes, I am the chic Williamsburg gal that could rock all four items walking about the ‘Burg Saturday and sipping on a latte. But I am merely a girl from South Florida who loves fashion and lives in the Midwest. Sure, I love coffee shops, but not those ornate individual one-in-a-million ones, I love me a Grande Soy No Water Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks.

This outfit just seems so summer sultry, young, and fun to me. I’d first throw on this in-your-face Juicy Couture Ribbed Slogan Tank that reads “Buy me stuff”. Ok that is SO far from a hipster, but it made Vlad and I laugh. Shirt via Net-A-Porter for $58.

Next, I’d throw on a pair of skinny jeans like the True Religion Julie Skinny Stretch Jeans. When I say throw on, I mean lay on the ground and painfully pull parts of the jean/my skin up my leg until the damned things fit, then proceed to lunge around my room to the hallway into the kitchen, do a few squats, and hope to hell they don’t split. Yep, I am that girl. These jeans are a very classic TR style with their dark navy denim, stitched pockets, and the signature pocket pattern. If I am lucky, these jeans would stretch in all the right places, hold in and hide in all the right places, and not give me the hideous and fashion don’t muffin top. Via NAP for $195.

The accessories are the fun part. Vlad says no to these shoes, but I think the Christian Louboutin Iowa Patent Mary Janes have the ability to make passerby’s green with envy. Yellow, orange, and green are all the rage for spring (heck, bold colors are the new black) and these patent leather peep-toe Mary Janes are sassy, sexy, and so hard to pull off, but if you can, you are sure to at least make one person near drool. I just question if I could pull them off without looking as though I am wearing the Jolly Green Giant girlfriend’s shoes. $595 through Net-A-Porter.

Finishing it all off is a clutch of course, because who would I be if I did not include a handbag of some sort?! Bottega Veneta has the ability to either implement their already proven hit of woven leather but also can play around with designs from time to time and feature pure genius. Meticulously gold chain is coiled together to form the Bottega Veneta Metallic Box Clutch. The knotted rope fastening adds another dimensions along with lilac suede on the inside. Scrumptious. This is a perfect accessory to an outfit, which can be dressed up or dressed down via Net-A-Porter for $2250.

So there you have my outfit that I dreamed up while over-worked, stressed, tired, and really sore from my spinning class earlier. My old roommate who lives in Williamsburg, Tiffany, could TOTALLY rock this - actually, I spoke with her earlier today which must be what got me thinking and dreaming of her hipster appeal (she totally rocks it well!). Me, I may just need to stick with what I know works. Which of you dress similarly or could pull this off? Is this outfit Terrific or Trashy?

And by pink, I am referring respectively to the most lusciously feminine colors that have me drooling at the house of BV. From left to right, we have familiar designs and shapes in a color that is downright to-die-for. Left, is the Bottega Veneta Large Veneta, a highly coveted style with implements supple woven Nappa leather. Pre-order for $1630 via BV. Nestled in the middle is the Bottega Veneta Julie in a subtle mix of purple and pink Cervo leather. Pre-order for $1550. And lastly on the right, there is the Bottega Veneta Cocker which carries the pink hue of the Large Veneta and sports side pockets and a braid handle. Bu it via Bottega Veneta for $1580. If you are on the look-out for the softest leather and divine colors, make sure you check out the Spring 2007 Handbags at BV.

To me Bottega Veneta has to try really hard to go wrong. If they continue using their signature woven leather and continue using rich supple leather, they will remain on top as timeless and beautiful. Simplicity is part of Bottega Veneta’s plan and the Bottega Veneta Woven Cosmetic Case is a complete hit because it does not stray from their norm. A perfect stocking stuffer, this cosmetic case is designed with rich and supple brown woven leather which is accented with goldtone hardware. The two pull tabs come together to nearly resemble a small bow on their top zip. On the inside there is canvas lining and this little chic travel accessory measures 4”H X 7”L X 2″W. A total and simple hit for me and I would sure be happy to see it down in my stocking. Via Saks for $290.

The director of Bottega Veneta, Tomas Maier, creates elegant masterpieces that delight the eye with astounding details. Many of you associate Bottega Veneta with handcrafted latticework leather, but BV has a few more tricks up their sleeve. The Bottega Veneta Python Frame Bag is designed for a fashion savvy woman who is elegant and chic. Gray/brown python provides a flawless body for the bag which is accented with golden hardware. The framed top leads to golden metal rope detail and a kiss lock closure. Not your everyday bag for not your everyday woman. Via Bergdorf Goodman for $3260.

For the most supple leather, I turn to Bottega Veneta handbags. If you have never had the pleasure of touching a BV bag close up you are truly missing out. The woven leather is divine. My gorgeous pick for the day is the Bottega Veneta Catena Large Veneta which makes my handbag loving heart melt with its lush woven white Nappa leather and brown stitching pattern. This bag hails from the Resort 2006 line, which is pretty much where I would like to be right now; a resort somewhere away from any temperature that dips below 60 degrees. The top has a zip closures that leads into the suede lining and two interior pockets. Drool, right? Pre-order this beauty from Bottega Veneta for $2100.

While New York Fashion Week is over, Fashion week around the world continues to happen. There are not many times that I fall head over heels for an entire line. Yet Bottega Veneta’s Spring 2007 Runway Show in Milan has me head-over-heels in love. Bottega’s accessories focused on exotic skins, large hand held bags, over-sized bows for your hair (oh yea, bows in the hair are making a come back), chunky heels, and of course luxe woven leather. Tomas Maier year after year is showing that less is more, including this “spring show which worked beautifully as a stripped-down statement of what he has to offer: a subtle beige-through-rose palette, ease aligned with elegance, and stunning detail in close-up.” You are drooling too, right??

And as you all know, I am a woman who loves her dresses, and the Bottega Veneta dresses for Spring make me so giddy inside- I will begin to save now.

Today, September the 6th, marks a special day. It’s the day that Ms PurseBlog Herself, Megs, celebrates her birthday! Yay baby, I love you, Happy Birthday. While I am still stuck in Columbus and only will be flying out tomorrow to go visit her in Florida, it’s already party time here at the PB! Feel free to congratulate her in the comments section or on the forum in Roo’s thread.

Speaking of party time… this Bottega Veneta bag looks like party time! Megs actually stumbled across it a few hours ago, before Net-A-Porter reported an error on the page the bag was listed at. Who knows, maybe it was just sold out tonight? Doubtful, as the bag will require the buyer to dash out over $5,000 - and the probability of someone buying it tonight - within a short time frame - is pretty slim. But you never know.

Some stats: The limited edition bag has a braided leather handle with silver hardware, multi-colored snakeskin horizontal stripes with gray stitching, slight ruching at top and a hidden clasp fastening at top. The BV bag is lined in blue suede with a silver limited edition plaque on zip fastening pocket inside. In size it measures 12.5 by 6.5 by 5 inches. If you feel like checking NAP for more info, click here.

Today Vlad and I strolled the streets of SoHo. Seriously, if you have never been to SoHo put it on your to-do list. Many people have a misconception that the rich and famous shop on 5th Ave, when really SoHo is where it is at. Since Vlad and I have been spend happy, today we just browsed and enjoyed an amazing lunch. The street fashion there is very chic and laid-back. At that moment I realized I desperately need an across the body bag. I am not fully sure what bag will be the ‘one’ but I am determined to find a messenger that reflects my desire to be stylish and laid back all at once. I stumbled across the Bottega Veneta Woven Messenger Bag because of its signature woven leather along with its removable and adjustable shoulder strap. If you have touched a BV bag, you are well aware of the supple leather used. Nickel hardware is used to offset the leather and there is an inside zip pocket and canvas lining. This bag is a square shape, measuring 13″H X 13″L X 2″W. While I think I am more in the search for a rectangular bag, I will keep this beautiful BV number in the back of my mind. Available through Saks for $1350.