Canvas tote sale surprise!

I've had my eye out for a canvas tote for soooo long. I keep seeing the Longchamp totes, which are just gorgeous, but I can't bring myself to make the purchase. At $125 for a small shoulder bag, I can't justify it.
So this week I was reading People Style Watch (my favorite new guilty pleasure) and one of the articles suggested Old Navy as a trade-out for more expensive bags. Old Navy?! Last time I checked Old Navy was the go-to for... Well, nothing. Maybe shirts to wear while painting. But, trusting in the powers that be (aka Style Watch) a good friend and I found ourselves headed there this weekend.
You won't believe what we found. Boots, dresses, and jewelry that we would actually (gasp) wear. And then I found this little ditty:

This is the Woman's Zip-Top Pocket Canvas Tote. It's lightweight, carries everything, and is the perfect neutral for work or errands.

On the walk home I picked up some beers for Football Sunday and a bottle of wine for the ladies, and there was still room left over. The long handles made the mile walk home a breeze. And the single outside pocket was big enough to keep my keys and phone accessible without digging.
Granted, I'm not quite confident enough to wear it as a statement. I have, however, walked to work with a pair of heels and a Trader Joe's salad in it, and received a compliment when I took it out to happy hour. As a go-about-your-business canvas tote, this is a steal!

What to wear to the movies

It's hot this weekend, so to escape the heat I'm headed to the movies.

My go-to weekend outfit tends to be simple.  I'm wearing a white tank, jeans, some fun shoes and a Stella and Dot necklace I can't get enough of.  I have three bag options:

1. Bowler
I carry a ridiculous amount of stuff wherever I go.  Makeup bag, wallet, water bottle, it all has to go somewhere.  I love the structure of a bowler, it hides the bulkiness of what I'm carrying.  The rich brown color of this Tony Burch Robinson Middy ($495) is just the neutral for an easy night like this.

2. Clutch
Of course, I could make do with just a clutch.  I really only need my phone, keys, some lipstick and a couple of cards.  I wish I had this beautiful little Ferragamo Afef ($995), that would make the decision simple.

3. Satchel
If you haven't discovered Francesca's, get thee to a mall.  This is the Harper Carry-All Satchel ($58), and they do mean carry all.  You could throw heels, a book, a bottle of wine, maybe even a picnic in this one.  I am mesmerized by the electric blue, which goes perfectly with leopard flats.

Oh the decisions!  I think I'll pair my bag to the movie.  Which, of course, is the only thing left to decide.  Any suggestions?

Winged Bags

I dislike winged bags.

You know the type, a square bag with the sides sticking out.  Like someone was carrying a cooking sheet and the bag got stuck that way.  Michael Kors, Philip Lim and even Chloe have them.  They were supposed to be a spring trend, then a summer trend, and now it looks like they'll continue through fall.  Blah.

These bags remind me of bright blue mascara and stiff shoulder pads.  Yes, they were on trend once.  And, sadly, they will probably come back again in a decade or so.  But most of the time you look back at the photos and think, "Why?"

Here's my advice: buy a bag you'll love no matter the trend.

If you're going to invest several hundred dollars, find something you'll love for years rather than months.  If your heart is set on a bag that looks like an airplane, go for it.  But if you're just not feeling it, that's important to listen to.

The most fashionable women know what they like and make it work every season.  Find your style and go for it.

Review: Susan Nichole "Blossom"

This, my friends, is the fall bag. 

The Blossom by Susan Nichole is just right for the new season. 

Since fall calls for a darker palette, I bought the Blossom in Black.  Endless pairing possibilities.  Today I wore it to work with a royal purple cardigan and gold jewelry.  The beautiful vegan leather has a gorgeous rich texture, and feels pliable and soft.  And I have to admit, the Mustard keeps calling my name.  I have a pair of brown boots that would be just delicious next to that orange! 

The best part of this bag is the extra inner pocket.  In addition to the traditional inner pockets (one zipped, two open) this bag boasts an extra zipper pocket which happens to create an extra open pocket.  You can see these here: my white headphones and orange hot sauce bottle are in the extra open pocket, and the gold head of the zipper to the left of the headphones delineates the extra zippered pocket.

My least favorite part of this bag is the way the short handles fall limply when you carry it using the longer handle. But really, every bag does this.  Why??  You'd think someone would have come up with a solution.

As you know, I'm always looking for a bag that's big enough without being too big.  Susan Nichole nails it.  Currently I have a makeup bag, a wallet, a notebook, sunglasses, a bunch of loose paper, a phone, headphones, and a bag of Tabasco packets (like this) (yes I'm serious).  There's even a pocket in the back where I've been keeping my keys, and I haven't lost them yet!

The Blossom is the bag to carry this season.  At $150 it's attainable, and if you're willing to go for the sample sale the price drops all the way to $48. 

I'm thrilled with this purchase.  I'm even more thrilled that the Blossom is vegan and entirely cruelty-free.  Thank you Susan Nichole for giving us this sumptuous animal-friendly fall staple!

Kate Spade 2 Park Avenue Beau Launch

This week I got to attend the Kate Spade 2 Park Avenue Beau Bag launch in Los Angeles, cohosted by Los Angeles Magazine.  It was a blast.

The best part of the event was, by far, the staff.  What a lovely group of people!  I ask a lot of questions, and these ladies knew their stuff.  They were fun and gracious and helpful.

When I walked in there were a few people looking at the 2 Park Ave Beau, so I asked to see a Pippa.  A wonderfully friendly salesperson (wearing a gorgeous printed apple Domino Dress)  walked me right to them.  She showed me multiple colors and talked through the pros and cons.  Another team member showed me the Grove Court Lainey and explained the importance of structure in a bag with side pockets (a problem I've come across with the J.Crew Biennial Hobo).  I met bags I'd never seen and got to know old favorites better, and the whole experience was curated by this talented team.

My favorite new find was this iPhone wristlet.  I'm a stripes girl (obviously) so I was immediately drawn to this one, but there were gorgeous purple and green color options as well.  Big thanks to Carmen, the associate who helped me find this gem!  If you're looking online, Nordstrom has a cute one in black and white polka dots ($70).

I have to be honest, I didn't love the 2 Park Ave Beau.  The structure is too boxy, the bow is too much, and I rarely like bags with wings.  The lining, though, is fabulous, and the pocket behind the bow was a fun surprise.  Of all the colors I like the Leopard Beau best, but with a $998 price tag it's out of my league.

This event was about more than the Beau though, it was about the Kate Community.  The event drew in people from all areas of LA who might never have connected.  We ooohed and aaahed together over bags and jewelry.  I laughed, I played, and I learned about the brand.  I fell in love with Kate Spade just a little bit more.

Four Great Kates

I'm thrilled to be attending the LA launch party for Kate Spade's new 2 Park Avenue Beau bag.  To celebrate, here are four of my favorite Kate Spade bags:






























Catherine Street Pippa
Named after the second-most-famous Middleton, the Pippa is a beautifully textured bowler bag with impeccable bow tie lining.  There are three pockets inside for phones, keys, pens, and lip gloss.  The main compartment is a big empty space with a flat bottom, perfect to keep a notepad in shape.  I'd grab this in Dark Chino, throw in a water bottle and a pair of flats, and take it to The Grove ($398).

Far from the Tree NYC Map Clutch
This isn't a bag I'd normally go for, but there's something whimsical that sparks my interest.  The striped lining is a perfect match (never a surprise with Kate).  When I saw the map detail on the inner fold I literally said "ooooh!" out loud.  Wear this with a slouchy tee and stacked jewelry ($248).

Cobble Hill Little Curtis
Simplicity is the name of the game with Curtis.  This bag comes in two sizes, I prefer the Little Curtis but if you need more room (say for an iPad) the Curtis gives you 4-5 extra inches.  The outer zip pocket is an easy place to keep go-to items like phones and metro passes.  The Moody Plum is a perfect pop of fall color.  Throw this over your shoulder or on your arm to add some style to your daily errands.  (Little Curtis $278, larger Curtis $348)

Cobble Hill Little Minka
If you've been looking for one perfect everyday bag, this is it.  The Little Minka is easy to carry, holds everything, and will get you noticed.  New college grads should buy this as an investment, moms as a gorgeous carryall, professional women as a work to life-outside-work, and everyone else as the bag you'll keep reaching for.  It's big enough to carry what you need but not so big as to be overpowering, with a zip top pocket that absolutely makes the bag.  I prefer the Little Minka (not so little really, check it out on a model here) but there's a larger version that gives you a few extra inches.  My favorite is the Oyster, which is hard to find (Modnique has it for $319) but the Affogato is a great light neutral.  (Little Minka in black $378 at Nordstrom, select colors $170 at Kate Spade, larger Minka $458)

Any favorite Kates you'd like to add?

5 ways to wear a wristlet

One of my all-time favorite bags is this little Kate Spade wristlet.  I found mine years ago, but the Cobble Hill Bee is similar ($78, with an added front pocket and absolutely gorgeous striped lining).  I've found uses for this little darling everywhere, here are just a few:

1. Brunch

Clearly, this bag was at brunch with me when I took the picture above (note that we went through all the hot sauce).  I brought a phone, lip gloss, two cards and a small set of keys.  It paired perfectly with shorts, a Krochet Kids LOVE Racer Tank, and my Falling Whistle.  Shoutout to Blu Jam Cafe, the best brunch spot in Los Angeles.

2. Travel

While I didn't bring this on my recent trip to Belize, I found myself wishing I had.  A wristlet would have been perfect for my passport and boarding passes, which somehow kept losing themselves.

3. A night on the town

You have to be ready for whatever the city brings you after sunset, and you'll want something small that can go from dancing to dive bar and everywhere in between.  A wristlet gives you the freedom to carry the essentials (phone, cards, and of course lipstick) right in your hand.

4. Gym

Hear me out on this one - I know you're thinking to yourself "there's no way I'm taking a little leather wristlet to the gym with me."  But I say, why not?  Go for it!  Let's be stylish when we workout.  If you're running in on the weekend and don't need to bring the clunky gym bag, carry your wristlet for a little pizazz.  Not only will you feel great about working out, but you'll have a little extra oomph from looking fabulous.

5. Give it away

A wristlet makes a great gift.  It's probably something your friends have seen and loved, but for whatever reason won't buy for themselves.  In addition to the Cobble Hill Bee by Kate Spade, I love the Coach Madison in Vermillion ($58), the Lodis Hill Street Fiona in Poppy ($108), and the Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q in Pansy Purple ($128).

Are you a wristlet fan? What did I miss?