the love affair that ended even before it began....

as i sit here in my apartment on a cold, rainy friday night...coughing, sneezing, and hacking up nastiness and LAMENTING how sick and bored i am, i decided to peruse the typical haunts on the net that usually excites me...my favorite purse blogs and other purse retailers of course!

lo and behold! what do i see advertised on one of the purse blogs?! OH MY GOSH, the chole paddington is on sale! do i need it?! do i still love it?!

*sigh* i must admit, the spark i once felt for it has fizzled out. although the sale price is a lot less than the original retail price, it is still a hefty sum and it is too much for a purse that i don't LOVE LOVE anymore. i attribute this somewhat lackluster enthusiasm for the chloe paddy to my purchase of my true love, the chanel flap purse. there really is no purse that can top the chanel, thus the chloe sits in its shadows and i don't think i'm as willing to fork up the bucks for a lackluster side dish. the paddy is still cute AND i will still name my daughter chloe, but i would rather spend that price on another intriguing bag that i have my eyes on. besides, the paddy is pretty heavy with that signature padlock and my meaty arms is just not as strong as it once was.

the love affair was brief...and it was over even before it began. the paddy was the bag that started my purse obsession...how unfortunate it is for me to say this, "i will not be buying a purse at this time."

how fortuitous....

the box came from saks fifth avenue. the saks SA named zeyad sent it to me after a fortuitous meeting with THE tote. OMG! another one! hahhaha. it's actually the marc by marc jacobs dr. q tote in BOURDEAUX that i had mentioned earlier. seriously, when i first went to bloomingdales to scope out the scene, the SA there said the bourdeaux tote was out and after checking their bloomingdales' computer system, she even went as far as to say, "there's only ONE left in pennsylvania. they are all sold out elsewhere. we can ship it to you." naw...i firmly believe in fortuitous acquisitions of bags...if the price isn't right or the color isn't there, walk away. so i did.

as my friend and i walked around scp a bit more, we found ourselves stepping into saks. i bee-lined to the marc by marc jacobs section by instinct and a-ha! what do i see?! the marc by marc jacobs dr. q tote in BOURDEAUX!! exactly what i wanted! the battle was half over but i went through my typical "try-to-convince-myself-not-to-buy-another-purse" dialogue with a friend that's not too helpful with convincing me to abandon the tote. that woman is quite the enabler...then zeyad the SA stepped in and said if i'm a saks card holder, i can get it for 30% off with their presale event. although the price was still a lot higher than i wanted, i think purse frenzy took over me again. man...so i asked him a final question...do you have a NEW one in your stockroom? he said he'd check and they did. he walked it ceremoniously out to the cash register with his arms outstretched...seriously. it was hilarious.

*sigh* i bought it. that's the goody in the box. teacher tote no more! my sister expressed interest in inheriting the teacher tote...lucky for her, i have a brand new one.

i like it a lot! the bourdeaux color is HOT!

a box for moi?!?!

this morning i woke up fairly late...8 a.m. OMG!!! normally, if i don't have plans to go out and get things done, i LOVE shlepping around in my flannel pajama pants and long sleeved shirt. why not right?

well, i should PROBABLY have looked a little more decent today because a fed ex man came!! he brought me a big box! what can it be?!

what can be better than a purse?

a friend once told me that you can’t build a house on a foundation of purses (friend, correct me if i quoted you wrong). that is true. ultimately, i would like to buy myself a nice piece of property in silverlake like this one:

“Fabulous triplex in the heart of silver lake w/incredible 180 degree views from every unit of downtown la & surrounding mountains! All 3 spacious units have 2 bedrooms, 1.75 baths & walk-in closets! Expansive patios & the top unit has a wonderful roof top view deck! Meticulously maintained. Onsite laundry, storage & parking. A wonderful opportunity!”

this would make a nice compound for the family….but alas, the price for this piece of property far exceeds my purse collection times 300. it is a nice place, but realistically, what CAN you buy with a teacher’s salary? a snickers bar? some place in lancaster? valencia? san bernadino? possibly a condo located in an unsavory part of l.a.? although all my life, i’ve saved up all my nuts like a good little squirrel, it is obvious that i’ll have to store all my nuts in my purses. as of right now, there is no tree that i can afford to call my own.

true, buying bags takes this little squirrel one small step back from owning her very own tree, but as she scurries towards her distant tree, she will be carrying a HOT chanel flap bag in black caviar. muhahhaha.

live it, love it, save it, and pamper yourself when you can. life is too short to feel unfabulous!

keeping it real

i’ve been carrying this dependable black lesportsac bag for over a year now. it’s made of nylon and it’s roomy and durable. it’s the one i schlep to school because i don’t mind stuffing it in my roving closet or my desk drawer without worries that manhandling the bag would damage it…. i just shove and forget. when i had first purchased it, i had bought it because it looked durable and it reminded me of my kipling bag that i had carried for SO MANY YEARS during my college days. at that point, i was looking for functionality rather than style or quality of materials in a purse (boy, have times changed…hahahaha).

for quite a while now, i noticed lesportsac sporting a new line…one by tokidoki. i’m sure you’ve seen it too. it is colorful with crazy graphics all over the purse. initially, i was intrigued when i saw it because it speaks to the flamboyant side in me, but on closer inspection, these bags are a MESS!! too much going on! it’s like when you go in for a piercing but you come out with a bunch of studs on your face instead: two on your eyebrows, one on your left nostril, and one protruding from your chin. too much competition with your face if you go with all those piercings…just like too much competition with your wardrobe if you go for a tokidoki.

i like the plain black lesportsac bag that i carry to and fro. for the other days, my other purses come out to play. tokidoki is a NOkiNOki in my book.

my baby chanel addition

my sweet chanel 2.55 flap in black caviar gave birth to a chanel caviar wallet yesterday! yes!! i FINALLY found myself a little wallet! it is quite the cutie...nice, slick, signature caviar leather, has a large coin pocket, and 8 card slots total...and oh is it so, so chic. before you think i went nutty again (sort of), i would like to point out the fact that i had those gift cards from purchasing the flap last weekend. all i had to do to obtain this cutie was to pony up 1/3 of the price. it is TOTALLY worth it! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! the leather is so nice!! i originally thought i should have gone with a longer wallet (i can always look for a prada or miu miu later on i suppose), but the style i wanted was not available and i was too impatient to wait. in hindsight, my most utilized purse is pretty small so this is the perfect size after all. i love it!! do you love it?! i still "heart" chanel and am enamored by this fashion powerhouse.

so this is one item out of two that i bought yesterday.....

i know i said i wouldn't.....

i bought something else today.... :( (sad face)
but i really like it.... :) (happy face)
it's not only one thing though.... :( (sad face)
but i really LOVE it.... :) (happy face)
but now you guys think i have a serious problem.... :( (sad face)
i really don't though.... :l (grimace on the face)
it just means i have to work ELP.... :( (sad face)
and intersession when it's available.... :( (sad face)
and eat canned goods.... :( (sad face)
and NEVER EVER go to south coast plaza again.... :( (sad face)
but looking at my purchases i LOVE THEM!!!! :) (happy face!)
i'd do it ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!! :) (estactic face!!!)

which tote would you tote?

as i entertain the idea of purchasing a new tote, i’m finding way TOO many styles that i would LOVE to rock. for instance, the cole haan weave embossed tote (the one on the left) is kinda hot right? i know it slants a bit towards being old lady-ish, but a hot old lady though eh? hahahha. it’s a good color and i like the contrast between the weaving detail and the middle pocket/panel. the other tote i’ve been coveting is the marc by marc jacobs dr. q. tote in bourdeaux. you already know i’m pretty enamored by the marc by marc jacobs’ line so this tote immediately spoke to me. it feels like a cousin of the dr. q. groovee bag that i own. i like the leather he uses and the simple, clean lines in his bags are nice to the eyes. but alas, BOTH these totes are way out of my newly enforced purse budget. i may have to rock my teacher tote for a while i suppose….being fiscally responsible is sooooo boring!

in? or out?

as i look at my worn out teacher tote (my main carrier of eld folders, alternative guides, and teacher’s manuals), a bag whorish thought drifted into my mind. is it time to retire this overworked tote for a more fashionable alternative?

obviously, a canvas bag like this one is more functional. i don’t mind setting it on my hardly vacuumed classroom carpet nor do i mind stuffing all kinds of crap into it. but the rainbow and apple graphic? i’m almost over that. maybe i can find a tote that serves all the aforementioned purposes WITHOUT making too much of a dent on my wallet…or is finding a good quality tote (or bag in general) on the cheaps an oxymoron?

i never thought that i would want to give up this functional tote that proclaims, “teaching…a gift that lasts a lifetime.” (how else would i be validated on a daily basis that i’m important?). hahhaha. but it’s nice to step away from the teacher image the longer that i remain in the profession. maybe it’s time for a new FASHIONABLE work tote…one that does not proclaim my profession so loudly but one which will still hold all of my shit while looking HOT.

still loving it

still loving it and still talking about it. it's like i'm an excited child with a new favorite toy. here's an im session i had with my friend about my newly acquired purchase.

me: is chanel ur favorite?
friend: yeah
friend: hahaha
me: i must say
me: good taste
friend: uh huh...
friend: yeah right?
me: it is a well made bag
friend: it grows old with u
me: seriously, VERY pretty
friend: it is very durable.
me: there hasn't been a bag yet that i've seen that looks like the chanel
me: u know what i mean
friend: YUPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
me: like there was thought put into it
me: fine details
me: timeless structure
me: good bling
me: great leather

like i need to convince you guys that i love it or something. hahahaha. promise, no more talk about chanel unless i buy another one....ahhahaha. damn!

OMG!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

that’s right!! i went and bought my very first chanel flap bag in black caviar!!! at first, it was a harmless inquiry at the chanel boutique (not the main one at the mall, but a small side one attached to bloomingdales). there was a lot of activity in there so i didn’t feel intimidated by the SAs. i felt comfortable enough to waltz in there with my friend and to pick up the flap bags in various sizes. the show began as i modeled it in front of the full length mirrors and got my friend to do it too. i was so drawn to it!! the bag is GORGEOUS and i was immediately SMITTEN by it. i figured the medium was the best size, but was torn between the two hardware tones. do i like it better in silver or gold? but after looking at the price tag and confirming that after nov. 1st, there was a 20% hike on the flap bags, it didn’t matter anymore. too late and for too much. i had to walk away…so i did.

at this point, i was already feeling what i call “purse frenzy.” i KNEW I WANTED IT so i called a friend in hopes of a purse intervention, but she was of no help. she told me all the things that i shouldn’t hear at that critical point…so after the conversation, i went back to the boutique to harmlessly “think some more.” but after talking to this nice SA named mike, i found out that bloomingdales will give you a 15% discount (chanel included) for opening a bloomies’ card AND will match your purchase with gift cards for an “x” amount of dollars you spend…i was speechless. i didn’t need to think about it anymore. i KNEW i was going to buy it. it was meant to be…..

at first, i was leaning towards the silver-toned hardware, but the gold-toned one gave such a POP of elegance! albeit, the gold-tone was a bit more mature looking and the silver looked more fitted for a youngster, the practical fashionista inside me clearly understood that this was an investment piece. i will ROCK THIS PURSE until i’m dead. hahahaha. besides, i saw this young asian woman carrying one in silver and i made the following connections: silver = young but not necessarily timeless + there was a hint of it looking like a possible knockoff? i think the chanel flap was originally known for their gold hardware. i went with the medium sized black caviar flap bag in gold, the classic.

i promise, no more purses! buying my chanel is like finding my true bag love. i “heart” chanel.

south coast plaza

i went to south coast plaza today. what an AMAZING mall!!! all the hot boutiques were there...lv, chanel, gucci, chloe...and of course, the fabu department stores like saks, bloomingdales, nordstrom...they even have a h & m! it would be perfect if they housed a forever 21, but life's not perfect. *sigh* but i'm quite sure it's just a matter of time.

well, i went there specifically to look for the bcbg clutch (just to check it out), but i ended up veering off towards louis vuitton, prada, and chanel looking at everything from wallets to purses. do you think i got something? stay tuned to find out!

such a clutch

is it true that every girl needs a clutch? i know every girl MUST own a bag, but a clutch? when i am dressed for a night out on the town, i don’t immediately think “clutch.” i think, i.d. in my pocket with a few drinking dollars and a credit card for possible open tabs. this strategy would free up my hands so i can have a dance off with the white pants linen man (if you were there, then you know what i mean….hahahaha. he was fabulous) if i choose to do so. if i’m going out for just a drink, then a small purse would do. it would house my clinique lipstick, my keys, my anonymously designed wallet that i’m hankering to replace, and my l’occitane hand lotion (can’t live without that one). the purse would have to be small so i can hold it close to my side and of course, it would have to be evening appropriate.

when i think “clutch,” i think cumbersome. many clutches lack a shoulder strap (hence the name clutch) and the idea of constantly holding something in my hands doesn’t always speak to me. knowing how i am, if i was to go clutch, i would end up leaving it somewhere OR feel so paranoid about forgetting it that i would spend the better part of my evening thinking about it rather than getting drunk and that would be a travesty (hahhaha…j/k). but i can see when a good clutch is needed though, such as an elegant night out on the town, a wedding reception to attend, or a date with Keanu reeves. *sigh*

one must constantly challenge their comfort zones though and i’m thinking i might have found a clutch to challenge mine. this is a bcbg max azria clutch in navy. i think it’s HOT. the only reservation i have about this clutch is that it’s in blue so i foresee a limited number of outfits that can be worn with it. it also holds a hidden shoulder strap!! what more can I ask for?! it’s quite a darling now isn’t it?

i found this clutch online at saks fifth avenue. although i am a card wielding member, i have yet to venture back to a saks because 1) the closest one is at rodeo drive and i think that place stinks and 2) i didn’t think i would need to shop at one again so i never thought of it. well, au contraire, i think i might have found the perfect shopping/purse whoring solution. although it’s a 45 minute trek without traffic, the south coast plaza mall in orange county apparently is THE PLACE to be. it houses many designer boutiques and of course all the fabu general stores like bloomingdale’s and nordstrom. i might want to drop by one day to go window shopping…and possibly buy a clutch?

goodbye

i sent back my poo poo colored dior wallet today. it is typical of me to always procrastinate a bit (not intentionally since i do feel anxious thinking about the things that i have to do until it gets done) but it happens. today, i finally had the opportunity to visit a local fedex shop to mail the wallet back. it felt good to do so though i'm a bit annoyed that i had to spend roughly 15 bucks (the cost of mailing the wallet back) just because i ordered something that i should have looked at first in person. another tally mark AGAINST online shopping!!!! let me count...that's like 3 tally marks already! ugh!

when i was in the shop, this woman in front of me had many of her personal items laying on the counter. i can tell you what she had: keys with a public library card attached to it, cell phone, planner, a few bills and coins (no wallet!)....AND no purse. what a mess. she started apologizing to me when she took a bit of time to gather her things at the end of her task. in my mind, i was thinking "stranger lady, might i recommend a purse for you? the kooba nina small shoulder bag in slade is pretty hot, though i only saw this online and if you only knew why i am here in the first place...but i digress. it's on sale now on eluxury for under 300 dollars. if i wasn't already traumatized by the poo poo colored dior wallet quite recently, i might have bought this myself."

well, the lady finally gathered her things and left and i FINALLY mailed the dior wallet back for a refund. so what is the lesson learned today? buy things online if you've already seen it in real-time AND we ALL need a purse...even some men do, too.

which clasp would you choose?

the chanel flap bag comes in two distinct clasp styles. the "reissue" one has a plain clasp WITHOUT the ostentatious "cc" logo whereas the flap bag of now has the pretty "cc" on it. i like the pretty "cc." a grand for each "c" is what i'm thinking....hmm...how about a black chanel flap bag in caviar with a silver chain and hardware? ooohhh...i think coco chanel is calling me.....

the revamped fanny pack

my friend owns a gucci belt bag. when i saw it on her, i thought, cute. when sarah jessica parker wore it on sex and the city, i thought "oh, cute." but when i saw it on a multitude of random people at a mall AND by brands other than gucci, i thought "NOT CUTE." stop rocking the fanny pack!! it IS a GLORIFIED fanny pack after all and fanny packs AREN'T hot! when i see a fanny pack, my mind runs through these three things:

1) you are a tourist
2) you are a fat, white tourist
3) you are a dork

sorry. gucci was able to pull it off...now, it's just ridiculous. do yourself a favor and stop looking like a fool. ugh.

the "it" list

i came across this "it" list of bags while multi-tasking today. you know, home chores like cleaning and laundering, with a side of blogging....

1. Hermes Birkin
The Hermès Birkin bag is named after the iconic actress Jane Birkin, who once had a highly public relationship with influential french singer, Serge Gainsbourg, to whom she bore a child (Charlotte Gainsbourg). The 'Birkin' is the symbol of ultimate luxury, due in part to its exposure on popular television shows such as 'Sex and the City'. An authentic 'Birkin' costs upwards of $6,000 and can have a waiting time of up to 2 years.
2. Chanel 2.55
This little classic will always be "in". It was born in 1955 (hence the name 2.55) after Coco Chanel decided she wanted a shoulder bag to free up her hands and is inspired py the quilting on Jockeys coats. Karl Lagerfeld released a second, updated version in 2006.
3. Chloe Paddington
The Chloe Paddington was created by designer Phoebe Philo in 2005 and is considered to be the quintessential 'Boho-Chic' bag because of it's slouchy, unstructured shape and exposure by stars such as Kate Moss and Sienna Miller.
4. Balenciaga 'City' Motorcycle
Balenciaga's line of motorcycle-inspired handbags are created out of distressed goat leather, which is what gives them their unique, relaxed shape. The 'City' bag in particular, caused quite a stir after becoming the official handbag of choice for notorious fashionistas like Mary-Kate Olsen.
5. Alexander McQueen Novak
The Alexander McQueen Novak represents the structured shapes of Fall 2005 and was inspired by Kim Novak, a vintage-era starlet who appeared in Alfred Hitchcock films. It's original run consisted of a mere 200 bags, which caused mass hysteria among handbag lovers everywhere and elevated the bag into permanent "It" status.
6. Marc Jacobs Stam
The Marc Jacobs 'Stam' is named after the designers close friend, Canadian Supermodel, Jessica Stam. The bag features quilting and gold hardware similar to that of classic quilted Chanel bags, but differentiates itself with it's relaxed look, gusseted frame and kiss-lock closure.
7. Fendi Spy
The Fendi S/S 06 'Spy' Bag is priced starting at $2,100 and is a favorite of style stars like Hilary Duff and Linda Evangelista. It's notorious status is caused partly by it's enormous waiting list, which can last up to 3 years.
8. YSL Muse
The Yves Saint Laurent muse is a status bag of the highest quality. Crafted out of the finest embossed leather, this oversize structured tote features expertly minimalist gold hardware and is often carried by celebrities such as Katie Holmes, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Moss and Jessica Alba.
9. Prada Gauffre
One of the latest "It-bags" to hit the market is the Fall/Winter 06/07 Prada Gauffre. Victoria Beckham, Halle Berry, Beyonce and Madonna have all been photographed with theirs. It is made of Nappa leather.
10. Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy 30
The Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Speedy 30 is more of a mainstay classic than a trend, but that doesn't stop it from maintaining "must-have" status all year round! Jessica Simpson carries hers practically every day. It is the ideal city bag, featuring a roomy interior with natural cowhide exterior and golden hardware.

THE 2.55 purse

as i continue to peruse the internet for another bag to gawk at, i'm beginning to realize a few must haves...you MUST have a chloe paddington satchel because it's young and hot, AS WELL as a chanel 2.55 purse, aka chanel classic flap bag.

but here is a question to think about regarding this bag though. does it look "old lady-ish?" i like it's shape, the quilting can be hot, BUT sometimes not depending on the leather/skin being used...the lambskin looks the best to me (err..from the pics i mean. i have yet to venture into a boutique) because it looks soooooo soft. the caviar seems a bit hard, but durable and won't scratch easily. so if you are a practical fashionista, then going with the caviar might be the best bet...and patent leather...no thanks. the chanel 2.55 is a timeless purse though. people have been rocking this since the 50s. it can be a DRESSY bag as well as a casual one...depending on what you wear i suppose.

knowing me, i would probably want an off color one, a baby blue, a bourdeaux (red), an orange, or a purple. but the practical choice would be to have JUST ONE CHANEL bag in black. i would pick the caviar (though the lambskin looks sooooo good) in either of these two sizes because unlike many women, i can exist with just my wallet, cell phone, and ipod in my bag. the two size choices for me would be:

A302224: - The Baby 7.5 W x 5.75 H x 1.75 D inches **good size!** OR

A302225: - Small 9.75" x 7.06" x 2.16"

is this the "little black bag" that i have been looking for?

here's my dangerous thought. i would want to buy a black one to be practical, BUT i would also want to buy a red one out of LOVE. *tisk, tisk*

the pusher

i was IM-ing my snobby bag friend one day. we were talking about purses...a favorite topic as of late. she informed me that i have two casual bags now (not to mention the insane amounts of no name ones in my closet) which are the marc by marc jacobs bags and she casually hinted that i now need a dressy one.

ahahhahaha. i'm suppose to stop purse whoring...but it was a thought...hmmm...which designer should that be if i was to go dressy?