And the Winner is…

Congratulations Enid P! You are the winner of the Moorea Tote by begeren. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and check back often for more haute handbag giveaways!

Dooney Downgrade

What happened to Dooney & Burke? When I was growing up, I dreamed of owning a Dooney bag. Although I owned numerous luxury brands and tons of other bags, I never purchased a Dooney. But I wanted one badly. The sturdy pebbled leather, contrasting smooth leather trim, and that duck logo always got me excited. But these new Dooneys make me depressed.
Who in the world is designing this crap, and for whom? Dooney was one of those brands that had lasting beauty and style, and now they look like cheap knockoffs of multicolored Coach and Louis Vuitton bags. These new bags remind me of the Spice Girls CDs - you know someone must be supporting them/buying them because they keep producing more, but no one admits to buying them (how many people do you see rockin’ these fugly bags?). Dooney - I’m done.

The Timeless Beauty of Burberry

Burberry is one brand that, in my opinion, hasn’t been completely tainted by Canal Street knockoffs. The Burberry check pattern seems to be difficult to duplicate, and I’m glad that at least one luxury brand can maintain its uniqueness. The Buckled Leather Hobo is a classy and versatile hobo. The color scheme is neutral but not boring, and the plaid print is surprisingly anti-trendy so you can carry it for years. And the price is another surprise - only $425?! You can’t even purchase a mainstream designer bag for that price these days! Koobas and Botkiers are priced around $650! I’m thinking of snatching up both the black and the white trimmed bags - white for Spring/Summer, black for Fall/Winter. With its timeless beauty, I don’t think Burberry will ever go out of style.

Tough Chic

Tracy Reese is all about feminine chic. Her clothes are perfectly girly - lots of pastels, prints, flounces, and frills. I feel glamorous just looking at her collections! Because her pieces are so feminine, I love that her handbag line has a somewhat tough edge. Her bags are the complete opposite of her clothes - sturdy and structured - but still sexy.

My favorite is the ‘Cecily’ Flap Satchel ($795) - a boxy bag with a top flap, double handles, gorgeous gold hardware, and extra outside pockets for easy access. I think it is a great bag to pair up with the season’s feminine fashions - like flirty mini-dresses, big belts, puffy tops, and skinny pants. The neutral ‘bone’ color works nicely against eye-popping colors as well as neutrals and basic blacks.

Oh, Snap!

Goldenbleu consistently designs bags that aren’t ‘It’ bags, and I love that about them. Their bags are always edgy, unique, and full of adorable details. The Luella Patent Leather Tote has a very cute, very practical front-pocket with a top snap closure - ideal for placing your cell phone, lip gloss, cash, and other things that usually get lost in the black hole of your purse. The handle is a unique, rounded shoulder strap held in place with studded tabs. The green color is my fave for Spring but the black and white are just as fresh. ($566)

Matchy Matchy, Vichy Vichy

I hate matchy matchy. Have you ever seen those couples at an amusement park wearing matching tee shirts with their picture on it, or a woman walking the streets in head to toe Louis Vuitton - jacket, pants, bag, shoes, etc.? Both instances are totally tacky. But Yves St. Laurent makes matchy matchy very pretty.


Picture this - a basic black tunic top and black pants. Simple, yes, boring, maybe. But add the YSL Downtown Vichy handbag, ($1995), cinch your waist with the Vichy belt, ($555), and step out with the Vichy Holly Ballerina flat, ($450) and you’ve got the perfect Spring/Summer Fall/Winter outfit. The bag is an investment piece - the shape isn’t too trendy, plus black and white never goes out of style so it can be worn in any season. It’s a great size for toting to work, and it works for going out at night too.

Get your match on at ShopVogue.com

Looking for a Few Good Haute Girls

No, this is not an application for Hooters! I’m looking for contributors for What’s Haute.com and Hauteness - The Handbag Magazine. What’s Haute will be re-launching soon so email me if you love to write about all things fashion. Or if you love handbags, then you’d be a perfect contributor for Hauteness - The Handbag Magazine! Email me for more details.

Fendi, Is That You?

Since my love affair with Gucci has come to a screeching halt, I decided to turn to Fendi for my luxury needs. But then I realized that I now have a love/hate relationship with Fendi, that is, I love to hate their bags. I used to be a huge fan of Fendi growing up - I owned several double F logo bags - a cute black drawstring version, a thin strap shoulder bag, and others. But lately I’ve been growing weary of Fendi’s new creations. I don’t blame them for trying new things but they always seem to miss the mark.


This bag is a mishmash of colors and styles, and there’s nothing ‘luxurious’ about it. It’s meant to be 80’s retro color-block but it looks more like the designer was color blind. In fat, it hurts my eyes to look at it. I wonder how much this ambitious creation is going to cost? Or even better, what poor sucker will shell out the cash to cop it?

Do you love it or hate it?

(Photos via Style.com)

Celeb Spotting - Naomi Campbell with Hermes ‘Lindy’

The world’s most hated infamous supermodel was spotted toting a haute orange Hermes ‘Lindy’. You may or may not like Naomi, but you have to admit she does have a pretty good sense of style. Well, in handbags anyway. The ‘Lindy’ is haute off the Spring 2007 runway, and it’s one of the more affordable (cough, cough) Hermes handbags, with unusually placed side straps connected by a top shoulder strap. It’s available in a multitude of colors but I prefer the signature Hermes orange color that Naomi’s rockin’ – it’s great for summer.

Available on eBay

A Turtle on Your Shoulder

Turtles and fashion? I never thought I’d see the day that one influenced the other. But A. Testoni did. The Turtle Hobo is allegedly “the Italian leather shoulder bag that everyone is talking about.” I wouldn’t go that far, but I do really like this bag.

It’s a totally different approach to the hobo - a removable inner gusset pouch is surrounded by S&M style leather straps, interwoven to resemble a tortoise shell. The quality and workmanship looks impressive but it’s a bit pricey - $1343.95. But look at it this way - it’s not one of those ‘fad’ bags, and it’ll probably look great and last forever.

Rafe NY Cozumel Clutch

Rafe NY has long been one of my favorite handbag designers. Lately, however, his handbags have been looking just like the ones in his line at Target. Nothing wrong with that, but when you can’t tell the difference in quality, why pay the difference in price?

But this clutch reminds me of why I fell in love with Rafe in the first place:

The Cozumel Clutch (in Coral) is a beauty of a bag. It’s something I’d carry while on vacation - the coral-colored laser-cut leather and sculpted wood top is so versatile that you can probably wear it with just about anything. It’s small enough to pack or tuck into a carry-on, but big enough to fit the basic things you need. ($325 at Luna Boston)

Celeb bag spotting: Victoria Beckham with the Prada Napa Fringe Tote

It always amazes me to see how trends come back in style every so many years. For instance, I was watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off yesterday and noticed Ferris’ love interest wearing some cute slouchy boots. I guess she was way ahead of the times. But not every trend should be repeated. Like fringe. It was popular in the 60’s, among hippies, and then again in the 90’s when I was in high school. I remember dating a guy who wore a purple leather fringe jacket - I don’t know who told him that was a cute look! Now, Prada is bringing fringe back on their designer bags.

(Click pic to see larger)

Posh Spice/V. Bex was spotted with the new Prada Napa Fringe Tote ($2,650) that I am so not a fan of. It looks like you’re carrying some sort of wild animal under your arm (I guess, to match the wild animal around her neck). I’m usually a fan of Posh’s style but not this time. I really don’t understand the hype over this bag, and I’ll be glad when this trend goes out of style again. Hopefully this time, permanently.

On another note: Anyone going to watch the Posh & Bex reality show?

Weekly Haute Bag Round-up

Style Dash discovers a Giles Deacon handbag that hurts more than your wallet. Ouch!

eBelle 5 finds cheap and chic Marc Jacobs totes

Check out FabSugar’s handbags patent-a-thon

K Style discovers hot handbags under $100

Modish’s ‘Site of the Week’ is Cahoots Handbags

See Pretty Things likes Betsey Johnson’s new buttoned up bags

In My Bag discovers a handbag museum! I must visit!

Purse Page likes the simple embossed logo on Balenciaga’s B. Script Tall Tote

Shop Happy discovers Pink Mascara’s Kooba sale

In the Pink

I know everyone in Hollywood and beyond has been and still is in love with Kooba but I personally never felt compelled to purchase one of their bags. It’s not because I don’t like, them - I just always felt that they had a somewhat hard edge - rugged totes made of sturdy leather and hardware. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, I’m a girly-girl, so I prefer a girly bag.

So I was shocked when I came across these adorable bubblegum-pink Kooba bags. Oh how cute they are! The ‘Kim’ (on sale for $199.99) is a boxy barrel-like shape, made of soft pink leather with strategically placed brushed gold studs, and it’s the perfect Spring/Summer alternative to the Louis Vuitton ‘Speedy’.

The ‘Helena’ (on sale for $209.99) is a large tote with stand-alone top handles, gold studs and a shoulder strap for carrying convenience. I think it’s a great, brightly colored bag to carry to work, and then converts to a great shopper for later.

I like that these aren’t typical ‘Kooba’ at first glance - the softer color and leather are deceiving, but the bags look just as well made as traditional Koobas. The reduced prices are also non-Kooba-like, so you’d better get your hands on them now before they’re all gone!

Gucci Sucks - The Conclusion

So a few weeks ago I shared with you my predicament about my Gucci bag. Some of you suggested that I take it to the nearest Gucci store and demand that they fix it, or at least resolve the problem somehow. I thought about Nordstrom’s alleged shoe policy, where if you purchase a pair of shoes, and they become defective, you can return them/exchange them for another pair at any time. So, I figured, Gucci being the high-class luxury brand that it is, would offer me at the very least a similar deal. So, I hightailed it down to the Gucci store on Fifth Avenue, showed a saleswoman my bag and explained the story, very politely I might add. She looked very uncomfortable at the thought that a Gucci bag could self-destruct in such a way, and instructed me to speak to her manager. After assisting other customers more likely to purchase a bag that day, she finally went to the back of the store to get him for me. A youngish man came out, introduced himself as the manager - again I explained the situation. He proceeded to tell me that there was nothing he could do. He said, “The canvas bags are not meant to be carried everyday.” (Which I did not do, by the way). I told him that I owned Gucci canvas bags before and this never happened. I said I was both surprised and disappointed in the quality of the bag and how simple wear could destroy my bag so easily. Then he proceeded to say, “Gucci bags are high quality. I’m sorry you don’t feel that way. However, Gucci really stands by the quality of their leather bags, that’s why the warranty for Gucci canvas bags is only one year. Next time you should buy a leather bag if you want it to last longer.”

WTF???

I can’t believe I my mother wasted several hundred dollars on a piece of worthless canvas material that was obviously defective! I’m traveling to Italy this summer and I had initially planned to purchase another Gucci bag, but now I’ll save my money for another brand, with BETTER QUALITY AND BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE. I will never waste my money on another Gucci. So dear readers, the conclusion is, if you want a quality bag, don’t buy a canvas Gucci. Apparently they know the quality sucks and you’ll just be wasting your money.

Bottega Ve-NOT!

Haute or not? Maybe I don’t even have to ask - this is just hideous. I’m not a huge fan of Bottega Veneta’s woven bags but at least they’re somewhat classy. This ‘Limited Edition Snakeskin Bag’ looks like the leftover confetti scraped up from the streets in Times Square on New Year’s Eve regurgitated in the form of a purse.

Every now and then it seems that luxury designers lose focus and attempt to venture into new design territory. My advice to them is: Stop it! Stick with what you know best. This bag is a prime example of when good design goes horribly wrong. Even if you typically don’t like snakeskin, you have to admit it can be done right. This, however, takes snakeskin to a whole new ugly level. Red, blue, green and yellow snakeskin strips are stitched together then topped off with gray (???) braided leather, a ruched top, clasp closure, and lined in blue suede! Ewww!! There’s way too many colors, textures, and trends in one, and an equally revolting price tag of £2,850.00. And isn’t ‘limited edition’ supposed to mean exclusive? I think in this case it translates to “probably won’t sell so let’s not make too many.”

Even More Desirable Handbags

A year after its debut, Begeren (Dutch for desire) is back on the scene with its new Spring collection! The new bags are just as distinctive and just as haute as the first season, with tons of brightly colored leathers and unique shapes and styles. I love the fact that the entire collection is affordable enough that you can buy several pieces, unique enough that you won’t see everyone carrying one, and the bags aren’t so trendy that you have to stash them in the back of your closet next year.

Here are my favorites:

The ‘Moorea Tote’ is back, in new colors, and detailed with grommets in place of studs. I love this honey-colored leather - perfect for every season.

This bag, the ‘Belmont Shopper’ is pictured in my favorite color - hot pink, and it’s a great everyday tote. I like to carry a lot of stuff everyday so I could use this to stash my shoes, work papers, water, magazine, book, and so much more. I also like the playful sliders - a throwback to my childhood.

I love the crisscross detailing on the ‘Hillhurst Satchel’, and the ability to convert it from a shoulder bag to a handheld tote. It’s a great day bag and the red leather is very versatile.

How adorable is this? The Wicklow Clear Quartz Coin Purse Necklace serves double duty! No need to match your jewelry with your bag - it’s all in one! It’s the perfect solution to carrying your money without stuffing it into your pockets or wearing a dreadful fanny pack!

I’m happy to announce that Begeren has partnered with What’s Haute to give away one of their fabulous bags! We voted it the best new bag of 2006 and now you can own it - the Moorea Tote (in the ever-popular Shamrock color). It’s no longer for sale but I’ve got one to giveaway, just for you! All you have to do is email me your answers to the following questions:

1. What new colors this season is the ‘Moorea Tote’ available in?
2. What are the names of the four new styles currently pictured on the site’s homepage?
3. In what city are Begeren’s bags made?

Good luck!

Contest is now closed! Thanks to all who entered!

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Ask Haute Girl: Laptop Bags Edition

What’s Haute reader Wendy asked me to find her some haute laptop bags. Here’s a few for you to carry your computer in style:

Theresa Kathryn’s Melania laptop bag is highly reminiscent of the YSL ‘Muse’, but at a more affordable price, surprising utility, and all the same style. ($535)
Not Rational’s Large Computer Bag is a perfectly rational choice to carry your laptop. It’s a great daytime bag - cognac leather with multiple straps, snaps and compartments makes it fully functional and fashionable. ($500)

The Lin and Leo ‘Lap Bag’ is a sweet Marc Jacobs-style, double front pocketed satchel. Large and small sizes and luscious colors let you carry your computer in style. ($304)

I love the embroidery on Oovoo’s Baroque laptop bag - the simplicity of the detailing is beautiful, and it looks so unassuming - nothing at all like a laptop bag. ($200)

The Marka Sinclair Slouch bag is a sleek, oversized satchel for laptops, papers, files, etc., and it doubles as a great carry-on/travel bag too. ($495)

The Sweet Seventeen laptop bag by Melissa Beth Designs is large enough for your computer and a bunch of personal extras, but it doesn’t look too bulky or unstylish. ($210)

The Samsonite Mini Attache is a mod twist on the briefcase - the belted detail gives it a futuristic look. ($300)

And the Winner is….

Marilyn F. of Newark! Congratulations - you won the Anna Corinna ‘City’ Tote! Thanks to all who entered the contest! Check back later - there will be more haute handbag giveaways! And most importantly, a huge thank you to Luna Boston for sponsoring this haute contest!