Alexander McQueen Squeeze It Clutch

I saw the metallic version of this Alexander McQueen Squeeze It clutch and immediately wanted to know where to buy one. The large bow-shaped clutch definitely stands out in a crowd, which is what I love in my bags. Read more

Heidi Montag Gets Glamorous with Valentino

Sigh. I really hate writing about celebrities who aren’t really celebrities, especially fake celebrities named Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt. But I guess once you’ve been on a reality show, that makes you famous, like it or not. And if you’re spotted carrying a new ‘It’ bag, then I must do my handbag duties. Read more

Longchamp ‘It Bag’ Vertical Tote

What a cheeky way to poke fun at ‘It’ bags! The Longchamp ‘It Bag’ Vertical Tote is really the anti-It bag and despite what it reads, is so not luxury. But it is truly adorable! This canvas tote has a French phrase ‘Ceci est un It bag’ Read more

Celeb Handbag Spotting: Pink with the Alexander McQueen Novak bag

Pink is not the first celebrity I think of when I think of ‘It’ bags. To me she’s more of a punk rock star who doesn’t really give a damn about designer labels, let alone designer handbags! So I was surprised to see she too is a luxury bagaholic. She visited MTV’s TRL to promote her new album and carried the Alexander McQueen Novak bag. The Novak was inspired by Kim Novak, the lead actress in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ and is one of McQueen’s bestselling bags, and it quickly reached ‘It’ cult status. The bag is made of supple leather and has dual handles that meet at trapunto-style stitched trim. There is a front metal square-shaped ring/buckle detail and a signature turn-lock closure over a top zip closure.

Shop Alexander McQueen - Bags and Luggage at Zappos.

Demis/Maryannakis/Splash News

Ask Haute Girl: Rihanna’s X-Large Patent Givenchy Nightingale

What’s Haute reader Tiffany F. asks, “Can you tell me what bag Rihanna is carrying and where I can buy it?”

Dear Tiffany,

Rihanna is known for her collection of ‘It’ bags and her latest one is the X-Large Patent Givenchy Nightingale available at Barney’s. This bag has been hugely popular among celebrities over the past year, and the X-Large version is perfect for a celebista like her. The Nightingale is made of faded black wrinkled patent leather with logo embossed handles and a removable shoulder strap. The bag measures 14″ x 23″ x 7.5″ and zips closed at the top. Shop this and other Givenchy bags at Barney’s.com.

Celebrity bag spotting: Rihanna with the Gucci Large Babouska Hobo

What defines an ‘It’ girl? To me, it’s the number of ‘It’ bags you’re carrying. Rihanna certainly fits the definition. She’s spotted out with a new bag almost every day! The singer was recently spotted out and about with one of Gucci’s new fall bags, the Large Babouska Hobo, available at Saks Fifth Avenue. I personally don’t like the bag, or any of Gucci’s fall collection, but their Babouska styles seem to be popular among celebrities.

The Large Babouska Hobo has fringe down the front and center that looks like some sort of animal hair that got tangled up in the fabric. It also features the signature GG print fabric trimmed with leather (and the suede fringe) with brass studs, hardware and a heart-shaped Gucci crest charms. Can you say “Too much?!” On top of all that, the bag has a top handle and detachable shoulder strap. It’s a total fad bag so if you’ve got a spare $2,295 to waste for a season, click on over to Saks.com.

Shop more Designer bags on sale at Saks.

Pharrell’s Hermes Haut Au Corrois in Purple Croc

Ooh la la, I think I’m in love…

No, not with Pharrell Williams (though I do love his beats). But I’m in love with his (man?) bag, the huge, highly coveted Hermes HAC (Haut à Courroies), aka the original Birkin. Pharrell had two of them custom made at the Hermes factory in Paris, one in orange/tan, and the other the purple crocodile version. Katie Holmes was recently spotted with the red Hermes HAC…(new ‘It’ bag alert?) Though it’s much more appropriate for women, it takes a big man to carry a purple handbag, and an even bigger man to carry a purple crocodile bag. Kudos Pharrell, you’re a big man. With a really big bag.

Wanna share?

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Puff Mommy

J. Lo’s yet the latest celeb to try to hide her pregnancy by diverting attention to her haute handbag. Ummmm, note to Jenny….the jig is up!

Update: The worst-kept secret is out!

Anyway, J. Lo once loved Puff Daddy, but now she loves her Puffy Python Metallic Bag by Zagliani, the ‘It’ bag of the Fall season. Designed by a former dermatologist, the crocodile skin bags are injected with Botox and silicone to make the skins “butter soft”. The top of the bag is made of a structured frame with belt detail, and pleated croc forms the ‘puffy’ bottom of the bag. The bag measures 14″x18″ and when expanded, the sides measure 5″ or more.

Get this bag before it sells out! $2,865, Intermix

Halle’s (Baby) Bag

Is Halle pregnant? Her big, flowy dresses seem to be suspiciously hiding a baby bump. We’ll find out soon enough, but if she is preggers, she’s got a great new bag to tote Baby Berry’s stuff in. One of the hottest new bags for Fall 2007 is the Yves St. Laurent Patent Tribute Medium Flat Tote. This double-handle tote’s quilted patent leather resembles a luxe crocodile skin, and has a top-snap closure and side zippers for additional interior access. It may not be a traditional diaper bag, but it’s large, packs flat, and is chic enough for any celebrity baby’s belongings!

Get Halle’s haute style for $1,195 at Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue.

Photo source: YBF

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

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

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Hauteness - The Handbag Magazine adores the Bottega Veneta Pleated Bag!

The Fray finds a cool cut-out bag in the most unexpected place - at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) shop.

Handbag Designer 101 goes for green handbags for Spring.

Señora Cartera features Marni’s ‘Garbage Bag Couture’ Collection.

Kate Spade’s Sao Paolo Handbag is driving Outblush insane.

Lauren Bush is a handbag designer???

The Gossip Girls say that Britney Spears was denied a limited edition Heatherette clutch at Fashion Week.

Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle discovers that the Botkier Bianca is back in stock!

Mad About Bags’ handbag design of the day is ‘Head Handbags’. Creepy.

Came straight to this page? Visit What’s Haute for more haute bags!

Wearable Art For the Ultimate Snob

I’m not big on promoting handbags that cost as much as a small car, a down payment on a mortgage, or even a small country. But I will share the details of what I believe to be truly exquisite handbags, in case you have a huge chunk of change lying around.

I was recently introduced to the Rene Lautrec for EKSO collection and was instantly impressed. Designer Rene Lautrec combines art, fashion, architecture and lifestyle to create wearable luxury handbags. 200 styles are made from every exotic animal known to man, like stingray, ostrich, croc and alligator.

These bags are accessories within accessories! Each handbag comes with interchangeable straps, a miniature perfume bottle inside (refillable only by the company), detachable cell phone cases, a white-faced diamond and cabochon-studded pocket clock, make-up bags, mirrors, and matching lipstick cases. My goodness!!! Talk about getting your money’s worth! (Does it come with a Corvette and a dream house too?)

To up the snobbish factor, all the hardware is handcrafted and made of fade- and tarnish resistant sterling-silver, bronze, 24 karat gold, white gold, diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious stones. And once a year Lautrec produces custom, one-of-a-kind handbags, and to top it all off, he personally inspects each finished bag to ensure perfection.

Are you hooked yet?

Rene Lautrec for EKSO, is available exclusively at Alexandros, 5 East 59th Street, in NYC or by calling 212.868.1043.

Pictured, at top: The Renegade in genuine stingray ($8,500)
Pictured, at bottom: The Aristocrat in cognac ($12,500)

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Celebrity bag spotting: Vanessa Bryant with New Balenciaga Le Dix Motorcycle Tote

I thought Balenciaga bags were so over but obviously I was wrong. Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa was spotted on the All Star 2007 red carpet with this new white Balenciaga Le Dix Motorcycle bag. I saw it in person today at Neiman Marcus and it’s just slightly smaller than the large Le Dix. It has the same appeal of the original, but is accented with gold thimble-like ornaments in place of studs.

What do you think of this new style?

Correction: Vanessa is carrying a Balenciaga ‘Work’ with large hardware. (Thanks Senora Cartera!)
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A Fleeting Fendi

If you like ransom notes made from letters cut out of magazines, then this Patent Crossword Clutch is the bag for you. Fendi never ceases to amaze me with their creations. While Gucci and Louis Vuitton don’t stray too far from their bread and butter styles, Fendi always has some interesting creation up their sleeve.

This patent clutch has strategically placed white block letters with a signature Fendi logo handle. If you like this sort of thing, it’s a great evening bag for the Spring/Summer, and is the perfect companion to the little black dress or even some sleek black skinny pants.

I have to admit that I might carry this bag if someone gifted it to me but is it really worth $920? (Hint: the answer is NO!) It is definitely a one-season trend piece. Patent leather will most likely be out next season and you’ll be stuck with an expensive fad It bag that just looks nice hanging in your closet. Like this blast from the past:

Came straight to this page? Visit What’s Haute for more haute bags!

Gucci Sucks!

Gucci, to me, has always been the Mercedes-Benz of handbag brands - iconic, luxurious, and highly coveted. I had a few vintage Gucci bags given to me throughout my life, but on a trip to Italy in 2005, my mother bought me my first, brand spanking new Gucci hobo. I fell in love instantly, clutching my new bag tight, (receiving many strange looks from my boyfriend I might add), and promised to take really good care of it. So what happened? Only several months later I began to notice some minor wear and tear. Now look at it!

I’m so pissed off that such an expensive bag from such a notable brand could get this damaged just from the friction of being carried on my shoulder. I mean, I’ve bought bags for way less money, and used them the same way and to this day they are still in pretty good condition. Less than two years later and the Gucci I so loved, looks as if it’s been ripped to shreds! And I didn’t even carry it everyday!

What do you think? Is it time for my love affair with Gucci to come to a bitter end?

Do You Fake It?

Takin’ Out the Trash

Since when does luxury look like trash? For Fall/Winter 2006 and 2007, Chanel bucked their traditionally chic, quilted bags for this oversized, vinyl, trash bag style tote.

This bag is so popular the New York Times even featured it, with a collage of pics of ladies (clones) on the street carrying different variations of it.

Apparently there is a lengthy waiting list to get one, which priced at $1,000, I don’t understand. Is it really that unique and exclusive, or is its popularity simply due to the interlocking C’s plastered on the front? Can this trash bag truly be the next ‘It’ bag?

Janet Jackson’s ‘It’ Bag

‘It’ girls always carry ‘it’ bags - it’s the unwritten law of the fashion universe. Superstar Janet Jackson was spotted leaving the Louis Vuitton fashion show during Paris Fashion Week, carrying this incredible, oversized metallic gold Louis Vuitton Alma satchel. Louis Vuitton Luv shows off another blinged-out style, the Papillon, in metallic gold. I’m not sure where you can purchase one, but if you’re on the ‘It’ list, I’m pretty sure you’ll be sporting one soon.

Handbag du Jour

I couldn’t have thought of a more appropriate name for this wondrous piece of arm candy.

The Fendi De Jour Hair-Calf Satchel ($1,840) is a fashionista’s dream. The rich chocolate color, sturdy Italian leather and brushed calf hair all come together to create this triple threat – a large, luscious, and luxe bag. The perfect transition from summer to fall.

Now if I could just fork up the funds for Fendi.

Fendi De Jour Hair-Calf Satchel (via Haute Gossip)