Bags

In another lifetime, I would hop in the town car and tell my driver to take me shopping on 5th Avenue. I would grab my fabulous Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Tote ($1,495) and set out to buy the latest and greatest fashions. Wouldn't that be nice? While shopping on 5th Avenue might be a far cry from reality, I can surely find a similar shopping companion, no?

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I usually don't wear pink but I'm making an exception with this Marc Jacobs Cecilia Satchel ($1,250). The juxtaposition between the romantic dusty hue and twisted gold links is genius. This bag is not only beautiful, but functional. The handy double-duty straps can take you from day to night. Cross your strap while running errands around town, and switch to the shorter handle for nighttime festivities. Pretty perfect, no?

I've fallen madly in lust with the latest crop of chain handbags. Note the clever intertwining of leather and metal. I like how these chain inserts add a svelte edge to the classic chain handle. This new rendition is still sophisticated, but the leather gives it a rockin' rad attitude. How cool is that?

Sometimes, all I want is a simple bag. Sounds easy enough, but you'd be surprised with the number of nasties I've run into lately. Some designers tend to mistake simplicity for drab, but not Jasmin K. Her handbags evoke a cool, modern aesthetic without looking busy. Succinct and sexy.

Jasmin's newly launched line encompasses a casual lux attitude and I'm loving it. My favorite is the Tia Shoulder Bag ($310). I like the slouchy shape and better yet, it's affordable! Most of her bags range from $150 to $300, which is not bad for a handcrafted piece. I suggest you nab one before they go mainstream.

To see more designs from Jasmin K, read more

Help! I've fallen in burgundy bliss. Compared to its racy red sister, there's something about the blood-red handbag that provides warmth and dimension to any look.

This dark red delicacy goes hand-in-hand with Autumn's rich color palette and makes for an amazing compliment to dark denim or a sophisticated LBD. I think I need this amazing Miu Miu Woven Leather Tote ($1,595). Woven to perfection.

Right now I'm all about mixing neutrals with brights. Wouldn't this Marc by Marc Jacobs Airliner Captain Soft Bowler ($369, originally $528) be a great staple in your wardrobe?

Its neutral tone will balance out the current trend of wild colors and the classic shape will never go out of style. This, along with other delectable items, is currently offered up to 50 percent off at Barneys, so act fast!

Despite the current economic downturn, luxury brand LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton stays resilient as its sales figures show profits of over $17 billion dollars to date.

Though profits aren't as high as earlier this year, LVMH, which houses its namesake line along with other high-end labels such as Celine and Givenchy, reports a 9 percent growth in its business. Other top French retailers report up to a 10 percent loss in sales. In fact, the only decline experienced in the LVMH business is with watches.

“We are in a strange situation. It’s more a lack of confidence from retailers,” said LVMH finance director, Jean-Jacques Guiony, who states that retailers are being overly cautious with their spending.

All of this makes one wonder: Does LVMH have that magic staying power, or are the wealthy not affected by one of the worst economic crisises in history?

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These days, virtually every celebrity — from Lauren Conrad to Jessica Simpson — has his or her own womenswear, footwear, accessory, and fragrance line. But celebrity lunchbags and farmers market totebags? Lately we've seen the celebrity, fashion, and food worlds collide, with all sorts of celebrity-designed carryalls for everything from our groceries to our lunch.

PartySugar and I might have been on to something when we said that we prefer to carry our farmers market goodies in style. It seems others were thinking the exact same thing. First, Whole Foods announced Sheryl Crow would be custom-designing its latest green grocery bag. Then celebrity chef Mario Batali jumped on the design bandwagon, randomly unveiling his own line of sleek lunch bags. The latest? A collaboration between Jennie Garth and the Sierra Club.

While I'm a bigger fan of some of the designs than others, if this trend encourages shoppers to be more eco-friendly — wasting less resources on plastic and paper grocery bags and lunch bags — then it's for the better. What do you think of the trend? Would you buy Sheryl's, Mario's, or Jennie's bags?

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