Madonna's Louis Vuitton Ads

[Photography by Steven Meisel. Source:WWD]

Sure, the campaign is a Photoshop wonder, but I love the way the bags blend into the scene and don't upstage the other elements of the composition. There's nothing worse than some actress doing an America's Next Top Model reject pose with a large purse awkwardly incubating under her ass. Plus I love Madonna's hair and makeup - she looks human and vulnerable, which is a tall order in her case.

Coach Puts Out Younger Cheaper Poppy Line

Coach is about to release a new youth-geared collection of shoes, bags and accessories called Poppy. The price point is lower (starting at $198) and the items incorporate brighter colors and details like sequins.

If I'm going to drop close to $200 for the cheapest bag by a major brand, I'm sure as shit not buying something that looks like it was designed by a clown and is sold at Claire's. Who is their Target market, Teresa's brood of budding Jon Benets on the Real Housewives of New Jersey?

[Photo via BravoTV.com]

Better get your wads of laundered money ready - Poppy is for sale starting Friday.

Deal of the Week: Le Sportsac by B. Free

Gilt Groupe has the Le Sportsac Field Trip Duffle featuring French graffiti artist B. Free for $36 (marked down from $75). You need to join the site (it's free) to shop, but who hasn't already?!

There are more bags, totes and backpacks from this collection for more than 50% off, only one style has sold out so far.

P.S. The sale ends at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

One In Every Color

While some 80's trends have been a little hard to swallow, the return of vibrantly colored accessories is one that seemed long overdue. Check out this little rainbow of cute bags we spotted on Lulus and ASOS today:

[Clockwise from top left: Pure Vintage bag, $69.55, ASOS.com; Melie Bianco consort bag, $86, Lulus.com; Daisy chain handbag, $72, Lulus.com; Palmetto handbag, $34, Lulus.com; Turquoise fringe bag, $62.52, ASOS.com; Marc B quilted snake bag, $54.71, ASOS.com]

What style of bag are you carrying lately?
	Hobo
	Tote
	Clutch
	Cross-body
	Nothing

Because Who Reads the Newspaper Anymore?

LA is filled with "eco-friendly" fashion. A part of me feels that this is because we get hit with global warming the worst. Last time I was at the beach, half the bathers looked like chicken nuggets.

Last weekend was the Sunset Junction Street Festival. Since Silver Lake is the epoch of green consumerism, it made sense Green With Envy had an enormous booth.

What caught my eye was the Newspaper Clutch. It's totally adorable and had to be inspired by a Project Runway challenge.

It's easily make-able and easily breakable, so I learned, $45 later.

Surprise! Cheap Botkier Looks Cheap

I was sort of excited when I saw that Botkier was doing a Target line. Their Go! designers have been coasting decidedly downhill in the past few months, and considering a purse doesn't need to fit, I figured this would be a sure thing. Their $800 purses are hot (see above.)

Unfortunately, as you'll see here, their $50 Target bags look cheap and are totally plastic. Seriously, you can't make a real leather bag for $50? I'm pretty sure cows aren't becoming extinct.

Barton's Bags

Mischa Barton's line of handbags hits British stores (John Lewis, Debenhams, and Fenwicks) on July 2. There are 30 designs and they range from $50-$350.
She swears she actually designed them herself.

Would you buy a Mischa bag?
	Yes, they're cute.
	Maybe - I'd need to see the other 28.
	Nah, too expensive.
	Hell no, they're fugly.

Knock It Off: Designer Bags

Clutch, Shop Suey, $38

Brown tote, $65 and blue tote, $29.99, BagHaus

I'm a big fan of rocking styles I can't afford via knock-off pieces. Trends just change far too often to blow your load on the big ticket, unless you're Madonna, in which case OMG MADONNA IS READING MY BLOG?!!

Anyway.
When it comes to bags, there are a few sites that stay right on the heels of the fabulous designs with both man-made and genuine leather imitations, while keeping the price point decidedly working-girl. Here are my two favorites:
*BagHaus
*Shop Suey

Rent the Real Thing

Their site is going to blow up in a few days when the Sex and the City movie comes out (in which they talk about it), so I figure now is a good time to let you know about BagBorrowOrSteal.com.
It's like the Netflix of accessories. You can rent designer purses and jewelry by the week or the month for as low as $15.

They carry it all, from vintage Hermes kelly bags to the latest formal clutch from Chanel, plus designer jewelry by David Yurman and Kenneth Jay Lane and many others.

Members get a significantly lower rental rate than "guests" (a year membership is $59.95...$5 a month, or you can do it one month at a time for $9.95) so if you dig it, your best bet is to join and enjoy the benefits of being able to hop on waiting lists and even buy used bags at a discount.

The only hitch is you need to be careful - if you lose the bag, you can be charged full retail price. You also can't spill stuff all over the bag because they don't send out bags that are no longer in mint condition. (I mean, who wants to rent a gross bag?)

For big events like weddings/proms/bar mitzvahs, this concept is genius.

How to Get a Counterfeit Bag in NYC

There were no entries for a few days, I know. I was in New York City for a little vaca with a girl friend, and shopped so hard I'm practically limping today.
Part of the shopping excursion took us through SoHo and down Broadway, where I learned the new art of finding a knock-off designer bag now that the fuzz has cracked down on the little Canal Street cubby holes that used to hawk them. I'll give it to you step by step:
1.) Walk down Broadway starting at about Broome or Grand Street and heading towards Canal, or just walk Canal Street through Chinatown.
2.) There will be several tiny Chinese ladies, many with a computer print out sheet showing pictures of the bags they are selling. All will be saying something to you like a ticket scalper "ChanelGucciPrada!" or something to that effect. Look at one and say "Okay."
3.) They will say "come with me," and lead you to the back of a van, or up or down stairs in a nearby building where you can get one of these bags.

Words of advice.
- Never go alone.
- In the van situation they will shut you into the van with them to shop. Try to have two people with you, one to get into the van with you and another to stand guard outside-- I feel like this is the perfect way to get kidnapped and sold into slavery somewhere. I saw two girls with their father do this. The father stood outside, and the Chinese lady yelled at him to stand away from the van so as not to look like he was waiting. I don't condone letting your children get into the backs of vans, but if you're gonna do it, at least stand outside with the licence plate number and the Amber Alert phone number on hand in case someone jumps in the front and hits the gas.
As for me, I'm happy with my knockoff Muse bag without the fake tag attached.

Burberry Proves Many Rich People Are Idiots

The "Warrior": Not a car.

Burberry's "Warrior" bag-- priced at $22,000 (nope, not a typo)-- is all the rage with the obscenely rich for the coming spring. According to today's Women's Wear Daily, the bag isn't in stores for another month, but there's already a waiting list. The cheapest version, in plain leather, will run you $3,150.
The Warrior is part of an "ultraluxe" line that currently includes three other styles, all equally as pricy.
My question is- when you carry a bag that expensive, what can you actually feel comfortable carrying around in it? I wouldn't tote my dirty soul in a $22,000 bag, let alone accident-waiting-to-happen purse staples like pens, makeup and gum.

Stella Does LeSportsac

LeSportsac sort of pisses me off. Their thin, nylon bags have cool (mostly "cute-cool") prints and make sense for casual use/gym bags (I could never carry one as a "real" purse) however the prices aren't cheap. Is a square foot of windbreaker material really that expensive?
Stella McCartney's upcoming spring collaboration with the company won't be any different, with items ranging from $42 to over $200.
Inspired by the fact the designer is knocked up for the third time, there will be plenty of "diaper bag"-y stuff and even a few kids items (see above.)
The print on the bunny bag is cute, and the basic design of the other bag would be great if it wasn't intended for shitrags, but I'm looking forward to seeing some more items for those of us not lugging around (adorable little) booger factories.

$650 Pussy

Let me preface this post: I know. I'm a total loser for being 27 and not Asian and loving Hello Kitty. It's obnoxious-- borderline lunchbox purse obnoxious-- but I just can't help it.
That's how I ended up on the Sanrio site today, where I discovered their new collection by handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff. And in it, this ugly ass bag (with a cute lining, sure) selling for $650! Wtf?I hope it at least comes with a free pair of matching orthopedic shoes.