Um, Seriously? What Happened Here?

($585, Maurizio Pecoraro, Luisaviaroma.com)

WTF is this macrame cage bag thingie?? It looks like a lab dissection gone wrong meets an arts and crafts project gone wronger. And is that an abstract vagina down the middle there?

Accessorize U.K. Arrives in the U.S.!

...or more accurately Accessorize is coming to New York City!! According to WWD a 400-square-foot store opens at 329 Bleecker Street on Oct. 28 and an even bigger unit at Union Square. I literally cannot wait because I have been buying myself those colorful little change purses and fabulous jewelry trinkets from Accessorize for as long as I can remember some of my oldest visits to London. In that marvelous British city there used to be an Accessorize on practically every street corner (much like Starbucks in New York's big city), and I'd make sure to visit every single one in case I missed one single change purse style!

The Perfect Yoga Bag(s)

Yoga is so ubiquitous these days that you can barely swing a cat without hitting someone in downward dog. Even I have finally succumbed to it, after much haranguing by my personal spirit animal, Tamar. So you'd think that manufacturers would have figured out how to make a decent gym bag for yogis. You would be wrong. I can hardly believe it, but most yoga bags are made to carry only your mat, with maybe a pocket for your keys and a few bills (and most of them are made of truly regrettable fabrics). But if you also want to throw in your own hand towel or water bottle or even if you just carry a large wallet, your options are limited. If you want to bring all of the above and your workout clothes because you're heading to yoga from work, forget about it. There are a few bags that allow you to strap your mat to your bag, but that just looks dumb, and if you need to set your bag down on, say, a dirty subway floor, well, why even bother bringing your own nongermy mat? (Answer: to save the $2 rental fee, but I digress.)

Anyway, I've been searching for days, and I only found two bags on the entire Internet that fit my criteria. Here they are:

Lululemon convertible Yogi tote, $54 (and free shipping!). Freakin' Lululemon, home of the $98 stretch pants: I never thought I'd buy anything from there, but this is the one I got. The mat goes in the bottom part, and you put your other crap in the top part. If you just need to tote the mat, turn it inside out. Genius. It supposedly has tons of pockets for little stuff, too. The reviews say the handles are too short, but I'm hoping I can deal. If not, or if it's just way too big, I'm going to plan B:

Sundara Studio "Urban Yogi" bag, $65. This one's handmade and designed for a casually rolled-up mat, with room for a few extras. I like the colors of this one—most yoga stuff on the Internet is so cheesily hippied-out you feel like you need to confirm it came from a patchouli-free home. If the Lululemon needs to be returned, I'm totally trying this out.

I Heart Pendleton Everything! + Weird '90s Flashback

I don't necessarily think Pendleton's Native American designs really flatter me, but that doesn't stop me from admiring their resurgence and their wonderfully wooly winter undertones.

Two Pendleton pieces that are on my fantasy shopping list (things I'll never buy yet would graciously accept as... you know... donations or something) are this Pendleton wool and leather weekender bag. It's so ruggedly handsome. It's like the Javier Bardem of bags, you know? But less scruffy:

($216, Pendleton, Shopepaulet.com)

From the sturdy, strapping leather details to the please-don't-get-me-all-super-dirty metal feet, to the luggage tag, I fully endorse everything about this Pendleton bag (as well as the lovely Epaulet, which you should visit in person or online.)

I ride a bike approximately once every... never. Seriously, I NEVER ride a bike. I haven't been on one since approximately 1997, and that was only for a brief moment to determine that up until then, I hadn't been on one since 1991 and since it was 1997, well, I sure as hell wasn't about to take up bike riding again. Hm. I wonder what I was wearing in 1997. Probably some really horrible "relaxed fit" DKNY jeans with zero shape. And a thrift store t-shirt that said "John Deere." And possibly a flannel.  Lovely. ANYWAY, I completely digress. If I WERE to ride a bike, Urban Outfitters' Pendleton bike (available early October) would be it.

BTW, here's me in the '90s. SO style-less that I HAD to share for the sake of comedy. Can you believe people actually COME TO ME for style advice now?!? Oh, and I'm pretty sure that was my "going out" shirt, and it was special because it was one of the sole things I owned from The Gap. I took good care to iron it. And those spoon-shaped gold sunglasses? THERE ARE NO WORDS capable of describing "the bad." I remember being CRESTFALLEN when they disappeared... Little did I know it was truly for the best. Live and learn, people. Live and learn.

Hideous/Awesome Bag Alert

After, what, five years of friendhood, it's safe to say I know my co-blogger. Consider the following text exchange.

MK: This hideous bag is at h&m. thought u might like

TL: Yeah get it for me! Wee

Ladies and gents, the bag in question.



Just thought I'd share.

One Way To Wear Wang

When I visited New York back in September, I treated myself to a black Coco Duffel bag by Alexander Wang. Every time I wear it, I feel like royalty. It perfects every outfit, and I never grow tired of using it. It's as though it's my little baby.

I love it when the bag pops up on streetstyle photographs, allowing me to get inspired to wearing it in different ways. This photo from Stockholm streetstyle is so refreshing. The contrast between the black and the nude leather jacket by Céline is excellent. Also this photo reminds me that I need to get myself the YSL arty ring (seen on her right hand). I just know that it belongs on my finger.

Source: Stockholm Streetstyle

Hayden-Harnett: Surprise Sample Sale!

I left the last Hayden-Harnett sample sale empty-handed, but they made up for it with this sale. They announced it on Tuesday afternoon on Facebook, but sadly I wasn't able to get down to the Nolita store until last night after work. It was obvious from the largely empty racks and the disaster-zone dressing room that they'd had quite a crowd during the day. Amazingly enough, the sale featured actual samples from the fall 2010 line, meaning mostly small sizes. And yet...she shoots, she scores!


The salesgirl was sort of instrumental in convincing me to buy this cool bomber, the Cromwell jacket, in charcoal herringbone. It also comes in brown (below, far left):



Only $60, and guess what it retails for? $538! Jeebus. (Methinks H-H's price points are a wee bit high, but their sample-sale prices, in this case, were just right.) In any case, I win. Is it time for wool jackets yet?



I also got a cozy, cropped sweater vest (above right, worn open). Love that scoop neck! And the zipper! Needed no convincing. $60. No word on retail price, as it's not on the H-H site yet. After a long, annoying day, that's what you call retail therapy, folks.

Some other things from the fall collection that I'll be on the lookout for at the next sale:


Welles large hobo tote, $544, and I guess a Welles hobo/cross-body bag (as yet unavailable)—love that poppy color!



Pistol & Dagger scarf, $95, in many awesome fall colors.



Coats and jackets galore!

The sample sale is at the Nolita store in NYC, on Elizabeth between Houston and Prince, and runs through Sunday, from 12-8 each day. Everything is $20-$70. Long live Hayden-Harnett!

Fashion Facts I Slept On: Rebecca Minkoff At Bluefly!!!!

Shame shame SHAME on me for not knowing that Bluefly.com has MAD Rebecca Minkoff bags!!!

($170, Rebecca Minkoff, Bluefly.com)

You ought to be adding this black-and-blue Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag post HASTE!

($285, Rebecca Minkoff, Bluefly.com)

SAMESIES for this black embossed suede Morning After Bag. So soft I could rest my head upon it and use it as a pillow.

Alexandra Cassaniti Continues To Woo Me, Wow Me

($230, Alexandra Cassaniti)

The first obviously great thing about Alexandra Cassaniti's laptop bag (via Refinery 29) is that it's got a built-in smiley face! Next best, it's covered in fake hair! Well, it's a print, but it looks like stubble! Hee!

I don't love it AS much as I love her pink eye tote:

... But it's still great. Not so practical at $220, but still cool and LOL-arious.

Bag Up Your Sample Sale Goodies In Yak Pak's Geometry Tote!

So, if you do go to ALL those sample sales this weekend, you're gonna need something to SCHLEP your haul in, no? Yes. Not no. YES.

Therefore, I HIGHLY recommend Yak Pak's funnnnn grey geometry Tara tote, which is basically the unofficial mayor of Adorbstown, which is just down the road aways from Affordability Junction. It's also made out of like the same stuff they build space shuttles out of, but softer. You could also use this as a laptop bag, diaper bag, gym bag, whatever. It's a free country!

($24, Yakpak.com)

One thing you are NOT free to do, however is carry this bag with Fred Flare's Animal Bandido sweater! OR ELSE!

I Am Such A Bag Hag: Henry Road Bags!

Ironically, this mod flowered roomy tote couldn't even hold all of its innate adorability. It's by Henry Road.

($76, Henry Road, ThreePotatoFour.com)

And check out this one, in more muted, mustardy '70s-tastic earth tones:

($105, Henry Road)

I wanna bag it up! No diggity!

Blackstreet - New Music - More Music Videos

Bird Bag?

So, my co-blogger, former roomie and very close friend, who lived with me for three years and KNOWS my taste (and though she occasionally mocks it, she was also QUICK to borrow my shit in our Rivington Street days!) thinks THIS bag is "so me!"

($255, Marlene's of Encino, Poshgirlvintage.com)

I mean, I like loud, fun, vibrant stuff, but this might be taking it a step too far. It's by a woman named MARLENE for shit's sake! I like the '80s, but I don't want to LOOK 80! I'm not even 30 yet! How can I be THIS MUCH of a bubbe?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Bag Hag

Many many bags I'm lusting after, none of which will ever truly be mine. Wah!

($695, Botkier, ActiveEndeavors.com)

Sigh. The elusive Botkier Sophie tote. So gorgeous. So grey. So expensive. Frowny face.

($695, Botkier, ActiveEndeavors.com)

Just as delicious and enviable in "Raisin." And so much better than regular raisins. Wah.

($499, Mike & Chris, Adasa.com)

Mmmm. Mike & Chris. Love this grey (duh) slouchy leather bag. And I like that it's not uncomfortably super huge.

($1,350, Marni, Ronherman.com)

Perfect for my jaunts... to... Target.

($660, Marni)

Wah. Even the teensy Marni coin purse is too spensy.

($195, Isabella Fiore, Adasa.com)

So fun. It's technically a wallet, but for $200, it's a clutch as far as I'm concerned.

($113, Mat & Nat, Rouletteclothing.co.uk)

Speaking of clutches, this one is so cute!

($101, Mat & Nat, Rouletteclothing.co.uk)

I'm not usually into metallic bags, but this one is both small and not too like HEY! LOOK AT ME! I'M TRENDY AND METALLIC!

($445, Karman Sarwar, Brownsfashion.com)

Unlike this horrendous "fan bag." Gah! No one should ever have to suffer the indignity of being seen with this bag.

Fashion Binge Says NO To Fringe!

Unless you are Cher circa '73, you SHOULD NOT be wearing fringe. I cannot make this clear enough.



Case in point:

($389, La Rok, Singer22)

Fringed hoodie? I think not. No, wait. Actually, I KNOW not.

($78, Urban Outfitters)

0% love for this.

And as much as I LOVE Hayden-Harnett, I'm torn betwixt barely and not even making an exception for their Wyeth fringed hobo:

($475, Hayden-Harnett)

Eh? Yay? Nay? I'm sorta like 60/40. But in general, wearing fringe on your person, again, unless you are Cher or wrangling steer is SUCH a nein.

Rebecca Minkoff Bread And Wine Bag Equals I Know What You Did Last Night

($185, Rebecca Minkoff)

If the other side of this market bag had a compartment that said "cheese" and one that said "circus," and a little mention somewhere of Real Housewives of Atlanta, then it would perfectly capture everything I did last night. As it is, the Bread & Wine bag is everything I WON'T be doing tonight during Yom Kippur. Sadness!

The Rebecca Minkoff market bag's a widdle pricey for gimmicky bag, but it is leather, and 5% of the proceeds benefit the Earth Foundation.

Anyway, happy fasting!

Random Stuff I Want...

I was quite surprised to see that Fossil has put out an extremely un-Fossil-like line of vintage-inspired bags for the fall. Check out their Fifty-Four collection:

($265, Fossil)

($200, Fossil)

($145, Fossil)



($24, The Ryde)

Cali surf-lifestyle brand The Ryde makes comfy-casual but cute surf-inspired gear. Normally I'm not super into message Tees, but look closely -- can you even handle how cute their "Seamstress For The Band" Tee is??? I love that the shirt doesn't hit you over the head with its message, and I love the Built By Wendy-esque look.

Fragrance fiend Jo Malone is coming out with a white jasmine and mint cologne for the fall. Apparently it was "inspired by a sun drenched morning in am English garden, new White Jasmin & Mint captures the scent of jasmine, wild rose and white blossoms with an unexpected twist of wild mint." Notes include wild mint, peppermint leaf, camomile, coriander, cardamom, bergamot, mace, cassis, Jo Malone heirloom jasmine, ylang ylang, orange flower, rose de mai absolut, muguet, cedar, Jo Malone musk, mate absolut, vetiver, prune and guaiac wood... Um, I have no clue what guaiac wood is, but I'm willing to find out, because this sounds heavenly.

($82, Jessica Simpson, Zappos)

Both these shoes and Jessica Simpson are ridiculous, but I kind of love both of them in an inexplicable way. Silver shoes are huge this fall, and I wouldn't mind owning these. They're not bad in black either...

($98, Arena CPH, Saks Fifth Avenue)

This necklace, those black heels and some dark jeans and a black top would look the hotness. K, nightnight!

Batty Betsey Bags

Even though both Betsey Johnson and her Betsyville line of bags are basically synonymous with Crazytown, the wackadoo side of me still sorrrrrta loves some bags from both lines...

($335, Betsey Johnson, Nordstrom)
Far more subtle than what we usually see or expect from Betsey. Not bad at all!


($295, Betseyjohnson.com)
Also totally toned-down. For Betsey.

($283, Betsey Johnson, Zappos)
Love the croc combined with the chain handle detail.


At first I was into the 24K Oversize Satchel, which is all sold out at Nordstrom. Then I realized that it was actually clear and not white. Which made me not really care after all that it's sold out. I still love the handle though.



($95, Betseyville, Nordstrom)
So much cognitive dissonance happening with this bag. It's both awful and awesome all at once.




($125, Betseyville, Zappos.com)
No lovey the ribbon ties, but the paper doll print is fun.



($95, Betseyville, Jestjewels.com)
Busy but fun.


($75, Betsey Johnson, Hot Topic)
Yes, this is from Hot Topic. Oh well. It's cute!



($67, Betsey Johnson, Macys)
Without the strap, this clutch is actually really cute.




(Betseyville, Macys, sold out)
Okay, now I'm really starting to scare myself. At least I know I just like the IDEA of the Diamond Girl bag, and not the actual bag itself, as I'm quite usually quite opposed to wearing any other face on my person aside from my own. (Though if you're looking for one for yourself, check eBay.)


($20, Betseyville, Jestjewels.com)
Cosmetic case = probably the safest best yet.