After seeing a few shots from Chanel Cruise 2009, I couldn’t resist sharing some of the highlights with all of you PurseBloggers out there. This has to be one of the most strikingly beautiful runway shows I’ve ever seen, from the Venice Lido boardwalk setting to the 1920s throwback clothes. Karl Lagerfeld said that he chose this particular setting to debut this collection because Coco Chanel was a long-time fan of this particular Italian beach. Coco made yearly visits to this beach during the 1920s, making it particularly appropriate for this set of retro-glam resort wear and beautiful evening dresses. The boardwalk is only steps from the sea, the show began at sunset, and I’ve never found myself wanting to attend any fashion show so much in my entire life.

It took me a second to understand the name of the Alexander McQueen Clover Hobo. My thought process went something like this: well, it’s not green. It’s not printed. It’s not in the shape of a clover. So wha….oh. I see it. Do you see it? Did you see it quicker than I did? What does that say about me?

Anyway, for the folks like me that aren’t feeling quick on the uptake today: The black patent trim forms a large four-leaf clover shape on the supple cream leather. See it now? Yep, that’s what I thought. Kind of interesting, right? Because it’s not too literal at all, and there’s nothing that would irritate me more than having something really obvious like a piece of foliage stuck to the front. McQueen is a better designer than that, and I think this bag proves it. It may not be your cup of tea - I don’t particularly think that it’s mine - but it is well designed and the materials look incredibly lush on close-up. If I could have everything in my house, including my pillows, upholstered in that cream leather, I would die a happy girl. Buy through Zappos for $1999.

We are loving so many Lanvin handbag styles this season. Our obsession du jour is the Lanvin Reporter leather bag. It is a luxurious combination of two distinct textures accented by an adjustable gold tone chain strap. The contrast of the navy blue distressed leather against the shiny black patent is a unique combination that is tied (literally) together with a grosgrain ribbon woven thru the gold-tone chain strap. The boxy compact shape makes the perfect accompaniment to sophisticated linen pencil-skirts or sultry summer dresses. To keep all of your essentials in order there are inside compartments and a detachable Lanvin logo key fob.

via The Find

I’ve always had the vague feeling that a lot of exotics were a bit of a scam. Price is a measure of perceived value, particularly in fashion, and if all designers drive their prices for exotics sky-high, then over time, consumers will come to expect that exotics will cost those prices and convince themselves that they’re so high because they have to be. I’m not claiming that exotics don’t cost more to farm and are often more delicate and difficult to work with; I believe all of that. But I do think that prices have been artificially high for some time now, and bags like the Ted Rossi Pleated Eel Clutch make me think I’m right

This bag does appear on a discount website, and it is made out of one of the less-expensive exotics to begin with, but it IS exotic and fairly intricate in its construction. The pleating is gorgeous and the shine of the eel skin is subtle and glamorous. Sale prices often indicate what the price of a bag SHOULD be (since, theoretically, if a bag has to be put on sale then it was priced too high for the market anyway), and when you take the mark-down into account, this sleek little clutch is a steal for an exotic skin in a shape and size that you’ll use on nights out for years to come. Buy through Bluefly for $402.

Black is one of the most essential colors (I know there is a long standing argument about if black is or is not a color) that you must have in your wardrobe. There is the little black dress. The black bag. The black shoes. The black pants. The black clutch. The black tee shirt. The black jacket. Forget the argument of black as a color and realize that black is a staple of most wardrobes. I have a great little black dress from Prada that fits beautifully and has been used for a variety of events. But when I looked in my closet I realized a lack of black bags. I do have a classic Chanel Bag but I am lacking a compact black clutch and a larger black handbag.

I kid you not, I dreamt about a black Hermes Birkin last night. I woke up craving one and questioning whether I should opt for gold hardware or palladium hardware and if 35 cm would be better rather than 30. This year is a great year for investment pieces and a classic Birkin in a color that is classic seems to be a good fit.

But what about some other black pieces? Compact clutches are great evening bags. While they don’t fit much, they provide a great look and fit in your hand ideally. The Anya Hindmarch Patent Box Clutch is marked half off right now and can easily be used season to season. Sleek and snappy, this glossy Anya Hindmarch clutch is a perfect black wardrobe essential. Buy through Net A Porter for $197.50.

I have been loving the vest look as of recent and I found the ultimate black vest. Made of crocodile, the Rick Owens Crocodile Leather Vest sports an asymmetrical peaked hem and a V-neck. Everything about this vest is over the top and even a bit ostentatious but I absolutely love it. I am fairly positive this vest would look silly on most people, including me, but if I would wear this statement piece I would love it. Buy through Net A Porter for $11,415.

Point of this piece, black is essential to all aspects of your wardrobe and crocodile vests are not for everyone. Oh yea, and I should get a black Hermes Birkin.

Black is one of the most essential colors (I know there is a long standing argument about if black is or is not a color) that you must have in your wardrobe. There is the little black dress. The black bag. The black shoes. The black pants. The black clutch. The black tee shirt. The black jacket. Forget the argument of black as a color and realize that black is a staple of most wardrobes. I have a great little black dress from Prada that fits beautifully and has been used for a variety of events. But when I looked in my closet I realized a lack of black bags. I do have a classic Chanel Bag but I am lacking a compact black clutch and a larger black handbag.

I kid you not, I dreamt about a black Hermes Birkin last night. I woke up craving one and questioning whether I should opt for gold hardware or palladium hardware and if 35 cm would be better rather than 30. This year is a great year for investment pieces and a classic Birkin in a color that is classic seems to be a good fit.

But what about some other black pieces? Compact clutches are great evening bags. While they don’t fit much, they provide a great look and fit in your hand ideally. The Anya Hindmarch Patent Box Clutch is marked half off right now and can easily be used season to season. Sleek and snappy, this glossy Anya Hindmarch clutch is a perfect black wardrobe essential. Buy through Net A Porter for $197.50.

I have been loving the vest look as of recent and I found the ultimate black vest. Made of crocodile, the Rick Owens Crocodile Leather Vest sports an asymmetrical peaked hem and a V-neck. Everything about this vest is over the top and even a bit ostentatious but I absolutely love it. I am fairly positive this vest would look silly on most people, including me, but if I would wear this statement piece I would love it. Buy through Net A Porter for $11,415.

Point of this piece, black is essential to all aspects of your wardrobe and crocodile vests are not for everyone. Oh yea, and I should get a black Hermes Birkin.

We’ve been covering quite a few Marc Jacobs bags lately. And while I like to keep things spicy by switching up the designers we cover, I couldn’t help myself. The Marc Jacobs Fresh Heather Clutch caught me eye and I couldn’t NOT write about it. Usually, clutches are my go-to for evening events. It is very rare that I carry a clutch during the day. But this clutch got me thinking - hey, why not?

The blue coated cotton clutch has bold and noticeable goldtone hardware. When I say bold and noticeable I mean that in a good way, not a bad way. Open the front flap and you will find several pockets for any storage needs you may have. The thing I like the most (other than the color)? It would have to be the casual look of the bag. It isn’t over the top but it isn’t really that boring either. While I would definitely use it during the day, there are plenty of situations where carrying it at night would be perfect. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $495.

I’ve been hoping that Saks would start carrying Costume National handbags ever since they began selling their shoes several months ago, and now that I’ve gotten my wish…well, I’m a tad underwhelmed. This particular brand is known for it’s innovative, deconstructed brand of downtown cool, and I can’t help but think that the Costume National Foldover Shoulder Bag is a bit on the safe and blah side for them.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a perfectly serviceable bag. I really like that the shoulder strap is extra wide compared to a lot of single-strap bags, since that’s usually a feature that makes a bag really comfortable and easy-to-carry. So I appreciate the effort on that aspect, and I also appreciate the color. At first look, it’s kind of boring, but I love dark grey and I think more bags need to embrace the color, so I’ll give it a pass. But overall, the feeling I’m getting from this bag isn’t cutting-edge or downtown or young. It’s just kinda meh, and I was really hoping for an innovative and interesting line of handbags to write about. If their entire range of offerings is represented accurately by what’s currently available, I’m more than a little disappointed. Buy through Saks for $990.

Check out Heidi Montag with her LAI Python Pamela [via Bag That Style]

Tory Burch Vintage Metallic Aldwin Clutch [via Purse Blog Savvy]

Victoria Beckham: Look for Less [via The Budget Fashionista]

The latest trend, Studly Vests [via Fab Sugar]

Charriol Bags by Coralie Charriol Paul [via Bag Snob]

Add some volume with Paul Mitchell Round Trip Curl Definer [via Beauty Snob]

Cannes: Another day of gorgeous gowns [via My Fashion Life]

Alexis Bledel’s New Role: Model with IMG [via Off the Rack]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a handbag so desperately while simultaneously having as little use for it as bad as I want and don’t need the Lanvin Liz Pouchette. Just look at it. It’s a sparkly, retro, crystal-encrusted reference to Art Deco and everything that was fabulous about the Roaring 20s. And since I wasn’t born until more than half a century later, I have to things like this to live vicariously through the era’s fabulous, rococo aesthetic.

In all seriousness, folks, I think this bag is pretty perfect. I’m not entirely convinced about the weird sort-of-tassel in the corner, but I think a more literal flower would have been a little too obvious and precious, and what I really like about this bag is it walks the line between fashion and costume really, really well. You wouldn’t have to be dressed as a flapper on Halloween to wear it, but the reference is well-played and people that aren’t devoted fashionistas would probably still understand what it was going for. And isn’t that the ultimate test? Fashion is at least somewhat of a democratic artform, and I think all of my friends would understand just why this little fantasy bag is so completely fabulous. Buy through Barneys for $1900.