What Does Your Handbag Say About You?

Last week, a coworker shared this fabulous article with me: Your Handbag, Your Self. Apparently, the handbag we choose to tote around with us each day is actually fairly telling of our personality type! So now I want to pose the same question to the masses: what type of girl does your handbag say you are? Are you an Upwardly Mobile Do-Gooder, do you strive to be a Lady Who Luxes, or maybe you're the Party Girl?... I implore you to check out the full article and then let me know:

What does your handbag say about you?
&
What kind of handbag do you carry anyway?

Who needs psychological profiling when you have deep fashion questions like this? Please post your comments below, or send me an email! And don't forget to check back for the debriefing next week. I know we'll all be a little bit closer after this.

As always, thank you for your help and valuable style input. Where would I be without you?! XOXO

Image thanks to Daily Candy (www.dailycandy.com).

Get Your Geek On--The Unveiling...

Well, it appears that my dearest fashionista friends know me quite well, for your emails made it clear that option 1 was the right pick for me--and the Canvas Bella Library Cover by Kate Spade is indeed the cover I picked for my brand new Kindle. Made from 100% cotton, this colorful canvas cover features the design of Brooklyn-based artist Bella Foster. The library theme of her illutration is fitting for the electronic library that is a Kindle, which is what ultimately swayed me. And the fact that I was able to find it new on Ebay for half of its retail price--with an added bonus like that, clearly it was meant to be. So now, with my little K fashionably protected, it's time to get reading--for, as printed on the interior of my new Kindle cover, every day tells a new story.

Image: Canvas Bella Library Cover by Kate Spade $85, available at Barnes & Noble (http://www.bn.com/).

Geek Your Geek On, Part 2

When the Kindle first came on the market, I was unsure how I felt about it--conceptually, I mean. As some might know, I tend to fear change, and the idea of an electronic device that replaced the books I have so lovingly collected over time... Well, let's just say I wasn't an immediate fan. However, I soon came to realize the value of such a device. For a speed reader like me (no brag, just fact) who travels with some regularity, books take up an awful lot of room in one's carry-on! Wouldn't it be fabulous to have a tiny little device on which one could store all her reading material? Lolly, meet Kindle. Kindle, meet Lolly.

I became the proud owner of my very own Kindle this past Christmas, and having just finished the mammoth-sized book I was working on for the last few weeks, I have finally begun my journey into the uncharted territory of electronic book reading. But like many fancy electronics, a Kindle ought not be left exposed, in case an unhappy accident might occur--perhaps a clumsy fashionista might accidentally drop it? So my first order of business was to find a case for my little K. Holy decisions! Like the iPad case quest of last post, it seems that Kindle/Nook cases are amongst the newest fashion accessories! In fact, just yesterday I received a Diane von Furstenberg email advertising DVF signature prints exclusively for Kindle. Like I said, geek is chic!

That said, my approach to a Kindle cover was this: If I'm going to have it for a long time, then it should be functional yet fashionable--just like a good handbag. With parameters such as those, let's be serious: Kate Spade is a no-brainer. While Kate Spade covers are actually made for Nooks rather than Kindles (gasp!), I can assure you that your own little K will indeed fit comfortably and securely. The only question is, which cover will it be???Yes, this is a test. And I'm simply dying to know which cover YOU think I picked! So leave your comments below or send me an email--and the result will soon be unveiled! Until then, stay geeky, dearest fashionista friends....

Option 1....

Option 2...

Option 3....

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Kayley Canvas Clutch by Diane von Furstenberg exclusively for Amazon Kindles, $85 each, available online (http://www.dvf.com/); (2) Canvas Bella Library Cover by Kate Spade $85, available from Barnes & Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com); (3) Jane Street Bella Cover in pink/marmalade by Kate Spade $125, also available from Barnes & Noble; (4) Bella Travels Cover by Kate Spade $85, also available from Barnes & Noble.

Get Your Geek On

It isn't often that I feel compelled to rant or rave about technology, but this past holiday season it became hard to ignore that technology is fashionable. I suppose we have Apple to thank for that. It all started years back with the iPod--and I hardly need to fill you in on what happened from there! Suffice it to say, you can now purchase an iPad case from high-end designers like Burberry, Gucci, and Marc Jacobs. I would even go so far as to say that the iPad is amongst the latest and greatest in accessories. The moral of the story: geek is chic.

What does all of this have to do with me, hater of touch-screen technology? Well, I purchased an iPad for my adorable husband this Christmas and have since been haranguing him to get a case for said iPad. It seems he doesn't feel the same sense of urgency to protect his new Apple gear; I, on the other hand, have visions of cracked screens dancing through my head (and need only look to the cracked screen of the very same adorable husband's iPod Touch as evidence). So he finally delegated the purchase of his iPad case to me, and I have subsequently been online window shopping for the perfect marriage of fashion and function. Not that he cares--but I most certainly do.

The winner? Amidst of sea of heavy leather cases and silicone skins emerges Jack Spade's Folio. Made of premium nylon, this portfolio-style brown iPad case is durable, classic, and not even a little bit ostentatious. As far as functionality is concerned, it offers both landscape and portrait viewing, typing position, and two pockets for papers (remember paper?). On the fashionable side of the coin, aesthetic details like the Folio's striped interior and name plate detail are true to Jack Spade's mission of offering men "items that represent both honest, thoughtful design and practical purpose."

As the girl at the Apple store charged me for my purchase (the Jack Spade Folio was made exclusively for Apple) using an iPhone-ish looking handheld device, I was a bit disconcerted by the lack of a check-out counter (call me traditional?). But if it's indeed hip to geek out, I suppose a self-proclaimed fashionista ought to embrace these technological advances rather than shy away from them. And on that note, it may impress you to know that, as of Christmas morning, I have become the proud owner of my very own Kindle (gasp!). Perhaps the time has come to really get my geek on...* You know what they say--when in Rome!

*Psst... More on Kindle style to come! Stay tuned for Get Your Geek On, Part 2!

Image: (1) Tech Silicone Miss Marc iPad Cover in black multi $48 from Marc by Marc Jacobs, available at Endless (http://www.endless.com/); (2) Embossed Check Patent Leather Cover For iPad $475 from Burberry, available from Saks Fifth Avenue (www.saksfifthavenue.com); (3) and (4) Jack Spade Folio for iPad $69.95, available exclusively from Apple (http://store.apple.com/).

Lady Luxe

Remember back in grade school when the new girl immediately sky-rocketed to popularity, leaving all the other girls in her class in a dismal cloud of dust behind her? Well, Lady Luxe is the new girl in my 'hood, and while there isn't much competition, she's still made one hell of entrance!

But maybe I'm getting ahead of myself; allow me to explain... As you may already know, I love love love discovering new boutiques in and around the Boston area. I'm especially partial to vintage and/or consignment shops, which feel like the grown-up version of treasure hunting. You never know what might be hiding on a shelf or rack, and I suppose it's the thrill of the hunt that gets me. Lady Luxe is just this type of shop, and I dare say that part vintage lifestyle and part modern hipster equals one very cute new girl.

I have been meaning to pop into Lady Luxe since I first noticed it last summer. Its location on the Belmont/Cambridge line means that it couldn't be more conveniently located (for me, at least), but I tend to always pass it en route to another destination and just never seem to have a moment to spare! But today was the day. After a rendez vous with some of my very besties, we popped to see what we could see. The sunny vintage shop is bigger than it appears from the street, housing a mix of retro clothing, accessories, and housewares that all possess a suprisingly striking modern appeal.

The treasure on this particular treasure hunt was, without a doubt, an Oscar (de la Renta, to be clear) cap sleeved sheath dress covered in matte finish gold sequins. While it may have been quite literally worth its weight in gold (I kid you not, this dress was heavy!), I'm pretty sure I could have made it look light and effortless. While the price tag of $185 was hardly unreasonable, I had a sneaking suspicion that my adorable husband might disagree with my appraisal so I kept my wallet tucked safely inside my handbag. This time. But I'll be back. After all, who doesn't want to be just as luxe as the new girl?

Psst... If you need to see it to believe it, Lady Luxe is located at 31 Belmont Street in Cambridge, MA--and they're having a sale all through out the month of January! Click here to visit their Facebook page for more details.

All images thanks to Google maps.

Crush On This...

Valentine's Day may still be a month away, but it's never to early to start crushing. Especially when the crush in question is Crush Boutique, a coveted Charles Street fashion destination. When I first stumbled upon the garden level boutique after it opened in 2007, I felt as though I had discovered a hidden gem (literally--as it's partially hidden from the street). The cozy store is home to bold designs, bright colors, and boho/blinged out accessories that you'd be foolish not to crush on.

Like my personal style, my track record at Crush is all over the place, with past purchases ranging from chunky bracelets, to a preppy plaid dress, a hippie chic red peasant top, and dash of designer denim... However, on my most recent shopping excursion, I fell for a more subtle item: a ridiculously soft, burn-out tee in a grey-green that could've been custom made for me (it wasn't). Chatting with store co-owner Rebecca Penner, I learned that Crush had recently received their own branding, and said tee-shirt was just one example. Let me assure you, these girls know their stuff! The tee-shirt had me at hello, but I wasn't in the mood to try it on so Rebecca explained the fit and sizing of their line and suggested wearing my tee under a boyfriend blazer with a pair of heels to dress it up. Priced around $40, it was too versatile (and too soft!!) to turn down. Oh, and did I mention the customer service?

By now, you may be tempted to venture out into the elements in search of your own crush-worthy purchase, but with nearly two feet of snow slamming Boston today, there's no need to go all kamikaze snow bunny! Rather, the girls at Crush have made it easy to stay warm and fashionable with Crush online, their online store that boasts "one-of a kind accessories and unique pieces" that can be yours with the mere click of a mouse. But whenever the snow does finally stop, make some room in your schedule for a Charles Street fashion outing. After all, Valentine's Day is just a month away, and you'll want to be sure that you're looking crush-worthy too...

Images thanks to Crush (www.shopcrushboutique.com).

Smokin' Hot!

Here's a fun fact: The first recorded use of grey as a color name in the English language was in AD 700.* Since then, grey has come to be associated with depression, boredom, neutrality, indefiniteness, old age, and contentment. However, as a gal who loves grey, I can't say that I agree with these rather bleak connotations. Rather, shades of grey overwhelm my closet, and as I've confessed in past weeks, grey has recently overtaken my beauty regime as well--and trust me, it's smokin' hot...

Quite literally, in the case of Smokin' Hot, a new polish from Essie's Winter 2010 collection. At first, I wasn't sure about it; I'm not a huge fan of purple, and its appearance in the bottle had an undeniably purple tone to it. Yet, the Essie website calls this nail color a "stone-cold fox gray that burns hotter than any flame," and when applied to the nails, this smoky grey is truly smoldering. As a styling tip, this color is particularly flattering for those with short, square nails; the look is subtly Parisian chic and--appropriately--smokin' hot.

And not to digress, but grey was all over London during Fashion Week this past fall, both on and off the runway. According to Olivia Bergin from the Daily Telegraph online, Grey [enjoyed] a moment as the versatile shade to perfect tricky, trans-seasonal dressing. I would venture to say that, in addition to smoothing the seasonal transition, grey also transitions rather seamlessly from day to night. It is this very fact that makes grey a staple for the gal on the go. A smart grey dress with opaque black tights and black heels is equally office friendly and dinner worthy (especially when you throw on a bit of smoky shadow en route!). You know what they say: where there's smoke there's fire, and my newly polished grey nails are equal parts versatile and (obvi) smokin' hot.

*Okay, okay, so my "fun fact" is from Wikipedia--so please feel free to correct me in the "comments" section if I'm wrong. From what I hear, the truth will set you free!

Psst... Click here to see more images from Olivia Bergin's "Fashion trend: Shades of grey" at the Daily Telegraph online.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Smokin' Hot nail color by Essie, photo thanks to Essie (www.essie.com); (2) Image from London fashion week, photo thanks to the Daily Telegraph online (http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk).