Coach Poppy Red Patent Book Tote

So... a few weeks ago, I was totally jonesing for this Coach bag here. Unfortunately, I didn't end up buying it, and it sold out really fast :-( However, not to fear, because my obsession with handbags, Coach, and the color red are all alive and well and last week, I came home with this baby here:

Coach Poppy Red Patent Book Tote


(I got the red, but here's a side view in black)


Umm... can you say love at first sight??? It has all the requirements that I'm essentially looking for in a bag. Plus, as much as I love sequins everywhere, it makes it a tad difficult for me to carry a sequined bag for everyday use, so this is perfect. In addition to the to-die-for color, it is also SUPER roomy on the inside -- it has TWO zipper pockets, and THREE slit pockets!! Also, the exterior has two side pockets and one zip pocket.



And, if that wasn't enough, the double straps are long enough to wear over my shoulder. But, if I get lazy and decide I want to wear it as a messenger too, I can do that:



Plus, the long strap is removable, so if I ever decide I don't like the way it looks, I can just as easily take it off. The thing that really won me over though, is the patent leather. I am a huuuuuge patent leather fan. I know lots of people aren't too keen on it, but I always think, the shinier and slicker, the better! Plus, I live in the Northeast, which has quite possibly the most unpredictable weather in the world. This morning, it was raining cats and dogs... and right now, it is bright and sunny outside. It would kinda suck for me to get caught in a monsoon with a sequined bag. However, with patent leather, I could really care less because I won't run home and immediately start bawling because I think I've ruined my bag. Total win-win for me!!

I've been using my new tote for over a week now, and I love it. I am adding this one to the permanent handbag rotation :-)

DO WANT: Coach Poppy Red Sequin Spotlight

I first saw the promotional pictures for the Coach Poppy line back in January or something like that. When I saw the bag that was featured, I nearly shit myself -- it was gorgeous!! Fast forward to today, and I find out that it is called the Red Sequin Spotlight (also comes in black sequins and silver sequins). Check this baby out:



Umm... can you say love at first sight?? I normally don't like hugely flashy bags -- I tend to be a little more conservative with my handbags. But, there is something about this bag that just screams "BUY ME!" First of all, it is red, one of my favorite colors! Also, it is blingy and just flashy enough without being overly gaudy. It is also the perfect size -- large enough to fit everything I need, but not so big that it overwhelms my small frame. It also has a ton of pockets and compartments, which is *perfect* for a packrat like myself. I WANT!!

When the Poppy line first came out a few months ago, I was heartbroken to find out this bag was not part of the initial collection. Well, technically it was, but only the silver, and I am dying for the red. I just found out recently that red is being released in late September!! This baby will be mine soon enough... oh yes, it will!! For anyone else drooling over this bag, the Sequin Spotlight retails for $398 and will be available in stores and online at www.coach.com.

DO WANT: Balenciaga Pommier City

Two of my favorite things in the world have combined this season to create the Holy Grail of all handbags -- the Balenciaga Pommier City! Isn't she a beauty??


Balenciaga bags are known for using the softest, smooshiest leather known to man. The leather is thick, but soft. It is "veiny" and with use, the leather starts to look even more amazing. Every season, they come out with a different palette of delicious colors for their handbags. For Autumn/Winter 2009, one of their new colors is Pommier. It is a gorgeous deep/medium saturated green.

The City is probably the most popular style from Balenciaga. It is a medium-sized satchel with a detachable hobo strap. It is large enough to fit everything you need, but it is small enough to be a manageable size for everyday use. The bags are very lightweight as well. I am lucky enough to own an 09 Sanguine City:



I love love love my Sanguine City! She is the most gorgeous shade of red, and has been broken in quite nicely. I am super anal about the maintenance of my handbags, so once a season, she gets conditioned with Apple Garde Leather Moisturizer, and she gets sprayed with a water/stain repellent.

Now, you are probably wondering why ANYONE would want or need the same bag in different colors. I wish I had an answer that didn't make people look at me like I had six heads. Honestly, no one NEEDS more than one. Honestly, people don't even need one. However, there are some hardcore BBag fans out there who collect hard-to-find colors and styles. I've seen some women own dozens of Citys, all in different colors! Sometimes, I will come across a BBag on eBay or elsewhere that is actually selling for more than its retail price, because they are a retired color! So yes, there are definitely some people out there who are overly passionate about their handbags (and my friends thought *I* was bad!).

But, unfortunately, for me, one will have to suffice for now. After all, this gal has got a mortgage to pay!

If you want to find out more about Balenciaga, you can find them at most high-end department stores, like Neiman Marcus, Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf, etc. Selection varies by store. The only place near me that carries Balenciaga is Barney's, so I have to buying mine online, since Barney's only seems to carry the boring colors, like black, white, etc. The City retails for about $1400 (yes, you read that correctly), but can be more if there is specialty hardware on it :-)

Gimme Some Marc Jacobs Please!

I am a complete and total handbag whore. That's the best way I can describe it. My collection spans many brands and styles. I change handbags at least once a week, sometimes more often than that. I don't try to match them to my outfits or anything. Sometimes I'll be in the handbag room (yes, there's a room) and I'll spot one that I haven't carried in a while and then feel an overwhelming urge to dump all my stuff into that one and start carrying it immediately!

Lately, I have really been into Marc by Marc Jacobs. I already own a few, and I really like them. The leather is nice and soft and has that "smooshy" quality I love. But, it is also thick and I don't have to worry about beating it up, like I do with my Balenciagas. I have been on a quest for a few months now for my next MbMJ purchase.

When it comes to handbags, I've owned enough in my lifetime to know what kind of bag I like and what features I look for. For me, it is the following:

• Must be big enough to carry all my shit. And let me just say, I have a lot of shit. Small bags just don't cut it!
• Pockets on the inside. When you carry a lot of stuff, easy access to your most important items (keys, wallet, phone, etc.), is essential. Preferably, there is a zipper compartment on the inside and at LEAST one additional slit pocket, but preferably two.
• Must be wide enough on the bottom so that the bag stands up on its own. I do own a few hobos, but they are not me. I am much more of a satchel and tote gal.
• Should be able to be worn as a shoulder bag or a handbag. A big plus for me when it can be both. Detachable straps are acceptable.

At a minimum, those are a few of the features I like my bags to have. Granted, I am willing to forsake a few here or there for some beloved brands. But, in an ideal world, all my bags have the above features.

With that being said, I narrowed down my options to a few and shopped around for a few months:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Sondra

Cute bag, love the barrel shape. Reminds me of the LV Papillon (but cuter). Detachable strap is a plus. The thing I didn't really dig is that when the long strap is being worn, the short straps droop down further than the bottom of the bag. That bugged me. Yeah, I'm that picky sometimes.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Groovee

This is probably the essential MbMJ bag, and I wanted it bad. Except that I already own a Groovee. It is a tad different from this one because it is from an older season. The leather on mine is smooth, not pebbled. Also, mine is bright green, so it just screams, "Look at me!"

Marc by Marc Jacobs City

Awesome bag -- doesn't look like anything else I own. My beef was that the base was too narrow and the bag is too tall. So, unless you have a 16" piece of cardboard inside of it at all times, you couldn't put the bag down because it would fall over. Annoying, to say the least.

After all that, I had just about given up on finding my next MbMJ when I came across the *perfect* bag!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Hatty

Perfection! It has everything I was looking for, PLUS it is the most gorgeous shade of blue. It was waiting to greet me at my doorstep when I got home from work today and it was love at first sight. Totes loves!!! I can't wait to try this baby out! But, it won't be this week -- probably next :-)