Splurge of the Week!

This week's Splurge of the Week comes directly off the Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer '09 runways!





Under-flap view


Interior view

If you're a follower of our blog, you'll notice that this bag looks familiar to you. Yes, this bag was seen in our Fashion Week Coverage. This "Amazon Shoulder Bag" by Marc Jacobs definitely seems inspired by a Jungle-esque theme that was all the rage with all MJ designs this season, including those for Louis Vuitton.

This bag definitely exudes a native-like character with its contrasting textures and colours. This metallic leather multi-flapped bag is made of Zebra-print pony hair, snakeskin and suede with leather tassel, padlock and key details. The colourful woven guitar strap inspired sling strap also takes the whole tribal-ethnic vibe to another more 'authentic' level.

Pre-Order this bag from MJ's S/S 09 runway collection for a price of $2,950 via eLuxury today!

Presenting: Marc Jacobs S/S 09 Collection

Presenting: Marc Jacobs S/S 09 Collection

"Born To Be Wild" or "Out of Africa" best describes MJ's collection for S/S 09. Not only do we see LOTS of exotic prints and animal prints, but also wildly mismatched colours!! Besides that, MJ's underlying philosophies in creating this collection, in Bagaholic Babe's opinion, are contrast, textures, and colours. The key shape of the season also seems to be the messenger as well as smaller-sized shoulder slung bags.


Get ready as Marc Jacobs has unleashes the Exotic kingdom unto us, often with a few of them exploding onto just a SINGLE bag!! The key detail of his collection seems to be padlocks and tassles.





I like the this one though... love the touch of red! 

Here, he adds on to his current collection of Quilted bags, are some in messenger style, with padlock and exotic (lizard) skin detailing. A new element to the quilted range would be the ones with sequin details












The Verdict: Well, in Bagaholic Babe's opinion, MJ is trying to do too much with this collection! There really isn't a thread that binds the collection together as a WHOLE.

The quilted bags are more classic looking, whilst the ones with sequin details and rope straps may add a touch of glam and sparkle to your outfit.

The multi-flapped bags with contrasted textures and exotic skins with exotic skinned tassels all in one just prove to be too much for my liking! I mean, pony hair + lizard skin + python + suede + leather all in ONE bag?! It may be fine if it's in one colour, but all those details and textures PLUS contrasting colours and tassels all in ONE bag is just well, an eyesore. One really doesn't know where to look and what to focus on when you lay your eyes upon it because there is just TOO MUCH going on! However, one thing I do not doubt with all the exotic combinations is well.... the price tag, of course! Just using one type of exotic skin already costs a bomb... imagine the use of 3-4 AT ONCE..!

The New Gucci Babouska Bag

Introducing the new Gucci Babouska line - inspired by the Russian Babooshka doll (also known as the stacking doll) or in this instance, more precisely, the Dedoushka doll - a male stacking doll with moustache. If you already know what I'm talking about, you'll see the similarity in the tassels that appear on each and every bag. Doesn't it look like moustache to you? What about the studs? Don't they resemble the Dedouska doll?

This post features three designs from the Babouska line. All three have the signature heart-shaped Gucci crest charms, detachable shoulder straps, snap and push-lock closures and inside zip and cell phone pockets on it except for the style of each one - which is unique to itself.

First up..

Gucci Large Babouska Hobo $2,495.00

A soft leather style accented with matching suede trim, fringe detail and stud accents, antique brass hardware and a single top strap..

Next..

Gucci Large Babouska Hobo $2,295.00

A hobo in the same style but this time, with the ever-so-famous GG print fabric that comes accented with leather trimming and a suede fringe. You'll also find stud details, brass hardware and like the one before, a single top strap.

Last but not least..

Gucci Medium Babouska Heart Bag $2,495.00

A medium sized Babouska bag in the shape of a heart! Comes with fringe and stud accents, antique brass hardware and double handles..


Am really liking the large Hobo with the signature GG print. Absolutely love the tassels. Love the GG print as well. And most importantly, the black tassels goes really well with the color and print of the bag and you'll never miss a moustache on THAT one!

Check these out and the rest of the Babouska line via Saks Fifth Avenue or visit Gucci today..

Bargain of the Week!

This week's Bargain of the Week is not really of the bag sort. Instead, this week's bargain is a beautiful jewellery box with a black-and-white flower printed motif.





Personally, Bagaholic Babe loves anything with black-and-white together, but perhaps not really on bags but on clothes instead. I just love the artsy modern floral prints and motifs (but I am not a fan of the 'country-ish' small flower motif vibe...what I call the 'Laura Ashley' or 'Little House on the Prairie' effect, lol)! ;)

With tassel details on the front, this printed jewellery box retails for just £8 via Asos . Forget bargain, this is definitely a steal!!

The Lancel Collection

If you've yet to hear of the brand Lancel, let me introduce you this Parisian accessory brand that offers lots and lots of beautiful pieces.

The birth of this brand name came about in the 1870's. The family business started off producing pipes and smoking accessories moving on to capitalise on the economic boom of the Second Empire in 1883 - producing its first leather goods atelier in Paris. One of the very first bags ever produced included the 'Black Silk' handbag made in the 1900s.



In 1987, the 'Elsa Bucket Bag' was created - making the bag the signature item by Lancel with a sale of over 3 million pieces.

Coming such a long way, Lancel celebrated its 130th anniversary last year with the opening of its store at the most beautiful avenue in the world - Champs-Elysées.




This prestigious new boutique tells the story of a brand, which - 130 years later - continues to influence the fashion of its time. Innovation, quality and creation - the inspiration that still remains to date.

To give you a better idea of the brand name, I've included, for you, some of my favorites..





I simply love the fact that most of the bags have tassels - especially the first bucket bag shown.

If you're liking what you see and would like to find out more, head on to Lancel today.

Lancel (pronounced 'Lon-sell' is available in Malaysia at Star Hill Gallery, and Suria KLCC

Splurge of the Week!

It's been a while since we've featured anything Gucci on our blog, so this week's Splurge of the Week features a Gucci 'Indy' Bag from this year's Fall/Winter Collection.


Large Indy Bag in Patent

Soon becoming Gucci's latest 'It' Bag since it appeared on the runway last year, (and yes that includes scores of replicas of this bag out there (-- in Malaysia, it's at Vincci too!!), this Fall/Winter sees the 'Indy' Bag being available in bronze Patent leather with the Indy trademark details - the foldover top with metal plate and tassel details. This bag is also available in Medium size, but I prefer the large because the Medium has red tassels instead. The Large size, on the other hand, featured above, comes with black tassels, thus giving the bag a touch of class and a more expensive look. Available for $2490 via Neiman Marcus, Bagaholic Babe is Loving this!

Moschino Metallic Shoulder Bag

Made of Multicolour metallic leather in shades of Silver and Grey, this Bugaffin Metallic Shoulder Bag by Moschino is the epitome of the Fall/Winter Season. The complementary frosty metallic colours is definitely the understated F/W bag of the season. So, if you still haven't found your perfect Fall/Winter Bag, then this is for you. Don't fret about the shelf-life of Metallics just yet, as Metallics are still very 'in' this Fall/Winter Season, as well as for next Spring/Summer 2008. So, at the very least, this bag should last you for 2 seasons. Oh and in Bagaholic Babe's opinion, the tassels is the key detail that just makes the bag. Try to imagine how the bag would look like without the tassels and nah, it just wouldn't look the same. Plus, the zippered frame top gives the bag a semi-structured look so the bag just won't look like a collapsible heap of leather when you put it down.

Interested? This bag is also available in shades of frosty Bronze. Get this Bugaffin Metallic Shoulder Bag for $1,395 via Neiman Marcus

Presenting: Marc Jacobs S/S '08 Collection

Presenting: Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer Collection 2008
(Images via Style)

We're all used to seeing Marc Jacobs and his quilted leather structured bags more often than not, and for most of us, that sort of look has become synonymous with the designer himself, his trademark look. For Marc Jacobs's Spring/Summer '08 Collection, as shown at Olympus Fashion Week this week, there seems to be much less quilted leather bags. Instead, Marc Jacobs's usually simple and functional-looking bags have taken an interesting twist, in terms of both colour and design. For his S/S'08 Collection, transparency seems to be a key theme, as we saw oversized quilted frame purses with Granny Purse Kiss-Lock Closures attahed onto square netted (hence, transparent) totes with leather trims (that look a little Hermes-like on top). This season, Marc Jacobs also experiments with floral prints, and bright flourescent, psychedelic colours, especially for his Evening Clutches. Oh perhaps yet another key theme for MJ's S/S '08 Collection is Amphibians, as most of his bags sport Amphibian (or baby frog) detailed Closures.



















The Verdict: Bagaholic Babe doesn't really like MJ's Day bags for this Collection (except maybe for the first bag above). The floral bag with the extremely long tassels draping down from the frame bag leaves me speechless. In fact when I first saw that, it reminded me of the Limited Edition Louis Vuitton Monogram Multicolore Bucket Bag with the suede and leather fringe trimmings from the 2005 Collection, which was also designed by MJ himself. Ok, enough about what I don't like in this collection. Let's move on to things I absolutely Love! If given the chance, I'd love to get the Evening Clutches with the Gold frog closure in every single colour and material available! Love all the bright flourescent colours! Pair it with your standard LBD and you will definitely funk up your look. A definite statement bag and a great conversation starter too!

Bargain of the Week!

This Week's Bargain of the Week is the Drawstring Hobo Bag from the Red by Marc Ecko Collection. If you don't wanna splurge on Exotic skins which are 'in' this season, but would still love to own something that looks like it belongs to the Exotic skins category, this bag is perfect because it's made of python-print PVC. So there you have your 'Python' bag without burning a hole in your pocket! Brilliant isn't it? Plus, it has that summery vibe that can take you from shopping right to the beach! It's available in Turquoise and white (shown above), Brown and white and Black and white. Get this for just $59.00 via Macys

Prada Zebra Haircalf Tote from Runway Collection '07

Being a fan of Animal Prints, it's no wonder why Bagaholic Babe picked this...



Made of Zebra Printed Dyed Haircalf with Leather Topstitching and Tassels, the Cavallino Stampato Zebra Oro Tote by Prada comes with a detachable crossbody strap so you can have the option of carrying the Tote on your shoulder or Messenger Style. Like most of Prada's latest Collections, it has a stencil cutout logo Plaque with 'Prada Milano' emblazoned on it - the very same stencilled logo plaque that is found on Prada's "Tessuto Oro" Collection. If you're looking for a Splurge, get this for $2,460 via Neiman Marcus Online


Note: Due to high demand, a customer may order no more than 3 pieces in 30 days.

Tods Boomerang Bag

This 'Boomerang' Sacca Media Bag by Tods is the purpoted 'It' Bag of the brand's Spring-Summer 2007 Collection. Made of porcelain textured leather with tassel detail, this bag is definitely simple, but yet classy. It looks as if Tods is moving away from their signature functional-looking multipocket bags into a more design-friendly arena, but still keeping to the brand's functionality aspect. Perhaps this change in direction towards more fashionable looking bags is due to the injection of Young Blood - with Derek Lam as Tod's newly appointed Creative/Artistic Director (in other words, Head Designer). This bag can be pre-ordered for $1,375 from Saks

Click here to view another fashionable bag by Tods

Newsflash - Latest Celeb Craze: Moni Moni Handbags

This hot new brand is so HOT that they are on backorders! Moni Moni is now officially arm candy on the Celeb Circuit as we see many celebs toting Moni Moni Bags that they are so IN LOVE with. Could this be the new IT Bag? Could this be the New Balenciaga replacement?


3 Designs are hot favourites among Celebrities - The Splendor, the Shopper and the Eden.



Paris Hilton with the Moni Moni 'Splendor' Satchel


Jessica Alba with the Moni Moni 'Eden'



Michelle Trachtenberg of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with the Moni Moni 'Shopper'


Moni Moni Handbags: designed by Cinzia Monaci

After graduating from the University of Turin in Literature and Communications, Cinzia won a scholarship to study arts in Lyon, France and attended journalism courses at the Sorbonne University of Paris where she collaborated with several fashion and entertainment publications. She moved to Los Angeles in 1997 where she continued to correspond for European magazines, collaborated with In Style, and started her own business supplying major department stores with Italian name brand fashion goods. In 2002 she won a scholarship in Fashion Business at FIDM in Los Angeles and started designing her own line of handbags. Moni Moni International, Inc. was founded in early 2004 and is now sold in many boutiques around the country and around the world.


All Moni Moni Bags are handcrafted in Italy. Made of selected dyewash Italian leather that is dyed and then pre-washed to make them look shaded and patinated. Some irregular marks may occur as a result of this very particular proces; these should not be considered imperfections. If cared for properly, this bag will only get better with time. Super soft and Large. Dust Bag included. Some Bags come with a detachable Shoulder Strap.



If you wanna get your hands on one, Now's your chance. You can only get them from ONE PLACE only. Get it from ADASA . The 'Eden' retails for $525, while the 'Splendor' retails for $435. Bagaholic Babe loves the 'Splendor'.
(Info from ADASA, Photos from WhatCelebsWear)

Dolce & Gabanna 'Miss Loop' Tote

D&G 'Miss Loop' Tote

This Dolce & Gabanna ‘Miss Loop’ Tote in Dark Chocolate-y brown Celtic leather with goldtone hardware and oversized studs looks good enough to eat! It’s Uber classy, And…it’s big enough to hold your favourite fashion magazine too! Get Dolce & Gabanna’s ‘Miss Loop’ for $1325 from Bergdorf Goodman Online