Day 13: Structured Handbags

Hello Divas!

 

Only two more days to Thanksgiving?  What are you thankful for?  Me?  A whole lot! 

 

Chamele and Day 13 is all about the classic structured handbag. Love it!

 

This season find us lusting after retro looks, below-the-knee hoop 50's dresses and structured handbags. I found several structured handbags which struck my fancy- Prada, Fendi, Dooney & Burke. None of them in my budget, however. Despite what you have heard, people are still in a recession.   Because I am on a serious budget, I have found some comparable structured handbags that will work for this season's trend. Here is a side note about the structured handbag: should you choose to invest in one, the classic style will last ages, so the investment would be worth your while.

 

Of the more affordable structured handbags that I have seen, Aldo's Cyphert is the most popular. The Cyphert is a hard-bottom bag with a magnetic enclosure,  sturdy handle, and long shoulder strap attached with gold hardware. The top of the bag contains a smart tassel that hangs over the side when you close the bag. Despite the the fact that the Cyphert is synthetic and not real leather, it is a super attractive buy and no wonder that it has been popping up in the pages of Glamour and Lucky magazines. The Cyphert is versatile, professional and affordable. The Cyphert comes in black, beige, and rust. The classic style and classic colors make it a purse for the ages. You can purchase the Cyphert at aldoshoes.com for  $ 45.00.

 

I am not a big antiquer, but I have been on the hunt for some classic pieces to furnish my home. On a recent trip to the 14th Street Antiques Market, I ran across a variety of settees, barrel back chairs and Eighteenth century chaises that I liked. I was only looking for furniture and what did I find in a display room????  An entire room full of structured handbags, many of which were black, with gold hardware. The display was by PerSe, an antiques dealer who concentrates on finding and reselling antique handbags. Wow! I hadn't even thought about it until I was shopping for furniture, but perhaps the best places to find affordable and authentic structured handbags were in antiques shops. 

 

I ran across this one for $165.00 by Tarkor.  

 

Wowed by the display, I took a trip to the PerSe' website. Many of the pieces in the 14th Street Antiques Market were not on the PerSe' webiste, but I did find another number that caught my eye, this Blonde Gator for $405.00. 

 Until Tomorrow, 

Chamele

Modcloth: Elegant Sweaters

Hello Divas!

I hope your week is blessed!

Chamele loves Modcloth and now I am a fan.  Check out her latest find from the online shop.  This is perfect for the fall/winter season!

Day 26

The  A Touch of Grace sweater from Modcloth is appropriately named. Graceful and  equally classy, the epaulette style shoulders and cozy heather gray oatmeal fabric give the sweater its name.  Any woman wearing it will exude grace. The pocket on the left breast gives the romantic a slight preppy feel. With a string of pearls and a pencil skirt you can wear this number to work and then switch to jeans and boots later to make your evening date. I have a confession, although the sweater is  on my wish list, I have already purchased it and  thoroughly enjoyed wearing it. Only having received it two weeks ago, I have worn it three times already.  I would buy another like it in a heartbeat. You can purchase it from Modcloth for 59.99.

a_touch_of_grace__5999_modcloth.jpg 35K   View   Download

Modcloth: Inspired Vintage Shopping!

Hello Divas!

Remember to always be thankful for EVERYTHING!  Thankfulness and graciousness leads to many blessings!

Chamele is back with Day 28 within her 30days of Luxe Tips! Check it out!

 

I was not quite prepared for what I saw at Modcloth during my daily perusal of the site. I had just passed over a nude a-line sleeveless sheath at Urban Outfitters, hopeful that it would hit the sale rack before my birthday.  Then, I saw the one. You know,  that perfect purchase that will trump all others you might make for the month, or perhaps even for the year.  Almost like your first love, it brings instant gratification upon first sight.

The Effervescent Evening Dress is a slighter darker shade of peach than the nude Urban Outifitter's dress I first had in mind.  Also an a-line, the Effervescent Evening Dress  has the sexiest  slit down the center of the spine. I did a back- test  sitting and standing. (We make no purchases without practice.) The slit should hit on what is perhaps the smallest part of the back; in other words no wardrobe malfunctions.  The real icing on the cake are the embellished shoulders reminiscent of old Hollywood.  Lights, camera, action!  You will definitely feel like a star in this dress.

 

Until tomorrow,

 

Chamele

Effervescent Evening Dress Modcloth 7999.jpg 20K   View   Download