The Search for the Perfect Bag

Handbags are probably my least favorite accessory to purchase and, sadly, I am in desperate need of a new one. My last go-to bag was purchased in London in 2007 at New Look, which is basically a British Forever 21 equivalent. Nevertheless, this was a fantastic black doctor bag that was loaded with roomy pockets, chic stitching details, and versatile handles. It also constantly garnered approval from strangers. So, I am now in the market for a new bag. I need something that travels well, something that can handle a lot of wear and tear (my trusty New Look bag survived nearly three years and two big cross-Europe trips), and something that is unique. I've really been favoring cross-body bags as of late, so that's probably what I'll concentrate on.

Here are a few looks from Gap, Inc./ Piperlime that are either top contenders for the role of New Bag, or are indicative of what I'm looking for:

I really love this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, but it's inconceivable for me to spend $400 on a handbag. If I can buy round trip airfare to London for not much more, I'm definitely not spending it on a purse. No way, no how.

This Rebecca Minkoff cross-body bag has everything I'm looking for in a new carryall. The only problem, again, is the price. These are the details that I would want a prospective bag to have, though.

I kind of like this mustard-yellow cross-body bag from Nine West. The only problem I can see is that it is predominantly nylon, and I'm not sure if a nylon bag can truly go the distance.

This mini chain bag from Banana Republic obviously couldn't be my new multi-purpose, go-to bag, but I'm strangely drawn to it. This bag would be so much fun for nights out, dressy dinners, cocktails, etc.

I haven't bought a handbag from the Gap since high school, but this two-tone coated canvas bag has real potential. The bag also possesses more uptown elegance than its small price tag would suggest.

(** all images from piperlime.gap.com and gap.com**)

America's Favorite Cities

Travel + Leisure wants to know what America's favorite cities are. For the magazine's annual survey, you can rate your favorite city on everything from the quality of its cultural and historical monuments to the abundance of its microbreweries or farmers' markets. You can even rate the city based on the attractiveness and friendliness of its inhabitants. The 35 cities include standards like New York, D.C., Chicago, and Boston along with smaller noteworthy gems like Philadelphia, Providence, Savannah, and Seattle. I only took the survey for three cities: New York, D.C., and Chicago since these are the American cities that I have spent the most time in. How did I rate these cities?

Well, New York received high marks for the diversity and stylishness of its residents, but loooooow marks for the friendliness of said residents. If you've ever been temporarily lost in New York and tried to ask for directions, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Of course the city received the highest scores in categories like neighborhood joints, luxury stores, vintage boutiques, nightlife, and cultural attractions. I gave it low marks for cleanliness (after Rome, New York is without a doubt the dirtiest city I've ever visited) and ease of public transportation. I have an easier time getting around Warsaw than I do New York.

How did our nation's capital fare? Well, I gave D.C. high marks for the quality of its historical monuments (obviously!), cleanliness, ease of public transportation, the intelligence of its inhabitants (yes, that was a category...a category in which L.A. always comes in last), the quality/ abundance of classical music venues, and the access to outdoor parks and recreation. I was unsure of the friendliness and stylishness of the inhabitants. Traditionally, D.C. is where fashion comes to die, but that's been changing recently, so I was optimistic.

Chicago generally received middle-of-the-road marks from me, mainly since I haven't visited in a few years. I didn't think I had a valid opinion in many categories like noteworthy neighborhoods, singles bars, and public transportation (I've always walked or gotten around via taxi). I did give Chicago high marks for the quality of its museums, ethnic restaurants, skyline, and friendliness of inhabitants.

How would you rate our nation's cities? Take the survey at http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2010 and watch for the official results in the December 2010 issue of T+L!

*The* International Best Dressed List

It's that time of year, fashion-followers! Time for the release of Vanity Fair's illustrious International Best Dressed List. Fear not, if you haven't cast your vote yet. I just cast mine today. Since the entries for men weren't too exciting, I'll just fill you in on who my choices among the nominated/ listed females were.

Charlotte Casiraghi. She has style, she has grace. Oh, and she also has enough money to buy anything she wants, so the sky is the limit.

Of course I voted for my personal style icon: Charlotte Gainsbourg!

Maggie Gyllenhaal, one of the true fashion originals in Hollywood. She always manages to wear something new and exciting.

First Lady Michelle Obama. Not since Jackie O has a first lady generated so much attention in the fashion department. New York Magazine also tracks her every look.

Vogue's Lauren Santo Domingo. Alexandra Kotur has her as a perennial favorite for her best dressed list. It's only a matter of time before the LSD takes over Vanity Fair's list as well. Let's face it, she was born to be a style icon.

Carey Mulligan is another exciting fashion risk-taker. Plus, I loooove her short hair. It's tough pulling off hair that short, but she carries it off flawlessly.

I've made my picks! Who are yours?

(** all images from Google**)

London Design Museum Goodies

I'm a complete sap for museum gift shops. I often visit the gift shop before entering the museum. One of my favorite museum gift shops is the Design Museum in London, where a veritable treasure trove of artistic books, posters, and knick knacks can be found. Here are a few samples of the goodies currently for sale:

"This is London" vintage children's book. The book may be geared toward children, but who doesn't love bold, vintage photos of one's favorite city?

Hussein Chalayan poster. Imagine how this artwork could brighten the walls of your home office!

A book of 100 post cards of different Penguin book covers- perfect for your literary best friend.

Psychogames- the board game that allows any family member to play Freud at the next gathering. Perfect conversation-starters for Thanksgiving!

The Design Museum Birdie Badge. What a wonderful way to show your loyalty to the Design Museum while making a fun fashion statement at the same time! At only 2.50 GBP, it's hard to pass up.

The "I'm from here" t-shirt is ideal for your best Aussie pal.

Check out the Design Museum's gift shop website at http://designmuseumshop.com/ for more fantastic artistic gifts.

Irregular Choice

No trip to London could be complete without a visit to my favorite shoe store, Schuh. The gigantic flagship store is located right across the street from the Oxford Circus tube stop in Central London. If you truly love unique, original shoes, you need not look further than Schuh. In addition to carrying their own brand of shoes (my personal favorite), they carry lines like Rocket Dog, Iron Fist, Fly London, and perhaps the most eclectic of them all, Irregular Choice.

What makes Irregular Choice so special is that each pair is highly unusual, unique, and whimsical. Sometimes the designs are wacky and difficult to wear, but other styles are statement pieces that can make an outfit come to life. I always try on a pair, but never end up buying them. The price, especially back when the pound was trouncing the dollar, is a bit high when one considers that the shoes are not everyday pieces. Eighty to one hundred pounds is a bit to spend on a pair of shoes one might only wear a few times. But, then again, when a pair of shoes can so radically transform an outfit, perhaps they are wise investments?

See for yourself:

If you remove the detachable doll pom-pom, I actually think this is an extremely wearable shoe, one that I wouldn't mind owning, in fact. I love the cuff and the thick heel, which keep the shoe from looking tawdry. Also, the paint splotches keep a round-toe shoe from looking too retro.

I would love to see this shoe worn with dark opaque tights and a structured skirt for an interesting feminine/edgy look.

I'm not completely sold on the color palette of this shoe, but I still think it could make an interesting statement. The bow in the front of the shoe might even make it conservative enough for the office.

The "Toodle Loo Bar Baby Doll" heels are probably the most unusual and whimsical of any Irregular Choice shoes I came across at Schuh. The baby doll on the front of the shoe is way too cutesy for my taste (and not formal enough for my usual wardrobe), but worn on the right girl with the right clothing, this could be a stand-out look. Anyone brave enough to try them?

This is one of my favorite pairs because I love the ornate details. I think these shoes would look fantastic with black tights, thus increasing their wear-ability in my closet.

Here's another favorite, mostly because I've been wearing low heels and flats lately. I love the design on this shoe, the t-strap construction, and the stubby heel. If only Schuh shipped to the U.S. *Sigh*

(**images found at schuh.co.uk**)

"Flat Out" or "Full Throttle?"

It turns out that Sarah Mower and I have something else in common in addition to our obsessive love for fashion: we are both extremely flat-chested. In this month's issue of Vogue, Mower and Vogue beauty editor Catherine Piercy casually debated the benefits/ drawbacks of being flat-chested versus top-heavy, and how both body types make it easier or more difficult to wear certain styles.

I immediately identified with Mower, who wrote about the difficulty of finding bras to properly fit her 36AA size. Now, I've never purchased a "grown-up" bra, so I have no idea what these sizes mean, but I'm deducing that 36AA is an obscure size. So, this would definitely be a negative point for the small-chested ladies: difficulty of finding undergarments. I would recommend that Ms. Mower do what I do when in need of new undergarments: seek out the children's department in stores like Nordstrom. I bought six adorable children's bras there for under $20. Granted, I shopped alongside elementary school girls, but I found exactly what I needed. We flat-chested women certainly can't shop at Victoria's Secret, but we can find pretty, utilitarian pieces.

While we may have trouble finding bras that fit, Mower was quick to point out that we have far more style options than our bustier counterparts. Not only do flat-chested women look "chicer and younger" (Mower's words, not mine!), we can get away with wearing frilly tops and blouses, bandeaux tops, halter necks, and asymmetrical necklines with ease and grace. There's no doubt about it: small-chested women can pull off looks that would be downright offensive or vulgar on fuller body types. Perhaps this is why thin models (who tend to have small chests) tend to be most prolific on the runway? There are simply far more clothing options.

On the other hand, there are styles that we flat-chested women can simply not wear, or not wear as well as more shapely women. Strapless tops and dresses just look ill-proportioned on flat-chested women. They are also extremely difficult to wear and leave the wearer quite self-conscious. I had to wear a strapless bridesmaid dress once and were it not for the detachable shoulder straps, I might have needed to staple the dress to my chest to keep it from falling down. And, let's face it, shapelier women do look sexier in certain looks.

So, which body type is more conducive to fashion: flat-chested or "full throttle?" Because body type is so much a part of our identity, as Mower points out, I'm partial to the merits of the flat-chest. I think in this case, though, to each her own!

(** both images from Google**)

Harper's Bazaar Goes Shallow, Way Shallow

I didn't think there was anything noteworthy about the August issue of Harper's Bazaar except, perhaps, that it produced the most insipid, shallow, and ridiculous article I have ever read. I am referring to Simon Doonan's little piece entitled "Eat, Shop, Love," which was meant to be a spin-off of the blockbuster travel memoir (and soon-to-be-released movie) "Eat, Pray, Love." Simon Doonan has made an entire career out of being shallow and annoying, so I'm not sure why I'm surprised he produced this dribble. If you haven't bought the issue (Don't!!), or if your subscriber's issue hasn't arrived yet, I'll fill you in on what you should definitely miss.

First, Elizabeth Gilbert's travel memoir was about taking a chance, improving one's life, finding deeper meaning in life, and self discovery. I think all of those values are admirable and certainly worth pursuing. In order to achieve this state of self-actualization, she ventured around the world for a year, stopping in three different countries with three different missions. She ate copious amounts of food in Italy. She took part in a silent retreat at the ashram in India. And she, well, met a hot Brazilian in Bali. All of these findings or experiences enriched her life in some way.

Simon Doonan's recommendations on achieving a similar state of enlightenment and fulfillment? Well, he substituted "shop" for "pray," so that should tell you something right there. His advice is to shop instead of travel and thus seek true fulfillment and enlightenment. "Shopping is easy, life affirming, and life enhancing," he writes. "Instead of going deep, why not go shallow?" I'd have to agree with him there- anyone who truly believes his/her life can be improved or fulfilled through shopping is indeed a shallow person. As for shopping being an activity that is "life affirming," well, that might be one of the most absurd things I have ever heard. He also writes that you don't have to spend "a whole bunch of moola" if you go the shopping route as opposed to the traveling route. Um, how do you purchase that crap at the mall if not with money, Simon? Riddle me that one!

Doonan's silly, shallow article represented the nails on the coffin for my Bazaar subscription. He can find enlightenment in a mall; I'll find it in Kyoto.

(** image from http://static-p3.fotolia.com/jpg/00/03/27/92/400_F_3279299_i2zsletm9XvRqrk8NOvST0k8VX4Jh5.jpg)