Archive for the ‘Tips and Quips’ Category

Purse Storage Options

January 13th, 2012 | Tips and Quips

Now that you’ve purged your purse collection we can think about how to store your purses in a way that you can see what you have and get to it easily. Everyone’s space is different but luckily there are lots of options for purse storage. Click on any picture for more information.

If you don’t have much space, hanging bags on the back of a door is a good option. These can usually hold 8-10 bags and can handle a substantial amount of weight.

purse-storagepurse-storage

If you have some space on your clothes rack, either of these could work for you. They don’t hold larger purses but can hold several small to medium sized ones.

Purse storagepurse-storage

If you have shelf space to spare, you just need some structure to keep things together. Consider one of these small, lightweight shelving units where you can stack purses or line them up side-by-side.

Purse storage

If these pre-made options don’t fit your space or budget, get creative! I’ve heard of someone mounting hooks all over her bedroom wall and hanging a purse from each, which makes your purses easy to get to and also displays them as art. Or use a coat rack or wall-mounted coat hook to hang your purses. Whatever you decide, organizing and storing your purses helps to protect them so you can enjoy them for years.

Alexander Wang Rocco at Unclaimed Baggage

January 5th, 2012 | Tips and Quips

Have you heard of the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama? This very interesting store located not far from my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee buys unclaimed or lost luggage from major airlines and then sorts and sells whatever they find. Much of the store is what you’d expect: clothes, books, i-pods, cameras, and things that people normally travel with, but there are also a few surprises.

Alexander-Wang-Rocco

Just after Christmas I found an Alexander Wang Rocco bag at Unclaimed Baggage. This “It bag” of the last few years was new with tags. If you’re familiar with the Rocco, you know that the bottom is covered in metal studs so the empty purse weighs about 10 pounds. The Gray Velvet Rocco in question retailed for $925 and Unclaimed Baggage was selling it for $425. I thought about buying it to sell but decided it’s too hard to authenticate bags on Ebay. So I thought about buying it to keep, but was afraid I would just be buying it because it was a deal, not because I particularly loved it and would probably never carry it because of the weight. It was hard to let a deal like that pass me by. What would you have done?

If you’re interested you can contact Unclaimed Baggage to see if the Alexander Wang Rocco is still available. And if you’re ever in the Fort Payne or Chattanooga areas, it’s definitely worth the trip because you never know what you’ll find. I’d also like to offer my condolences to the poor person who bought this bag and never got it home.

4 Tips for Purging Your Purse Collection

January 2nd, 2012 | Tips and Quips

A new year equals new beginnings which for me usually includes cleaning out the house. This time of year I try to clear out the unwanted or no-longer-needed stuff I’ve accumulated over the past year and I usually start in my closet. Most of us don’t have unlimited closet space and if you’re assessing your collection of purses, here are some simple guidelines to help you decide what to keep, what to sell, what to give and what to toss.

What to Keep-The bags you use most often or that are especially distinctive. Most ladies have a few everyday bags and evening bags they rotate throughout the year. Be honest about which ones you always reach for and which you haven’t used in years. If you have a bag or two you love that only comes out on special occasions, keep it, but don’t keep a purse you don’t love based solely on it’s value. If it’s a nice bag, you can probably sell it and make room for one you do love.

What to Sell-Designer or nice leather bags in good condition that you no longer use. Almost every designer bag is worth something. Especially if you have authentic Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Bottega Venetta, Fendi, Gucci and the like. Contemporary designers like Michael Kors, Rebecca Minkoff, Botkier, and leather bags from stores like J.Crew and Banana Republic also have resale value if the purse is in good condition. If you spent a couple hundred dollars or more on a purse, odds are you can sell it for something.

What to Give-Any bag you’ve decided to get rid of that may not be worth much money or the hassle of selling it. Without getting too much into my feelings about replicas (which we’ll save for another day), I put them in this category. Get rid of them-no one is fooled and it’s illegal to sell them. Offer any purses you’ve decided to give away to a friend or relative you think might like them or take them to Goodwill and get your tax deduction.

What to Toss-Anything torn, stained or unusable. I am not an advocate of waste but even Goodwill has standards. Toss anything that is gross or beyond repair.

Follow these guidelines and not only will you have the feeling of freedom that comes with de-cluttering and organizing, you’ll be making room for new purses and may make some cash!

Designer Inspired or Designer Rip-off?

November 21st, 2011 | Tips and Quips

With the recent kerfuffle between Botkier and the Kardashian Kollection for Sears, I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of “designer inspired” bags. While Botkier was definitely wronged in that situation, it seems there is room in fashion for borrowing ideas or taking things you like about an item and reinterpreting them in your own way, like in our Look for Less posts.  The problem is, sometimes that there’s a fine line between being inspired by a bag and copying a design. Here are some examples. You decide. Designer inspired or designer rip-off?

1) Chloe Marcie Bag and Mystique bag from TJ Maxx

Chloe-Marcie-bagFaux-chloe

2) Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag and ASOS Boxy 70′s Bowler Bag

Rebecca Minkoff MAB SatchelASOS handbags

3) Gucci Snaffle Bit Bag and TJ Maxx Bag that definitely did not have a Gucci tag

Gucci Snaffle BitGucci inspired bag

I also wonder how this is allowed to continue happening. I know it can be hard to prove that an idea was stolen but it seems like more companies would be pulling a Monica Botkier and putting a stop to it. Maybe Gucci and Chloe have bigger fish to fry.

Rebecca Minkoff Condoms: For the Night Before the Morning After

October 27th, 2011 | Tips and Quips

The first time I told my husband my bag was a Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch, his immediate question was, “Morning after what?” It’s a good question for Rebecca Minkoff, who has lent her talented hand to a line of designer condoms, whose profits will benefit Planned Parenthood. The Rebecca Minkoff condoms come in Dots, Basic and Sheer designs because it’s nice to be stylish even when the lights are out, right?

rebecca-minkoff-condomsrebecca-minkoff-condoms

My dog ate my Matt & Nat purse.

October 17th, 2011 | Tips and Quips

This is what happens when you leave a Matt & Nat purse within reach of a bored pup. He looks innocent but don’t be fooled-I found the zipper in his kennel.

Matt-and-Nat-handbagsPoet

Missoni for Target

September 14th, 2011 | Tips and Quips

As many of you know, Missoni for Target debuted in stores yesterday and it was crazy. Asheville is not a super fashion-conscious place and Target was madness so I can only imagine what it was like in larger cities. There are a few items in the collection that are really great but in general I thought it was okay. I came away with a pair of Missoni socks and I am happy with that because I know that I will wear them, unlike the rose-print headscarves and striped tights, which, let’s be honest, only make your legs look fatter.

Here are what I consider to be the highlights of the collection and you can click on any picture for more info. Have you bought anything from Missoni for Target? What do you think of the collection?

Missoni for TargetMissoni for TargetMissoni for TargetMissoni for Target

WSJ on Sophisticated Replica Handbags

June 30th, 2011 | Tips and Quips

Which is the real Hermes? Can you tell?

Hermes Kelly BagHermes Birkin

Replicas, especially in the designer handbag industry, are hot commodities and the companies manufacturing these counterfeit bags are getting better and better at creating a product that looks like the real thing.  Most of these products are now sold online and below are Wall Street Journal writer, Elizabeth Holmes’ tips for how not to get duped. You can read her entire article here.

1) Buy directly from the brand. A sure-fire way to buy an authentic product is to purchase a new item at the brand’s own boutique.

2) Find an authorized retailer. If you cannot buy something from the brand directly, ask for a list of its approved sellers. Department store chains, such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, are reputable points of sale as well.

3) Check the authenticity policy when buying second hand. If buying a used luxury item from a website or a consignment store, carefully read or ask for its sales policy. Make sure the seller guarantees its products’ authenticity.

4) Be wary of discounts. Top luxury brands rarely offer deep price cuts on their merchandise. Be suspicious if a luxury item is marked more than 25% off the retail price.

5) Scrutinize websites selling the product. Counterfeiters have gotten more sophisticated in selling goods online. Examine the website for its validity, including product images—and price points. Another clue: often times the Frequently Asked Questions area contains grammatical errors.

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