TBFE

You guys. You GUYS! So here's the deal: I know I barely ever write here anymore. And I'm sorry; that's kind of crappy of me. But I'm about to make it up to you by sharing what may henceforth be known as The Best Find Ever. Laugh all you want, but it will change your life.

(Yes, I am still as melodramatic as ever. Learn to love it!)

Anyway, if you've been following me over on Tumblr, you may have noticed that I have consistently been posting ethnic-inspired accessories. Specifically, ethnic-inspired bags. Here are a few examples:

Well, I kind of thought it was impossible to find bags like these without a) traveling to a foreign country, b) spending a lot of money, or c) buying something from Forever 21 that's vaguely sequin-y and pom-pom-y and looks like it's glue-gunned together. However, my assumptions were shaken to their very cores when I stumbled upon a new (to me) online store called Asian iCandy. I've seen a lot of sites that remind me of Asian iCandy, so I wasn't immediately excited. But then...then I browsed their accessories section, and I hit a jackpot. The site carries a line called Miya, which is exactly what I've been looking for. Reasonably priced, unique, and gorgeous, the line includes bags like the ones below:

Pretty, right?! The last two are my favorites.

A quick Google search uncovered the Miya website, where many more styles are available. The bags, claims Miya, feature design inspiration "from the traditional Miao culture, which is one of the minority nationalities in China." Well, that's pretty cool - I'm sold!

I truly share these handbags with you out of the kindness of my heart, since I can't really let myself indulge in them. A thorough cleaning of my room has revealed that I have way too many bags. Seriously, I just had to give away a bunch of bags that I love solely because I have nowhere to put them. It's a sickness, and thus I have created a new rule for myself: I can't buy a new handbag unless I give one of my collection away. Perhaps the next time I get rid of a handbag it will be gifted to one of my readers. I've never done a giveaway before, and anyone who still reads this blog deserves a freaking medal for sticking with my worse-than-sporadic posting. I promise every bag in my collection is in good condition and totally worthy of someone who can show it some love! Any interest?

And speaking of love, I love you. Stay fly, grasshoppers.

The handbags pictured are available at Miyafeelings.com or Asianicandystore.com, except for the top three bags, which I have no idea how to purchase. However, the images are from here, here, and here, respectively.

Fringe Binge

So, I am officially a high school graduate! The ceremony was on Sunday, and it was ridiculously hot. I spent the day schvitzing in my black gown, eating spectacular food, and spending time with visiting family.

Today I had my wisdom teeth pulled, and I've spent hours lying on the couch and lusting after fringed bags. Some of the net's most stylish bloggers have been rocking them, and they are finally popular enough that cheaper options are available. See for yourself:

Rumi with her Lucky bag; Lulu with a fringed pouch; Lulu with her large Zara clutch; Betty with her Pimkie bag

For Love 21 suede fringe hobo; La Redoute suede fringe purse; Urban Outfitters suede fringe passport bag; 59 Seconds suede fringe bag with grommits; Delia*s sasha fringe hobo; Go Jane suede dangle strands purse; Newport News fringed handbag

Maybe an order will be placed in the next couple of days to cheer me up as my mouth aches. I do quite like that silver one, as well as the black one above it. . .

Jumeau Bags

Not too long ago, I received an email from Jumeau bags offering me two free bags to review. I responded with excitement. Jumeau has four collections in the Fall/Winter '07 line - the Institution Collection, the Now Collection, the Commando Collection, and the Green Collection. I was especially drawn by the Green Collection, because although it feels a little out of my means to always buy green, a bag "focusing on natural materials such as organic cotton, bamboo and natural dyes" seemed right up my alley.

So I picked the Keri bag from the Green Collection, opting for a cool blue acid wash color.

The second bag I picked out was never delivered (I don't know what's going on with that), so I'm not going to talk about it.

Anyway, here are my thoughts on the Keri bag:

I like it. It's not exactly my taste (as in I would probably not pick it out in a store), but I'm kind of enamoured with the dark acid wash effect. I gave it a test run today on a trip to Old Navy (more on that later), and found it very satisfactory. The bag is extraordinarily roomy, with plenty of handy pockets. The strap is comfortable, and doesn't slip from my shoulder the way the straps on other bags tend to. The fabric is quite sturdy, and I can tell that the bag is extremely well made. It will last for a long time, let me tell you that.

My only complaint is that the bag is on the heavy side. It's large enough to hold a ton of stuff, but I find myself avoiding filling it up because any extra weight will result in some shoulder discomfort.

But maybe I'm just a wimp.

Anyway, the bottom line is that I'm happy with my Jumeau bag. For more information, take a look at the Jumeau bags workbook, or got to http://www.jumeaubags.com/.

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Having just finished reading Dante's Inferno, I can safely say that this post will condemn me to the third circle of Hell. At least in Dante's opinion. Yes, I am a glutton when it comes to accessories.

1. Darla Chain Pendant Necklace, $9.99 The Fusion Boutique

I've been into more chunky jewelry lately, and this is both chunky and cheap enough to appeal to me.

2. Black Moto Ankle Boots, $39.99 The Fusion Boutique

Oh, I so want these! I love the stripes of patent leather! I've been wishing for ankle boots, and I like that these are much more unique than most of the ankle boots I've come across. My shoe size is 7.5, hint hint!

3. NOCOLLECTION Suede Fringe Purse, $34.99 La Redoute

Fringe just started appealing to me for the first time since Pocahontas ceased to be my favorite movie. This cute little bag comes in lots of colors to match all your outfits, and studs keep it from looking too much like it belongs in a wigwam. Remember to use the code LRMONDAY today for 20% off your first item and 40% off your third!

4. Green Belted Croc Handbag, $42.00 Lulu's Fashion Lounge

Croc skin, even faux croc, has always seemed hideous to me. But this bag is such a pretty color that I can't help coveting it! Love it.

5. Peacock Feather Earrings, $14.00 Fred Flare

To be honest, I added these earrings to this post because I thought they would look nice with the rest of the accessories. I do like long colorful earring, though. They are totally flattering to my (and anyone's) cheekbones.

6. The Gallery Cocktail Ring, $12.95 Karma Loop

Did you know that when you sign up for the Karma Loop newsletter they email you a $10 gift code? Well they do. I just recieved my gift code, and I think I might be spending it on this ring. My only issue is that I don't know my ring size! Would someone explain to me how to figure it out?

Well, those are my current desired accessories. What have you been coveting lately?

Fuzzy Friends?

Her Fabulousness Gala Darling did a post about the style in Gossip Girl, a hideously trashy show that I'm shamefully glued to on Wednesday nights. It's true - however trashy the show is, no one can deny that it is one stylish hour of TV. I love pretty much all the outfits on the show, but I was strangely drawn to the above outfits worn by Isabel and Kati. Why? Well, I dig the shades and the plaid jackets, but mostly I'm shocked by the fact that I like their purses.

Before seeing the purses styled on the show, I would never in a million years have considered such a bag acceptable on anyone over the age of six. But I can't help but find them a fun addition to Isabel and Kati's outfits. I know, I know. I am in an ugly purse-admiring stage, what with these and the Cousin It Bag. I'm ashamed, seriously.

Would you wear a doggie bag?



On a slightly related note, anyone who wears these boots deserves to be shot, no questions asked:



I challenge the Gossip Girl stylists to make me eat my words. But I warn you; it won't be easy. Uggs are bad enough without adding bits of decapitated stuffed animals to them. End of story.

P.S. Is is so wrong that the idea of having a purse I can actually give a name to is so tempting? Think of all the benefits of a doggie purse: You can use it as a pillow, comfort small children with it, and distract vicious dogs with it. Plus, if you're nervous about something, you can bring your fuzzy friend along for moral support. You are probably convinced by now that I need proffessional help and some serious fashion advice, but at least the purse would be useful...

Chanel with an Edge

Right now, I'm really into bags with that classic Chanel look - You know, quilted with a stap woven through a chain. (If you need proof, just look at the bag I bought recently.) However, most of us can't afford actual Chanel. If you want the Chanel look, but you don't want to seem like you're wearing a cheap knock-off, it can be difficult to find the right bag. It has to have some Chanel-like qualities, but it also has to have some qualities that are blatantly "un-Chanel." Here are some of the bags I've found that are "very Chanel," but not "knock-off-y." Click on the pictures to shop:


It has the Chanel chain and quilting, but the slouchy shape and studs scream rock 'n roll. It's slightly pricy at $78, but still way cheaper than Chanel. Plus, you can flip the bag around so the studs don't show for days when you're feeling more ladylike.


I've been eyeing this vintage bag for a while (That's right, scoop it up people, there's only one). It's hot pink and only $7.99. There's nothin' wrong with that.


I think the website describes this one best. "This quilted black patent handbag mixes the classic Coco Chanel quilting with the more modern Marc Jacobs-inspired shape." On sale for $29.95.

TLC: The Friday Home of Fashion?

Apparently friday night is Fashion Night on TLC.

Imagine my surprise when I turned on the tv at 9:00 tonight to find that Stacy London (one of the hosts of TLC's What Not to Wear) has a new show. It's called Fashion Fanatic, and I loved it. I watched raptly as Stacy tried on glorious shoes, chatted with Christian Louboutin, toured the Ferragamo factory, and took stiletto fitness classes. I drooled over the rows of handbags as she explored the warehouse of Bag, Borrow, or Steal and interviewed Devi Kroell. And I learned a whole lot, like the fact that while Louboutin feels that placing platforms in the front of his shoes makes them more comfortable, he thinks women who want to run should wear sneakers (I guess he wouldn't approve of Carrie Bradshaw then). Also, I learned that wearing stilletos puts three times your body weight on the balls of your feet. No wonder they hurt.

After Fashion Fanatic, A Model Life with Petra Nemcova is on (I'm watching it now.) I've been meaning to mention this show for a while, just because I like it. Unlike other model shows (America's Next Top Model, The Agency, Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency) the focus isn't on bitchiness, bickering, and unpleasant drama. Admittedly, I enjoy those shows, especially Janice Dickinson's, but I always get the distinct feeling that they're crap. A Model Life doesn't feel as petty and time-wasting. Petra seems down to Earth, as do the models. There is no competition, so the models get along. The whole point of the show is just to follow the models as they try to make it in the fashion world and find their way around NYC, and to watch Petra try to help them. I approve.

Before and after these shows is What Not to Wear. Hence my comment about Friday night being Fashion Night on TLC.

Fashion Fanatic, one of my new favorite shows, is on again at 11:00 if you missed it. Go check it out! (Unless you have more of a life than me, of course, and are actually out on a Friday night...)