I spotted a backpack like no other today, it’s by French couture brand Chanel and frankly, I don’t know what to think about it.

The first thing that pops out of the screen is the school bus yellow hue of the bag. Can you say mega bright? Staring at this so early in the morning will definitely send wakeup signals to your brain up and perhaps rays of joy throughout your entire day. One thing is for sure that everybody will spot this boxy back candy from miles away for sure. This piece features the classic Chanel’s detailing of interlocking C’s, a flap closure, a large back pocket and interwoven leather and chain straps led by flat leather straps that provide a more comfortable feel. Judging by its listed measurements, I don’t think you’ll be able to fit as much as your typical backpack promises to carry and you’ll definitely have more free space in a Chanel classic Jumbo bag instead. If your eyeing this unique piece, do note that this is indeed vintage and there is only one piece left!

Hurry on over to Shopbop.com and discover this What Goes Around Comes Around find, now!

The Chat: vintage chanel!

Well, I’m glad you asked because just when it seemed like it couldn’t possibly get any better, it actually did! Introducing a brand new line from Agathe Planchon — The Miss Gustto Handbag Collection! This new line was created for young and adventurous ladies on the go. It offers trendy and versatile pieces, everything you would expect from the Gustto name. But get this ladies, these new handbags are set at a lower, more affordable price-point. So if this was the “more” that a girl could ask for, then I think Agathe needs a big round of applause!

Pictured below are a couple of my favorite groupings from the new Miss Gustto Line. The Fiore Collection features beautifully embossed leather and is reminiscent of the Gustto Pavia Bag. The Vintage Collection features adorable little studs and woven detailing.


For more information about the new Miss Gustto Handbag Collection, please visit Gustto’s official website.

Otherwise, be sure to look for it at stores such as Bloomingdales. The collection is due out after January 1st!

The Chat: miss gustto!

Decadestwo is hosting their 6th annual Chanel Event over at their Melrose Avenue store on December 8th and 9th.

Expect to see hundreds of fabulous items from the late ’90s to ‘09

On Tuesday, the 8th, VIP will be invited for an exclusive first shopping opportunity from 10: am – 5: pm. During this time D2 will be raising money for Beyond Shelter, the non-profit organization that supports homeless families in Los Angeles. D2 will even match each contribution to the charity!

On Wednesday, the 9th, the doors will be open to the public from 10: am – 7: pm. There still will be lots to pick from. The Chanel stock will be replenished throughout the day with new items.

Location: LA-based Shop, located at 8214 Melrose Avenue

Bookmark this! End Note:
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My vintage weakness at the moment has got to be anything attractive by Chanel and sure enough guess who just got one classy Chanel bag in? It’s a Quilted Flap Bag in Camel and it’s presented by WGACA for ShopBop. The thought of how popular this style was years ago and how it still ranks at the top of many Bagista’s wish lists today is astounding.

As mentioned previously this is a vintage find, so a couple of flaws or signs of wear is expected. Even as I took a few moments to study this piece, it is indeed in good condition for something claimed to be pre-loved.

The color listed reads Camel and with the gold toned hardware of choice it creates an overall stunning combination. All the wonderful features of chained leather-woven straps, logoed turn lock, smooth quilting and more can be found on this piece as well. My only complaint would be the incredibly high asking price of $3,850!

Discover this Chanel and more via: Shopbop

end note:
Lookie what we found on ebay
for way less!

An authentic Chanel Lambskin Quilted Mini Flap Bag
by highly rated ebay seller fashionphile

The Chat: coco!

Novella Royale is a fresh face among the designer handbag crowd. The birth of the brand came to light when the designers over at Novella Royale became inspired by the simplistic concept of designing luxury handbags without creating waste from new materials. Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse. An idea that we all wish more designers would take advantage of. So with that as their core model, they went about creating the most amazing one-of-a-kind pieces. The leather from each of their bags is hand selected and hand cut from vintage jackets! How many designers out there do that? Not only are the bags exterior shell made of 100% recycled leather, but each bag as well is lined with organic fabric.

The little studded piece we have pictured here is the “Clover”. Currently available in four, perfect for Fall – Autumn shades of Olive, Copper, Grey, and Brown. Measurements are about 13” length, 13″ height. Very spacious, no doubt about that. And the thick strap allows you to stuff up your bag with as much as your heart desires, without causing strain to your shoulder. The strap drop on this purse is about 34″, which is the perfect length to either wear resting on one shoulder, or slinged across as a crossbody messenger. And if you find the strap to be a little long, don’t be afraid to tie the strap into a little knot at the top. That would take inches off instantly.

Right now you can find this designer sitting on the shelves of PinkMascara and CoutureCandy. Right now, the new Clover is available for $644.

@ PinkMascara they are currently featuring a Novella Royale Mister Giveaway

@ CoutureCandy they are applying a 15% deal to all new customers! Code: firsttime

That might sound a bit confusing, so in case you aren’t aware, WGACA are the nations leading experts that specialize in finding true vintage pieces around the globe. This Double Chain Tube Bag made it’s way to their possession and is available for sale right now.

This quilted leather Chanel is said to be from the 80’s and for the time being, it appears to be in such great condition. The barrel shaped shoulder bag suspends from Chanel’s signature double chained leather straps and deep gold hardware can be found decoring this piece. Chic logoed C’s are found at its exterior sides and dyed grained leather lines it’s interior. Small and cute, this Chanel would make the perfect accessory to any formal outfit. With a rare piece like this comes a pretty steep price tag, you can purchase this Vintage Chanel for $2,750.

Love this? Find this piece online through: Shopbop

The Chat: Vintage Chanel!

So where does one find a good selection of pre-loved handbags and accessories? Ebay was once a hot spot for used luxury items. Unfortunately, however, with all the fakes out there people have become wary of the things offered for sale in this virtual marketplace. This is such a shame because there are still trustworthy sellers out there that have wonderful deals to offer, the trick is learning how to spot them. And to set you off in the right direction, I would like to share will all you Bag Bliss readers out there some of my favorite ebay sellers.

1. Ebay Seller: bagteria
This seller usually has a good selection of authentic Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Balenciaga, and Chloe handbags. She also has a variety of Hermes scarves and accessories. I have purchased items from this seller before and, I must say, her customer service skills are excellent!

Currently Up For Grabs:

Balenciaga 2007 Sandstone Twiggy
Buy It Now Price – $675

2. Ebay Seller: authentic_lvlady
This seller mainly deals in pre-loved Louis Vuitton handbags. She often has limited edition pieces, along with a wide variety of monogram canvas. Her prices seem pretty decent and I especially love the deals she has on Epi Leather items!

Currently Up For Grabs:

Louis Vuitton Cerises Round Coin Purse
Buy It Now Price – $339.90 or Best Offer

3. Ebay Seller: let-trade
This seller also mainly deals in pre-loved Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories. They offer a pretty good selection through their ebay listings, but an even larger selection can be found on their website. For every item that is up for sale, they provide clear and close up pictures of the item from every angle imaginable. I love that because you can see for yourself exactly what condition the item is in. From my experience, their customer service is pretty good and their shipping is extremely prompt.

Currently Up For Grabs:

Louis Vuitton Multicolore Pochette
Buy It Now Price – $499 or Best Offer

Intrigued? Check out these sellers’ current listings at eBay – New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices.

The Chat: Recommended Ebay Sellers

Mary Norton is considered one of the most original accessory designers with evening clutches and handbags that have garnered an impressive A-List celebrity following including Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Tina Fey, Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz and Jennifer Lopez.

Pictured above is Mary Norton while attending the Costume Designers Guild Awards Dinner wearing a Teri Jon dress, jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels and finished off with her gorgeous crimson red satin Roseanna clutch. (The Roseanna was also worn by Taraji P. Henson and Miley Cyrus at the 2009 Academy Awards)

For her latest spring collection, if you love fun vibrant colors, checkout the delicious Candy Collection. There are so many gorgeous bags in this bunch, definitely my favorite selection. Each bag features layers of custom dyed ostrich feathers – turquoise, purple and green & raspberry, yellow, orange and white. The Roberta with Swarovski crystals and Ginny are worth taking a look at. Price range is $795 to $995 for the clutches and $495 for the shoes.

Also featured for Spring 2009 is the flashy Disco Fever, and as the name suggests, this collection is filled with disco patterns and metallic shades. The yellow Rhianna is my favorite, it’s the perfect clutch day-to-night clutch. Price range is $595 to $695 for the clutches and $445 to $595 for the shoes.

Also don’t forget to check out the new for Fall 2009 Peace on Earth clutch. As featured on E! the hard box clutch features laser cut calf hair, adorned with Swarovski stones. Available for pre-order.

And I recently got the opportunity to exchange a Q + A with this fabulous designer.

continue reading….

Jennifer: Where do you get your inspiration when designing a new collection?
Mary Norton: I tend to be a designer that designs around themes. I therefore will become inspired by places that I visit, movies that I’ve seen, or elements of nature.

The genesis of the Spring 2009 collection was unusual for me, in that the original inspiration came from a sense of taste (candy) because I was on a diet! I was in an airport traveling (as usual) and there, like some glittering mirage, was the most amazing candy stand in the world. It had the most beautiful display of gorgeous candies in the most decadent colors, and the most delicious smells, emanating from the fresh fudge, cotton candy, and hand dipped chocolates being made right there on the spot! It was this terrible temptation that was that the launch point for the Spring 2009 collection.

Jennifer: And what was your inspiration behind this season?
Mary Norton: Once the initial sense of “Taste” was translated into candy it began my whole Five Senses theme. I took each sense and converted it into an object that represented that sense. “Sight” is the collection in its entirety. The sense of “Sound” is represented by disco music which was translated into the collection by using embroidered “vinyl records” and disco ball jewel pieces. Using a highly stylized fantasy orchid in the collection captured the sense of “Smell”. The swirling motion of the sea represents the sense of “Touch” by utilizing spiral patterns and embroidered translucent sea kelp.

Jennifer: What was your very first handbag that you created?
Mary Norton: The first handbag I created was a black satin evening bag with bright green Cymbidium Orchids and a big pink bow on it. It was very similar to my first “celebrity” bag that Julia Lois-Dreyfus carried in 1998 to the Emmys.

Jennifer: Which handbag are you carrying at the moment?
Mary Norton: The Rosette Bag in black patent leather.

Jennifer: And what are some items that you can’t leave the house without?
Mary Norton: Keys, Blackberry (I know, but I’m totally Crackberry hooked), Carmex (I’m obsessive about Carmex like the Dad on “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” was about Windex…I think Carmex can cure anything), Platinum Amex, Passport (you never know if a grocery shopping trip may lead to a quick side trip to Minsk…be prepared I say), Vintage Sunglasses, Orbitz gum, Sony SureShot (inspiration hits at strange times), cash (I never seem to have any of this, but I thought I’d put it down for fun anyway… my hubby will laugh).

Jennifer: All of your bags are so exquisite and beautiful, but if you had to pick one as your favorite, which would it be?
Mary Norton: Yikes, this is like having to pick which child you like the best. I think it might hurt the other bag’s feelings! Seriously, I do have many favorites however for daytime, our Rosette bag is a classic that I have literally carried the sample for three years now, so that would label it by sheer use as a favorite. For evening, this is a much tougher choice but I would have to go with any version of the Roseanna (I seem to have a thing for “Rose…” bags) this is because I am a fidgety person and I love to play with the long tassel as well as the fun movement of the tassel when you walk or dance.

Jennifer: I read somewhere that you describe yourself as a “red carpet bag lady”. How does it feel, describe your emotion when you see celebrities on the Red Carpet, attending movie premieres or while at fashion events, wearing one of your beautiful pieces?
Mary Norton: My daughters and I are red carpet junkies. My poor husband has to go to the back room when any random awards show comes on so that we can do our red carpet watch. The thrill of seeing one of my designs carried by a beautiful woman, whether it is a celebrity or a stranger walking down the street, never gets old for me. I am always amazed and humbled that someone is carrying one of my designs. I have been known to stop people on the street and thank them for wearing my bags and shoes…so watch out!

Jennifer: Who are some other designers out there that you admire?
Mary Norton: I am a huge fan and student of the couture masters: Cristobal Balenciaga, Clare McCardell, Yves St. Laurent, Charles James, Valentino, Norman Norell, and of course Christian Dior.

Jennifer: If you weren’t in the fashion industry, what would you be doing instead?
Mary Norton: I was in the film business prior to the fashion business and have a love for both industries. If the fashion business ever kicked me out (which would kill me), I’d consider going back to the film business. I don’t think I could ever have a real job (ha-ha).

Mary’s Favorite
Movies: Dr. Zhivago, Everybody’s All American, Gone With the Wind, Death at a Funeral, Steel Magnolias, A Clockwork Orange, The Thomas Crowne Affair, Holiday Inn (I could go on forever…I am a HUGE movie buff)!!!

Animals: My dog Bella

Pastime or Hobby: Snow skiing, being anywhere with my daughters Micah (13) and Reilly (11)

TV shows: The Office, Mad Men (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE)

Vacation Destination: A few years ago my husband Joe, the kids and I had a great adventure vacation traveling from one old hacienda to another in the interior of Yucatan Mexico. It was wild, remote and very cool. The group of haciendas we visited was www.thehaciendas.com. Although the accommodations were quite swanky you were literally out in the middle of nowhere with no TVs, and only local villagers. Micah and Reilly really had a great time even though they were stuck with us as their
entertainment!

Shopping for some of the latest Mary Norton pieces? Her collections of inspired handcrafted handbags and shoes are found online at Saks Fifth Avenue and MaryNorton.com

So anyway, finally about 2 weeks ago I finally stepped foot in the Polite Society. I’m not just saying this, but this is my newest favorite store. (and being one block away from the BB office is dangerously close.) They have gorgeous clothes and amazing one-of-a-kind home décor items. When I was there, I picked up a Helmut Lang little black dress, which at first I was hesitant on the fit, but then the lovely lady working there convinced me, “that’s the fit of the dress” so then I purchased it.. yeah, I’m an easy shopper. Also while there, I spotted the authentic LV trunk (Appraisal papers and authentication papers from the Louis Vuitton company included), still there, in excellent condition, neatly on display in the back corner of the store by the changing rooms.

Priced at $9850. And guess what ladies and guys, you don’t have travel all the way to Emerald City to get this rare piece (however if you do want to, I of course recommend it), visit shoppolitesociety.com.

Ps. If you are in the Downtown Belltown Seattle area, this is the newest boutiques to carry Rebecca Minkoff! Not many other downtown shops carry this designer. Oh and they also got tons of cute new fall clothes in for both men and women!

[ The Bag Forum: Vintage Louis Vuitton Wardrobe Steamer Trunk ]

Pictured above is one my favorite newbies to Valentino flower rose line, the Fango Nappa Blossom Petale. Available only in the color clay (at this time). This beauty features layers and layers of buttery leather, that spiral around to form a lush rosette pattern. I am such a sucker for rose designs. Additional noteworthy features: This bag is accessorized with golden hardware, feet to keep your bags bottom from picking up germs, a secure top zip closure, a cotton lined interior spacious tummy with a capacity of 13.5″ width x 12.5″ height x 5″depth, plus double strap options for either carrying by hand or over the shoulder action (double top handles have a 4″ drop / detachable crossbody strap, 11.5″ drop). Right now the Fango is available at saks fifth avenue for $ 2495 preorder.

I know what you vintage YSL fans are thinking. Of course this spiral rose design should look familiar.. do you guys remember the Yves Saint Laurent Nadja Rose purse? Oh yummy, that was like one of the first designer bags when I was a teen-ie that triggered my bag obsession.

Yves Saint Laurent Nadja Purse.
Above is a vintage campaign pic of the lovely Nadja purse, designed back in the early 2000’s (I’m pretty sure this bag debut spring 2003) by the fabulous one and only Tom Ford. This bag as been long sold out, however if you’re lucky you can spot one on ebay.

Side Note: In 1999, Gucci acquired the house of Yves Saint-Laurent and Parson’s educated Tom Ford was named the creative director of that label. During his time as Creative Director for YSL, he won numerous Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. That shouldn’t be a surprise, his ready to wear designs were amazing. His departure date from the house of YSL was in April 2004.

And the bags look pretty similar don’t you think?

One common problem with the YSL Nadja was that the rose design flattens over time. I sure hope the Valentino Fango beauy doesn’t have the same problem.

So what would you guys rather have? A vintage YSL Nadja rose bag or the newer Valentino Fango Patale purse version?

Current Discussion: Valentino Fango Petale Handbag VS Yves Saint Laurent Nadja Purse