Some brands do not get the recognition they deserve. Harder to locate in the US, Valextra is a brand that is as timeless and well crafted as Hermes yet their bags lack the waitlists that Hermes once had and the exposure. Valextra flies under the radar. And this is precisely how they like it. Their bags speak for themselves. No need for seasonal bags, rather every Valextra bag I have seen is extremely well made and will be a piece that will never loose its luxury. The house iconic bag is the Valextra Boston. When I received and reviewed the bag this past July I was amazed. Lightweight yet sturdy and simple yet striking, Valextra Boston Bags are purely timeless. Timeless is not a word that I love to use, but sometimes it perfectly fits certain brands and designs. And while the Barneys New York store carried Valextra, it was very hard to find elsewhere. Now it is online and accessible to all of us in the US at Barneys! If you want to delve into this brand start with the Boston bag. Available in large ($3,170), medium ($2,380), and small ($2,190), there is a size and color for you. This is a piece I would hands down stand behind and tell you to invest in. I plan to do so myself, possibly in a luscious exotic skin. Because that would be purely divine. Buy Valextra through Barneys.

Yesterday, as not to jinx the Buckeyes, I did not wrote about how anxious we were to watch the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl game. Two previous years of BCS embarrassment and this year was going to be different (at least the entire Buckeye nation hoped). But alas, with the final seconds and plays of the games, we lost. An entirely devastating loss for the team and for all of the loyal fans, which Ohio State is known for. And today I am feeling blah already about it. I actually woke up thinking about what Ohio State could have done differently, which completely shows that every bit of athlete still exists deep down in my body. Shopping always makes it feel a little better. And while I am not buying a handbag today, rather on the hunt for my wedding day shoes, a classic pink clutch has my spirits lifted a bit. Read full article...

It seems Jessica Simpson was not a lucky charm for Tony Romo’s football season. We follow college football much more than pro football, but at the end of the season Tony Romo looked awful. Jessica Simpson found herself in love with a Cowboy and transitioning to the country music scene. Long gone are her days of all dolled up mini skirts and pop music and in are her days of country music and flannel shirts. Just the girl next door in jeans and an oversized green wrap, Jessica Simpson was spotted at Dallas/Fort Worth airport with her Gucci Hysteria Python Tote and Louis Vuitton Dog Carrier. Jump for full article and more pictures...

My love of Balenciaga continues to grow and I often find myself wondering why is it that I literally do not own one Balenciaga bag? I know, it is some sort of travesty that I do not own a Balenciaga bag. My collection is vast and covers many designers, but for an amount of time I could not see the craze behind the bags. When the giant hardware was added, Balenciaga got me right in the heart. As a self-proclaimed clutch lover, the Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope is a stunning funky and edgy clutch. Designed with the signature lambskin, the wrinkled flap front with a magnetic closure offers a fun take on a fold over clutch. There is a zipper pocket and silver-toned hardware. I love this clutch and if I could figure out exactly what color to buy, I would (of course if in my small allotted bag budget for the year). Measurements are 7″ x 12″ x 1.75″. Buy through Barneys for $995.

Are you suffering from the post-holiday blues? The holidays are over, the 12 Days of Handbags Giveaway is over and you still find yourself wishing for a new handbag. Well, this month, Ideeli is sponsoring an amazing giveaway. I am sure most of you have seen if not drooled over one of the the oh so coveted Balenciaga Bags. Ideeli brings you the Balenciaga City Bag in black. Click here to enter!

Is it the Paraty or the Paratay? Net A Porter and Saks seem to think differently on the spelling of this hit Chloe bag. The luscious python version of the Paraty got the handbag world buzzing, questioning the designer and desiring to be on the wait list. The python version had my full attention as well. But last week when I saw the Paratay in Saks I was left feeling not completely satisfied. It was not that I was totally unimpressed, but I was at least partially unimpressed. Nothing overly amazing in person and I even saw it in a luscious hue of green. I can blame the lackluster feeling on my shopping ban though, so I may have a skewed perception. This mustard yellow color is rich and beautiful on the Chloe Paratay Tote which will slide over the shoulder for a day tote. The color is called chrome yellow and is available for pre-order at Saks now. The goldtone details offset the leather coloring perfectly and the dimensions of the tote are 21″W X 14½”H X 8¼”H. Buy through Saks for $2,195.

The ultimate question, how do you really spell the name of this bag: Paraty or Paratay?

The New Year is here! Most people are jumping for joy that 2008 is over, as it was quite a tumultuous year for many. 2008 was good to Vlad and I and was good to Purse Blog. So while we look forward to 2009 we still loved 2008! This year is a big year for us. In February (right around the corner!!!) we have our wedding celebration. I attempted to think that it would not take me hours each day of planning, thinking, calling, and preparing, but wedding planning is a full-time job. And the cost of a wedding, well, you all know that it is not cheap. This year is about saving. Vlad and I would like to buy our first home so my bag purchases for 2009 will be focusing on handbags that will be seasonless and timeless. A specific bag that will fit into this category is a classic tote. Read on...

With only a few minutes left on January 1st 2009, we wanted to take the time to wish you all a Happy New Year!!! 2008 was a great year for Purse Blog and Purse Forum. We expanded to add Purse Blog Savvy, added full-time employee Shannon to the team, and our websites continued to receive more visitors and press in 2008. We loved having you every step of the way and look forward to expanding with you in 2009!

2008 was a hard year for many, so we hope that 2009 will bring you all you wish!

A very Happy New Year from the Purse Blog team!

Louis Vuitton’s Marc Jacobs commemorates the late fashion designer and artist Stephen Sprouse with this Tribute Collection, which is new for 2009 and will be sold shortly after a book on Sprouse’s life hits the bookshelves in January.

Who could forget the triumphant 2001 graffiti collection that shocked the runways and weeks later turned into cult collector’s items? Not only did this collaboration between Sprouse and LV’s artistic director Marc Jacobs turn into a fantastic, resounding success, it also paved the path for more celebrated collaborations for the near future. Takashi Murakami comes to mind. Read the full article...

Color, color and more color. Although I usually stray away from handbags with a variety of bright colors, I think this handbag might have changed my mind just a bit. As I came across the Jimmy Choo Celeste Rainbow Clutch I found myself imagining carrying it around while bringing in the New Year. Now, I’ll be up front, I do have New Year’s on my mind right now. What to do, what to wear, who to see - all the things that go through our minds. Yet whether I find myself celebrating with a few friends or hitting the town until the wee hours of the morning, this is a bold New Year’s clutch I’d love to have in hand. Click here to keep reading...