National Handbag Day is tomorrow, October 10th! It is the first ever 'National Handbag Day' and was recently enacted by the Purse Blog as an official holiday! (They applied for it to be a holiday just for purse enthusiasts!)
I thought this was neat and wanted to spread the word, check out my video below to see what handbag I will be using for the inaugural Handbag Day and go to Purse Blog for more information on the new holiday!
* I am in no way affiliated with Purse Blog, I just thought this was a neat holiday and wanted to share! This is not a paid review. All opinions are my own.
If all the things in my previous gift guide were under $150... then I guess it is fitting that all of the things in this gift guide are OVER $150! A fun little gift guide with some of my favorite Louis Vuitton items that I think would make great gifts this holiday season. Prices ranging from $155 to $1670.
All items available on LouisVuitton.com: Louis Vuitton Bandeau - $155 Louis Vuitton Key Pouch in Vernis - $365 Louis Vuitton Pochette in Monogram - $440 Louis Vuitton Zippy Coin Purse Wallet in Vernis - $490 Louis Vuitton Business Card Holder in Vernis - $285 Louis Vuitton Sarah Wallet in Vernis - $790 Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM - $1670
** I am not affiliated with Louis Vuitton in any way. This is not a paid review. All items were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
The Louis Vuitton Insolite wallet is a great large style wallet available from Louis Vuitton in monogram and multicolor prints. It also comes with a variety of interior options and is great to feel like you have a more "customized" wallet, rather than a plain colored one.
It opens up flat and holds 12 debit/credit or other cards - with two flat bill compartments, one interior coin area, and a large zippered area that is accessible without opening the rest of the wallet... Which is great for items you want quick access to!
So far, I'm really loving this wallet! It is easy to use and a great full-size wallet! The only cons I've found with the wallet so far is that is a lot more "exposed" than my previous Sarah style wallet, which felt more "private". The coin area on the Insolite also is not very user friendly and coins slide to one corner, which makes them hard to get to... a solution to that would be a separate coin change purse.
All in all, this wallet was a win for me and I'm enjoying it, and may even consider another one in the future!
* This is not a sponsored review. I am not affiliated with Louis Vuitton in any way, and all opinions are my own.
I have a list of viewer requests that I'm working through for my Bags4Bubbles You Tube channel that I received while I was gone on vacation, and I wanted to share with you the most recent ones that I completed.
For the Louis Vuitton Montorgueil GM, I received questions asking what fits inside, what travel items (as seen in my Favorite Louis Vuitton bags for travel video) fit in the Monty GM, and a general overview of the bag.
For the Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM, I was asked to show the adjustable handle on different lengths, show the bag being worn with Spring clothing and potentially bulkier Winter clothing (coat, sweater, etc.), and also what fits inside the Tivoli GM as well.
Hopefully these reviews can be helpful to you as well, if you had questions about either of these two styles!
My big announcement on You Tube yesterday was that we are going to have TWO exciting, exclusive You Tube, giveaways when I reach 1000 and 5000 subscribers!
I expect to reach 1000 subscribers (or be close enough to open the giveaway) in May, and took suggestions from my blog giveaways here at Mom's Got a Brand New Bag for what to do for the next giveaway. For the 1000 subscriber giveaway, we will do a beauty giveaway, full of my drugstore favorites from Target and elsewhere! I'm excited to be able to share some of my favorite products with you. That giveaway will open in May 2012 or when Bags4Bubbles on You Tube reaches 1000 subscribers, whichever happens first.
The REALLY huge announcement though... was after I thought about it for a bit, I thought it would be appropriate to start planning a Louis Vuitton giveaway! Since the majority of my videos on You Tube are bag and specifically a lot are Louis Vuitton related... I thought that if we made a goal and reached it, it would be a great way to say "thank you" for watching all of my videos to do a Louis Vuitton giveaway!
So I proposed a 5000 subscriber Giveaway Challenge on You Tube! When, and if, I can reach 5000 subscribers on my You Tube channel, www.youtube.com/Bags4Bubbles - I will be giving away a brand new Louis Vuitton bandeau! The bandeaus are the long, thing scarves that look fantastic tied on your bag as an accessory or can be used in many other ways as well.
I thought this would be an exciting way to get people more involved and also encourage people to check out my new videos, in addition to my old ones. Since I took a bit of a break from making videos, I wanted to let everyone know that I was back making them again!
The rules for the You Tube exclusive 1000 subscriber and 5000 subscriber will include the following:
1) You must be a subscriber at www.youtube.com/Bags4Bubbles to enter.
2) They will be random comment giveaways, so the enter will be placed with your comment on the giveaway video for each specific giveaway - and one winner will be chosen at random by Random.org.
3) Both giveaways will be open internationally!
4) Entrants must be over the age of 18.
5) The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their shipping address before they forfeit and the gift goes to the next person on the list!
So they should be some pretty easy and fun giveaways! So if you've stopped by Bags4Bubbles to check out my older videos, come on by and check out my new ones as well! Subscribe, and help us reach our 1000 & 5000 subscriber goals!
Following up from my blog post last March, HERE... It is time to see how my 8 Most Worn things have (or haven't!) changed!
(I mean seriously... does You Tube purposely pick the worst thumbnails ever?)
Here are my current most worn products:
1. Most Worn Hair Product - I still really love the Matrix Essentials Vital Control Hair Spray that I featured in 2011, but it has been discontinued... so I'm out of luck after I finish off the can that I'm currently using. I've found a new love in Alterna products and use the Alterna Bamboo Shine Mist everyday and also use a leave-in creme every day as well... right now I'm using and really liking the L'Oreal Paris Everstyle Smooth & Shine Creme.
2. Most Worn Lip Product - Another one that I'm still liking... Too Faced Lip of Luxury Lipstick in Free Love & Too Faced Glamour Gloss in Peek-a-Boo, they are still staples in my makeup bag that I carry in my purse AND in my vanity! I like them that much! I've also found a new favorite, NARS Crusing... and between these three lip products - I am typically wearing on of these a lot of the time and they are my most worn.
3. Most Worn Earrings - I finally ponied up and got a few pairs of nice earrings for every day wear... one of my most worn being the Tiffany & Co Somerset Knot earrings. (Kind of a nicer version of the Forever 21 pair that I feature in 2011!) I also wear a CZ pair from Target a lot too.
4. Most Worn Shirt - My most worn shirt is actually a "type" of shirt... those flowy cardigans that are in style (they're still in style, right??) and ever so practical if you'd like to, *ahem*, mask a few things. I have a few that are favorites from H&M and Gap.
5. Most Worn Nail Polish- My most worn polish now is Zoya Reece... it is an extremely fun and happy pink, that I love wearing in all seasons!
6. Most Worn Shoes - I'm loving my Tory Burch Silver/Black Leather Revas right now and they are my most worn shoes! The Revas are a comfortable flat for me and I really love the medallion on the toe area to just give it a little bit of extra character.
7. Most Worn Perfume - Marc Jacobs, Oh, Lola! - It is a great scent that has light scent and is practical to wear in most situations.
8. Most Worn Bag - The Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM, is a great little bag! (Well, not so little... more large-medium sized!) It is fun to use, comfortable on the shoulder and the pleating gives it a lot of style! One of my favorite bags by Louis Vuitton right now!
So DH offered to get me a bag as kind of a late Valentine's/early birthday type of gift... after having a hard time mulling over what to get - this Lumi popped up and I grabbed it. The Ombre color is the Empriente color that I had been considering, and even though I previously had mentioned the Empriente Artsy in one of my posts - I decided that the Lumineuse might be even more versatile. (Especially with kids!)
So it arrived this week and I'm still figuring out whether I love, like it, or am just neutral about it? I seem to kind of be wavering all around and my opinion changes from minute to minute. In any case, it is a very pretty bag and what may be making me balk more than anything could be the price tag (eek!!)... but the leather is just divine and the color is lovely too...
I carried my Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM and inside I fit:
- Louis Vuitton Sarah wallet in Violette
- Louis Vuitton Cles in Violette
- Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Cosmetic Pouch
- Juicy Couture card case
- Chanel sunglasses case
- Canon SD1200 digital camera
- iPhone
- Keys
- A scarf
... all with lots of room leftover! This is a great every day bag that doesn't disappoint!
Here is a viewer request video that I put together, to address the question of whether a 10 by 13 Mac Book would fit in a Totally MM. I unfortunately do not own a Mac Book, but I was able to use a 10" by 13" by 1" frame to compare the size placed inside a Totally MM. That size frame easily fit inside the bag when placed in east/west, and had a bit of space left on either side so that it easily slid in & out of the bag.
I've also shown an iPad 2 inside the Totally MM, so that you can see there is a generous amount of space leftover with one of those inside.
I finally chose my favorite three handbags in my closet to use as a busy Mom on the go. I think they would work great for a stay-at-home mom or working mom as well! These three bags specifically were chosen because they all have a zippered closure, can be carried on the shoulder, and are a great size for every day use.
Well, I mentioned on one of my recent videos doing a You Tube review on the best mommy handbags (which I've been a slacker and haven't gotten around to yet, sigh)... However, I did get around to starting to think about this one on a recent trip to go to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
I was sitting there that morning before we left staring at my accessories closet, and realizing that I didn't really have a "city friendly" and "mommy friendly" (read not to heavy & easily hands free) option for the trip! Toting my Tivoli GM around the suburbs is one thing, but getting to and from parking garages, walking around museums, and doing everything from lunch to diaper changes on the go with the kids necessitates a different kind of handbag, then a few hour trip to a mall in the suburbs does...
I stared at all of the LV in my accessories closet, too big, too heavy, too flashy for what I wanted for the day. (Will be considering a Bloomsbury PM for the future, I believe...) And then all of a sudden I realized what my ultimate Mommy bag for a day trip to museums was going to be - my Marc Jacobs large multi-pocket that had been relegated to a shelf for... well, a long time! It comfortably sits on my shoulder, wasn't too big, would hold all of the essentials, and wasn't too flashy.
I first became obsessed with the Marc Jacobs multipocket style bag back before I was even a mother... when I saw one of my favorite TV mothers carrying it on the Gilmore Girls! Lorelei Gilmore's (sigh, I miss that show - but that's a topic for a different day) go-to bag for the first four or five seasons was an understated small size Marc Jacobs multipocket purse.
Photo screenshot courtesy of the CW
I loved it so much that I tracked down the exact same bag she had on the show in the small size, I realized that the size wasn't quite big enough for me (plus, let's face it - I'm not as skinny as Lauren Graham either) - so I ended up with the large size multi-pocket hobo which was perfect! I also went through a brief "Marc Jacobs phase" during the Gilmore Girls years, and although it has been a while since I've purchased one - I will say that at least the ones from a few years ago were exceptionally well made handbags.
Then the Gilmore Girls show went off the air and Marc Jacobs just wasn't the same for me, over the years I went through my "Balenciaga phase", which led directly into my "Louis Vuitton phase"... and the poor lone Marc Jacobs handbag leftover from my Marc Jacobs days was left sitting on a shelf in my accessories cabinet.
I used it for our day trip to the Shedd Aquarium, and it worked perfectly! I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed carrying it again so much, and I think I will be digging it out of the closet just a little bit more often "just because", now that I've remembered what a great bag it is!
One of the bags I just recently got is the Tivoli GM. It's a style that I'd wondered about for a while, it seemed like a great everyday style and a good size. I used to own the Tivoli PM, purchased at the LV boutique a few months after it was released and subsequently sold about a year after buying it, because it was just a little on the small side for me. Also since it was an exclusively handheld bag, it just wasn't working for how I liked to use my bags.
The Tivoli GM on the other hand is a great size for every day. Plenty of room on the interior and adjustable handles that look great either hand held or comfortably sitting on your shoulder. I've found that it is easy to find things inside and get in & out of at check outs. (Although the zipper is a little stiffer than I would prefer, but I am hoping that will get better after some use.) I've been using it the past few weeks, and I can definitely say - it is fantastic!
At the same time that the Tivoli (PM & GM) was released, the Palermo (PM & GM) style was also released. These two styles always seemed a bit comparable to me and I think are often compared when someone is considering what to purchase, because of the styling of the pleats and hanging LV tag on the zipper. I've now owned all sizes of the Tivoli and Palermo - Tivoli PM, Tivoli GM, Palermo PM, and Palermo GM! I sold the Tivoli PM because I found it was too small... I sold the Palermo GM because I found it was too big. Currently, I still own the Palermo PM and Tivoli GM - which I believe are just right!
Since these two styles, the Tivoli and Palermo, are so often compared when trying to decide which bag to get - I thought I would do a quick comparison review of the two with pictures side by side with the Tivoli GM and Palermo PM. These two bags are actually very close in size and what I would consider to be a good every day size. (Medium sized bags that comfortably hold a wallet, makeup case, sunglasses case, card case, cell phone, keys, etc. - with a bit of room to spare.) Both can be worn on the shoulder, the Palermo PM with the long shoulder strap and the Tivoli GM with the regular handles. Both look good hand held.
You can see that the size of the two is quite comparable and neither one is overwhelming on a regular sized frame. (For more petite frames the Tivoli GM might be a tad big.)
The interiors of both has pockets on the side for easy access to your tech items or keys.
The foot print of both bags is quite similar.
So as you can probably tell from my blog post... I'm a fan of both the Tivoli GM and Palermo PM. I think they are the ultimate choices from these two lines if you can pick two. If you could only pick one out of the two, I think I would have a hard time choosing just one - they both look great and are super functional. Right now since I'm wearing the Tivoli GM, I would probably place it as my number one choice - however catch me a few weeks from now when I'm using the Palermo PM - and my order may have changed!
In short, you can't go wrong with either one. All sizes of the Tivoli and Palermo are beautiful, but for either stylish mom on the go or professional choices - I think the Tivoli GM & Palermo PM are just great!
(Photos taken with our new Nikon D3100, which I'm loving!! Will do a proper review on our new camera sometime soon!)
So I did a little collection "re-organizing" while I was on blog hiatus, and a few new bags arrived at my house! If you're here for a Louis Vuitton reveal - sorry to disappoint, but they are actually both Balenciaga bags! If you know me or knew me about some 3 or 4 years ago... I was a 100% Balenciaga girl. It was the only brand I carried. After I had Cupcake, I felt like they were maybe too delicate to carry all of the time, and that Louis Vuitton would be a more durable and long-lasting choice.
Well, I haven't given up on Louis Vuitton (I'm still considering it my "main" brand), but I did feel like I was missing having just a FEW Balenciaga bags in my collection, since I sold off a vast majority of them. So I had some Vuitton accessories just hanging around that weren't being used like they should be, so I decided to turn those into a Balenciaga bag! (Or two!)
The first bag I hunted down was a 2007 Anthracite Work. I used to have this color in a First (the smallest size Balenciaga well-known bag currently in production), but the size was just too small for me, so I let it go some time ago. I always missed the color and leather, so when this bag became available and I had an opportunity to re-home some LV accessories that weren't being used - I jumped on it!
2007 Anthracite Work
The leather is scrumptious, 2007 was the last year for Balenciaga to use their signature chevre leather, and 2007 bags hold a special place in my heart. (2007 also happens to be the year I found a love for Balenciaga.) Anthracite is a beautiful color that can look gray, blue or a dark teal depending on the lighting. It is, in my humble opinion, the best Anthracite that Balenciaga has ever released.
My second surprise purchase happened while innocently searching bags one day, I found a bag in a color that hadn't really caught my attention before that, but I couldn't get it off of my mind. I ended up having a bit of an overage leftover from the sale of my LV accessories, so I decided to go ahead and make it a two-for!
Even though it's agneau (the material used post-chevre starting in 2008, and on a few 2007 bags, like Violet, came in both materials) - I don't mind it. I do actually like the leather on this particular bag, and the color is another great chameleon color, that changes depending on the lighting and what colors are around it. It's a deep red burgundy, with purple and brown undertones that - even for a non-red wearing girl like myself- is surprisingly wearable. 2008 Black Cherry is truly a magnificent color.
2008 Black Cherry Work - Most representative of the true color
So those are my new bags for now, don't worry - I haven't given up on Louis Vuitton! Just trying to add a little of variety back into the collection! ;)
I received this request via Facebook, so I figured... why not just go ahead and do a blog post on it!
Rouge Fauviste and Violette are two similar (yet strikingly different) Vernis colors released by Louis Vuitton in recent years. Violette was released around the 2007 time frame and is now discontinued (no longer available in stores), while Rouge Fauviste was released in 2010 and is still available in your local boutique and online at www.louisvuitton.com.
Violette Sarah wallet (left) vs. Rouge Fauviste Business Card holder (right):
Purple and pink are my two favorite colors, with maroon being my favorite "grown up" color. So of course, Vuitton Vernis is a big hit with me, because it is available in so many gorgeous colors - especially those in my favorite color groups. I've had Violette pieces for a few years and they've held up extraordinarily well. I've used my Sarah wallet daily for two years and just recently had my first issue with the edge chipping (on my trip to Florida actually) in a very minor spot. So although I've now finally experienced what people mean when they say by the "edges chipping" on Vernis, I still wouldn't hesitate to buy more pieces of Vernis in the future - because all in all, with daily wear it still looks great.
Violette is a shimmery true purple color, that looks darker indoors and is a brighter purple in natural or outdoor light. The flash helps to bring out it's true color:
Louis Vuitton Zippy Coin Purse, Sarah Wallet, & Cles - all in Violette Vernis
Rouge Fauviste is a shimmery burgundy color - that has red and purple undertones. When in darker, indoor light, these two colors look more alike - but when they are in natural light (or under flash) their differences really shine.
Louis Vuitton Brea MM, Zippy Coin Purse, & Business Card Holder - all in Rouge Fauviste Vernis
So which should you get, if you're deciding between these two colors?
Well, really it comes down to personal preference of course - and I do love them both... I have to say though, that Rouge Fauviste is currently pulling ahead as my favorite Vernis color. It is pretty to look at and a light enough Vernis color that it can easily be found in bags with a dark lined interior. However, it's dark enough that you don't have to worry about wear issues like color transfer or yellowing. I like that Rouge Fauviste is a more subtle and sophisticated shade than Violette, which is a playful color but you probably really have to love purple for it to appeal to you.
Exterior: Rouge Fauviste vs. Violette
Interior: Violette vs. Rouge Fauviste
So the bottom line is, they are both great colors and have a number of beautiful items available in each color. It really comes down to which is most appealing to you, and if you like both equally - then whether you want to have to search on the second hand market to find a Violette item (which is no longer in stores) or if you would prefer to be able to buy something new directly from LV. I recommend getting something in each color!
Today's You Tube video is a viewer request from a viewer that saw my Totally MM reveal video and was asking for a review since they were trying to figure out whether to get a Totally or Neverfull for their next handbag.
Since I own a Neverfull MM as well, I figured I would do a quick comparison between the two to hopefully help them make a decision. They are both great totes, the biggest differences are the zipper or non-zippered, and.... price. So really it comes down to deciding how important a zipper is to you - and how much you're willing to pay for a zipper.
Also, the Totally MM is not available in Damier Ebene, while the Neverfull MM is available in all three canvas options - Monogram, Damier Ebene, and Azur.
I've also gotten to use the Totally MM since I made this video... and let me just say - I love this bag! It's very easy to use and I really like that it is the same shape as the Neverfull, but has the zipper closure. I like the added security, and not having to worry if I'm bending over to do something with Cupcake about things falling out.
So overall, I think the Totally MM is the winner... truly, if they made it in the Damier Ebene color, it might possibly be the best LV tote handbag ever. (Please, Louis Vuitton - we beg you, make this bag!!) Actually, there's no "possibly" about it... the Totally MM in Damier Ebene would be the perfect LV tote bag.
Hope this comparison helps anyone out there that may be deciding between the two. Thanks for watching!
Actually not my whole handbag collection... but just the Louis Vuitton pieces. I haven't taken updated pictures since October, so my videos and pictures are slightly out of date - but until I can get new videos made and new pictures taken... I thought these would do.
Louis Vuitton became my brand of choice after I had Cupcake, as it just seemed like the most durable (and baby friendly) option. Prior to that I was deeply immersed in all that is Balenciaga, and while I still enjoy looking at bbags, they are just aren't as practical for my life right now. (That doesn't stop me from wanting a Pourpre GSH Part-Time though.)
I need to carry one purse a day with me, and only so much time to use the ones I have.... so I've narrowed my collection down considerably from what it used to be. Besides, the only places I go in a day are usually the post office and Target - with the rare special even thrown in, so I really don't have a huge need to have a massive collection right now. That being said, I do occasionally miss some of the bags I've parted with and wish I would have maybe kept... just a few more of them.
In any case, these are my most recent videos and pictures for my Louis Vuitton collection, I don't have any pictures of all of the brands together.
Showing my collection through video all started when one night I got the urge to try taking a video with my new cell phone I had at the time (a LG KS360, which was the European version of the LG Neon released a few years prior to when it was available in the US) - I just took it to show on a forum as a part of a bag collection thread, and never dreamed it would get as many hits as it has. Today it has over 32,000 views.
LV Bag Collection Video from 2009:
This is the updated bag collection video that I posted at the end of 2010:
And the LV accessory collection that I uploaded around the same time as the bag collection video from 2010:
I've also done a few "What's in my bag" videos on You Tube, as well as some handbag reviews - which I'll upload in a separate blog post. Just thought since my main love is bags - that it was time I shared some of my collection with you!
Here are some recent pictures in October 2010:
Collection as of October 2010 (2011 update in parenthesis): Damier Hampstead MM (sold), Damier Trunks & Bags Cles (sold) Damier Neverful MM, Brea MM Rouge Fauviste, Palermo GM (sold to get PM size), Montorgueil GM, Damier Toiletry 15, Rouge Fauviste Business Card Holder, Rouge Fauviste Zippy Coin Purse, Framboise Agenda (sold), Tapage Bag Charm, Luggage tag, Map bandeau in Cassis, Comete bandeau in Violette, Sarah Wallet in Violette, Large Cles in Violette, Monogram Pochette, Monogram Affiche Mini Pochette, Affiche Bag Charm (sold)
Favorite:
Louis Vuitton Brea MM in Rouge Fauviste
Most of which I still have - with a few deletes as noted in parenthesis, but a few additions as well:
Added: Palermo PM
Added: Azur Totally MM
Added: Leopard Bandeau in Marron
Added: Leopard Bandeau in Blanc Corail
Added: Violette Vernis Cosmetic
Hope you have enjoyed my LV handbag collection look book! I'll try to blog in the future a post with the other brands I have as well!
