Back in October, we discussed whether or not the legendary Fendi Baguette, the first real It Bag and practically the fifth cast member of Sex and the City, might be poised for a return to prominence. Based on the Baguettes that are starting to surface for Spring 2012, I’d say that we might all be carrying Fendi in a year’s time. Can I request a crossbody version, please?

The simple, familiar shape of the Baguette has always lent itself particularly well to gobs of embellishment, and since fashion seems to enjoy gobs of almost anything these days, it’s perhaps no surprise that the bag would once again gain a certain amount of favor. The bright colors of the Fendi Python Baguette make for a perfectly trendy all-season bag that feels very now, while the modernist beading on the Fendi Optical Beaded Baguette appeal to those who appreciate the minimal lines and bold color choices of brands like Jil Sander.

With the wide-ranging design possibilities, it’s easy to see how the Fendi Baguette fervor began in the first place; they do have sort of a collect-them-all feeling, right? Usually those kinds of responses from me are reserved for box clutches, but the Baguette takes that same possibility for creation and makes it easier to carry during the day. Here’s hoping that the bag continues on its second wind.

Fendi Optical Beaded Baguette, $3340 via Neiman Marcus

Fendi Python Baguette, $2520 via Neiman Marcus

The return of the Fendi Baguette continues apace is a post from: Cheap Online Shopping

I will admit to not fully understanding how the Marc Jacobs website works (People kept saying that they were having a 70% off sale yesterday but everything looked like it was full priced to me? What?), and the fact that Jacobs is using it to sell Olympia Le-Tan Book Clutches is just another thing about it that confuses me. I can’t think of another major high-end brand that sells things that aren’t actually its own products on its website.

Which means that as soon as I saw the clutches, I was ready to write a post about how Jacobs was the latest designer to jump on the book clutch bandwagon, but instead, it looks like the brand is using its huge reach to support an independent designer. Kind of a refreshing move, right?

Olympia was the originator of the book-clutch concept, and her items are made in small batches at the company’s Paris studio. Le-Tan tends to choose edgier or darker works than the equally well-known Kate Spade book clutches, and instead of a laminated finish, these clutches are embroidered. Each of these titles comes in limited runs of 16 pieces, so if you have the cash and any of these books are an old favorite (AHEM, TRUMAN CAPOTE), think about picking one up as a Christmas present from you, to you. Buy through Marc Jacobs for $1500.

MarcJacobs.com is selling limited edition Olympia Le-Tan Book Clutches is a post from: Cheap Online Shopping

I’m not sure exactly who it is that has righted the Kate Spade ship – creative director Deborah Lloyd? The designers she brought into the company? The marketing department? – but whoever it is, I sure hope that she is being paid handsomely. With every season, the brand once known for simple nylon bags with a signature black logo patch is getting better and better. The rate at which Kate Spade has come into its own is almost alarming.

Take, for example, the Kate Spade Little Anastasia Clutch. You can look at this little evening bag and automatically know what the brand’s about, even if you aren’t familiar with its new image. Fun femininity, bright colors, urbane whimsy – it’s all there, even when the package is so little.

Kate Spade makes a lot of great, reasonably priced bags lately, but the brand’s clutch game is highly underrated. Similar jeweled clutches had Megs and I both obsessed last spring, and mixing the colors and upping the scale of the rhinestones only makes me like this one even more than its predecessors. It’s small, so cramming my phone and keys inside might be a bit of a stretch, but I’d be willing to try for an evening bag this cute. The price is $345 via Neiman Marcus.

All that glitters isn’t gold, but most of it is Kate Spade is a post from: Cheap Online Shopping