My Balenciaga fangirldom is by now common knowledge around these parts, and despite Megs’ ongoing inability to find her perfect Balenciaga bag, I just keep discovering things from the brand that I need in my closet with a fierce urgency. Funny how that works, eh?

The latest object of my lust is the Balenciaga Giant City with rose gold hardware, and although I’m late to the rose gold party, I hope that I still get bonus points for earnestness. I brushed off the rose gold color choice as too “niche” when I heard about it, but after encountering this very bag in person, I can ignore it no longer.

At first I assumed that rose gold hardware would clash with most of my jewelry and my general sense of style, since I mostly associate the metal with expensive, gaudy jewelry that is very much not my style. In typical Balenciaga fashion, though, the designers behind the hardware gave it a weathered, gritty appearance that transforms it into something that fits right into my wardrobe.

Only the front zipper has a bit of shine to it, and the contrast is an interesting before-and-after demonstration of what the studs and buckles used to look like. It might prove more difficult to match rose gold hardware with Balenciaga’s famous bright leathers, but the rose and black combination works just fine for me. Buy through Matches for $1551.

Balenciaga’s rose gold hardware is even more beautiful in person than it is on the Internet is a post from: Cheap Online Shopping

Who’s that girl carrying an ostrich Hermes Birkin walking to the set of her hit TV drama in NYC?

If you guessed Kelly Rutherford, you are correct! This bag is a Lily Van Der Woodsen favorite, as Kelly has been seen carrying this bag before.

In fact, Kelly Rutherford is known to use her personal Hermes collection as part of her Gossip Girl wardrobe. We all know Kelly is a huge Hermes fan, in fact her first son is named Hermes (though she states her love of the brand is not directly correlated to his being name). The gold ostrich Hermes Birkin is and always will be a classic. With Gossip Girl filming in full force, my excitement for the return of the show is building.

Check out BagThatStyle for a peek at what your favorite Gossip Girl characters are wearing!

Who’s that girl with her ostrich Hermes Birkin? is a post from: Cheap Online Shopping

It might be a bit early to declare box bags as a trend, but the sight of Victoria Beckham carrying one a little while back and now the appearance of fall’s Alexander Wang Tai Dopp Kit Bag make it seem as though more such bags will come out of the woodwork in the near future. Boxes certainly fit with the emerging trend of petite, streamlined, slightly retro handbags, and if you want to hop on this look before all of your friends know about it, we’ve got a few suggestions – one that plays up the bag’s grey tone, another that accents the creams and beiges.

The Bag

Alexander Wang Tai Dopp Kitt Bag – It comes in both embossed natural python and black leather, but since mixing patterns is also a fall trend, this seems like a perfect time to wade into those waters a bit and see how things go. The black version, of course, could be mixed into a wardrobe in a similar way to a large black clutch.

The closure and structure of this bag make it easily more interesting than any clutch in my closet, though, and I’m betting the same is true for you. That the short handle must be held by hand will make it unwieldy in some daytime situations, but it’s such a cool, different bag that it would be worth the tradeoff. Buy through ShopBop for $795.

Daytime – Edgy

Helmut Lang Raven Top – This silk and jersey asymmetrical top is full of color inspiration for any number of different outfits, but pairing it with neutrals in different textures allows the subtle pattern and draping to shine. The traces of cream and beige tie in with the bag, and combining the two gives you a relatively safe way to mix prints without looking like a crazy person. Buy through ShopBop for $320.

Vince Oversized Pocket Sweater – In a temperate climate or during the part of winter before it’s gotten truly cold up north, a sweater like this is absolutely key. It can go with boyfriend jeans and casual shoes or be sexed up a bit with silk and leggings, and the charcoal grey color gives the knit a bit more dimension and versatility than black would. Buy through ShopBop for $345.

Plush Liquid Faux Leather Leggings – I’m not much of a fan of fake leather in general, but in some situations, it just makes sense. Leather leggings cost hundreds of dollars and don’t have much season-to-season staying power, and this faux version is priced perfectly and isn’t too shiny to be worn during the day with a casual outfit as an interesting, textured alternative to basic black leggings. Buy through ShopBop for $70.

Elizabeth and James Coli Suede Flats – Winter is all about mixing textures, and choosing suede flats for daytime is just another way to do it. The medium grey color pulls from the greys in both the bag and shirt, and it provides some softness at the end of the leather leggings. Buy through ShopBop for $285.

Dannijo Coco Ring – For an ensemble with this many textures, jewelry can be kept to a piece or two. When wearing sweaters, I stay away from bracelets because of snagging, and earrings would compete with the huge collar. A statement ring is therefore the perfect option, and this one adds just the right amount of shine while still keeping with the mood of the clothes. Buy through ShopBop for $216.

Nighttime – Feminine

Foley + Corinna Asymmetrical Party Dress – Nude and cream tones dotted the runways for the past two seasons, and this frilly dress gives a girly look to a trend that can become boring quickly. I’d be a bit afraid to crush the frills if I sat for too long, but this is the ideal dress for standing at a bar or dancing at a club while still looking flirty and pretty. Buy through ShopBop for $390.

Anna Sui Faux Fur Cropped Jacket – Fur is noticeably huge for fall, and the always-reliable Anna Sui has created the perfect (faux!) night-out topper. It’s cropped to show off as much of your dress as possible, and the plush, glossy black fur will keep you warm and dressy-looking simultaneously. To go tough instead of glam, layer a cropped, draped leather jacket over your party frock instead of fur. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $350.

Jeffrey Campbell Clara Mesh Platform Pumps – These shoes ride the fence between pump and booty admirably, and the black suede with mesh insets will mirror the dress well once a foot is inside. The design anchors a floaty ensemble without being too heavy, and they would be a versatile nighttime option to have in your closet in case of random fabulous parties. Buy through ShopBop for $136.

Rachel Leigh Zelda Cluster Drop Earrings – Nothing accents an asymmetrical neckline like a pair of good dangly earrings, and since most necklaces don’t work with this type of dress, go for big and sparkly. This pair provides a little color variation for a very neutral outfit. Buy through ShopBop for $188.

One Bag, Two Ways: The Alexander Wang Tai Dopp Kit Bag is a post from: Cheap Online Shopping