Showing posts with label bags. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bags. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Dream Team: The Perfect Bag Arrives

Once upon a time, I had a dream. A dream of a purse that could rearrange itself into a variety of bags - laptop, clutch, purse, shoulder and messenger. This dream bag would be a classic black, made of soft leather that was easy on my conscience, and hardware that would stand the test of time. Best of all, it would be hot-to-trot and go with anything I wear.
The bag of my dreams (and yours) has arrived. With a Conscience. The 007 is made from upcycled leather, has plenty of inside and outside pockets, interchangeable fringe and strap accessories, and Mini-me (a detachable clutch).


The creation of a dream bag takes a dream team. In this case, The S.W.A.P. Team, Montreal Couture and local recycled leather accessories designer Deborah Adams (about whom I haven't stopped raving on this blog) joined forces to crowd-source and design the perfect bag, a portion of which will go to supporting the SWAP and Montreal Couture's not-for-profit endeavours."So how do I get my hands on one?!", you ask? Simply sign up for the SWAP's newsletter here to ensure you receive your invite to the exclusive online pre-sale. Only the number ordered will be made to reduce waste. The price has not yet been released but is guaranteed to be less than the retail average with a higher quality production (being the owner of multiple Deborah Adams bags and belts, I can personally guarantee it!).


Ok, stop drooling and go sign up - I don't want to hear "I wish I'd gotten one" when you run into me, 007 and Mini-me on the boulevard.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Faux Pas: Is your purse too big?

I passed a woman on the street a few weeks ago whose purse was - without exaggeration - larger than her torso. A small lady to begin with, the bag completely dwarfed her and I had to suppress a giggle.

I love big bags as much as the next girl, but there is a limit. Too big and it's bad for your back, looks ridiculous and makes it impossible to find your keys/bus pass/lip balm.

In this time of economic restraint, let's exercise a little of it on our purse size.

Monday, March 30, 2009

All Hail The Sale: m0851

This coming weekend is a bad time to be out of town - so I need all y'all to represent for me! My favourite leather bag store (made in Montreal with Italian leather) is having their yearly spring sale at their office. If you had your eye on anything from the last few seasons, go early! And don't forget to check out Stylist's Own while you're out!


The deets:

m0851 SAMPLE SALE

April 3rd - 5th
Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 12pm-5pm

www.m0851.com
3981 boul St-Laurent suite 444
T.514 842 1221

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Faux Pas: Nylon Tote


Why must I see this bag slung across the shoulder of every other woman walking down the street? I refused to acknowledge the trend when it surfaced a year ago but things have gotten to the breaking point - Ladies, are we merely sheep to the fashion industry? Do you not realize you are all walking around with the exact same bag, which in and of itself is as boring (and sure, functional) as a black t-shirt?
I'm not pissing on all nylon totes - in fact I have seen this bag as a great men's briefcase, and it can be stunning in all leather - they are super functional, go with everything and are the right size. But if you're gonna tote one around atleast pick one that is interesting: choose one with a pattern, nicer material..or double the functionality with a solar panel tote!
Or scrap the tote completely and order a local hand-made bag from MIR-Handbags instead.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

m0851

Whoops, I have been on summer holiday from Things that go Bling for a little too long... I had written this in May but never got around to posting it.

You may remember my first post of the year, in which I swore not to do ANY shopping for all of 2008. And you know what? I didn’t make a single purchase that wasn’t food, groceries or toilet paper for FOUR MONTHS. I was so proud of myself. I had resisted temptation from left, right and center.

But THEN. The flyer arrived. For m0851’s annual sample sale. And damn it if I didn’t already have my ultimate purse picked out years ago from their permanent collection. I had to go - just in case THE purse I wanted was down from the currently-unaffordable-for-me $300.
See, I did have a caveat in my new year’s resolution, which was that if an item from my wishlist (which actually isn’t that long) was available at a very good deal OR about to be taken off the market, I could make the purchase.

I am not trying to make excuses, for as you’ll see, I didn’t even make proper use of this caveat.

I arrived at the real sample sale (as a previous customer I knew that the advertised locations of the sale at their two Montreal locations was a red herring and that the real deals would be at their headquarters up the street) and headed straight for the bags. One quick tour revealed that none of their permanent collection bags were on sale, and I headed for the door. On the way there, of course, I found myself slowing down and then stopping to look at their wallets and leaving with a $60 burnt-orange clutch.

And yes, I turn a matching shade every time someone said “hey, nice clutch - WAIT, is that NEW? Did you break your New Year’s resolution?!”

Now that it is 3 months into my purchase, I can safely say it was a wise purchase - the outer and inner pockets separate my business and personal money and receipts, the colour has “aged” well with all the dirt I throw its way, and it comfortably carries my cellphone and keys inside when I go out for dinner.

A friend of mine who has lusted after my clutch recently made a trip to m0851 to acquire one for herself - and left with a burnt-orange laptop bag instead. I got weak in the knees when I saw this gorgeous leather dream and then wept with envy when she told me it was half-off. That was mid-july, so it may be a good time to acquire your dream tote!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Hade Bags!

Question 1: Did you miss me? My apologies. Life got the best of me.

Question 2: Do you love the move towards reusable cotton grocery bags, but hate the hideous billboard aesthetic of the ones carried by most stores? Me too! Well, now you can mesh style and sustainability all while supporting a local artisan!

I was walking the crowded/smelly/sweaty aisles of Montreal’s annual Expozine Fair, regretting having been dragged there for a third year in a row, when I came across Marie-Claude Hade and her gorgeous hand-silkcreened and stitched cotton bags.









These gorgeous unbleached cotton bags are decked out in the most sumptuous imagery, the most delicious colour combos - they are just dying to carry fresh stalks of green celery, electric orange carrots and fuchsia beets!

Marie-Claude Hade - who handmakes all her bags in her Granby, Quebec studio - has the eye of a designer and the talent of a seamstress. She silkcreens her drawings and imagery on to these bags, making each one different.

They come in two sizes and prices: Large, at $35 and small, at $20. The thin ones are perfect for toting around bottles of wine in style, whether it’s of the hostess-present variety or a trip to the liquor store.

She can be contacted at the following email address:

Marie-Claude Hade
mc_hade@sympatico.ca