[Every girl needs a good purse (or 12). Whether you’re going for groceries or running from class to class, they are simply essential for holding all your, uh, essentials. Each week, I’m going to show you a fashionable, yet functional purse for the college crowd and let you know why you absolutely need it! I apologize ahead of time to your bank account.]

Now that the summer heat is here to stay, my time has been filled with days shopping or walking around town and nights on bar patios or at backyard BBQs. I’m realizing that my heavy, leather purses aren’t quite as suited to the summer weather as I previously thought, and I’ve been on the search for a summery, mid-size purse that I can take from day to night. And I think I’ve found a great option in the Rachel Bag from The Extras.

This faux-leather purse comes in a summery shade of yellow, but has enough undertones and brown detailing to also carry you into fall. There are 2 methods of carrying: a shorter top handle and a longer, adjustable strap so you can wear it crossbody. It’s also a good size at 14′ L x 10′ H x 5.5′ D; smaller for a day bag, but generous for an evening clutch. Read More »

There are a lot of reasons to look forward to autumn: pumpkin spice lattes, the leaves changing color, good television, and – oh yeah – Fall fashion. September is the January of the fashion world, with designers battling it out to set this year’s trends, and magazines battling it out to report them.

The September Issues are back for another year, and bigger than ever. This month’s Vogue was over 700 pages. Glamour released its largest issue in 20 years.  And don’t forget about InStyle, Elle, Marie Claire, and Harper’s Bazaar. That’s a lot of reading material, even for a seasoned fashionista. So consider this your fashion cheat sheet. I’ve drooled over slaved over pages and pages of bags, boots, coats, and colors to bring you this seasons it items (without 497 pages of ads). Enjoy! Read More »

British bag designer Anya Hindmarch is known for lustrous, elegant styles and rich colors and is such a hit in jolly ol’ England, her boutiques have been raided numerous times in the last several months.

Celebrities like Anne Hathaway are fans of her bags, which fall into the $500-$1000 range, and now those of us commoners with label lust can greedily grab up one (or more!) of her new limited-edition collection for Target. The line will be available from October 12th until December 26th and will range from just $20-$50.

Hell yeah.

But Anya didn’t sacrifice style for her much cheaper Target line. The collection stays true to her love of elegance and class with gorgeous colors and faux patent leather, and features satchels (the most popular shape of the season), shoulder bags and clutches. As Hindmarch says, “The designs are sophisticated yet practical, simple and streamlined, and the shapes are classic. They add polish and shine to any outift!”

You definitely don’t want to miss out on this limited collection. Snatch em up at Target stores or online at Target.com. Read More »

There is a guilty pleasure many women have that men will NEVER understand: handbags. As my ex once said, “It’s a thing to hold your stuff, for God’s sake!” But it’s more than that: it’s a fashion statement, an accessory, and, for a lot of us, an obsession runs deep.

So whenever a new season comes around, I know I look forward to seeing what the bag trends for that season are gonna be. While there is always a seasonal “it” bag (or 2 or 3) that generally costs more than your monthly rent, you don’t have to break the bank each season to have a trendy bag on your arm. It may be hard to believe, but there are plenty of budget options out there!

As is true with most seasons, this season brings us some new shapes, styles and textures, but there is also a lot of recycling going on. A key with bags is that you don’t need to go matchy matchy, so don’t be afraid to add a pop of color, or if you go with a neutral like grey or brown, you needn’t match all your accessories.

Bags are meant to be a statement piece, so don’t fear going bold and adding some zest to your look with your handbag – be it a clutch, tote, or, this season’s most popular shape, the satchel. Read More »