What Your Handbag Says About You

Some women meticulously choose an outfit-coordinated handbag every morning, while others carry the same bag for months (or even years) until it finally wears out and falls apart. Because they're such a daily necessity and an ingrained part of our everyday lives, handbags say a lot more about their owners than just announcing their taste in fashion. Big, small, hobo, clutch, flashy or plain -- what is your handbag saying about you?

Shoulder Bag Shoulder bags denote a thoughtful, practical nature and careful decision-making.

Designer Label Women that carry expensive, designer handbags enjoy the finer things in life (and want others to know it).

Knock-Off Carrying a knock-off bag can say that you're putting a fake front to the world and not always being true to yourself. But at least you have good taste.

Clutch Those who carry a clutch or very small handbag on a daily basis don't need to have their entire life with them at all times and give off an "I am a jet-setter" vibe.

Over-sized Large hobos and tote bags say that you don't want to ever have to go without. They say "I am prepared" and "I can take care of myself."

Flashy Bright, bejeweled, sequined, or otherwise very flashy bags denote confidence and a desire to be noticed.

Neutral Soothing, comfortable, neutral bags often belong to women with open, personable, friendly demeanors.

(Luxist)

I agree with pretty much all of it except that people who carry so called "flashy" bags want to be noticed......well, actually I can only speak for myself. I just have a fondness for embellishment and adornment.

Photo Shoot: Ryan Leslie The Music Man

Ryan Leslie is a Renaissance Man. He plays instruments, composes music, writes lyrics, produces melodies and sings songs of love. Leslie is a man’s man—a real artiste. In an exclusive photo shoot, ESSENCE.COM asked Leslie to channel the Jazz Age and the swagger of John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra. We captured the creative, romantic and visionary artist inside. Experience Ryan Leslie, the Music Man.

Photographs: Pieter Henket
Styling: Memsor Kamarake
Grooming: Merrell Hollis
Production: Roger Inniss at Boom Productions
Photo Assistant: Greg Aune
Production Assistant: Justin Barton
Video: CyCy Sanders

1. Tuxedo and shoes by D&G Dolce & Gabbana; V-neck t-shirt by CK Calvin Klein Underwear; scarf by Brooks Brothers

2. Playing the sax, R. Les for Prez sets the mood.

Bow tie, shirt, vest and pants all by D&G Dolce & Gabbana

3. Leslie is a real musician. An artist who believes in pushing the envelope and experimenting with sound. He balances classic sounds with a variety of beats. RL is reinventing R&B music for modern times.

Shirt, vest and pants all by Polo Ralph Lauren



4. An old soul, Leslie is a through back to the gentleman—smart, confident and charismatic. Making music, movies and movement. Listen to “Transition.”

Bow tie, shirt and suit by Prada; hat by Bailey’s Hat

5. The sound of soul music. Leslie writes from his personal experiences of love and loss. He is not afraid to bare his soul and sing his own song.

Shirt, blazer and pants by Diesel Black Gold; hat by Z Zegna



6. Less is more and Leslie’s second album “Transition” is filled with simplicity, emotion and digital love.

Shirt, tuxedo and boots, all by Diesel Black Gold; hat by Bailey’s Hats

7. Leslie feels the vibe and gets inspired by the rhythm and the blues.

Bow tie, shirt and suit by Louis Vuitton

8. Fashion like music is about the layers, the feeling and the orchestration. Leslie feels the sound and the swagger.

Tuxedo and shirt by D&G Dolce & Gabbana; bow tie by Brooks Brothers


9. Leslie relaxes and feels the groove. His thoughts are heavy and his imagination is vivid. This is what making music and love are all about.

Suit, shirt and tie all by Calvin Klein Collection

(essence.com)

I love this photo shoot......the whole "moody blues", jazzy thing aptly sets the tone for the old "smoky jazz club" look.

Men's Fashions: Low-cost High-style

Actor Joseph Gordon Levitt models some of the latest looks from H&M The Gap and more.

1. Uniqlo

Clean and functional basics crafted with Japanese expertise

+J wool-cashmere topcoat, $150. +J shirt, $40. Wool pants, $50.

2. French Connection

Trad designs with a rebellious streak

Wool fair isle sweater, $118. Pants, $128.


3. Topman

Natty UK style for the Stateside dandy

Plaid wool-blend suit, $400. Boots, $130.

4. Gap

American classics turned wardrobe workhorses

Leather jacket, $348. Shirt, $45. Jeans, $88.

5. H&M

From suiting options to fashion-forward sportswear—all for pocket change

Tweed sports jacket, $129. Wool pants, $70.

6. Club Monaco

Sophisticated (and office-ready) looks with a shot of wit

Gray wool suit, $498. Shirt, $89.

(GQ magazine)



Photographs by Nathaniel Goldberg

Years of Wearing Sky-high Stilettos have left Victoria Beckham in Pain and in need of Surgery

Talk about killer fashion!

After years of wearing sky-high stilettos and platform heels, Victoria Beckham is facing surgery to get rid of painful bunions, reports the U.K.'s Daily Mail.

"The Beckham household is all about feet at the moment: David is having painkilling injections for bone bruising on his foot, while Victoria is in agony with her misshapen feet," a friend of the Beckhams tells the newspaper.

Posh reportedly has to ice her feet when she gets home and is doing foot exercises to avoid the surgery.

"She is suffering from shooting pain from the bunions," the friend said. "Normally, she kicks off her shoes in the house, but she has been out so much recently in high heels that she is really feeling it."


So why not shelve the stilettos?

The 35-year-old fashionista has been wearing 5-inch designer shoes (think Louboutin, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce and Gabbana) for so long, she can't stop.

"I beyond hate ballerina flats,' Beckham has said. "I can't walk in them. Unless they're on a ballet dancer doing ballet, I just don't get it. I love heels."

And she hates her feet.

"They are the most disgusting thing about me," she has said.


(New York Daily News)

Hmmmmm.....interesting.

"Birds of a Feather"...........

1. Diane Von Furstenberg 2. Mai Lamore 3. Marc Jacobs 4. Marc Jacobs 5. Lanvin 6. Roberto Cavalli 7. Noir 8. Judith Leiber

(Elle)

"In Distress"

(macys.com)

Featured are two great looking sweaters from macys I.N.C. brand.....the pictures here don't do them justice. Each has a kind of distressed look along with being super soft. My boyfriend and I looked at them this weekend and the gray one (his choice) was sold out with the exception of a size medium..... I ended up ordering online yesterday. In-store they are $39.99, and online $34.99...great gift idea.

"Fancy Hands"

Emporio Armani

Mali Parmi

Tosca Blu

Mango

Claudo Orciani

Pennyblack

(Elle Italy)

I love to wear gloves this time of the year.........they're one of my favorite accessories. Of course it has much to do with the fact that there are so.....many attractive options these days. It can't just be any pair, they have to be "jazzy." I prefer the opera length leather gloves to those that just cover the hand. Great gloves can be a perfect accessory for your favorite coat or jacket. Of all my gloves, I have three pair that I favor over the others.....one pair is metallic silver, another is fuchsia with orange polka dots and a green pair accented with buttons. While I have the traditional black and brown, I like to mix it up a bit.

Exquisite Artistry: Bea Valdes

The words one-of-a-kind is always music to my ears, as those are some of words that describe the "fanciful' creations of designer Bea Valdes. She is one of my favorite accessories designers, as you can always expect knock-out, eye-catching pieces. Featured are some of her latest items which are available at couturelab.com.

"Crystallized" SmartBook

Here is a normal trick to garner attention. Take a gadget and clad with crystals or drench it in precious metal-plating and dazzling stones to make it to headlines that cannot be missed by anyone. Not even by the ones (like me) who cannot afford such luxury. And Smartbook AG has adopted this mantra to promote its GC SmartBook Zenide OSC. Festooned with Swarovski crystals, they have dubbed it as SmartBook Zenide GC CRYSTAL Limited Edition. For 2001 Euros (about $3,000), this smartbook packs in Intel Atom Processor N280 [1.60 GHz], original Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB DDR2 RAM and a 10.2 " NG WXGA LED screen with 1024x600 resolution. The product page also says that it ships along with a 750ml bottle of Champagne Moet & Chandon Brut Impérial "Be fabulous gold" which is also adorned with Swarovski crystals. Limited to only 20 pieces, it will reach your doorstep in a flight case of ProCase. That is if you are going to place an order for SmartBook Zenide GC CRYSTAL Limited Edition.

(Luxury Launches)

Scarlett Johansson - D&G Rose the One

Dolce & Gabbana have launched Rose The One, a new rose-centered flanker to 2006’s Dolce & Gabbana The One fragrance for women, based around the idea of a rose perfume.

The image of the perfume will be embodied by Scarlett Johansson, who was made to look like a total strawberry blonde to go with the fragrance and the strawberries she is eating in the commercial.

Stefano Gabbana told WWD: “For Domenico and myself, roses have always been our favorite flowers, our gardens are full of roses in every color and type,”

“This fragrance has a perfume that Dolce & Gabbana has never done before. We’ve never done something so explicitly linked to one flower before,” said Dolce.

The notes include blackcurrant, pink grapefruit, mandarin, lily of the valley, rose, litchi, peony, Madonna lily, ambrette seed, sandalwood, musk and vanilla.

Filmed in a Los Angeles studio, the commercial depicts Johansson in a custom-made, curve-hugging Dolce & Gabbana rose pink tulle dress, lounging on a bed in a boudoir, eating strawberries and recounting a story about a past love. (Luxuo)

Stunning Pictures!