December’s Discounts!

Sales are a daily part of our lives but there’s no satisfaction like getting a fantastic deal on something we desperately want. This handbag site is no different so as sales pop up and discounts are offered on specific stores then I’ll be posting the links right here so you can take full advantage!

Dorothy Perkins – 20% off VIP event this week!
As a special Christmas treat, Dorothy Perkins have launched a new 20% off VIP event this week! Get 20% off all purchases on site using the CODE: DPGIFTA. Valid from 7th December until 13th December. Click Here

New Look – Exclusive 20% OFF Everything
Simply enter the following code at the point of checkout to activate this discount Code: VIPAF20 Only valid: Saturday, 12 December 2009 and Sunday, 13 December 2009. Click Here

La Redoute – 25% OFF Everything & Free Delivery
From Monday 7th December through to 21st December, just use CODE: 5688 at the checkout! Click Here

Barratts – 20% off everything until 13th December – enter code AMAZINGB at checkout
There’s also 25% off party Shoes and Bags code is PARTYB this offer is available until the 13th December. Click Here

Happy Shopping!!

Brighten Up Your Winter

It would appear, from the powers that be, that absolutely everything is a trend this Winter including a resurgence in military style, monochrome, black, velvet, the 80′s (including hideous shoulder pads!), scarlet red has hit the runway but hot pink is also proving to be a fav as is layering and muted tones. Honestly, I think you could get away with just about anything in the next six months and look like a style guru!!

But one trend trend is really emerging and that’s ‘Quilted’ – mix it with 80′s colours and you’re on to a winner!! To prove it I’ve put together the hottest styles from both the high street and the top end designers so whether you have £10 or £1000 we’ve something for your budget….

Golden Globes 2009

The Golden Globes are a party and the stars came dressed for it. Sunday night’s red carpet in Beverly Hills, Calif., was full of both classic Hollywood glamour and up-and-coming fashion trends.

“I’ve never seen such a sophisticated Golden Globes. It’s like it was the Oscars,” said stylist Mary Alice Stephenson.

There were lots of hues of ocean blues, tropical shades and sandy neutrals, strapless corset-style gowns, one-shoulder numbers and a little glitz thrown in. The jewels — big chunky earrings and oversized necklaces — apparently are recession-proof.

Jennifer Lopez could have been a Globe statuette herself in her plunging V-neck, gold-bead gown by Marchesa. “Jennifer Lopez looks exactly like you want Jennifer Lopez to look,” said Hal Rubenstein, fashion director at InStyle. Penelope Cruz went for a more subtle gold in a slim column gown by Giorgio Armani Prive with the occasional beaded horizontal stripe.

A blond Drew Barrymore channeled Marilyn Monroe with a pouffed-out hairdo and dove gray off-the-shoulder John Galliano for Dior gown. “She created a moment,” observed Stephenson.

Kate Winslet wore a glamour-girl black Yves Saint Laurent strapless gown with a black velvet belt and a bow at her waist and a 47-carat, five-row bracelet by Chopard.

Angelina Jolie captured a bit of a boho vibe in a loose Versace tank gown, while Brad Pitt went a more traditional route with aviator sunglasses and a classic bow tie. “They rule the red carpet,” said Lisa Rinna, TV Guide Channel‘s red-carpet host. “She looked easy, relaxed and beautiful.”

Stephenson said Marisa Tomei‘s ’70s-inspired white poet blouse and black skirt was “too sloppy and undone.”

Rubenstein gave a thumbs-up to Freida Pinto’s yellow strapless gown — a perfect complement to her complexion, he said — and to Eva Mendes and her “womanly, sexy” white strapless Dior with a fashion-forward gathering at the hip. Her Van Clef & Arpels turquoise-and-diamond necklace was a showstopper.

The star piece of Debra Messing‘s outfit: 19th-century diamond-and-emerald drop earrings by Fred Leighton. Of her black halter dress, she said, “It picked me. It fits perfectly, and I feel unbelievably comfortable in it. It just made me feel pretty, and that’s the bottom line, really.”

An elegant Anne Hathaway was among the many stars dressed in blue. She wore an Armani Prive strapless gown with a crystal-studded bustier and skirt of layered gazar. Blake Lively was in a midnight-blue strapless satin gown with iridescent sequin embroidery by Nina Ricci.

Three made a trend for white: Kate Beckinsale in a J. Mendel sculptured strapless, Beyonce in a beaded Elie Saab with a high slit, and Miley Cyrus in an empire-waist Marchesa with peek-a-boo gold embroidery. Fans of red included Eva Longoria in a supersleek strapless gown by Reem Acra and Kyra Sedgwick in a corsetedOscar de la Renta.

Those wearing one-shoulder creations included Maggie Gyllenhaal in a subtle blue leopard print gown byLanvin, Cameron Diaz in bright pink Chanel and Sandra Bullock in a cream Dior.

Demi Moore wore a peach Dior chiffon gown, while her daughter Rumer Willis, the official Miss Golden Globe, wore a rose-red strapless gown by Reem Acra that had an embroidered jeweled waist. Moore’s husband,Ashton Kutcher, did the black-on-black combination also favored by Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.

Aaron Eckhart jazzed up his Ermenegildo Zegna tuxedo with paisley accents. “I don’t have much style sense, but when I saw that, I thought it was pretty cool. … Zegna has given me suits for films I have done and stuff, so I feel like we have a good relationship.”

But a fashion black strike went to Sting, who forgot to shave, which made his oversized black coat look all the more unkempt.

Choosing The Right Bag

Did you know that a handbag can flatter your shape almost as much as the right pair of jeans? Choosing the right handbag can flatter your figure and give you a stylish look whatever your size.

They key to choosing the right handbag for you is buying a bag that’s the opposite to your body shape. If you’re lucky enough to be one of those tall, thin ‘eat anything you want’ and never but on a pound girls (I hate you already) then look for a slouchy, rounded hobo style bag to compliment your figure.

If you’re short and voluptuous, then choose a longer/taller more structured bag, this will give the illusion of making you appear longer and taller. In general, the rounder your figure, the more structured your bag needs to be.

Some popular handbag shapes:

Tote Bag – Open-top bag with straps or handles, great for shopping.
Hobo Bag – Crescent-shaped shoulder bag, looks good on the tall and thin.
Clutch Bag – Small, handheld bag which looks good on anyone.
Satchel Bag – Large handheld bag, a great option for fashion conscious business types.
Messenger Bag – Large, soft shoulder bag with long straps (often worn across the body).
Kelly bag - A classic Hermes style named after Grace Kelly; a large structured handbag.

Size Is Important!

While the shape of a bag should oppose your body type, the size of the bag should be in proportion to your figure. Think scale here ladies: a woman who is 6 feet tall and a size 14 would look lost with a tiny bag. A size zero waif would look overwhelmed by an enormous slouchy bag.

A shoulder bag’s length (where the bottom of the bag hits your body) will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near. For example, a shoulder bag that ends around the hips will play up your hip width (the eye is drawn to the bag). So don’t pick a bag that accentuates your worst features. Most women look great with a bag that hits mid-torso because it flatters the waist.