LV vs BURBERRY.

i'm not really looking to buy a new bag, but i've been stalking a few..and saving pennies (literally) for one near my bday though ;)

in the meantime, i'm taking my time looking for that perfect one to purchase. i've been lOving this burberry bag pictured below for the longest time. i can see it being well used during summer, fall, winter and spring.

but i've also been lOving louis vuitton's newest monogram canvas tote/shoulder bag: the stresa. i love the larger version, but not the price...who does?!

i've noticed since it's hit LV boutiques all around - it's the most common bag i've seen in just the last few weeks. every starbucks or target trip i make it seems like i see one of these LV stresa's being toted around. so that's something to consider. other than that, i don't like the strap you have to unbuckle just to get to zippered part...before you can actually get into the bag. that's not very functional is it. so why'd they design it that way? for the look of it? well it does look nice with that extra wide vachette strip, but still. don't think it's very functional.

what do YOU think?

Burberry Bridle House Check Tote, $1595.00 USD

lOve everything about this bag. the size, the look, the feel, the color - abolutely everything! well, except the price ;)

Louis Vuitton Stresa in sizes PM and GM, $1360.00 and $1520.00 USD

^ inside of LV Stresa.

(the first reason why i wouldn't purchase this: the annoyance of having to unbuckle top strap to be able to unzip bag to then open!)

that'd just be ultra frustrating..

wouldn't have the patience.

sometimes sad, sometimes glad: tokidoki

so usually i fall for cutesy stationary hello kitty & co type things. last year i came across a hello kitty cactus girl wallet pouch thing at sanrio (hello kitty store) and found it was designed by tokidoki for hello kitty, much like how rebecca minkoff did a limited edition hello kitty handbag and wallet set, but anyway, didn't think much beyond that.

for those that don't know about tokidoki, it's another handbag/accessory line. designer is simone legno. a youngish italian designer who has a deep love for japanese culture (according to wiki).

usually i'd associate tokidoki designs/characters with skulls, fangs, scary but colorful characters (see first image below). so i wasn't all that interested in having some asian painting of a girl character on a bag i'd be carrying around with me. also, the skulls and such somewhat frightened me a bit, and the little plants with fangs. not even my little sister cared for it much!!

but then tokidoki came out with something that called out to me! the 'pegaso' line :) when i had to walk through macy's to get to the inner part of mall - i stopped dead in my tracks and gasped: i saw tiny unicorns/clouds/etc. i thought happy thoughts which took me back to when i was... NINE! i thought not of tokidoki's new design patterns, but of unicorns (i think of she-ra's pegasus); the last unicorn (book & movie); and who could forget about rainbow brite's starlite, the flying horse!!

so basically, this post is about my first ever tokidoki messenger bag i just bought. you'll see it below. just scroll :) *happy thoughts* ;)

this is why i never bought a tokidoki bag before. not that i'm knockin' it - i just didn't care for design..

though some of the characters are cute, the fangy plants and skulls kinda' freak me out on a handbag. stationary, ok, but not on handbags (for me anyway).

gaaaaasp: cute clouds with big smiley face, pegasus/unicorns/flying horse type things...and no scary plants with thorns and fangs? and no asian girl throughout design of bag? this bag's for me! ;)

so this was their lv "speedy" type bag. i did consider this, but it was too tiny. cute - but tiny. so this one was a no-go.

so i got the messenger bag style below but not in the cute astronaut design pictured, i got it in the "pegaso" design (image above)...





and i lOve it. course i was shocked because i thought the bag would be less than $50!! i thought le sportsac type bags were inexpensive..
guess not tokidoki's? :(

*unicorns should be worth it though right.*

COACH Leah in CeCe Fabric! Eeek!!

*Images below are not my own, but borrowed from amazon.com, and a couple coach ebay listings. my camera recently broke. Until it gets fixed, or I can borrow a camera, this'll have to do. Later I will replace images w/my own - and with more detailed pics - promise. I was just too ecstatic not to share this wonderful bag. :D*

COACH, Kate Spade & Rebecca Minkoff. It's a push n' pull love/hate relationship. For the last ten years I've probably fell in and out of love with these brands about a hundred times ;P These brands always seem to come up with something better every other year. I thought I was OVER Kate Spade a couple years ago, but there she goes with her ready to wear fall 2009 collection. Now COACH with their new line of wallets (I'm in love with the yellow slim envelope wallet too). RM has all these SLG goodies and I still cannot get the Deep Red Beau out of my head, which is still on sale at Muse Ten in SF!

Although the color looks neon bright, it's the perfect color for spring and summer - or even fall. It's a great shade, and is fun and comfortable to wear all around town. Love that the Coach Leah in CeCe Canvas pictured above is spacious; functional; with plenty of pockets for organization inside and out; can hold plenty without appearing overly stuffed. It has a detachable strap which can be worn comfortable over the shoulders, or cross body and can also be adjusted. Additional tote handles with natural vachette piping and handles add a nice contrast to this tote.

A good, generous, kind, loving, sweet and fellow handbag fanatic friend of mine I've known for years, gave me the most awesome gift EVER! I still canNOT believe she gave me this!*&^%$#! for my early bday gift!!!! She spoils me so. She also is the one who treated me to my spa day (early bday gift) last Saturday, and I'm so greatful to her ;)

*image above borrowed from amazon.com, is the COACH Leah in Pink CeCe Canvas

^ pictures just do not do this COACH tote justice!! it's cute, pretty, functional, roomy - and just all around the best (to me) COACH bag i'd owned in the longest time (thanx K! i lOve lOve lOve it!&*^%#!!)

^ it also comes in the legacy stripes line seen above..this is cute too. but i just LOVE my pink one SO much (it's my color) - and i bought a matching 1920's vintage style hat to go with it too :)

(K, did i say thank you yet???!!!!)

XOXO, - Nine

Kate Spade Fall 2009 Ready To Wear

(Get this look HERE.)

^ i really love this one ^ (Get this look HERE.)

i really LOVE this one too.

(Get this look HERE.)

(Must have this outfit - and pink vintage phone! Get this look HERE.)

( get this look HERE.)

Ruffles, Polka Dots & Tights. lOve it.

K8's Spades.

kate spade handbags? not anymore. kate spade ready to wear? yes ;)

^ i spy chicken kentucky inside kate spade boutique ;p

^ love how the kate spade boutique carries vintage books with brand new library type sleeves..

^ well okay this one is from the holiday collection ;)

LV Budget $650 (USD)

*for k.

a friend of mine inspired this post. a friend of hers has a handbag budget of $650.00 usd. what, at LV, would you be able to purchase - handbags wise - around that price range. and in monogram canvas?

i could dream up various combos (slg's, clutches, handbag, etc.) ;p but for practicality, functionality, convenience and price range in handbags, here is what i came up with. let me know if there's something else that can be added to this LV dream list. *sigh*

^ The Neverfull Collection comes in 3 sizes.

GM is Grande Model, the largest Neverfull size; MM is Medium Model; PM is Petite Model. GM is a great size for most, however, PM is a great size for those who aren't into ginormous handbag totes, and for those that carry lightly daily...

^ Neverfull PM.

Currently $650 USD. I say "currently" because LV does price increase approximately 3x per year. Measures 11.2" x 8.6" x 5.1". Open top with dog leash closure and side cinching for extra security and versatility. Cotton canvas lining with a huge inside zip pocket which can hold makeup, keys, cell, odds & ends.

^ Odeon PM. $715.00.

$75 more than budget, here is another option. Secure top zip closure, sleek messenger style shoulder bag, one outide flat pocket to slide loose paper, inside patch and cell phone pocket. This is the smallest size of the Odeon line. Adjustable straps are a plus.

Measurements 11.4" x 10.2" x 2".

^ Odeon GM size retails at $1,100.00 USD.

I placed a pic comparison to show size difference between PM & GM.

^ Montorguiel PM, $800 USD.

When this adorable LV named after a trendy bohemian-chic community in Paris, France first came out, it was retailed at $750 I think? Can't remember. But for $150 more in budget, this could be a forever til death departs you bag..

^ Eva Clutch (can also be used as a daily purse). $550 USD.

Measurements 10" x 5.1" x 1. 8". Can be carried short over shoulder with chain, or cross body with Vachette strap. Strap is removable. It seems tiny, but this clutch purse can hold a small wallet or a small coin pouch, keys, makeup, cell. Daily essentials.

Memorable Shopping Day (^_^)!

among our little crew, two happen to be the best behaved little shopaholics in training ;P they were patient, completely interested in everything we looked at, tried on, whined about wanting.

the two girls (codename "chicktucky" *their codenames the boys gave for reasons unknown?*) kept themselves preoccupied window shopping with us
*thanx for the ADORABLE pics you took that day, K!*

my lil sis asked dad & [my stepma] for a Louis Vuitton accessoires purse/pouch *gasp*

i took her to LV & showed her the pouch (as i looked in store for my own selfish reasons)..

but now my lil' sis is HOOKED on LV and wants one for her bday. ouch for dad's bank account huh?

i spy chicktucky at peete's coffee :D

Moving on..

look what i scored at target by mossimo?? puffy sleeved cardigan (on sale!)

The Sweetheart Wide Leg Dark Wash Trouser Jeans at Old Navy

On sale, $7.99 each,

Jersey Ruffled Tanks at Old Navy in purple.

course i had to have it in this color..

a white ruffled jersey knit tank from old navy. sale is the code word!

had to have this color too (blue ink)

and of course love to wear my comfy havanias flip flops in sand gold OR graphite depending on tops.

my VERY random WANTS.

it may be hard to picture this lingerie set w/the pumps, but somehow in my random thinking (inside my head), i feel like this would make a CUTE outfit, walking around your house in the heat of summer hell just for fun. trade in the flip flops, shorts n' tee or tank for this, for just one day. while your boyfriend is visiting, staying over, *helping* around the house?

i just love this, it's a fun piece :) perfect for your next 4th of july bbq in your backyard!!

i lOve this purple trenchcoat. i want, want, want it! and it's on sale. at plasticland!

i. need. these. cute vintage looking maryjane pumps.

i'm a sucker for cute summer dresses that remind me of the kinds of dresses i wore at nine years old :)

this high heeled open toe platform patent pump in this seagreen color looks hideous maybe by itself, but i think it'd look sexy with a cute top, skinny black jeans or tights and voila. i die for these too. well, not die for them. they're $42.00. i can budget for them :)

i would lOve to have these types of platforms in all colors available.

of course i'm loving this Treesje Turner Bag in pumpkin i think is the color?

i decided i want this vintage style button up jacket too. would look SO cute w/dark wash jeans and either cranberry flats, OR, black flats.

again, another summer dress i love that i could wear now, but is reminiscent of my childhood days. just love that vintage look..

for summer.