Tag Archives: Fendi

Dream Wardrobe: Which Handbag Do You Buy?

After spending over the last decade curating the perfect handbag collection, I learned a few things about collecting couture.  If you want to buy couture, you need to buy the right bag from the get go.

What do I mean by this?

When I first started out collecting couture handbags, I bought what I could afford.  In the end, I was not happy with my choices.  So I ended up reselling those bags before I realized I needed to buy the right bag.

Each designer has their own popular classic handbag design that is sold in a variety of prints and colors.  Influencers snatch up these beauties and fill up their social media feeds with these IT bags.  They develop a culture where every girl dreams of being just like them, carrying a black Chanel quilted clutch, a Celine Luggage, a Fendi Peekaboo, Hermés Birkin, or the Louis Vuitton Neverfull.

If you are going to go designer, buy the classics that have withstood the test of time.  Not only will you love your purchase, you’ll feel happier that you chose the right bag.  A collection, after all, must begin with the basics.

You do not always have to buy brand new.  Sites like Fashionphile offer discounts on pre-owned designer handbags.  My favorite part of their site is their Last Call and Outlet (on Ebay).  Purchasing through a reputable company that backs the authenticity of their product is very important.  It guarantees you are buying the real thing.

After you add these basics, you can begin to curate your collection around your needs (i.e. evening bags, travel bags, crossbodies) and your wants (i.e. artistic bags, limited edition, that cute $5 bag you find at a flea market).  As a rule of thumb, always remember that it is better to have fewer, but better things.  The only way you can achieve that is if you buy the correct item the first time around.

The Basics


Prada Saffiano Cuir Large Double Bag, $2,980.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull, $2,500.

Céline Micro Luggage Tote, $2,100

 Chanel Quilted Lambskin Classic, $1,800
Fendi Peekaboo, $6,250

Hermés Birkin, $17,563

 


Gucci Soho Small Leather Disco Bag, $1,190

Balenciaga Blackout City Shoulder Bag, $2,950

Chloe Marcie Satchel, $1,990

Anya Hindmarch, $697 (sale)

Henri Bendel Carlyle, $264 (sale), originally $528

Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC, $195

 

Tory Burch Robinson Tote, $519.99 (sale), originally $575

How to Stop Traffic Wearing Reds: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone


I am stepping out of my comfort zone a lot lately, daring to wear red.  In the past few months, I donned a red dress here and there and received many compliments.

These dresses are not necessarily dresses that show off my assets.  They are just showstoppers because of the color.  It literally stops people in their tracks, just like a stop light does.  People take notice when they see red.

I wore this Kate Spade ensemble to the office this week.  A lot of the ladies stopped to remark at how cool it looked.  It was light and airy.  The matching bag though is my favorite.

Before you think you cannot afford to spend $726 on an outfit like this, get it for $139 like I did through Rent the Runway Unlimited.  You choose any three items out at any time for $139/month.  It is perfect for those who love expensive clothing, have a constant rotating closet, or just want to be a minimalist.  Or you can just buy it because you have to own it.

Personally, I own way too much clothing as is, but every now and again, I like the thought of having something new to wear.  I usually wear an item once every season (because I have that many clothes).  It’s nice that RTRU is around so I can minimize my closet and still have something fun to wear to work and out for the evening without adding to my closet.

Don’t be scared to wear red.  Sometimes just trying it out will amaze you.  If you’re afraid to make that bold of a statement, start small with a red accessory.  Even a red jacket is a step in the right direction.  Red has a misnomer of being a sexy color.  It can also be a color of energy, strength, power, passion, love and desire.  It can be all of those things or one of those things…it just depends on how you wear it.

Here are all of my favorite red fashion items.  What is your favorite?

Private Designer Sale: This is a Good One

For those who dream in fashion, I have a sale for you to make your Fantasy Wardrobe just a little bit happier.

I will admit that I never announce a major sale until AFTER I’ve shopped it. What can I say?  It’s the New Yorker in me that sees a sale, hopes no one else sees it, peruses the store and then makes a mad dash to the “Checkout” when I realize other people may have stumbled upon the sale.  It’s like that infamous “Will & Grace” episode where everyone is fighting over sale items at a Barney’s sale.

And yes, I am one of those people that protects my cart while shopping because people like to shop your cart in NYC.  [I am not joking when I say that.]

Just as YOOX and Net a Porter have announced their major designer tech merger, YOOX does something just as amazing…they send an email to their subscribers alerting them of a private sale.

A YOOX 90% off clearance sale is very similar to that Will & Grace episode, except if you don’t purchase it fast enough, someone else may buy it…thus meaning it’s SOLD OUT while it is still in your cart.  The Outnet (sister site to Net a Porter) clearance sales are very similar.

What things did I score at the YOOX clearance sale?  A Roberto Cavalli bag for $73, a John Galliano tote for $68, an Alberta Ferretti bag for $53, and a Missoni scarf for $37.

Yes.  All of those prices are real.  Including this Fendi bag for $362.

I’ve been wanting a Missoni scarf for a few years now but every time I went to purchase one at Rue La La or Gilt, I just didn’t feel like that was the price I wanted to spend on a Missoni scarf.  YOOX’s price of $37…no one is twisting my arm.  That was more than just the perfect price.

The Cavalli bag for $73?  I bought a similar bag a few years ago for $550.  I love that bag so much.  I take it with me whenever I travel because it’s light, it can take a punch, and it is like Mary Poppin’s magic carpet bag (you just can’t fill the thing up).  I bought this new one just in case the other one gives out on me one of these days.  At $73, that’s a major deal for me considering I know already what I’ll get out of the bag.

Before you go running off to the site to shop the sale, you need to know a few things first.  You need to know HOW to shop it.

First, it is essential that you REGISTER for the site.  You cannot access the sale unless you are a registered customer.

Second, after you register, a yellow tab called MYOOX will pop up at the top.  Click on that tab.  It will take you to the “Up to 90% off sale.”

Right now, the sale is for subscribers only.  The sale goes public on April 2.

The reason why you want to subscribe and register now for the site: if you wait until April 2, you are basically getting the scraps.

To get a little bit more cash back, make sure to use Ebates to get 2% cash back when you checkout.  Not a user of Ebates? Register HERE.  New subscribers get a $10 gift card to a retailer of their choice.

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This is a Fantasy Wardrobe post.  Fashionistas dream of having the most amazing wardrobe, but most oftentimes don’t have the bank account to fuel their shopping passions.  Fantasy Wardrobe posts at PerfectionistWannabe.com are designed to help you find ways to make your dream wardrobe come true.  These things don’t happen overnight.  It takes time to make the dream a reality.  This site will show you how.

Fendi For Less

No, this isn’t one of those posts on how to get a fake Fendi.  This is PW pointing you in a new direction…how to buy Fendi below the retail price.

Being a Fendi addict, I’ve found numerous ways to get the Fendi I want.  Whether it’s having patience and waiting for the season to end, or waiting a couple of years for the Fendi I want to come up on a resale site, an outlet site, or a wholesale site.

Take for instance this Fendi sold at Saks Fifth Avenue.


This backpack retails at $1500.  You can get the same bag at Overstock.com for $999.99.  Plus, if you’re a Club O member, you’ll earn $50 in Club O Rewards to go towards the purchase of some other fabulous item.

Shocked?  Well…we’re not done.

This Fendi Roma tote bag comes from Neiman Marcus.


The interesting part about this bag is that it’s currently on pre-order for $1,800. It’s expected to ship no later than April 1, 2015.  But Overstock has it already in stock for $1,299.99.  [O Club Rewards of $65.]

How about my favorite Fendi ombre zucca bag from Neiman Marcus?


Neiman Marcus is selling it for $1,100.  While Overstock is selling theirs for ($799.99). [O Club rewards of $40].

What if you want the Fendi 2Jours?

This one will cost you $2,350 at Nordstrom.  Overstock has it for $1,499.99. [O Club reward is $75.]  That’s almost 1/2 off the regular price.

So just why are you buying these items at the MSRP price when you can get the Overstock price, plus receive O Club rewards to use towards purchasing some other designer item (like a matching pair of Fendi sunglasses)?

Shop smarter, ladies.