Archive for April, 2008

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Watering Can Handbag

First off, I have to say: “Wow!” Secondly, I need to take in a couple of deep breaths and say: “Really?” And lastly, just to test that I’m not dreaming, I have to pinch myself. But to such great dismay, I am still awake in the real world…

I guess you can say this is a very different/one of a kind handbag. But honestly, would you wear this to a restaurant or perhaps to a mall? Wouldn’t it be silly if one day the gardener mistakenly took your handbag thinking it was actually a watering can? As stupid as it may seem, it could truly happen. We girls love to fill our bags with so much stuff that it actually can feel as heavy as a watering can filled with water. So, who really would buy this bag then?

Well, I guess this bag is for those who like to be the center of attention. The responses that these gals should expect from wearing this bag are smiles on good days and laughter on bad days. So, why not carry this bag; at least you made somebody smile or even brought in some extra laughter into this world.

Rioni Blog viewers, what is your take on this watering can handbag?

Saturday, April 26th, 2008

Mommy Help Me

                        

Mother’s Day is just around the corner….but how do you shop handbags for your mom without her help or knowing it? Here are some handy dandy tips to help you before the big day comes and places where good deals are going down for the special occasion.

Tip 1

Go through your mom’s handbag collections. What kind of handbags does she tend to buy? Simple or more decorative? Hobo or Tote? Is there a brand that she loves and can’t get enough of or maybe need more of?

Tip 2

Choose handbags that have magnetic closures instead of buckles. They are easier to open and close, and lasts a lot longer than the typical buckle.

Tip 3

Pick a classic. If you’re not sure you can always ask a sales associate. There are some bags that are timeless and even though style and fashions come and go, there will always be pieces that are “In”.

Tip 4

Think about the things your mom likes to carry with her in her bag. If she carries a variety of things in addition to what you may think are necessities such as books and make-up, you might want to pick a bag that is more spacious. Does she like all of her things organized? Then compartments maybe the way to go.

Tip 5

Think about weight. If you mom doesn’t carry that much stuff with her, or if you know she has a bad back, opt for bags that are lighter. Lighter bags are usually made of all canvas or soft leather.

Deal 1

RIONI.com is having a 15% off sale off all RIONI items. Just enter the code “vnx34a” when you check out and 15% will automatically be deducted from your order. This offer is good until Mother’s Day.RIONI.com is having a 15% off sale off all RIONI items. Just enter the code “vnx34a” when you check out and 15% will automatically be deducted from your order. This offer is good until Mother’s Day.

Deal 2 

Dooney and Bourke is has a printable coupon for $50 off your purchase of $200 or more at any of their seven retail locations. Offer good until 05/12/08. Coupon can be found at http://cps8.britemoon.com/ccps/ui/images/437/content_load/2008-04-22/RET/index.htm?BrCs=437&BrCg=14566452&BrRc=10075681

Deal 3

Sephora is has free shipping over $50, free gift packaging, and free samples for Mother’s Day online.Sephora is has free shipping over $50, free gift packaging, and free samples for Mother’s Day online.

Deal 4 

1800flowers.com has selected Mother’s Day flowers for up to 40% off.

Deal 5

Telaflora.com is has $10 off any flower arrangement on the site. Use the promotional code “psgg10d” at check out.

Happy Mother’s Day to All Mothers Out There!

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

Pets FLOSSIN’ Designer Names

In today’s society, many Americans are turning to pets for companionship.  Some of these adorable critters truly are a man’s/woman’s best friend.  I have heard of incidences where some prefer their pets in the front passenger seat of their vehicle rather than their own boyfriend/girlfriend.  The ironic thing is that these incidences are both cute, but at the same time inhumane.  Many newly wedded couples feel more comfortable starting off raising a pet then transitioning towards raising a child of their own.  Some show their unconditional love to their dogs by pampering them with luxurious commodities such as dog strollers, toys, playhouses, special treats, etc.  As a matter of fact, just the other day on television, a news reporter discussed the story of a man throwing a birthday party for his bulldog which included a birthday cake the size of a typical human wedding cake. How did this bizarre chaos begin?

It all started with the tabloid pictures of Paris Hilton carrying her puppy in a tote.  Paris Hilton, a model idealized by many, had accidentally started a trend for carrying an animal in a bag.  And before we knew it, young women everywhere began casually running errands carrying their puppies in dog carriers.  The handbag industry took the idea of making a handbag for small pets and marketed the idea to become a tremendous hit.  Many very chic fashionable and versatile designer handbag companies such as Coach, Louis Vuitton, Ed Hardy, and Juicy Couture jumped on the bandwagon and started producing dog carriers.  So that is how the story of a dog carrier began.

What has our world come to—putting their pets a pedestal higher than their significant others?

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

FOR SALE - $20,000

That’s right folks, this bag is only $20,000 dollars. Though the decision of purchasing a Coach handbag over a fuel efficient Toyota Camry may be a tough one, I would truly expect one to choose the latter. I mean, who really needs a car that seats five? By the way, to our newer viewers, I usually have biased sarcastic opinions. However seriously speaking though, what makes this Coach handbag so expensive?

So, what makes this handbag a hole in one’s wallet? Well first off, this handbag is made out of alligator leather—one of the rarest leathers on the market. If we were not dozing off in our high school Economic class, we should have a recollection of one of the principles of supply and demand (rare commodity + demand for the commodity = increase in cost for the commodity). Besides the fact that alligator leather is rare, alligator leather is also extremely difficult to cut and prepare. Since alligator skin cannot be stretched like calf hide, it must therefore be trimmed and cut only by skilled and trained experts (this way not to waste the precious alligator hide). Anyhow, let’s talk more about the styling of the bag.

To be honest, I truly dislike the totality of this Coach satchel. As a matter of fact, I would not even consider buying the bag for even half the price. Call me distasteful, for I feel that this bag does NOT make a statement or even portray itself as an expensive bag. I guess this bag is meant for the true alligator enthusiasts.

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Handbag Insurance

 

Would you feel safer about losing your handbag if you had insurance on it? Me neither. But our friends across the pond think differently. Esure.com, a British insurance company, is providing a service geared towards women to give them piece of mind. By insuring handbags from being stolen or lost coupled with a road side assistance that have representatives trained to avoid using technical jargon and vocabulary. Seems silly to me, I’ll listen to “tech talk” and not pay “Opps, I forgot my bag” premiums any day of the week thank you very much.

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

April Showers Bring May Flowers

 

 

 

Typically during this time of year it tends to rain more than usual, is your handbag up to the challenge? Most bags aren’t very good when wet; take the infamous Prada Fairy Bag for example. The Prada Fairy Bag featured the art of James Jean and had a hefty price tag around $2500. However there have been enough complaints about ink bleeding to spark discussions on quality control and design issues. This leads me to believe that there just are some bags that you cannot get wet. But will rain really damage my handbag? Unfortunately, when mom told you to stop trying to catch rain water in your mouth when you were a kid, she was RIGHT! Rain water over the years have become polluted and acidic therefore if you have a painted, leather, or fabric handbag see if you can grab a plastic bag to shield it from the rain! The acidity of the rain water may cause permanent stains on either the leather or the paint itself. I would hate to see a beautiful handbag get damaged by the rain. If you absolutely must use a handbag in the rain I would suggest a rugged and lightweight fabric that is weather resistant such as Rioni’s Utopia Collection.

Friday, April 18th, 2008

Is Your Bag Saving the World?

Maybe the better question is – CAN it? Almost everywhere you look today more and more places are selling reusable canvas totes. At Wal-Mart you can get one for a dollar, at Albertsons you can donate any monetary amount and get one. Even Macy’s has one for two dollars and all their bags there usually sell for well over $50 at least! You can buy them in different colors and all different designs on Amazon- all totaling less than twenty dollars for a lot of six. Of course there are more expensive and even designer reusable canvas totes made especially for your groceries.

                                                                                        

An example is the tote “I’m not a Plastic Bag” by Anya Hindmarch. It started at retail for five pounds in England, now it’s up to 200 pounds on Ebay. Vanity Fair even picked this bag as its choice goody bag for its guests for their 2007 Oscar Party.  You can get this for about $30 USD if you can find it!

                                                                                         

Another popular bag in this category is the ChicoBag. It’s design to fit inside your handbag which measures three inches by four inches and weighs only 1.5oz. It has a 20 pound capacity and expands up to 18 inch by 18 inch when filled. It’s machine washable and made of durable woven nylon. This bag even comes with a one year warranty. This one will only run you $5!

Another popular one is ECOBAGS which costs about $7 on Amazon.

These are only the few of the many canvas bags that are out there. So, why should you consider switching over? Well…..

1.  Using reusable canvas bags will help reduce plastic bags being sent to landfills that have no room for them.

2.  Cities like San Francisco have already placed a ban on the use of plastic grocery bags.

3.  Many of the places and companies where you can purchase these totes from generally donate a fair amount to an environmental foundation.

I think a simple action like this can help the world. It’s simple and it’s becoming a trend….so why not help save the world just a little bit?

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

WIDELY ACCEPTED

I have always been interested in different cultures and their social lives in various parts of the world.  It was about two years ago when Japanese fashion began to emerge even more and caught my attention.  The Japanese-influenced fashion style is very feminine, fun, and flirty where as in California it is very typical to sport some casual wear with jeans and a t-shirt.

So I was in Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. and bought a Japanese fashion magazine.  I couldn’t stop raving to my friend about how much I love their fashion and quirky yet fun outfits.  He then tells me that it’s too bad that people in the U.S. are not as open to that style as over in Asia. I nodded my head in agreement and kept flipping the pages. Then I noticed many of the models in the Japanese magazines are also modeling numerous designer handbags.  They’re the same ones that I see people in the U.S are carrying.  They were flaunting brands such as Coach, Gucci, and Prada.

That brought me to realize that even though clothing fashion may be different in other countries, designer handbags are widely accepted and will always be in fashion.

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Guy + This Wallet = 8-)

To be honest with you, I think this wallet is incredibly repulsive. It completely screams ugly and unoriginal. Supposedly this wallet is crafted using “super duct tape.” What is “super duct” tape you may ask? The company claims that their “super duct tape” is odorless, non sticky, and more appealing than traditional duct tape. Boy, now I am excited to go out and purchase one of these super wallets for that special man in my life (please pardon the sarcasm). I think the targeted consumers for this wallet would probably be computer geeks and nerds.  Well, wait a minute, I could be wrong; perhaps somebody could give this to a friend as a prank gift. I think I am about done with the negative comments for this hideous wallet. Guys please do not buy this wallet. This won’t make you any much cooler; it will only bring down your social value.

Friday, April 11th, 2008

STOP that THIEF!

                                     

We spend lots and lots of on our gorgeous bags, so of course we’re going be peeved when it gets stolen!

So, what is the best way to prevent our bags from being victims?

When you’re….

Out and About try to secure your bag close to your body so that you’re carrying it facing away from passing traffic. Try to walk with confidence and a positive body language to prevent from becoming a target. Avoid walking in isolated or unlit areas and don’t wrap a handbag strap around your arm or shoulder. If your bag gets snatched and the strap is around your arm, the chances of being injured increases.

In a Vehicle make sure to keep your doors locked and avoid leaving valuable items in your car. If you must, make sure it is out of sight like inside your trunk or it is covered with something like a jacket. Make sure to park in areas that have good visibility and lighting. If possible hold on to your handbag until you are securely in the car. The best way to prevent from need to put your bag down on your car is to have your keys ready on hand so that you don’t need to take extra time looking for them.

At a Bar, Restaurant, Club, Sport Events, and Movies don’t leave your bag unattended. If you want to go on the dance floor either take it with you or have someone you trust watch it for you. For club and bar scenes I highly recommend investing in a good wristlet. Don’t place it under a seat or anywhere out of sight.

In a Public Restroom be careful where you put your bag. Don’t place it close to the door if there’s a gap between the bottom of the door and the ground. It could be easily taken. The same goes with hooks that are on the stalls close to the top. It can be stolen that way as well.

At the Workplace if possible lock it in a safe and secure place. At times people walk in and out of the workplace and account and not be kept of who has been in the office. If there’s no place to lock it, keep it where it’s out of the public eye, but at the same time where you can keep an eye on it.

IF YOUR BAG IS STOLEN OR MISSING…
-          File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy.

-          Cancel all debit, credit and ATM cards.

-          Get new card and new account numbers.

-          Ask each agency to put a fraud alert out on your accounts.

-          Report the loss to the fraud department at your bank.

-          Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary.

-          Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles.

-          If your keys are missing change the locks on your home and car.

*A Fun Fact*

Handbag hooks actually have been proven as a solution to minimize handbags from being stolen. Check out the articles online. Who would have thunk?