I’m at the mall right now and just found out there’s a new Kate Spade store here. Two words: sweet temptation! I’m a huge Kate Spade fan — LOVE the clean lines and feminine elegance of her bags and accessories. Yeah, most of her stuff is out of my budget, but it doesn’t hurt to look, right? 🙂
Serena, by Kate Spade, $325
Several items from the fall line were on display. The new bags, clutches and shoes sport lots of rich, dark colors like burgundy and deep brown, along with quite a few items in black/white, many with patent leather accents.
Black patent leather graces the handles on Kate’s new black and white fabric bags from her Classic Noel collection. I couldn’t take my eyes off the Serena bag ($325) shown above.
Serena does hobo chic with a single black patent leather handle, a zip top, royal purple interior liner and 14-karat gold plated hardware. Kate pre-treats the soft fabric exterior to make it highly stain resistant, so there’s less reason to worry about the white showing dirt right away. Plus, because these bags are pre-treated they’re pretty easy to clean (dry cleaning, or spot cleaning with a toothbrush and a mild soap).
Serena fit *perfectly* under my right shoulder. Girrrrl… it was love. Le sigh!
I’ll just have to keep saving my pennies. Meanwhile, I plan to “visit” her every chance I get.
Hope you’re having a kickin’ Sunday!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Grab a cup o’ tea and a find a comfy seat because it’s time to catch up on some reading with a few of the week’s best beauty, fashion and shopping posts from the ladies of the Splendicity Network.
FASHION
NY Spender reports some of her favorite, and not so favorite, looks from New York Fashion Week.
Viva Woman shows you how colored stockings can add style and fashion to your wardrobe.
Petite Fashionista says don’t miss the upcoming Petite Feet Sample Sales in Toronto!
Tops 2 Bottoms shares her Erin Fetherston favourites from New York Fashion Week.
Style…a work in progress has discovered some accessories which are decidedly…hairy.
BEAUTY
Beauty and Fashion Tech reveiws a new Pixi eye shadow palette from Target, complete with swatches.
Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you a sneak peek at super cute holiday makeup gift sets from Benefit Cosmetics.
Krizia from Beauty Match shares Makeup tips from Jennifer Lopez’s makeup artist.
Beauty Bento Box experiments on a new scent, Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana.
SHOPPING
Laya’s EYE desires Alexa Wagner knee high boots & a Nancy Gonzalez croc hobo…
Shopalicious finds a way to work some Stella McCartney into her wardrobe without breaking the bank: The Stella McCartney for LeSportsac Classic Carryall!
ShopDiary notes a trend from New York Fashion Week for Spring 2009: assymetrical or one shouldered.
It’s fall and that means there are tons of great sales around! Her Accessories has some shopping suggestions for classic accessories on sale.
tricia says
September 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pmhi, i love kate spade too, and that bag would also look great on my shoulder. a while back you got the shu uemura lashes, and i was planning on getting them but on their site it looks light brown. so i was wondering are your also brown? dark brown? i also cant decide if i want the $25 or $50 but i am leaning towards the $25. who knows. i want them for halloween
Marisol says
September 14th, 2008 at 7:40 pmIs it me or are they trying to revamp the Village into a more upscale outdoor mall?
I like the renovations and all but I wish they would have left some of the stores they used to have.
Marisols last blog post..A Day of Remembrance
Dao says
September 14th, 2008 at 8:35 pmOh man, that is a nice bag! We don’t have Kate Spade here in town, the poshest thing is Coach and that’s it. I bet these bags will get knocked off really really soon. Since I don’t like knocked off bags and can’t afford the real thing, I settle with my second class bags and they last for a while.
Daos last blog post..Hair Setting Tutorial
lindsay says
September 14th, 2008 at 9:43 pmthose bags are so cute, if only i could afford them..don’t you have it when you find the CUTEST things, look at the price tag, and find out it’s just out of your reach *sigh*
anyway, i used clean and clear soft again, i love how it makes my skin so tingly
Lehea says
September 15th, 2008 at 1:50 amI felt like I was having an ESP connection with my credit card while viewing this post. HAHA! What store location is that? So far I only have the Claire black bag. I love Kate Spade! I think that will be where I’ll have my next handbag splurge.
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 7:57 amHi Tricia,
The lashes are dark brown and black with spots. You can see a close up of them here.
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 7:58 amHi Marisol,
Yeah, I miss Express, Ann Taylor and Crate & Barrel.
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 7:58 amHi Dao,
It’s really beautiful in person. You would get immediate bag lust upon seeing it. 🙂
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 7:58 amHi Lindsay,
I hear that! They also had a wallet and some sunglasses that I liked, too that a bit more affordable (well, for Kate Spade). I’m going to save some pennies; maybe if I’m still lusting after them in a few months I will treat myself to a Christmas present.
I just used mine the other day! Don’t you love how your skin feels so soft after?
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 7:59 amHi Lehea,
LOL! This was the new store in Marin county!
I am trying to stay away from big bags (this one is rather deep), because I tend to stuff them to the brim, and then I end up carrying all my stuff around like a hobo. This one was super cute though! Aghhhh!
Daya says
September 15th, 2008 at 10:25 amLOVE LOVE the bag! :)I can’t afford them but did splurge on a pair of KS sunglasses while vacation a few months back. Serious lust that store!!
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 11:02 amHi Daya,
I found a cute pair of glasses, too. I like the Izzy ones.
I want, I want!
Which pair did you get?
lexi says
September 15th, 2008 at 11:14 amyes GURL me too – I converted the Mercado shopping tote into my daughter’s baby bag! Luckily for me it was on sale at Nordstrom. I cruise the Kate Spade website on a regular basis to torture myself!!
Karen says
September 15th, 2008 at 3:24 pmHi Lexi,
I swear I want everything on that site. Have you seen the new fall stuff in person? *drooooool*
mj says
September 18th, 2008 at 7:12 amJust got emailed this 20% off Kate Spade coupon.
http://katespade.rsys1.net/servlet/website/ResponseForm?rHmLErli_VTTBTCUB_oHgKIHnEtHkplDrHmSFntHpsDJht