THE JOKE'S ON YOU!

Playing games... what fun! And shouldn't fashion and design be fun? Dashing? Giddy? Perhaps... silly? Kate Spade and Jonathan Adler certainly think so. They're scrawling lines on handbags, knitting notes on their gloves, and needlepointing rotary phones on their cell phone cases. Life's a gag, a game! Shouldn't your wardrobe be too?

P.S. Stay tuned tomorrow for the start of an awesome designer give away!!!

/Images/Kate Spade/Jonathan Adler/Electronic-geek.com/

A TO ZEBRA

/THE KATE SPADE SUMMER BON SHOPPER, NOW ON SALE FOR $69./

/The zebra pattern was inspired by Scalamandre's wallpaper, patterning the classic and now closed Gino's of New York, pictured above./

/Images/Gino's/Kate Spade/Gwyneth/Scalamandre/Kate Spade/

SADDLE BAGS

Fashion house Coach often reminds me of the lines from that old Frank Sinatra standard, I Get a Kick Out of You:

Coach was one of my earliest fashion loves. Those classic lines, the Americana styles, the careful detailing of leather that only a house founded in the tradition of saddlery could achieve. Yet over the decades, Coach has changed her style from staid, yet elegant, matron of accessories to a hip, label-happy young thing, hawking logo encrusted designs where all that shimmers is not hardware, but sequins. It's rather hard to fault them - targeting teens and young twenties with their Poppy line is a smart marketing move, as is embracing our brand-focused times. But I'm wearying of little girl style. Where will it end? Perhaps someday soon we'll be toting bags in pink pastels with rhinestone encrusted rattles and little diaper shaped wallets. No age is too young for inspiration. 

Coach's Poppy line: where the girls are.

I crave classics - style that a daughter would want to inherit, rather than steal for junior prom. And though I'm young, I enjoy investing in something my older self might savor. If nothing else, feeling as if a purchase will last for years is salve for the shopper's conscience.

Thus I'm excited by Coach's fall line, with its Hepburn tributes and lunching ladies vibe. It's style without sass, crayons giving way to class. I'll take the tweed over sequins, thanks much!

Images, Coach.com. Vintage Coach from DeniseBrain.blogspot.com. 

IN THE MILITARY (FASHION) NOW

This fall's collections are awash in enough epaulettes and gold buttons to make General Patton swoon (aside from being a bit of a maniac, he was a man with high sartorial standards, once designing a tank uniform replete with gold helmet). The military look is everywhere, and anything so classically American as a uniform and a bit of Army green Ralph Lauren won't neglect for long. Sure enough, here's a Lauren bag, the Gloucestershire Cotton Tote, that fits the ticket.

It's a bit of a British shooting bag, but really, it reminds me of nothing so much as a military issue helmet bag (or brain bag, as it's more cheerily known in the field). Not being one to miss an opportunity to acquire anything remotely like a purse, I'd already made off with my father's Vietnam-era helmet bag. Tied up with a leopard scarf, and able to hold enormous amounts of stuff like laptops, magazines, day planners (even entire helmets), it makes a great fall accessory. The "trim" around the top conceals a set of front pockets as deep as the bag. Judge for yourself:

The Polo bag comes with a fancy name plate inside. 

Well, me too!

A resourceful use of supplies - I think the General would approve (but I'm not so sure about my father).

Images, polo.com and Patton portrait, flickriver.com/photos/mbell1975.

ASK SANITY FAIR: PRETTY LAPTOP CASES

Today marks the introduction of a new column: Ask Sanity Fair. "If you want your roof inspected, eyebrows tweezed, or bills collected, just leave everything to me!" Oh wait - that's Hello Dolly. Anyway, Ask Sanity Fair (or Ask SF when I'm feeling lazy) is the place to ask your elusive home and style shopping questions - items you're curious about, struggling to find, or just want to see more options or opinions on. Got a question? Email me (sanityfairblog(@)gmail.com). I'll pick one a week, and answer it here.

Off we go! Here's our first question from Elise in DC: "Having to tote my laptop to work every day, I am always on the lookout for functional and fashionable ways to carry all my techie toys. While I take such care in choosing my handbags, I'm stuck with a plain black laptop case they sell in the Mac store. You should do a piece on fashionable laptop cases/sleeves/bags. There is NOTHING out there!" OK, so that was actually more of a statement. But, yes, there are a lot of wonderful laptop sleeves out there - just not usually in brick-and-mortar stores, and thus, much tougher to find. But lucky us. We all have internet access! Here are 14 great websites where you can get the case of your computer's dreams - prices and links included.

Carrie realizes she can't take her computer outside her apartment - no stylish case!

1. They had me at "zebra."This is my personal style favorite, and thus number one on the list. A series of smart and chic laptop, ipad sleeves, and computer bags from My Abbi, available at equally smart prices ($49.95 - $89.95).

2. Or, go subtle. De-glam your machine with this appropriately named Luddite Laptop Case, from Anthropologie ($68).

3. Want something a little more 5th Avenue? Saks has it in the bag:  Gucci computer case ($395) and Burberry nylon laptop sleeve ($375).

4. If plain and simple is your thing, try these smart sleeves from incase ($39.95 - $59.95).

5. Downplay modern tech with a charming blue toile bag from Etsy shop Lollington ($37.95).

6. Or go the opposite of girly floral:  a sleek, unisex case. Organic for J.Crew Kansai ($285).

7. Cheap 'n chic? Lil Slim offers these 10 fun patterns, and each is only $17!

8. If your laptop were stolen, would you cry over the computer or this case? Louis Vuitton sleeves ($670 - $745)

9. For all you Aussie readers out there, here's a great choice on your home turf (but despair not fellow citizens - Anthropologie carries them too):  darling botanical prints from charming company Mozi ($59.95 in AUS dollars or about $55 US).


10. Or go from country to the big city with creative graphics from Evan Hecox, available from incase ($59.95).

11. Feminine prints from Beach Audio will pretty up your machinery ($26.99).

12. Etsy shop JiuJiu makes these great covers in graphic prints, from Indian Ikat to nautical stripe. The prices are just as pretty at $18.99.

13. Still didn't find anything to tempt you? Boy, you're hard to please! If you like to choose your own fabric, or have a laptop in an unusual size, try something custom. Some Etsy stores, like Mabels, can work with you to match your needs (I'm in love with the Lilly Pulitzer print!) Available at $25 - $35.

14. And last, but most certainly not least:  the cadillac of laptop covers, at $830 a pop, by Goyard and featured in Vogue's Last Look. Those zipper pulls had better be platinum!

Shopping Tip:  Know your computer size (usually measured in inches). There are multi-size bags - and bags come in multiple sizes! Make sure you get the right one.

That's it for Ask Sanity Fair! Have a question you need answered? Comment below, or email sanityfairblog(@)gmail.com. I'll select a new question each week!

All images from companies, as attributed above.  Red laptop clutch from Cool Computer Bags. Pic of Carrie blackheartmagazine.com.

Kate Spade Makes Me Hungry

I couldn't help but look at all these brightly colored Kate Spade bags and think of... candy! They're so shiny and scrumptious looking. To prove it, here are a few of my favorites, coupled with their candy twins from Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City. Note to guys (or considering the audience for this blog, more realistically, a note for you to pass ON to guys):  give a girl one of these treats, filled with treats for Valentine's. I guarantee she'll think you're sweet. :)

Bags, LH to RH: Wellie Maggee Bag, Jubilee Stripe Drawstring Opus, Charm City Ostrich MaryAnn, Darien Stevie, London Quinn.

Images:  Purses, KateSpade.com. Candy, DylansCandyBar.com.

Party Pacs

Happy Monday! I love shiny (SHINY) things...

Like these holiday COACH bags. I'm the sort of

person who only buys paint in High Gloss. I think

that all that glitters is as GOOD as gold...

Or platinum, bronze, or diamonds,

in rivets, beads, and baubles...

Matched up with a shimmery holiday plaid.

Nothing says fun like a little shine!

How will you sparkle this season?

xoxo Sanity Fair

Carlos Falchi for Target

This fashion season makes me feel more like a safari guide than a fashonista. Imagine being sent around Saks with a zookeeper - Carlos Falchi would be first stop on the tour: "and now, ladies and gentlemen, to your left, a group of ostrich." Ostrich bags. Like this one.

Or perhaps snake. Carlos designs extravagant bags in exotic skins.

But what would cheap, FAUX, snake look like? Cheap, faux, snake, unfortunately. Carlos collaborated with Target this season to release a line of of his own for the big box, big style store. But I can't say I like the results. Kind of reminds me of... every other cheap faux snake bag I've ever seen. Not a fan of the crazy quilt look with skins. And would a little color have killed anyone (other than snakes)?

Very average. I've seen this bag at Target before, but not with a big designer name on it.

Images Nordstrom.com, Target.com.