Zac Posen's Exclusive for eluxury.com Madison Clutch

Fashion's golden boy, Zac Posen has dressed style leaders such as Beyonce Knowles, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz and many more. This month, his much anticipated capsule collection with Target, Zac Posen for Target will surely propel his name to a wider commercial level internationally.

Exclusive to eluxury.com, Posen has released a special edition Madison clutch in gray, croc-embossed leather. The clutch reminds me of the classic Chanel 2.55 bag. The combination of the treatment on the leather, the shape and the hardware gives an overall vintage and classic feel to the bag and the fact that it comes from a young, not yet over-commercialized designer just makes it more exclusive and appealing. Buy this piece from eluxury.com for $1,200.

Image is courtesy of eluxury.com

Paul Smith Vintage Stamp Weekend Bag

It has been a busy 2 weeks for me with all the travelling for work and stuff but i am glad that we are passing the mid-week now and going weekend. Yayy!!! I have been posting great but serious and somewhat expensive bags over the past two days and feel that i need to lighten up a little now. Coincidentally, whenever i think about lightening-up or being casual, i could not help but think of Paul Smith. Paul Smith is one of the very few designers today who define style in relaxed but elegant way. I always like the humorous touch put in all its designs, from a bag, socks to a $2,000 suit. Nevertheless, the brand has one of the most recognizable signatures despite its simplicity- the multicolor stripes that is. The stripes quintessentially scream British next to the Union Jack and Burberry check. Come to think of it, maybe it is the British genes in the brand that makes its styles relaxed and elegant at the same time.

I spotted this great canvas weekend bag when i passed by a Paul Smith store on my way back home yesterday. It is printed with vintage stamps that collectively makes the Union Jack image. The size is 21.25"x 11.75"x 10", perfect for one to two days trip out of town or cruising. It comes with grained leather trim and detachable canvas strap. Get this bag from eluxury.com at $455 for your next short or weekend trip. Style and elegance need not always be dead serious.

Images are courtesy of eluxury.com

Louis Vuitton Monogram Watercolor Canvas Papillon Frame

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas is one of the most recognisable and desirable designer signatures. What is not to love of monogram canvas? It is classic, lightweight, treated to look and feel like leather, tough, waterproof, highly scratch-resistant and the classic line with natural cowhide leather gets more beautiful as it ages and collects Patina. The only problem with Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas bags are they are too overly produced and easily available now which makes it feel less exclusive. This is true even before we take into consideration all the fakes sold at a small fraction of the real pieces' price.

Marc Jacobs, the Creative Director of the French luxury house has reinvented the classic canvas and made it as Limited Edition over and over again. There are Graffiti, Cherry, Panda, Eye Love, Cherry Blossom, Perforated, Dentelle and last but not least, the multicolor which eventually became the new classic line. For Spring 2008, Marc Jacobs proposed Monogram Watercolor Canvas in the classic Papillon shape but made structured. I personally do not like this as much as the past Cherry Blossom or even the classic monogram multicolor but it has that classic appeal yet not too serious. This would undoubtedly be another Vuitton collector's item and if you are looking into buying only one piece of LV this season, this is among the few best choices of the season. Buy via vuitton.com at $3,750.

Image is courtesy of vuitton.com

Marked Down Deals - Fendi B Bags

When first launched, Fendi B bags took the world by storm. It re-affirmed the house of Fendi as the house of IT bags after The Baguette, Chef and Spy. Season after season, the B has been re-invented in various colors, materials and finishings. I did not really like the bag when it first came out. It came across as a little too trendy to me but after a while, once the buzz around it has calmed down, it becomes more appealing and comes across as one of those classic but fashionable pieces which dresses you up when you feel lazy dressing up.

Currently marked down 30% off on net-a-porter.com, choose between the larger size dark brown patent for $1,499 (down from $2,070) or the gold mirror patent for $1,400 (down from $2,000).

Images are courtesy of net-a-porter.com

Battle of the Classics - Which One is your Style?

Let's take your comments - if money is not an issue, which of these classic bags would be your favourite and why?

Top row, left to right: Chanel 2.55 in Black Calf and Fendi Spy in Black Calf

Second row, left to right: Hermes Birkin in Gold Calf and Louis Vuitton Alma in Red Epi

Botton row, left to right: Marc Jacobs Stam in White Calf and YSL Muse in Black Calf

Gucci Hysteria Small Top Pink Patent

It's been a while since we last saw Gucci in the 'IT' handbags list. Nevertheless it is still my favourite design house despite the fact that the famous GG logo canvas has been over-used from a $2,000 handbag to a $435 dog mattress (yes, they made those). What i love about Gucci is the heritage of the Italian leather house that is synonymous with luxury. The bamboo, green-red-green web, horsebit and GG logo somehow appeal to me more than most other houses' signatures. The latest would be the old family crest.

This spring, Gucci plays down the signatures on its handbags and opts for subtle approach focusing on amazing materials such as top-notch leather and great usability. When i walked into the Gucci store in Hong Kong airport last week, Gucci Hysteria Small Top in Pink caught my attention. The leather is buttery-soft, the color is great and even perfect for summer. It is also available in patent version which is, in my opinion, more durable but you have to trade off the buttery-soft leather. Buy the patent version via Neiman Marcus for $1,295.

Image is courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

Spring 2008 Style - Alexander McQueen Elvie Patent Leather Bag

Alexander McQueen is one designer who is predictably unpredictable most of the time. The hooligan of English fashion has not made it big in the world of handbags despite being one of the leading British designers today. This spring, however, The house of McQueen brought the most vibrant and exciting purple color in one of handbags' most classic shapes and skins.

Framed with gold hardware and pleated patent mock croc, this the living example of classic with a twist, not surprising coming from McQueen. Grab this incredible arm candy for Spring via Net-A-Porter for $2,150

Image is courtesy of Net-A-Porter.com