Save 20% on an Adorable (and Affordable!) Handbag from 'Bags 4 Fabs'

(Stylish, cost-friendly handbags at your fingertips!)

I’m a believer in affordable, sensible fashion. This is especially true when it comes to handbags! One of the most essential pieces to add to your daily outfits -- the handbag you choose plays a major role in what you’re trying to communicate about your personality. Whether you consciously consider these factors or not; the color, size, style, texture, and functionality all play a role in the type of handbag that’s right for you. And after chatting with the founder and owner of Bags 4 Fabs, Rechelle Dolor, my belief about budget-friendly fashion was reaffirmed. Our thoughts are aligned and yes...her site has totally got your back!

With prices ranging from only about $25 - $55, the selection of handbags on Bags 4 Fabs is versatile and designed to enhance your individual style. It's definitely a has-something-for-every-type-of-personality boutique! (I'm digging the clutches as well as the oversized structured purses, which come in amazingly bright hues.) So, I’m happy to share the announcement of its special Labor Day sale! Go ahead – treat yourself to something cute. I’m sure you deserve it! [Code: LABORDAY2015]

For more incredible images and info about Bags 4 Fabs, be sure to connect via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Bags 4 Fabs

Get Preggers Chic with a Rebecca Minkoff Leopard Baby Bag

One of my favorite websites is The Handbag Report. It's fabulous! Editor-in-chief Staci Rutherford works hard to bring the latest haute handbags to the forefront, and I definitely take notice.

Now I'm not pregnant and I typically shop -- and promote shopping -- on a budget. But when it's time to splurge, it's time to splurge! Pictured here is an adorable Rebecca Minkoff Leopard Baby Bag. It is so hot, and will definitely add some dramatic appeal to your outfit. For more details about this bag and TONS of other insanely beautiful handbags, be sure to visit The Handbag Report.

(On Sunday, the 18th, Staci wrote that there was only one left at shopbop.com, retailing for $395. Hurry, hurry if you're hot for this. Maybe it's still available!)


Photo Credit: http://www.thehandbagreport.com

So the Economy IS Affecting Your Shopping Habits: Part 1 (Handbags)

The results are in! My recent poll proved three truths: some of your will still shop designer, some of you shop glam for less, and some don't shop at all anymore. For those who don't shop anymore, now is the time to wholeheartedly stylize your existing clothes with versatility in mind. Can your basic black tee be worn under a vest, with a chic scarf, layered over a long-sleeve tee, and/or take on a classier personality with a thick belt hanging loosely from it? I am passionate about helping men and women save money by helping them approach their closet with fresh eyes. (I know, you already get my personal shopping and styling philosophy, right?)

For y'all who still shop designer and those who shop glam for less can now meet in the middle! Brand name shopaholics can save money without really trying, and glam for less fashionistas can save money on designer wear with a little research and faith. The majority of top online boutiques and retail mass producers have their sale section highlighted for your attention, or simply provide a mixture of affordable and high-end collections. After all, retailers and boutique owners are quite aware that the economy is affecting everyone's spending habits. So reaching out to everyone, both the budget-conscious and the splurgers, e-commerce sites are featuring quality, affordability, and trendy styles. With special attention to where your dollar is going, everyone can truly turn the pennies into quarters.

So because you probably spend your free time on the Internet writing, blogging, tweeting, etc. (of course in between shopping, working, enjoying nightlife in the city, and taking vacations), I present you with a list of top sites that are full of fun collections.

And FYI: this "So the Economy IS Affecting Your Shopping Habits" will be a series. As the Good Girl Gone Shopping, I will bring you lists of sites that cater to your particular fashion needs.

First up, it's Part 1: HANDBAGS (inspired by the Louis V., handbag-alicious Amanda Allison of "Fashion, Love, and Martinis")

So here are 5 fabulous online stores that you can count on for a $100-or-less handbag splurge:

Nordstrom.com: A candy-colored hue, such as this hot pink handbag from MAXX NEW YORK, will brighten up your wardrobe! A magnetic closure, studded belts at the side, and zebra-printed lining? Helloooo! The details of this "Monte Carlo" shopper bag is so worth the $96.90 sale price. Originally retailing at $145, this MAXX NEW YORK purse also comes in saffron (yellow) and teal. All three colors are fun shades to add to not just your spring wardrobe; go ahead and turn a bleak winter in a fashionable wonderland.

Bluefly.com: You can still be fabulous when running errands, with or without your own Rebecca Minkoff canvas and leather "Bread and Wine" tote. But with it, you will definitely stand out as a domestic diva! A retail value of $185 is definitely on the pricey side, when it comes to a running-around purse. So with Bluefly.com's marked down sale price of $99.90 (with a current additional 10% off!), this fun tote is all yours. If royal blue ain't your thing, this bag also comes in chocolate with gold lettering.

BagTrends.com: Of the oversized hobos and clutches in my closet, I don't have a cute lil in-between purse for afternoon dates with my boyfriend or coffee house chatting with my mom. This pink suede bag is selling for $99 on BagTrends.com (originally priced at $199) is also available in blue, and it is said that "The JISU small pink rotunda drawstring embodies the phrase 'Good things come in small packages.'" Honestly, I think it's quite adorable and feminine.

Macys.com: Marked down from $115, this Guess "Obsession" Satchel is now $85.99. Speaking of getting use our of your purchases, this faux crocodile patent leather handbag can be worn with anything and EVERYTHING. Whether you want to make it pop with an all-black ensemble, or allow it to naturally complement a pastel-patterned dress, a cream, medium-sized handbag is a good staple (unless you are likely to spill your coffee on everything, like me). This classy, structured handbag is also available in grey and coral.

eluxury.com: The insanely popular Juicy Couture line is pretty costly for such trendy designs, wouldn't you agree? Well, this cute $95 Velour Classic Beatric Bag is, well, pretty good for such a sought-after collection. My favorite part of this (makeup, phone, and keys) bag is the gold metal satchel; it adds a nice toughness to such a youthful purse. The jewel encrusted flower ornament is also a nice detail. Marked down from $155, not bad at all. For designer-coveted shopaholics, eluxury is also a HUGE Louis Vuitton retailer and full of beautiful Marc Jacobs designs.

Photo Credits: All images from their corresponding Web sites

How Often Do you Clean Out Your Big Handbag?

"Oh my goodness, what do you have in there?"

"It's so HEAVY!"

Those are the comments I usually hear from either my boyfriend, friend, or mom when I ask them to pick up my big, black Kathy Van Zeeland handbag if my hands are full. Most of the time though - those thoughts are my own. What DOES the Good Girl Gone Shopping really need to store in her purse, day in and day out? My Kenneth Cole wallet, black organizer, Betsey Johnson makeup bag, business card holder envelope contraption, keys, phone, a bottled water and a snack usually...

So today, being a Saturday and a day to change old habits, I am cleaning out my handbag. As I discussed in my recent BlogTalkRadio interview with Barbara Howard; I stick to one big black bag that will go with all of my outfits because rotating purses with my outfits always sorta screwed me in the end: I would continously leave this or that in the handbag from the day before. Sooooo, I now stick to one awesome bag and then have my evening clutches for fancy dinners, night clubs, bars, etc. Of course, I will always be on the lookout for a great big bag on sale, and then THAT bag may be my day-to-day purse. (I do have this amazing brown and beige Louis Vuitton canvas bag and a deep red leather Coach bag. Although I rarely use them, it's nice to know that should my outfit work well with either of those -- I have 'em to use! And of course, Betsey Johnson is next on my list.)

Of course the only problem in using the same purse is that I begin to use it as luggage and seriously jampack all that I can in it. As a personal shopper and wardrobe consultant, I would encourage a client to evaluate what they really need, and alleviate the burden of a heavy purse by leaving the unnecessary at home. Why can't I take my own advice? Simply put: I believe that each of those things are a necessity. So, I basically have two options. Either I clean out my handbag once a week and get rid of the bonus contents (such as bills I need to mail or certain pieces of jewelry I decided to take off mid-day), or just leave some things at home.

So I am going to start weeding out and condensing what I deem as necessities. Wish me luck!

How often do you clean out your handbag? (Leeann and Sarah -- this is especially geared to you!)

Photo Credits: Jessica Simpson (http://www.bagsshoesandeverythinginbetween.blogspot.com/), Beyonce (http://www.beauty.glam.com/), Anne Hathaway (http://www.pursepage.com/)

The 'Good Girl' Finally Goes Handbag Shopping

I spent quite awhile yesterday in Macy's scoping out the fabulous handbags on sale -- my brown H&M chocolate bag just doesn't cut it anymore as the, I hate to say, cheapness is coming through as the color is fading and actually scratching off. Sounds like I should have gone handbag shopping before it even got to this point, eh?

Beauty Chatter Sarah, with her genius "Handbag of the Month" column really got me thinking of what I'm looking for. And while I love both Sarah's Ed Hardy big bag and Beauty Chatter Leeann's multi-colored L.A.M.B. purse, I need to find something that exhibits a mixture of my personality and practicality, and to be completely honest, not cost me half of my rent money!

So, I had a (mental) shopping list of what I wanted out of my new handbag. This was it:

- Black
- Trendy
- Edgy
- Quality
- Fun
- Versatile (can dress up and down)
- Professionally-chic
- Under $100

And I am vey proud to say that I found EVERYTHING I was looking for in a Kathy Van Zeeland "Rock & Roll Fold Over Chain Tote." Although it wasn't on sale -- it goes for only $89. With such awesome details, that bag is totally worth it:





(http://www.amazon.com)

With a huge collection, Kathy's white puffy purses is next on my list. Let's just see if I can keep it clean!

I then headed over to Ross for a designer wallet for less, and to my pleasure, I found a Kenneth Cole Reaction aqua-green wallet to go with my bag for only...$9.99! I like mixing and matching, so this was perfect and still allowed me stay within my budget.

Saving money while shopping is all about knowing which places offer fabulous fashion finds for less, being realistic, and having your own criteria.

What do you want out of your next handbag? A Betsey Johnson purse, clutch, or tote is on my list for some funky freshness. And of course, before I left Macy's, I still got my Betsey fix. I couldn't resist these pearl bow earrings:




(http://www.kaboodle.com/)

Got an Itch for a New Clutch? AccessoryBug.com is Where it's At.

(Bags from AccessoryBug.com, ranging from $37.99 - $44.99)


I love metallic clutches. To me, a gold, bronze, or silver mini-handbag is the quintessential of glamour and rock n' roll all mixed into one.

But you know what also has that taste of classic luxury -- black clutches. And boy oh boy, does Accessory Bug offer women a plethora of styles. As a personal shopper, I have an appointment coming up with a cosmetic company owner who is looking forward to revamp her wardrobe with chic, flattering professional pieces (think "Andy," Anne Hathaway's character in "The Devil Wears Prada"). And I believe a black clutch could be a great transitional accessory for her - from her day job to an evening out.

A special offer from the Accessory Bug for Good Girl Gone Shopping readers: 10% off regular priced items. Just enter "stim08" at checkout. It's their "style stimulus plan" -- cute, huh?

***********************************************************

On a different note, my recent Saturday was a blast as I spent the day in the field (in shops) with a male client who needed my last-minute trip the day before he left for a business trip. In 2 hours, he scored a black textured suit, a chocolate curdoroy blazer, and a pewter-colored zip casual jacket. The total cost: $150. He was so excited that he wanted to keep adding more pieces, but I had to stop him! I told that my job as his personal shopper is to help him save money in the process, in addition to helping him score hot items. While a black clutch is obviously not part of his credo, you should see the way he rocks his "man bag," which was one of his favorite purchases from Target.

(JCPenney jacket similar to one of my client's awesome, new pieces!)

Do you know what you're gonna wear this summer? Contact me to set up an appointment!

Want to Stand Apart from the Crowd? The Convertible Handbag Available on MyChicThings.com!

Check out the new product available on MyChicThings.com! Currently, there are several pieces in Beth Anderson's shop that contribute to her boutique's new, couture-inspired style, designed by lovely Divapreneur Elaine Biss.

I'm all about versatility of fashion -- I like knowing that I am (and my personal shopping clients are) getting the most out of their money. So with this adorable, flavorful Fashion Diva MICRO Happy Hobo, designed by Kristin Elliot of Spirited Style, customers can proudly flaunt a purse that was exclusively made for My Chic Things.

Meaning, here's an opportunity to spend about 50 bucks on a 3-in-1 bag instead of a mass retailer purse that carries little-to-no personal connection for you!

Tons of other jewelry and accessories designer featured in Beth's boutique, include:

- House of Raquel

- Denise Tjarks

- Casto Creations

- Izabel Designs

- Vintaj Earth

Oh, and did I mention there are always unique sale items on My Chic Things? Well, when it comes to the latest steals available, be sure to check in with the Good Girl as I will continue to give credit where credit's due.

And when it comes to finding cute, comfy maternity wear, be sure to snatch your own My Chic Things Tee - only a $29 value (whether for you now or later...or a loved one who is pregnant and complaining of looking yucky). So cute!

Author Marilyn Anderson Says "Never Kiss a Frog"

I'm all for making a fashion statement where it counts, especially when it makes a passerby ponder. For instance, I recently picked up my own BITTEN Sarah Jessica Parker tee that says "Fashion Is Not a Luxury" at Steve and Barry's - a proud $8.98 purchase during a brief San Diego visit with Steve and "Dre."

So of course I'm totally enamored with the ToadBag ™, a fun tote bag that exhibits (er...exribits?) the phrase, " Never Kiss a Frog - Save One Instead!" Marilyn Anderson, an author, relationship expert, and speaker "playfully warns women to stay away from 'men' frogs, but says the endangerment of real frogs is a serious issue" with the launch of these bags.

Marilyn's book Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl's Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp is a fashionably sensible "collection of funny stories, savvy advice and comical illustrations that depict the men that women should avoid... as FROGS!" So with the great success that followed the publishing of her book, she (who was educated as a biologist) paired up with Amphibian Ark, an international organization dedicated to saving real frogs.

Each ToadBag ™ purchase results in a contribution to Amphibian Ark, and each read of the book might just very well prevent you from wasting those "If only he could turn into a prince" daydreams...

Either way, both purchases will keep you in great style. Check it out!

* Marilyn is the Travel & Entertainment writer for Agenda Magazine, has appeared as the "Flirting & Kissing" expert on ABC's "Extreme Makeover."

Photo Credit: http://www.neverkissafrog.com/

White Iris Designs...Wins Handbag Giveaway!

Thank you ladies for entering my recent contest -- a random drawing to win the Trina Duffle Bag, courtesy of ShopManhattanite.com!

With the amazing comments regarding the big primary trend this season, it seems safe to say that it ain't goin anywhere! That said, I hope you enter this Spring and Summer with yellow shoes, red tops, blue bags, and green hoodies (you can always consult me on why it may be best to avoid wearing each item together, however....).

Tammy of White Iris Designs won the Trina Duffle Bag, after I picked her name from my coffee mug (sans the coffee). And even though chance played a big part, her response is deserving and quite interesting:

"What a nice trend change to get away from the pastels. I love this bright blue I am seeing all over. It has even made it's way into my business, with a lot of bridesmaids, prom & semi formal dresses. Fun challenge for my floral designs!! I say...Bring it on!"

Photo Credit: http://whiteirisdesigns.blogspot.com/

NEW Trendy Handbag Giveaway in Time for Spring!

I love pinks, reds, and purples - some of the most obvious, stereotypical shades of femininity. But with the surge of the primary color trend, I can't get enough of royal blue (hence, my blue sude shoes I can't stop talking about!). Various shades of turquoise sprouting up all over are also getting me extremely excited about Spring and Summer.

So, guess what? ShopManhattanite.com is doing something really cool for y'all. This adorable online couture-driven shop is offering Diary of a Personal Shopper readers 20% off of their purchase (just type in "GoodGirl") at checkout through all of March.

In addition, I am giving away one Trina Duffle Bag in Terry Green! Its gorgeous blue, white, and green floral print is soooo perfect for warm weather fashion. And if you love, love, love the purse; there are matching pieces to create a whole collection!

So are you into the primary color trend? By answering this question, I will enter you in a random drawing held this Friday, March 7th.

Here are some of Manhattanite's ultra-feminine featured blouses-slash-dresses in atypical "girly" colors (and remember, you get 20% off! Plus, free shipping over 150 bucks):

Amanda Uprichard Flutter Sleeve Dress
$198.00

Yumi Kim Audrey Blouse
$140.00

Betsey Johnson Washed Habotai Dress

$325.00

Betsey Johnson Paisley Halter Top
$195.00

Good luck, and happy shopping. Manhattanite has such cute, modern sketches. Promise you'll have a great time hangin' out while browsing!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of http://www.shopmanhattanite.com/