Books before boys! Love these nerdy chic Kate Spade bags!

This here used to be my uniform: romantic blouses or soft tees, skinny jeans, heels and a book. I always  used to walk around with a book!

But now that I'm a magazine editor and a mommy, I scurry about everywhere with a large carryall filled with magazines, press kits, date book, phones, diapers, wet wipes, milk and toys. I do, however, always stash a small purse inside my big tote. This purse I bring to meetings and events so that I won't look like I brought my entire house with me.

After seeing these clever clutches from Kate Spade, I think I'm going to ditch the purse and grab me some book clutches! They are so nerdy, adorable and so cool!

Other designs are just as fabulous.

Much as I love the "covers" of the Austen clutches, I've never read her. I'm not her market. I like Dickens, Fitzgerald and Shakespeare, of course, so everything else in Kate Spade's library of clutches, I have read and loved... and want to own!

Each clutch is US$325. That's P13,600++. Whew. That's a lot for a small bag! Just imagine how many real books I can buy with that money. Kate Spade, I hope you go on sale soon!

*images grabbed from Kate Spade online shop

Tod's presents its Autumn/Winter 2012 collection

Well, you all know how I'm dying to own a Tod's D Bag, right? So when Tod's invited me to their intimate soiree to launch their A/W 2012 collection a couple of weeks ago, I threw on a Missoni knit dress, lifted my then 2-month-old baby boy (he turned 3 months old yesterday!) in my arms and went to the Manila Peninsula Suite to view Tod's latest!

Here I am with Good Housekeeping's fashion and beauty editor, Pia Rojas. I am loving the blue of her nails! And we are both loving Tod's Signature Collection!

The Signature Collection features the distinctive Gommino pattern that is found on the soles of the driving shoes of Tod's. I like the texture. I am particularly liking that texture on the soft leather of these totes.

Here's another view. Can't decide which is prettier--the purple or the pink.

Here is the Medium Tote and the Clutch. That blue looks much better in person. But I'm not a blue bag person. So I'm still thinking about the purple and pink!

Woah! And then you have these wild girls! Not only are they in loud colors and trimmed in luxe fur, they're also in sumptuous suede. Yum yum. These babies should star in their own ad campaign.

Signature Collection still, but accessories, like this iPad 2 case. I love that orange!

Well, hello there, D Bag! I see you've got a makeover, too. Is that fur trim? In orange, no less! Hmmm. I should've taken a photo of the bag beside it! It looks pink and trimmed in white. Very sweet and sexy!

These are big bags. Perfect for travel or as carry-on luggage. But the leather is so luxurious, I wouldn't put it in the overhead compartment. Ya, I'm not that rich yet that I can throw my bags just anywhere! Anyway, these beauties can fit enough stuff for a weekend or, if you're not a light packer, for an overnight stay.

Ooh, small D bags in teal and fuchsia! This is the zippered-pockets kind. Very nice handbag but I'm really gunning for the D-Styling Medium one. Although I love that pink!

And they have matching suede booties, too!

As you can see, teal and fuchsia, together with orange, are the colors of the A/W collection. Those shoulder bags also feature a signature Tod's element--the key lock.

More accessories in yummy soft leather and colors. There's actually a lot more in the A/W collection but I had a baby with me so I wasn't able to take a lot of photos. But I'll definitely browse the line at the Greenbelt 4 boutique as soon as I can!

How I care for my leather bags. Thanks, Apple Brand!

I sell these fabulous bags. They're bespoke leather satchels. The whole story is here--yes, go and read it because it's quite romantic! And if you want to get yourself your own bag, click here!

Anyway, this post is for all of you who love their leather bags but are now lamenting the rainy weather. What is up with this weather?! I love the rain, the gloom, the gray. But even this more than a week-long storminess has gotten to me... and my bags and shoes! So how do I protect my precious leather loves? With the Apple Brand Purse Priming Set!

First thing I do is wipe my bags with a dry soft cloth, like an old sock. I use a slightly damp cloth for areas like the bottom part and the handles. I wait to dry. Then I lovingly apply leather conditioner all over the bag. Just enough to keep the leather supple but not so much that the leather gets wet.

Then I buff away with the dry soft cloth. When the leather is nice and shiny, I spray it with protectant. This seals in the conditioner and seals out moisture!

My bags are now safe from the humidity and rain! Also from the sweat and oils of my hands, my lotions and perfume. Now, don't they look nice and pretty?

I got my leather care set from Purse Prime. An 8oz bottle of Apple Leather Conditioner costs P1,399. It's not wax so your leather can breathe. It can clean, condition and protect your skins--cow, pig, snake, ostrich, faux!  I like that even when I use it on my untanned satchel (that's the pinkish one above), it doesn't stain or darken the leather. Plus, it makes the leather sooooft and smooth.

The can of Apple Garde Rain & Stain Repellent is P1,199. This one you can spray on anything--not just leather but suede, nubuck, satin, fabric as well. It's wax-free, too, so your leather stuff can breathe. And it also doesn't stain light-colored skins. So perfect!

So now you know how I keep my bags safe and pretty. I highly recommend Purse Prime's products! The people behind it are super nice, too!

Furla's handbags are the ultimate in contemporary yet classic style

Okay, okay, so I've been obsessing about the Tod's D Bag but Furla's been tempting me lately with their F/W collection. Specifically, the handbags.

As with all the fashion houses, the trend now is retro, mid-century, and lady-like. So if you had thrown away your mommy's handbags, you may find yourself regretting them as hobo is out and handbags are in. Furla's bags show off classic lines and yet, because of the sleek design and sumptuous materials, they are just oozing modern style.

The bags come in pony skin, Mongolian sheepskin, ostrick leather and deerskin. I'm not a fan of ostrich (although I do enjoy the meat!), but when the skin peeks out just like so, it's lovely, like classic polka-dots.

 The best thing I like about this bag? That F.

Discreet and simple yet bold. Like me!

In the Philippines, Furla is available at Greenbelt 5, Rustan's Makati and Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Burberry Prorsum's F/W 2011 bag collection is so luxe!

I can't stand the cold so I never really get interested when the fashion world rolls out the fall/winter collection. But when I saw the bags that accompanied Burberry Prorsum's clothes, I fell in love. The bags are so rich!

The bowling bags in alligator skin are just oozing with style and OTT-ness. Observe!

And you don't need cold weather to tote these beauties around. They're all perfection!

In the Philippines, Burberry is available at Greenbelt 5, Rustan's Makati and Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Furla's tarot bags predict one sure future: Shopping!

And that's shopping in style, too!

The Leitmotiv for Furla Talent Hub (I didn't even know Furla had such a hub!) is a collection inspired by tarot cards. This is for the F/W 2011-2012 season but just look at how colorful these bags are--definitely bags you'll be carrying till the summer!

I love how surreal and fantastical the bags are! I had my fortune told once. I was told that I'll have the thing I want most but I'll work loooong and hard for it. Gee, isn't that true for everything? So I never put much stock in fortune-telling. These Furla bags also predict a sure future for whoever's toting them: ease and style and shopping!

In the Philippines, Furla is available at Greenbelt 5, Rustan's Makati and Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Loving the Tod's D Bag

I know, I know. I've been gone forever. Lots of stuff happening these past few weeks--details in both my personal and mommy blogs. It's so easy to neglect my fashion and beauty blog! Sooo bad!

But I come back because I just have to ask you this: Should I buy the iconic Tod's D Bag???

Pardon my animal-print dress. I look pregnant in it! But I don't care. Just please look at the bag. That beautiful bag! Does it suit me? Does it look boring? Does it look too blah? Does it look perfect?

I really really really have been wanting the Tod's D Bag for a looooong time (I say so here). But it's about P70,000 minimum. The other styles--in various skins and leathers and sizes--fetch a much higher price. I've been thinking of saving up for it (I actually can, easily) but my conscience won't allow me to buy a bag that expensive!

I think that when I become a millionaire (yes, it's "when", not "if"--positive thinking!), I can buy a Tod's without wincing. But do you also think that, if I really really want it, should I just end my torture and get it???

Sigh. Oh, Tod's D Bag, I will have you sooner or later! How about you? What's your ultimate must-have bag? Do share!