Elaine Turner Sierra Clutch

Thought you could get rid of me, huh? Well, ha! You couldn't even if you tried. I'm back and looking better than ever (the blog that is. I could use some smoothing around the edges ;-) So what do we think of the re-design, folks? Do tell!

Should we talk about bags? Yes, please! I've been dying to talk about them, but the well has been dry for some time. It's the inevitable consequence of that transition period between seasons. Slowly but surely, more and more pre-fall bags are beginning to make their way onto the web, but I'm all about summer bags right now. In fact, I've been looking for a good sized clutch perfect for those outdoor summer occasions that always come up, and this affordable Elaine Turner Sierra Clutch is just the ticket.

An "everyday" clutch with ample (but not enormous) proportions can be tricky to find, but the internet never fails to yield great results. The 'Sierra' measures a comfy 6 x 9 x 1.25, large enough to house a wallet, keys, lipstick and cell phone. The creamy light gold leather exterior has a pebbled texture that gives the 'Sierra' a casual feel while the bamboo-style hinged closure gives it a tropical look. Of course, my favorite elements are the framed top and pleated front, but I'm traditional that way. You know that.

Available via neimanmarcus.com for $175 (wowza!)

Chanel Resort 2011

The number of bags on Chanel's Resort runway {if you can call a sandy albeit glamorous boardwalk in Saint-Tropez a runway} made my head spin. Let's start with the length--long straps on bags are in. That much is sure.




And chain, chain is big too--especially when it has that Jackie O. late 60s/70s vibe.




There was a grasscloth clutch emblazoned with the double C's that had a cool jet set appeal {although I'm not a fan of the big logo}.




This square classic is a slam dunk and the long skinny chain is perfect for what's going on with bags right now.




The bucket bag was one of my favorites, with it's updated long wristlet handle.




Finally this sweet little mini bag captured the magical mood of long days at the beach and luxe living.

Where did we go? To get a MAKEOVER!

Wondering what happened to Señora Cartera? Well, the answer is I'm working on a MAJOR overhaul of the site. It will return with an entirely new look and feel, and I hope you will all love it as much as I do. The designer is chugging away to help me brand Señora Cartera the way I'd always envisioned (except I'm a tech klutz and wouldn't know HTML if it jumped up and slapped me with a Birkin ;-)

Bear with me while we make this place a fun, happy and fashionable place to visit on the web. I promise I'll be back with a vengeance and looking fierce, too.

See ya soon!

What I Got for Mother's Day

I had a rare opportunity to pick ANY (yes, ANY) bag I wanted over the weekend as a gift from my hubby and kids for Mother's Day. So which bag did I ultimately pick? Well, my choice might surprise those of you that read the blog regularly. I skipped over Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga (well, I have too many of those bags to begin with), and Fendi. In the end, I picked a bag from.....Michael Kors! No, I don't have a fever. I'm not hallucinating or anything like that. I actually wanted a Michael Kors bag. In fact, I wanted several MK bags. At one point I had four bags dangling from both my arms in an attempt to make a final decision. My hubby even offered to let me walk away with a few of them, but I'm not an extremist and only wanted one. My final choice was this python-embossed, sand-colored Gansevoort N/S Tote. It's without a doubt one of the most spacious, well-appointed bags I've ever purchased. In my book, it was worth every penny of its $450 price tag.

Two inconspicuous side pockets, four interior patch pockets and a large zippered pocket offer tons of storage options. A detachable strap is great for keeping my hands-free while I carry my son around, but the big draw for me was the look and feel of the exterior. I compared it to the Skorpios Python Tote they had on display and, let's just say, you could have fooled me into believing the Gansevoort was the real deal as well. I wanted to include a photo of the bag so you could appreciate how misleading online photos can be. The MK website shows the same exterior as being a grey/white rather than the sand beige/brown it actually is. As I always say, when in doubt, try it out (IRL!).

This tote isn't available online, but you can find it at most Michael Kors stores. If exotics (real or faux) are not your thing, the Gansevoort also comes in thick, yummy leather. Black, cream and a dark beige versions were the ones I saw on display. In case you were wondering, the Moxley, Jennings and Hamilton python-embossed bags were my other choices. So what do you think of my new baby? Don't be shy. I can take the criticism.

The Cross Body Bag

cross body bags by trustyourstyle

The cross body bag is one of my favorite new styles because slinging a bag over your body gives you the freedom of worrying about one less thing. The classic cross body bag is a simple square with a long strap, but this season it's showing up in all sorts of colors and shapes from the McQueen saddle bag to D&G's duffel bag and all sorts of sizes and shapes in between. My personal favorite is the corsetted two pocket cross body bag by Gussto.