{Scenic Wine Tour}

Last weekend, my fabulous friend Dawn aka our group's "social chair", planned a wine day trip for us. It was really fabulous, and we all had a terrific time. We visited a whisky distillery, a brewery and two wineries. I collected a few snaps of the excursion. 

we began our journey at copper fox distillery

our incredibly knowledgeable tour guide

 finished product

after our initial tasting, we headed over to pen druid brewing, 

run by a band of brothers...

i started out with the orange rider...a citrus-y southern pale ale

...i have an obsession with fruity brews 

brew and a bag...

our group was nothing if not stylish

a sample of the mellow fellow

brewery nosh -- trout mousse...it was delicious

light show at pen druid...a nice touch

~

Until we meet again...

Live Glamourously.

{Bendel Ambassador Soiree}

On November 6, I joined forces with Henri Bendel to kick off the holiday season at a party thrown in my honor. I have become quite a fan of the brand since first discovering them, so when my personal shopper--the MOST AMAZING Bendel associate ever, mind you--suggested they put on a soiree for me, how could I turn it down?!

Replete with a 25% discount on all merchandise my guests purchased, sips and sweets, a gift card and a giveaway of a brand new handbag, I was amped!

 a lovely little invite created by the HB marketing team just for moi

 one of my girls showing off her HB bling

 branded cookies...they were delicious!

i made off with this little beauty for less than $60 

with the assistance of the special promotional offer, 
my gift card and bendel rewards!

west 57th satchel my friend won in the giveaway!

happy holidays from me and HB!

~

Until we meet again...

Live Glamourously.

{New Additions}

Facts. I'm a handbag whore. You guys know this.
If I see a bag I love, I become enamored, obsessed, jaded...blahblahblah...

~

Now, I'm not really what you would categorize as a frugal girl, 

but I know how retail works when it comes to markdowns, 

so I often (im)patiently wait for the bags that I lust after to go on sale. 

And well, sometimes bags I didn't know I was in dire need of go on sale. . .

which translates into #firstworldproblems forreal forreal. 

~

That being said, I have new, new, NEW additions to share with you! 

(And yes, I just hit a shimmy while typing.)

I went into Henri Bendel a few weeks back and walked out with 

the leather and haircalf Rivington Tote. It was already on sale, 

and I got an additional 20% off using a coupon I had received from HB

due to an issue I had back in the fall. Worked for meeeee!! 

It comes in other colors and textures online, 

but I grabbed the last one of these babies in store. 

Lucky me. Overall bag design is divine. It screams richness. 

This one, the Whitney Satchel, is a complete showstopper.
I have gotten so many complements from men on this bag.
The vibrancy of the color is ev-er-y-thing and taken over the top
with the gold hardware and reptile print handles. It also has a
removable cross body strap that can be left on and displayed
stylishly by remaining buttoned underneath the bottom of the handbag.
I purchased this during the HB New Year's sale, and guess what?
Got it using the same 20% off code I used before because
I bought this one online as opposed to in-store.
The associate only asked to see the email containing the code
at the actual atelier and didn't bother keying it in,
so I tried my luck during my little online perusing session.
And voila! It worked. I was quite pleased.

Just a little HB portfolio wallet I picked up on sale for half-off.
It's a perfect mate for another Bendel bag I own, similar to
this, but mine is larger and has been discontinued by the brand.
~
*Update*
Meanwhile, remember this post where I was whining about a
rare vintage Gucci bag that I had missed the opportunity to buy?
Well, where there's a will, there's a way. I got the bag!
I was able to negotiate a deal through my vintage seller to purchase
it from his original buyer. Don't sleep. She's serious about her Gucci.

Isn't she a beaut?

~

Until we meet again...

Live Glamourously.

{Vintage Gucci Glamour}

When I die, bury me inside the Gucci sto'!

~

I love, love, LUUUURVES me some vintage Gucci. I must confess; collecting these pieces is one of my more lavish hobbies. And this year, I found me a supplier. Yes, being addicted to vintage Gucci is a little like being addicted to crack, I would imagine--possibly more expensive. A little leery at first since the purveyor of Gucci goods (@VintageGucciFinds on Instagram) lives in another state, but once I received my first product, I was completely SOLD! He guarantees authenticity, and his pieces are sublime.

He is a connoisseur of all things Gucci--a lover of the brand himself--and learns his clients quickly; he can now tell me exactly what I want. He's the equivalent of a Gucci concierge. I've purchased nothing but mint condition bags from him because he sells nothing but the best! And if the bag isn't already mint, he'll do his best to ensure the restoration embodies it. The proof is in the pudding. See for yourself:

My first purchase from my Gucci guy. . .this bag is older than I am. 
No, really. It's like, 35.

Follow-up purchase. . .monogram top-handle with 
matching kiss locket change purse

My most recent purchase. . .
currently undergoing minor construction. . .
but should be shipping soon!

I can't wait to meet her!

matching kiss locket change purseI can't wait to meet her T he following are bags that I missed out on when The following bags I missed out on because  I failed to stalk @VintageGucciFinds IG more regularly I was really hurt over this one!! It's gorgeous! Then, there was this beautifully kept messenger tote. . . And alas, the coveted bowling bag. . . All photos courtesy of @VintageGucciFinds If you like what you see, click here for the goods. Do you have an item you like to splurge on? Tell me about it in the comments!

~ Until we meet again... Live Glamourously.

matching kiss locket change purseI can't wait to meet her

T

he following are bags that I missed out on when

The following bags I missed out on because 
I failed to stalk @VintageGucciFinds IG more regularly

I was really hurt over this one!! It's gorgeous!

Then, there was this beautifully kept messenger tote. . .

And alas, the coveted bowling bag. . .

All photos courtesy of @VintageGucciFinds

If you like what you see, click here for the goods.

Do you have an item you like to splurge on?
Tell me about it in the comments!

~

Until we meet again...

Live Glamourously.

{I Got It Bad...And That Ain't Good}

Yesterday, I discovered the Henri Bendel boutique by my house. Debauchery ensued. How did I miss this? It's been directly across from the Cole Haan I routinely visit for the past 7 months. What you see above are new bags on my hit list. APPARENTLY, someone just missed a sale, so I'm saving up for these lovelies!

 

Fun fact: I learned that the black bag and the blue and white striped one are in a collection called No. 7. Apparently, Henri struck up a friendship with Coco Chanel and was responsible for bringing her designs to the states. When Coco was deciding on which fragrances to debut, her concoction, No. 7, was Mr. Bendel's favorite.

 

~

 

Until we meet again...

 

Live Glamourously.

{And for My Next Trick!...}

By now, you all know that I'm the poster-girl for Cole Haan.

Their bags are fabulous and extremely well-made.

So you know I had to share this, the Zoe satchel,

which I recently purchased...On Sale!!

 

~

 

Until we meet again,

 

Live Glamourously.

:Knock Knock:

Who's there you ask? 

...Why, this door, and it's absolutely lust-worthy. And it just so happens to belong to one of my favorite ateliers of handbags, Cole Haan. Just drink in the braided door handle and the orange spice-laquer. How can you not swoon?
~
...And while we're on the topic of handbags, have your eyes had the opportunity to feast on any of these luxury leather goods from Cole...

Saucy, saucy, saucy...I do say.


~

Remember to Always...

Live Glamourously.

:In Why Didn't I Think of That News:

Accessories...they're not just for homes anymore.  They're for handbags, too.  And I like it. My most recent purchase of the item pictured above (on sale, of course) confirms such.  Belts.  They're not just for waists anymore.