(mc) QUEEN OF LAS VEGAS

After a long night of gambling, I woke up on my 2nd day in Vegas revitalized, refreshed and READY TO SHOP!  I had done my research and knew that all of the great places to shop on THE STRIP were within quick walking distance.

A fairy tale shopping experience

Shopping at the Wynn Las Vegas was as opulent as you would imagine.  It was a VIP event and only the finest could attend.  Chloe, CHANEL, Manolo Blahnik, Givenchy... they all were invited to the party.  Was I under-dressed???  Who cares!  I was allowed in!

My first stop was none other than 

LOUIS VUITTON

It was just after 10:00 AM and I was the only shopper in The Louis Vuitton boutique in Las Vegas - I felt like royalty or an A list celebrity!  It was AWESOME!  I ran immediately to the Monogram Vernis handbags in all of their candy colored glory.  The colors of the season where a little too South Beach for my liking, but upon asking for more color options I found that the store also carried staple colors like Pomme D'Amour (Lipstick Red) and Amarante (Dark Purple).

Home Sweet Home.  Can I live here?  Thanks.

I immediately fell in L-O-V-E with the Monogram Vernis ANA CLUTCH in Amarante.  The bag featured both a leather and gold chain strap which made it versatile for different occasions.  The engraved gold hardware gave the clutch a timeless feel, like it was a pristine hand-me-down from the 1940s.  And THE COLOR... The rich, dark, lustrous shade of purple was just magnifique!  I've seen knockoffs of the shade before but they pale in comparison to the real Amarante.  To the guys selling counterfeit "purple" LV's out of the trunks of your cars... I'm on to you.  Just sayin'. 

ANA clutch in Amarante Monogram Vernis - I'll take one in every color.

Actual retail price... $1,730.00

Unfortunately, I'm not as impulsive a buyer as Vegas would have liked me to be.  With tax, my charming little clutch would have set me back about $2,000.00.  I wasn't quite ready to part with all of my craps table winnings so I bid adieu to Mr. Salesman at Vuitton and headed across the way to another suitor, ALEXANDER McQUEEN.

The feeling of stepping into the Alexander McQueen store was similar to being abducted by aliens (I could imagine).  The spaceship store was pristine, insanely bright and arranged like a museum.  Was I allowed to pick-up the handbags?  I was afraid to find out...

Star ship to Enterprise... We've been abducted by designer fashion.

It was only minutes into my abduction that I realized something very different about the scene in McQueen... 

There was...

NO!!!!

IT CAN'T BE...

A SALE

!!!!!!!!!!!

And not just 10, 20 or 25% off.  I had arrived at the perfect time.  Twice yearly, Alexander McQueen has a 50% OFF SALE!!! My Vegas vacation coincided perfectly with one of the best sales of the year!!!  Talk about odds being in my favor!

I rushed around the sale section eagerly.  Every handbag needed to be picked up and modeled in front of the mirror before making my final decision.  I wanted them all but knew that Spirit Airlines would charge obscene amounts for all of my luxurious carryon shopping bags.

After deciding on two fierce yet fabulous pieces, a studded leather bucket bag and a printed silk clutch, I was told by the sales-alien that I did not need to pay tax! Are you kidding me? Am I being punked right now? This is the best vacation EVER!!!

The store offered to ship both bags to my home instead of having to check them or pay $50.00 to carry them onto the plane. Thanks McQueen! 

My bags arrived in Chicago three days later.  I just so happened to be home sick that day (cough,  cough) and was able to accept the FedEx delivery.  I love getting mail!!!  What is it? What is it? It's like Christmas morning every time.

My first bag is the fur printed silk DeManta clutch.  The striking design caught my eye and I was fortunate enough to get one because it was the last in the store. They were a hot item and sold out quickly.

My second bag is a large gold studded black leather bucket bag.  The bag features a gold skull that doubles as a lock.  The entire bag also doubles as a weapon so don't mess with me.

The two bags will join my B'Wallet (see my next blog for more on the B'Wallet) as part of the "Crap I've won playing Craps" Collection. Who wants to go with me to Vegas? But first, I'm going to need a bigger closet.

Bon Voyage Alma

My Louis Vuitton Alma bag sold today on the designer resale site, shop-hers.com.

In honor of the time we've spent together...

A farewell letter to my beloved handbag - in her native language.
GOOGLE TRANSLATE may be helpful at this point unless you are fluent in French.

Très chère Alma ,

Aujourd'hui, je vous envoie sur votre chemin à ensoleillée de Santa Monica , en Californie, où vous serez réemballés dans du papier de soie noire moelleux et envoyé à votre nouvelle maison dans Podunk , Amérique.

Nous avons rencontré sur une nuit fraîche Octobre après que je aimerais juste pris un tatouage et un imbibé un peu trop de Manhattan . Bien acheté sur un coup de tête Druken , vous êtes la preuve que mon goût empecable est toujours apparente , même lorsque tout à fait ivre .

Votre style classique peut être apprécié dans les petites villes . Je espère que vous êtes traité pour assister à des dîners que les meilleurs restaurants et que vous ne pouvez jamais voir l'intérieur d'un KFC ou Burger King .

Safe voyages Alma , rester fort !

Amour, K

Big Wynn-er

I can't tell you everything about this past weekend because that would be breaking Vegas rule #1...
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS! 

But I can show you what I was able to buy with my winnings!!!  

I'll never tell... Yes I will.  Keep reading.

That's right loyal reader, I won!  How the hell did I do that?  NOBODY WINS IN VEGAS - excluding the free alcohol of course.  Everybody's a winner when you have free booze!  But, HOW DID I WIN???  Well the truth is... The combination of booze and cigarette smoke makes me a mathematical genius like Rain Man or Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover.  The numbers magically appear in a fuzzy haze and suddenly I know how to bet.

LIES!!!

I'm not Rainman, I'm Batman.

 

 

The real truth is... I don't know how I won.  Luck, I guess.  This time I decided to stay away from my normal gambling choices of blackjack tables and slot machines.  I love to split aces and double down but for some reason the casino never lets me have any money to take home.  I need money to buy purses!!!  So this time my partner-in-crime and I focused our attention elsewhere...
The Craps Table. 

Oh craps... that is a LOT of numbers

How the heck do you play that???  Well, I won't bore you with my strategy of placing bets simultaneously on the FIELD as well as ODDS on 5, 6 and 8  - I'll just say that it isn't as hard as it looks.  Craps is actually a really fun game that you can sit and play for a very long time without losing all of the dollar bills that you came to Vegas with.  Just don't roll that 7.

Hey 007, Don't roll a 7

After a fun filled night of rolling dice and high-fiving every person within a 2 mile radius, it was time to get to business.  With my new found fortune burning a hole in my Henri Bendel Debutante Haircalf Clutch (Great for Vegas BTW, lots of rooms to hold your chips!) I needed to decide where I wanted to go shopping. SHOPPING IN VEGAS!!!!  Is there anything better???  NOPE.

The wonderful thing about staying on the north side of the strip is the proximity to all of the fabulous boutiques!  Prada, Vuitton, Dior, CHANEL... They are all there.  Right next door to our hotel, at the WYNN.  It really is shopping heaven. 

I definitely felt like a WYNNER that day

SHOW US THE PURSES!!!   
SHOW US THE PURSES!!!  
SHOW US THE PURSES!!!  

You will have to wait for the story until the next chapter.
Please join me, won't you, for my next installment entitled (mc) QUEEN OF LAS VEGAS

In the meantime please go practice your craps table dice rolling skills at the nearest casino.

BESPOKE my heart!

Hey Reader,

So remember the last time you were here reading about my love for those super sparkly clutches created by EDIE PARKER?

So PRETTY!!!

Well...

A. I'm still obsessed with the clutches.

B. No, I did not buy one.

and 

C. HOLY SHIT... 

they can be customized!!!

BALENCIAGAIN on a clutch!  I need this!

That means that Edie Parker will design a bag JUST FOR ME!  I can choose the shape, the amount of glitterfication and whatever wording I want on the bag (assuming it fits...)

Just imagine the possibilities...

Oh my Gawd... I WANT ONE!!!

Pricing is about $1,800.00 (there is a $1,600.00 option - but let's get real folks) and I would totally give them the money RIGHT NOW... if I had some to give them!  Boo!!!  How do I get paid to blog?

Damn right it's cool.

Luckily, I'm off to VEGAS this weekend!  Let's assume that I will be able to hustle those blackjack dealers out of some dough...  Maybe I'll have Edie (we're now on a first name basis) put 777 on my bag.  21 would make more sense though.  I wonder if WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER will fit on my glitterific clutch? CASINO QUEEN would be fun too!

Baller?  But I play the penny slots...

Anna Gunn from the badass tv show BREAKING BAD had one customized for her awards show appearance!  How rad is that???   Edie just made science cool.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.  Get it, because it's METH.  Moving on...

Word on the street is that they'll even throw some not safe for children's ears type lingo on your bag.  Hmmm... But on second thought, maybe that's not so fucking lady-like.  Ooops.  Here's some more inspiration for my new bag.  If you have any suggestions feel free to throw them at me.  Wish me luck!  About 2K worth...

Hello, my name is NAUGHTY

Maybe just one HO for some...

# stupid

Acrylic Handbag Artistry

Is there anything better than GLITTER?

The movie starring Mariah Carey?  
NO!
This blog is devoted to the wonderful world of designer handbags, not singers turned D list "actresses".

A glitter bomb sent to your frienemy?
WHAT?  Apparently there is this company that will (for a mere $9.99) anonymously send an envelope full of glitter to someone you hate.  The recipient will have the pleasure of cleaning up glitter for weeks.  Haha.  Sounds fun!  Someone send me mail with a shit ton of glitter, I'm all about it!

PURSES!
That's why we're here... isn't it?  Pay attention!  It's always about PURSES.  Geez... 
  
Glitter on purses.  What, am I a 5 year old?  Don't kids just love reflective particles on everything!  Grab some Elmer's glue - let's glitterfy some crap!

NO!

Put the Mod Podge DOWN!!!

EDIE PARKER CONFETTI STRIPED ACRYLIC CLUTCH 

Oh dear, isn't that chic!  But at a staggering price of just under a cool $1.2 K.an Edie Parker Clutch is not really in my budget.  I mean, this clutch will barely contain my phone and a lipstick!  And seeing as how acrylic is totally BREAKABLE I'd never want to carry it because I'd fear that one sneeze would send that glittery box flying out of my hands, smashing to the ground.  Cracked designer handbag... not so fierce.   The photo below shows more of EDIE PARKER'S sophisticated glittery masterpieces.

Searching for a cheaper alternative, I discovered that apparently acrylic handbags are very of the moment.  Who knew?  Well I guess I did.  Haha, I'm so on-point.  Go me!  Sadly, I've yet to find the perfect one to add to my collection but here are some equally cool little vintage inspired box purses that will leave you with some moolah to put in them.  Let's get 3 or 4....

Above we have "Parfum De Charme" sold at Charming Charlie.  Well, it was sold at Charlie until it sold out!  DAMMIT!  That cute little purse was only $39.99, a far cry from the CHANEL bag it pays homage to.

If you head on over to eBay, these candy colored acrylic clutches can be yours for an insanely low price of $8.17.  Cool idea but the translucency allows for people to see my tampons and credit card number, so I'll pass.

Etsy has some pretty rad vintage options.  This one comes from Spain and is only $85.00.  The bright colors are not exactly as magical as glitter but the marbling effect is fun.  And it's one-of-a-kind.  Quick, someone buy this for my birthday!


https://www.etsy.com/listing/172077775/clutch-chenson-multicolor-acrylic?ref=sr_gallery_26&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes[0]=tags&ga_search_query=clutch+acrylic&ga_ref=related&ga_page=1&ga_view_type=gallery

The unveiling of my CHANEL tote

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOYAL READER!
(You know who you are, Sexy!)

My CHANEL tote came back from the Spa in November and to be completely honest...  

Ummmm....  

OH MY GOD, I LOVE IT!  

IT'S EFFING FANTASTIC!

When I first received the box from the mailman (the repair took about 4 weeks) I wasn't sure what to expect.  "Well..." I thought, "It can't be any worse than how I sent it to them." I rushed to find a scissors, took a deep breath and opened the box as quickly as I could!

Oh my....

AHH!!!!  HOLY CHANEL!

  

LOOK AT THAT LEATHER LINING!  IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL I COULD CRY!!!

How they performed this small miracle,  I'll never know.  They even sent the old, sad lining as a souvenir. I threw it out of course but I somehow feel that someone would have given me at least $1.00 for it on eBay.

The old lining.  Yours for only a buck.

Since then my CHANEL bag... (I love saying that!) My CHANEL bag (there, I said it again!) and I have been to the Drake for tea and the Pump Room for brunch. I feel that this bag definitely isn't for everyday use but more for special occasions.  That and I'm kind of afraid to use it because it's just so damn perfect. 

Thanks LeatherSpa.com for giving me a bag so great that it will never leave its dust bag. That should be your company's slogan.  

CHANEL visits The Drake for afternoon tea

My Free YSL MUSE Bag. Yes, FREE.

The Yves Saint Laurent Muse bag.

Its simple dome style has always been a favorite of mine. 

Classic and understated, the Muse is a fine bag for a day time shopping trip, an afternoon at the races or lunch alfresco with the girls.

And today... it's MINE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME!!!

Where did I find the money to purchase a new handbag after the holidays? 

I didn't.   I just got this fantastic handbag... wait for it... FOR FREE!!! 

SHUT UP!!!

I will not. 

Totally free.  $0.00. Not one penny spent.

And no,  I did not start a shoplifting habit.

But how? Where? What the hell???

Hahaha... stayed tuned my fond readers!  I will share the story of how I obtained my newest handbag soon.

Till then.