Annie Scott
New York City - http://www.anniescott.org
Annie Scott specializes in fashion and beauty, as well as luxury destinations and all things crazy and unexpected.
Clutches for a Cause by Amanda Pearl
Designer Amanda Brotman of Amanda Pearl has created three deliciously wild clutches to help benefit World Wildlife Fund. Why? It all started with a baby cheetah. (Aw.)
Brotman visited Africa in the summer of 2008 and, while visiting villages in Kenya to learn about the economic initiatives, her group was given the opportunity to help nurse a baby cheetah back to health. The cheetah's mother had been killed, and it was struggling to survive on its own.
She was inspired to help more animals, and created the Le Tout collection in the spirit of giving -- and at a perfect time for holiday shoppers looking for ways to make their gifts more meaningful.
All three Le Tout clutches, one of which is above, are just $165, and 20 percent of the proceeds go directly to World Wildlife Fund. Check out the gallery below for the other two clutches, plus a couple of baby cheetah photos (we just couldn't help ourselves). Visit Amanda Pearl to shop.
Carlos Falchi Glazed Python Dr. Bag, Handbag of the Day
The Carlos Falchi Glazed Python Dr. Bag is by equal parts fabulous and dazzling.It's like he took a basic black python bag and BeDazzled it. Like ... really, really well. We can't say this looks like a doctor-style bag to us, but we do love the shape. The gathers at the sides make it feminine enough to stand up to the great big appliquéd BeJewels.
Is it just us, or do the multiple shapes and the spacing remind you of Louis Vuitton? We're certainly not accusing Mr. Falchi of being unoriginal, but if LV did this with their signature shapes, the result would be outrageously awesome.
This perfect-for-the-holidays glazed python bag is a sensible 7"H x 13"W x 4"D; large enough for your stethoscope and your makeup.
The Carlos Falchi Glazed Python Dr. Bag is available from Bergdorf Goodman for $1,695.00.
Outrageous Neiman Marcus Black Friday Sale, 9-Noon
If there's a Neiman Marcus in your town, get up bright and early on Friday, November 27 -- all Neiman Marcus stores nationwide are participating in an amazing deal: If you spend $100 or more, you'll get a $50 gift certificate. That's essentially a 50% off deal, if you happen to be spending right around $100. This is only taking place for three hours: 9:00 am to noon on Friday, November 27. The news was just released today, so there's a good chance that not many people have heard about it.
A couple $100 items: Electronic Wine Chiller, Food Steamer , and the "Clef du Vin" Wine Aging Tester (I didn't even know that existed). The Lamina Small Footed Bowl above is $125. The deal is only in stores and only while supplies last (so if they're out of the item you want, unfortunately, you won't get the deal).
Also, the gift certificate must be used by December 6 -- but for the savvy holiday shopper, that should be no problem. Some exclusions may apply, so see a sales associate for details.
Lotus Arts de Vivre Palm Stick Bag, Handbag of the Day
The Lotus Arts de Vivre Palm Stick Bag is an unexpected delight from the amazing collection at CoutureLab.com.Where to begin? It's a bunch of sticks! Sort of. It's a handmade bag, lovingly constructed with real palm sticks, silk, diamonds, and gold. The palm sticks are harvested from bunches of coconuts, then cut in half and lacquered, and sewn to the shell of the bag. The edges are embellished with elegant gold leaf, and the bag is crowned with a multi-diamond encrusted bauble.
This striking bag would be hard to match perfectly to the right outfit; it would take a dress of character to stand up to the nature-meets-opulence of this design. Frankly, it might be best carried with jeans -- denim looks great with natural elements -- but to honor this museum-worthy creation, we'd hope they'd be nice jeans.
The Lotus Arts de Vivre Palm Stick Bag is available from CoutureLab for approximately $5,768.00.
Is There a $100,000 Book on Your Shelf?
One lucky British family happened to see a photo of the spine of a first edition of "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin. Don't we have that at home?, they thought.They did. According to Reuters, the book was purchased for "a few shillings" in the 60s or 70s and has been sitting on the shelf, undiscovered, until now. Tuesday marks the edition's 150 year anniversary, and it will be auctioned off at Christie's. It is estimated that the book is worth £40,000 - £60,000 ($66,000 - $100,000).
If you've got a first edition or a very old book on your shelf, if might be worth searching it on abebooks.com and alibris.com to see if it's commanding a high price. The price of your book will be affected by the rarity of the edition, condition, and things like typos or signatures. Empty Mirror Books offers more insight here.
**Update 9:20 PM, 11/24/2009**
Guess what it fetched at London's Christie's? Including the buyer's premium, it sold for £103,250 -- about $172,000 -- almost twice the maximum estimated price. The AP reports that the shelf it was sitting on was a "toilet bookshelf." If you've got Darwin in your collection, you might want to note that British authorities are reportedly "searching for a leather-bound notebook Charles Darwin used in developing his theory of natural selection."
[via Reuters]
BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch, Handbag of the Day
The BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch is something you don't see every day.This astonishing creation combines expert beading, big, green crystals and layers of feathers and dark crystals at the base. The unusual shape is sensual and unexpected, and with the tuck-away-able delicate chain, this can even be worn on your shoulder. That half-hexagonal shape at the top is a flap; this satin-lined masterpiece has a simple, well-concealed magnetic closure.
It's a decadent, elaborate vintage look with a futuristic twist, and the overall effect is absolutely dazzling. We'd put this on a shelf as a work of art when not carrying it.
The BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch is available from CoutureLab.com; price available upon request.
Madoff's Debts Still Snowballing - Enter the Legal Fees
According to Reuters, today, "Bernard Madoff's bankruptcy trustee and the law firm employing him submitted a $22.1 million legal bill covering five months of work."
Baker & Hostetler LLP wants $21.28 million, and court-appointed trustee Irving Picard, the partner at Baker & Hostetler who is overseeing the liquidation of Madoff's professional and personal assets (that includes the auctions), wants $835,605 separately. Picard has "recovered $1.4 billion of assets, just 7 percent of the $21.2 billion of investor losses he had found."
When lawyers want their clients to get paid, that's one thing. When lawyers their own paycheck, it's another entirely. What do you think? Should they only get 7 percent of their bills paid? Perhaps that would reinvigorate their desire to find out, while liquidating, where the money really went.
[via Reuters]
Dolce & Gabbana Miss Martini Patchwork Pony Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day
The Dolce & Gabbana Miss Martini Patchwork Pony Shoulder Bag is a fun way to work a lot of animals prints into your outfit at the same time.Some of these prints are actually pony hair, originating from Italy and New Zealand, so not only does the bag make it look like you're dating a successful Serengeti fur trapper, but it's soft and stroke-worthy (helpful, because you miss him on his long trips).
In all seriousness, this is super cute. Throw this over your shoulder with a little black dress, put a martini in the other hand, and you might as well be in Mad Men. The bag is 9"W X 8"H X 1½"D, and has a fabulous goldtone chain and logo plate. Added bonus: all these colors are neutrals, so you can totally pair it with your jewel-toned holiday dresses for a very luxe effect.
The Dolce & Gabbana Miss Martini Patchwork Pony Shoulder Bag is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,075.00.
Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - A $3 Million Bra and some Crazy Photos
Every year, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is crazier than the last. This year, at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City, we saw an array of outfits that were by equal turns beautiful and baffling. We love how Victoria's Secret always manages to dress the Angels in elaborate designs that sit just next to their bodies -- giant wings and capes that cover nothing ... you'll see what we mean in the gallery.
Pictured here is the most expensive item of the evening, the diamond-clad three million dollar bra, being caressed by Marisa Miller, who had the privilege of wearing it. Honestly, it's a bit of a yawn, but we'd feel cheated if they hadn't BeDiamonded something. What's really fun is the crazy pictures in the gallery. It's only once a year that models get to dress up like harlots from the future and it's like, a big honor. So check it out.
These outfits speak for themselves, but that didn't stop us. Why did we include some of the most awkward pictures? Because we're jealous. Enjoy.
Kooba Mila Clutch, Handbag of the Day
The Kooba Mila Clutch is spangly and sexy.This python-embossed leather clutch, with its demure, delicate wristlet and gold ring, is the perfect thing to spice up a little black dress -- or a little green dress, a little gold dress, a little purple dress, and so on. The stripy colors are fresh and playful, and give the bag an 80s feel, but not overwhelmingly, like say, Zubaz (warning, may burn your eyes).
We also love the stroke-me texture, the black leather whipstitching at the edges and especially the long shape, which ensures you will actually be able to put things into this bag. This would be an easy go-to for grabbing off your shelf to glam up an outfit -- even your work clothes.
The Kooba Mila Clutch is available from Neiman Marcus for $325.00.
