Spring Refresh: 15 Items Kaitlin is Crushing on for Spring 2018

It snowed yesterday in NYC, and a week ago it did the same. I wish I could say I thought this was the last of it, but the weather woman this morning told me otherwise, as there’s another possible impending storm in the forecast for early next week. Even still, the days are getting less and less grey, and with daylight savings time this past weekend, they’re also getting longer and lighter. I’m officially ready for spring, and even though my wardrobe probably is too—everyone that’s close to me knows I don’t need another thing—I’m fantasizing about sprucing it up a bit with some new shoes, accessories and a few clothing items too.

I’ll most definitely indulge in one or two of my wants, and only because I just did a HUGE closet purge. I gave most of my old goods away but sold a few designer pieces, so I’ll definitely feel less guilty about snatching up something new with my profits. Below, I’ve rounded up the 15 things I’m coveting for spring. What are you lusting after the season?

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Review of my Freshly Picked Diaper Bag (and the Baby Shoes I’m Obsessed With)

Before I had Millie and even before I was pregnant with her, I had a list of things I knew I would buy for my future kid. I have been obsessed with Freshly Picked shoes for years, purchasing them as gifts for my friends with kids (seriously—such a good gift, you can not go wrong), and while I know that having a baby is far more than just dressing them up, I was pretty excited about that added bonus. Let’s be honest, anything pint-sized is pretty adorable, especially shoes. So Freshly Picked has long been on my radar, and I have more shoes for Millie from the brand than I’d like to admit. Plus, you’ve seen them in many of my posts with Millie over the past year, and many of you have said how much you love them!

I was thrilled to see that Freshly Picked introduced a Diaper Bag last fall, and it came at the perfect time. As motherhood progresses and Millie had gotten older, my needs for my bag change almost daily. Millie is both the easiest child, with her overall laid back temperament, and a difficult child, with her endless food allergies and medical needs. My bag constantly reflects that—I don’t need a lot of toys or items to keep her occupied, but I also need to carry every medication she may need at all times.

Last week, my mom and I took Millie to Disney for a few days and my bag needs changed again—I needed a backpack, not a shoulder bag, and I realized that every other parent was on board with that. A backpack takes the weight off your one arm, is easy to take off and on, and while Vlad will carry any bag under the sun for me, most dads prefer carrying a backpack if they need to do it for longer. This is why I love my Freshly Picked Diaper Bag! It came at the right time and it has suited every need and then some for me and Millie.

This is a bag that was made for moms, by moms, and you can tell immediately when you get it. Though the shoes are leather, this bag is a vegan leather that is really high-end (it looks like a beautiful pebbled leather) and is also very durable. It’s lighter weight than leather would be, which is such a plus when it comes to a diaper bag, and it’s spill-resistant and wipes clean, which are both beyond important when it comes to a bag that is going to be used around children.

While you can wear the bag three ways—as a backpack, crossbody, or a purse—I really love the backpack option. Oddly enough, I’m not really a backpack girl, but after a long day on my feet, carrying all of my items and Millie’s around, my back and I greatly appreciate the backpack over a shoulder or crossbody bag. Overall dimensions are 13″ wide x 15″ high x 7″ deep, with enough room to fit tablets and laptops up to 15″ in the electronic sleeve.

The exterior has important compartments, including a pouch pocket on either side which can fit a bottle (up to 32 oz—I use one side for Millie and the other to carry a water bottle for me), along with a front zipper pocket that is easy to access and can hold your phone and keys with plenty of room to spare. The inside is a organizational heaven: the bag is quite deep, so in the main area I always have changes of clothes for Millie and a couple toys for her. There are four pouch pockets, each is big enough to fit a bottle; two are on the front interior, while one is on either side. I typically put a sippy cup with water in one, diaper cream in the other, snacks in one, and then the additional pocket is for some of my items. The back slip pocket (which can fit a tablet) comes with a changing pad, and that’s what I use it for—I have a bit of a germaphobe problem and tend to want to have my own surface down when I change Millie. Behind that, there is a zip pocket as well. Lined in nylon, this bag is light (only 2.3 lbs) and just makes so much sense that I keep obsessing over it. I love being able to find everything that I need at every moment, and this bag allows it while looking good.

I added one of Freshly Picked’s Zip Pouches to the larger interior compartment, which holds Millie’s medicine. We have to travel with her EpiPen, Benadryl, Prednisone, and an anti-nausea medication at all times, and I always want to keep these in a pouch. This way, I know they are in one place, I can locate them easily, and it gives me so much peace of mind to have it all so easily accessible. I really love the pouches and would highly recommend them if you’re looking for one for your bag. Actually, even if you don’t have a baby or child, it’s a great pouch because it looks great and can be cleaned easily and is also lined in nylon, so if anything spills you don’t need to worry about it ruining the pouch completely.

So how do I rate this bag? It’s truly amazing. In addition to the fact that it’s stylish, usable, and durable, the bag is so well priced: at $ 175, you truly can’t beat the whole package. Plus, while you’re at it, you can buy some Freshly Picked shoes for your kiddos or as gifts, because that is what turned me on to the brand. Millie wears Freshly Picked shoes constantly, and we have amassed quite the collection. When she started walking, they were comfortable to give her feet room to move, and she loves being barefoot, so this is the closest thing to it. They are also by far the cutest kid’s shoes out there, and if Freshly Picked made adult moccs, I’d wear them. Buy the Freshly Picked Diaper Bag for $ 175.

The team at Freshly Picked is offering PurseBlog readers 20% for this week if you use code purseblog20 at checkout, so you can buy the bag and all the shoes your heart desires for a discount. When checking out, be sure to enter our code purseblog20!

And another major plus: we are giving away a $ 250 gift card to FreshlyPicked.com. The giveaway is hosted on our Instagram, so be sure to follow us and find out how to enter at this post!

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The Best Street Style Bags of Paris Fashion Week Fall 2018, as Seen on Instagram

If you’ve been following along on our fashion month journey, you’ve seen our street style roundups from both NYFW and MFW. Sadly this adventure has come to its inevitable end, but not before our favorite ladies took to the streets of Paris for the Fall 2018 shows, toting their very best bag looks. Whether you hate to love these style stars or you love to hate ’em, one can’t deny that their bag games are seriously on point. Below, I’ve rounded up the very best snaps and shares, showing off some seriously enviable carries, all for you viewing pleasure!

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Paris Hilton: “If I were a bag, I would be this Birkin”

There are many people I am utterly intrigued by and would love to meet, and Paris Hilton has always been on my list. The celebrity/socialite/mogul is much more than she is portrayed to be, launching more businesses than many of us realize and continuing to remain in the spotlight after many years—a lot of work unto itself. Her persona is bright, cheerful, and over-the-top in many ways. We’ve covered bags that Paris Hilton has carried, but that was many years ago (over eight years, to be exact), when Paris loved carrying Chanel and was spotted with a Louis Vuitton Miroir Alma while vacationing with Kim Kardashian.

But in the past ten years, Paris has changed a lot, launching business after businesses and slowly changing her public persona. She is a entrepreneur, animal lover, newly engaged and entirely in love, and recently became the owner of a rare and customized Hermès Birkin from Privé Porter. Paris’s Rose Tyrien Birkin was customized with thousands of Swarovski crystals, making it truly one-of-a-kind and 100% on brand for Paris. In fact, she told us that if she were a bag, she would be this Birkin, and there is no bag that looks or feels more “Paris Hilton” to me than this exact bag.

We were lucky enough to see this bag before Paris Hilton received it herself because we work closely with Privé Porter to share some of the most interesting and hard-to-find Hermès bags. And when you get a call and someone asks you if you want to see an insane bag, you say yes. The quality is impeccable when it comes to the crystals and their placement on the Birkin, and the bag itself, well—the color is insane.

I spoke to Michelle Berk, founder of Privé Porter, who told me, “This is an idea that I have had a very long time, high quality personalization. Everyone is painting bags.” She went on to tell me, “It ironically came together at the time we heard from Paris. I followed a particular craftsman for some time, I liked the quality and integrity of her work. I like that it’s a female craftsman, too. These things are a total bust if the quality is gimmicky. For the crystals, it took her 60 hours to put 30,000 crystals on it. Think about that: it takes an Hermes craftsman around 45 to make the bag itself.”

There are five different-sized crystals on the bag, so think of it as the most insane jigsaw puzzle without a true pattern. The Rose Tyrien Birkin is a very rare color—Hermès hasn’t used this color in a while—and the team at Privè Porter had this bag in its arsenal for at least a year. The timing was right, as this radical pink Birkin was the perfect fit for Paris Hilton.

When it comes to getting a very rare Birkin and customizing it, Privè Porter is the place to go. Right after Paris’s bag was made, Keyshia Ka’oir had one created as well (a glimpse at hers is included in some of our photos; more info to follow). Read our exclusive interview below and see our photos of the bag, along with a few exclusives Paris took for us.

The Interview

PB: We’ve followed you for a long time and know you’re a savvy businesswoman, but many people don’t realize that. Tell us about your perfume and accessory business—how big are they, how many countries, what product lines?

Paris: I love being a businesswoman and I am so proud of the empire I have created. I am about to release my 24th fragrance and I have 19 product lines, with every type of product from handbags, clothing, shoes to sunglasses, watches, jewelry, lingerie, makeup, skincare, home ware, pet clothes, accessories and hair products. I have also followed in my family’s footsteps and have my own real estate properties and am branching out to create my own hotel line. It is such an amazing feeling to be such an independent successful businesswoman.

PB: Do you have any plans to go more upscale on any of your brands in the future?

Paris: I love that I can create good quality products for my fans that are at an affordable price. I want my fans to be able to dress and feel like they are a part of my life through my products. But yes, I do plan on coming out with a more high end line.

PB: Let’s talk love! Everyone has been talking about your engagement and love story, including the videos and images. How did you guys meet? Who came up with the hit song and who did the video?

Paris: I met Chris 8 years ago at an Oscar Party at one of the bungalows in the Chateau Marmont. As soon as he walked in, I thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He immediately walked up to me and we hit it off right away. Our friendship eventually led to the love we have today. I wrote the song “I Need You.” I wanted to write the perfect love song for people to listen to and relate to and enjoy with their loved one. My fiance Chris directed the music video, he is so talented.

PB: When are you getting married and tell us what your wedding will be like?!

Paris: I am still trying to plan the date, it is very difficult with my hectic business schedule since I am always traveling and working, but definitely some time this year. I want it to be the most special day of my life, like a fairytale in a Disney movie. There is so much to plan, I am so excited and I cannot wait.

PB: This exquisite custom Birkin: how did you and Privé Porter find each other?

Paris: I was looking through Instagram one day and saw the Privé Porter page. I instantly fell in love with all of the beautiful rare Hermes Birkin bags that they carry.

Since the bling ring broke into my house and stole my Birkin collection, I had been searching for this rare Rose Tyrien colored Birkin and finally found it there. I love it so much! It’s like carrying around a piece of art.

PB: Privé Porter came by and showed the bag to us before you got it, and it’s as if Hermès did it themselves when it comes to the crystals! How do you feel about this Birkin and its quality?

Paris: I am so happy with my new Birkin, it is perfect. If I were a bag, I would be this Birkin. I really wanted it to be special, so they covered it in over 30,000 Swarovski crystals. The quality is amazing. Every time I wear the bag, I get so many compliments and people stopping me on the street asking me where I got it. I am in Love!

PB: In your recent comments, you suggested about the 20 Birkins you lost to the Bling Ring. Most of our readers cannot dream of having 20, let alone losing one. Of them, which one or two were your favorites, and which ones, if any, would you like to replace?

Paris: The Bling Ring stole many things from my home, one of the things I was most upset about, was my collection of 20 Birkins. My favorites were my baby blue Birkin and my favorite classic black Birkin. My new one more than makes up for it.

PB: Aside from Hèrmes, tell us about other designers you like—both classics and contemporary?

Paris: I am a handbag designer as well, so of course I love my Paris Hilton Collection the most. I also love to collect Chanel bags and I am loving the new Gucci collections.

PB: What’s one thing you wish people knew about you but don’t?

Paris: A lot of people don’t know that I am actually a huge tech geek. I am obsessed with technology. I am actually creating my very own Paris Hilton VR world in the VR space which I am super excited about. It is going to be so innovative and a game changer.

PB: The most frustrating preconception people have about you?

Paris: There are so many misconceptions about me. A lot of people got to know me through The Simple Life, where I was playing a character. So if someone does not know me, they assume I am the blonde airhead that I played on the show. I like to be taken seriously as the businesswoman that I am. I don’t like when people underestimate me, but I love proving people wrong.

PB: What’s next for Paris Hilton?

Paris: I am very excited about my new skincare line that is about to be launched. We just released my new Unicorn Mist, which has been incredibly successful and well received, and now the full line is about to be released. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been obsessed with skincare. So I wanted to create a line for women to make their skin beautiful inside and out.

Also, I am about to release my 24th fragrance and it makes me so proud to have been in the fragrance industry for the past 13 years and to have built such a massive fragrance empire for my fans to wear, love and enjoy.

Pets are also a huge passion of mine, so I am also looking forward to releasing my new pet clothes and products for dogs, in which a portion of the sales will be donated to animal charities and shelters.

PB: Considering the job Privé Porter’s craftsman did at your request, do you think this is a sign of where high luxury is going? People wanting to mark their luxury purchases like a fingerprint, to show their unique style? We see so many fashion brands, from Adidas to Hermes, offering special orders and the ability to design unique combinations.

Paris: I have always been before my time and ahead of the curve. I have been bedazzling everything from my phones to my clothes since I was a teenager. I love that Privé Porter was able to customize such high end bags and I think this is definitely the future, where people can make their exclusive designs and customize it to their personality and make it one of a kind and even more special and rare.

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Chloé’s Fall 2018 Runway Bags Continue to Capitalize on the Success of the Drew and Faye Bags

Sometimes when a new creative director comes in, a brand changes radically and immediately—think Gucci with Alessandro Michele, or Dior with Maria Grazia Chiuri. With others, it’s more an evolution than a clear change, which is the case with designer Natacha Ramsay-Levi at Chloé. Her vision of the brand is a little tougher, a little more game than predecessor Clare Waight Keller, who favored breezy, femme bohemianism before moving on to Givenchy. It’s no less Chloé though, and that’s especially clear in the bags.

Versions of the ever-popular Drew and Faye bags hit the runway, including new versions of the Drew Bijou bag Ramsay-Levy debuted last year, as well as another season of her first brand new design for the brand, the Roy Bag. The palette was right on target with what you’d expect from Chloé in the fall: tan, burgundy, olive and navy were all prominent, as well as little horse embroideries on some of the leather.

Things did depart in important ways from the brand’s past, though. Several bags featured webbing and nylon, which gave things and athletic feel I’ve never before associated with Chloé. The runway also featured several new designs that will clearly be a big push for the brand when the collection is available for purchase, most notable a ring-closured saddle bag that seemed to combine elements of both the Drew and Faye. Check out all the bags below.

[Photos via Vogue Runway]

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Purseonals: Marc Jacobs Little Big Shot

In my promise to keep Purseonals going, this week I have another bag review for you! Many of my Purseonals are on premiere designer bags, with price tags that are quite high, but today I’m giving you a review of a bag that is both sporty and functional from Marc Jacobs and under $ 400.

Two years ago Marc Jacobs consolidated Marc by Marc Jacobs under his main label and in the time that has followed we’ve watched how this has shaken out for the brand. The Shot bags, including the Snapshot (more to come on this bag soon, I really like it), Little Big Shot, Big Shot, and other accessories is what’s propelled Marc Jacobs back into the handbag lovers world. Marc Jacobs bag were once a major staple of handbag chatter, with many people loving the Stam (I still love that bag, Amanda loves that bag, we’ve talked about it), and if feels right to have his bags on our minds again.

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Introducing Coach Create

Back in October, Coach launched a seriously crazy-cool customization service called Coach Create, and last week I was lucky enough to get to experience it for myself. I had the best time designing a bag that was made just for me, and now I have a look inside the process for all of you.

The first step was choosing a shape that was right for me, and by now you guys know I am the most indecisive shopper ever. It was really hard picking which bag I wanted. In store, I was able to choose from a Saddle Bag, a small or large Dinky (which is a compact, flap-top crossbody bag), a Parker bag, or a clutch wallet, but online there are currently even more options available. Ultimately, I decided that I loved the Saddle Bag the most. Since it’s a pretty casual style, I knew I would mostly be using it during the day, and I loved the functionality of the bag. It has an interior zip pocket, as well as two separate compartments and a snap that keeps the interior closed. I could tell the size would be perfect for holding everything that I carry day to day. One decision down, in a series of many!

So many options to pick from!

It’s all the details

Thinking about going floral…

Testing out my options

The final preview

Next up was color, and although I instinctively steer toward the neutrals, I wanted to pick something a bit more fun than white or black. I settled on the light pink, called peony, and I’m so happy I did. Though my bag is pink, it works as a neutral, and because I wear so much black, grey and white, the color will fit into my wardrobe perfectly.

Finally, it was time for the fun part—customization! Currently you can choose to add fun emoji pins called souvenir pins, floral tea rose patches, or prairie rivets. I seriously loved the look of the tea roses on the saddle bag and really considered them, but ultimately I loved the look of the prairie rivets more. You can customize everything from the placement of your details down to the colors. Once you make all of your choices, you can select each one on the in-store iPad to preview how your bag is going to look.

A Coach Craftsman at Work

Personalized hang tags to finish the bag

A preview of the finished product

The hardest part for me came at the end, when it was time to design my monogrammed hang tag. I knew immediately that I wanted gold writing with my initials, but I couldn’t decide on the placement of them and if—or which—emoji I wanted to include! In the end, I decided to get my initials stamped in small writing with a cute bee in the middle, and I love what I chose. The Coach Craftsman who would be hand-making my bag has worked for Coach for over 25 years and was there to assist me through the whole process. He made the whole experience that more more amazing.

In some customization experiences, you make your choices and then wait weeks while your bag is manufactured elsewhere and sent to you, but we watched as the craftsman got started on my bag. First he arranged the template, and then he stamped the holes, after which he began to place the rivets and stones.

We visited the Coach House on 5th Avenue to experience Coach Create, and if you’re in NYC, I highly suggest going the in-store route! The whole process takes about two hours, so even if you’re only in town for the day, you can go grab a bite and pick up your bag later, or you can have Coach mail it to you. They make the whole process super easy and so much fun, and the best part is you have a bag that is uniquely YOU!

Wanna see my new baby out and in action? Be sure you’re following us on instagram!

Coach Create is available in select cities, for more info and to find a store near you visit coach.com

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