Fabala Bag by BOSS Black

The Fabala bag from the BOSS Black Women's Collection 2009 Winter Season is the must-have bag of the season.

A sturdy top handle with detachable shoulder strap and numerous practical inside compartments, the Fabala bag is made of 100% lamb leather, a mixture of suede and nappa leather. I like how the lamb suede on the leaf appliques contrasts sharply with the buttery soft nappa leather on the bag body.

What makes this bag a stunner is how the leaf appliques, with pretty decorative stitches, come together to create a flower pattern which forms the basic design of the bag. Indeed, florals brighten up the winter.

Available at Hugo Boss boutique for$2,389.

Image: Hugo Boss

Gucci Teddy Bear Bag

These Gucci teddy bears are not only adorable, they are practical too. Inside each teddy bear is a foldable shopping bag. Honestly speaking, nothing great about the bag at all. It's the teddy bear I'm after. I like to think of it as a bag charm that has an added feature of a shopping bag.

Get it at all Gucci stores for $510 (tote bag) and $810 (backpack).

Image: Bagdonna

Bag Charms

Much as I like to accessorize, I like to give my bag that special touch by adding a matching bag charm. Bag charms can make all the difference especially if you happen to like a bag that almost everyone is toting around. One of my all-time favorite bags, the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvass Speedy 35 , is one such example. I dress it up with the Mini Lin Bag Charm to stand out from the crowd.

The Prada Teddy Bear Keychain released in 2008 for the holiday season. Got wind that these Prada Teddy Keychain will be back again this year. I am so looking forward to a pink one.

The Lady Dior bag charm which houses a mirror, a blusher and lipstick. Seems like the next best thing to owning a Lady Dior (still on my wish list).

And finally, the Gucci LuLu (the Poodle) Bag Charm. Will definitely make a bag look like a million bucks. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a Gucci bag I like to go with it.

At all Gucci Stores $260.

Images: Bagdonna

Balenciaga Quilted Bag

The fate of the Chanel Coco Cocoon line brings to mind another tragedy. This time from Balenciaga.

Spotting these Balenciaga Quilted bags sitting in the window display instantly triggered memories of me dozing off on a comfy, plush classic couch in a hotel lobby.

Even though studs are all the rage now, having them on these bags to form the quilted pattern does little to salvage the situation.

The designer probably drew insipration from deep-buttoned plush upholstery.

Image: Bagdonna

Chanel Coco Cocoon

The Chanel Coco Cocoon line of bags remind me that winter is round the corner. Sometimes, I really wonder if the stuffs we put inside our bags need the same protection as our body during cold weather. Either way, I don't expect something so hideous from Chanel. I mean, these bags look more like goose-down jacket to me. And whoever displayed these bags are not doing them any justice either.

Image: Bagdonna

Bottega Veneta Maxi Veneta Intrecciato

Mention Bottega Veneta and hand-woven leather springs to mind. It is most famous for its signature Intrecciato line of woven leather, And of course the lushest and most supple of leather. Almost all bags are luxuriously lined with suede leather.

The Veneta Intrecciato is one of BV's iconic bags. It is available in 4 sizes- Mini, S, L and Maxi. Maxi is not available in Singapore. It comes in BV's classic colors of Ebano(pictured above) and Nero (black). For Fall-Winter 2009/2010, it comes in shades of pink and lilac.

What draws me to this bag is its clean line and a complete lack of hardware, save the zipper. As with most of their bags, the designer probably wants their famous leather to do all the talking.

This bag would go well with almost anything you wear. Measuring 9.8x21.5x1.2inches, the Maxi Veneta Intrecciato is a huge bag. But the gravity of the stuffs you put inside will 'pull' the bag down and make it appear smaller. The result- a soft, slouchy look which is exactly what I love.

Image: Bagdonna

Stella Mccartney For Lesportsac

Stella Mccartney is one of my all-time favourite designers. Her works are as famous as the well-known fact that she is the daughter of ex-beatle Sir Paul Mccartney.

In addition to her main line and a long-term partnership with adidas, she has also designed for Lesportsac and H&M which sold out worldwide in record time.

A touch of feminity with a bit of edginess are hallmarks of her designs.

This eco-friendly bag, made from 100% recycled material, was from the LeSportsac Limited Edition Travel Collection for Spring/Summer 2008.

A lifelong vegetarian, she uses no fur or leather in all her designs. As Gweneth Paltrow puts it:" Did you know your superchic Stella handbag is vegan?"(TIME)

Image: Bagdonna

Louis Vuitton Mahina L

When Louis Vuitton launched its first Mahina collection, I think it made some bag aficionados sit up. Finally, something soft, slouchy and unstructured in supple calf leather. However, what really gets to me is the technology used for the perforation of the monogram motif; the same technology initially created for very high precision aeronautics and aerospace pieces. The result is a fine and very regular perforation pattern of monogram motifs. And the best part, the monogram motifs will NEVER fade, as evident in the Monogram Canvas after years of wear and tear.

This Mahina L in Cognac is available at all Louis Vuitton stores for $4190.

Image: Bagdonna

News Flash- ION Orchard

With the biggest names in international fashion fronting its strong facade and a signature futuristic architecture, ION Orchard has undoubtedly given Singapore's premier shopping belt,

Orchard Road, a facelift. Set to revolutionize shopping here, it houses six duplex flagship stores, namely LV, Prada, Cartier, D&G, Giorgio Armani and Dior. Brands new to our shore or having their first stand-alone boutiques include Dsquared2, Vivienne Tam, DVF and Herve Leger just to name a few.

With its eye-catching fluid canvass covering its entire facade for showcasing its retail brands as well as for multimedia 'live' telecasts such as runway shows, it's hard to give ION Orchard a miss. Being a self-confessed shopaholic and a fashionista wannabe, I welcome it with open arms.

Image: Bagdonna

Bagging The Best Deal- Chanel Classic Flap 2.55

Like me, you'd have guessed that Paris is the cheapest city to bag this Chanel classic. According to a survey done by a fashion magazine, London is the cheapest, followed by New York and then Paris. The most expensive city goes to Tokyo with Shanghai following a close behind. This is partly due to the fact that these two countries impose a tax on all its luxury goods. Do note that this information may change with the volatility of the exchange rate. So do your homework before venturing out.

Image: Bagdonna

Caring for my white leather bag- The Balenciaga Giant Part-Time

For many if us, white is the color of choice most of the time, whether it's a shirt, a car, a watch and yes, a bag. There is something ethereal about this color that is so appealing to the human eye. Unfortunately, most people would bypass it due to its high maintenance.

Balenciaga bags come in a mind-goggling array of colors. But I knew instantly white would be the unanimous choice to go perfectly well with this hardware- its other hardware is the original but that will be another story another day.

I store my white Balenciaga Giant Part-Time in acid-free tissue (available from art supply store) to preserve its whiteness. I also make sure it stays away from colored bags and dark colored clothings so colors don't transfer.

Disaster struck the first time I used it when the dye from my indigo blue jeans transfered to the bag and almost ruined my holiday. As the damage wasn't very extensive, I was able to 'restore' it to its original condtion with get COLUMBUS SHOE CLEANER, something I learnt from a SA working in a luxury boutique.

Get it from the shoe department of major dapartmental stores for $6.

As with any cleaner, always test it on a small area first.

Image: Bagdonna

Gotta Have it!- Prada Fairy Bag

This shot was taken off the window display of a Prada store in Milan. Yes. The country of origin for Prada.

The sky had turned dark, the shop closed and the lighting in the window display oh so dim. "The Fairy bag in pink?!" I rubbed my eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on me. I had seen the bag only in white on the internet, in magazines and in Paragon (a sample piece not for sale).

There was so much hype surrounding this bag that there was a waiting list for it. And here it is, in pink. Must be a rarity, I guess.

Bent on getting the bag (never mind that my card had almost reached its credit limit), I went back to the store first thing the next morning. "It's the ONLY one in Milan." The SA quipped. "Deal!" I replied.

Today, it is sitting pretty in my wardrobe. And it's pink. My favorite color.

Image: Bagdonna

My First Love - Celine Bittersweet Bag

What better way to start this blog than by introducing my first love-the Celine Bittersweet bag. It is my first 'serious' bag. I've had many bags before but most were bought for brand's sake merely for elevating my status, or so I thought. All these changed after a chanced meeting with a bag reseller and the rest as they say is history. Today, I am a proud owner of a small collection of bags, all acquired through careful consideration. Now I pay attention to details like the bag's shape and size and its hardware, right down to the uniformity of the stitching which is testament to a brand's craftmanship. I also like that the make of a bag has a rich heritage and tradition.

And no, this bag was not bought from the bag reseller.

Image: Bagdonna