Pumps And Gloss » Purses

Clutch Play

Pumps And Gloss — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:06:11 +0000

Hey Glossies,

I must confess that I am a huge fan of the Duchess of Cambridge. It all started about a week before the wedding. Now, I want to know what and who she is wearing. Not that I can afford most of the things, but I do love her style, even with her simple yet chic aesthetic.

I also love that the Duchess is rarely seen without a clutch purse, my favorite type of pocketbook.

Here are some of my favorite clutch purses that are currently on the market:

I am woman, hear me roar!! Talbots has been doing cat-inspired clothing and accessories for the last few months. I am, totally, wanting the Snow tiger envelope clutch. The neutral colors make it a great option to jazz up a boring outfit.

Banana Republic always offers nice bags (totes and clutches). In the last month, I have acquired a few bags, including the Banana Republic Exotic frame clutch. It is not too small. Large enough to carry a couple of gadgets, breath mints, lip gloss , pen and cards.

Another cute clutch from Banana Republic is the Amalfi Convertible clutch. This clutch doubles as a satchel. This bag is fairly roomy for a clutch, so it would be great as an everyday bag, especially those who are NOT carrying the kitchen sink around.

Alexander McQueen and Jimmy Choo know how to make clutch magic. I am really digging the Alexander McQueen Skull-Clasp Classic Box Clutch. Not a fan of the skull, but I love the texture and shape.

The Jimmy Choo “Reese” clutch is fab. It is simple bag, but the metallic leather and tiny sequins tantalize the eye. Chic bag!

Stylist Corner

Here is how I would wear the Jimmy Choo ‘Reese’ clutch.

Metallic Sunshine by Pumps and Gloss featuring beaded bracelets

Mix Maven

Some Gals Have All The Luck

Pumps And Gloss — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:32:17 +0000

Hey Glossies,

I hope that you had a great weekend.

I will preface that I do not believe in luck. I believe in the divine order of things. But saying all that, some gals do have all the luck (as it pertains to shopping). My friend S is the Queen of the Bargain. She always stumbles on sales and finds the prettiest items. S. has great taste and knows how to style clothes very well without aid of much jewelry.

Recently, she and I went out on a shopping excursion. I had not planned on purchasing anything. So we found ourselves in Banana Republic. One of the sales associates (SA) handed us sealed coupons with 30% or 50% off on the total order. Of course, I received the 30% off, but S. received two 50% off coupons and shared one with me. The SA told us it was off everything in the women’s section including sale items. We shimmied and shook, but after all that glee, S. advised me not to get my hopes up.

After perusing the accessories, my current favorite section at BR, I decided upon 2 purses:

Banana Republic Colorful exotic hobo - Navy

This glossy navy snake-embossed hobo is 100% leather. I love this tote and I am looking forward to rocking it most of the summer and early fall. I think it will make its first public appearance at TMS Chicago. I will have enough room to carry all the blogger essentials as well as stashing away purchases. And great for mommy mode, when I am on the run with the TM, I wont have to carry an extra bag around.

Banana Republic Exotic roll clutch - Leopard Print

BR clutches are one of my weaknesses! I had to have this leopard print clutch that was after deciding that I did not really want the clutch in silver. The color and golden strap add to the purse’s versatility.

These purses almost did not come home with me. While at the register, I learned that the 50% off did not apply to handbags as told to us by the SA. Not a problem, I thought. I did not argue or fuss with the clerk, but it was almost closing time and there was a tornado warning for the area, so the manager gave my friend and I the discount anyway! So YAY for great customer service and NOT clownin’!

Did you find any great sales this weekend? Are you excited that summer is underway (albeit unofficially)?

Mix Maven

Stuff Women Need For Spring

Pumps And Gloss — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:02:40 +0000

Spring is nigh. I know you are looking at your winter wardrobe and you cannot wait to pack them up for storage.

Everyone needs a hip trench (all-weather) coat. I totally love the asymmetrical collar and masculine plaid that create a feminine look.

Polka-Dot is wonderful, which is why I love this shades of green polka dot dress. The colors are fresh and spring-like. Makes me more excited about the season.

Alexander McQueen’s Pink drape dress intrigues me. I like the dress because it is very bold and eye-catching. Not sure where I would wear this to, but I think I want this dress!

I do not wear much jewelry except for wedding rings and a miscellaneous bracelet here and there. Actually, I love bracelets, but I do not own many, but I definitely want this pave wide cuff bracelet. (Just delicious!!)

Clutch purses are my favorite, especially from Banana Republic. BR has not sold an acceptable clutch since 2005, so I am loving the yellow lizard-embossed clutch…. a great accessory for spring/summer.

Ok, ok, so you know every woman needs a Christian Louboutin (any time of the year). Everyone knows I love a shimmer and sheen.

Honorable mention for Spring: Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. Darrel’s Black/Yellow/Green pumps. I gotta have this shoe because of the the wonderful island of Jamaica’s flag colors, the land of my birth. Would I wear them, probably not, but that does not mean I should not have them!

Have a happy spring ( starting March 20, 2008).

Mix Maven

Glossy Monday Variety

Pumps And Gloss — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:43:17 +0000

Hey Glossy Ones,

Hope you all had a great weekend!

MONDAY MELODY

I have always loved this song – “Valentine” by Lloyd.

MONDAY FLASHBACK

“Boomerang” had some of the greatest songs on its soundtrack. Here’s “I’d Die Without You” by P.M. Dawn.

I had to throw this clip in! LOL!

JOY’S PURSE PICK

I adore this Kate Spade Daisy Shopper bag – with the dimensions of 10 1/2″H x 8 1/2″W x 5″D, it is the perfect size for work, school or travel.

JOY’S SHOE PICK

This Via Spiga Shoe is too darling – not too loud in color and cool enough to wear with jeans. The Equate Mary Jane Pump is a must have.

A QUICK HISTORY LESSON ON VALENTINE’S DAY

from Wikipedia.com

Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine’s cards, or offering candy. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine’s Day. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of “valentines.” Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The mid-nineteenth century Valentine’s Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

GOD’S DEFINITION OF LOVE

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ~ I Corinthians 13:4-8

LOVE IS…ACCORDING TO THE SIMMPSONS

EIGHT HATEFUL THINGS WOMEN DO TO EACH OTHER

I got this through e-mail, so the author is unknown – if anyone knows who wrote this, please let us know!

It’s become the silent emotional killer among women. Women who are downright mean, malicious and disrespectful with each other. This trend is creating havoc in our relationships with each other, for it strikes the core of sisterhood. Real sisterhood can only exist when respect and trust stand unshakeable. In this particular, most men are quite opposite to us. For a man, a brother is a brother. However, what is most disturbing about our malicious ways is that we are passing on a legacy of a broken sisterhood to our daughters. Girls that are mean and catty are usually this way because their understanding is that this is a normal part of femaleness. They grow up to become mean and catty women who perpetuate a diseased sisterhood. To break this cycle we each need to make a conscious effort to validate all women. Be their friends or not.
Otherwise, we will continue to find ourselves moving within circles of female hostility, suspicion, and pain. Here is my list of the most detestable practices that we need to discontinue in order to heal our sisterhood:

1. Talking about each other – You are really not her friend if what you
have to say about her is so bad you can’t say it in front of her. If you
are a real friend you should be able to tell her your concerns for her
life to her face. If you have the need to tell others, but you haven’t
found the time to tell her – red lights should be flashing. Believe it
or not, gossiping is not an intrinsic part of being female. Women who
gossip do it not because it’s a woman-thing, but because they want to
elevate themselves and put other women in a place of inferiority.
Gossiping is just another symptom of deeper insecurities.

2. Fighting for men – One of the most undignified things that any woman
can do is to fight, argue, or curse another woman over a man. It’s a
disgusting trend that used to be a school girl thing, but today adult
women are doing it too. If both of you are in conflict – because his
choice is not clear – then that means that he’s really not into any of
you. He’s probably playing both of you. That man really does not deserve
love or attention from either one of you. Let him go.

3. Joining female gangs – Women who make you feel unwelcome and unwanted within their circle of friends are not to be trusted. Women cliques have
become common in the workplace, at church, in the neighborhood. Cliques
are the dwelling place of insecure women. Women who join cliques are
seeking refuge from their own lack of confidence by cocooning themselves
within this circle of supposed exclusivity. Again, the need to belong
to, or be part of a clique is also a sign of deeper insecurities.
Beware, cliques are usually encouraged and thrive on a type of gang mentality.

4. Undermining each other – Beware of any woman who can never celebrate your accomplishments with you. It could be a new boyfriend, a promotion,
an award, a new job, a new acquisition, weight loss. If she has nothing
positive to say to you about it, does not show emotional support, or
chooses to remain silent she is not a true friend. Real friends know how
to recognize and genuinely rejoice for our successes with pride.

5. Competing against each other – You need to get this straight. There
will always be another woman with nicer hair, a more caring husband or
boyfriend, better behaved children, a better paying job, a bigger house,
a more fashionable wardrobe – there will always be some woman with more
of what you don’t have. Consequently, the only person that you need to
compete against is yourself. Strive to be the best that you can be – for
you. Competing against other women to prove yourself superior is a
financial and emotional drainer. Because of this mindless competition we
become mean, envious and hypocritical. It is pointless.

6. Disrespecting boundaries – To survive peacefully every relationship
and every friendship must have clear boundaries. Good relationships
operate within margins of respect. Within this level of respect, privacy
and intimacy are keywords. Yes, you are my friend, but that doesn’t give
me the right to walk into your bedroom or your kitchen, unbeknownst to
you, and help myself to your stuff. I don’t do this not because you
won’t allow me to, but because I respect your privacy and your things.
Consequently, we both need to know and respect each other’s levels of
privacy and intimacy.

7. Crossing boundaries – This is similar to the above; the only
difference is that my respect of your boundaries should never depend on
my friendship with you. We need to respect women for the simple fact
that they are women. If she is a woman she is a sister. Period.
Therefore, from that understanding I will have the utmost respect for
her children, her man, her opinions, her choices, and for her as a
person. It amazes me how women are quick to disrespect another sister’s
boundaries, but feel offended if another woman does to them the same
exact thing. Honestly, that type of inconsistent behavior can only be
credited to some form of mental illness.

8. Exploiting our friendships – This is a major one. Why are you
friends? Do you only remember her being around whenever she could get
something from you? It doesn’t even have to be material. It could just
be your time or your positive energy. Does she happen to be always on
the receiving side, with you dishing out ton loads of yourself or your
stuff? Or is she your friend because of what you represent? It could be
that your husband’s position or yours, your possessions, your talent,
whatever, represents some form of achievement. Is she a friend because
that link to you places her on a higher platform? In a real friendship
appreciation, support, and loyalty must be reciprocal.

Have a wonderful week!

~ Joy

Sensual Element’s Wish List

Pumps And Gloss — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:13:39 +0000

Happy Holidays!!!

Wow, it seems as though the time is just flying by that it is almost the end of 2007. Well, Glossy Ones, I truly hope everyone ate well during the Thanksgiving holiday as well as had a productive shopping day the day afterward. Like my cohorts, I, too, am posting my wish list for the holiday season.

Here is my list:

I love to cook and make everything easy. I love this slow cookers especially since you can go turn it on before you leave home in the morning and come home to a meal ready for eating. I can’t figure out why I never had one in the first place. It’s a hassle to come home and figure out what you want to eat when it could be cooking while you’re at work.

I was at the House of Dereon website and this is on the cover, but I saw it first in Vibe. I love the dress that Beyonce is wearing. I could ROCK that dress. This is truly a wish because it is not being sold on the website. I checked every link on the page, but I am putting this on my wish anyway.

I can not believe that I have grey suits, but no shoes to set it off. So these grey shoes from JCPenny are nice for the work day.

All of my friends know I love me some Bath and Body Works. I even got my boyfriend to use the plugins at his house. So this lovely basket is nice for those long days at the office or if you just want to relax and enjoy a NICE HOT BATH. I also will take Bath and Body Works gift cards.

I couldn’t post without having a sexy item. Well, I took a different approach since this is my Christmas wish list. I absolutely love “Sex in the City”. I can not wait for he movie to be released in May. Yipppppeeeeeeee!!!! In order to complete my collection, I need seasons 2, 5 and 6 part 1. A lot of places are still sold out.

I need a wallet for my purse and I love this wristlet. I have checked out the wallets and the one I want costs almost as much as my purse!

I don’t get to the movies that often this year, but I do enjoy a good movie every now and then. A gift card helps especially at the concession stand. It costs more to eat in the movie theatre than watch the movie itself.

I wish everyone a Safe and Merry Holiday.

Sensual Element

Glossy Monday ~ Luxury Shoe and Purse Picks

Pumps And Gloss — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:01:26 +0000

Hey Glossy Ones,

This Monday’s edition is inspired by items I saw in one of the recent Neiman Marcus catalogs (the title on the cover is “Accessorize Me”). Once I went to the site to pull pics, I came across other items that begged to be posted.

Luxury is defined as “a material object, service, etc., conducive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity.” I’m a “key word” kind of lady, so the key word for me in that definition is necessity. In essence, luxury could mean unnecessary. For some of us, a shoe is a shoe is a shoe, and that’s great.

Keeping in mind “Counting Up The Cost,” my motto = You Have To Treat Yourself Sometime! Not all the time, but sometime. Everything in moderation!

MONDAY MELODY

The-Dream (who wrote “Umbrella,” “Bed,” and “Just Fine”) is no longer behind the scenes. Is your name mentioned in “Shawty Is A Ten?” Even if it’s not, you’re still a 10! Check out the remix featuring R. Kelly on The-Dream’s MySpace page. Also check out his song “Falsetto” – it will most likely be his next single.

MONDAY FLASHBACK

I heard you last week Jam Bella! Here is Guy’s “Let’s Chill.” “From the first time I saw your face, Girl I knew I had to have you.” – I LOVE that line!

LIFE OF LUXURY

Here are my shoe and purse picks from Neiman Marcus.

This Christian Louboutin “Speechio Very Prive Pump” is fire! I love the covered platform and although the highest heel in my collection is four inches, I am inclined to give these 4.75 inch bad boys a try.

There is nothing sweeter than a matching shoe/purse combo. I love the buckles on the Miu Miu “Stretch Ballet Flat” and on the Miu Miu “Pleated Leather Hobo.” The hobo is pictured from a side angle in the catalog and it shows three buckles on each side of the shoulder strip and it has “Miu Miu” embroidered on the side of the bag.

I couldn’t decide which Prada flat to post, so I am posting both! The “Linea Rossa Squared Cap-Toe Ballerina” and the Mary Jane “Linea Rossa Leather Flat” are too darling. They look pretty comfy too.

I LOVE this glossy Prada “Vernice Bowler.” I love the shape, the colors, everything. The matching shoe is cute (click the link above to view), but a matching pump would have been great.

Once again, I came to a hard decision – which color to post? The black and brown Gucci “Bonnie Mid Heel Platform Pump” can do no wrong in either color.

The Burberry print was always a little too busy for me, but I love the splash of color it brings to this boot. The Burberry “Check-Trim Leather Boot” is supa dupa fly!

Finally, I love the simple, classic but modern look of Kate Spade’s “Small Carla Hobo.”

MONDAY PRAISE

I hope Tonex returns to the music industry soon! Here is “Make Me Over,” one of my faves.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ~~~Psalm 51:10

Have A Wonderful Week!

~ Joy