Kate Spade's Kitchy New "All Typed Up Clyde" Bag is the Write Style

It's been a loooooong time since I've done a handbag post but that doesn't mean I'm not still a handbag fanatic. 

And one day, when time is no longer at a premium, Megan's famed Handbag of the Month will return.  Until then, here's a bag I had to share. 

It's a new arrival from Kate Spade, All Typed Up Clyde.  It's a kitchy, gorgeous, fire engine red color with short handles and a detachable shoulder strap.

However what makes this bag so special is the typewriter keyboard on the side. 

The bag measures 9.4"h x 13.6"w x 5.7"d and sells for $495 on the Kate Spade website.

If you're a writer, or have one in your family, or just someone who loves designer kitch this may be the bag for you.

If I hadn't just bought a fabulous Bebe Frills and Thrills bag I would probably have to send some dough Kate Spade's way and make this purse my own.

Instead, I'll just have to worship it from afar.

April 2009 Handbag Of The Month: Beautiful Brighton

I discovered April's Handbag Of The Month at my local mall.

This Brighton Roselie shoulder bag is owned by Charlotte, a New York City legal assistant.  She bought the bag earlier this year and paid $190 on the Brighton website.

This color is a bright cherry red, but the bag also comes in black, brass, pewter, white and blush.

I'm a sucker for red bags and if I had an extra $190, that bag would be mine.  

There are matching coin purses as well, but for me the bags are the sharper fashion statement.  So congratulations to Charlotte and her Brighton Roselie bag for being Megan's April Handbag Of The Month.

March 2009 Handbag Of The Month: Roaring Roxanne

Y'all know I'm a big fan of the show "Damages" starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne.   In fact I'm sure you wait with baited breath every week for my pithy recaps.

Well a couple of weeks ago Rose Byrne's character Ellen Parsons, strutted her legal stuff in a black, sleeveless dress and toting a gorgeous, black leather bag.

Now because Ellen's an associate to a high powered cutthroat attorney, she's got to cut a fashionable figure and stalking the streets of New York in that fab outfit, she definitely did that.  

As soon as I saw that bag, I knew I'd found my March Handbag Of The Month.

The bag? The Downtown Roxanne Bowler Bag by Marc Jacobs.

The entire courthouse will take notice when, like Ellen you show up for your deposition carrying this Italian beauty.  It measures 12" x 19" x 5.75", with a 7" handle drop.

It sells for $1,025.00 and you can find it at Barneys New York.

Case dismissed.

Sometimes Out Of Death Comes Life: Happy Birthday Megan's Minute!

Sometimes out of death comes life. 

A month before I started Megan's Minute, a good friend of mine, I'll call him CR, had a stroke and died.  He was 59 years old.

He was a brilliant, funny, often infuriating man who lived and breathed, photography, film and literature.  He was proudly anti-social, unapologetically liberal and would have been as astounded as anyone to see that a black man was now President of the United States.

CR was also an incredible writer, but when he died, his novel was unpublished and his screenplays unmade.  Only those of us who knew him well knew what a wonderfully entertaining and imaginative writer he was.

The last time I saw CR was months before he died.  My last contact with him was exchanged emails the Christmas before he died saying how we had to get together soon.

After hearing of his death, I was devastated that the "get together" would never happen.  And mixed in with the grief of his loss was the thought that no one else would ever read his work.

Why am I telling you this?

It's simple.  I've always believed myself to be a writer.  I've written stories, screenplays, and portions of novels, but never had the courage or the commitment to jump in feet first and find out if I had what it took to make a living as a writer.

After CR died, I discovered I desperately needed for someone to read my work.  Even if it was only five people whose names I never knew.

I'd already been considering blogging thanks to my friend Island Girl.  And after CR died, that was the push I needed to get me past the fear of my work not being good enough, or perfect enough, or whatever.

I chose Valentine's Day 2007 for my first post because it was a Valentine to myself.  A commitment to myself, my work and what I hoped would be a new future.

So at 11:55PM--it took me until the end of the day to summon my courage--I clicked "post" and  my first Megan's Minute post went live.

February 2009 Handbag Of The Month: Zac Posen's Daisy

It's a brand new year and that means brand new handbags.  For February's Handbag Of The Month I've picked out something special.  It's the Zac Posen Daisy Bag. 

I spotted this snazzy bag during one of my internet handbag hunts and I liked it's unique shape and flashy color.  This bag has a shoulder strap that's leather woven through a link chain and the inside is lined with suede.  Though the photograph to the left shows the bag in fuschia, it also comes in beige with black leather trim. 

The bag measures 12" (at base)x 10.5"x 3.5."  It retails for $1400.00, but it's on sale for pre-order at eluxury.com for $839.00.

If you're don't know much about Zac Posen's designs check out his cool website. 

Meanwhile, enjoy Megan's February Handbag of the Month.

Megan's December Handbag Of The Month: Raving About Ruffles

I've been lying down on the job when it comes to Handbag Of The Month, 'cause what can I say?  I've been busy.  

Now handbags are back! 

And I'm starting off with an early December Handbag Of The Month, just in time for the holidays.

The inspiration for this month's bag was a young lady I saw on the subway yesterday.  She had this very cool brown leather bag that looked like a ruffled miniskirt.  It was so cute! 

Try as I might to catch up with her---the two guys I knocked over trying to get to her can vouch for that---she disappeared into the crowd before I could snap a picture and find out info about the bag.

So with Google as my guide, I went on the hunt.  I didn't find the exact same bag, but I did find this Pink Chilli Club number that's quite a treat and very similar.  As you may know by now, I love color when it comes to my handbags, so I would have no problem wearing this little number to a holiday party with a slamming holiday dress.

I couldn't find out much about Pink Chilli Club, but they appear to be a British company.  They have a shop on Ebay and their bags can also be bought on Twenga.  This particular bag sells for 19.99 British pounds or about 30.00 US dollars.  It comes in fuschia pink and teal (pictured right) as well as a couple of other juicy colors.

And while I'm raving about ruffles, Handbag Of The Month honorable mentions go to the Snakeskin Ruffle bag by Sandra Roberts.  It goes for about $75.00 on Endless Shoes and Handbags. 

And if you have a little more money to spend...okay, a lot more money...you might be interested in the Valentino Rose Red handbag (pictured left) at Tender. 

It's got a double zipper that closes on top and measures 12" H x 12" W x 5" D.  The price tag on this little cutie is $2495.00, but hey, if you forego a mortgage payment, you can afford it. 

By the way, if you haven't gotten me anything for Christmas yet, any one of these bags will do. 

I'm not picky.

DonorsChoose Handbag Raffle Live Blog - We Have A Winner!

Okay ladies, the day we've all been waiting for has arrived.  It's the day of the DonorsChoose Handbag Raffle!

Today one of four donors to my DonorsChoose Handbag Raffle Giving Page is going to win a brand new Nine West Handbag and have a link to their blog posted above the fold on Megan's Minute for the month of November.

It's such a gorgeous day, I'm holding this ceremony outside in my backyard.  I've written the four names of my donors down on four different pieces of paper.  After folding them into squares, I've place them in the handbag itself.  Here we go.

Drum roll, please.......and the winner is......DEB!

Deb writes the blog Deb On The Rocks.

Oh my goodness!  That was so exciting.

I'll be contacting Deb this afternoon and arranging to mail out her handbag.  But in the meantime I want to thank my other donors, Fourth Breakfast of the blog Fourth Breakfast, Mata H, BlogHer CE and writer of the blog Time's Fool and Maria Niles, BlogHer CE and writer of the blog Consumer Pop.

With their help and the help of many others who donated from other giving pages, seven of the twelve public school projects on my giving page that needed funding got it.  That's very cool.

I'm going to leave the rest of the projects that require funding up on my giving page and if you can spare a little, think about giving to one of these very worthy public school projects.  I had a lot of fun with this handbag raffle, but the projects that were helped are very serious.

Thanks again to everyone and Deb, your bag is on its way!

Final Day Of The DonorsChoose Handbag Raffle

Happy Halloween guys!  Today is the final day of my DonorsChoose Handbag Raffle.  You can buy a chance to win a brand new handbag with a donation of just $10 to my DonorsChoose Giving Page.  In addition, if the winner has a blog, I will post a link to their blog, above the fold, on my site for the entire month of November.

My DonorsChoose Giving Page has several public school projects that need funding.  For example Sing Along With Speech, is a project where one teacher would like to buy a karaoke machine to help with speech therapy for her students.

So pony up ladies and you might win a Nine West handbag.  The drawing will be held tomorrow and I'll announce the winner in a post right afterward.  I'll also mail the handbag free of charge to whoever wins it.

Megan's Minute DonorsChoose Handbag Raffle: Here's The Prize

Remember last Friday when I'd told you I'd let you know what the prize for the Megan's Minute Handbag Raffle was?

Well here it is!  The bag to the left is a 16" X 9 1/2" Nine West tote.  Included are a matching cellphone case and change purse.

I bought this tote at Macy's a year ago in black and taupe.  This black bag is brand new and never been used.  I used the taupe bag often and it was great as an everyday "go to work" bag.

That's why when I decided to do this handbag raffle for the DonorsChoose Blogger Challenge, I thought this bag would be an excellent prize.  It originally retailed for $62, but I bought it on sale for $35.

So just think, for a $10 donation to one of the very worthy projects on my Megan's Minute Handbag Raffle Giving Page you'll buy yourself an opportunity to win this stylish tote.  And you'll be doing something important to help public school students learn.

For example, one project, "Sing Along With Speech" has a teacher requesting funding for a karaoke machine to help her students with speech therapy.  Another project is "Cultivating A Garden of Successful Learners," where a teacher would like to encourage her pre-K students' natural curiosity by acquiring a classroom greenhouse.

Not only that, if the handbag raffle winner has a blog, I will add a link to their blog on Megan's Minute, above the fold, for the month of November.  (Of course advertisers and spammers are exempt!)

Ready, set, donate!

DonorsChoose Blogger Challenge 2008: Donate $10 & Enter The Handbag Raffle

Want to win a brand new handbag?  Well, keep on reading.

BlogHer has joined the DonorsChoose Blogger Challenge for 2008 and as a BlogHer Contributing Editor, I've joined as well.  DonorsChoose is a website where you as a donor can choose which of many deserving public school programs you can help fund. 

What I've done is create a Giving Page, it's called Megan's Minute Handbag Raffle Giving Page and what you'll find there are several worthy public school programs I've chosen, that need funding.

For example, one project, "Sing Along With Speech" has a teacher requesting funding for a karaoke machine to help her students with speech therapy.  Another project is "Cultivating A Garden of Successful Learners," where a teacher would like to encourage her pre-K students' natural curiosity by acquiring a classroom greenhouse.

Now here's the really fun part.  The DonorsChoose Blogger Challenge goes through the end of October.  I have 12 projects on my Megan's Minute Handbag Raffle Giving Page.  Everyone who donates at least $10 to any of those projects will be entered into a raffle that will take place on November 1st.  I will put every name into a handbag and the name I withdraw will win that brand new handbag.

Which handbag, you say?  Well you'll find that out this coming Monday.  That's when I'll post a picture of the bag and all of it's vitals stats.  Not only that, if the handbag raffle winner has a blog, I will add a link to their blog on Megan's Minute, above the fold, for the month of November.  (Of course advertisers and spammers are exempt!)

So go to the Megan's Minute Handbag Raffle Giving Page, give at least $10, and you'll have a chance to win a very nice, brand new handbag to add to your wardrobe.  Very important, when you donate, be sure to put your email address in your "donor message" so that I'll be able to contact you.

Ready, set, donate!

July 2008 Handbag Of The Month: She Shells

I was in Newport, Rhode Island last week and while there I discovered Megan's Handbag Of The Month for July 2008.

This cute little straw handbag is shaped like an old fashioned picnic basket and with it's starfish accent, brought back memories of fun in the sun and pleasant summer outings.

The bag is made by a company called She Shells and though I couldn't find a website for them, the bag and several other She Shells styles are sold at the Newport Historical Society Museum Store.

At a price of $130.00 I'm sure you're asking yourself if this delightful bag is now an honored member of my own handbag collection.

Alas, no.  It took a force of will, but I left it behind for some other lucky fashionista to have as her own.   Having it as Megan's July 2008 Handbag Of The Month is enough.

June 2008 Handbag Of The Month: The Burberry Warrior

I'm not usually big on Burberry.  Something about that staid, beige, white and red check pattern always makes me think of boring men in black, derby hats, carrying long, walking stick umbrellas.

But Burberry's no longer just their signature plaid pattern.  They've moved into the twenty-first century with some chic new clothing and accessory designs that have nothing to do with their signature pattern.

One such accessory is the Medal Studs Warrior Handbag.   This is the bag I've chosen as the June Handbag Of The Month.  Yes, I know it's almost July, but that's irrelevant where the Handbag Of The Month is concerned.

As described on the Burberry website:  "The warrior bag in leather embellished with decorative medal studs has a drawstring closure and leather panels around top. Chunky cube toggle engraved with trademark logo. Single strap with belt and buckle detail."

The minute I saw the bag, I loved it's shape and beautiful detailing.  I could easily see it accessorizing an outfit of t-shirt and jeans, or just as easily accenting a fashionable cocktail dress.

It comes in black and this "trench" color.  At a price of £1600.00, it translates to about $3100.00, so I won't be picking one up anytime soon, but I can dream, can't I?

May Handbag Of The Month: Mad For Madden

Steve Madden that is.  This shoulder tote that's a relative of Madden's BTucket Bone Beige Fab is the current favorite spring bag of Simone.

I met Simone last week during a stroll through Nordstrom's and immediately decided her bag was going to be Megan's May Handbag Of The Month.

Simone is a makeup artist and said she loves the bag because the color is perfect for her fancier spring outfits or if she's just wearing jeans, and it holds everything she needs to carry without weighing her down.

Her favorite story about the bag is that soon after she bought it, she found a pair a sandals at DSW that matched the bag to a tee.  The sandals were only $15 and she says the bag and the sandals are now inseparable.

Congratulations Simone!

April Handbag Of The Month: My Lucky Clutch

Only a week left to April, but I don't care.  Here it is ladies and gentlemen, Megan's April Handbag of the Month.

I bought this jeweled clutch many years ago in Houston, Texas at Neiman Marcus.  It was $45---a fortune for me at the time---and for a long time, it was the most elegant thing I owned.

I've worn it to weddings, dinners, banquets, and award shows.  It holds my Blackberry, my lipstick, my camera and still has a little bit of space left for my keys.

It's my favorite evening bag and good things always happen to me when I use it.  That's why this black, jeweled clutch is Megan's April Handbag Of The Month.

March Handbag Of The Month: Exotic BeBe

This month's handbag is from BeBe.   I came across it on one of my web handbag window shopping trips. Just like the city it's named after, the Marrakech bag is an exotic experience.

It's got a top handle and a detachable shoulder strap. It comes in green, black and white, though the green is my favorite. It's accented with a cute, BeBe logo heart and it would go great with any new spring outfit.

It's large enough to hold makeup, a cellphone, a PDA and a pair of fabulous Sophia sunglasses.

February Handbag Of The Month: BCBG Beauty

I know, I know, most of February's over, but that doesn't mean there can't be a February Handbag Of The Month.

What can I say, I've been busy.

This month's bag comes courtesy of Island Girl.  She told me weeks ago about several window displays at the 5th Avenue Lord & Taylor in Manhattan that featured some great handbags.

This one's called Karlyn and it's a pretty little BCBG "elongated clutch."  The bag is constructed of patent leather, measures 11" W x 5" H and it retails for $228.  It comes in black and winter white, though the black is the better looking bag.

Why did I choose this bag as Handbag Of The Month?  I chose it because I love the retro gold chain, the chunky square clasp, and the feel of the bag in my hand.  It's large enough to hold a Blackberry, a lipstick and a compact---what else does a girl need?---and it's a great clutch for a dressy outfit or to dress up a more casual outfit.

Congratulations BCBG's Karlyn on being Megan's February Handbag Of The Month!

 

January Handbag Of The Month

Megan's January Handbag Of The Month

In 2008 Megan's Handbag Of The Month is going to encompass a range of bags owned by myself, people I know or strangers I find on the street whose bags stand out.

Last year, all the handbags except the last one were bags of strangers I discovered, but that's not very practical when it takes me three hours to find a woman who agrees to talk to me or it's 18 degrees outside and I'm trying to find just the right bag.

So January's bag is one of my own.  It's a beautiful burnt orange Levenger laptop tote.  I bought it on sale about a year ago for $125.  My laptop at the time was a very large 17 inch number that wouldn't fit the tote, but I knew sooner or later I'd own a 14 inch laptop that would.

Last week I bought that laptop:  a 5 lb, 14 inch Acer Extensa  floor model that I'm using right now to write this post.

The bag is made of a durable vinyl with brown leather handles and a detachable shoulder strap.  The interior has two compartments, one nicely padded for my Acer and the other with numerous pockets for all the other essentials a woman needs during her day.  The bag is a little heavier than I would like, but that's because of the cushioning.

So in honor of my new laptop, my one year old Levenger Tote is January's Handbag Of The Month.

Megan's Handbag Of The Year 2007

Everyone who reads "Megan's Minute" knows I'm a lover of handbags.  Megan's Handbag Of The Month is a forum I've used to express that love while showcasing real women's handbags and their stories.

Every month I would search the streets of New York to find a bag that I found interesting and that I wanted to share with my readers.

In honor of the end of 2007 I decided to choose among my Handbags Of The Month for a Handbag Of The Year. For 2007 that bag is Jane's Longchamp Roseau bag.

Jane's bag was August's Handbag Of The Month and a real find.  This sandy leather tote has a two sided zip around closure and two compartments on the inside.  It's classy and simple yet truly unique.

All the handbags of the month this year were wonderful so it was difficult to choose a winner from among them.  From my first choice, Amanda's marvelous Mary Frances bag, to Chantelle's great Fendi Spy Bag, the bags have been exciting and all their owners fashionable and very gracious.

This Longchamp captured my imagination because of it's charming, sleek lines and everyday functionality.  It's the kind of bag a woman can use for years and it will never go out of style.

Congratulations Jane!

November's Handbag Of The Month: A 50's Original

November's Handbag Of The Month comes from my own mother's closet.

She's been keeping track of my Handbag of the Month choices and last week after I told her I was having trouble finding one for November---you'd be surprised how many women turn me down---she said, "I've got a handbag of the month for you."

The next thing I knew, she'd brought over this elegant little black bag she's owned since the fifties.  She bought it at the Brooklyn department store, Martin's which in those days was Brooklyn's version of Bloomingdale's or Neiman Marcus.

The bag is constructed of smooth black leather and it has this neat horizontal bow accent across the top.  The inside of the bag is brown and black, and trimmed with gold braid.  The label says "Made In Canada for Martin's."

Mom only used the bag on very special occasions, so it's in great condition.  And she better watch out 'cause I may be "borrowing" it from her any day now.

I remember going to Martin's with my mother as a kid and thinking it was such a magical place.  All the glitzy jewelry counters so beautifully lit, the fancy clothes and the beautiful handbags.  It was an expensive store and we only went there if we needed something for a special event.  Mom said she bought this bag to wear to a dinner party in Manhattan, and that was when going into Manhattan for a Brooklyn girl was a very big deal.

So, Mom's "50's Original" is Megan's November Handbag Of The Month.  Congratulations Mom.

October's Handbag Of The Month: Leather Portrait

Megan's October

Handbag Of The Month

Every good handbag has C.A.S.H.:  Charm, Accessibility, Style & Harmony

As you already know, there was no September Handbag Of The Month because of work, vacations, the US Open, and my general lack of time.

But now...it's back!

For October, I've found something truly special.

This shoulder bag which is literally a portrait in leather, appears to have been molded using an African mask.  It's constructed with two panels of black leather, accented with brown leather trim and has a zipper on top.  The striking features of the bag's "face" are softened by several strands of braid to represent hair.   

Linette, the bag's owner was visiting friends on Long Island when I couldn't help but notice her unique tote.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had my October Handbag Of The Month.  Linette is an actress with the Actor's Studio and it comes as no surprise that the rest of her outfit was as smartly Bohemian and unconventional as her bag.

Congratulations Linette!

Owner:  Linette - Bronx, N.Y.

Occupation:  Actress

How Much:  $50 at a half price sale

How Old:  6 months

Where Purchased:  A thrift shop on 17th street on the west side of Manhattan.

Why Did You Buy It:  "It was so different.  It just looked out at me from inside the cabinet."

More About The Bag:  Linette wears the bag in back of her and says she's often been tapped on the shoulder by someone who wants to complement her dramatic bag.