Bottega Veneta is known for their woven leather bags; it has practically become their label. If you haven’t noticed, Bottega doesn’t have any conspicuous labels on their bags. The identity of the brand has become synonymous with their specific woven leather. If you want this luscious leather, though, you’re going to pay for it. Their bags range from $1200 to over $5000. If you can’t afford that hefty price tag, we have the bag for you. Banana Republic has made a few bags that more than resemble the unreachable Bottega Veneta. They even have a similar sandal that blends beautifully. You may have just found your perfect summer bag! It’s big enough to take to the beach, structured enough to take to work, and comfortable enough for everyday. No matter where you go, or what you wear, this bag brings it to a chic level. How can you beat a reasonably priced, well made, fashionable, designer look-alike bag? We don’t think you can beat it, but we do think you should go for it!

items in this observation (L to R):

You can practically feel the warmth of the sun when you look at Marco Bicego’s jewelry. While the collection is from Italy, it exudes a Grecian spirit. Each piece is lit from within as if Apollo, God of the Sun, himself had a hand in its creation. It’s the type of jewelry you would expect to see on women wandering through the town of Thera, on the island of Santorini. It expresses effortless, everyday, luxurious style. You can wear his jewelry with everything from a chic maxi dress, to a beautiful bathing suit by the beach. The collection is perfectly suited for the summer months, when the sun’s rays reflect a light that makes everything look gilded. The pieces will compliment not only your glowing skin, but your wardrobe as well. I’m loving this illuminating look, and the feeling it gives off. I’m thinking a Marco Bicego bracelet would make an excellent Mother’s Day gift! What do you think? I know, I know, I should stop dreaming! Hopefully, some of you will get the chance to glisten wearing Marco Bicego’s fabulous collection.

Sometimes, when we’re on vacation, we are inspired by our surroundings and our feeling of relaxation, and we inevitably buy what is commonly known as “vacation garb.” In the moment, we are just hoping to bring a piece of serenity back to our hectic lives. A piece of clothing that will take us to that place in paradise where we felt so free, or so we hope. Most times what we bring back from our trip doesn’t really work in our “real” world. We find ourselves pulling the piece out of our closet, and wondering “what were we thinking?” Is it impossible to combine these two worlds - the place where your life is and the place where your spirit lives? Designer Charlie Joe has actually done just that. The creative couple, Muriel Jaffe and Philippe Rossi have brought the essence of island life to the reality of everyday living. They use natural materials, beautiful prints and fabrics, combined with sophisticated feminine lines. The end result is a harmonious blend of free flowing and constructed fashion. Wear the purple floral top with white jeans in St. Barts, and belted with dark denim and a cropped jacket in San Francisco. So now you don’t have to put sand in a bottle to inspire thoughts of your unbelievable trip, you can actually slip a beautiful silk top on and be immediately taken back - without looking like a victim of vacation fashion. We love you Charlie Joe!