There truly is something magical about New York City. Whether it is the constant commotion, the noises, the history, or the people, New York City remains an epicenter of the world. Our trip to NYC in October was for business. Lucky for me, our business

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revolves around shopping, and that we did.
After not lucking out with a Balenciaga bag, we took a trip to the Hermes store. I must preface this because a couple of months previous to our trip I had a dream about a black Birkin. In my dream I owned a 35 cm Black Birkin and it was perfection and I spent every mili-second of that dream telling everyone how perfect the replica bag is to me. Fast forward to our NYC trip and my dream came true. We left the Hermes store with a 35cm Black Clemence Birkin, a personal holy grail.

As with most expensive designer brands, prospective Hermes shoppers want to know whether the money for their products is well spent. For me, the answer is a definite yes.

We decided to splurge this time and stay at one of the most recognizable hotels worldwide. The Plaza Hotel, located in the heart of Manhattan on the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street, ranges among the most famous hotels in the world. After being closed for renovation, the Plaza Hotel re-opened with a star studded bash and a newly designed and refined interior. All this new luxury comes at a high cost. As with Hermes, is it worth the price? We like to believe that it is.
Celebrating this opportunity, I took my Hermes collection to NYC, sans my precious Kelly Longue which was greatly missed. Not only did The Plaza offer fantastic accommodations after a long day scouring bag designer showrooms, but also the perfect canvas for photos of my Hermes babies. Venturing throughout the hotel, we quickly discovered the many special touches that were incorporated during the redesign process. From the doorknobs to the hallways, to the elevators, the hotel offered plenty of Shutterbag opportunities.
We spent an hour each day exploring the hotel and tried to take in every aspect of it. The first time I knew I wanted needed to stay at the Plaza Hotel was after watching Home Alone 2 many years ago. If you happened to visit during the same week we were, I am sure you saw us walking around with my three Hermes bags, posing in hallways, snapping in the bar, by the pictures, on the chairs. In the end, we created one of my favorite photos ever, A Family Portrait.
We promised more to the story of my new Hermes Birkin and many more pictures, so here you have it. To win your own Hermes Birkin, make sure to enter our giveaway.

Head to Christie’s this month for a bumper handbag and vintage jewellery sale.

Fancy getting your hands on an iconic Hermès Birkin handbag but without the bumper six-year waiting list? If so, pencil this date in your diary now: 19 November 2009. Because, in just a few weeks time auctioning specialists Christie’s will be holding a sale of Hermès handbags in London. A total of 66 lust-worthy bags, dating from the 60s to the present day, in an array of different colours, textures and sizes will be up for grabs. And what style savvy girl wouldn’t want one of those classics in her wardrobe? The auction will also have bundles of vintage jewellery up for sale – think brooches, rings, bracelets, earrings, watches and cigarette cases in gold, silver and enamel decorated with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls. The jewellery includes vintage pieces by Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Bulgari and Piaget, to name a few.

The Christie’s South Kensington jewellery and handbag sale takes place on Thursday 19 November at 10.30 am at 85 Old Brompton Road, Kensington, London, SW7 3LD.

In a very pointed reminder that, yes, there are still people out there with plenty of cash to spend on handbags, luxury giant Hermes has decided to open a temporary outpost on Easthampton to cater to the elite that can still afford the kind of house that gives them the ability to use “summer” as a verb.

Well, if this CraigsList ad for temporary sales associates is to be believed, anyway. Women’s Wear Daily seems to confirm it, although I’m cheap and don’t have a subscription, so I can’t see the entire article.

What does this tell us? Well, it tells us that the Hamptons are still a little annoying, in a Real Housewives of New York, fabulously awful way. It also tells us that there’s hope for our economy yet – keep spending, obscenely rich people! And keep going on vacation! Hermes wants to give you a way to do both, simultaneously, and if that isn’t the American way, then I don’t know what is.

The pint sized Eva Longoria Parker packs quite a bubbly punch. When I see her, she usually makes me smile. Then again, if I stood next to her I would probably cry. If you have seen pictures of her next to a ‘normal’ sized person, she looks like she comes from a completely different planet. She is tiny tiny, and full of energy, and always smiles. That is the kind of person you love and hate at times (just jealousy). If I would have been asked the perfect Hermes Birkin for Eva Longoria I would have named something bright, fun, and charismatic, in other words, a bag that perfectly fits her personality. Looks like Eva is able to figure out what suits her fancy without me though, as she has been seen carrying the perfect Eva Longoria Birkin; a Hermes 30 cm Fuchsia Croc Birkin with Palladium Hardware. This Birkin radiates beauty and I am sure if we got to see it in person it would put a smile on our faces. It is too bad the photogs were so consumed just snapping Eva and focusing on her face, because they were not able to capture the true beauty of  her handbag. But we know it is stunning, it is a hue of pink only Hermes can pull off. And in porosus (shiny croc), the color just pops out and grabs your attention. This would be the perfect gift after having a baby girl (so all you men need to take an important note!). This is a divine combination that fits Eva perfectly!