Twi-hards Unite. Today is the day! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please grab your computer and climb out of that hole. Here’s a fashion pregame for the big event.  (P.S. Our girl, Jennifer, saw the midnight show yesterday night…err morning…and sad it was AWESOME. Get pumped.)

Boy Girl, Boy Girl. I will award three points to the person who can correctly guess the gender of the model in the middle without looking at the caption. Are you willing to lend your tights with your boyfriend/hubby/bro?

Sharing is Caring? So you’re an awesome, very legit actor/entertainer/athlete/first lady (you choose) and you score a Glamour cover. You’re pumped right!? But, oh yeah, did we mention that you have to share the spot with FOUR others who also get a December ‘09 cover? Did we also mention that the very accomplished and talented JSimps got a month all to herslef earlier in the year? Hmm…

ROI. Now this is what I call getting your money’s worth.

Get a Clue. You can never acquire enough knowledge o’ handbags. Check out the Handbag Tip Center at the Become.com Tip Center for a wealth of handbag-centric facts and advice.

Have a magical weekend!

Black Friday is only days away and if you’re like most Americans, you are either stoked and waiting at your computer for the Black Friday deals to be leaked, or you’re already planning to sleep in and avoid it at all costs.

Hopefully you plan to put on your shoppin’ shoes (that’s what us Southerners call them) and grab your handbag that has the most room inside and head to the malls!

**Note to men: If you are in the dating or engaged stage and this is your first time to visit her side of the family for Thanksgiving. Yes, it would woo her to no end (and her mother, sister, and aunts) if you offered to tag along and carry bags. However, you might get beat up by dad, brother, and uncles. You see, Black Friday isn’t a typical stroll through the mall. It’s more like a shopping mall wrestling match and the only way to win, is to shed a little blood. Just trust me on this one…spend time with the guys (instead you can take part in Black Friday by buying her something online - check out these great Black Friday deals For Her from eBillme), let her do her Black Friday thing, and don’t ask how much she spent

Ok ladies back to YOU! As I said above, there are two important things you need for Black Friday - Shoppin’ Shoes and a Good Handbag with a lot of room!

I want to focus on the Handbag in this post. (Check my next post for picking out good Shoppin’ Shoes).

Here’s how your roomy handbag can work for you this Black Friday:

1. Stock it with Snacks.

• You will need snacks like peanut butter crackers, mini bottles of water, or beef jerky packed away in your bag.

• When you are shopping and fighting through the crowds it will take a lot of energy out of you and you won’t realize it.
• And if you get to the mall at 4 a.m. (as you should), by 8 a.m. you’ll be sniffing out lunch! Grab and open spot on a bench and eat a quick snack, take a swig of water, and you’re off for phase 2!

2. Categorize your Coupons

• Spend time the night before clipping those coupons! Even if you are like me, and hate to keep up with coupons, Black Friday is the day to use them!
• Divide them into category, alphabetical, by store, whatever works for you.
• Put each grouping in a separate envelope and label the envelope.
• Keep them in order in your bag so you can search through them easily.

3. Stuff your Bag.

• As you’re shopping, you can easily drop your smaller purchases into your bag to help keep your hands free for coupon pulling!
• Of course, the bigger bags will need to be taken out to the car as you get overloaded with bag after bag.

I recommend these fabulous bags that I think are perfect for Black Friday shopping from Handbag Heaven - Zebra Print X-Large Shopper, Rachael Oversized Rhinestone Bag, Large Burlap Polka Dot Tote, and Alessandra Boat Tote.

The most important thing is to HAVE FUN and realize that you are saving a TON by taking part in Black Friday.

Next week: How to dress for the big day!

Good luck!

Looking for the ultimate practical/hands-free/tough-girl-on-a-safari-through-life carry-all? Well, I have a surprise for you. It’s called the Nikki Slouchy Hobo. You’re welcome.

Why so practical? The Nikki Slouchy Hobo by Nila Anthony features four outside pockets for easy access to your daily necessities. Some examples…keys, phone, lip gloss plus loose change to buy candy? Or PDA, keys, work ID card plus subway card? During my stints living in NYC, Boston and Chicago, I can”t tell you how much subway fare I lost in the dark abyss of my handbag in the form of miscellaneous subway cards. Handbags typcailly feature just one or two outside pockets (if any!), making you choose between necessities - this bag, however, allows for more favorites. And who isn’t pro-equal opportunity? 

The top flap unfolds to expose a zipper closure, in which you’ll find two open body compartments, a zippered divider pocket and an additional zippered side compartment. Best part of the interior? The lining is leopard print! Check out Nikki’s product page to see for yourself.

Why hands-free? This handbag features two handle options: a short one that fits perfectly over your shoulder, hobo-style, and a one long that morphs this Nikki into a messenger bag.

Now do you see why this bag wins the practicality prize?

On top of the admirable functional qualities above, the Nikki Slouchy Hobo’s look is just as rockin’. The bag comes in tan and black - the perfect neutrals. Use it to toughen up a girlie ensemble, or keep your look neutral all over.

So, what do you think? Would the Nikki make your life easier?

Yeah, me neither.

Anyway!  Let’s start the run-down.

Some cool stuff going on at MTV Europe Music Awards.  I knew my incessant attempts at singing along would pay off for my girl, Beyonce.  She won Best Song for my favorite ballad from the album, “Halo.”  That’s awesome and all, but I just wanted to quickly point out the awesome hair these two have going on in this photo.  All right, thanks.

While on the subject of awards, I should also give a nod (read: “I’m not worthy” chant) toward Rhianna, who was named one of Glamour Magazine’s 2009 Women of the Year. It’s the hair.  It has to be.  Check her Stephane Rolland creation real quick.  Right? Fantastic.  She so flyyy.

Alright, I think it’s pretty clear we, you know, like Karl Lagerfeld the Great here at the Handbag Heaven blog.  (Admire/worship, ta-may-toh/ta-mah-toh.)  And as much as I wish I had twice as many senses to take in everything he creates, believes, and says, I do cringe at some of his harsh opinions.  But what can ya do?

Speaking of harsh, I came across some news today that kind of hit me hard.  Now, I’m not a big fan of the men who started the God-awful, eternally-long, let’s-all-carry-the-same-thing, hyphen-hyphen-hyphen, giraffe-print-tote “trend,” but I do kind of feel bad for the guy.  Jail’s no fun for anyone.

Other than the mafia bribery (or, you know, whatever), it was a pretty calm week.  But! We are officially one week away from the release of New Moon (ONE WEEK), and my excitement is building like mad.  Am I alone in this?  Can I get a Team Edward chant? ohmygoshiamsoexcited.

Keep us updated on your week, ladies.  Got gossip?  Let us know!

I was perusing Marie Claire Tuesday evening when I came upon Tim Gunn’s monthly column, “Gunn Laws” (da domb name, right?), in which he delves into various fashion conundrums with his expansive wisdom and articulate wit. First off, I love this guy. I’m entranced by his SAT vocabulary and his perspective on style is admirably unwavering. (Lagerfeld for Prez and Gunn for Vice, who’s with me!?) I saw him speak at an Ann Taylor store appearance and he and his enunciation were just as glorious in person.

Anyway, this month his column tackles the ever-elusive task of appropriate ‘big night out’ dressing. His first subject of instruction? Handbags, of course. As to be expected, his advice is spot on:

“Why, oh, why do people persist in darggin around luggage-size handbags to evening events?…What are people think? Do they line these behemoths with plastic in order to escape with leftovers? There is an easy prescription for getting this right: The dressier the affair, the smaller the handbag. I want to sing the praises of the clutch style, which comes in dozens of iterations…My advocacy for clutches has casued some women to balk: ‘But what do I do during a cocktail reception?’ You place the clutch under your upper left arm with a cocktail in our left hand. This leaves your right hand free for greetings.”

He’s a genius, no? Insert wedding, birthday affair or night o’ bar hopping for ‘cocktail reception’ and you’ll see how this tactic is completely useful. I know from experience that it’s not so cute to lug around the equivalent of a laundry basket to a more formal affiar, so I for one will take this advice to heart.

What about you?

1. Win the bag of your choice from our friend Beth at The Fabulous Won. Ends 11/12.
2. Head to Networking Witches and Joie will tell you how to win your choice of a handbag or a $50 gift card. Ends 11/27.
3. The lovely Jill at J. Leigh Designz is giving away two beauties. Ends 11/25.
4. Our girl Ayla at Pomegranate and Patchouli has two bags to share. Ends 11/15.
5. Miss Kassie at Southern Bella’s Ways to Save will give handbags to two winners. Ends 11/16.
6. Visit Deborah at Comfort Joy Designs to check how you can win a bag. Ends 11/21.
7. Stop in to see Dee at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full a House and win a $50 Handbag Heaven gift card. Ends 11/25.
8. And of course don’t forgot to enter our book giveaway below! Ends this Friday!

Good Luck!

Pewter

Need a hands-free bag, you say?  Well, fret not, for the Broad Ripple comes with a detachable long strap you can throw over your shoulder like a Continental soldier.

Black

Personally, I love the top of the bag, how it dips down just slightly in the middle.  The discreet details get me just as excited as the in-your-face flourishes do.

There’s something very cool about this motorcycle culture-inspired bag.  Whether it’s the bright, party gold hardware, the zippers, studs, buckles, and stitching, or the tough bronze, pewter, and black color options, the Broad Ripple Small Satchel is ready to rawk.

Next Time. The definition of pumpkin carving acuity. I’m seriously trying this next year, girl scouts honor.

Little Merman. Another idea noted for next year.

Handle with Care. We could so totally do this for you guys. Sure, the brand hired a few ‘artisans,’ but with a few markers and some ribbon, Terryl and I will be politely declining Stefano’s job offers in no time. Any takers? No? No one?

Let’s be Friends. The social media onslaught is making an impact with fashion heavy hitters. We could have told him.

A Hole in my Pocket. I saved the best for last…(SPOILER ALERT for those who aim to spend a paycheck on trival things like rent) This site lets you rent designer items for four to eight days and send them back in a prepaid package. You don’t even have to dry clean a thing. I’ve been waiting for this all my life.

Have a fierce and feisty weekend, friends!

The winners  are: #3 Hannah, #16 savingforhome, #63 Vanessa Formato, #77 *eLLa* and #98 Jessica!

Thanks to everyone to entered!

If you read our last post, you’re now as crazy about Winona of the fab blog Daddy Likey as we are. She is an inspired writer with the fashion know-how of a true professional. Want a piece of her amazingness? If you just yelled YES! (which we assumed you did), you’ll be ecstatic to hear that we’re giving away FIVE copies of her book Closet Confidential: Style Secrets Learned the Hard Way.

About the book:

“With the economy in a nosedive, more women than ever are looking for ways to achieve haute couture without the hefty price tag. 50 Style Lessons Learned the Hard Way shows how. Author Winona Dimeo-Ediger mixes self-deprecating wit, fashion smarts, and bargain-bin savvy to help women become divas on a dime. She divides the book into 12 handy chapters covering everything from shopping for jeans (while retaining one-third of one’s self-esteem and half of one’s paycheck) to hiding love handles to the ever-elusive “looking good while jogging.” 50 Style Lessons also contains hilarious and useful charts, graphs, and math equations, including Maslow’s Hierarchy of Jeans, the handy Clip-out Guide to Wine and Hosiery, and the little-known Law of Calculus (the likelihood of a man noticing your outfit is inversely related to how much you want a man to notice your outfit).”

__________

There are three easy ways to enter! You can receive one entry for doing each of the following:

1. Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment telling us that you did so. Feel free to copy and paste this: Fabulous book giveaway @handbagheaven! BEST fashion guide by @daddylikeyblog http://bit.ly/3huKMw (One additional entry per day)
2. Blog about this giveaway and leave us the direct link in the comments.
3. Post about this contest on your own Facebook profile as an update and leave a comment telling us that you did so. You must include this link: http://bit.ly/3huKMw. Feel free to copy and paste this: I just entered to win a copy of fabulous style guide Closet Confidential: Style Secrets Learned the Hard Way! You should too! Check it out! http://bit.ly/3huKMw

All five winners will be chosen randomly on Friday, November 13. Be sure to follow @handbagheaven or check back here to find out if you won!