What's In Your Bag??!

Today's What's In Your Bag feature happens to be very special to me. Why, you may ask? Today we feature my very own sweet, smart, wonderful, thoughtful, dynamic, multi-talented, interesting, fun, friendly, (I could go on.) amazing little sister Genna Suggs Harris! (Okay, she's not little anymore- YOUNGER sister I guess I should say...but saying "younger" means I'm the OLDER sister...so let's go back to little.)

So my LITTLE sister Genna, of blog 100andSouth, lives in the mountains of Asheville with her equally wonderful husband of FindMeSpecials.com and works for outdoor adventure company Moondance Adventures. My sis has such an interesting combination of lifestyles- by day, she's a granola girl attracting prospective students to one amazing, adventure-filled summer; by night, she's a sassy fashionista with great taste filling up her calendar with concerts, parties and fundraisers. At all times though, Genna steadily projects an approachable, down-to-earth persona up for fun at a moment's notice. For these reasons, Genna owns one of the most unexpected combinations of practical and playful possessions.

But her bag is undeniably all fashion- the Chloe Paddington.

Yum.

Genna found her Chloe bag at a great vintage store in Chapel Hill. In fact, scoring high end buys at discount prices happens to be a common thread between all her purchases. This fab Beirn snakeskin wallet came from HauteLook and her trellis print moleskin notebook came for free with a One King's Lane buy. Even Genna's iPhone was a great deal- a hand-me-down from her hubby when he decided to upgrade. And Genna rocks the trendy Ray Ban Caribbean shades, polarized for her outdoor adventures, of course.

On the more practical side, Genna stashes Purell hand sanitizer, Starbucks mints, Carmex, Pilot pens and business cards in her bag. She seems to always be prepared, kind of like another outdoorsy group you might have heard of. But the style never strays too far, as a Stila lip gloss pen remains close at hand.

Hopefully you enjoyed today's extra special edition of What's In Your Bag. Of course, everyone featured in this series is very special to me. But my sister has always been a constant source of inspiration. Thanks for your help today, sis, and every other day!

Now to pine away about a new pair of sunglasses...Ray Bans, perhaps.

What's In Your Bag??

Happy Thursday, dear readers! Apologies for the absence of last week's "What's In Your Bag??" post, but never fear! We're back with a special Big Apple edition of your favorite snooping story!

Today's submission comes courtesy of my close college buddy Emily Christian Cutts, a New York City girl by way of Wilmington, NC, and blogger behind the fashion-news-worthy Golden Zipper! After getting married in Florence, Italy, this past summer, Em and her hubby followed their calling to NYC. But as Carrie Bradshaw so astutely observed, cars are to Californians what handbags are to New Yorkers. Em recently scooped up the perfect New York vehicle for her travel on the streets- the 3.1 Phillip Lim Edie bag!

Spikey yet sweet, Em's favorite new carryall perfectly combines that tough-girl chic factor necessary to survive in the City. Obviously without her own steady transportation, Em needs her MetroCard and keeps it at hand along with other personal items in her ecru leather Prada wallet, a wedding gift her hubby purchased in a Florentine vintage shop. Her keys are stylishly stowed on a Marc Jacobs key ring, pictured below atop her gold and pink graffiti-esque iPhone. Em, ever the artist, also carries her Smythson Hopes and Dreams notebook so she can jot down thoughts, sketches and notes while roaming the city. Finally, beauty products by way of Lorac Gloss Stick and Olivina Honeysuck Rose Hand Creme remain steady companions.

It makes friends like me feel good to know that Emily is closely guarded by someone as reliable as Phillip Lim. Clearly, she has taken New York by stylish storm and she hasn't even lived there six months yet!

Can't wait to see what's in store for my newest New York pal as she heads into the future...and maybe schedule a visit or two in the meantime!

Thanks to Em C. for participating and thank you for visiting. Until next week!

What's in Your Bag??

Happy Little Friday everyone! It's Thursday, and you know what that means- time for yet another edition of What's in Your Bag??!

This week, we feature the handbag stylings one of my oldest, dearest and indisputably one of my most talented friends, graphic designer Taylor Holmes. Tay, as we friends call our petite firecracker of a friend, lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband Riley, a local Charlestonian, but she's a full-bred North Carolinian at heart. And since Tay grew up in the bustling metropolis of our capital city, Raleigh, she brings big city style wherever she goes...Look out lowcountry!

As Tay shuffles between her work, home, and various points in between, she carries this grey Foley + Corinna handbag. I have to say, Taylor is one of the only other girls I know who loves color more than I do (this is the gal who designed HOT PINK lipgloss for each and every friend after spending the summer in a Thai cosmetic factory...you know I loved that!), so I was surprised that her tote of choice was grey! Upon further contemplation, I have decided that Taylor must use this neutral accessory as to not be limited by color in her daily wardrobe...

Taylor has taken the art of girlie-item schlepping to a whole new level, by carrying the metallic purse within a purse. This glittery foldover is not just any old bag though. She found it in Florence, Italy, on her honeymoon, and uses it as her petite go-to when evening events call and there's no time to run home. I love it's metallic finish, not to mention the fringe or its Italian manufacturing!!

You may also notice the absence of a proper wallet. Tay recently discovered a bin full of colorful binder clips at Staples and has decided to use a bright purple one as the "female money clip." Packs much better into a clutch that way, if you ask me!

When you look at this picture, Taylor's adoration for all colors becomes more apparent. Most notably, there's the green and white Trina Turk make-up case and the orange and white Cynthia Rowley planner. She also carries personalized notecards and grey nail polish- just in case- not to mention at least two flash drives to store all of her design files. Her shades are by Miu Miu and lipgloss by La Prairie. And don't forget the Hermes head band for bad-hair-day back-up or the peanut butter M&M's (for bad days in general)!

If you don't know my dear, sweet Tay or her awesome design skills, be sure to check out her blog Ciao Tay. On it, she showcases some of her brilliant graphic stylings, including her own Save the Dates and logos created for other businesses and events.

Thanks for stopping by to check out the contents of another fab friend's bag! It's almost Friday!!!

(all images by Taylor Holmes)

What's In Your Bag??

This week's "What's In Your Bag??" features talented personal trainer and nutrition expert (and one of my BFF's!) Katherine Rose and the mystique behind her current carry-all, the navy Anya Hindmarch tote! Katherine has been a longtime lover of some seriously stylish handbags, so there was no question that her own had to be featured as soon as possible. (Thanks, KBR!) As the owner of her own personal training business Core, Katherine can usually be seen running around Raleigh in casual yet sleek workout gear. However, her bags never disappoint in their standards of style and glamour. It's one easy way she can express her love of fashion even when wearing sweats and a baseball cap.

Katherine's Hindmarch contains some lovely goodies. Firstly, these Chanel shield sunglasses interject casual glamour into Katherine's everyday life while keeping her baby blues protected at all times. (Critical when she's teaching boot camp classes outdoors on hot summer afternoons!)

Her Kate Spade Leather Pocket Agenda helps her organize appointments with clients throughout the day, not to mention appointments with wedding planners and florists in preparation for her upcoming June wedding!

And even though she may not hit the gym in full foundation and eye make-up, there is still time to swipe on a little lipgloss by Laura Mercier and Chantecaille. (It's amazing what a little gloss will do for you!)

Of course, no self-respecting business owner would be caught without her business card! Katherine uses this coordinating Lodis Audrey Mini Card Case to keep her info organized and available at a moment's notice! (I love how the Lodis pink and Core green go together!)

And finally, we can't forget the Blackberry. BBM and emails-on-the-go...no question about necessity there.

Thanks for checking out today's What's In Your Bag. If you have a minute, make sure to head on over to Core's website and see if Katherine can help you!

What's in YOUR Bag??

Welcome to Savoir-Flair's new weekly series called "What's in Your Bag??" I'm so excited to give you the "inside scoop" about young, modern women and the daily essentials hidden in their handbags. I know we were all taught never to rummage through someone's purse, but such treasures are hidden in gorgeous bags!!! Perhaps we'll discover a fab new concealer or the perfect planner...

Whether you call them pocket books, purses or totes, these little stowaways get us through our days. Almost every woman takes them with us to work, going out, running errands and on trips. So what do we all put inside them that makes them so necessary?

My dear friend Emily Lackey of Raleigh spends her days keeping up with her precious toddler Van. In her spare time, she tutors high school students and updates her blog In the Palm of My Hand. She stays on the go and not only has to have her own personal items at hand but also must be ready for her son's every need. Sounds like a big bag would definitely be in order!!

To get her through her busy days out and about, Emily carries the Skip Hop Studio Diaper Tote. I have to say, this diaper bag beats all other ones in the way of style. You would never know this tote was designed to carry children's essentials. Bravo to Emily for an ADULT choice in the way of mom-on-the-go storage!

Inside, Emily stores cloths from Beanie + Cecil Baby at hand for Van. The stylish store isn't just for the ladies any more!

To keep her schedule (and those of her husband and baby) organized, Emily carries the Kate Spade Anne Canvas Personal Agenda. This casual little planner offers durability while keeping Emily on top of her game!

To keep her looking fresh throughout the day, Emily carries Benefit Erase Paste and Hello Flawless powder and Bobbi Brown creamy lipstick in Vintage Rose.

Finally, to protect her pretty blue peepers, Emily wears these sassy shades from H & M...good for those early Mothers Morning Out days...

Hopefully for all you young moms or moms-to-be out there, you have gathered some good tips from what's inside Emily's bag. I know I'm only a mom of dogs, but I might have to make a trip to Sephora or Bobbi Brown now...