This very delicious A Plus N Ava Tote is now $85.49 (old price=$190) at eBags. Plus, there’s free shipping right now. That is quite a deal to be had. I love the pockets, the piping and the retro feel-appeal to it.
Normally, I’d be the first one to mock this latest development in celebrity products, but it’s Rihanna, so I’ll bite my tongue…I guess. No, I won’t. This is too funny to pretend that it’s not. Yes, she looks amazing (as usual) in this ad, but it’s kind of silly and, frankly, I’m not quite sure what makes these umbrellas so Rihanna.
Okay, the one pictured is cute, but the others are just, well, umbrellas. One is silver, another black, and there’s one pink one that says “Rihanna” across it. Some of them have a satin sheen to them, maybe that’s the Rihanna influence? I’m not sure.
That said, the whole scheme is pretty harmless. I mean, at least an umbrella has a real purpose, and these run between $15 and $50. That’s cheaper than Burberry.
My love for the tote bag has been documented here already, but I will reiterate: I LOVE TOTE BAGS. That’s why I’m not sure whether I’m pro or con on the current tote bag mania that’s occurring. I think my ambivalence all started with Anya Hindmarch’s I’m Not a Plastic Bag tote, which I adore but could never buy because it’s just too dang trendy. And there’s the rub. The totes that are streaming out of the minds of designers are really hip, and even just a few months ago if I saw one in a thrift or vintage store I would have snatched it up in a hot second, but I shrink away from the total tote saturation that looms. Plus, some of them are super pricey, and the great thing about a tote is that it’s not super pricey.
But, still, a tote is always better than a plastic grocery bag:
Louis Vuitton, $1,720 (woh! It’s just a tote bag, right?)
Tory Burch Patent T-Tote, $295
I know that Anne Hathaway was pictured carrying a red one of these Tory Burch Patent T-Totes over a month ago, but I’m still obsessed. I love the simplicity of these totes and the fact that they’re superb for summer–you can fit a sweater, sunscreen, a water bottle, and all the rest of your summer grub in one. The price is steep, of course, but the quality is good, and because the colors don’t scream “summer,” this tote will work throughout the year. It’s certainly something to consider. I’m considering it this very second.
