Chic Galleria » purse

TGIF: Turquoise and Tory Burch

Kaitlin Fontenot — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:28:53 +0000

Pastels are one of my favorite trends for this spring. Paired with a neutral, you can’t go wrong. I love the knotted detail of the waistband on this dress from Miss Selfridge. Paired with these gorgeous light blue and gold Tory Burch earrings, you are sure to look like the sophisticated lady you are.

These Zara wedges and bag from MiMi Boutique are neutral so they help the turquoise take front and center. This outfit would even be gorgeous for Easter Sunday, which is right around the corner!

Dress: Miss Selfridge

Shoes: Zara (Similar)

Earrings: Tory Burch

Bag: MiMi Boutique

Kaitlin Vocker is the Style and Beauty Editor for Chic Galleria and loving every minute of it. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. In her spare time, she runs her own blog www.secretivestyle.com! You can also follow her on twitter @secretivestyle or Facebook.

Organizing Your Purse for Christmas Shopping…

Michelle Lehman — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:41:45 +0000

Did you know that on average a purse can weigh 10-12 lbs? Now keep in mind that is just as is, what about all the stuff we cram in it while we are shopping?

Christmas shopping is one of the most fun times of the year. Instead of hauling around the kitchen sink that is at the bottom of your purse. I would like to suggest a few easy options to make shopping a breeze and save some wear and tear on your back!

If I am going to do some major shopping I will take my big black purse. I swear I could but the kitchen sink in it and the refrigerator! I also use this purse when we go to football games or basketball games. It will easily hold a ball for the boys to play with, blanket, snacks and some gloves. I take my wallet from my “real” purse and I grab my lip gloss and my compact. I bring my bare essentials for the football game and leave enough room for the boys “stuff”.

As you are shopping take the bare essentials from your real purse or take out the extra things from your purse that you won’t need to go shopping. Don’t forget to stick an envelope or Ziploc bag in your purse to store all your gift receipts. If you have a quick moment at the store to label the receipt as to who the gift for, great but the most important thing is to have ALL your gift receipts in one spot.

Nothing is worse than searching high and low for the receipt that someone needs to exchange an item. If you haven’t noticed a lot of the retail stores are buckling down on their return policy. I remember when you could return a sweater with no receipt and receive your cash back!!! Now stores are a little more stricter with their return policy. Some stores even have a 30 day return only for cash and after 30 days it turns into a credit at their store.

Bottom-line, lighten up your purse while shopping, use it to hold small purchases while you are shopping so you don’t lose any gifts and put all your receipts in one spot (envelope or Ziploc bag). Keep it simple!!!

Have a great time shopping!!! By the way, I love the color purple and I wear size medium. I’m just sayin’!

Author Michelle Lehman of Organizing Solutions “Clear the Clutter” Michelle is a Professional Organizer in the Tulsa area. Her articles have been featured in the Tulsa World, The Oklahoman, Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicago Post-Tribune. Michelle appears on TheNewsOn 6 KOTV and Fox23 News This Morning giving organizing tips and recommendations.

Photo credit © Gina Smith | Dreamstime.com

It’s On My Purse? So Gross!

Michelle Lehman — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:46:50 +0000

You are never going to believe what I just heard?!?!? Yucky facts about the germs found on leather purses and handbags! Try a purse hanger that clips to the side of a table to hang your purse so its not on the floor.

Here are a few of the findings I heard….

After swabbing and examining the bottom of a leather purse, environmental mold and bacteria was found…it get’s better a common bacteria called Ecoli can be found after setting your purse on the floor of a bathroom or bathroom counter. Double Yuck!!! Hearing about tests performed you might think twice about setting your bags on the table where you eat. In a restaurant try a purse hanger that clips to the side of a table to hang your purse so its not on the floor.

This might be a good time to purge some of those old leather purses and handbags that you know have hit the floor one too many times. When you get home try to hang your purse on a hook at home or on a doorknob by the door you enter and leave. This will help to leave those “germs” by the door and not all over your house.

One more yummy side note… Scientists have said that a flu virus can live on money for approximately an hour. If the flu virus mixes with nasal mucus it could live up to 17 days on paper money. Hand sanitizer, anyone?!?!?

Photo credit © Gina Smith | Dreamstime.com

MyWallaby Doll Carrier A Must-Have This Holiday Season

Editor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:00:02 +0000

MyWallaby was produced by a husband and wife team from New York who saw the need for a Doll Carrier and purse. After seeing little girls throughout the streets of New York holding their dolls and stuffed animals in their backpacks, parents bags, even carrying them by hand. Why can’t a little girl have their very own doll carrier and purse, all in one?

The MyWallaby Agile Doll Carrier was born!

It is the perfect holiday gift for all little girls! The MyWallaby Agile Doll Carrier converts in seconds, into a carrier from a purse. The pouch in the front allows for the little girl to carry her belongings and doll at the same time!

The MyWallaby Agile Doll Carrier fits a variety of dolls, ranging in size from 12-18 inches including American Girl Dolls and stuffed animals. The Agile bag is named after one of the over 30 sub-species of wallabies.

Myriam and Eric Hildenbrand are the husband and wife team behind MyWallaby and the MyWallaby Agile Doll Carrying Purse. Both are working professionals who created a product for little girls, already generating buzz.

Why Wallaby?

Myriam and Eric thought of catchy names and kangaroo, a name they loved, was overused and very common. How about a wallaby? They’re just as cute with a pouch like Kangaroos. Their creation would have a pocket, like a wallaby and would be a little version of a mommy carrier. It all fit together perfectly and MyWallaby became the name.

Each product myWallaby produces will be named after one of the thirty sub-species of wallabies.

The Purse

What really sets the myWallaby Agile Bag apart from others is that it is designed to carry a doll facing forward in an expandable pocket that resembles a real Wallaby pouch.

The bag is made in the USA, hand made from the finest materials. Completely machine washable, its patent pending design enables it to be converted from a purse to a doll carrier in just a matter of seconds. Once in carrier mode, it can accommodate a variety of dolls, ranging in size from 12-18”.

You can purchase the MyWallaby Agile Doll Carrier on their site at www.mywallaby.com for $49.99 or at amazon.com.

FREE SHIPPING for Chic Galleria readers! Just enter the code CHICABY at checkout. Hurry, this code is only good until December 13, 2009.

A Grandmother’s Legacy Through Style

Elana Pruitt — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:18:00 +0000

After a few years of struggling with dementia, my grandma Shirley passed a few weeks ago. And my heart is broken – just as many of you have felt when someone you love feels snatched from your life.

However, through her accessories, I am able to feel even more connected to her legacy of style.

During her funeral, I wore her pearls, and these days, I make it a point to wear one of her necklaces or bracelets every day. Her gentle touch still touches me, literally. I realize how fortunate I am to be apart of my grandma Shirley’s journey.

Her style has always been impeccable, inspirational, and completely her own. I remember when she bought me a red knit sweater from Ralph Lauren when I was 13 years old, but I told her that I didn’t really need it. (Even then I was budget-conscious!) And I remember her saying to me: “Honey, you should also have at least one quality piece in your closet.” To this day, I follow her philosophy.

I was also able to get one of her shi-shi beaded purses that she used
to have aligned on her upstairs wall. It was like a museum of purses!
So following in my grandma Shirley’s footsteps, I am starting to do the
same. In this pic, you will also notice how I purposely placed the bag
beneath the Obamas – another legacy in the making. I felt it to be more
than appropriate.