Summer Savings

Good news: Labor day is approaching, which means a nice three-day weekend. Better news: To celebrate, Portero is holding an End-of-Summer promotion that will give you 10% off all items* now through September 2. All you have to do is enter promo AUGTEN at checkout, and you've automatically saved money. 

The dedicated shopper in me always wants to invest in something big when I get a percentage off. Then, you're actually getting a bigger deal. Hence why I posted the picture of the gorgeous Hermes Vibrato Rouge Kelly bag (above). This is the kind of bag that will make you the envy of your friends, and the unique color and fabric will wow even casual acquaintances. Plus, this beautifully constructed piece is just perfect for the upcoming season. 

*Offer applies to all auctions and "Buy Now" purchases closed and paid for by Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 11:59 PM ET. Cannot be combined with any other offer. 

Working Girl

The end of summer is sad for so many reasons: No more ducking out early on Fridays, no more random jaunts to the beach, and not quite as much reason to have a frozen cocktail. At least there's one big plus to Autumn, and that's the clothing and accessories. This is the season that fashion magazines have been waiting for all year long, and it's where your wardrobe can really shine. 

The first things I buy every fall are usually a beautiful pair of boots, a coat and a handbag dressed in fabrics or leathers perfect for a chill in the air. This means darker colors (think jewel tones instead of vivid hues) and thicker fabrics (like tweeds, plaids and heavy-duty animal skins). 

Luckily, we are spotlighting our selection of gorgeous Fall must-have handbags this week. Although it's just as hard to get up for work in the morning, it's at least fun to carry a new bag to the office. We've separated our stock into easy-to-search categories so you can find exactly what you're looking for. 

Need more help? Try Vogue's Fall 2008 Trend Reports to learn all about what is sure to be hot this season. They are pointing their readers to six main trends: Belle Curves, Country Life, The Long View, Minimalist Tendency, Superhero Worship and Winter Garden. To learn exactly what those categories entail, click right here. 

Once you have your game plan figured out, search Portero for your perfect handbag. Click on the categories below to go straight to our stock. Happy shopping!

Roomy Totes

Daytime Chic

Day to Evening Clutches

Jeweled Evening

Pop-up Purses

I'm starting to notice a bit of a trend when it comes to the latest, greatest 'it' bags. While exotic skins and colors are still coveted, totes are becoming more and more textured by the day. Designers are playing with appliques, fabrics, and embellishments that give purses a punch in both sight and touch. Cameron Diaz, above, constantly wears her Gerard Darel crochet bag that boasts pop-up tufts of yarn. 

Reese Witherspoon, above, doesn't seem to leave home without her Jamin Puech Sheriffa tote that features metallic leather and metal piercings fashioned into a repeating diamond pattern. I like the play of metal on metal and the one-of-a-kind look this addition creates. 

Finally, we have Ashlee Simpson carrying her Thomas Wylde Pharaoh bag that is accented with metal studs. This detail feels just rock-and-roll enough for the wife of a rock star, but not too outlandish for a pop princess. The balance is just right. 

If you'd like to add a bag with some 3-dimensionality to your fall wardrobe, check out the options below:

Valentino natural leather, pearl and beaded chain pochette. The smattering of beaded accents feels very upscale arts-and-crafts. 

Marni black fabric applique tote. The black and tortoise shell plexi discs will go with anything. 

Isabella Fiore black leather grommet flap bag. The bold gold detailing will work well in Uptown or Downtown settings. 

Images via people.com

Fall Fashion: Jeweled Necklaces

In Style has a great story on Fall trends, and they are focusing on bold jeweled necklaces for the upcoming season. Whether these accessories are made from semi-precious colored gems, less expensive simulated stones or even real diamonds, the focus is more on the design itself than how expensive the materials are. I'm really loving the knotted necklace above by Philip Crangi. Although made of rhinestones, it still has that old Hollywood glamour look that is so in right now. 
Next, In Style focused on a stunning piece by Nina Ricci. I love the different crystal shapes cut into bold facets, and I also love the smokey grays, blues and purples chosen for the necklace. Set in galvanized metal, it kind of reminds me of stained glass, and it could look great dressed up or down. 
I also like this detailed necklace by Thea Grant. The flower motif feels very mid-century to me, and the effect of hanging some of the accents makes it feel like an updated charm necklace. 

If you're looking for a few bold jeweled necklaces for fall, here two great suggestions:

Willis 14-karat gold necklace with rose quartz, aquamarine and purple quartz. Chunky without being overdone, this piece utilizes the natural inclusions in the stones and lets the imperfections shine. 

Judith Leiber Gold-Plated 3-Row Crystal collar. Baguettes and oval-cut crystals allow this showy piece to come in at a great price. 

Images via In Style

Look of the Day: Katherine McPhee

Here we have American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee embarking on her new career: film actress. She's at the premiere of her new movie, The House Bunny, starring Anna Farris, and I think she looks just lovely. I love how she embraces her curves with a tight-fitting dress that is glamorous but still toned down enough for a daytime premiere. 

I also adore her choice of jewelry: her three stacked rose-cut diamond bracelets from Amrapali and one large cocktail ring on the other hand is all she needs to make a statement. By steering clear of bold earrings or a showy necklace, the whole ensemble feels chic, young, and not too fussy. 

(I will admit, I do not love her shoes. But I'm willing to overlook it because the rest of the package is so pretty. A simple pair of black satin peep-toe heels would have done the trick perfectly.)

Mismatched stacking bangles are a great way to add a little oomph to your next night out. Here's a mix of black, white and diamond that will go with nearly anything:

Gem Platinum diamond bangle bracelet. Totally classic, this is the piece to pair with bolder bangles to give your ensemble extra sparkle. 

SOHO black enamel and diamond bangle bracelet. Graphic and bold, this will add some edge. 

Mauboussin 18-karat white gold and Mother-of-Pearl hinged bangle. The pearl inlay in a checkerboard pattern is sophisticated and eye-catching. 

Image via D'Orazio & Associates

Creative Storage

If you're anything like me, you have a rather large collection of jewelry and a tough time finding somewhere to put it all. My current solution is the entire top drawer of my dresser, plus two hand sculptures that sit on top and "wear" some of my rings and necklaces. If you need a new solution, I came across these beautiful jewelry stands from Polli. Laser-cut from acrylic, these pieces are not only decorative but functional. Above is the coral version and below is a black Gum tree. 

Click right here to see Polli's entire selection of jewelry stands and ordering information. 

Go for the Gold!

You know it's almost Fall when the phone book-thick September fashion magazines are on the newsstands. Believe me, I hate giving up my flip flops and simple summer dresses, but it's always exciting to start thinking about a crispness in the air and beautiful coats. It's also the right time to look back at the Fall 2008 runway shows that debuted in the spring and see where designers' collections are leading us. One of the big trends: gold jewelry. 

Designers are heavy into separates for the season, and structured clothing that feels more 'Mad Men' than new millennium. Looking above at the image from Badgley Mischka's ready to wear show, you can see that long gold chains are the perfect accent for a skirt suit. Phillip Lim (for his 3.1 label) also used long gold necklaces in a look (below) that was accented with oversized color block accents. 

Gold metallics were not even just in jewelry. At Oscar de la Renta, below, a model owned the runway in a gorgeous gold embossed coat. This continuing trend of metallics in clothing means that gold jewelry will be a perfect compliment come Fall. Luckily, this week's home page theme is focusing on our huge selection of gold jewelry, from 24-karat to white gold. 

Click right here to see our selection of yellow gold jewelry.

Click right here to see our selection of white gold jewelry. 

Images via style.com