Our guest blogger this week is the fabulously funny Winona of one of our favorite fashion blogs, Daddy Likely. If you haven’t check out her corner of the blogosphere, you’re missing out! This girl is truly hilarious and we may or may not have some serious girl crushes on her. Read on to find out why.

Q: How do you explain your personal style?

A: I love clothes that are comfortable and classic with a retro vibe. But I also love neon-colored tanktops and thick-knit Peruvian knee socks and overalls (sometimes all at once). My daily style reflects my mood and my attitude, so it varies a lot from day to day. I love creating outfits that express my personality, and I’m also a huge fan of accessories (huge accessories, especially).

Q: Purse style?

A: As I mentioned before, the bigger the better. Sometimes I wish this wasn’t my purse style, because I’ve lost many important documents and family heirlooms to the deep abyss that is my giant handbag, but I think the sacrifice is worth it.

A: I love this question so much that I actually dedicated a good five pages of the book to it. The random aggregation of items in my purse includes half-eaten protein bars, a pedicure kit, and a Catholic prayer card (I’m not Catholic), but you can always count on finding a mini notebook, my wallet, every receipt I’ve amassed since 2006, and approximately 400 bobby pins. And never my cellphone, because I always forget it.

A: Take your lifestyle and daily needs into account. If you lug around a laptop, several library books, and your gym clothes to work everyday, you’re going to need a large, comfortable tote bag, while low maintenance gals might be better served by a small satchel. Keep in mind where you’re carrying it as well–will you be clutching your purse to your chest on a crowded subway, balancing it on your handlebars to bike to work, or just tossing it in the back of your car? And it may sound cheesy, but I’m a true believer in handbag intuition. When you slip the right bag onto your shoulder at the store or get a glimpse of it online, you’ll just know it’s the one for you.

A: I was so excited to have the opportunity to write a fashion book that was fun to read and accessible to every woman of every size and every budget. As a reader, I was bored and annoyed with most of the options in the style section at the bookstore–rather than inspiring me, these books mostly made me feel poor and bloated. Getting dressed every morning can be such a fun, creative, empowering start to the day, and I wanted to help remind people of that.

A: My goal was for this book to be informative to women just getting into fashion, entertaining to women who have always been into fashion, and inspiring to everyone in between. I actually dedicated the book “to every woman who’s ever had a full closet and nothing to wear,” because haven’t we all felt that way sometimes (or, like, everyday)?

A: Smart, funny fashion book for smart, funny fashionable women!

We are so excited to announce that we’ll be giving away FIVE copies of Winona’s amazing book, Closet Confidential. We’ll post contest deets later today!

Serena City Satchel

Blame it on my long-held obsession with fashion or my  preference for magazines over heavier literature (literally and figuratively), sometimes, I admit, I judge a book by it’s cover.  Though according to my mom this is probably not so great in regard to the greater scheme of things, it’s very helpful when shopping! At a glance, I can tell what works,which brings me to this week’s new arrival…

One look at the Serena City Satchel and I was sold. The words that came to mind when I saw it: expensive and luxurious. Why, you ask? First, the color is stunning - purple is the hue of royalty, no? I know I want to be queen. Second, the exterior is butter-soft with the subtlest croc-embossment. I would be shocked - and impressed, might I add - if you didn’t mistake this for real leather. Third, this little lovely is brimming with details usually reserved for bags with tear-inducing pricetags.

The cinched exterior is not only beautiful, but functions to extend the bag’s size when loaded with your “necessities” - you know, those ten tubes of lipgloss, two water bottles and that umbrella. The braided handle is a fabulous touch, and long enough to fit snuggly over your shoulder. As a former NYC dweller, I feel this feature could be adventagous in the not-getting-pick-pocketed department. Yes, that is how my mind works.

Serena's Serena City Satchel

And last, I can’t resist…any Gossip Girl fans out there? No? Well, just in case. I could totally see Serena toting the Serena around on a melodramic Upper East Side shopping trip with Blair!

Whether you’re a professional woman or an ambitious student, chances are you’re rarely caught without your laptop in town. But the question is, can others tell you’ve stashed your workstation in that stylish bag? Thankfully, the days of boxy, masculine laptop bags and briefcases have been replaced by large, colorful bags that are as functional as they are feminine.

What to look for? Try to find a bag with flat, non-rounded straps to support the extra weight of a computer without hurting your shoulder. Although the bag should be on the larger side, bigger isn’t always better. You don’t want your laptop swimming in a sea of other belongings and risk damage. We suggest a flatter tote with a zippered top closure to keep that expensive purchase safe.

To get your search started out right, here are a few bags we particularly love. All of them are at least 16″ in length and most have wide straps and zippers. And most importantly, they’re all chic and sophisticated. Now, maybe the thought of taking out your laptop to begin work will be a little more bearable!

Victory Favorite Frame Tote	Spring Patent Quilted Tote
Samantha Rippled Tote	Peace Sign Metallic tote
Bryana Flat Tote	Jackie Pocket Tote