Whether you love to wear pearls and heels to the supermarket, or sail around the harbor in your boat shoes and polo shirt, style doesn’t matter when it comes to wardrobe staples. Forget about your favorite pink sneakers or your favorite studded jacket — there are some wardrobe essentials that belong in every gal’s closet.

♥1. A classic over-the-shoulder messenger bag. When it comes to toting life’s necessities around, sometimes you need a bag that will carry, well, everything from your favorite afternoon snack to your daughter’s stuffed elephant… in style.

♥2. A striped scarf with a pop of color. Nothing pulls together a look better than a scarf. Seriously.

♥3. A classic animal print scarf. Because you can never have too many scarves.

♥4. The essential French striped shirt. Patterns, prints, solids — you can mix a striped shirt with whatever your fashionable heart desires.

♥5. A classic and timeless LBD. A bit cliche? Maybe. It’s cliché for a reason — it rocks.

♥6. Red high heels. Every wardrobe needs a bit of sass mixed with sophistication.

♥7. Fabulous evening clutch. For all of those hot dates and weekend soirees.

♥8. Classic pencil skirt. The pencil skirt is not only for the office — dress it down with a slouchy sweater or wear it under a tunic.

♥9. Classic riding boots. They go with everything. I mean everything.

♥10. A statement necklace. When you need that pop of color for your ensemble, add a bit of glamour to your look.

Happy almost-weekend from the Super Bowl city! Our little Midwest home has been turned upside down by all the Super festivities — and we’ve loved every minute of it. A group of us trekked to downtown Indianapolis last week for lunch and to check out the giant Roman numerals. See the post and pictures here.

In honor of the big game — and our fabulous city — check out this week’s Pinterest round up. It’s chock-full of Super treats so you’ll be the hostess with the mostess for Sunday’s big game.

Meatball recipes and tips from New York’s famed Meatball Shop. And yes, there’s a store solely dedicated to meatballs. Road trip anyone?

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Game day potato skins—a definite crowd pleaser.

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“The Ultimate Super Bowl Dip” — the name says it all. Yum.

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If these taste half as good as they look, you’ll need to hide a few away from the hungry crowds.

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What happens when you combine cupcakes and your favorite adult beverage? Dessert deliciousness.

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Have a great football-filled weekend and enjoy these yummy recipes!

Want to see how to make these handbags? Click on the image above!

1. DIY Neon Stripe Bag: Add a neon stripe to give a fresh look to an old bag! (Find the Ashton Satchel.)

2. DIY Tassel Embellishment Add a leather tassel to any purse.

3. Transparent Clutch: How to make your own transparent clutch for your next formal event.

4. DIY Rug Clutch: Who knew a rug could look so cute?

5. DIY Yellow Leather Clutch: An easy DIY for a gal with sewing skills.

6. Kate Spade-Inspired Piano Clutch: With some sharpies, paint, and a steady hand, you can make a Kate Spade lookalike.

7. DIY Glitter Wallet: With a bit of glitter and some Mod Podge, you can transform an old wallet into something shiny.

8. Neon Envelope Clutch: A chic DIY with a pop of color.

9. Kate Spade-Inspired Owl Purse: How to make Kate Spade’s owl purse with this satchel.

10. Red Glitter Coin Purse: Add some sass to an old coin purse.

11. DIY Vinyl Record Purse: Use ordinary objects to make a unique handbag.

12. Glitter Accent Purse: For when glittering the whole bag is just too much.

13.DIY Mod Podge Purse: Add some life to an old purse with fabric and Mod Podge.

14. Macaroon Coin Purse: How to make the cutest little macaroon coin purse.

♥Do you have a handbag project and want to be featured on the Handbag Heaven blog? Drop us a line with a link to your post and we’ll be sure to check it out! Email SEllis (at) Handbagheaven.com

Love is hard to quantify: there are no classes teaching you how to love and who to love; it’s just a feeling we know exists because it fills our hearts with everything wonderful.  And on Valentine’s Day, when we’re encouraged to find those perfect words for those we care about, the pressure might leave us a little more than tongue-tied.

Consider this list of quotes our Valentine’s gift to you. Whether you jot one down for your significant other, pin this for your gal pals, frame one for your mother, or just need a little reminder for yourself (we all could at one time or another), let these small sayings spark your feelings and desires for those you love. And most importantly, let them inspire and empower you to love the most important person on that list: you.

Excuse us for the last one, but we just couldn’t help ourselves!

Pretty soon, these quotes won’t be words stuck to paper or stored on a computer screen, they’ll become a part of you, lingering there day after day until you need them the most.

After all, these expressions aren’t meant for one day, they’re meant for always. ♥

Take Me Back to the Gal’s Guide to Valentine’s Day

Hello! I am Stacie and I am so excited to be writing for the stylish ladies (and gent ) at Handbag Heaven today! I am a writer over at Handbag Heaven’s sister site, Scarves.net, and while I am totally in love with my job researching new scarf ideas, crafty scarf projects, and new ways to wear scarves, sometimes it’s nice to switch gears and work on a different type of project.

As a recent college graduate, I’ve got to make a pretty strict budget. I’ve never been able to afford some of the drool-worthy designer pieces that prickle your skin and get your heart racing so I always try and figure out how to make DIY versions. The Kate Spade Owl Purse is a bag I’ve been looking at for a long time. Not only is it way out of my price range, it is also unavailable! So a DIY was unavoidable.

How to make the Kate Spade Owl Purse:

For this DIY you need:

• Paper towels to make templates of wings
• Purse (I used the Ashton mini satchel.)
• Superglue
• Leather
• Beads or buttons for eyes
• Spray Paint
• Grommets
• Grommet puncher
• Patience

Step # 1: Cut out all the patches of leather that you need for the wings. I layered paper towels on top of the purse and cut templates to put on the leather. If you don’t want to use lots of leather, you can just cut one piece for the wing, but I like the layered effect that the real purse has.

Step #2: Glue the wings on. I used the E-6000 superglue. This stuff is so great because it is flexible.

For the middle section, leave a bit of the wing unglued so that you can glue the little feathers underneath. To clamp down the superglue on the purse, I used an assortment of claw clips and bobby pins. They work really well even though it doesn’t really look too pretty. Let this dry, preferably overnight.

Step #3: Cut the feathers out of your leather scraps.

I cut little sections like that because I had these little leather remnants to use up, but I recommend cutting them in one strip. It makes it easier. After you have them cut out, punch the grommets into the feathers.

Step #4: After you have the grommets in the feathers, glue the feathers together so that they are one section. Don’t glue the bottoms of the feathers down to the purse. You want them to flap a bit. Don’t get your superglue on the suede, either.

Step #5: Cut out the eyes from the yellow leather

I notched little pieces out of the circles I cut for the eyes. Then I stitched the little yellow heart beads to one layer of the leather and then glued them all together.

Step #6: Cut out the triangular piece of leather that goes above the eyes of the owl. Glue this into place, leaving a little open on the bottom so you can slip the eyes in underneath to create the angry look that owls usually have. Put a bit of glue on the back of the eyes and then slip them under to make the cute angry owl face. Make sure everything is in its place. You can let these stages dry and then go back and touch parts up with a dab of glue. This is where patience comes in. Don’t hurry and mess it up. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way many times.

Step #7: Cut out the beak.

I didn’t have gold leather so I just took some gold spray paint and painted the suede side of a little snippet of leather. It worked really well, I am always surprised by how awesome spray paint is. Then you just need to cut out the diamond shape and glue it in place between the eyes.

Step #8: Glue everything down and make sure everything is going to stay. The thing about the E-6000 glue is that if there is enough glue there, it is not going anywhere. You just have to make sure it does not show.

Make sure the edges are down. This is where the claw clips come in handy. Thank you 1999 hairstyles.

And voila! Thanks again to Beth, Sarah, and Nate for letting me post today! You can pop over to my blog to see more DIY projects and crafts.

If most of you readers are like the rest of the Affordable Style Vault blogging team, Christmas started Thursday with the beginning of Spring Fashion Week NYC 2011. If you read the title, you might think to yourself, “Ugh! Guys just don’t get it!” like handbag obsessions, matching outfits with colors, and all those other things us guys don’t understand. Yes, I’ve seen Zoolander, but apparently I still don’t know that “sportswear” is NOT made by Nike & Adidas, and fashion week does NOT come once a year. But I’m here to tell you I am actually trying to see what exactly is so special about Fashion Week.

I’m not about to explain just yet, because NYC FW 2011 ain’t over. For now, I’m celebrating the intensity of the models as they walk down the runway – while having a little fun in the mix. If these don’t make sense, google image “come at me bro” and you’ll understand. Enjoy!

As we check out of August and enter September, it’s time to think about new clothes, new shoes, a new jacket, and a new handbag. But with so many bags and not enough time, what’s a girl to do?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We revisited favorite looks from Fall Fashion Week to show you how to incorporate these trends into your handbag style.

To color block, simply choose an outfit that contains  two or more solid blocks of color. Our two-tone satchel adds a block of color to any outfit.

We think polka dots are sweet and sassy. Add a small splash of dot to your ensemble with a polka dot clutch.

We love how The Row mixed a Miss Peacock oxford with a Colonel Mustard jacket. To get a gilded glamorous look, try out a mustard yellow handbag.

Channel your inner Betty, Joan, or Peggy with a 60s retro handbag, a beehive ‘do, and a mini.

Bear down against dropping temps with some fur. But don’t worry, we keep it animal friendly with our faux fur handbag.

Please tell us, what fall trend are you rocking with your handbag style?

We don’t hear much about Katie Holmes’ acting anymore. Usually she makes headlines for her fashion, daughter Suri or husband Tom Cruise. Just recently she surprised her aforementioned Prince Charming with a beach-side bash to celebrate his forty-ninth birthday!

According to People.com, Katie “planned everything” and “did the RSVPs herself…to be sure everything was just right.” Held on the roof of Miami’s Soho Beach House, attendees included Tom’s three children and forty close friends.

With those secret ninja planning skills, maybe Katie has learned some things from the latest installment of “Mission: Impossible” directed by Brad Bird. According to MTV News, Katie had an advanced screening last month and raved about it with producer Guillermo Del Toro.

“It’s amazing,” she says. “The movie is going to be very cool and intense and the best ‘Mission’ yet.”

When Guillermo joked that his diet is his own “Mission: Impossible,” Katie said, “I have a lot of ‘Mission: Impossible’ moments, just being a mom.”

Whether or not that is true or what that entails, Katie’s style is classy as ever. Check out this photo of Katie last week in Paris.

With dark jeans and this off-white top with tea cup sleeves and a classic French bow, Katie looks fit for Fashion Week. But those pockets cannot possibly fit everything Miss Holmes needs to carry! Our suggestion: this leatherette envelope clutch!

With gold hardware and a sophisticated turn-lock closure, this oversized clutch with its large zip-shut pocket and two small open-top pockets is large enough to store anything you need but portable enough for light travel. Also available in orange and yellow, get yours today!

photo credit: People.com, MTV News

Today’s guest post is from Jesse, who gives us the male perspective on handbags as wedding favors. Have you seen handbags used with wedding parties? Let us know in the comments!

Planning a wedding is a lot harder than it looks. When I got engaged, my fiancée and I decided that we’d split the duties of wedding planning evenly. Unfortunately for me, that means choosing wedding favors and gifts for our wedding party. Anyone who’s been a bridesmaid or groomsman knows the gifts can range from awesome to awful. When one of my buddies got married last summer, he handed us all flimsy-looking pocket knives. Mine broke into pieces during the reception when I tried to use it to open a bottle of beer. I guess it’s the thought that counts, right?

Shopping isn’t my favorite thing, but my honey promised that shopping online would make the mission quick and painless. We wanted to give our friends practical gifts, something they could use beyond just the reception. For my fiancée, that means giving her bridesmaids cute handbags.

Every woman’s style is different, but a tote or clutch that complements more than one outfit is a valuable item (as I’ve learned from my fiancée’s massive purse collection). After a few tries at picking handbags on my own, I was steered toward bags that are simple and stylish. My own knowledge of purses and handbags is much more limited than my fiancée’s, but I think my eye for fashion is getting sharper.

For daytime or the work week, canvas totes appear to be in style. A bag with a fun flowery pattern works for the office and for shopping trips. Clutches with a bit of flair or an eye-catching fabric are great for a night out, or an everyday catch-all for days when a larger bag might be too unwieldy to carry. The difference between day and night bags is a new concept to me, but it makes sense: if a woman is going out to dinner and dancing, why would she carry a big hobo bag? And if she’s heading to a business meeting, she’d need a purse or tote that can hold more than just a wallet and makeup bag.

We narrowed down our choices to two bags: a neutral-colored canvas tote and a glittery clutch with a removable strap. After spending time looking for wedding gifts for my fiancée’s bridesmaids, I feel like I have enough experience to get my future wife a pretty good handbag for our anniversary. Wish me luck.

Need some more help finding the perfect clutch for a wedding? Here are some more great finds from Handbag Heaven:

Ada Woven Clutch

The Ada is a lovely gift for your ladylike friends. The bow detail and woven texture remind us of Jackie O, and you just can’t get any classier than that!

Alex Metallic Floral Clutch

What’s more romantic than a wedding? This floral clutch evokes a touch of romance and elegance with a metallic sheen. Your bridesmaids would love this tote, and it looks gorgeous paired with several colors!

Just returned from their honeymoon, Kate and William glowed with golden tan skin when they met the Obamas, who were in England for UK state visits. Princess Kate Middleton greeted the Obamas in a nude Shola dress made by Reiss, along with hubby Prince William, looking professional as always in his classic black tuxedo.

Although the Obama’s trip to the UK was all business, they had time to visit Westminster Abbey, Downing Street and tour the Buckingham Palace gardens where a gust of wind nearly blew up Michelle Obama’s dress! Michelle had several close calls due to the windy British weather.  After the near faux pas, I’m sure Kate told Michelle about the dressmakers who sew small weights into the Queen’s hems!

Despite these issues, The First Lady is always dressed to a T, but Kate is another first lady who always accompanies her man’s side wearing the finest fashion. Although she chooses less pricey styles, she out-dresses Michelle this time. And others think so as well.

According to USA Today, the Shola dress cost a little over $300. That is certainly a cheap choice for a royal princess. Kate’s nude dress got so much attention that Reiss’s dress website received 300% more traffic than usual.  This traffic overload bogged down the website so it was temporarily unavailable for quite some time!

Want to get everyone’s attention like Kate? The elegant-in-neutral look was accompanied with a classy black clutch and certainly caught the eyes of people across the globe. Try our Cecily Lace Clutch or Caroline Lace Clutch to match your next nude colored dress!

Photo Credit:  California Style, BBC