Jack Rogers Lawn Party Straw Clutch

Let me ask you a question. Just how many Mel Gibson tapes are there?! Does anyone know? Seems like every morning when I turn on the TV, some show is talking about the latest Mel Gibson tape, and when I go online, news about it is all over the blogosphere. Enough already! Jeez! You know, other celebs who got caught on tape at least had the decency to only have one or two. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee had a couple, but at least they were having fun and not screaming at each other. Paris Hilton…whatever. She gets enough press. But how long was Oksana Grigorieva taping Mel before she decided to go public? I would think if someone was threatening your life, and your children’s lives, and had supposedly already abused you, you’d want to gather evidence quickly, and get that evidence to the authorities. No, instead she taped him for who knows how long, and then gave the tapes to…not the cops, but a celebrity gossip Web site, whose name I’m not even going to mention because they’re getting quite enough traffic from this debacle, thankyouverymuch. Oh, but she’s not looking for money. Uh uh. I’m not saying Mel Gibson is right in any way. I think anyone who defends him is off their rocker. Yeah, lookin’ at you, Whoopi. But in all seriousness, I think he’s mentally unstable and needs to be medicated, if not fitted for a straightjacket. I bet Armani would custom make him a really nice one. The longer he’s left at large, the more possible it becomes that he’s just going to completely go berserk and someone’s really going to get hurt. And then no one will get paid, and Hollywood just can’t abide that. Blah. So anyway, on to fashion. A lot of stores and sites are already starting to put the fall stuff up. No! I refuse! It’s still only July! We’re going to finish summer, dammit! There are days when you’ll need a large handbag or tote, like when you go to the beach or pool, and you have a lot to carry. But for those days when you just want to dress up, whether it’s for work or vacation, a summery clutch can be the perfect addition to your ensemble. Let’s start with this Jack Rogers Lawn Party Straw Clutch.

Straw is the quintessential summer material for handbags, and even hats. Hmm…hats. Maybe later. The Lawn Party is a little richly named, I think. It summons images of sprawling, lush lawns attached to huge mansions, and people playing croquet. Maybe a designer will come out with the Backyard BBQ handbag that more of us can relate to. Anyway, this little clutch is pretty, with suede threading stitched through the front flap into medallion designs, and a suede tassel accent. The flap has a magnetic snap closure, and despite its looks, the bag is actually pretty roomy at 11.5 inches wide. This yellow is very summery, but it also comes in green, natural, and black. It goes for $298 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

Yeah, that’s a little pricey for a small bag made from straw. Instead, check out this Serpui Marie Straw Minaudiere clutch. What’s a Minaudiere? I have no idea. What I do know is that this is one cute little handbag. The body is made from woven straw that has been coated to make it shiny, and sturdy. I love the rounded shape of it, and the way it’s topped with little domes to make the kiss-lock closure. And those little domes are done in snake print for a little visual interest. The interior is lined with bright orange canvas, and also hides a delicate chain shoulder strap which gives the bag a 22-inch drop if you’d rather carry it that way. Serpui calls this color orange, although it looks more like a rich tan to me, but there’s no mistaking the other two colors it comes in—black and fuchsia. It’s on sale, too, down from $145 to just $79.75 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

This little Mar y Sol Chelsea clutch is perfectly named for summer. No, not the Chelsea part. The mar y sol, which means sea and sun in Spanish. I think it will stand up to both rather nicely. The Chelsea is made from raffia that’s been woven by hand. The front tab closes with a magnetic snap, and is adorned with a button made from polished coconut shell. The top also zips closed for extra security. Inside, the clutch is lined with cotton fabric, and features a back wall slip pocket. It may look small, but at 10.75 inches wide, there should be enough room to hold the essentials. In addition to this yellow, the Chelsea is available in pink, orange, green, blue, and brown. Get a couple of colors since it’s also on sale, down from $69 to $50.72 at Endless.com.