Santi CP3508 Clutch

by La Fashionista on November 18, 2009

So like I said the other day, it’s beginning to look a lot like holiday party season! Some of them will probably be casual, and you can just wear slacks, boots, and a nice sweater. And by nice, I don’t mean one of those sweaters that has goofy characters on it like snowmen or elves, or one that has some sort of white snowflake on red background motif. They really need to stop making those. The thing is, people actually buy them. And not only do they buy them, they wear them! Walk through the mall in December, and you’ll see all kinds of moms and grandmas in those dorky sweaters. No offense to anyone’s mom or grandma, but come on. Those things are in the same category as mom jeans and should never be worn in public. Ever. And if you love your mom and grandma, you’ll keep them from wearing those atrocities. Anyway, aside from the casual parties, you may be lucky enough to have a few fancy events to go to. Maybe a holiday gala put on by your company, or a charity ball. Or heck with it, you can dress up for one of those casual parties if you want to. No sense leaving your gorgeous sequined pumps in the closet when there’s dancing to do, right? But when you put on your party dress and shoes, you don’t want to carry a big, clunky leather bag. You need a clutch, and not just any clutch. A beaded or sequined clutch to complement those heels, like the Santi CP3508 clutch.

Before we go any further, I’d like to point out that the “name” of this clutch (you know how I feel about alphanumeric names for fashion accessories) is awfully close to C3PO, the golden android from Star Wars. See, other than their being totally sterile and unimaginative, this is why designers need to avoid alphanumerics when naming their products. The last thing you should be thinking about when you look at this gorgeous, beaded clutch is the annoying droid from Star Wars. Man, he got on my nerves. Yeah, I’ve seen Star Wars. What? Because I like fashion I can’t have a geeky side that likes sci fi? You’ve seen my Star Trek fashion post, right? It’s all good. I do have to point out, though, that I’m only a fan of the original three Star Wars movies from the ’70s and early ’80s. You know, the ones when Harrison Ford was hot. Hell, he’s still kinda hot, only he hooked up wth Calista Flockhart who looks like she hasn’t eaten in about three years. Ick. But the new Star Wars movies? They suck. George Lucas owes me some money. For those, and for the latest Indiana Jones travesty, too. But that’s for another post. We’re talking about clutches, right? Aside from the fact that Santi couldn’t come up with a better name for this clutch, it’s beautiful. It’s made from silk, and is covered in sparkly sequins and multi-faceted beads that will catch the light with every turn of the bag. It comes with a detachable chain strap that gives the bag a 24.5-inch drop if you prefer to carry it on your shoulder. The bag closes with a vintage kiss-lock clasp. I love this dark purple, which would complement the Nina Erna pumps really well, but it also comes in green, navy, and ruby red. Choose your favorite for $290 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternatives

Another bag to pair with those Erna pumps is this Calvin Klein Pailette clutch. If you’re not familiar with sequin terminology, pailette refers to the type of sequin that embellishes this bag. The funny thing is, CK spelled it wrong. It’s actually paillette. It’s French, so the double L makes sense. You’d think if a designer were going to use a foreign word to name one of their accessories, they’d at least look it up to be sure they spelled it properly. No wonder the French are so snobby toward Americans. We butcher their language every chance we get. Anyway, the hole in this type of sequin is usually off-center, but in this case, it’s centered, which allows the sequins to be better secured to the bag, and not dangling off of it. I have to tell you that this photo doesn’t do justice to the bag. You really need to see it up close, and from a different angle to get a better idea of what it would look like glimmering in the light. The bag is made of shimmery fabric, and is adorned with sequins only on the front. The chain shoulder strap gives it a 12.5-inch drop, and while it’s not detachable, it’s attached to hinged anchors that can be folded into the bag, making it a true clutch. The push lock closure keep the bag securely closed. The interior is lined, and features a back wall zip pocket. CK calls this color pomegranate, and it’s also avilable in hematite, which is pretty much black. Get yours for $152 at Zappos.com.

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the other pairs of pumps, both in beautiful blue. I’ve got you covered with this Melie Bianco Oversized Multi Sequins clutch. Wow, what a boring name. At least it’s not R2D8267B, though, right? I like that it’s not just one color, but four shades of blue. The centermost square is a shade between the dark blue and the turquoise, and the ice blue at the top is the perfect accent. The clutch is made from synthetic leather, and the front flap is covered with row upon row of small, square sequins with rounded edges. It’s an uncommon shape for sequins, which just adds to the unique look of the bag. The interior is lined with a fabulous ivory fabric covered with brown polka dots. It sounds like it wouldn’t match, but when the bag is open and all you see is the turquoise of the unadorned material, it’s a great complement. A detachable chain shoulder strap gives the bag a 12-inch drop, but it’s not just any chain strap. The links are a bit wider than usual, and a thin strip of the turquoise synthetic leather is threaded through it. All the small details put together make this a gorgeous clutch. This aqua model goes great with the Badgley Mischka and Chinese Laundry sequined pumps, and the clutch is also available in lilac, which would also go with the Erna pumps, and gold, which you could also pair with the Ernas since they have that gold sequin accent at the base. Whichever of these clutches you choose, there’s an option to match the shoes I talked about the other day. The best thing about this Melie Bianco is that it’s only $53, so you could splurge a little more on the shoes and still get a great matching bag. Heck, get one in each color at Endless.com.