to shop / shopping directory: where to buy apc handbags

Here’s a full directory of where you can find A.P.C. bags on the internet.

• (*) denotes non-US stores.
• (**) denotes sale items (as of press time)
• (***) denotes future sale potential (either markdown or store-wide discount)

A.P.C. is French. It is cheaper in France (as of the current exchange rate) especially if you can obtain a VAT tax refund, however, do not underestimate the ease of finding what you want in the store. I’ve stopped by the Rue Royale boutique and Le Bon Marche shop in Paris and they barely had any bags out. But I also didn’t ask if they had anything in the back (I was just browsing).

I currently have two half-moon (demi lune) bags. They are both textured, saffiano leather, as reviewed here. I love them and have no plans to expand the APC family as of this time. The colors/texture for this style may be seasonal, so if you love something, don’t wait!

• APC*** US online store linked.
• Nordstrom** Free shipping, free returns, best customer service.
• Ssense* In Canada, but is US friendly.
• Net-a-Porter US
• Need Supply***
• Matches Fashion* UK-based but the exchange/shipping may work in favor of US buyers.
• Shopbop*** Pro-tip: Add items to your wishlist for notification when it goes on sale (if still in stock).
• The Dreslyn***
• Azalea*** Very limited selection.
• Forward
• La Garconne***
• Mytheresa* In Germany.
• Farfetch*
• Ann Mashburn
• Eaton Trading Company** Occasional 30-40% off site-wide discounts, but sometimes excludes certain A.P.C. bags. Currently has a 30% off sale and includes some bags. 

Re-sale sites:

• eBay
• TheRealReal
• Tradesy

to pamper / drunk elephant c-firma day serum review & more

The Drunk Elephant Vitamin C serum is probably my favorite non-Asian skincare purchase of late. I stopped using the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic a long time ago — though I have other serums that have a dropper-glass bottle packaging — I didn’t like the packaging re: oxidation and I couldn’t get myself to use it consistently.

• Drunk Elephant vs. Skinceuticals: Both products have the initial hot dog smell. The Skinceuticals probably has a stronger formula but it’s twice as expensive and the oxidation. Drunk Elephant has a better price point, additional antioxidants (it has pumpkin!) and virgin Marula oil, and I love the Drunk Elephant packaging.
• Application: Every morning, I dry my face right after I wash it, apply the Vitamin C serum, and wait a few minutes for it to dry before putting on the next layer. Depending on the mood, I might also apply it to the neck and hands. I definitely see results.

Reading about DE’s non-toxic mission, I wanted to try more products. For the skeptics, even critical Paula’s Choice’s Beautypedia gives high marks to DE. (Note: I’m not sure what’s wrong with the Beautypedia — it redirects to the PC main page. If you want to view reviews and it’s not showing up, click on the dropdown in Google and click on ‘cached’ to view the cache of the review.)

The Littles set looked cute, but I couldn’t bring myself to pay $90 much for it. I happened upon the DE Facebook page and was ecstatic to read that they had value sets launching soon on Sephora this week and their own website over this weekend (20% off for new customers). I prefer Sephora for the convenience, samples, loyalty program, and return policy.

I really wanted to try the T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90), which is the full size item of the AHA Moment set ($96). The other deluxe samples are well worth the $6 price difference and will be great for traveling!

 

I do have a ton of Korean essences and serums already, so am not sure if I will try the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel ($52) in the Let’s B Clear set ($82).

 

P.S. There are also new Sephora Favorites sets (in anticipation of the holiday season), including this Skin Wonderland set, and the Perfect Bite set from Bite Beauty. And get extra points on all purchases through Saturday. And I love the extra samples and promos: VIB & VIB Rouge get a great bag of samples with code MYSURPRISE.

to shop / j.crew gingham, red plaid trench | brooks brothers wrap coat & cotton blend jacket reviews

J.Crew

Trench Coat in Gingham

Boxy fit. Size down! I love the simplicity of the black and white. And it’s on sale – sizes pop back often. Also available for full price on Net-a-Porter.

Collection Red Plaid Trench Coat in Nylon

I can’t believe this was a Collection piece. It runs about 2-3 sizes too big and is pure wrinkly nylon. Two thumbs down.

Brooks Brothers

I love navy. The quality and fit on Brooks Brothers‘ main line can be impeccable and I love when they have petite sizing. Items tend to pop back online, so if you love something, do check back periodically. Amex cardholders, don’t forget to use Shoprunner for free 2-day shipping and returns. If you prefer the whimsy/preppy, check out the Red Fleece line.

Wrap Coat

Great sale price, but keep in mind this is all high quality nylon, albeit very nicely tailored and quality. I like the drape, the shape of the sleeves, and cuff. I do not like the stiffness of the belt, but I suppose you need the stiffness to keep it tied. It does look nice without the belt. This ran true to size.

Cotton Blend Jacket

This jacket is gorgeous and looks much better in person. I like the large hood and the lightness of the nylon/cotton blend. It’s also water repellent. Looks like a great layer for traveling, but not wrinkleproof. Not as great of a sale price, but it’s no surprise that it’s mostly sold out at “only” 50%. It runs big — I think I sized down 2 sizes.

to shop / uniqlo x ines de la fressange, fall 2016

The recurring Uniqlo x Ines de la Fressange collaboration is my favorite Uniqlo collab to date for its quality, wearability, fit, and classic styles.

The Fall/Winter 2016 collection just dropped a few days ago and has three style concepts: La Femme Rive Droite (Paris Right Bank), La Femme Rive Gauche (Paris Left Bank), and 70s Rock. Not all of the styles have dropped — more are coming in October.

The US Uniqlo site isn’t that great this time in terms of lookbooks or even explaining the concept. For reviews/lookbook/styling info:

• Midlifechic got a preview and has detailed reviews
• The Uniqlo JP site has selected 15 “key” items and styled it up two ways — for the Right and Left Bank. Amazing!
• Global teaser video.
• Instagram hashtag #UniqloxInes

When shopping the desktop version of the site, all item measurements are listed in the “size chart”. In general, I find IDLF to run true to size. Their sweaters and knit tops have a slimmer fit. Some coats may run big (like the prior season trench coats). If anything is sold out, for the US site at least, you can sign up to be notified when an item is re-stocked.

I’m not a sweater person and don’t wear work-friendly button down shirts as much as I’d like, so I gravitate through fitted tees (that are easy to care for), casual flannel buttondowns, blazers, and outerwear. These are my favorites:

to shop / {purse diaries} lotuff small leather tote with strap in natural

I’ve always admired Lotuff bags from afar. They are made in USA, kind of pricey, on the boutique circuit, and hard to find on sale. Eventually the right sale came along in the form of a retirement sale. I got this Lotuff small leather tote with strap in a natural color. I also ordered the small leather tote without strap in chestnut brown. That was returned — the chestnut brown shade wasn’t caramel/rich enough for me. And please note that all sales are not final, which was a driving factor in placing an order sight unseen.

The leather quality is amazing — I find that leather smell to be intoxicating. The 14″ x 10.5″ x 5″ size is big enough to hold a good deal of belongings but small enough not to overwhelm. I was having it sit on the sidelines until I figured out how to treat it, but the more I read about pebbled leather, the more I’m convinced it doesn’t need much babying. The corners are a bit soft, so I am thinking of getting a purse shaper/insert/organizer to hold them up. I love the look of the small tote (without straps) and do wish the strap could be removed. The weight of the bag is not lightweight, but it’s not bad.

to pamper / {deal alert} sephora bite beauty perfect pair high pigment pencil lip set

These pretty Bite Beauty lip pencil sets are back in stock. A regular sized pencil is $24 — the two mini pencils in the set add up to one regular pencil and clock in at only $14. Bite Beauty isn’t perfect, but they don’t have parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and are gluten-free. See swatches here.

to shop / {purse diaries} apc greenwich bag review & comparison with half moon

Part I: A.P.C. Half Moon (Demi Lune) Bag Review
Part II: A.P.C. Greenwich Bag Review and Comparison with Half Moon

Note: these are not all mine!

The half moon doesn’t look that big, but when you lay out the measurements or compare it with other bags, it’s quite large. I recently checked out the Greenwich. The Greenwich is a classic turnlock crossbody bag that comes in Brick red or Navy blue (almost black) in a calf leather with a glazed finish. It’s pricier than the half moon.

The half moon bag is 0.75 inches deeper than the Greenwich. The Greenwich is slighter taller, but felt too small and slippery with the glazed finish and flap.

Both styles can accommodate a small S’well water bottle. It is definitely easier to access with the Greenwich as it has a top flap versus a sometimes dangerous zipper on a new Half Moon. Overall, the size of this style felt too small and inferior to the Half Moon.

The leather of the Greenwich had subtle veining which was noticeable in brick red. Both colors had some “marks”. I can handle it with the Mansur Gavriel vegetable tanned bag, but not with this style/type of leather. Saffiano leather, I am still a bigger fan of. Lastly, the crossbody strap of the Greenwich is 18.5″ which is almost 3″ shorter than the Half Moon.

The A.P.C. Half Moon in Saffiano wins out due to the quality of the leather, size, and length of the crossbody strap.

Where to Buy

• Shopbop, APC

to pamper / {deal alert} 20% off tata harper ends today

Through today, July 30 11:59PT (unless they extend it), Tata Harper has 20% off $100+ with code BDAYBEAUTY in celebration of Tata’s birthday. While many of her products are carried at other outlets, not all of them are, notably the Beautifying Face Oil. I also love the Resurfacing Mask (reviewed here) and the Regenerating Cleanser (mentioned here). I accidentally got the larger bottle of the cleanser – no regrets since I’m almost half way through. I use this cleanser 2-3x a week as a first cleanser.

There are also a bunch of exclusions, which appears to be the sets and t-shirts. Or you can use my referral for $25 off $100 with no exclusions or expiration.

 

to pamper / {deal alert} peach & lily mizon sale up to 75% off

Peach and Lily slashed the prices on most of their Mizon products. The prices are amazing considering they are shipping from within the U.S., although I’m curious to see what the expiration dates are on these. For first time customers, get $10 off $50 with my referral link. For existing customers, try HAPPYSHOPPING for 15% off. The sale goes through next Friday, but I expect stuff to sell out at these prices. All sales are final. If you’ve seen their products at Target, Anthropologie, or Urban Outfitters, Peach and Lily is their distributor.

I had Peach & Lily credit from Rue La La and already had some Be the Skin items in my cart. I dumped a ton of snail items in to use up the rest of my credit. I love snail – it does great things for the skin and I’ll definitely be slathering some of this on the significant other’s dry skin. I also picked up some items I already have in a travel-friendly size.

Update: Sold out!

• Ampoules ($10 from $38-48). These are super concentrated serums. I’ve used Mizon’s hyaluronic acid, peptide, and collagen one. I’ve been waiting for a good price for the snail repair ampoule. These ampoules are a great deal at $10 and they are on average more than 75% off. I layer these post toner. Don’t skimp on the ampoules or serums!
• Snail Recovery Gel Cream ($4 from $18). Another one I haven’t tried yet. It’s only $4 for a TSA friendly tube. I plan to use this on summer skin and bug bites.
• Good Night White Sleeping Mask ($3 from $10). I have the jar version of this one as well. This is not a whitening product, but brightening. I love most things with niacinamide and more hyaluronic acid.
• Snail Repair Eye Cream ($5 from $10). I have the jar version but appreciate the travel/tube packaging for hygiene. 

Check out the full sale here.

to shop / {purse diaries} apc half moon bag review

Part I: A.P.C. Half Moon (Demi Lune) Bag Review
Part II: A.P.C. Greenwich Bag Review and Comparison with Half Moon

The half moon is A.P.C.’s signature style and returns every season in different colors and leathers. Both of mine are in embossed/textured saffiano leather — I like longevity. The caramel brown one was from late 2014 and the bordeaux wine red one was from early 2016.