A Nonstop New York Connection

It’s practically a crime to keep secrets like this one: Laila Rowe, trusted fashion accessory stop-off for savvy East Coast shoppers since 2003, is a bona fide presence on the internet. Thanks to the brand’s recent focus on the online market, patrons of the New York shop that started the chain will now be rubbing shoulders with style-aware customers from all over cyberspace, browsing with enhanced ease everything from the one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that put Laila Rowe on the map to the devilishly alluring rainboots and footwear that continue to set the company apart. Hats and scarves, gloves and mittens, loungewear, and even umbrellas: Laila Rowe is a kind of paradise for those who live to accessorize, offering unique designs and quality materials at prices far under what one might expect.

And then, of course, there are those trendy, durable handbags that seem so appropriate for the lifestyle of the modern woman. With gorgeous favorites like the eye-catching Genuine Leather Ruched Handbag, the versatile Leather Bag with Pockets or the tastefully bold Large Genuine Leather Handbag waiting to be stuffed full of the odds’n’ends of your days, there’s no shortage of practical accessories to fit your needs. Whatever it takes to round out that outfit you’ve been dying to wear, you’ll probably find it here. And while you enjoy the worry-free shopping experience, here’s something else to enjoy: Laila Rowe is giving a lovely Crocodile Print Faux Leather Clutch to the lucky winner of today’s giveaway (pictured above.) To enter, visit LailaRowe.com, then come back here and tell us about your favorite Day Bag style. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 4/08/09.

Be sure to also enter our giveaways here.

We’ll Vouch for These Pouches

Freshening up one’s accessories for the spring doesn’t have to mean mortgaging that already-twice-mortgaged house for a ridiculously expensive, oversized Italian purse. It could, rather, be as simple as accenting with a small but classy, fashionably cute, and sensibly priced handcrafted handbag freshly acquired online. Now, what if we told you such a thing could be found in Missouri? Take that, Milan. Thanks to Kansas City-based Nicole of Ni-Chern Designs, being spring-ready has never been easier.

With a full line of pouches sized from extra small to medium and featuring zesty, off-the-easel motifs such as geometric orange, brown motifs, and circles and dots, Ni-Chern has made it possible to blister the boardwalks and plaza sidewalks of your hometown this season with an aura of originality, free thinking, and yes, fashion sense—all at a fraction of the price at which noticeability is usually bought. And as long as you’re browsing, it’s well worth the time it takes to check out Ni-Chern Design's wristlets, coin pouches, key fobs, and other carrying accessories, not to mention the earrings that round out the site. Sagging economies are a fact of life, but sagging self-confidence doesn’t have to be. Give yourself something special this spring from Ni-Chern’s adorable collection. It might be just the stimulus you need to get life going again.

Visit NiChernDesigns.etsy.com

Another Command Performance

In case you’ve lived in a cave these past twenty years, here’s a news flash: Australia is dominating the cinematic world. With complex yet outback-wild front men bearing earthy names like Jackman and Crowe, and lavishly gifted lady thespians the likes of Blanchett and Kidman, their characters transcend, brooding with the power and mystery of a South Sea tempest. It’s no longer a question of whether an Aussie will take home an Oscar, but rather how many. Thus it should be no surprise when a company like UGG Australia rises to the very top of the footwear market: This, after all, is a land where great performances are born. It might be hard for some of us to imagine the privilege of visiting the pastoral homeland where a pair of UGG boots begins, but one doesn’t have to pet the sheep to enjoy the unmatched pampering a pair of sheepskin boots affords. Nor, for that matter, is it difficult to envision a pair of Classic Tall, Lo Pro Button, or Classic Clardy boots, just to name a few, gracing one’s oft-neglected feet. (Incidentally, my Classic Tall boots are by far the most comfortable pair of footwear I've ever owned in my life. I'm sure some of you can attest to the same sentiment.)

Of course, in addition to women’s boots, UGG is quite famous for its sheepskin slippers, arguably the only product that could possibly be more comfy than the already-luxurious shearling boots for which it is known. The mystique of the Tasman, the practicality of the Cozy II—there doesn’t seem to be a single slipper in UGG’s gallery that doesn’t make sense in some way. Looking for something lighter? Look no further than UGG’s summer-ready sandals, such as the leisurely Fluffie, the feminine Brook, or the cosmo-conscious Hazel. Outerwear? Men’s wear? Accessories? UGG delivers the goods, and does so with all the panache and presence that we’ve come to admire in Australian artisans. There are brands that make women’s boots, and then there is UGG. Now, if we could only figure out a way to bring the continents a little closer together…

Visit UggAustralia.com to view the entire collection.

Reining in the Cheek-Seeking Kissile

What if the kiss you blew to your little one had a mind of its own? What if, like a mischievous, lovestruck “kissile” guided by a carefree spirit, that smacker missed its intended target, fluttered out the window and began simply bouncing from one unsuspecting recipient to the next, leaving smiles on the faces of bears and bees, dogs and cats in its wake? This is the endearing premise of Mama’s Kiss (Chronicle Books), a Jane Yolen tale told against the lovely backdrop of Daniel Baxter’s illustrations. Shrewdly conceptualized in that “what-if” style that invariably captures a child’s imagination, the story includes some of the best elements of children’s literature: light and colorful prose, delightful ideas, a straightforward and compelling storyline, and a sense of language that doesn’t take itself so seriously that it would fly, pardon the pun, right past a young reader. And then there’s the best feature of all, a happy ending that seals the story with a kiss found right where it belongs, at home in the cozy confines of a loving family. Cuddle up, turn the pages, and remember why those kisses from mom mean so much in the first place. And when you’re done, don’t be afraid to blow a little kiss of your own.

To order a personal copy of Mama’s Kiss, visit Chronicle Books.com.

Orwell’s Animal Charm

One hasn’t truly explored the outer regions of irony until she’s tucked her capitalist credit cards and currency into a shiny dog-shaped leather clutch named for the novelist of history’s most famous satire of Communism. Of course, George Orwell was a clever Englishman, not a seer, and though the latter suggests he’d have had no idea that decades later Tsurubride Arts & Crafts would celebrate his legacy in leather, the former quality assures he’d have found such humor deliciously rich. And here’s something else that’s rich: finding a world of offbeat, lit-smart flights of fancy, a world occupied by ipod cozies with gaping monster mouths, whales and snails who swallow business cards, and whatever else crosses the capacious imagination of the maker.

Don’t have time to appreciate the literary value of Tsurubride’s line? No need to fear the thought police. Just tuck your Silver Kitty Purse under your arm knowing that you’ve done something to further the cause of independent crafting. And by the way, a little birdie tells me Tsurubride will customize by animal or color for the right price, so don’t be afraid to let your own imagination run wild. While you’re at it, imagine this: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive one cute’n’compact Silver Whale Curiosity Card Holder free from Tsurubride. To qualify, visit www.tsurubride.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/25/08.

**We have a winner! Roberta who said, "I love the sad panda change purse - adorable!"**

A New Economy of Glamour

A Western folk tale speaks of two purses set before a shopper from the East: a sleek, oversized leather name-brand bag; and a small, modest hemp version hand-printed by an independent artisan. The first purse promises to inspire adulation and envy from others, and a heightened sense of position in society. “The catch,” the shopper is told, “is that it costs more than a small car, clashes with almost anything but expensive clothes, must be frequently pampered with oil and protected from scratches, and loses 50% of its value the moment is no longer brand new.” The story stops there. After all, some endings are obvious. We didn’t choose to feature Mingus Designs simply for the eco-friendly organic composition, adorably rustic-modern design, and obvious practicality of its purses and other products. We’ve turned our spotlight on this ahead-of-the-curve accessory artist for our own collective illumination.

Without a doubt, this is one designer tailor-made for a global economy that is gradually turning all of us into smarter, more intuitive and less superficial shoppers. And the kicker is, considering its uniqueness and considerable charm, a screen-printed Mingus purse will turn heads much the way a more expensive purse might without saddling its wearer with even of smidgeon of that pretentious show-off stigma. Should nature themes catch your fancy, the agrarian goodness of The Waves is a must. Animal lovers will clutch closely the Armadillo at Sea, Rabbit Pile or Hummingbird version. And for those who celebrate craftiness itself, images such as the Origami Plane are positively perfect. But generosity may well be the greatest virtue of all, and Mingus Designs proves to have this quality in abundance as well: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive an Elephant Origami organic purse in black, courtesy of the purse’s maker. To qualify, visit Mingus Designs, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Mention in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/4/08

**We have a winner! Ann who said, "My favorite product is the Hummingbird Organic Purse, really nice. Thanks for the great giveaway!"**