Celebrating My Life in Color with Teddy Blake
The end of the year has a unique tendency to make me feel a bit more reflective and introspective. Particularly so this year since 2023 marks my final year as a 40-something. While I won’t officially reach that semicentennial milestone until May 30, 2024, I do plan to celebrate my golden birthday all year long. Because surviving half of century in this crazy world is something worthy of celebration. It’s kind of a big deal, y’all.
I don’t know exactly how I am going to celebrate next year but I am starting right now with a mission of being unapologetically colorful, vibrant, and visible. And this stunning purple bag from Teddy Blake is just the thing to get my kaleidoscope turning.
Teddy Blake is an affordable luxury leather handbag brand that uses the finest Italian leathers and high end hardware to create a line of quality handbags that are elegant and durable and meant to last a lifetime. They are based in New York but their handbags are crafted by skilled artisans in Italy and sold exclusively online in order to keep the cost affordable. The attention to detail and exceptional craftsmanship is evident in every aspect of Teddy Blake bags from the precise stitching to the quality hardware and luxurious leather.
I received my first Teddy Blake bag about a year and a half ago and it has become my daily go-to bag. It has held a lot of stuff and has been subjected to some abuse in its time with me but little Miss Vanessa Palmelatto is still going strong no matter how much she gets banged around. Sort of like me! As much as I adore the gorgeous dark green shade of my Vanessa Palmelatto, I definitely wanted a brighter, bolder, more noticeable color for my second Teddy Blake.
So I chose the dazzling Gigi Stampato Gold in Purple. Isn’t she just stunning?
When I opened the box containing my new Teddy Blake bag, the aromatic scent of quality leather was the very first thing that caught my attention. Gosh, I could breathe in that smell forever. As I slid her from her dust bag, I noticed that the soft pebbled calf skin leather is super supple compared to the semi-rigid textured leather of my Vanessa Palmelatto.
I am absolutely in love with this shade of purple, too. When I was deciding what to wear to showcase Miss Gigi for the first time, my sartorial muses led me this bright yellow duster. It is a summer wardrobe piece so I had to get creative to work it into a winter outfit. I layered it over black tights and a black turtleneck long sleeved knit dress. So cozy.
My Kantha Bae coat is such a wonderful way to add all the colors to every outfit and because it has so many different patterns and hues it basically goes with everything in my eccentric wardrobe.
I really wanted to wear my purple velvet boots with this outfit but they are completely impractical and a little bit unsafe in the snow. So I put them on, snapped some photos, and took them back off again in exchange for my tall black boots with the hardy nonslip lug sole.
There was something magical about this purple and yellow concoction because I felt pretty darn fabulous wearing it. Maybe the magic is in the bag!
Since we are right in the midst of the holiday season magic, you know I have to recommend these magical handbags as a gift idea for any bag lovers in your life. I love both of my bags so much and very rarely carry any other bag anymore. Teddy Blake is kicking off their big Christmas sale on Friday, December 8, 2023, with discounts of up to 70% off traditional retail prices for luxury leather handbags. So start shopping now because they do sell out of some styles and colors quickly.
My Vanessa Palmelatto is 14″ which is perfect to hold my laptop and all of my daily essentials. It has two large interior sections separated by a large zipper pocket in the middle and is available in ten gorgeously rich colors. My Gigi Stampato is 13″ with one large interior pocket that has a top flap closure. Its semi structured silhouette and soft pebbled leather give it a bit of bohemian vibe that suits my aesthetic very well. She is available in sixteen exquisite colors.
I did receive this bag in exchange for my honest review and since I am about as honest as they come, I’m hoping you can take my word for it. But if you need more words to convince you, I have a lot of brilliant blogging friends who also have wonderful things to share about their Teddy Blake experiences.
Check out the links below. These are all reviews of Teddy Blake bags by my friends. And yes, I have known each and every one of these women on some personal level for years. They are women whom I trust and respect. And they all have fabulous style, too!
- Laura of I Do deClaire
- Emma of Style Splash
- Jacqui of Mummabstylish
- Jill of Doused in Pink
- Kellyann of This Blonde’s Shopping Bag
- Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
- Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish
- Gail of Is This Mutton?
- Lizzie of Lizzie in Lace
- Suzy of The Grey Brunette
- Carrie of Curly Crafty Mom
If you aren’t convinced yet about the magic of Teddy Blake, then I give up. I am off to enjoy my colorful life! Happy Holidays!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Bag-c/o Teddy Blake / Coat-Kantha Bae / Duster-Torrid / Dress and Gloves-Target / Tights-Sheertex / Black Boots-Steve Madden / Purple Boots-Shoe Dazzle / Necklace-Rainbow Zen / Hat-Wona Trading / Earrings and Scarf-Old
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
20 Comments
Anne M Bray
Ooooh! Especially like the purple and yellow pix!
xo
A
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Anne! Jeff said I looked like a Lakers fan. But I am really digging purple and yellow together right now so I’m gonna wear it despite not actually being a Lakers fan. Hahaha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
They come in fabulous colours!
I love mine too, such good quality. Is it already that white with you? Gosh, horrible. Lol. What a good way to look at your coming age like that!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! They do have some gorgeous colors available. It was really hard to pick just one! It actually isn’t that snowy here. We got a little bit the day before we took these photos and it was all melted away by rain the following day. Now it’s just wet and muddy here!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking very nice and your bag matches your outfit.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! Happy holidays!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Wow!!! I love this outfit so much, Shelbee! I think purple and yellow just go together so wonderfully…well, they would as they’re complimentary colors. But, you always take the look to the next level, and that Kantha Bae coat is perfection!! Your Teddy Blake bag is the cherry on top of the sundae! Love the details and the honest review, too!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Marsha! This color combination is making me really happy right now! Especially since the dreary grayness of winter is setting in. Do you have a Teddy Blake bag? I wanted to link your post here as well but I couldn’t remember if you had one of these bags and I couldn’t quickly find a post on your blog. But if you do, please let me know so I can add it in!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I love this outfit! Yellow and purple is a favorite color combination of mine. And I’m totally envious of your purple Teddy Blake purse. Wonderful!
Michelle
https://michellesuzanneartworks.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Michelle! I am only now just discovering how wonderful purple and yellow are together! I don’t wear yellow often but I have been very drawn to it lately, adding some gorgeous yellow pieces to my wardrobe. This purple bag was actually my third choice. The first two were teal and green but they were sold out. I am actually really glad they were because I am loving the purple!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Teal & green are both favorites of mine as well. They would have been pretty too. I’ve been adding yellow to my closet as well. And some mango / coral. The latter is harder to find though.
xoxo
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh, the teal one was absolutely stunning! I am not surprised it sold out. I am still adding yellows to my closet, too. And I am shocked to find that I am drawn more to teal than green these days. I think it is the first time in my life that green has fallen from my number one spot! Ha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer Wise
What a fun outfit and bag! Visiting from Gma’s Photo Generic Linkup #11.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so, much, Jennifer! Happy Holidays!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
We have the same bag! I love the purple and yellow together, it’s such a vibrant combination. Thank you for including me in the list of reviews!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! I giggled when I saw that you had chosen the same bag! The color is so gorgeous, isn’t it? I do find the opening/closing bit somewhat tedious but otherwise I love it and I feel so visible and cheerful when I carry it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
Stunning bags aren’t they Shelbee, the choice of colours are amazing! I’m super impressed with my latest and it’s just as delicious as yours. Xx Jacqui xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
They really are, Jacqui! Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your gorgeous bag as much as I am enjoying mine! Happy holidays to you and your family.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jessica A Jannenga
Hi Shelbee!
I hope to get back to catching up a bit over the Holidays. Busy, busy, with health and other things. I love the bag you chose!! I have this one in olive, and love that you picked purple, it will go with alot in your closet and the mix of yellow and purple is fabulous! Isn’t that bag so roomy, and I do love the smell of leather 🙂
thanks for linkining up and wishing you a BLessed Holiday!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jess! I have been knocked down with Covid these past few weeks so I have been lagging as well. I hope everything is looking up for you! I am starting to plan my annual trip to North Carolina in February. I will let you know details when I have them! Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season.
xoxo
Shelbee