Robert Verdi's Twitter Party and Valentine's Day Tips: PAMELA PEKERMAN

Dear Bagistas,

I finally started going out to work functions, and what better way to reenter than attending a twitter party hosted by Robert Verdi? I have Robert Verdi career admiration, so these events are a real treat. Since 2004 or so, I’ve watched him on TV and had the chance to interview him three times during past New York fashion weeks. To be able to attend his parties – at his stylish NYC pad – is a bag-a-licious perk.

So what are these “Tweet This” parties? Well, it’s an ingenious business concept created by the Robert Verdi team where about two dozen influential tweeters come to his Lux Laboratory (the first floor event space above which is Robert’s personal penthouse) and hear about his favorite things for the holidays, valentines day, fashion week survival and more. As a guest, your job is to twitter throughout the event about the tips and products presented, and hash tag each tweet with #rvtips. The added bonus – on top of being there and having amazing access to my career ideal! – is that every item Robert mentions is gifted to the guests. I was in total shock the first time and felt like a guest at Oprah’s Favorite Things show, except this was the ear-to-ear smile, sunglasses wearing, best-bald-head ever Robert Verdi show (shameless plug here for Robert’s actual The Robert Verdi Show which premieres February 10 at 10pm on Logo - tune in every Wednesday for lots of laughs and fashion fun).

OK, so enough about me, here are three of the best v-day gifts as presented by Robert on January 19 at the last Tweet This party:

RJ Graziano Lucite Bubble Necklace – I’ve already worn mine and had a modern, Betty Rubble moment. I found one one eBay for $79, but it retails for $44. Unfortunalty, it sold out on most online department store sites.
DVF sunglasses – this is where I lost it because all things DVF are divine! This woman, mom, mogul and fashion icon is such an inspiration to me. I’d buy anything from her.
Cole Haan Voyage Jewelry Case – a must for any gal that likes to travel with a lot of jewelry (on sale now for $78)

The next Robert Verdi "Tweet This" party is February 12th. Don't forget to follow my tweets throughout the night - www.twitter.com/pamelapekerman.

If you have a fashion or design question for Robert leave a comment here or tweet it to me. Have a room you want him to review just link to a picture. I'll be sure to share as many of them as I can!

Have abag-a-licious day!
Pamela Pekerman
handbags, bags, Bag Guru, Handbag Guru, Bag Expert, Handbag Expert, Accessories Expert, Bag Trends, BagTrends, My Bag-a-licious Life, bag-a-licious, accessories, fashion, handbag trends, handbags , bags , purse trends , bagistas , bagista , Pam Pekerman , Pamela Pekerman , Robert Verdi, Robert Verdi Show, Robert Verdi twitter, Robert Verdi Twitter Party, Robert Verdi, swag, Cole Haan, Cole Haan Voyage Jewelry Case , Cole Haan Jewelry Case , DVF , DVF sunglasses , designer sunglasses , Diane von Furstenberg sunglasses , Diane von Furstenberg, RJ Graziano, RJ Graziano necklace, RJ Graziano bubble necklace, RJ Graziano Lucite bubble necklace, Lucite necklace, Lux Laboratory, Robert Verdi Lux Laboratory
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Jetting to Miami, Talking TJMaxx Fashion, Viewing LaLucca Bags, Drinking with Adriana Castro: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

I’m living the jet set lifestyle, well, sort of. At 8am the hubby dropped me off at the airport where I left my fabulous fur behind and slipped into a neon yellow, open cardigan from Express. Three hours later I’m in muy caliente Miami! By 3pm I’ve purchased new flipflips (this was a serious BudgetFashionista-style mission, documented on twitter) and had lunch just in time to meet with the wife-hubby team of Luara and Alex of LaLucca handbags. I was really excited when they gifted me a one-of-a-kind clutch! LaLucca is truly a marriage of art and fashion and very Miami. Each bag really has a soul and a story to tell. (More of LaLucca coming up on BagTrends.com probably in two weeks or so.) By 5pm I was at TJMaxx picking out a few more bags for tomorrow’s NBC6 segment on holiday clutches and snagging a two fashion pieces for myself – I can’t help it. By 9pm, after several hours of working from my hotel room and having dinner, it was off to have drinks with Adrian Castro and her husband, Luis, at Sushi Samba. Talking about exotic skin handbags, plans for a double date in New York, and new Adriana Castro ventures for 2010 isn’t a bad way to cap the evening. Oh, of course, I didn’t forget to light my traveling menorah! At left, see my day in pictures.

It’s an early call time (8am) tomorrow for my NBC6 segment, which should air on December 16th in Miami. I hope you like all the affordable holiday clutch options up to 60% off department store prices. You'll recognize plenty of designer goodies.

Until tomorrow, as they say in Spanish ...

Tenda un dia bag-a-licous!
Pamela Pekerman

Better TV, Radley and Matt Bernson Spring 2010 Previews and My Royally Fab Cettu Tote: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

Yesterday was crazy. At 10:30am I shot a segment for BETTER TV (which airs next week). Then it was off to work from Cosi (my faux office in the city) on 2010 BagTrends calendar of events and other loose ends. 2:30pm I went to preview Radley London's Spring/Summer 2010 collection - super cute, review posting here on BagTrends.com in a week. I picked up the most adorable umbrella - best swag of the week!! Then is was back to Cosi for some more work and then downtown to preview Matt Bernson's latest shoes. The evening capped off with dinner with my pr friend Malorie of CameoPR and then we popped into the Atelier Minyon jewelry shop to drool over baubles. A special thank you to Nichelle of StyleMom.com for inviting me to the presentation. I'll post a few images later on this week.

I can't, of course, let this verbal diarrhea post go without mentioning the bag I wore yesterday. My new CETTU tote, pictured below, got nine compliments throughout the day. It's really a stunning piece and for $400 a fabulous investment. (You can get yours for 25% off December 15th at the BagTrends Party for CETTU Handbags). This tote does come in chocolate, but i just love purple. It is of course the color once reserved for the royals, and aren't we all the princesses in our lives?

Have a bag-a-licious day!

Pamela Pekerman

Burju Shoe Launch, Carson Kressley's Spring Picks from NY and Company: BAGTRENDS

Dear Bagistas,

I call this blog "My Bag-a-licious Life", but rarely do I share with you how lucky and bag-a-licious life really is. So, I'm going to try and make a point to share more scoop not just about great bags, but the parties/previews/swag/and celeb shenanigans I encounter. I may also protest from time to time about the realities of not living in the city - ya sorry to burst that bubble in case you thought I lived in Manhattan. I'm a white picket fence kid of gal with dreams of having a bun in the oven soon. Any who, Tuesday was chock full of night-time events and I've made it a point to start going more often - at least 3 nights a month no matter how much is going in!

First up on Tuesday was a 4pm Dooney & Burke fall 2009 preview that I skipped because I got pulled into a conference call. Once in my car, I was off to a 5:30pm Accessories Council event which I too had to skip because I got a call at 5:15pm that I had to take. So, there I was a few block away from the venue, sitting in my car working.

By 5:50pm I was done with my calls, missed another event and had to jet to the Burju Shoe Launch at Nest Lounge. The event was orchestrated by my new friend (who followed me on twitter and spotted me during a fashion week party!) Alyson Campbell of AMP3 Public Relations. These sizzling heals are the brain child of professional salsa dancer, Burju Perez, - that's her in the sassy fuchsia pink dress. I'm a big lover of anything Latin so the Salsa music, the bold colors of the shoes, the life, the energy of the fashion shoes, the curvy models ... it was great. Many of the guests were placing orders - who wouldn't with a 20% discount and the ability to customize styles. If you see a Burju shoe you like the height of the heel can be customized from 1 ¾” to 3 ¾”. For more on this line check out http://www.burjushoes.com/. After mingling with LookOnline.com's Adrienne Weinfeld-Berg, SheFinds.com's CEO Michelle Madhock, HerPResign's Michelle Slaughter (who recognized me from twitter), and PR guy Jeremy Logan-Cavendish I was off again.

By 7pm Jeremy and I were in my car heading to the Rivington Hotel for New York & Company’s Spring Event hosted by Carson Kressley. Carson, who was his usual witty and warm self, shared his spring picks. Being the smart man that he is, Carson told me that accessories are the place to spend one's money because it’s the easiest and cheapest way to continuously update your look. We might be in a depression, but you don’t have to look depressed bagistas. “Add bold colors in a bag or a bangle,” he told me when we bonded over fashion and our upcoming projects - his expanding QVC line PERFECT by Carson Kressley and my upcoming HSN appearances. Upon departing, I was gifted a sweat amount of swag that included: a straw beach tote, blue tie-die scarf (which I plan to use as a sarong and/or a halter top on my honeymoon), a cream cardigan, a summer makeup kit and two sets of Indian-inspired bangles.

At 8:30 I was in my car with my fiance heading home, having opted out of another event that started at 8pm. This Brooklyn gal turns into a pumpkin at 9pm.

Tonight I'm going out again. Ya twice in one week ... just as soon as I post this, finish a story for BagTrend, follow up on next week's HSN show, send some thank you notes, oh and get on a bus for 90minutes :).

Have a bag-a-licious day!

Pamela Pekerman