beauty

UPDATED: A big thank you from Belle Bijoux

online for you to purchase.

Ho Ho Ho Hold on, Jingle Belles! I can hear Santa’s sleigh bells ringing.  It’s a bag, a FREE  bag, it could be yours when you LIKE Belle Bijoux’s Facebook Fan Page. So like it NOW .

Okay people you have to be fast….very fast.  You have limited time to get onto the party list. You see, last week on Mamamia saw unprecedented bag frenzy.  The response to Belle Bijoux’s bags was astounding.  So astounding in fact that Belle has fallen for the Mamamia readers much the same way that we fell for her and now she wants to meet you.  So she is having a party.  In fact she is having 4 parties – one in Sydney, one in Melbourne, one in Perth and one in Brisbane.  And you can get to go.

Meet Belle herself, preview Belle Bijoux’s new collection and be the first in your city to buy your very own Belle Bijoux Limited edition CARMEN products. Remember because this is a limited edition collection you could miss out online (this collection is sure to sell out fast). Oh and you have to be at the party to feel the product – feel it and buy it. Because seriously after you have felt it you will want to buy it.

Just click here for details and you could be sipping champagne with your friends, meeting Belle and other  Mamamia readers and feeling and buying the softest leather in town. (Note the softest leather is found on the bags, not on the other Mamamia readers!)

Want to go? Bet you do!  Click here for details.

And as you prepare to party here, for your reading pleasure are the 5 winnning comments from last week’s competition.

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Ellie  – The Giselle Bag in Watermelon! (I’m frothing over the colour)

 

I’d love it because Oscar has recently passed away … my beautiful (god damn expensive) deep brown leather hand bag of nearly 5 years has served exclusively as bag, lover and friend. Everyone knew to ask for another chair at the table so he wouldn’t have to go on the ground and many nights I’d hold him close to keep me warm on the cold walk home. A lovely, faithful bag so adored his lining ripped, handles stretched thin and no leather polish would make him shine any more. He’s been retired and now I am left with literally no handbag at all because in our honeymoon period I threw away any other bag I had because they were all so ugly in comparison. Love makes you do crazy things. But now it’s time to move on. I’d fill her with flat shoes for after a long day, tissues for unexpected crying and my various contraptions and devices for primping and preening.

Giselle may be my next great love…


Ginni  – “The day started like any other. Carmen Miranda stretched luxuriously in her banana and pineapple silk printed flowing neglige and rang her bell for Alberto, her trusty man servant and pool cleaner.

In a few quick moments, Alberto appeared in his gold lame and diamonde studded loin cloth, setting off nicely his rippling 6 pack coated with coconut oil.“Darling Alberto, can you help me get dressed into my red and yellow samba outfit, and I think today I’ll wear my goregous and very large fruit hat. You know the one darling, the one in the wardrobe with oranges, lemons and many cocktail umbrella’s” said Carmen as she sleepily shook her morning maraca’s.

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Congrats Ginni – You’ve won the ETTA bag in Carmen

Alberto did as was requested being mindful not to get coconut oil anywhere near today’s colourful and fruity outfit. Alberto also set down for Miranda her mail on a silver tray, including many letters from prosperous gentlemen asking for her hand in marriage. Though the letter that immediately caught her eye was from her dear twin sister in far away Sydney, Australia, Ginni. Who also shared her love of samba, tropical fruit and obedient, coconut oiled, pool boys.Upon opening the blackberry scented letter, Carmen clapped her hands with glee. “Oh Ginni is coming for a visit and she’ll be here tomorrow! How simply marvelous, we must make preparations for her arrival! Alberto lay out a 2nd outfit for Ginni.Of course, she will wear my very special bikini made out of coconuts, banana’s and tropical mango’s. The bikini with the cheeky thong, of course.”“And what special handbag would go with such an eye catching outfit, Miss Miranda?” questioned Alberto as his hard chest and buttocks glistened in the morning sun.“Why, that is easy”. Carmen quickly responded. “There is only one bag that represents the exuberant spirit of the samba, that shouts hazy summer days and big banana head gear! It’s my gorgeous Etta Bag in Carmen Mix, why it is the only bag worthy for my dear sister. Quick Alberto, get me that bag, after all it is my favourite.”Lovingly caressing the Etta Bag that Alberto quickly brought for his beloved Mistress, Carmen whispered in a soft, dreamy voice “Ginni will love this bag. She will fill it with her maraca’s, extra banana’s, watermelon coloured samba hotpants and of course her tutti frutti platform sandals. Alberto, this bag transforms any everyday woman into a sassy diva with the ability to break into a tango with a nearby oiled pool boy, at any moment. And isn’t that what every woman dreams of? Isn’t that what we all aspire to?”Alberto took the hint and immediately grasped Carmens hand and started the morning, pre breakfast tango, with the Etta Bag taking pride of place in the tropical coloured boudoir.

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And somewhere far away Ginni with her 2 year old daughter and 6 month old son, dreamt of summer samba, buff Brazilian pool boys and a Etta Bag in Carmen Mix.”

Isabel I love love love the Iris Bag in banana! How have I never heard of this brand before, they’re all gorgeous! I am just starting to feel like myself again after having my first baby and suffering from post natal depression. Spring is here now though, and I get to see my beautiful daughter’s sunny smile every morning, and I feel excited to face the day again. This bag just screams sunshine, warmth and light to me. I would put some snacks in it, and some baby toys, and head off to the park for a picnic.

 

Congrats Michelle, you’ve won the Bridgette ba

Michelle – I know I enter a million times from Martin Luther King speeches to seek advertisements, but everyday when I wake up I cannot help but check Mamamia to see who has won. I know my answers may appear to be try hard, but there is nothing else that I want more than the Bridgette Bag, not even the lottery! (luckily I have a bit more of a chance the males are not really flocking to attempt to win the bag!) But this is THE limited edition bag and it is perfect. I cannot find any flaws and I cannot help but stare at it each day and each night. I know that only will that bag be filled with my wallet, novel, maybe my friends bag because she cannot be bothered carrying her tiny clutch but it will be filled with love, and happiness as well pride because it truly is a fine specimen and appears to be made of the best quality. Thanks for dealing with my 101 entries!

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Congrats Rainbow – you have won the Fernanda in Carmen Mix

Rainbow Well if I thought it was hard yesterday, today was even harder. It is fair to say the level of entries has been amazing. I really had to think long and hard to come up with something other than ‘PLEASE’ typed one thousand times.

Then I thought about your inspiration for the collection, Carmen Miranda, someone up until this week I knew very little about. I did some reading and research about her. Incredibly I came to the most amazing revelation, I have realised that at a stretch we could, maybe, possibly could be considered soul sisters, of sorts. Yes there are a few characteristics we share:

She was a second daughter, I too am a second daughter (don’t worry it gets better).
Her father was a barber, believe it or not my grandfather was a barber.
She had love of singing and dancing from an early age, would you believe, so did I.
She learnt to make hats, well I too have made and decorated hats (albeit very basic ones, and none involving balancing a bowl of fruit on top).
By 1946 she was Hollywoods highest-paid entertainer. I have, at times been my family’s highest paid earner, so I sort of know what that feels like.
Carmen went to work in a tie shop at age 14 to help pay her sister’s medical bills. Amazingly i actually did work at a PIE shop around the age of 14, I believe some of this money may have contributed to a veterinary bill in my childhood forever known as the “Coco incident”. I won’t go into details lets just say it involved a rather unfortunate accident with a guinea pig.
Carmen was at times a heavy drinker, I have had a few nights in my life that have involved heavy drinking.
A suburb in Sydney, Australia called “Miranda” has a night club called “Carmens” thus being Carmens (in) Miranda. I don’t have a suburb or a club named after me, although coincidentally, I have shared a name with female hygiene products
And last but by no means least, a hot air balloon was conceived in Carmen’s likeness. I have been told, many times times, I am full of hot air.

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So while there are a few similarities there, i didn’t think that would necessarily push me into winning place. so i consulted the font of all knowledge in my house. My five year old daughter. I showed her the bags and asked her which one she liked. after a brief moment of considering the Jacinta bag in gold she chose the Fernanda in the Carmen Mix, asIi knew she would. I said to her “mini rainbow why do you think I deserve to win this beautiful bag?” to which she replied “If you win it can I have it?”, to which I replied “Yes. But maybe not straight away.” so she said the reason i deserve to win the bag is because “You are the lovliest Mummy in the world.”

I also consulted her as to what i should carry it, her answer was “Just all your jewellery”. If only.

So there you go. my final entry. Getting out of bed has been so easy this week, it’s amazing what checking the computer the moment you get up to see if you have won a glorious bag has done for me!

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For your persistence Kimbo you  win a Banana Estelle Wallet and Ellana – you win a Sandie Bag.  And for the outstanding male contribution – Greg you win the Beau Bag in Chocolate!!

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Welcome to a sponsored post about designer bags brought to you by Belle Bijoux. But wait! This is not just a sponsored post – it’s also your chance to win one of 5 stunning Belle Bijoux leather handbags during Belle Bijoux week on Mamamia. And you can enter AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE !

MM Site Manager Lana writes:

Unless you live in WA, you may not have heard of Belle Bijoux. To be honest, we weren’t familiar with the name when Belle first came into MM HQ to show us her latest collection. Our bad. Because these babies are THE BOMB.

Seriously. Work around here ceased for an hour in the presence of Belle and her bags. You try doing your job when there’s an elegant mountain of luxurious leather in popping colours and rocking shapes. Im-possible. Much touching, ooohing and ahhhhing ensued.

The first thing we collectively wanted to know was this: who are you Belle Bijoux and WHY didn’t we know all about you before we began putting our hands all over your special wares?

Belle the woman (and new red-head) is the mother of two daughters (aged 2 and 11) and the designer of an amazing collection of high end quality handbags. She founded her Belle Bijoux label in Perth in 1999 and since then, she’s seen the luxury brand expand both nationally and internationally. Belle Bijoux bags have graced the shoulders of Katy Steele, Jessica Simpson, Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Hawkins, Megan Gale, Kate Ceberano, and Sophie and Gemma Ward. And that’s just the celebs she knows about.

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It’s really hard to describe in print how a handbag feels. But here’s a few adjectives that go some of the way: soft-as-butter, luxurious, quality, extraordinary craftsmanship, strong colours, roomy, touchable….gimme…..

If you click on the image gallery below you will see the new season of Belle’s stunning bags.  And this is the best part: YOU get the chance to win a bag.  EVERY SINGLE DAY THIS WEEK.

All you have to do is look through the gallery of images and decide which bag you would most love.  Then in comments tell us about the bag you love and what you’d put in it.  Every day this week, Belle will choose a winner from the comments received. So check back to see if she’s picked YOU.  And remember that you can enter as many times as you like.  Please don’t forget to submit your email address in the comments form so that we can contact you when you win!!

You can also download a pdf of the lookbook here.

Now get clicking and tell us which bag you love and what you’d put in it.  Don’t forget to check out Belle’s site at http://www.bellebijouxaustralia.com

Full competition details here – for more information on sponsored posts please click here