No, not the song. Lil’ Wayne went out with white capris and bikinis at the end of the summer. And I think the candy’s just tacky. I’m talking about the new hottest bag on the market, the latest release from designer Evelina Zdunczyk’s Vegan Queen line – the lollipop.




The strap comes off so you can use it as a clutch, although I love nighttime purses I can wear crisscross across my body so I don’t have to worry about ever putting my bag down (risking it subsequently getting lost / diapering into a vortex of heaped up coats). The coolest part, aside from the variation of ways to wear it (double up the strap and you can use it as a shoulder bag too) is the lollipop’s very secret hidden pocket which can be used to store, well, whatever your vice is. It’s also a great place to tuck away your keys or an extra roll of cash – not to mention an aspirin or two, or any um, personal items. This feature is what makes the lolli the ultimate going out purse. Apparently, men have taken an acute interest in the sexy bag too, admiring it to the extent that Evelina’s thinking about making them for guys too!

I’ve written about Evelina before, mainly because I so admire her effort to fuse ecological values and high fashion. She calls it ‘eco-luxury.’ I think when most of us hear the word ‘vegan’ we start thinking about oatmeal, grunge, knitted caps and dreadlocks. That’s all well and good, but Evelina’s decided the principles behind vegan philosophy shouldn’t exist is such a limited sphere. With her slogan ‘The Queen Goes Green,’ Evelina has proven that fashion conscious women interested in luxury can embrace veganism too.

Vegan Queen’s handbags are eco-friendly, recyclable, non-toxic, organic, sustainable, cruelty-free and made in the USA. A goal of Evelina’s has been to introduce a Queen Goes Green tote bag at a lower price point. She’s accomplished this and the canvas tote has now become a social statement for a sustainable future. It’s carried by celebrities from Madonna to SNL actress Kristin Wiig.

I just got one along with a Vegan Queen t-shirt, which is made out of the kind of cotton you want to make babies with. As the gift-giving season approaches, join the mission for a sustainable future by tossing flashy labels like Gucci and Marc Jacobs out the window and start helping friends showcase their values through their handbags.