Woven Leather WOW Factor.
I love the woven leather look of Bottega Veneta bags. Unfortunately, I also love paying my rent, having a car, eating food, and having health insurance. Okay, so maybe I don’t love it, but I do see the utility of paying my rent.
When I stumbled upon this bag:
Woven and Wonderful Purple Saddlebag
I was immediately reminded of the attention to detail that makes Bottega Veneta bags so desirable. This bag has quite a few Bottega Veneta-esque, characteristics: roomy size, equally contemporary and classic styling, and as Lulu’s refers to it, a certain WOW factor. All of that, and this bag is a mere 1/37th (!!!) the cost of the designer model.
Woven and Wonderful Purple Saddlebag at Lulu’s, $65.00.
One I Almost Don’t Want to Share.
You may recall the name Anya Hindmarch, creator of the “I’m not a plastic bag” bag. Turns out, in addition to earth friendly totes, the designer has a collection of bags in the $1000+ range. Unfortunately, not all of us have the luxury of being able to afford the next “it” bag. Thankfully, this fall Anya Hindmarch comes to Target with a beautiful collection of affordable handbags.
While I’d really like to buy each and every one, the bag that calls my name the loudest is this one:
I love the python trim! The zipper detail! This is the perfect career bag. Sophisticated and not too girly. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
I also adore this small shoulder bag:
The blue trim is unique, without being impractical. The size is perfect for a night out. A steal for under $30.00!
You can view the entire collection here. I suggest you order soon, as many of the bags already appear to be on backorder!
Anya Hindmarch Medium Python Satchel at Target, $44.99
Anya Hindmarch Small Shoulder Bag in Blue at Target, $29.99
Knock it off - you’ll be glad you did
Old Navy quilted faux leather satchel
Lusting after a really beautiful high-end handbag? But not willing to choose between paying the rent and stashing your stuff in style? I have a solution.
For fall 2008, big patent handbags are hip and cool, but the big price tag on some can be overwhelming. J. Crew has a beautiful patent leather hobo for $298.00 — OR you can grab the Old Navy knock off for $34.50.
Sure, it’s not real leather, and it’s probably not as meticulously crafted as the J. Crew version, but if you’re looking for this season’s It Bag, this isn’t a bad way to get it.
Old Navy quilted faux leather satchel, $34.50. Available in five colors. Big enough to haul all your stuff; affordable to allow you to buy more stuff. Perfect.
Brown bag #3
Chinese Laundry shoulder bag
Katie, here’s option number three in the Big Brown Bag category: a slightly slouchy, slightly structured shoulder bag from Chinese Laundry. This bag is smaller than the others we’ve looked at this week, but still roomy enough to function as an everyday bag; it has simple but interesting hardware and just enough detail to make it more than a mere tote bag.
This bag is made of synthetic leather, which means that it will easily wipe clean and not require fancy maintenance; it also has the little feet on the bottom, which will help it last longer and give it some structure. As with the other bags, this one is sophisticated enough to carry with a dress and casual enough to pair with jeans and a tee.
Chinese Laundry shoulder bag, $80.00 at Piperlime. Also availalbe in teal and pewter (the pewter is absolutely lovely).
That was fun! Thanks for your question, Katie! Anyone else need help finding something?
The big brown bag - Option #2
Melie Bianco ruched tote
Katie is still looking for a bag! A big brown one! So here’s her second option: the ruched tote from Miele Bianco. This bag is a nice combination of simple shape (it’s essentially a square tote) with cool detailing (the ruching and the silver hardware). It’s also a basic brown, but with a twist: this bag is patent, not matte leather, so it has a cool shine.
One caveat about this bag, though: this may not be the best choice for a very petite woman; the ruching makes it a fairly substantial tote, and it could easily overwhelm a very small frame. But for anyone NOT wearing a P size, this is a terrific go-to bag.
Miele Bianco ruched patent tote, $79.00 at Piperlime. (And a reminder: Piperlime ALWAYS offers free shipping — you can even toss something from The Gap Inc’s other stores into your shopping bag with your Piperlime purchase and keep the free shipping, on everything! Sweet.)
The big brown bag
Big Buddha Uptown Bag
Katie is on a quest: “I’m actually looking for a new fall bag and am hoping you can help. I’m looking for a medium sized bag, in chocolate brown and leather would be nice, but not necessary. I really like satchels but am open to other styles as well. Oh, and under $150 would be great!”
I love bags; I would rather buy a new bag than perhaps any other wardrobe item. A bag can change your whole look, as well as changing your approach to work or play or just storage. Bags are the BEST.
A great neutral bag is a staple; look for one that is interesting enough to be a stand-out accessory but classic enough to go with everything. And make sure that you choose a bag that will hold all your stuff without straining or drooping.
Here’s the first of three bags I’ve found for Katie; the Uptown Bag by Big Buddha. Made of synthetic leather, this satchel is both slouchy and structured, perfect for work or weekend. It is also roomy enough to carry all that stuff that girls need, which is a plus.
Big Buddha Uptown Bag, available at Piperlime for $85.00.
Big Buddha Ashlee tote: Fresh look for fall
I love back to school shopping — not for my kids, they’re a big pain to shop for, but for ME, because back-to-school means a new bag! And maybe some shoes, but we’ll talk about that another day.
I love this bag from Big Buddha because it’s such a great shape — the wide bottom and tailored top make for a practical tote that is both big enough to hold all your stuff and streamlined enough to be chic. And the navy patent leather is perfect for fall — less harsh than black, but equally neutral and simple.
Big Buddha Ashlee tote, $80.00 at Piperlime (where shipping is always free!).
Lands’ End Crossgrain Canvas Tote is the ultimate beach bag
One of the best parts of summer is spending an entire day at the beach or the pool. It’s the perfect getaway, because you are compelled to unplug and relax. But while a day on the water means leaving it all behind, you still need to haul a LOT of stuff with you, particularly if you have kids.
That’s where Lands’ End comes in.
The Lands’ End Crossgrain Canvas Tote is perhaps the ideal beach bag. It’s huge, for starters, big enough for four towels, six pairs of goggles, two snorkels, and enough diving toys for an army of kids, among other things. It has great pockets — three small ones inside that are just the right size for sunscreen and tissues and your wallet, and one on the outside that will keep your cell phone away from the wet stuff. The inside also has one long side pocket with a strap, for things you want to keep separate from the rest of the jumble, like your magazine or book. And it has the all-important key hook, because who wants to dig through a bag this size looking for the car keys at the end of the day?
Not me, I’ll tell you what.
The Crossgrain Tote is made of sturdy canvas that stands up on its own and dries easily. It comes in four gender-neutral color combinations, which means that your husband won’t have any excuse not to take it — and the kids — to the pool on his own. And the straps are the perfect length for hand or shoulder toting.
The Crossgrain Tote retails for $39.50 and can be monogrammed for an extra $5.00.
EnviroSax helps you get green
I love bags, of all sorts; a great bag is the perfect marriage of form and function. And EnviroSax totes take this up a notch, with reusable totes that you can fold up and keep in your big bag, for those toting emergencies.
EnviroSax are made from renewable and sustainable materials, and they come in bright colors and cool prints. Each sack folds into a wee roll that can live in the bottom of your regular bag, for grocery runs or kid clothing emergencies; they are also available in sets of five, for easy storage.
Currently, EnviroSax has teamed with the American Cancer Society to create a limited edition pink tote that will benefit breast cancer research. To order, visit The Hope Shop; bag retails for $10.00.
Pictured: Flora sack, $8.50.
Nine West puts a little Sex (that’s SATC) in your bag
I loved Sex and the City, not only because the story lines were smart and well paced, but because the fantasy of actually wearing fabulous designer pieces to sit in front of a laptop all day is so delicious. I like to imagine myself as a kind of Midwestern mom version of Carrie Bradshaw, although the similarity pretty much ends with the fact that we’re both writers and we both own Mac laptops.
While I’m not one for gigantic teetery heels, I do love a good handbag; the right bag can change your entire look, and make even the most casual Saturday soccer mom outfit look a little more sexy. This bag, from Endless.com’s SATC-inspired selection, is versatile and sexy all at once. It is also affordable and — dare I say it? — fairly practical.
I know, that goes against the whole Carrie Bradshaw ethos. But I still love the bag.
Nine West Bow Dacious medium satchel, $99.00 at Endless.com. Available in black, dark pewter, and dark natural (shown).