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Ask any bagista: What is the most practical handbag color? Nine times out of ten you will hear the answer: Black. Okay, so I probably just made that up. But it is true that many of you ladies out there see black as a very practical color. It is classic and it compliments just about anything (color-wise). It is no wonder so many bagistas choose black when seeking out a handbag wardrobe staple. Oddly enough, I don’t seem to follow this line of thinking myself when choosing a handbag. Black is fine, I suppose. But I think other colors are equally worthy of being called “practical”. Brown is very versatile, for example. Red is also a wonderful color that compliments many things. There is a new trend brewing though. Dark grey is becoming the new black. It is neutral, yet it is different enough to make everyone you pass walking down the street give your handbag a second glance! Below are some great examples of this new trend!
Did I mention spring has yet to arrive? Yep, I am sure I have mentioned it. The fact that it has been ridiculously cold outside lately seems to be all that is on my mind. So what do I do? I look at things that remind me of summer, of course! I came across a very interesting summery bag too. Meet the Kate Spade Call To Action Straw Tote!
What immediately grabbed my attention with this particular tote is the bright orange wording printed on the front. It says “That’s the Last Straw”, playing on the fact that the base of this tote features a lifelike straw print. It certainly is cute, but not something I would expect from Kate Spade. Normally, I would think of designers like Rebecca Minkoff or Anya Hindmarch when I think of accessories with catchy phrases printed on them. That is okay though because I think this was a nice surprise. Kate Spade needs to do something a little different every once in awhile.
Has anyone ever heard of Primary New York? I never have, but I stumbled upon the brand today and thought it was worth a closer look. They are pretty new to the handbag world. Designer Cleo Schroeder is the name behind the brand. She is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia and she began her career in costume design. In 2007, she decided to attend Parsons School of Design in New York. This is where she stayed and launched her first collection under the Primary name in 2011. It isn’t clear whether the first collection included handbags or if those were added later. What is clear is her love for simplicity and high contrast in her designs. That is what caught my eye when I saw the Primary New York Color Block Python Clutch!
I feel like I am going crazy. Well, just a little bit. I keep seeing transparent handbags popping up in random places. Forgive me if I am wrong here, but I thought transparent handbags were dead. I mean, they were never really that popular to begin with. They were a very brief trend, I guess you could say. So I don’t think anyone can really blame me for being surprised. The latest transparent handbag to cross my path is pictured here. Meet the Marc by Marc Jacobs Clearly Bag!
Rebecca Minkoff sure has a bad case of Spring Fever! That’s okay though, I have a really bad case as well. I don’t know what the weather is like where she is, but they are expecting a rain/snow mix this week where I live. Spring has been so SLOW to get here. So yes, I am itching like crazy right now! That’s why I am so happy to see all the Spring-y pieces Rebecca Minkoff has to offer this season.
My latest obsession is the Rebecca Minkoff Bright Crisscross Bonnie Satchel!
This lovely satchel is really eye catching! I love the woven leather exterior. It creates a nice seasonal look without the use of straw. In fact, the contrasting blue and white creates a geometric print that looks almost nautical in a way. And the brown leather trim adds the perfect accent to this piece. This satchel really looks like something that could stick with you all the way until Fall!
The casual feeling is perfect for those carefree days strolling around the boardwalk or even your local farmers market. However, it is big enough to hold a laptop too, so you could certainly take this satchel just about anywhere!
Finish the look:
Rebecca Minkoff Bright Crisscross Bonnie Satchel. $550
Club Monaco Lois Shirtdress. $198
Jenni Kayne D’Orsay Flats. $498
Net-A-Porter has added a new designer to their already awesome handbag section. Has anyone ever heard of Valextra? I certainly haven’t. But Net-A-Porter describes them as an Italian heritage brand that takes pride in their handmade luxury handbags. This is interesting to me because handbags that are handmade by artisans or craftsmen are harder and harder to come by. What I also find intriguing is the overall style of these handbags. The designs are very simple with clean lines and discrete labels. In my opinion, nothing is more sophisticated than an understated handbag. They act as a building block, rather than a centerpiece. This is important, especially if you’re looking for a wardrobe staple.
Has anyone ever heard of MOYNA New York? I stumbled across some pieces from this designer recently and… what can I say? My interest was definitely piqued by these delightful little pieces! In particular, I’m really liking the MOYNA Beaded Pouches you see pictured here. They are just so cute and they have captured my imagination. I decided I needed to know more about this designer. What I found out was somewhat surprising.
I have developed a fondness for Charlotte Olympia lately. Why? Well, that is a very good question. But it’s also a difficult one to answer. To be honest, I’m not really sure what the allure is. For some reason, I just feel drawn to these unusual pieces. Perhaps it’s simply because I like to see something new. Let’s face it, Charlotte Olympia’s designs are not something you see every day. Plus I’m excited because this latest season was inspired by the city of love — Paris! However, these pieces aren’t inspired by what I would call your typical Paris icons. Take a look at the Charlotte Olympia Perfume Perspex Clutch and you will see what I mean.
Well… I am certainly disappointed. The first day of spring has come and gone, yet here I am wondering when the heck spring is actually going to get here. And to think that silly groundhog said we would have only 4 more weeks of winter. Since then, I have counted 7 weeks. It has been cold and snowy almost that entire time. You lied to me Mr Groundhog! So in an effort to cheer myself up, I thought I would take a look at some warm weather handbags — particularly, straw totes! They are perfect for a sunny day at the beach or a casual trip to your local farmers market. Plus they tend to be more on the affordable side. So you won’t feel so bad at the end of the season if your tote was loved a little too much and is beginning to unravel. Personally, I would prefer that over an expensive white leather handbag because I would stress so much over keeping it clean! So if you are looking to lift your spirits and give yourself something to look forward to using this summer, then check out these lovely straw totes featured below. The selection is just starting to fill out so these are just some of my favorites so far!
The Work Bag:
The Beach Tote:
The Weekend Bag:
The Evening Clutch:
