Custom Design

Have you ever seen a bag in person, talked yourself out of buying it and then obsessed over it for months on end afterward, at which point it has become sold out and you can no longer get it? That’s the tragic story of me and the Celine Boston Tote.

I thought I had successfully put the bag out of my mind, but after seeing Leighton Meester carry hers two weeks ago and Tommy Ton’s great photos of Celine bags on Jak & Jil Blog (from whence the above picture came), my obsession is back to full power and it shows no signs of abating.

The bag is just…perfect. Oversized and attention-getting without being overworked or over-designed, classic but modern, graphic in its details but simple in shape. I’ve yet to see a color combination that I wouldn’t be proud to add to my closet, but the bicolor blue version in this photo has my heart the most. I don’t even like blue bags. How did Phoebe Philo manage to make me like blue?

My love for this bag defies both logic and budget, but the more I look at women carrying the Celine Boston Tote, the more I want to join their ranks. Depending on color combinations, the bag ranges from around $1800-$2500, and it’s sold out virtually everywhere. For more lovely pictures of women who are lucky enough to already have one, visit Jak & Jill Blog.

Original post by Amanda Mull

In our never-ending periodic quest to find stylish options at a variety of price points, today we have a reasonably priced alternative to the Nancy Gonzalez Hand-Held Croc Clutch that I wrote about last month. I liked it so much that I went on a search for a budget-friendly alternative to add to my wardrobe, and the best contender I’ve found is the Rebecca Minkoff Lovers Clutch.

To me, the most important parts of the Nancy Gonzalez clutch to replicate the look were the contrast between a bright body and a dark handle and the exotic texture. Since detailed clutches in real exotic skins don’t come around very often at the price point I was hoping to find, embossing will have to do. The magenta of the Minkoff clutch provides a reasonable alternative to Gonzalez’s bright blue, and the color’s contrast with the wood trim is similar to the contrast with the dark crocodile.

Exotic embossing almost always looks a tad cheap even on nice leather, but this example of it seems better than most. Either of these clutches are choices that would likely garner you a lot of compliments, but the Rebecca Minkoff version will run you a reasonable $240 (on sale from $325) compared to Gonzalez’s much steeper $3200 price point.

You can buy the Nancy Gonzalez via Neiman Marcus, or the Rebecca Minkoff via Luna Boston.

Original post by Amanda Mull

It’s so rare that Nancy Gonzalez makes a misstep. Her handbags may not be revolutionary, but it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with exotic materials, beautiful colors and simple shapes. It appears as though she has handbag design nearly down to a science.

The Nancy Gonzalez Hand-Held Croc Clutch is merely the most recent in a long line of sartorial successes from the brand, and as always, I’m drooling over it. Bicolor bag design is difficult to do well (as we’re also discussing over at PurseBlog Savvy currently), but I have absolutely no complaints about this clutch. Well, other than the fact that it isn’t in my closet, of course.

The slouchy finish of the blue croc attracts me to this clutch more than anything else. Crocodile is usually a material reserved for structured, rigid bags, and I always enjoy seeing it used in a soft and touchable way. And if you purchased this clutch, you’d be touching it a lot – not only is it beautiful, but at 16 inches wide, day-to-night transitions would be effortless. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $3200.

Original post by Amanda Mull

When you get down to the details, it’s no surprise that Nancy Gonzalez’s bags are so successful. First, the brand keeps costs down by sourcing most materials from its own farms, which means that Gonzalez’s crocodile and python bags are among the most well-priced exotics in the mass-market luxury business. Second, Gonzalez & Co. let the rare materials take center stage, as you can see so well in the Nancy Gonzalez Python Satchel.

Multicolored python can become cheap-looking very quickly if the designer doesn’t take care to maintain the integrity of the skin’s natural pattern, but the blue and cream combination that we see here only enhances the python’s inherent beauty.

The color scheme makes this bag look a little bit like a map of the world (well, at least a map of some islands) when I glance at it very quickly, but I’m not entirely opposed to that effect. In fact, I’m not opposed to it in the least – the colors work together to create a sunny, summery bag with an elegant finish. If only every designer worked with exotics so well. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $2600.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I am.

I mean no disrespect, of course – Dior is one of the most storied and important brands in the history of luxury as we know it, and they do a fantastic job with a lot of aspects of their business (I’m a particular fan of their makeup). When it comes to bags, though…what gives?

Along with the Fendi Baguette, Dior’s Saddle Bag helped launched the It Bag trend that got so many of us interested in designer bags. Since then, though, the brand has been a bit quiet when it comes to influential bag design. With the notable exception of the Guacho bag, it’s been mostly bags like the Dior Lady Dior Top Handle for the past five years.

Not that there’s anything wrong with this bag or this type of design – there isn’t. But there has been so little variation in vision coming from Dior’s accessories department in the past few season that I’m beginning to wonder if they still value their accessories division at all. Since Dior has such a successful cosmetics and perfume business, accessories probably aren’t as essential to the brand’s financial success as they are for most brands, but it still seems a bit odd.

Accessories are one of the most important ways that a designer builds its image, and most luxury brands that have done well during the recession have done so on the backs of their bags, shoes and accessories. In light of those things, I can’t help but wonder why Dior is phoning it in when they have the financial and design ability to make bags that almost all of us would probably want to buy. Buy through Saks for $2250.

Original post by Amanda Mull

It’s rare that you find something that’s honestly unique in fashion – designers are equal amounts artists and collectors, and they borrow from each other with great regularity. Carlos Falchi has proven repeatedly that he doesn’t mind searching for inspiration a little further off the beaten path than some designers, and he’s struck a truly unique note with the Carlos Falchi Henna Tiger Snake Satchel.

I know that this isn’t a handbag that everyone will love, but that’s why I like it so much – it’s a distinctive statement of style and personality. The best bags are those that some people don’t quite understand, and this blue-and-white-on-chartreuse painted floral pattern certainly puts this satchel in a different realm.

The color combination is totally unexpected, but that’s why I love it. It takes a particular type of personality to pair chartreuse with royal blue, and fashion should be all about the reflection of something interesting about the individual that chose the pieces. This bag would probably be a little hard to pair with outfits (although if you wear a lot of neutrals, you could probably get some good use out of it), but just looking at it makes me smile. Sometimes, that’s enough, even if it’s not the kind of bag that you’ll use every day. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1595.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I love it when something great to write about just appears in my email right when I’m looking for ideas. That’s exactly what happened yesterday when ProenzaSchouler.com sent out an email about the Proenza Schouler Fish Print Shopping Tote – I was in the process of looking for something lovely to post, et voilà! They gave me the perfect thing. Good lookin’ out, Jack and Lazaro.

The only problem is that now I have to decide if I want to buy the tote (and it’s matching wallet). When you zoom in really close on the brand’s website, it’s clear that the jacquered fabric is gorgeous – detailed, textured, full of color. I wear a lot of black and grey, so this might be the perfect thing to compliment my wardrobe. Plus, for a brand that normally charges quite a bit for their bags, this one is downright affordable.

Other considerations aside, the vibrancy of the print is really what’s making me pay attention in this case. The blues, yellows and oranges pop wonderfully and make the fabric look truly rich, something that’s usually lacking in even the nicest of non-leather designer bags. I’ll admit that I’ve gone a bit fangirl on Proenza Schouler recently, but its their willingness to make all of their products, not just their most expensive ones, beautiful, detailed and special that makes me love them so much. Buy through Proenza Schouler for $325. If you’d rather have the wallet, it’s $125.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I’m from the South, so I come from a tradition where people dress up for particularly popular sporting events. Admittedly, I’m not all that tuned in to international soccer or the conventions and traditions that surround it, but I figure that there’s some daring bag lover out there that likes to dress to support her team and still be fashionable. If not, well, take this purely as a comedy post. You have to admit, however, that no matter where or how you’re watching the games, you’ve still got to carry a bag, right?

Fendi Peek-a-Boo Satchel

Countries: This one really only works for South Africa. The black, green and yellow banding remind me of the structure of the country’s flag as well as the colors. If only the cream portions were white! Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $4248.

Versace Naomi Leather Satchel

Countries: Greece, Argentina or Honduras, depending on how much you care about getting an exact match for the shade of blue. Would also work for Sweden, but, well, they didn’t qualify. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $1962.

Tory Burch Palma Small Backpack

Countries: Perhaps the only bag in this group that you’d actually want to carry to a World Cup game if you’re not sitting in a luxury box. If you’re a fan of Germany, Ghana, Spain or Brazil, you’re in luck! Buy through ShopBop for $295.

Bottega Veneta Mini Woven Shoulder Bag

Countries: Green is a pretty useful color when it comes to country-specific dressing, but it’s not so easy to find in bags. Brazil, Mexico, Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Portugal, Nigeria, Ghana and Italy – this is the one for you guys. Buy through Saks for $725.

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Zip Top Satchel

Countries: Cameroon, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, North Korea, Paraguay, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain Switzerland and the United States all feature red prominently, making their fans prime candidates for this luxe satchel. Buy through Saks for $2850.

No matter which country takes home the trophy, the real winners, of course, are teams like Brazil and Ghana, since they have the most handbag choices. Naturally. Who will you be rooting for?

Original post by Amanda Mull

Normally when Marc Jacobs makes bags for his eponymous line, they’re a little bit more streamlined and subdued than his efforts on behalf of Louis Vuitton, but the bags that we’ve seen from him recently have been anything but simple. We’ve seen fur, sequins, metallics and exotic leather, all combined in various ways for maximum handbag impact.

Some people may tire of the complication, but I love it when designers mix materials. That also means that I love the Marc Jacobs 2010 Rockstar Clutch – it has all of the necessary elements to be a great statement bag that everyone will notice. Plus, this bag is a little bit more subdued than some of the fur-and-sequins bags we’ve seen from Jacobs lately, so it’s a good way to buy in to the look without committing to something slightly ridiculous.

Not only did Jacobs manage to mix a bunch of materials, colors and textures in this bag, but he managed to do it in a way that’s really visually appealing. The sapphire blue haircalf would have been beautiful on its own, but its juxtaposition with the grey and gold houndstooth leather only makes it more appealing. All three colors work together seamlessly, which is something that rarely happens when a bag mixes several shades and textures. Marc’s still got it, without a doubt. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $850.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Let’s get one thing cleared up before we begin: if the whole Marc Jacobs/Chanel “resemblance” issue over the past several years makes you have a rage blackout, this might not be the post (or the bag) for you. If the appropriation of quilted leather and chains strikes you as more of a winking homage than an out-and-out ripoff, then keep reading. Either way, if you get to the end of this post and are feeling a little stabby, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

For those of you that dig Jacobs’ Chanel-reminiscent handbags, the news that he’s now making the ever-popular “The Single” minibag in not-so-mini sizes is probably welcome news. One of those new bags is the Marc Jacobs The XL Quilting Shoulder Bag, and as the name would imply, it’s supersized for ease of day-to-day use. Oh, another thing to point out: it costs a couple of grand less than a Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap.

For a moment, I thought about turning this into a “Look for Less if You Want to Spend an Amount of Money That Is Merely Asinine Instead of Completely Outrageous” post, but that title seems overly verbose, don’t you think? So instead, let’s try and evaluate this bag on its own merits, which are considerable.

First, it has something that all the Chanel chain-strap bags lack: a leather inset on the handle that helps the bag not dig into your skin or slip off of your shoulder. I’ve found that a flat piece of leather is easily the most convenient and comfortable way to carry a bag, and although it breaks up the line of the chain, I can forgive the aesthetic loss in favor of the bag’s functional gain. You do have to be able to use a bag for it to be fabulous, after all. It also has pockets stashed here and there and a light lining for ease of use, but the bag’s best feature is obviously its price. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Amanda Mull