Custom Design

Heading to Coachella this weekend? No? Me neither. But maybe one or two of you are lucky enough to make the hipster pilgrimage out to Indio, California for the annual indie music festival that keeps getting less indie by the year. Or maybe you’re saving your airline miles for a future summer festival – maybe Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee or Lollapalooza in Chicago? (The latter would be my pick since Lady Gaga is headlining.)

No matter what kind of outdoor events you’re attending this summer, from music festivals to baseball games, you’re going to need to bring a handbag of some sort. Crossbody bags are undoubtedly your best bet because they’re hands-free and convenient, but choosing one to use at an all-day event can be tricky. Too small, and you’re trying to stuff way too many things in to it; too big, and it’s a burden to carry around for an extended period of time, particularly in summer heat. Luckily, we’ve done all the legwork for you and found three perfect crossbodies that will satisfy any (ok, almost any) budget.

(from top to bottom)

Save: Marc by Marc Jacobs Natasha Crossbody This little guy is bright and cheery, with a padded strap that you can wear all day and plenty of room inside for all your essentials, plus an extra pocket in the flap, which gives you more room than you even realized you had. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $328.

Spend: Alexander Wang Brenda Crossbody If ever there were a time when Alexander Wang’s bags were absolutely appropriate, it would be at super-indie music festivals like Coachella. What better way to let everyone else know that you’re already in the know than by carrying a bag from fashion’s uber-downtown It Boy? Buy through ShopBop for $725.

Splurge: Mulberry Alexa Crossbody Clutch Speaking of hipster It Bags, bag-namesake Alexa Chung is exactly the type of uber-fashionable girl that gets photographed at music festivals that feature bands of whom no one has ever heard. The easiest way to channel her style, obviously, is to carry the bag that she inspired. I’ve got to admit, however – it’s also pretty cute and functional. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1150.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Firstly, I must apologize for the extremely slow start to the week on PurseBlog. You woke up, checked PurseBlog, and saw no new posts. That is because when my alarm went off this morning I somehow convinced myself that it is Sunday so I could turn off my alarm and sleep as long as I wanted. It is nearly 11 am. That is bad. Part of the reason why I am so tired is because yesterday Vlad and I went horseback riding. It was pretty much our first time and nothing about horseback riding it like in the movies. It is hard, intense, and has me much sorer than I imagined. That is the story of why things are off to a slow start today.

And that is also the reason why I am reviewing the Be&D Dodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag. You see, yesterday I didn’t even think for a moment about what bag I would take horseback riding. I had been using my Rebecca Minkoff Matinee and popped that on my arm and took it out the door. I had to leave my bag in the car, obviously. But I imagined if I took a great/compact messenger bag I could have slung it over my body and taken it with me on the horse.

No, I do not need my bag with me on the horse, but this is just hypothetical. And it is still a great idea to have a good messenger bag in your handbag collection, which will free up your hands. Be&D is such a great brand. Their bags are edgy and funky with great attention to detail and the materials being used. The Be&D Dodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag features whipstitched leather, a chain link strap, and a few silvertone studs. The leather is entirely soft. Actually after talking about horseback riding and thinking about where I was yesterday, I can even see a bit of a Western vibe from this bag.

The shoulder strap can either be worn as a single or double strap, which will give you a 14″ or 25″ drop. The inside has functional pockets; zipper and two open pockets. Overall dimensions are 13″W X 8½”H X 1½”D. I may not wearing this bag next time I horseback ride, but I still need a great messenger bag. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

*Note: Saks had labeled this bag as the Dodstock, but it is actually the Woodstock*

Firstly, I must apologize for the extremely slow start to the week on PurseBlog. You woke up, checked PurseBlog, and saw no new posts. That is because when my alarm went off this morning I somehow convinced myself that it is Sunday so I could turn off my alarm and sleep as long as I wanted. It is nearly 11 am. That is bad. Part of the reason why I am so tired is because yesterday Vlad and I went horseback riding. It was pretty much our first time and nothing about horseback riding it like in the movies. It is hard, intense, and has me much sorer than I imagined. That is the story of why things are off to a slow start today.

And that is also the reason why I am reviewing the Be&D Woodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag. You see, yesterday I didn’t even think for a moment about what bag I would take horseback riding. I had been using my Rebecca Minkoff Matinee and popped that on my arm and took it out the door. I had to leave my bag in the car, obviously. But I imagined if I took a great/compact messenger bag I could have slung it over my body and taken it with me on the horse.

No, I do not need my bag with me on the horse, but this is just hypothetical. And it is still a great idea to have a good messenger bag in your handbag collection, which will free up your hands. Be&D is such a great brand. Their bags are edgy and funky with great attention to detail and the materials being used. The Be&D Woodstock Portfolio Messenger Bag features whipstitched leather, a chain link strap, and a few silvertone studs. The leather is entirely soft. Actually after talking about horseback riding and thinking about where I was yesterday, I can even see a bit of a Western vibe from this bag.

The shoulder strap can either be worn as a single or double strap, which will give you a 14″ or 25″ drop. The inside has functional pockets; zipper and two open pockets. Overall dimensions are 13″W X 8½”H X 1½”D. I may not wearing this bag next time I horseback ride, but I still need a great messenger bag. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

We all waited. When we heard Balmain planned to release a line of handbags we were excited. We wanted for edgy, new, and innovative. And what did we get? Rather boring, uninspired, and expensive messenger bags. We are still hoping Balmain bags will be better next season.

We are simply here to tell you that the four messenger bags Balmain had at Net A Porter are back in stock. Prices range from $1,915 to $3,925.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

I kind of love this bag, and I fear I may be the only one.

The Donna Karan Chaos Leather Messenger Bag is not something I’d normally embrace. First, I hardly ever like any of the bags from Karan’s eponymous line. Second, I usually hate multicolored bags. Third, this bag really shouldn’t work. But for some reason, it kind of does.

It might be because the colors and dye patterns remind me of my much beloved zebra print, or because the distressed neutral look reminds me of my much beloved Alexander Wang – I’m not sure. But the dye pattern gives the bag texture and depth that I don’t think a solid color bag could muster, and the slight distressing keeps things young and hip.

Multicolor bags are often difficult to work into a wardrobe, but the style and colors used in this one would probably lend itself to easier incorporation, as long as you’re not much of one for patterns. And even if you are, this would probably still work as long as the other patterns had the same mood. Or maybe I’ve been smacked in the head today without my knowledge and I’m having visions. Who knows. Buy through Nordstrom for $1395.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I was really hoping to have more to report with the release of more Balmain Handbags to the public, but unfortunately, it looks like they’re sticking with the uninspired messenger bag style that we first saw with the Balmain Crystal Leopard Suede Bag.

Balmain is such an interesting, trend-setting line that I’m disappointed that they didn’t choose to do more with their handbags. This is just their first effort, though, so maybe we can expect more in the future. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1915-$3925.

Original post by Amanda Mull

So, as we all know, the 80s are a thing. As such, MCM saw this as their opportunity to sell us all some more handbags, and their efforts thus far have been…reasonable. They’d probably have more success and gain more new customers with a lower price point, but it seems like a lot of designers overestimate what their “brand” is worth, in terms of dollars per handbag. I’m looking at you, Versace.

That being said, I’m not a fan of everything that they’ve produced this season. Case in point: the MCM Giorno Convertible Bag.

I’m generally a big fan of menswear inspiration being incorporated into women’s fashion, but the briefcase look on this bag is just a tad too literal. It would be appropriate as a a work bag, although it looks like it’s probably a bit too small to actually hold files or a laptop. If your style is very, very tailored, it might work, but I fear that this bag would look out of place and too utilitarian with any kind of casual outfit.

Although, if you’re looking for a really stylish netbook bag, this might be just the ticket… Buy through Saks for $995.

Original post by Amanda Mull

In Athens, Georgia, the Freshman Apocalypse is nigh. We’re the home of the University of Georgia, my alma mater and a school of over 35,000 students, and in two short days, that will include 5,000 brand new freshman. For a town this size, the influx of the new students (in addition to the other returning students that had left for the summer) means we’re about the see the sort of chaos and havoc that’s only novel when you’re one of the people that is helping to create it. Target and Wal-Mart will be completely sold out of…everything, none of the thousands of brand new residents know where anything is or how to drive, and they’re all going to be really excited to be out in public without their parents. If you don’t hear from me for a few days, it’s because I have run off into the woods, mumbling deliriously, in order to escape them.

But what this time of year means for most normal humans is that it’s time to start gathering together back-to-school wardrobes, either for themselves or for their kids. And the topic of chic and functional school bags is always a topic of discussion on our Forum, and something that I’ll talk more about later this week, but for right now, I’d just like to show a little love to the A.P.C. Black Leather Satchel. This crossbody bag appeals to my inner grad student – it’s made of thick, matte leather that, when combined with the traditional shape and double buckle closures, has “vintage book satchel” written all over it. The proportions are a bit shrunken to look more appropriate on a female body, but it still looks easily large enough to carry the laptop, bottle of water and cosmetics pouch that normally populated my school bags (journalism school? Rather light on textbook usage). Buy through Net-a-Porter for $420.

Original post by Amanda Mull

As many of you know, today we launched Bag That Style, a site devoted to celebrity handbags and style. Vlad pulled an all-nighter and consumed a double digit copious amount of red bull. I drifted off to sleep around 4:30. And at 4:30 a.m. the tv fills with infomercials and odd repeats of shows no one watches. I sat in bed with my laptop and Deadliest Catch on. And with that little amount of sleep, the waves from the TV began to make me feel sea-sick. So this is an FYI that updates today may make little to no sense.

Tory Burch became known for her ballet flats and in the past year has designed her way into the handbag world. While some of her bags sport the signature logo, I prefer her bags that don’t. They are clean, pretty, and perfectly usable. Saks and I are loving the Tory Burch Liam Messenger Bag with its pebbled leather body and chain strap. The chain strap has a leather top, which will not allow the chain to dig into your shoulder, always a plus. The bag itself is hip and young, with a double foldover flap. I have no idea if getting in and out of the bag is easy, but I like how the bag looks. There is one slip pocket under the flap and an inner zip and two open pockets. Buy through Saks for $495.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

I resisted the whole long-strap thing for a while. It seems to be popular lately - a regular-sized bag with a much longer strap than it would have had a season or two ago. Messenger bags still give me horrible mental images of the horrible, boob-squishing thing I used to carry in high school, and perhaps I have a prejudice as a result. You know what’s helping me work through my mental block, though?

The Alexander McQueen Flapper Messenger Bag. In all fairness, in the pictures, it looks like the strap isn’t really long enough to be anything but a shoulder bag, and it also says it’s adjustable, meaning I could probably FORCE it to be a shoulder bag. And after seeing Megs’ pics of her beautiful Diane von Furstenberg Stephanie Slouchy Hobo, I’m starting to take long-strapped shoulder bags more seriously. They are truly casual in every way, and give a bit of hippie chic to a regular summer dress. The leather on this McQueen bag looks divine, and although grey is more of a fall color, this particular grey is light enough to be spring-appropriate. The lines are nice and clean, and I’ve never had a McQueen bag before…at the very least, he’s got me thinking very seriously about this trend.

$1,840 via Saks.com.

Original post by Amanda Mull