Custom Design

We already saw this bag covered by Amanda, who really loved it. And now I found it in grey and I adore it. I have an admiration of grey handbags and this Michael Kors bag does not disappoint.

All I need is to see the bag in person and touch the leather. Then I will know if I am totally sold on it. Because the price is amazing, under $800 for a calfskin bag with karung pulls. The leather is treated with a pearlized effect which gives a nice sheen to the bag. The other aspect that catches your eye is the multiple strands that twist into the shoulder strap. This gives a modern touch to an otherwise simple bag.

The Michael Kors Tonne Hobo is unexpected but welcomed. The hobo, measurements 14″W x 11″H x 3.75″D, and has a 9″ drop. The karung pulls are both on the front zip pockets of the bag, giving a nice separation to the hobo body. On the inside there is a zip pocket, cell phone pocket, and additional pockets. And I’ll get right back to the price, which finishes this bag with two thumbs up. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $795.

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Is it possible that we don’t give Michael Kors his due when it comes to handbags? I think it might be. Or perhaps the problem is that his brand doesn’t emphasize it enough – I’m not exactly sure what the issue is, but the brand hasn’t “caught” as a major power in handbags like one would expect when you consider the huge financial and marketing arm that the brand has behind it.

I talk about Princess Michael Kors himself every week in my Project Runway recap, but it’s much more rare that we sit down and discuss one of his handbag designs in a serious way, despite the fact that His Royal Highness’s brand put out a big line of bags every season. By the looks of the beautiful and reasonably priced Michael Kors Tonne Leather Hobo, we should do it more often.

For some reason, this had me fooled into thinking it was a Jimmy Choo bag for a moment – you know, a Jimmy Choo bag from back when their bags weren’t all covered in some combination of fringe, animal print and lightening bolts. My momentary joy at a reasonable-looking Choo bag was dashed, however, but it was replaced by considerable happiness that the designer was actually Kors. His handbags are almost always much less expensive, after all.

This particular hobo is even less expensive than I would have guessed. For less than $800 retail, you get a creamy, soft hobo that’s incredibly elegant and clean-lined, while still being totally functional. You also get some of the best bold hardware in the business (really, this is where Kors has shined for the past few seasons), ringed in real python and framing a handle that somehow manages to be both minimalist and detailed at the same time. The finished product feels like a surprise weekend trip to Palm Beach, but it’ll serve you well in pretty much any city that I can think of. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Amanda Mull

As I mentioned last week, finally, oh finally, the retail stores are stocking their shelves with all sorts of amazing new handbags. My must-have bag of the day has to be the Michael Kors Skorpios Pleated Crescent Hobo. I’d like to even say that it could be my bag pick of the week, but seeing as though it is Monday, I don’t want to jump the gun yet.

All I do know is that this bag is a staple, a must-have, a classic.

For being a girl who loves simple, understated elegance it might seem a little odd that I only own one black handbag. To me, black handbags are like little black dresses, you might have one you use more than another, but you can never have enough.

I’ve been in the market for a new black bag for quite some time now and I’ve already put this bag on my list. It was the pleated body that initially caught my attention. But, it was the single braided shoulder strap and goldtone hardware that locked me in. The dimensions are pretty nice too: 16″W X 11″H X 3½”D and 11″ drop. Of course, there is plenty of room, but at the same time, the bag isn’t overwhelming. In fact, even if you are a petite woman, this bag won’t overwhelm you. Buy through Saks for $795.

Original post by Shannon Mahoney

As an ode to the iconic 2.55 Chanel handbag there are a number of handbags incorporating this the quilting trend. Quilted handbags feature various patterns primarily stitched onto leather. Many of the Marc Jacobs handbags incorporate quilting into the styling of the bag as well.

Quilting can also be seen on accessories like this Stella McCartney Wide Quilted Waist Belt (upper left on model, $525 at Net-a-Porter) and of course winter puffer jackets. Embroidered patterns are laid out in vertical and horizontal patterns overlap to create diamond or other patterns that add dimension and texture.

We’ve spotted some of our favorite styles that incorporate the quilting trend. Juicy Couture’s Serena Quilted Duffel Tote (upper right, $198.00 at ShopBop.com) is constructed of nylon and has plenty of room to store your essentials inside 3 zip front pockets and two interior patch pockets. The double rolled handles ruffled banding and Juicy Couture logo charm give this bag a youthful appeal.

Already on its way to becoming a classic, the Marc Jacobs Women’s Quilted Bruna Satchel (middle right, $1,295.00 at Bloomingdales.com) is shown in black leather and features double handles and gold tone accent hardware. This quilted handbag is tied up with a front belt accent, Marc Jacobs logo, zips closed and is embellished with a faux gold tone turnlock.

Balmain’s runway looks continue their influential appeal with this Mat quilted leather bag (bottom right, $1,915 at Net-a-Porter), which is quilted in Italy and assembled by hand in France. Tory Burch’s wearable modern classics are inspired by the designer’s globetrotter adventures. The Tory Burch Quilted Nico Tote, (bottom left, $295.00 at ToryBurch.com) is made of coated quilted poplin. Options for handles include both cross body and dual leather handles. Inside you’ll find two pockets and one side zip pocket just the right size for stashing your keys, phone and other essentials.

via The Find

Original post by Guest Blogger

I’m having a vintage moment lately. Last weekend, I spent 3 hours on Friday afternoon looking for vintage art deco costume jewelry on eBay. I really want a 70s faux fur jacket. The Stephen Sprouse collection for Louis Vuitton won me over long ago. And then this morning, I was lucky enough to find the utterly charming Chanel Vintage Le Train Bag.

When there are so many bags that are weathered and treated to look old when they’re actually brand new, it’s refreshing to look at a beautiful bag that is actually a piece of fashion history. The train illustration on this coated-canvas tote is so adorable and utterly Parisian that it serves as a wonderful reminder of not only the brand’s inventiveness, but also its cultural significance.

I like this bag better than most anything I’ve seen from Lagerfeld & Co. lately, and I wish that more of the irreverent French influence found its way into bags like this today. I don’t know that I’d be willing to pay the asking price for this piece (particularly since it’s not leather), but if I had the extra money laying around, this would absolutely be at the top of my list. Buy through ShopBop for $2420.

Original post by Amanda Mull

South Florida is an amazing place to live. The ocean surrounds us and the palm trees are endless. But the Sunshine state is missing my absolute favorite season, fall. Everything about Fall is amazing for me. The leaves turning to warm hues of red, orange and yellow while the air is crisp and cool puts an automatic smile on my face. It is great to live in Florida, but I am in desperate need of fall. Luckily we have a trip to NYC and Ohio planned for next month.

So it is time for fall colors and wardrobes to be brought out of hiding. South Florida is full of bright eye-catching colors all spring and summer, and while they work mostly year around, I still like to bring out my fall bags. I absolutely adore gray in my wardrobe. As I was going through my closet I noticed a lack of gray bags. WHAT? I do not own many gray bags? Actually, unless I have a stash of handbags hiding in my imaginary closet, I am nearly gray-bag-less. And that is oddly shocking to me.

The hunt for a new gray bag begins. You will be seeing many gray bags in the upcoming weeks, so I apologize in advance for those of you that dislike gray bags. Gray bag option number one, the Mulberry Suede Bayswater with a light gray crocodile stamped finish.

The Mulberry Bayswater continues to be a coveted design from Mulberry and in the handbag world. The double top handles and simple box shaped body is gives a classy and clean vibe. But you all know the Baywater, lets delve further into this rendition.

Suede is always hard to to keep clean. But gray is a great color option on a suede bag. The corners will wear more easily, which on some bags actually gives a bit of character rather than looking unkempt. I adore seeing crocodile stamped leather, Yves Saint Laurent perfects it. The large stamping on this Bayswater adds an extra dimension. Overall, this is a great design, a great version of the design, and the price comes in under $1000. Buy through Net A Porter for $995.

My hunt for a new gray bag has only just begun…

Original post by Megs Mahoney Dusil

As we all have learned, or at least surmised, by now, black and industrial are two of the biggest trends for fall. They’re also easily the most widely embraced trends that I can recall in recent memory, in terms of the number of designers buying in to the look. Studs and rough leather have become nearly omnipresent this season, and it’s hard to find any designer that hasn’t devoted at least a portion of their accessories collection to the look.

And even for a trend that I love so much, it’s important to have something different around to provide a juxtaposition in style and color. And to that end, we have the D&G Multicolor Lily Top Handle.

In another season, with different trends, I probably wouldn’t even like this bag. As it is, I’m not sure I do now. It’s got a 70s, retro, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat vibe to it that’s both silly and kind of attractive, although I suspect that may be my hangover talking.

But they kept the color combination season-appropriate, and the use of suede, metallic leather, and regular leathers feels less contrived than it often does in similar bags. I probably wouldn’t buy it myself since it’s very much not my style, but I can appreciate the restrained hand that it took to make a bag that uses so many colors and textures and not make it into something that’s obviously a novelty bag. Because above all, this looks wearable, which may be its greatest achievement. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $1731.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Oh, I just love this color of silver. Dark enough to not look cheap and to go with basically everything you own, no matter what. Seriously – try and think of a color that this wouldn’t go with. I defy you! Another thing that I love about the Jimmy Choo Chandra Metallic Clutch is that the leather still looks obviously soft, and so many metallic bags screw that up entirely. In an effort to make things shiny, they make them stiff, and suddenly the bag doesn’t look expensive anymore. This bag still looks pliable and luxurious while having a great gleam to its finish, and that’s a tone that so many designers try to strike and fail miserably.

The main event on this clutch is obviously the banded metal closure, though, and I absolutely love it. The off-center placement is perfect, as is the decision to use two different colors of silver in order to set it apart from the finish of the clutch. In fact, I love it so much that I kind of wish I could slide it off and use it as a bracelet…or that it could be bought separately as a bracelet…are the Choo people listening? Have they considered a jewelry line? Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1495.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Jimmy Choo may have just accomplished the impossible - they may have designed a beige bag that doesn’t make me feel totally blah. I guess the secret to doing that is not actually making the bag beige.

For some reason, they want us to believe that this bag is gold. Maybe the lighting is bad, but Nordstrom’s pictures are usually among the most accurate on the Internet, and on their website, the bag looks beige. Metallic beige, maybe, but beige nonetheless. In my household, the color is much reviled and derided, but on the Jimmy Choo Metallic Mandah Hobo, it works pretty well. The shimmery finish goes a long way towards banishing my boredom, and I could see this working really well as a metallic winter white. How cute would it be next to a fuzzy grey sweater? Buy through Nordstrom for $1595.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Original post by ChicInspector@gmail.com (Chic Inspector)