Carlos Falchi Handbags

If only all of our parents owned awesome, exotic bag lines for us to work at when we graduate college; we should all be so lucky. But we’re not Kate Falchi, daughter of PurseBlog friend Carlos Falchi, who has just joined her father’s eponymous bag line and has begun collaborating with him full-time. A good gig if you can get it, right?

And based on the looks of their first collection together, she’s a wise addition to the design process. The bags of the Carlos Falchi Graffiti Collection use Falchi’s signature tiger snake skins as a backdrop for punk-inspired doodling and defacement that is as true to its inspiration as any I’ve ever seen. These bags certainly won’t be for everyone and skew toward the young audience of which 25-year-old Kate is a part, but they’re very successful for what they’re trying to accomplish: a deconstructed, edgy look that remains luxurious and doesn’t loose its cool.

Bags will come in three patterns and will retail for between $395-$1195. The collection will debut at Bergdorf Goodman during Fashion’s Night Out on September 10. For larger pictures of a few of the collection’s bags (and to see the intricate graffiti detail up-close), make the jump.

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One of the most interesting men in the handbag industry we have met will be celebrating 30 years starting tomorrow. Carlos Falchi began his journey 30 years ago when he moved to NYC. Since then his designs have continued to be top contenders in the designer handbag world, finding their way into the arms of celebrities and handbag lovers alike.

Tomorrow at Bergdorf Goodman a retrospective exhibition will feature reproductions of Carlos Falchi’s most beloved classics and his latest collection including one-of-a-kind designs inspired by his love of New York. The event will take place on the first floor of Bergdorf Goodman and go from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.. We have been huge fans of Carlos Falchi handbags and while we can not make the event tomorrow, we are excited to see the one-of-a-kind bags for Bergdorf along with the line of bags dedicated to New York City that he comes up with!

If you are in the NYC area this is an event you won’t want to miss. Carlos Falchi is one of the most interesting people to speak with, tell him we say hi!

I recently reveled in the beauty of the hand painted Carlos Falchi Floral Sling. And it was not just me who loved the bag, many of you did. But then a question popped up; “Will the paint run? Is the bag too delicate?”. I asked over at Carlos Falchi and they said to assure you all that no, the paint will not run as it is glazed over. And no, the bag is not too delicate to use, they use the stomach of the snake which is very resilient.

Now that we have covered that, there is a perfect option for those of you who loved the idea of the hand-painted floral pattern but prefer it in a smaller bag. The Carlos Falchi Flower Flat Clutch is also designed with hand-painted flowers and has an optional chain shoulder strap. This is a thin clutch, but long and capable of holding night out necessities (12″W x 5.75″H x 1″D). The interior features a zip pocket. Again, this is a brilliant design from Carlos Falchi. A simple sleek python clutch with a burst of color, which is hand-painted. This makes the bag entirely different from any other in my collection and in most collections. Leave it to the genius, Carlos Falchi. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $965.

One of our favorite aspects of this job is having the opportunity to meet amazing, talented designers. We have lucked out with every designer being so personable and fun, and each one having an entirely different story. And some stories stick out in your mind, with the people behind the story being unforgettable. This is true with Carlos Falchi who we absolutely adore and look forward to seeing again soon! When we interviewed Carlos Falchi we not only had the opportunity to ask him about his line, but we got a tour of his entire studio, saw the painting that he did with each bag, saw the skins, and saw the factory. It was truly an experience of a lifetime.

One aspect that stuck out in my mind was Carlos painting on the skins, which would soon be formed into the bags. Carlos Falchi himself hand paints many of the skins and that is entirely unique. And one of the most interesting aspects about the Carlos Falchi Python Floral Sling is that Vlad and I saw this pattern being painted by Carlos while we visited him last October. This bag is exclusive to Saks and shows off colorful exotic blooms which were hand-painted onto the shiny white python skin. All Carlos Falchi bags are rather light, since Carlos is not a user of hardware, rather lets the skin and design stand on its own. This bag is perfect for spring. Light and airy, floral and colorful. There is a single strap with a 12″ drop along with inside pockets. Dimensions are 22″W X 12″H x 8″D.

Buy through Saks for $2790.

I don’t really want to like this bag, but I think I do. The problem I have is that the Carlos Falchi Tigersnake Shopping Tote is a shape that really, really annoys me. For the prices that designers charge for their bags, I’d like them to give me some structure or hardware or SOMETHING to indicate that the bag was actually designed. But this is just a flat bag with two handles that would probably fall off of my shoulder, and that annoys me. What really DOESN’T annoy me, though, is the colors. In fact, I find the color and pattern so non-annoying that they almost make up for the boring structure. The watersnake is hand-painted in silver and cobalt blue, which gives it an imperfect, slightly bohemian or artistic feel that makes the bag subversively chic, despite its rather banal shape. It’d certainly pep up a boring outfit, and probably gives the wearer an aura of subtle fashionable-ness that more obviously “designer” bags simply don’t have. Buy through Saks for $850.

This clutch is kind of growing on me. Originally I wasn’t so sure I liked it. It seemed kind of arts-and-crafts for my taste. However, as I gave it more of a chance, I found myself starting to like it. The Carlos Falchi Tiger Snake Flat Clutch is unique, chic and dare I say one of those kind of handbags you would consider one of a kind. A little while back Megs and Vlad had the chance to interview Carlos Falchi and we all learned how unique his handbags are and how much creativity goes into them. This handbag, without a doubt, meets that criteria. The handbag is made of genuine tiger snake and is hand painted to provide an extra element of creativity and detail. One of the best parts about this bag is that it is sure to garner attention. You are sure to hear at least a few comments as you carry it around. Buy through Bloomingdales for $595.

One of the major perks of running Purse Blog and Purse Forum is having the chance to meet designers. Did I think that would ever happen? No. Did I even realize that maybe they would want to meet us? Heck no. One of our favorite interviews to date was with the talented Carlos Falchi. Carlos Falchi handbags have been a favorite at Purse Blog for quite some time. Their distinct style jumps out and grabs you, while not distracting from the overall beauty. Interviewing Carlos Falchi gave us an insight into his designs, his work style, and his story. While his exotic pieces can make it up there in the price scale, Carlos still offers a variety of affordable handbags.
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Carlos Falchi Slim Proof Hobo Pouch

Vlad and I are headed back to Florida today after a great stint in NYC. Our favorite part has been meeting all of the designers. We will be bringing you many designer interviews shortly. And one of those interviews will be with Carlos Falchi. His story is amazing, and I will leave it at that until we share more. And his handbags are amazing as well. While Carlos Falchi is known for exotics, he still has some microfiber bags and other materials that look astounding and have a much more affordable price point. One of my favorite snake-embossed microfiber bag is the Carlos Falchi Slim Proof Hobo Pouch. This bag is designed with Barbarella, the textured snake-embossed microfiber, which I mentioned earlier. This material brings volume to the bag and looks like snakeskin, without the cost. The hobo shape of this bag I adore. I saw it and tried it on in the showroom (in CROCODILE, drool) and have been hooked since. There is a detachable shoulder strap with a 25″ drop and double handles with a 5″ drop. The drawstring and slide closure is something I am drawn to; simple, hardware free, and casual-chic. On the inside you will not feel disappointed, as there is a zip pocket, cell phone pocket, money clip and key holder. Dimensions are 10½”W X 11″H X 5″D. Buy through Saks for $370.

Carlos Falchi bags are known for their exotic skins and bright bold colors. Carlos Falchi is not afraid to experiment with colors, which is evident from the
patchwork East/West tote we reviewed earlier this summer. So if you would like to be able to meet Carlos Falchi or see his designs, make sure to check out his trunk show schedule!

Sept 4-5: Bergdorf NY Trunk Show and Personal Appearance 12-4
Sept 19: Neiman Marcus Houston Trunk Show and Personal Appearance 12-4
Sept 20: Neiman Marcus Northpark Trunk Show and Personal Appearance 12-4
Sept 25: Saks Boston Trunk Show only 12-4
Sept 26: Saks Chicago Trunk Show only 12-4

First of all, let me start off my saying, Happy Friday! I am sure there are plenty of you out there right now counting down the hours, or maybe the minutes until it is officially the weekend. With the weekend drawing near, I thought to myself, what better way to get the weekend going than with this Bombe Python Flat Clutch? I am a sucker for clutches; I honestly just love them. So, when I stumbled across this clutch, I had to share it with all of you! Obviously, the color of the clutch, purple, caught my eye first. I love sporting a clutch that completely makes my outfit pop and I feel this clutch could definitely do that. Whether you are wearing the perfect little black dress or your favorite pair of jeans and a cool top, this clutch could complete your outfit!

Now that I think about it, I have spent many nights recently glued to my couch watching the 2008 Olympics (I am pretty sure many of you have done the same thing). Usually around mid-week I begin thinking about weekend plans, and of course, what I might wear and which bag would go with the outfit best. So, I think it is time for me to have TiVo record tonight’s Olympic events and go out on the town. Now, if I could just have this clutch to take with me, I would be that much happier. The snakeskin material, magnetic snap flap closure and zip inside pocket just make me want the clutch even more. Plus, I like options and this clutch has a golden chain strap which can be stored in the bag. I rarely find myself using the strap, but it’s nice to have options. All I need to do is save a bit of cash and I can buy this fabulous clutch through Saks for $875.00.