Fendi Handbags and Purses (Page 8)

Remember back when Fendi Spy Bags were all the rage? Oh, the days of the “it” bag… anyways, enough reminiscing. Don’t fear, the Spy bag is still here! And though it’s still available in various styles, it’s this Fendi Violet Sequined Satin Small Spy Tote that jumps out at me. Why? First of all, it is gorgeous! I’m a huge fan of tiny sequined bags (or feathered bags like the Michael Teperson Feathered Flute Bag, if that tickles your fancy) that would be ideal for an elegant evening at an opera. But this Spy takes that concept and applies it to a larger, more rounded shape, which is what makes it so unique. You might be thinking, “But where would I wear such a bag? Certainly not at the opera!” To this I argue that this bag fits in a very small and specific niche of larger evening bags. Who hasn’t been frustrated that they could not fit everything into their minuscule clutches? That’s where this bag comes in- big enough for all your little necessities, but intricate and fancy enough for (sure, why not) the opera. And that’s why I love it. Buy through Bluefly for $2,020.

It’s a Fendi kind of day. Amanda posted earlier about the Fendi Beaded Clutch and it kind of inspired me a bit. She was dead on when she talked about Fendi’s glory days dating back to Sex and the City. This multicolored box clutch has what I certainly consider to be gorgeous hand stitched and painted cotton flower detailing.

With a satin front, black leather lining and silver tone trim, this clutch is surely a head turner. Besides the price, the only thing I am not a fan of is the fastening top; it just doesn’t fit with the rest of the bag. But, I might be able to look past that and go back to focusing on the fact that I actually found a flirty Fendi bag I wouldn’t mind carrying around. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2140.

Any time I see a bag like this from Fendi, I always get nostalgic for the early aughts and Sex and the City. Back then, baguettes ruled the handbag world and those four girls always had someplace to carry a sparkly, beaded, obnoxious bag (not to mention something fabulous with which to wear it). And despite the fact that I love the reminder of that period of time, I think that’s my chief criticism of the Fendi Beaded Clutch.

It feels just like Sex and the City did, which is to say it doesn’t feel new. Fendi, as a brand, seems to be stuck circa 1999 in their accessories department, and although the baguettes are an important part of handbag history, I wish they’d innovate a little more. The Spy bag was great, of course, and a lot of people liked the B-Bag, but if you’re only producing two popular handbags per decade, you need to get with the program. As a brand, they’ve got such amazing resources and possibilities, I’m not sure why they’re still living in the past. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2140.

The Fendi Spy Bag has been a longtime favorite here at Purse Blog. And by here at Purse Blog I mean with me. It was my first high-end designer handbag after starting Purse Blog and it was a major splurge. I cringed at the price tag, as I went from below the $1000/bag spending to over $2,000. I have a Honey Spy which I absolutely adore. The color is just right, the leather is smooshy, and the design I love. I am drawn to the Fendi Spy design as it is so entirely different from many other handbags. It is not a classic hobo, or tote, or satchel. It is truly its own shape. The handles are stunning, the hidden compartments are genius, I just love this bag! The Spy was huge a few years ago, it was one of the “it” bags. But is everyone over it now?

The Spy is one of the few Fendi handbags that truly had people going ga-ga. Wait lists piled up with people willing to shell out over $2,000 for a handbag. And a few years ago, not all handbags broke into the $2,000 range like they do today. Everyone HAD TO have their Spy bag, and Fendi caught on and released countless renditions of the Spy (mink, denim, beaded, jeweled, you name it!). But is the Spy fame over? After I saw this Black Fendi Spy Bag on Saks I thought how lonely it looked there. No “Sold Out” written underneath it. Just a hidden Spy bag looking rather lonely on the Saks website. Buy through Saks for $2,250.

What do you think about the Spy Bag: Love it or Leave it?

Alright, I’ll admit it. I haven’t been overly friendly to Fendi in the past. You might even say I’ve been critical; some would say overly critical. I just say honest. But not only is the Fendi Sfilata Divided Satchel a major It Bag for spring, but I actually love it. It has its faults, don’t get me wrong. Most obviously, that it looks an awful lot like an Hermes Kelly. But the Kelly is a timeless shape, and one that many other brands have bogarted (I’m looking at you, Chanel), so you can hardly blame Fendi for giving us their own version. Theirs has a bit of slouch and distressing to it that the Hermes model is certainly not known for, and it may be designed in a way that is actually a good bit more functional. Instead of a flap, the Sfilata Satchel has a turnlock closure on both sides and what appears to be a fairly rigid divider down the middle (or perhaps only the top is rigid – hard to tell). For all of you organized women out there (of which I am certainly not one), something like this has to be a great way to help keep your purse neat and tidy, especially compared to a giant slouchy hobo that turns into a handbag black hole and eats your stuff (which describes, oh, basically all of my bags). At nearly $2600, I can’t call this purse inexpensive, but compared to the traditional Kelly option at more than twice that, it might be a downright bargain. Buy through Saks for $2590.

Is this just a waste of perfectly good python? I don’t know, maybe it is me, but something doesn’t seem right here. The Fendi Python Baguette Bag uses gorgeous python but also uses too many colors. Or maybe not? I am thinking that you would have to wear a very very very simple outfit with this handbag. I will say that if you do wear, perhaps, your favorite little black dress, this handbag could be a gorgeous accent. Yet, I fear that upon closer inspection, the bag is still a miss. The shoulder bag has detachable straps and gold hardware. So, help me out here (but ignore the price, for this help), what do you think about this bag? And now to the gasp factor, the price. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $3200.

What? What is this that I see? Might it be a Fendi handbag worth looking at? I’ve found myself trying to rationalize why Fendi goes in certain directions. But I am getting to the point where I am beginning to think this is not a brand you can always make sense of. However, I will say, I am totally liking the sleek design on the Fendi Satin Forever Clutch. In fact, I would dare to say that I might actually love this clutch! First and foremost, as I’ve already mentioned, this handbag is sleek. The fine satin and patent leather trip with gold metal hardware all work extremely well together. Then, add the flap top with two securing double F-fasteners (which are totally understated and thus extremely elegant) round the clutch out. Open the clutch and you will find a two-compartment interior with a patch pocket and more gorgeous satin lining. Of course, you might be saying “nice clutch, but grey is too boring”, fear not, it comes in a bold red too! Buy through eLuxury for $835.