Marc Jacobs Handbags

They say that there’s nothing new under the sun, and from time to time, as Megs & Co. are demonstrating today, this adage holds true in the handbag world as well. When faced with the need to blend practicality and style, how many different things can you really make?

So I present to you two bags: the Marc Jacobs Patchwork Amanda and the Versace Large Greek Key Shoulder Bag. Both are black patent leather, both have chain straps, both are kind of square and boxy, and both have large quilting over most of the bag. The styling is slightly different – Versace, naturally, makes everything in their line to be flashy and obvious, with their Greek motif forming the lines between the quilts. The Marc Jacobs bag is more fashionista friendly with more subtle styling and branding.

To me, the choice between these two is a no-brainer, and not just because the winner shares my name. The Marc Jacobs Amanda is much more elegant in its details and wearable in my wardrobe, and although not a complete original (Chanel did do pleats and chain straps first, after all), it’s still much preferable to its uninspired Versace cousin.

It’s rare that I take a vacation. Unfortunately, I wasn’t raised a traveler, and although I enjoy it, it’s rare that I actually DO it without a specific reason – someone to go see, something to attend, general fabulousness to spread. As it turns out, I have someone to go see in November, and I find myself fresh out of suitcases.

I feel like such an underachiever – suitcases are something that normal people have, right? I’ve blown through untold thousands of dollars of handbags in my time, but sadly, my only travel bag is a Vera Bradley duffel so worn out that it looks suspiciously like it was made out of old potholders (incidentally, the boy I am going to see is the one that pointed out that my bag looks like a potholder, and as much as I hate to admit that he’s ever right about anything, uh, it totally does).

I’ve got another complication to my situation – when I travel, I fly through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which is the busiest terminal in the known universe and a veritable sink hole for black Samsonite luggage. When we went on school trips, we were always provided with craft products – pipe cleaners, feathers, brightly colored tape – to label our bags and distinguish them from the dark, hulking masses of luggage that would be loaded on to our plane.

As a result, buying black luggage has always seemed like a terrible idea to me. Besides, utilitarian black bags are not really my style, and if I’m going to spend money on something, I’m going to get something HOT.

So, after a bit of a search, I’ve found a suitcase that I would be proud to call my own (and I would surely be able to spot on the luggage trolley): the Marc by Marc Jacobs Patent Wheely. Red is my absolute favorite color, and patent leather always seems like it resists stains and wear and tear better than the regular alternative. The design of the suitcase itself is simple enough, and it has the adorable printed lining that Marc by Marc Jacobs is known for. It also seems perfectly functional, with several large pockets and an automatic handle for wheeling. These may not be revolutionary features, but it’s always nice when a designer remembers the practical purpose of their product.

At $698, the price seems a bit steep to me, but if I was a more regular traveler and in the market for a new suitcase (that is also the correct dimensions for a carry-on!), this would, without a doubt, be at the top of my wish list.

Remember the Marc by Marc Jacobs Doctor’s Bag that Amanda got you all hyped up for? Well I fell for it too. It is purple, slouchy, and large. That is so me. But if the shape was not exactly you, the little sister of this bag is such a great option that I may very well convert many of you over to the Liz Riz.

Yes, a catchy little name, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Liz Riz Bag sports a hobo shape rather than the east/west shape. The only thing that I would like a little different is the signature nameplate, which is rather large. But the bag is typical of many Dr. designs from Marc Jacobs, featuring softly gathered leather, a fold-over top, and quirky scrambled logo lining. You know, now that I see this version, I realize it is much more fitting for me. Meaning, this is now the new Marc by Marc love of Purse Blog, that is unless Amanda puts up a big fight! Either purple or black available at Saks for $428.

I enjoy a quality, high fashion, luxurious tote as much as the next person, however, every now and then, I just want a tote that I can throw all my stuff in and just head out on a whim. The Miss Marc Goes Green Tote is just the kind of bag for this occasion. Sure, it is being advertised as a a grocery bag, but who doesn’t love a mulit-purpose bag? The tote can be swung over your shoulder as you head to the grocery store, farmers market, park or beach. The double handles, pocket on the inside and adorable picture of the penguin urging all those who see it to save the poles lured me in. At first glance I just thought about the practical implications of the bag, but as I began to think about it a bit more, I couldn’t help but find myself reminded about the environment and how each small action a person takes can actually help. I’m not going to get up on any sort of soap-box and get all “environmental” on you, but it does feel good to sport a bag that reminds me to do what I can to help save our Planet. Buy this tote for $158 through Saks.

At this point, we’ve seen the Marc Jacobs Stam in many incarnations. There were the original black and petrol quilted versions, way back in 2005. We’ve had oversized quilts, silver and blue python, and, for one season, the Stam Hobo (anyone know where I can still get one of these?). I myself have the traditional black version with the original suede lining, and it’s one of my favorite bags I’ve ever had – both men and women stop me to gawk at it, even though it’s 3 years old and has been ripped off a hundred times by a hundred other brands and stores.

What we’ve yet to see, though, is a regular, leather, UNQUILTED Stam. Well, ask and we shall receive, because that’s one of the things that Jacobs has up to bat for Fall/Winter 2008, by the name of the Marc Jacobs Sunburst Stam. I’ve been waiting for it to show up online for quite a while, and Saks finally has it up for presale today for $1395 in charcoal grey (grey, people, grey!). Read the full article...

Marc by Marc Jacobs Groovee Doctor’s Bag

Remember when Amanda brought you the luscious purple Marc by Marc Bag? You all loved it so much that the store sold out from Amanda’s post. Yes, that bag. That shade of regal purple that did not scream out pompous but left a perfectly good taste in your mouth is back! The Marc by Marc Jacobs Doctor’s Bag has showed up on Net A Porter’s UK side, meaning that our friends across the pond are the lucky ones this time. The interior is funky and the exterior is divine. Now, if only I lived in the UK and could grab this bag off of NAP! £365 via Net a Porter UK or eLUXURY.com.

I have to admit, I’m biased. I love the Marc by Marc Jacobs bag line. I’m not saying they don’t make some really weird looking stuff, because they do. They really do. But at least a few of their bags per season are really chic and wearable, and they invariably use super soft, thick leathers, which always feel much nicer to me than their sub-$500 price tags would suggest. I’m currently carrying an MbMJ Faridah hobo in ivory that I got last summer, and it’s still going strong even though it’s a very light color and I’m not very careful with my bags (read: I’m not careful at all with my bags).

I was infatuated with the Dr. Q satchel that they made last season (particularly its price tag – $498 for a bag Miu Miu would charge you $1200 for), but sadly, the only colors they made (black, grey, and ivory) were already represented in my wardrobe in some of my favorite bags (well, they also made a brown, but Amanda hates brown bags, which is a subject for another post).

I have been hoping against hope that the popularity of that bag would convince them to continue to make it for at least one more season, and last weekend, I walked in to Bloomingdale’s and saw that my dream had, in fact, come true. Not only had the remade the black and grey versions in a lighter weight, softer leather, but they had made a purple Marc by Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Groovee Handbag. PURPLE, people! Are you listening to me? Purple!

So when I got online to stalk it and write about it for you guys after I saw it, I couldn’t find it anywhere. Not a single website had it. Had I dreamt it? Was it a hallucination, like an oasis in a handbag desert? Are there really things out there to buy that can’t be found on the internet? I refused to believe it.

Early yesterday morning, though, the forum came through for me. Someone in the Marc Jacobs section had posted a link to a site that had them in stock online! So now, I feel required to share my find – the purple is beautiful, the leather is soft, and the bag is finally available to purchase. So go. Now. Because this color WILL sell out. $498 through Madison Los Angeles.

Marc Jacobs Key Pouch

Normally, I’m not one to encourage outrageously expensive “small leather goods.” $150 Louis Vuitton and Tiffany keychains, $300 iPod and iPhone cases, and $100 cell phone charms would usually make me want to stab people and rip my own hair out at their utter ridiculousness, but I have to make one exception.

One of the most useful things I’ve ever bought was my Marc Jacobs Key Pouch. Ranging in price from $125 for plain calf leather to $185 for Marc’s signature quilts, the price can seem steep for something no larger than a deck of cards.

I’ll be honest; I didn’t pay full price for mine, and they can be found on sale occasionally. If something happened to it, though, and I needed a new one, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay retail and replace it as quickly as possible.

These little things are ingenious – they attach to your keys and there’s enough room inside for at least a dozen cards. I’ve completely eliminated my need for a wallet, and since they hold my driver’s license and insurance card, the only things I really need to run to the grocery store are my keys and my cell phone. It also makes it much easier to switch out handbags, since I don’t have a bulky wallet to shove in to tiny clutches for going out at night.

I’ve also been blown away with the little guy’s durability – mine has been tossed around, abused, taken to dozens of football games, thrown on the floor, buried under piles of clutter, and been everywhere that my car keys go. It’s in a medium to light color (MJ’s denim blue from about 2 years ago), and the soft calf leather shows very little wear (and not a single loose thread). Also, since the zipper clicks into place on the front buckle, there’s no risk of the zipper loosening over time, sliding open, and your cards falling out all over the place.

My denim blue is no longer made (I’ve had mine for enough years to be sure of that), and if I had to replace it today, my pick would be the dark purple quilted leather, available through eLuxury for $185.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Magazine Clutch

Now this is a purse that I have been drooling over for quite some time. Simple, fun, and cheap, what more could you ask for? Ok, so there are a few aspects that I am sure many of you would love to see spiced up; no structure, quite flat, and simple, but these are the precise reasons I love this clutch! Marc Jacobs has been able to deliver with many of his accessories, and lately I have love for his Marc by Marc line, which means CHEAPER! I will take cheaper and cuter than the big sis line any day. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Magazine Clutch combines cream leather with beige contrast leather panels giving a vanilla frappuccino smooth look. The colors are ideal, and somehow reminiscent of an old world feel, but the inside is lined in fuchsia print lining which gives a new world look. The outside is minimalistic, making this retro bag current. I can’t explain it, but something about this bag has always had my attention and always seems to keep my attention. It does get hard to carry around a flat clutch, but my small hands could carry it perfectly and wear this bag from season to season. Buy through Net A Porter for $370.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Magazine Clutch detail shot

Marc Jacobs Rana Pouch

I have kept this Marc Jacobs Bag as a tab on my browser for weeks now, contemplating my thoughts on the bag. The thing is, I spotted it on Victoria Beckham in hot pink and thought it looked ok. Then again, Victoria Beckham (love her or hate her) can typically pull anything off and is Marc’s muse right now, sporting his clothing daily and bags here and there. Over the weekend Vlad and I ran into the Marc Jacobs Rana Pouch and I actually still felt ehh about it. A big ole ‘ehh’. While the Marc Jacobs Rana Pouch gives off a different appeal, pairing smooth kangaroo leather with an oversized golden frog accessory, the bag has not set me off one way or another. What I do know is that I most likely would not wear this pouch; I mean, where would I wear it to? It could be pulled off in South Beach, and really South Florida of all places, but it does not call to me. Fact of the matter is that many parts of the pouch make sense. The shape is ideal and hard to come by, making it an easy accessory for a night out with a removable rolled leather wristlet with a leather loop attachment. In fact, this shape is so little seen and so needed, for evening events and the like. The frog itself (rana in Spanish), is a quirky addition. And if any of you know why Marc choose to put a frog on this bag let me know, for I have no idea. Dimensions are 8″x 5.5″x 6″ and the bag is available in an eye-catching acid yellow or a simple black. Buy through eLuxury for $795.

So now I need your help; Fab or Drab?