Messenger Bags

It appears as though a major designer is finally getting real about what the economic downturn might mean to their handbag business, and not in any small way. The Burberry Leather Messenger Bag is part of a line of several bags that the brand has put out this season with price tags dramatically lower than their normal leather offerings would be. This one, for example, is priced at staggeringly low (for a brand like Burberry) $375.

And although the bag may be fairly simple in design, it doesn’t seem like an afterthought to me. The finish of the leather reminds me of the crinkly bags that Prada has released this season, except this bag is slightly more matte and the shoulder strap allows it to be worn as a very chic oversized shoulder bag or across the body. Good design doesn’t necessarily mean extra complications, and based on this line from Burberry, it also doesn’t mean exorbitant prices. This may not be the most exciting bag that any of us have ever seen, but I think the price point is cause to celebrate indeed. Buy through Saks for $375.

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.

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.

In our past two Gossip Girl discussions, we’ve had at least one poster ask about the messenger that Dan sports in the series - it’s vintage-looking, non-bulky, and actually pretty chic (for a manbag). And truth be told, I have no idea what it is or where it came from. Even on an enormous website like Zappos that carries hundreds of brands, only a handful of results appear when looking for a brown leather messenger (and most of them are for women). Perhaps society is trying to discourage our male counterparts from sporting man purses, or maybe brown just isn’t a big color for men this season. Honestly, I have no idea - I didn’t expect my search to be nearly so futile. I did find one bag that I thought Mr. Dan Humphrey might like, even though it’s obviously not the one that he has in the series: the Salvatore Ferragamo Nomad Messenger Bag. Its details are understated, its leather looks worn and saddle-like, and the silver buckles are just simple enough to not make you question the wearer’s sexuality (not that a manbag should make you do that in the first place). Brooklyn-dwelling teenager Dan would have to sell his sister Jenny into white slavery to afford it, though: it’s a bit steep, but buy through Saks for $1,900.

I have told you all before that one of my go-to-bags for the summer has been the Bird Handbags Ostrich Lil Lady. From the moment I laid eyes on the shape of the bag I was sold completely. And I still love it every time I wear it. The slouchy bag just throws over my shoulder when I am running errands. And the bag can be described as hippie-chic, which is not technically my style (more Shannon’s), but nevertheless I love the bag. Now for those that have asked, would I recommend the bag, yes. But there are some stipulations; I do not think it should be priced so high. But if you love it, go for it!

Anyhow, there is a new messenger bag from Halston that closely resembles my handbag of the summer, except for it is even more over-priced and has even less of any sort of appeal. The Halston Zai Messenger Bag uses the same slouchy long strap look that I have fallen for, but the overall implementation falls below par. Not just a bit under the mark, completely under. I do not understand this bag and I understand the price tag even less. This messenger bag is made of suede, which I find to be completely impractical for most purposes. Suede is so hard to keep clean, even a dark color like this brown will show wear in the corners. And the dirt will pile, and it will be seen too. There is just nothing special, not the material, not the look on the mannequin, and the price is out of this world. The overall product is a big pile of brown suede blah. So if you have $2,495 to spend, I will tell you to spend it elsewhere. Available through Net A Porter for $2,495.

Tod’s Goa Messenger Media

Tod’s bags are synonymous for their elegant and timeless style. If you are looking for a handbag that will transcend throughout many seasons to come, turning to Tod’s is one of the best answers. But I love to see Tod’s take a little risk. Sure, not a huge risk, but a little risk is always nice because it may pay off. The Tod’s Goa Messenger Media takes a different approach with the double layer braided shoulder strap and ruching on the sides. The back of the bag features gathered folds. Available in ink blue smooth grained leather, the color is a subtle and stunning option that will transfer from season to season. There is polished silver metal hardware and metal tipped ties on the side. I actually really am drawn to this bag. It is subtle yet different. And while it is not shockingly different, it gives the perfect little change to the clean lines we know for Tod’s. Buy through eLuxury for $1,800.

Mulberry Antony Messenger Bag

I have been a fan of this Mulberry bag from day one. It is small, practical, and cute. It is like the perfect tourist bag and the perfect bag if you do not have young children. Because while the dimensions of the Mulberry Antony Messenger Bag are decent (8″W x 10.5″H x 3″D), they are not quite large enough for the woman with young children who require hoards of carry-ons. This bag features black leather and golden hardware. The top has a flap closure with a clasp fastening, which is easy enough to get in and out of, and an adjustable canvas shoulder strap (18.5″ drop). When I say this is a great tourist bag, I mean for the tourist that is sensible. If you ever travel with me, you will notice, that I carry every single possible-possibility I may need. If you need Advil, an inhaler, Benadryl, 15 different lip glosses, three wallets, camera, batteries, map, water bottle, snack, etc. You can be assured that traveling with me means if there is a power outage and we are stuck in an elevator, we will be good for at least three days. So while this bag is not suitable for my travel needs (or daily needs for that matter), there are people out there much more practical when it comes to packing that this could work for. It is also great for the younger crowd that just does not need that big of a bag. Buy through NAP for $395.

There was a very prominent love hate relationship with the Prada Fringe Bags (as seen on Victoria Beckham). Upon first look, the bag looked like a horrible Cousin It. But then it began to grow on me, and I will openly admit that after seeing it on Victoria Beckham I loved it. Loved it on her, but I do not look like her, so it did not look as smashing on me. And the price was high. I am a fan of fringe here and there. Not everywhere by any means and really, I do not like it on clothing for the most part. But you can add a little touch of fringe without going overboard. The only way I would do this is if the price was low enough and the bag looked ok; that way I could wear it here or there and it would justify the price I spent on it. This is precisely what the Antik Batik Juddy Fringed Bag does; it gives the fringe that I am looking for at a price that is beyond reasonable. Finally, someone got it right. If you are going to go out on a limb and add fringe, which is very seasonal and not always widely accepted, do so in a way that makes the bag affordable for it going in and out of style. This bag features chocolate leather with fringe and a brass beaded charm. The bag has a braided strap, flap closure, and can be worn across the body. So if there is a country night at one of your favorite bars or you are on your way out in boots and a plaid shirt, this bag can give you the hippie deluxe trend that is in for now. Buy through NAP for $290.

How many of you are starting a new year of school? My cousin is going to be a freshman in college, and has been on a search for the perfect tote. I was the student who carried around a Prada Nylon Messenger Bag, which at a Big 10 School was a tad over the top, but I loved it and found it to be super practical. A school bag should be different than your friends, with a look and feel that is inherently yours. I love the Jas MB Cracked Leather Tote because it appears to look worn in while still offering a cool ivory cracked leather with a perfectly practical detachable canvas strap. The brown accents are perfect against the ivory leather, and because the leather is given a distressed look, if it gets a little dirty it will only add to the worn-in-appeal. There is an option of two top handles. To throw in your necessities, there is a small zip fastening compartment on the front, and a large zip fastening across the front. Dimensions are ideal for a school bag, 16.5″ W x 16.5″ Handle drop x 12.5″ H x 6″ D. The price is great; buy through Net A Porter for $525.

After splitting with John Mayer, Jessica Simpson went back to her blond hair and kept the casual style. Only this time, everything is piecing together perfectly and Jessica has learned to pull of casual chic as a perfect 10. Perfectly fitting for her laid back style, Jessica Simpson has been seen sporting the Blur Mail Bag which sports a vintage appeal with the distressed appearance of the leather. A special process is taken to make the leather have the weathered feel, as it is ‘processed in special wooden barrels and then hand polished in factories in Italy which brings out the atypical wrinkles, imperfections and differences of tone that you see in each unique bag’. The everyday messenger bag is perfect to wear across the body, measuring 19″ x 12″. Purchase the bag at the ever fabulous Shop Intuition for $695.

See pics of the bag and more of Jessica sporting it below!
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