Balenciaga Handbags and Purses

We’ve been diligently working on putting together Holiday Gift Guides that should help everyone figure out what handbag to give or receive this season. Somehow, though, I didn’t find the right gift guide to add this little number to, but it is worth its own post.

It’s no secret that I am a BBag admirer and carrier and while I love the classic-sized City bag, the Balenciaga Arena Giant Hip is too hip to pass up. I’m always telling you how I love a crossbody bag, and more often than not, I go out and don’t need to carry that many items. For days like that, a small bag with a long strap is as perfect as it gets. → Read More

In case you’re already sacked out at home and your trigger finger is getting itchy (or you’re still at work for reasons that no one can really explain and absolutely bored to death and ready for some online shopping), we’ve got some exciting new collection news for you – Balenciaga Holiday 2011 is now available for your ordering pleasure from Balenciaga.com.

This collection is particularly handy if you’d like to get a jump on the pastels trend that dominated the Spring 2011 runways. With powdery shades of dove grey, lavender and baby blue, no messy ladies need apply. Just looking at these lovely bags in Balenciaga’s new, more matte Hamilton goatskin leather is forcing me to mentally push all my dark-wash jeans to the back of my closet; color transfer is not to be fooled with. Check out some of our picks from the collection after the jump. (Really, make the jump, if only to see the Gris Poivre bag. Swoon.) → Read More

One of my absolutely favorite bags that I own is my Balenciaga Giant City in Anthracite with Rose Gold Hardware. This bag took me what feels like eons to finally find and accept to be my first leather Balenciaga Bag. The reason for this is the color conundrum. While being known for their colors, Balenciaga has a way to find hues that literally change like mood rings in different lighting, and you need to see the bag up close to know that it is the color you desire. I thought I found the perfect BBag before, a Seigle Giant City, but I ended up returning it since the bag was more taupe in person than tan. But when I opened the box to unveil this Anthracite BBag, my heart was immediately taken and this bag has fast become one of my absolute favorite bags that I own. Click to see how my Balenciaga Giant City scores!

Balenciaga A4 Papier Tote, $2795 via Barneys

…and then I saw the fur-trimmed version of the Balenciaga A4 Papier Tote, and I knew I had been mistaken all along. Today is a sad day in the life of this Balenciaga fangirl, PurseBloggers. → Read More

Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket, $2,865 via Barneys

Wednesday has come and almost gone, but the only thing I have on my mind is how much I want this Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket. I have always known of its existence and have always had a feeling I would like one myself, but this version of the jacket has my heart going boom boom boom.

And get this, I want the purple one. I don’t know what is making me want a purple leather jacket other than the fact that Balenciaga perfects colors and the hue is just enough to make the jacket totally interesting while remaining wearable. Perfect to pair with skinny jeans, a dress, maxi skirt, or just about anything, a Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket would become an instant wardrobe staple. And this dear readers is why I want it oh-so-badly. Buy via Barneys for $2865.

Images via Vogue.com

I always feel good about buying a Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag for a couple of reasons, first and foremost because I’ve loved every one that I’ve ever owned. Almost as important, though, is that the overwhelming retail success of those bags makes it possible for Balenciaga creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere to do what he does without quite as much pressure to make a collection that will sell well at retail. He does his best work when he’s at his most conceptual, and conceptual clothes are usually not retail darlings.

I’d encourage all of you to take a look through the entire Balenciaga Spring 2012 collection because, let’s face it, Ghesquiere is that good, but you’ll get an idea of what was going on just from the bags. Half were ultraminimal two-tone shoulder bags and boxy shapes, and the other half were the kind of smallish bags that we’ve come to expect from the accessories industry in general, but with a very Balenciaga twist. Straps and buckles jut out from spots where you don’t expect, creating a counterintuitive look that still functions as you think such a bag should. → Read More

I know I’ve asked before, but seriously, where did summer go? School is no longer out for the summer; it’s back in session and the month of August is nearly gone. I spent much of the season traveling on short weekend getaways, and each time I began packing I ran into the same problem: I don’t have an overnight bag that I love. Large luggage with rolling wheels is in a very different category from spacious but efficient large duffel bags; one is much harder to find than the other.

Of course Balenciaga has an answer for my travel bag woes, and in a bright, eye-catching fluorescent color at that. With small details that are oh-so-Balenciaga, the Voyage 24H in Rose Fluo is a statement piece for every girl who loves a quick escape. → Read More

We don’t often get a peek behind the scenes at the business and logistical decisions that go into making our favorite handbags a reality, but thanks to a recent Women’s Wear Daily interview with Balenciaga genius Nicolas Ghesquiere, we now know a little bit more about one of the most popular bag designs in the modern accessories world: The Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag.

Namely, we know that it almost never existed in the first place. Ghesquiere tells WWD that he made the prototype at the behest of company brass, and they dismissed it as too soft, too lightweight and too lacking in structure. As it turns out, all the things that they thought would make it unpopular are what make the design so beloved. Those of us who have loved and adored our fair share of Balenciaga bags over the years have one group of people to thank for it: Models. → Read More