Totes

Holiday shopping has me realizing there are way too many choices out there. Really, how many Spiderman action figures can there be? Psychology studies show that the amount of choices hinder our lifestyles and add more stress. Bah Humbug! When it comes to handbags, I do not believe it- but when it comes to O shaped cereal, I do! Let me introduce to you Bown designs by the lovely Judy Bown. As for a little background about Judy, she is the British designer behind this exciting new online collection. She previously designed for Mulberry, Asprey and Tanner Krolle in London,and Coach and Tocca in New York, before starting up her own company. And so I bring you the Bown City Tote which is clean spacious, and mixes between business chic and everyday street. Large enough for your laptop, this tote measures 30 × 30 × 15cm. Longer handles are perfect for carrying the bag on your shoulder and there are three internal brass loops to keep all accessories safe and easy to reach. The Rhubarb color is divine, a mixture of pink, red, and cream. Via Bown online for $1274.

Black is said to be slimming, so does that make white fattening? Ok, that was sarcastic but I know white is quite a bit harder to pull off than black. Outfit wise, stick to black if you are at all unsure of a white ensemble. Instead, chose to accessorize with white which undoubtedly will not make your hand look like it needs to hit the gym. White is perfect for winter and an everyday tote such as the Anya Hindmarch Elrod Large Leather Handbag adds clean appeal with quirky details. This handbag is made with white leather and stands out because of its single shoulder strap that is attached with large hooks on either end. These hooks do not make a full 360 degree closure, rather form a C-shape with large round closures. A zip fastening pocket on the back, AH on the front, and brown stitched trim, finishes off this tote. Modern, clean, and sleek defines this bag and defines a style that keeps your mind un-cluttered in our already hectic lives. Via Net-A-Porter for $975 (yeah under 4 digits!!)

The bitter winter cold hasn’t taken over yet and the Resort lines are already ready for our ogling pleasure. The Yves Saint Laurent Resort Line has made its way to Saks and boasts many familiar looks with a few new designs. Bright color is not emphasized in this line but the clean designs speak for themselves. The Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Tote is available in different sizes and material (medium or large and leather or canvas). The leather tote features cervo montana leather with goldtone hardware, buckle detail, and double top handles straps. Dimensions of this supple medium tote are 14″H X 17″L X 7″W, which shows the tote is completely practical and large enough for everyday use. The canvas tote is available in a rustic sage canvas with leather trim with goldtone hardware and buckle detail. The inside of the canvas tote sports canvas lining. Price wise I would opt for the leather tote; it seems you get more bang for your buck. Both are available for pre-order. Leather tote $1395 through Saks while the canvas tote is $1095 through Saks.

A while back I mentioned that unsymmetrical objects nearly drive me up the wall. I was recently at a work meeting and my co-worker set up our ‘props’ so to speak. The set up was not symmetrical on the table and I felt an awful twitch and sense of OCD come over my body. Nevertheless I fixed the ‘props’ and we won the client. Yes, it was all because of me But for some reason this D&G Dolce & Gabbana Multi Tonal Leather Weekend Bag sports asymmetrical pockets on the front of the bag (a long zipped pocket on the front paired with a snapped ouch pocket) and I can handle it. I must be overcoming my OCD because I am handling the pockets quite well. The multi tonal grained leather and aged brass hardware makes this bag casual. I am not sure about the color- from my end online it looks fine- but in person these lighter brown and darker brown combo has the chance to resemble something we would never want out bag to look like. On the inside there is floral cotton lining. This bag measures 20″ x 14.5″ x 10″. I’m not really excited about this bag (or color combo) but I am excited that I am handling the pocket combo. Via eLuxury for $625.

I have never talked about Henry Beguelin here, but today I shall. While browsing the Neiman Marcus website I came across a handbag by this designer. Upon researching the brand a little, I learned in the early 80’s this brand was born by a group of friends creating belts and bags out of natural cowhide and recycled materials on the island of Elba. Now if you are not familiar with Elba, it is a beautiful island off of Italy (the kind of place you dream to go). There Henry Beguelin was born and today I bring you the Henry Beguelin Star Tote. This tote is roomy and emanates the idea of practicality using lush natural dark brown cowhide. Back leather trim lines the outside of the bag along with silver metal hardware and top handles with a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is really great (especially if you are on an across body bag fix like I am). The horn closure and keeper adds detail to the bag. Finishing the bag off is the signature hand-stitched stick figure on front, which is so tiny on the bag but really adds a cute touch. Buy the bag via Neiman Marcus for $1195 and tell me if you think this new designer is a Yay or Nay.

After last seasons release of the YSL Muse, I have still been eyeing one for myself. Just when I nearly broke down and bought one, YSL came out with an even better version of the already hot YSL Muse. Lindsay Lohan has never disappointed me with her handbag selection, rather it is the one part of her life that I can truly say I am jealous over. Sporting her newly broken wrist and cast, Lindsay Lohan was seen carrying the new Black Anthracite YSL Reversible Muse Tote. Opting for the anthracite silver during the day, Lohan made her way through the crowd with a bag that makes me drool. Also, this bag is available in chocolate, which can be reversed to bronze to jazz it up. This bag is so hot I can barely stand it. Get on the waitlist for this sure to be ‘it’ bag via YSL.

Sorry for the watermark, I know it is not cute- but X17 has great photos!

Many associate Stella McCartney with being the creative director of the house of Chloe in Paris back in 1997 or have visited one of her flagship stores around the world or know her as the vegetarian who refuses to use leathers or furs in her products. No matter how you know Stella, from a young age she has been a blooming fashion designer. The Stella McCartney Large Traveler is animal friendly being made with 60% PVC, 20% polyester, 15% cotton; 5% polyurethane fabric. Antiqued golden hardware combines perfectly with denim blue fabric. Casual chic adds shoulder straps with rings, buckled sides, and a zip top closure with logo-embossed pull tabs. Stella McCartney has truly paved her way through the fashion world, but this bag is too pricey for what you are given in my opinion. Available via Bergdorf Goodman for $995.

I am a blogger. Yet when people ask me if I blog, I kind of nod my head because I truly consider what Vlad and I do more of webmastering than blogging. But Wikipedia says that a blog is a “type of website where entries are made (such as in a journal or diary), displayed in a reverse chronological order”. Ok, so I blog. And I chuckle while I say this because the name of my website is Purse Blog- that should be a dead giveaway that I am a blogger. Yet many people are raging against the mainstream technology world of blogging. Go on and rage with a bag that shows you will defy the world of blogging with a bag that makes the statement. The ‘I do not have a blog’ Tote Bag combines 100% cotton canvas with a 22″ reinforced self-fabric handles and the phrase of those who are going against the norm of the blogging world on the front. Hey, more power to you if you do not blog or know someone who truly cringes at the thought of blogging. Easy to care, this bag is machine washable and measures 15″ x 18″ x 6″. While it is not the hottest handbag out there, it is a great gift (gag gift even) for a mere $17.99 via Cafe Press.

Yesterday was a day full of exploring the Village and SoHo. I am not going to lie; I spent a pretty penny and wished I had quite a few more to spend. The area is lined with store after store of designer goods. I checked out Chanel SoHo to only fall in love with the unpractical and pricey Chanel Luggage. What I did notice was for every posh woman there was a gorgeous bag. I carried my Chloe Paddington Tote proudly but started to drool at an exotic bag I saw. A beautifully tall and skinny blonde lady passed by me quickly carrying a Black Croc Birkin. No lies- it was STUNNING. But I haven’t won the lotto and I can’t afford a beauty like that anytime soon. So in order to appease my croc obsession, Nancy Gonzalez offers crock bags for a bite more affordable price. The Nancy Gonzalez Latticework Crocodile Tote is designed with black crocodile latticework and a croc top handle. Exotic and different, this bag is available through Bergdorf Goodman for $1350.

Who doesn’t have a hobby? I feel pretty safe to assume that we all have had at least one hobby in our lives and most likely dabbled with many more. I can laugh at it now, but I loved Ninja Turtles. What little girl does that?! I collected them and had a collectors carrying case. That may be much of the reason why my family laughs at me now for being such a fashion guru. Kate Spade has put hobbies to the test with some of her bags. The Kate Spade Hobby Gardening Tote boats a gardening theme screen print on the cotton canvas bag. The tote looks like it would fit perfectly under the arm and you really could take it out to your garden with you. Actually, if you lived in Germany for example, you could take it to your Strebergarten. There are four exterior slide pockets and the interior is lined with cotton twill and has a double slide pocket and zip pocket. The tote measures 10 1/2″h x 15 3/4″w x 7 3/4″d and is available via Kate Spade online for the sale price of $123.

But if you love going on weekend picnics, you may want to opt for the Kate Spade Hobby Picnic Tote. Showing off a screen print fork, knife, and spoon, this could be the perfect picnic basket-bag that you may be looking for. Also marked down via Kate Spade for $123.