It’s rare that a designer with as big of a name and as much of a reputation for trend-setting as Proenza Schouler makes anything that is both functional and reasonably affordable, which is why Megs and I have been fans of the Proenza Schouler PS1 Wallet since the very beginning. It was originally planned as a limited edition piece to celebrate the launch of Proenza’s web store, but they were so popular that the brand has been producing the wallets ever since, most of them at the very reasonable price of $165. (more…)

Proenza Schouler Python Suede PS1 Bag, $3645 via Barneys

As regular readers have probably noticed, Megs and I have different personal styles. I tend more toward black, she tends more toward brown. She usually chooses hippie-ish details, I prefer industrial finishes. Our tastes overlap more than you’d think, considering those big differences, and one place that we’re always able to meet in the middle is over our shared love for everything Proenza Schouler – especially the handbags.

That’s why it didn’t surprise me when yesterday, Megs turned her laptop around to show me a bag she was drooling over and it just so happened to be the same one that I had stared at for what seemed like hours a few days prior – the Proenza Schouler Python Suede PS1 Bag. Just…look at it. (more…)

Fendi Cracked Suede Baguette, $990 in blue or silver via Bergdorf Goodman

For an entire generation of women (of which I’m a part), the Fendi Baguette was the first It Bag to penetrate our collective consciousness. Indeed, many fashion people count its popularity as the dawn of the entire It Bag concept, and I probably have its existence to credit, at least in small part, to my current employment. In handbag history, the role of this little Fendi bag can’t be overstated.

Like anything, though, the heady days of Sex and the City passed and the Baguette fell out of favor to make way for the Chloe Paddington, the Fendi Spy and all the other must-have, “ungettable get” bags that followed. The fashion industry is endlessly cyclical, though, and eventually everything old is new again. Nearly 15 years after its launch, is it time for the Fendi Baguette’s second act? (more…)

The Row Leather and Suede Doctor Bag, $4750 via Net-a-Porter

Ambition is a laudable characteristic in American culture, but when it crosses over into hubris, people’s reactions start to change from positive to negative. Although the buying public might approve of a young designer trying new things that necessitate a somewhat steep price tag, the attitude changes when the young designers in question are filthy rich former child stars and the prices are reminiscent of Hermes and other venerable, historical houses that have earned their reputations and price tags over the span of generations.

That, of course, is the story behind bags like The Row Leather and Suede Doctor Bag. With a price tag of nearly five grand and no exotic leather in sight, the line has generated as much negative chatter as positive among handbag lovers. When you put the price out of your mind, though, this bag is actually a downright lovely accessory. (more…)

Isabel Marant Melly Embroidered Bag, $1235. Isabel Marant Malou Emebellished Suede Clutch, $1080. Both via Net-a-Porter.

Watch out, I’m about to commit fashion blasphemy: I find Isabel Marant a bit tedious. I like her clothing on an aesthetic level, of course. There’s a reason that every supermodel and editor this side of Berlin is photographed wearing Marant almost constantly; her work is impeccable. But between her revulsion over women with breasts and her tone-deaf appropriation of the prints of native cultures that the Western world has almost entirely obliterated, she seems hell-bent on inhabiting every negative French stereotype that comes to mind.

That being said, I would wear the beads off of that burgundy bag up there. The Isabel Marant Malou Embellished Suede Clutch. Yep, and I’d hate myself a little bit for it. Why do people who annoy me have to make such pretty things sometimes? (more…)

Pierre Hardy Leather Clutch, $700. Pierre Hardy Suede and Patent Shoulder Bag, $1350. Both via Net-a-Porter.

For most of you, Pierre Hardy isn’t a new name by a long shot. The French designer is largely famous for his footwear, and his gloriously modern wedges in particular are what garner most of the (well-deserved) attention that comes his way. But what about Hardy’s handbags?

His bags have been a cult favorite for years, but more and more retailers seem to be amenable to the charms of Hardy’s bold, graphic designs. Particularly in the face of colorblocking and New Minimalism, the collection’s omnipresent thick, contrasting leather trim and limited hardware fit right in with what’s going on in the industry now. Several Pierre Hardy bags just popped up on Net-a-Porter for fall; you can check out larger pictures of my favorites after the jump. (more…)

Loewe Amazon Bag, $1760 via Matches. Furla Camargue Bauletto Satchel, $495 via Nordstrom.

I didn’t take much of a shine to the Loewe Amazona Bag until I saw one in person, but since I did, my borderline-obsessive interest in the brand has yet to falter. Loewe’s leather really is something that needs to be experienced to be understood; I’ve yet to see a photo that accurately depicts the simple beauty of one of the brand’s bags.

The problem, of course, is that not only is Loewe prohibitively expensive for the average consumer, but trying to find one of its bags in-store is the stuff of slight mental breakdowns. I’ve only seen them two places: Bergdorf Goodman, which has only one location (New York), and Jeffrey, which has only two (New York and Atlanta). The brand’s website has e-commerce, but doesn’t ship to the US. So what’s a girl with a limited budget and limited access to Loewe do? Find a Look for Less – how about the Furla Camargue Bauletto Satchel? (more…)

I think of myself as something of a maximalist; the outfits I like the best are often the outfits in which nothing matches and everything stands out on its own. That’s also a quick way to look like a complete crackhead, but hey, I bought foot-long neon pink feather earrings yesterday. I got over any self-consciousness or fear of looking silly a long time ago.

Predictably, I am not a shoe-to-purse matcher. Not even close. What’s more, the practice of matching all of your accessories to each other strikes me as something that the retail industry cooked up a long time ago as a way to sell more stuff to a single customer. But what about you? My sense of style is hardly monolithic or “correct” in any way. Do you take a more positive approach to matching? Have you ever bought shoes because they were made to match your new bag?

If you like blue suede and matching accessories, the Alexander McQueen Chanter Studded Hobo and Alexander McQueen Skull Platform Pumps might be your speed. You can get them both, for $3150 and $1195 respectively, via Neiman Marcus. (more…)

Reed Krakoff Leather and Wool Boxer Tote, $990 via Net-a-Porter.

I’ve heaped a lot of praise on Reed Krakoff recently, and all of it is genuine; every time I see one of the man’s bags (and increasingly, his shoes as well), my credit card runs and hides. It just knows. I’m still trying to coax it out from under my bed after laying eyes on the gorgeous Reed Krakoff Boxer Leather and Wool Tote. This shape has become the young brand’s signature, and this mixture of textures and shades might just be the best one so far, particularly when you consider the price. (more…)

I’ll be the first to admit that I appreciate a dose of absurdism in my life. I like weird movies and funny hats and people who wear bowties to daytime events without a note of irony. The weirdness that people bring to everyday life almost always makes me think that humanity might be ok after all, which is probably why the Les Petits Joueurs Mondrian Lego Suede Clutch makes me smile. Except for the price, naturally. (more…)

Christian Louboutin Sweet Charity Glittered Shoulder Bags, $795 and $995 via Neiman Marcus.

We’re longstanding fans of the Christian Louboutin Sweet Charity Bags, which come in virtually every size, color and texture that you could think of, and the advent of the Christian Louboutin Sweet Charity Glittered Bags only makes our affection for the line grow. The structured shape and signature metal bow mean that the design is a perfect candidate for an evening out, and these two miniature sizes make that dream a reality. (more…)