Lanvin Love

To continue my anti-backpack crusade, this classy Lanvin bag could perch next to your Tory Burch flats (or dare I say...Jack Rogers??) during Comparative Politics.

The upstanding soon-to-be law student's brown leather bag:

Dear Danae Foldover Tote

It can be folded over for use on the weekend as handbag or the clutch can be detached for a casual night.  Check out the contrasting tan on the other side – love all the practical details.

Purposeful Purses

These fortune cookie-shaped purses are a bit overdue for the Chinese New Year...it would be cute to give out these out instead of red envelopes. Even better than their Asian appeal (and the fortune printed on the inside of them), they're made from leather leftover from various textile projects. Similar to Whole Foods posting signs for customers to trace how meat and fish were raised, purse buyers can trace the origins of their leather by the stamp on the purse

Off-beat designs meet functionality in Otaat bags. Each bag is smartly designed for a certain purpose. Love how the architect's bag accommodates binders. Where's the college girl's version?

Backpack Predicament

Nothing ruins a campus-cutesy outfit like a backpack. I especially love when I see my friend M in a cute dress and tights and boots...and then I see the monstrosity that is her LL BEAN storm blue Loch Ness monster imposing on her back and otherwise pushing her lovely outfit into my periphery. It is a true travesty.

Even worst: the two bag-offenders. Yes, I know you're taking 18 credits and president of 5 clubs and you're doing cancer research and starting a non-profit and so you have to carry all your various outfit changes and very smart-looking books.  How about working on your bag situation?

I love this first Gucci bag. I've always loved white bags...what better way to usher in spring?

This neutral Anya Hindmarch will go with anything...

Although both bags are a bit outside of my current bag budget of...zero dollars and zero cents, I'm loving the idea of carrying a smaller bag with room for your laptop or notebook, a book, and organizer. I'm not super productive when I carry stuff for 10 different tasks and find myself calm and more mentally collected if I have a set of doable tasks immediately in my beautiful leather shoulder bag. Cheers to simplicity and luscious leather!

Guilt Noir

Gilt Groupe provides access, by invitation only, to men's, women's and children's coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices, per the company, of up to 70% off retail. Equestrian Sailor and I post lots of items from their sales. They often have very expensive items, thousands of dollars. I always wondered who was buying the $9,000 Chanel necklaces and vintage bags, I thought the site was mainly girls like myself trying to find good deals on high fashion.



That is until I discovered the elite Gilt Groupe: Gilt Noir. Gilt Noir is reserved for the top .01% of its customers. The founders Maybank & Wilson, considered only shoppers who spent at least $10,000 on Gilt's site per year. The members of Gilt Noir have access to sales 15 minutes sooner than all the rows at Gilt Groupe. Noir members also get invites to other special events and closed sales.


Another Noir on Gilt, I found this Bottega look alike for only $125.00. I know equestrian sailor will be happy about this find.



http://noirjewelry.com/

Ava Rose clutches

I love silver and white combo, corner accents, contrast piping, and asymmetrical flap..at ideeli for 62! That's 70% off:)

Coach

I will likely never buy a Coach bag again...but I admire the brand's inventiveness to project its luxury status while appealing (and being attainable) to the masses. The clutch was a perfect way to draw in customers (and teenagers) who are unlikely to drop a few hundred on a handbag...they can transition into more expensive Coach goods. The Poppy brand and the other collections that constantly change every few months area great way to continuously draw people into stores and test the market. Once Coach find something that sells, they make more, sell more and repeat!

The service at the Coach factory stores is just as attentive and "luxury" as in any other high-end store...another great way to pull people into the Coach brand. When I bought my Coach boots, they took them in the back to wrap them up. Can't lie, I liked the feeling of service that's all about you.

Coach recently collaborated with 4 fashion bloggers to design limited edition bags...wow, what a great idea. Some of these bags deviate a little from the typical Coach bag, drawing in non-Coach shoppers. Especially, because some of these blogs have a large reader base.

^
the glamourai's drawstring pouch is my fav

Second place goes to
cupcakes and cashmere's
satchel >

The other two bloggers are Karla's Closet and What is Reality Anyway...and are also worth checking out.

BCBG double chain bag

Cross-body shoulder bags have replaced the clutch.  This BCBG bag has double chain detail and cool stitching on the leather.  I love it in red, but the mustard also pops.  At 6pm for only $60!

Summer Messenger Bag

Love this Tory Burch Messenger Bag, especially the leather tassel, so cute! It also comes in black, but they used the same camel and gold decal and it does not look as nice.



$395.00

Want: Derek Lam Bucket Bag

This is my ultimate school bag.  It's simple but has the flyest details: asymmetrical pocket, tassel, gold hardware, and chain.  At 10" x 17" x 10," you could fit a laptop and a few notebooks in here.  Works for me!  The smaller version is also lovely, but I love the elongation of the nude-colored bag.  Although cheaper than my dream Bottega, this is still significantly more than my Jansport.

        

Bottega Veneta, Pt. Ombre

I don't always love how Bottega updates their bags each season.  I'm not a fan of the current fringed look, but I'm digging the ombre leather weave.  Ombre was huge a few seasons ago and I think it is a great complement to the woven leather.

The Yolk Interccio Nuance Bag costs $1980.  

Bottega Veneta: Timeless Love

The woven leather handbags by Bottega Veneta are timeless, classy, and chic.  If I could only buy one handbag for the next 10 years, it would probably be a Bottega.  Woven leather is visually interesting and is a great pattern for leather, but one that won't go out of style.  They even do the woven bags in exotics....woven ostrich, anyone?


This is my ultimate school tote:

This orchid Large Nappa tote is 5800, about how much I spend on my Jansport :)

Fendi "Large Roll" Tote

I want this Fendi "Large Roll" Tote sooo bad!!! I have no idea what "Large Roll" means, but I do love the tote! I love that floral look because I love flowers, and it is even cooler when you look up close at it and can see the logo. I love the Nordstrom description of the bag.."Lovely floral watercolor print with understated logos adds dimension and texture to a shapely tote topped with slender handles." Really makes me want to buy it more. Also, it is neat because it does not scream Fendi at first glance, then you realize it does scream Fendi in a classy way of course!



Just need $810.00, ohh to be young and dream.