BagBible

I just purchased this bag recently. My excuse was I needed a non leather bag for a ski trip. My friends say that I can always come up with so many excuses to justify my unnecessary purchases. However, I believe that this one purchase was absolutely necessary

I was looking for a bag which would be able to withstand water. Obviously, I was looking for a non-leather bag.  Since I don’t like anything that is not leather, it was a little bit challenging to find something that I liked.

At first, I was considering the Longchamp Le Pliage. Unfortunately, the lack of luster and the plastic zipper turned me off.  Then I found the JPK Paris bag on sale at Nordstrom.com.  I remembered that I wrote about JPK Paris bag a while ago and that it was pretty pricey for a nylon bag. Luckily, this particular color and size (seafoam maxi) is 50% off at Nordstrom.  I would not have bought it if it were full price.

The things that I love about this bag are: I can just throw it on the snow and it doesn’t get wet. The color is bright and has some sheen to it. It has lots of pockets inside: 2 zippered and 2 snap closures, where the zippers are metal with gold tone. Last but not least, the chunky hardware adds glam to the bag.

If you are looking for a non-leather bag and you don’t want to look like you are carrying a grocery bag, this bag is definitely for you.  Buy from Nordstrom for $96.90

Just when I thought that I already have too many bags, Mulberry is coming out with Alexa bag. The Alexa bag is obviously inspired by the Bayswater but it also looks a little bit like a briefcase.  I’d say the Alexa bag is the more masculine version of the Bayswater. I love everything about it except for one little thing; the inside zipper.  I know I’m probably just being picky, but when I’m buying a bag that is over a thousand dollar I expect luxury and a plastic zipper does not scream luxury. 

I don’t understand why Mulberry choose to have plastic zipper inside their bag.  It can’t be because their cutting cost because I’ve seen bags that are half the price with nice metal zipper inside the bags.  I’m sure some people don’t even pay attention to this little thing, but it is a little disappointing for someone who inspect every little details on her bags (like me).

Coming soon, from Mulberry ($1,150)

A friend of mine just asked my opinion about this Francesco Biasia Emy Tote.  She told me that her heart was originally set on Bottega Veneta Intrecciato but then she found this similar woven design for a lot less.  When I saw the bag, I fell in love with the color combination.  I think the contrasting color combination makes the bag stand out so much more compare to a solid color bag.  It also shows off the texture of the bag nicely. She’s definitely made a wise purchase.

Unfortunately, this bag is not widely available anymore. Probably because it was an older model.  The only place that still sells it is Rue La La and the sale will end on Monday morning.  They are selling it at a really great price of $299 (down from $795 retail price).

The cool thing about this bag is the wicker part, when you look at it closely you can see that the wicker has 3 colors; ivory, gold and silver. The gold and silver are very subtle yet they still give the bag some shimmer. As you might already know, I love anything shiny and shimmery.

The wicker design definitely gives this bag a casual look and the generous 15″W x 14.5″H x 5.9″D size made sure that you can fit your everyday essentials.  However, I don’t normally wear light colored bag as my everyday bag, since I don’t want them to get dirty. That’s just my personal preference.  For the past month, I’ve been using a Tod’s bucket bag that has an open top, and I find it very convenient. I used to stay away from an open top bag like this one because I’m afraid that I might loose my stuff, but so far so good and I just love how easy it is to get my stuff in and out of the bag.

From Bloomingdale’s for $995

I always stop to admire an orange handbag whenever I see one.  The color is just very attractive to me.  It is just very warm and vibrant.  When combined with luxurious leather, orange bag can be an attention magnet and also can be the only thing that you need to add a punch to your outfit.

This Marc Jacobs Elise bag has a simple classic shapes, but the buckles on the sides, the zippered pocket and the push lock flap pocket dressed it up nicely. This one is definitely not a boring bag.  Pre-Order from Nordstrom for $895.

After taking a little break to deal with home improvement nightmares, it feels so good to be looking at bags again.  Now I see a lot of great bags out there. How exciting! One of the bags that caught my eyes is the Michael Kors “Skorpio” ring tote from the Resort 2010 collection.

I’ve seen the rectangular version before, they are pretty nice. I love the leather, the woven handles and the shiny hardware. However, it was kind of too plain Jane.  I find this “Skorpio” ring tote far more interesting, even though they have similar name.  First of all, I love the balloon like shape.  It makes the bag look softer and more feminine compared to the usual squarish looking tote.

Second, I love how the handles are looped through the body of the bag and the grommets make it look more polished in a subtle way.

This not a very big bag, it measures only 13″W x 9″H x 7″D therefore very suitable for petites. Pre-Order from Nordstrom for $895.

YSL is on a roll nowadays.  They have been making great bags one after another.  This perforated zipped tote is definitely one of them.  One thing that caught my attention is the rather unusual design.  I mean it in a unique kind of way. This bag is like cross between a tote and a hobo. The style is not too casual yet not too dressy; it is right in the middle.  Although I’m not a fan of perforated leather I think it is very suitable for this bag. The bag would be too boring, if not for the perforated leather.

From Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,495

I always love simple and understated bags.  In my opinion, they will never be out of style and they go with everything.  Like this Kenneth Cole No Slouch Hobo, you just can’t go wrong.  There is a little bit of trendy element on this bag, which is the studded handle.  However, the studs are so few and small that it would not look outdated a year or two from now.  I couldn’t say the same about bags that have studs all over the place.

I consider this bag a great buy, since it is not as expensive as “breaking the bank”, yet you still get good design and quality.  It’s great for those who want to start collecting bags or someone like me who buys bags every now and then without any apparent reasons.

From Kenneth Cole $358

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Please click the links for sale invitation!

I never thought that I would be interested in nylon bags. I’ve seen this bag around for a while now. every time I see it I ended up touching it and trying it on. I didn’t write a review right away because…well…it’s made of nylon. Nevertheless, the more I see it, the more I like it. Everything about this bag is very well made. If I have to choose the best part of the bag, it would be the hardware.  The hardware is so shiny and smooth that it literally lights up the whole bag and makes the nylon bag look somewhat expensive. Unfortunately, this particular nylon bag is expensive indeed (for a nylon bag).  It is priced at $245.  I’m not sure if I’m willing to spend over $200 for a nylon bag, but if it is on sale I might want to get one. This one is definitely great for a rainy day.

From Nordstrom $245

If you love the look of Chanel bags but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars and refuse to buy hideous knock-offs, Kate Spade Gold Coast is the solution for you.  It won’t break the bank since it’s only $445 (you can get it for even less if you wait for the sale). Also, Kate Spade bags are made of quality leather with great workmanship.  The only thing that you’ll miss (or not) are the big interlocking Cs.  There are a lot of look-a-like bags out there, from the Target look-a-likes to the designers’ look-a-likes.  I can’t stand the cheap look-a-likes, probably because of the poor quality and the fact that they are made of pleather.  However, I don’t mind the higher-end designers look-a-likes.  I guess it’s just a quality issue for me. So, what do you think of wearing a look-a-like bag?

Buy from Nordstrom

Image from Chanel

Probably you can guess what my current obsession is:  Classic elongated hobos.  I love the way they look, the way they fall on my shoulder, and the fact that it is the most flattering bag style out there.  You can never look like you’re trying too hard with these kind of bags.  They’re great for casual dates, lunches, shopping trips, or just running errands.

From left to right:

1. Burberry Glossy Hobo $850

2. Chloe Heloise Braided Hobo $1,595

3. Jimmy Choo Watersnake Ring Hobo $1,495

4. Nancy Gonzales Soft Patent Pleated Hobo $2,950

5. Salvatore Ferragamo Equestre Napa Yoko Hobo $2,490

6. YSL Roady Hobo $1,195

Images from Neiman Marcus

Please click the links for sale invitation!

When a clutch is this simple, it needs something to make it stand out. JJ Winters did just the right thing by adding three rows of decorative zippers.  They popped against the black soft suede background.  The repeating zippers make a bold statement and add a modern feel to the clutch at the same time.

Buy from The Trend Boutique for $299