BagBible

Image from Smythson

Isn’t it gorgeous? Don’t you just love the soft quilted look? Quilted bags are definitely nothing new but this hand-riveted quilt is something that we don’t see everyday.  The usual quilted bags tend to look rigid and stuffy but this Nancy bag looks just the opposite. You can see that the leather is so buttery and pliable, which makes the bag looks slouchy.

I also find the choice of minimal hardware very attractive, as it won’t detract the main show of the bag, which is the soft quilt.

The Nancy bag comes in different sizes and styles, but this one is one of my favorites for now and definitely going to be on my wish list.

From Smythson for $1,140

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

On the left is the Versace Patent Chain shoulder bag and on the right is Chanel Veau Ver Large Tote. Aren’t they a little bit too similar?  Of course, the designers at Versace can use the quilted design, or the chain straps, or the tote shape. They can, but if they are combining them all together like Chanel did in one bag,  it would look just like a Chanel rip off.  It is very common when lower-end designers do such a thing, but I would not expect this from Versace.  When lower-end designers do this, their work may be not as impressive, but at least they are not charging a four digit price.

In my opinion, Versace (a world class design house) should have enough resources to create something that is not a copy cat.

Buy from Bergdorf Goodman for $1,800

There are fifteen bags from the new Chanel Paris-Moscou 08/09 collection, and this is the one bag that I like the most from the entire collection.  I like the pyramid effect quilt, as it is more appealing compared to the regular Chanel quilt.

To me, this whole bag just look like a comfy pillow, I’m sure that if you have this bag you would want to cuddle with it all the time, especially with the ultra soft Chanel lambskin. Everything about this bag is full of the Chanel signature: The quilts, the chain shoulder strap and just in case you are still not aware of it, there is always the Chanel charm.

This is the bag that I like the least from the Chanel Paris-Moscou 08/09 collection.  I’m not a world class designer, but I think that without the red wool, the bag will look less hideous.  I’m sure this is more of a collectors’ item, since I can’t imagine why anyone would want to buy this bag, except maybe for  descendants of the Russian elite. It happens that this bag is full of Russian historical symbols.

Image from Chanel