Wait, wait, THIS is the Reed Krakoff Atlantique that I want for Fashion Week

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Remember how last week, I posted pictures of the Reed Krakoff Atlantique and whined about how badly I wanted one to carry for Fashion Week? Well, never mind that post. Disregard it! Pretend it didn’t happen! I still want one of the bags, of course, but my object of desire has changed a bit. Right now, the Reed Krakoff Extra Large Solar Print Atlantique is on my mind first and foremost. I really should have waited a few days to write that last post, but I didn’t think anything would top the cobalt python. First, though, I have a caveat.

I really, really wish this bag were printed leather, or at least some kind of non-canvas textile over leather. That’s why I didn’t mind shelling out big bucks for my Proenza Schouler Blanket Print PS1, even though the exterior is mostly a woven fabric; not only is the fabric itself intricately woven and special, but it’s layered over the same leather that every PS1 uses, giving you some definite value for your handbag dollar. That’s the way that printed bags should be done at this price point, unless the print is rendered directly on the leather itself, which was what I first thought we were dealing with in this design.

Unfortunately, it seems as though Reed Krakoff didn’t take that route with the construction of this Atlantique – it appears to be simply canvas with leather trim. That doesn’t mean that I can’t lust after it in my head, though. After all, lusting is free, and it’s hard not to do it with such a gorgeous, vivid print. This bag will be on my mind come Fashion Week, but it’ll be a bag that gives you more for your money that actually got my dollars. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $2495.

Karl Lagerfeld’s eponymous line debuts at Net-a-Porter featuring portrait tote bags, Karl interviewing himself

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Karl Lagerfeld’s aptly named Karl “masstige” (that’s the portmanteau meant to denote almost-luxury items at a relatively-not-terrible price) line debuted at Net-a-Porter to much fanfare and hype on Wednesday, and I do have to admit that there were a few items I considered picked up: the faux leather pleated skirt, sequined collar, leather moto gloves, silver high-tops…okay, maybe there were more than a few. I like black, just like Kaiser Karl. But what of the handbags? And what of that slightly batty video of Karl interviewing himself, which we have provided for you after the jump? It’s Friday, after all.

The collection included a couple of black leather bags, none of which were of particular note based on their design and price points. What I did kind of enjoy, however, was these two canvas totes, both bearing the visage of Karl himself. At a price point of $25 and featuring drawings of Karl (on in profile, one from the back) on both sides, it’s easy to guess why the Karl Printed Canvas Shopper sold out immediately. If you prefer your Karl a little more abstract (and slightly more spendy), the Karl Large Printed Canvas Tote might be more up your alley if you have $135 to throw toward what is essentially a novelty. It’s a KARL LAGERFELD novelty, though, so that’s something.

And speaking of novel, among the seemingly endless media materials for this launch is this gem of a video from Net-a-Porter, in which Karl Lagerfeld sits across from himself and conducts an interview. With himself. I’d be perfectly content if Karl retired from fashion forever and spent his days making YouTube videos, honestly.

Balenciaga is the latest star of a Thursday Friday tote

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Amanda Mull

First Hermes (and then no more Hermes because they got sued), then Chanel and now Balenciaga – tote company Thursday Friday seems like it won’t be satisfied until every iconic handbag under the sun (except any made by Hermes because, well, you know…) has been immortalized on its Thursday Friday Together Tote Bag. This one, naturally, is called the “Moto.” Clever.

I’ve heard no news of a lawsuit against Thursday Friday for its Chanel tote, perhaps because even though it was clearly meant to depict a Chanel bag, there was no outright branding in the photo – it lacked the interlocking C closure or the word “Chanel” anywhere on the tote. If that’s why the brand hasn’t tried to interfere, then perhaps Balenciaga is out of luck if it wanted to stop production of this bag as well; despite the signature hardware and design, there’s no explicit branding on the outside of a Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag.

Come to think of it, that’s probably why we haven’t seen a Louis Vuitton version of this tote – not only is LVMH the most litigious of all the luxury conglomerates, but the most universally recognizable Vuitton bags are all in monogram canvas, the reproduction of which would make a lawsuit a veritable slam dunk. Has your opinion of these bags softened at all? Mine has a bit, if only because they seem to pretty clearly be going nowhere. Were you a fan from the beginning? Are you still appalled? Let us know, or if you so choose, you can pick up one of these bags via ThuFri.com for $35-$95, depending on size.

Anya Hindmarch’s clever canvas totes are for work or play – literally.

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Amanda Mull

Anya Hindmarch Printed Totes, $295 via Net-a-Porter in Beach or Homework Print

We all know that I can get a little bit feisty when I feel like companies are trying to cash in on their good name by shilling overpriced, under-designed canvas tote bags to their hungry fans, but Anya Hindmarch is always a notable exception to my personal canvas rule. Instead of merely slapping some leather handles and her logo on a canvas tote that you could get anywhere, Hindmarch’s design team actually take the time to, you know, design something.

With something like the Anya Hindmarch Printed Canvas Totes, you still get all the simple usability that you need out of a big, simple, lightweight bag. You also get a healthy dose of British humor, which I think makes the price tag a little bit more palatable.

As you can see, there are two versions of this bag – one beach-themed and on school-themed. Both of them have little details inside the trompe l’oeil graphics that make it worth your time to take a closer look. For example, the calculator on the homework bag has the digits to the old upside-down “boobless” gag typed in (I find it somehow comforting to know that sixth graders do that across the pond as well), and the beach-themed bag features a book called Bags and Bitches. Side note: I’d totally read a book called Bags and Bitches.

Still, $295 is more than I’d like to pay for canvas in a perfect world, but $1750 is also more than I’d like to pay for a Celine Luggage Tote and I still paid it, now didn’t I? In the pantheon of designer canvas totes, Anya Hindmarch has found a way to set herself apart, at the very least. Buy the beach or the homework version via Net-a-Porter for $295.

Yet another company would apparently like to be sued by Hermes

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Amanda Mull

V73 Canvas Printed Tote, $265 via Luisa Via Roma

Today’s start to feel a little bit like Groundhog Day, isn’t it? A few hours ago, we brought to you a story about Louis Vuitton suing a media company for violating its trademarks, and now we have news of a company that thinks it’s a good idea to print the visage of an Hermes Birkin on a canvas bag: the V73 Canvas Printed Tote. The day’s handbag news is downright retro.

For those who missed it, Thursday Friday already had this bright idea, and although the number of people who I still see carrying them in New York City would indicate that it definitely hit one something that people were interested in, it didn’t end well. Hermes sued them for trademark infringement, the lawsuit was settled privately and the bags are no longer available. (Well, at least not with an Hermes print – Thursday Friday moved along to Chanel recently.)

What V73 has used seems to be more of an artistic rendering than a straight-up photo like that used by Thursday Friday, but other than that, the concept is exactly the same and I’m betting that Hermes’ legal department will react similarly and eventually get a similar settlement. If you’d like to own a tote like this, I’d urge you to look for a secondhand Thursday Friday version instead – although the appearance of the leather grain on this version is pretty cool, the price is almost three times what the original version (the original copy? This is so…Baudrillardian) sold for. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $265.

You cannot possibly understand how fervently I wish this Reed Krakoff tote were leather

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Hey, handbag designers! We need to talk. Huddle up, it’s time for a chit chat.

I know that relatively inexpensive canvas totes probably sell well for you guys. They’re extremely low-margin compared to leather bags (which are already pretty low-margin compared to lots of consumer products), and having a strong brand name means you get to mark them up like crazy. I get it! I just don’t like it.

Take the Reed Krakoff Leather-Trimmed Canvas Tote, for example. When I first saw it, I got that little sparkly feeling in the back of my brain that happens as soon as I set eyes on something that I really like. Printed bags are under-appreciated, and this graphic python print in particular is quite nice. For a moment, I had hope that the bag was leather. Those hopes were quickly dashed.

To be clear, this isn’t something that’s limited to Reed Krakoff, and I generally think that Krakoff’s designs are well-priced compared to other options of a similar style and quality. Those things are generally positive, but in this case, they made the fact that this tote is canvas a bit of a bigger letdown. For such a simple shape in an inexpensive fabric, I can’t abide this kind of price tag from any brand. Jack up the price a little further and give me leather, Reed. Or anyone! But especially Reed. Priced at $540 via Net-a-Porter.

Going home for the holidays? We have three chic, affordable travel bag suggestions

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Amanda Mull

I just realized yesterday morning that I have to get on a plane this weekend and spend a week and a half away from New York, and although I’ve had these tickets booked for two months, the entire thing has caught me by surprise. I’m going home early because of a friend’s wedding and staying late to avoid the Thanksgiving rush (and to get a slightly more reasonable ticket price), but if you’re doing the traditional half-week stay, you still have plenty of time to think about travel accessories.

And really, what better way to perk yourself up for an unpleasant trip through a couple of airports during peak travel time than a new bag? We have three options in three different styles that all run less than $400 (and don’t worry, they all have shoulder straps, even though they’re not pictured). In fact, I bet at least two of these bags are less expensive than your plane ticket; they’re definitely less expensive than mine.

Whether or not the brightly colored camo on the LeSportsac Joyrich Large Weekender is “chic” is probably debatable, but I love a bright, even garish, pattern when it comes to travel bags. Not only does it help hide wear and tear, but you can spot a bag like this from a mile away in a sea of black luggage at the airport. If you’d rather have a different pattern, LeSportsac makes a ton of ‘em. Buy through ShopBop for $178.

If you’d prefer something with a more utilitarian look or an ethical source, check out the Alternative Apparel Sierra Nevada Bag. Alternative Apparel is an Atlanta-based company that uses sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing processes, and this tough canvas duffel is typical of the company’s industrial aesthetic. The military surplus aesthetic is chic in a totally casual, easy way. Buy through ShopBop for $98.

Pendleton’s classic plaids are enjoying a fashionable resurgence, and if you prefer your travel accessories to be a little more dignified and traditional than our two other options, the leather-trimmed Pendleton Portland Collection Luggage Bag option might be right up your alley. Buy through ShopBop for $348.

Et tu, Proenza Schouler? Really?

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Proenza Schouler PS1 Keep All Small Satchel, $1250 via Net-a-Porter

It’s been a rough week already and it’s only Tuesday. First Balenciaga, makers of my favorite handbags of all time, decided to desecrate one of their classic bags with inexplicably bad fur trim. Now Proenza Schouler, another of my can-do-no-wrong favorites, has made a version of their usually lovely Proenza Schouler PS1 Keep All Small that I just…don’t like.

This bag is not as egregious as the Balenciaga tote, for sure, but most Proenza bags are so effortlessly cool and (in my mind at least) perfect that to see one of the brand’s classics miss the mark is jarring, to say the least. I like the shape and I like the materials when considered individually, but together? Eep.

The issue here is one of tone. Proenza has done well with its canvas PS1s in the past, and this is the same warm beige material that they’ve always used. Layering that with leather or embossed python sounds like a great idea in theory, but with this trim, they chose a color story that has absolutely nothing to do with the base color that’s sitting under it. The foundation of the print is graphic white, cool gunmetal grey and ice blue, which could look more random against a warm neutral. The fiery yellow and red-orange are the final icing on the WTF cake.

Proenza Schouler is usually a master at mixing colors and patterns in ways that make me swoon and endlessly re-plan my wardrobe budget, but I can say with confidence that this is a bag on which I will pass. That’s too bad, because with a few tweaks, it could have been quite beautiful. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1250.

Anya Hindmarch brings a little bit of British humor to her tote bags

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Anya Hindmarch Big Ben or Corgi Headline Totes, $295 each via Net-a-Porter

Oh, the Brits! They’re a funny lot, aren’t they? They brought us Monty Python and Benny Hill and Eddie Izzard, and for that, the rest of the world is eternally grateful. British humor is renowned the world over for its special brand of biting dryness, and it only makes sense that a London designer would be pursuing the art of handbag humor.

Anya Hindmarch is often witty, but the Anya Hindmarch Headline Printed Canvas Shoppers take things to a new level. Using iconic bits of Britannia like Big Ben and the Queen’s beloved corgis, Hindmarch gives you a funny way to haul your daily necessities. Plus, they have a little surprise on the inside.

While I agree that $295 is a tad steep for a canvas tote, even a very clever and Anglophilic one, I do appreciate Hindmarch’s irreverent attention to detail. In the photos above, you can see that the interior pocket of each tote is also printed, the Big Ben story with a sexy shirtless dude (perhaps in a nod to Britain’s Page 3 Girls?) and the Corgi story with a crossword. If I were going to overspend on a non-leather bag, these totes would definitely be in the running. Get Big Ben or the Corgi through Net-a-Porter for $295 each.

I’d like to add this little Gucci pug to my list of most giftable bag charms

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Gucci Oliver Pug Dog Key Chain, $185 via Net-a-Porter

Have any of you ladies ever seen Life with Father? It’s a 1947 movie starring Irene Dunne and a 15-year-old Elizabeth Taylor, and it is absolutely hysterical. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a great movie to watch with your mom while visiting over the holidays, if you can get your hands on a DVD copy. I can personally promise that you’ll laugh more than you ever have at a classic movie.

The reason that Life with Father is relevant to a post about the Gucci Oliver Pug Dog Key Chain should be obvious to anyone familiar with the movie – in it, Irene Dunne has an unbelievably funny argument with her long-suffering husband over how she intends to get their son a suit of clothes for free from a department store by returning a ceramic statuette of a pug (which she calls a “pug dog” each time she refers to it), and the idea of returning one item to justify the purchase of another and convincing yourself that you’re getting the second for “free” should sound familiar to most shopping addicts. I’d never return this cute little pup, though. Not a chance.

This charm makes me smile even more than it would on its own because my mom and I refer to the idea of returning an ill-advised purchase to get something else “for free” as the Pug Dog Principle, but even without that little bit of personal attachment, this Gucci pup is still one of the cutest bag charms I’ve ever seen. If he had popped up in time for my Guide to Bag Charms last week, he would have undoubtedly had a starring role in that post, and as it is, he should still be on your gifting list. In fact, if you wanted to get one for me, I’d be your friend forever. I’d even promise to not return it and put the money toward a pair of Alaia shoes. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $185.

Man Bag Monday: Belstaff Cotton Canvas Messenger Bag

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Megs Mahoney Dusil

Belstaff Cotton Canvas Messanger Bag, $395 via Net-a-Porter

Oh Man Bag Monday, we have left your category so under-loved the past few weeks. I promise it was not purposeful, it just…happened. But we are back and giving the men who read PurseBlog and the ladies who shop for their men who don’t read PurseBlog our suggestion for a bag this Monday. Thus far many of the bags we have covered are much pricier than what many men would ever consider spending on their bags. Today I found a very fashionable but rugged and affordable look in the Belstaff Cotton-Canvas Messenger Bag.

This bag gives the right look without looking like you are trying too hard. It is something I can imagine being suitable even for the men who refuse to carry a “man bag”. The khaki cotton canvas with worn brown leather trim gives a manly appearance while being completely functional with the two front pockets, interior pocket, and fold over flap closure. The Belstaff emblem reminds me of a pilot, which again scores some super cool points.

I know every dude out there won’t carry a bag, but many dudes need to and finding a carryall that works for them and their style is most important. If you are or know the casual laid-back guy who would never want a leather bag, consider this option for Belstaff for $395 via Mr. Porter.

Thursday Friday is now daring Chanel to sue them

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Images via Racked.com

Remember the Thursday Friday Together Totes emblazoned with images of the iconic Hermes Birkin? The bag generated a ton of conversation when we first wrote about it back in January, and although most of you found them distasteful, lots of women didn’t; I think I see at least one a day being schlepped through the streets of New York.

Unfortunately for Thursday Friday, Hermes also found the idea distasteful and decided to sue their pants off. Fresh off a private settlement with the French luxury giant, Racked reports that Thursday Friday is ready to take on another iconic bag with its Together Tote: The Chanel 2.55 Flap Bag. Lawyers, start your engines.

If Thursday Friday made enough money from the Hermes-aping totes to pay a settlement and still stay afloat, then perhaps this isn’t a bad choice on the part of the company. Perhaps for them, getting sued is just part of the cost of doing business, sort of like Forever 21 and all of the designers it knocks off. If that’s true, then I sincerely hope that they sell as many Chanel totes as they did Birkin totes, because they’re going to need the cash. At $90, $65 and $35 for the Super Together, Together and Pouch bags, respectively, would you buy one of these bags? If you would, get can get them via ThuFri.com.

Rebecca Minkoff expands into luggage

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Amanda Mull

It warms the cockles of my cold little blogger heart to see contemporary brands expanding into luggage in creative ways. First came the Lulu Guinness suitcases covered with her signature molded lips, and now we have the Rebecca Minkoff Skull Suitcase. I’d like one of each, please.

I’m not much of a crafty girl, but the trompe l’oeil knitted look of the pattern (indeed, other bags in this collection are actually made out of a woven material) provides just enough kitsch to balance out the tough look of a skull and crossbones. Instead of weaving, the bag is made of durable coated canvas that might actually survive a trip through the airport ringer.

Even thinking about the airport makes me cringe. People claim that air travel used to be a glamourous journey, but now, it’s little more than a human cattle-call where you might get groped. At least with a cute carry-on, the entire process can be a little more fashionable, if not any more pleasant. Also, I doubt anyone at baggage claim would mess with the girl pulling skull luggage off of the conveyor belt. Buy through ShopBop for $595.

Latest Obsession: The Rag & Bone Mountain Pack

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Amanda Mull

I know what you’re thinking. “Two brown bags in one day? Is Amanda on crack?” And that’s a fair question.

I’m not, though. At least not that I know of. For some reason, the handbags that are making me happy today are from a vastly different palette than my regular choices, and I like the reasonably priced Rag & Bone Mountain Pack so much that I’d actually be willing to buy it. I mean, I’d definitely check to see if it came in other colors first, just for wardrobe cohesion. If it didn’t, I still wouldn’t mark it off my list entirely. This bag set something off in my brain the moment I saw it, which is pretty much the reaction that every designer is hoping to elicit with one of his or her pieces. Few do that for me, but this one got all the serotonin moving. Backpacks are having such a moment right now.

The key to this design is its deceptive simplicity. Instead of looking easy or lazy, this bag looks planned down to the last stitch, and all the excess has been edited away until all that’s left is a perfectly prototypical take on retro-modernity. The design’s lines are break-your-back sharp, but your brain still recognizes the bag as something that very well might be from a different time entirely. On the whole, the design is almost shockingly well-executed. Really, does it come in any other colors? Buy through ShopBop for $275.

The Six Best Beach Bags of Summer 2011 – No Straw Allowed

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Amanda Mull

A couple of weeks ago, in a blind panic and looking for things to post about during the summer fashion doldrums, I asked my Twitter followers what they’d want to read. Several responded back wanting to hear about beach bags, but with one caveat – they were only interested in non-straw bags because of the hassle of cleaning sand and debris out of a raffia tote.

I’ve never been much of a beachgoer (and have the pale skin to prove it), so I had never really considered the special accessories challenges that a beach presents rather than, say, a pool or park. But considering how persistent sand is in getting in to our bathing suits, a bag with plenty of crevices for entrance must end up toting home a significant percentage of the beach itself. So if you want to lay out on the shore but keep the sand where it belongs, we’ve got six ways for you to do just that, all for less than $200.

Kate Spade Daycation Bon Tote, $145 via Nordstrom
Red and ivory tiger print? Count me in. This tote’s canvas is coated for a glossy finish that doubles as a stain barrier. It’s on the smaller side, so this bag would be best for a solo trip instead of a family jaunt to the coast.

LeSportsac Beach Tote, $88 via Bloomingdale’s
This bag is my personal favorite of the group. I’ve had great experiences traveling with LeSportsac in the past, and the lightweight-but-tough nylon construction of this tote means that it’ll stand up to even the worst beach beating. The mix of sunny, summery colors means that it doesn’t verge too much on the utilitarian.

Trina Turk Towel Tote, $140 via Bloomingdale’s
Not only does the clear plastic construction of this bag recall the beach totes we used when I was a kid, but it comes already packed for you with a coordinating towel. Just add your own sunscreen and trashy beach novel.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Packables Shopper, $58 via ShopBop
Suitcase real estate is always at a premium, and handbags are one of the hardest things to pack. If you’re going on vacation and want a beach bag that you can roll up and stuff in your carry-on for the flight home, a lightweight, collapsible shopping tote is your best bet.

See by Chloe Tieta Tote, $105 via Bloomingdale’s
At a full two feet wide and 16 inches tall, if you’ve got a big load of stuff to carry to the beach, you should choose a bag like this one. Cotton canvas construction means that it’s not waterproof, but the darker, multicolored pattern will hide any spots or stains.

Jonathan Adler Countess Tote, $198 via ShopBop
I adore Jonathan Adler’s sense of whimsical modernity, and I hope that he expands much further outside of his traditional realm of housewares. Bags are as good a place as any to start.

On Gucci and the glory of the non-logo logo

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Amanda Mull

Gucci Boston Canvas Duffle, $960 via Net-a-Porter

I’m sure that we’re do for a revival of the logo bag any season now. Fashion’s like that; the trends you hate always come back around more quickly than the ones for which you feel genuine nostalgia. Some brands still do a very brisk business in their logo bags; Louis Vuitton has always been at the top of that list, but Gucci isn’t far behind. And while it surely makes the company a ton of money and is important for branding purposes, logos have just never been my cup of tea.

But that’s why I’m such a big fan of the Gucci Boston Canvas Duffle and bags like it. Gucci occasionally uses this jacquard diamond-check canvas in place of the brand’s normal logo fabric, and it is such an improvement in my eyes. This bag looks stately and classic without the unnecessary Gs, and that’s exactly the appeal of the non-logo logo.

A non-logo logo can come in many forms. A Balenciaga motorcycle bag’s signature hardware counts, as does the hand-painted pattern of Goyard’s coated canvas bags. What doesn’t count? Any type of monogram or symbol that’s widely used as the company’s principle brand identifier. The Louis Vuitton “LV” is out, as is the Versace Medusa head. Choosing a secondary identifier helps reign in the ostentation quality of a logo bag and gives the end result a more subtle effect, which is exactly why this Gucci bag seems staid and dignified in a British heritage sort of way rather than flashy and obvious like a logo bag.

And that’s not to say that flashy and obvious is an objectively bad thing – I love both flashy and obvious, and in the right moment, even I sometimes love it in a logo bag. But for a piece that you want to carry regularly and for a long time, I’d choose something like this bag over a more obvious logo. It still retains the recognizability among handbag lovers, it just does so in a slightly more indirect way. Whoever said that discretion is the greater part of valor was right, even when it comes to accessories. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $960.

Introducing the Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandoulière

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Amanda Mull

The introduction of a new Louis Vuitton Speedy is always cause for celebration among handbag fiends, and we think that this particular bag will be of wide interest. The Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandoulière is similar to the monogram Speedy that we all know and love, but it brings with it the thoroughly modern addition of an integrated shoulder strap. Optional straps have long been available for purchase to clip onto the traditional Speedy’s handle attachments, but this dedicated strap brings with it a design logic that is lacking in a simple add-on.

Itching to see this Speedy in action? Of course you are, which is why Vuitton and Caroline Sieber put together a catalog of shots with the Speedy Bandoulière out and about on a sunny day in London. We have those shots, plus a price list for the new bag, after the jump. Or if you’d like to skip straight to buying, the bags are available now via Vuitton.com.