Gift It: Totes.

I don't often consider the usefulness of totes. I was inclined to think they were the hipster's territory, but I can no longer ignore their mass appeal. A good tote can serve as your primary bag (fits books, magazines, and notebooks perfectly), or can be folded up into your regular bag to keep on hand for grocery shopping or stuff collecting (I don't know...whatever). That's handy, no? Especially if you live in New York and you decide to go grocery shopping after you've already gone clothes shopping and there are so many things to carry that you wish you had another cotton/canvas bag with a cute print on it. Totes totally solve that. Also, they are ch-ch-cheap. Most are $15 or so, or you can stalk your favorite haunts and see if they ever give out a lil satchel with their logo on it, which has happened to me more than once. If you'd rather purchase than stalk, here are some bags from online boutique Little Paper Planes or your consideration:

Robots, spatulas, bikes, antler girls? There's something here for everyone! Click any of the images for more information.

All I Want For Christmas Is This.

Is it too early to start asking Santa Claus for gifts? I've been naughty and nice this year, so I think I deserve a little sumptin' sumptin. I want to give him enough time to save up his pennies to splurge on this Solve Sundsbo bag for me, or at least to get the elves to knock it off properly.

How hot is that big hunk of photo-realist love in the shape of a bag? I love it.

Click the image to get more information.

What's In Your Bag?

Dump the contents of anybody's bag and you can learn a lot about them. Here are some faceless portraits of people from the "What's In Your Bag" pool on Flickr.

I find these shots endlessly intriguing. Be sure to click on the pics above to scope the photographers' annotated images to see just what's bagged up and why.

Haute Tech

When I saw the new HP digital clutch designed by Vivianne Tam, I had to clutch my chest. It's such a pretty little thing. I mean talk about a fashion blogger's best friend, right? A gorgeous peony strewn internet troller/type tool designed by a top tier designer who gets that objects have to have soul. I'm in love. In fact, this is a Valentine's post come early: HP Digital Clutch, will you be my Valentine?


I know, I'm not usually the type to type about commercials, but man oh man, that is a gorgeous piece of fashiony tech. Mmmmm.

They're Vegan, But Don't Eat Them

Now, be forewarned; these bags are a little pricier than what I usually post here on this thrift-minded fashion blog. I know it's wrong to produce lust in the hearts of many when I can't promise any true satisfaction, but these are too cool not to share. Take a look at these super-slick, color-rich bags by Matt and Nat:


They look like shine heavy leather right? Eeeehhhhh (that sound they make on Jeopardy)! They are vegan and made from Japanese paper. Oh yeah, baby. This is a clear sign that vegan fashion is moving on up into the cool kid's club. Matt & Nat have been using vegan, recycled, and innovative, sustainable materials to build a better handbag for the last eight years. The bags are certainly better for our Mama Earth, but they don't skimp on the style front. Now that you are in love with them, please know that these bags are about $160 to around $300. I dare say they are splurge-worthy though. Vegan luxury shouldn't be overlooked. Down with the granola, up with the high style!

Click any image for full details. Images from Matt & Nat.com.

Karl's Got a Brand New Bag

When times get tough, only the clever will survive. Everyone in fashion knows that accessories are where the cash is, and most literally the cash is in the handbags. Runaway bags have been runway to retail deal makers for the past few seasons, replacing the must have dress with the must have tote. While the saturation of the IT bag has begun to push the hype into the over territory, there are still plenty of pretty young (and old) things that will pay a gorgeous penny for a great bag. Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to reinvent the Chanel bag with enough newness to stir want in the hearts of many. Karl turned the classic bags on their sides, hanging the quilted sacs vertically from their signature chains. He also crafted copies of the Chanel retail shopping bags in leather. This way you can postpone your buyer's remorse indefinitely, ever tricking yourself into believing your purchase is fresh from the store. Clever, clever Karl.

And if I had a king's ransom to drop on a bag of my choice, I think I'd go with the quilted Chanel guitar bag. Now, I don't play guitar but I could pretend to, and it would certainly fit everything I could possibly ever think to bring anywhere. I guarantee you see someone pick this to be their purse of the season.

I'd rock that rockin' bag.

Images: Matteo Volta for Style.com