Designers Handbags

Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta is famous for its signature collection of hand woven leather goods, the simple clean lines make them some of the most in demand bags season after season. The newest addition to the Intrecciato line, is the over sized tote. Perfect for the beach or an over night get away, this bold summer bag makes a splash with its red patent leather body and brass detailing. A peek inside shows soft camel suede lining and a pocket that zips shut. Bottegas never come cheap, this being no exception, retail price is $2,680! A worthwhile splurge, it will last you for decades.

Gwyneth Paltrow has been named the new face of Italian luxury goods brand Tod’s in the wake of a short film she made for them which just debuted at Cannes. The ad campaign, shot by Mario Testino in Capri aboard dashing Tod’s CEO Diego Della Valle’s yacht, portrays “the uber luxurious, outdoors-y life of a beautiful Italian aristocrat from the heady days of the jet-set era,” Vogue UK reports.

“Italian style is very sexy, very womanly and what I love is that it seems to have so many different inspirations,” Paltrow told the mag. She replaces Sienna Miller, who starred in Tod’s ads last year. The Cannes short, which was directed by Dennis Hopper, a longtime friend of Della Valle’s, portrayed a day in the life of Gwyneth with her favorite Tod’s bag. We have long been fans of Tod’s classic driving mocs, probably the most comfortable shoes in the world.

Balenciaga is well known for creating avant-garde bags, their designs are always on the cutting edge of fashion and as far as quality, their extraordinary craftsmanship is unsurpassed. This chic new Balenciaga shoulder bag is so refreshing and different. I love the interesting combination of both black and tan leather. The straps are comprised of buckles, a creative twist on the usual use of hardware. Available online exclusively from matchesfashion.com for $2,400.

The perfect addition to your summer/spring handbag collection has arrived! The Chloe Python Bay Bag is the bag du jour, in demand and stylish it features thick quilted ivory leather giving it a sturdy look and feel. Accents include visible stitching, a plaque on the front, feet on the bottom and over sized zipper pulls all done in gold. I love all the pockets on this bag, and the fact that everything zips tightly shut. Overall a very usable and chic purse that won’t go out of style with the rest of the white hand bags. Available on net-a-porter.com, $4,000.

The Celine Nautil bag is about both bold bright fashion and practical functionality. Available in classic ruby red or crisp bright white, the Nautil is made of crinkled patent leather so it shines (but doesn’t blind!). It also features contoured top seams, polished silver hardware, handles attached with clasps (8″ drop), and my favorite handbag quality: a flat base so it sits upright. And the brand logo is everywhere on this bag: engraved onto the medallion on the front and on the studs used throughout, embossed on a leather tag inside, and incorporated into the pattern of the interior textile lining. $850