Designers Handbags

Calling handbag lovers everywhere. Take note. Accessories brand, Botkier has joined the never ending list of labels clamouring to partner with Target.

Currently stocked in Barneys, Harvey Nichols, Fred Segal, and Neiman Marcus, Botkier is a favourite among the celebrities, with Angelina Jolie, Kate Bosworth and Heidi Klum being loyal fans.

The Botkier for Target collection is the fifth handbag line to be launched and will be available at select Target stores nationwide and at Target.com from July 21. How excited are we?

Alright so we’ve already had the whole oversized bag debate and regular readers will know…I love big bags! But even I have to admit that in the past couple of months or so, I’ve had to downsize ever so slightly. Searching for my phone…actually searching for anything became so tiresome that I accepted defeat.

But still I do have a fondness for supersized handbags, and evidently so does Katie Holmes as she left the ABC studios in New York sporting the most beautiful and the most massive red Hermes Birkin bag.

The thing is…I never thought I’d ever say this, but this is a case of the oversized trend gone too far. Her arms must be aching. Although there is the possibility that there’s nothing inside it and carrying the Birkin was for publicity purposes only. It is a gorgeous bag!

Who was it that said “less is more,” or to rephrase, that “more is just more?” Whomever it was, word does not seem to have reached the bag design team at Marc Jacobs and now Chloe. While Marc seemingly did the impossible and created something truly garish in his ‘bag on a bag’ um, bag, Chloe just tossed a lot of flap/buckle clasps onto this clutch.

Furthermore, while Marc could at least make the excuse that his bag’s appendages are at least functional for organisational purposes, I’m not quite sure what the extra Chloe clasps accomplish. They aren’t going to keep out a diligent pickpocket; they’re not even placed to do so.

I would have loved to see this Chloe clutch done totally in the fuschia (as we all know brights are in!) with just one centered leather buckle, or the body of the bag could have been kept white with the folded over bit done in this bubbly pink. But as it is, this clutch looks like it is covered in buckle growths. Ick.

Also, is it just me or are the leather buckles oddly reminiscent of a toned down B. Fendi buckle …

I’ve been travelling quite a bit in recent months and have a few trips planned for this summer too. I understand that luggage is meant to be functional and is quick to get dirtied and scuffed, but I can’t help but wish I had a more stylish and unique suitcase – instead of the standard black Samsonite I’ve been lugging around.

There would be no mistaking my bag with this Marc by Marc Jacobs red patent leather wheely. With gold hardware, red padded handles, signature label patch on the front, this suitcase is more flashy than functional, but why not have a little bit more fun when it comes to vacations and traveling?

At least I’d have something pretty to look at while waiting in those dreadfully long security lines…$698 available on shopbop.com.