Designers Handbags

The oversized handbag trend is still lingering, so many designers are deciding to keep riding the oversized wave and move on to clutches. What many designers cease to remember is that a clutch is meant to be carried in your hand. Make a visual image of how large you think Miu Miu has made this clutch, and take a better look and learn more after the jump.

Shocking and overwhelming right? There is no way I could comfortably carry a foot and a half wide clutch in my hand. I may be 5′10, but my hands are delicate and small, and this would totally not work. The Miu Miu Oversized Suede Clutch sports a suede plum and red tie dye pattern with pleat detailing and has so much potential, but the size is downright obscene. Coming in at a truly oversized 18″ x 11″ x 2.5″, this clutch is as large as many handbags, but without the shoulder strap. The oversized clutch trend hopefully will not last too long, because it will be uncomfortable and hard to pull off. I dig this clutch, if it were about 1/3 the size. Via NAP for $950.

As a former private school/Catholic school girl, plaid and are I are super close. There is something about plaid that is seen as completely preppy, which by all means many times it is. My strict uniform at times included a red horrible pleated plaid SKORT (yes a skirt plus shorts equaling a skort), along with a white blouse button up, knee high socks, and penny loafers. In 7th grade it was really cool to put the penny in the loafer. As you can imagine, I was like totally the coolest gal in school. After many years of cringing, I am over my plaid fear and embrace it fully when it comes in the perfect size, amount, material, accessory, etc. A perfect go-to for clutches, the Lauren Merkin Plaid Silk Louise Clutch features shantung-silk along with a perfect summer hue mixture on the Madras plaid print. There is subdued pleating at the front and back clutch with pleating at front and funky metallic striped lining. Dimensions are 6.5″H x 14″L. Far from reminding me of a uniform I once wore, this clutch is pretty-cute for summer. Via Shop Bop for $180.

A touch of gold hardware upon splashes of lush red copper racer watersnake, and you have yourself a hot clutch/wallet. Not precisely sure if this chain purse is designated to be a wallet or a clutch or a whatever, but if you own the Luella Mama Key Chain Purse I would not hide it inside of your handbag. This is a hot mama bag, the color is radiating and such an attention grabber, especially on this exotic, and the gold key chain on front adds a playful touch. There a pouch pocket smack dab in the front is not taking away from the purse, but adds a nice touch. Inside you will find black lining and a section for cards, coins and notes. 8.5″ x 4.5″ x 2″, toss this babe right in your hand, and you have a winner. Through Net-A-Porter for $535.

The oversized clutch fits in with the oversized bag and our society’s need to have everything bigger and better. Not that I am fighting it, I am all about better. But we all know that bigger is not always better. What about in the case of one of Gwen Stefani’s clutches? It is big, but is it better? The LAMB Manchester Clutch doubles as an in hand clutch and a fold over handbag. I am feeling the black and white stripes along with the perforated leather trim. What I am not totally sure of is the logo jacquard L’s. They are subdued, and kinda chic even, but I am on the fence. Polished gold metal hardware, a magnetic closure, and both interior and exterior pockets make this clutch very versatile. When folded, the clutch measures 8.5″x 16″x 1″ while when open it measures 13″x 16″x 0.5″. You be the judge. I feel it is edgy, young, hip, and the kind of ‘night on the town with the girls’ fun and ‘leave the boys at home’ fun. Buy through eLuxury for $395.

Pucci is typically known for its colorful swirl pattern. But sleek and sophisticated on a Pucci clutch, that is unheard of… WRONG. Check out this stunner (Ok I am obsessed with blue lately, sorry!). The Emilio Pucci Silk Clutch Handbag screams summertime because of the aqua silk body. The aqua on this clutch is the color of the Carribean oceans and is paired with a matte gold frame and an oversized clasp closure on the top. Then you open to the inside to see that quirky multi-color print that Pucci is so well known for. I’m just in a blue phase, a happy one, but a blue phase. Via Net-A-Porter for $690.

Anya Hindmarch is making her name known with her straight edge designs and perfect handbag compilations. Sure she has a quirky bump or two along the way, but for the most part she is dead on and this is exactly why we will all be seeing much more of her. A completely sexy and lovable clutch has been designed by Hindmarch which makes a glittery and gold statement but looks sophisticated rather than teenage. The Anya Hindmarch Libertine Woven Leather Clutch proves to be an attention grabber with the gold woven leather, silver trim, frame body, and small pocket on the front. Love love love it. The size is perfect and little-black-dress-approved, at 9″x4.5″x3″. You know you want it (or is that me that wants it?) Through Net-A-Porter for $795.

I can not call this handbag a fug bag because I don’t consider it completely ugly, but for this price is makes me have a deep down tummy chuckle. Stella, are you seriously going to charge people $745 for the Stella McCartney Sea Grass Clutch that could easily be designed by me? And trust me, I am an average gal who can get her hands on some sea grass, a charm, and a small accessory body. I could even use simple twine and a hot glue gun and meticulously wrap the twine around the nearly free coin pouch body I buy from the fabric store. Sure it is cute for a summer day, but for this price, I would buy something that does not look MacGyver-ready-in-3-minutes tops. A whopping $745 via Neiman Marcus.

Who needs more clutter in their life? My life is so hectic I can barely see straight and get my socks on my feet and my fingers in my gloves. Anything accessory that is simple enough to describe in one line and leaves a lasting impression from looks alone has done its job in my opinion. If you crave exotic handbags, Nancy Gonzalez does a fine job of exotic skins (especially crocodile) and makes a bag that is not too done up that you can’t un-do it. Take your pick of color, from ravishing and sultry red, to basic and elegant black, to playful gray (looks bluish to me), in the Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Clutch which features a flap top. Simple, sweet, and oh so sexy. That red would look so sexy with a nice pair of heels and exquisite jewelry. I am in love. Buy any, or all 3, through Bergdorf Goodman for $1150.

Add a tiny bit of gold glitter trim and chunky metallic stitching to a simple yet stunning satin clutch, and you have the drop dead gorgeous VBH Satin Poche. The black satin rectangular body is well known and associated with VBH clutches, and this rendition is one of my favorites by far. For the gal who wants to showcase her funky personality yet still needs nothing overly ornate, this clutch is perfect and also features a removable inside suede pouch. Dazzle your wardrobe via Net-A-Porter $1150.

I have mentioned from time to time that I was a swimmer growing up, all the way to and through college actually. People think when I say this I mean I splashed in my backyard pool, quite the contrary. At 5 am I was in the water, at 3 pm I was running and lifting weights, at 5 pm I was back in the water, and the next day I did it all over again. For years this was my routine, since the age of 4. A perk of being brought up in South Florida was the ocean; a total negative for anyone near in Florida afraid of marine life is also the ocean. Guess whose swim coach had them swim in the ocean on Saturdays? I cried. The thought of a squishy but totally awful jellyfish, a hiding stingray, and a hungry shark terrified me. Tears welled up in my goggles every Saturday. I’d rather see a stingray as an accessory, just like this stunning Jalda Stingray Bean Clutch. A perfect texture of exotic stingray skin in deep navy looks extravagant and does bring back any sort of marine life fears. The oversized brass clasp is not overpowering, rather subtly adds a touch of sophistication and class that is a hard combination to hit. On the inside there is faille lining and this piece of hand candy (that does not have the capacity to fling its stinger up in your leg) measures 5”HX 9”LX 1″W. Classy and safe through Saks for $415. Take that you scary under-the-sand-camouflage-hiding stingray!!