Designers Handbags

The New York Times On the Street reports that red handbags are the color for spring. Brilliant red leathers, patent, canvas, and other materials have been spotted on the chic ladies of NYC recently. Not rouge, but vibrant red. I am on the outs, only owning a fall-rouge Chloe Paddington, but maybe I need to invest in the color of spring. Can you name some of the bags shown in the picture?

Via NYT

The chic Bal Harbour shops recently opened up a Chloe store. Vlad and I checked it out last week, of course to see what handbags were there. We were both psyched to see that Chloe has finally begun listening to its crowd, they are releasing Paddingtons with much smaller padlocks. I am happy because it means the bag won’t hurt me, and Vlad is happy because it means that he will not have to hear me complain. There were quite a few new clutches, this being one of them, and all were ultimately un-moving. This Chloe Chain Handle Bag is far from anything out of the ordinary. The only aspects of this small bag I like are the black leather along with metallic leather patching. So, pretty much, I merely like the leather and colors. The shape is perfectly fine, it is a clutch shape. But the focal point of the bag, the closure along with a tortoiseshell clasp really looks cheap online and unfortunately looked cheap to me in person. The chunky chain strap is overpowering for a small handbag. All in all, it is just not me. Via NAP for $1,035.

I’ve been underwhelmed by most of Chloe’s recent handbag creations, both the new ones like the Bay and the countless uglified reincarnations of Phoebe’s designs. For a Chloe enthusiast like me, such a series of disappointments was rather disheartening. Thankfully, I saw this Chloe Alice chain evening clutch sitting demurely on display at Nordstrom the other day, and my enthusiasm was revived. I would actually use this bag as a cute little shoulder bag as opposed to a clutch, as it is fairly medium-sized, and as I really love that chain. There’s something a little funky about it, but it’s sweetened by the little very Chloe-like bows at the frame. The frame bag shape and what looks like a kiss-lock closure are wonderfully quaint and feminine. The pink burgundy color is perfect the whole year round. And the leather - I have felt this bag, and the leather is highly, highly soft and molestable. I cannot recommend it enough! From what I remember, the price was a little ridiculous, possibly nearing or over the $2,000 mark, but it is an adorable bag. Have not seen it retailing online yet, but check your local luxury department store, and go to Chloe’s website to see the rest of Chloe’s summer accessories.

Most of this week I have spent shopping for bedding. Yes, bedding. And it is more of a pain than finding the right pair of jeans. And for a gal that is 5′10, finding the right pair of jeans is not easy. From Saks to Macy’s in person, Restoration Hardware to Horchow online, and every other thing in between, finding this bedding is so hard. Two rooms down, four to go, but we will prevail. I started to get lazy yesterday while bedding shopping, and began resting on the meticulously put together beds. I am pretty certain the SA’s were not happy, but these goose down pillows looked luscious. And luscious leather dreams ran through my head, so I went to the handbag department of course. The Chloe Ava Leather Tote sports brown plush leather that looks so smooshy I would throw it on my bed and lay my precious head down on it. I probably would not do that for real, but the leather is divine and the gold hardware is a perfect match. Of course, a major perk is the adjustable shoulder strap or option of using the two handles. Simplicity and luxury at its finest. The final point is a turn clasp on the front. Divine. Through Net-A-Porter for $1800.

Image via GR

Ready for a vacation far far from the paparazzi, civilization, and anything that resembles a camera, Britney Spears enjoyed lunch with a sombrero, eyelet white dress, a brunette wig, and a lovely piece of arm candy. While the Chloe Bay Bag first gave me the creeps that a face was staring at me through the bag, it has grown on me a tad. Not my style, but it has been a huge hit, and Spears is enjoying toting it around pre, during, and post rehab. Spears carried a red hue of the Chloe Bay Bag and put on a smile for the crowds. No bashing here, just lots of support from Purse Blog to Brit! And hey, at least she has a nice designer bag, right?

Like many of their hit bags, Chloe starts with the mother bag and then many versions are sprouted. Check out a few of the many after the jump!

Chloe Bay Leather Tote’ />

Chloe Bay Leather Tote | $1680 | Net A Porter

Chloe Bay Leather Shoulder Bag | $1600 | Net A Porter

Chloe Bay Quilted Tote Bag’ />

Chloe Bay Quilted Tote Bag | $1635 | Net A Porter

Always a new color or rendition, the house of Chloe has added yet another color to the Edith family. This color is a sure hit, with stunning gold metallic leather, hence the name Chloe Gold Metallic Edith Tote. As always the pouch pocket is placed perfectly on the front and there are double handles and a detachable shoulder strap (seems to be quite a perfect duo for those who love options). Love this version as a second Edith, although it would not be toted by me everyday seeing that this is a shocking gold. Through Net A Porter for $1405.

Like I mentioned the other day, Chloe is always re-designing their well known handbags. I have not heard much from the Silverado end of the Chloe spectrum in a while, but there is a new little rendition in town hoping to make mama Silverado happy. The Chloe Square Silverado Tote brings back the signature oversized stitching in the handles that run down the body of the bag. Choose from either the fox (tan) square leather tote offset with brown lace-style trim or the putty (off-white) tote with dark metallic stitching detail and white hardware. Laid back for a fairly varying price tag: Tan for $2365 via Net a Porter; and the Putty for $1780 via Net-A-Porter.

Chloe have three hit bags in my opinion that most likely come to mind when you think of the designer. 1) Paddington, 2) Silverado, 3) Edith. Soon the number 4 will be occupied with the Chloe Bay Bag (which I am not a big fan of). And with all of these hit bags for the house of Chloe have come tons of renditions of each. Tote, satchel, mini, biggie, wallet, doctor, you name the shape/size, Chloe has designed it. But the version of the Edith that really is simple and so practical is the Chloe Edith Tote with Shoulder Strap. There is a white, brown, and black version out right now, but I am loving the white leather version with oversized beige stitching. The shoulder strap is detachable, so you can choose whether or not to use it. Easy to dress up, easy to dress down, this bag is great. Through NAP for $1310.

Yesterday I spoke of simplicity working wonders in the world of handbags, today I will talk about trying too hard which inevitably can create a handbag disaster. I am a huge fan of Chloe, heck, I have 2 Chloe bags. I would even love a Chloe evening bag. Here is what I would not love: the Chloe Aubrey Bracelet Bag. Pretty much this handbag gets a C in creativity but an F+ in production. I’d rather not look as if my bag were a belly dancers skirt, thank you very much. First Chloe begins with the black leather base, which is perfectly acceptable. I even like the ring shaped bracelet handle for various occasions. The downhill spiral begins with the ‘mixture of gold and silver hardware’. The meaning of this is gold and silver disks are placed about to dangle from this bag only on the front side. This no doubt will bring attention to you, you know, the kind of attention you really do not want. I’d prefer people check out my understated bag that is drop dead gorgeous than look at me carrying around a bag that looks as if miniature men want to play the cymbals. Via Net-A-Porter for $1,377.

Personally, if it were up to me, not only would everything be hands-free, but it would all be plain and simple free. Seeing that the latter won’t happen, I will still indulge in this move towards a hands free society. Luckily if you have a messenger/hands-free handbag you do not look nearly as weird as the Bluetooth in ear cell phone talkers. I know many of you may have this, and many of you may need this because of state laws, but I must admit you look silly and I swear you are all schizo and talking to yourselves. The hands-free bag that has my attention right now is the Chloe Edith Messenger Handbag. For spring/summer 2007 the hands free trend is raging and it makes me totally happy to see Chloe release an Edith with its calfskin leather and removable shoulder strap. Choices are clutch. Available in all the colors of the rainbow via Luisaviaroma for $1,246.