Handbags


The winged tote bag for fall 2013

Tote bags are a mainstay on the runway and on the streets. Every season the tote bag silhouette gently shifts from north/south to east/west and back again. There are seasons where tote bags are small, and other seasons where the size is bigger than life. For fall 2013, tote bags have taken a cue from Celine’s current “IT” bag style; the “Luggage Tote” and changed the angles of the everyday tote bag.

Celine’s slouchy “Luggage Tote” offers a slightly square silhouette with sides which are soft enough to vent out of the bag. This gives Celine’s “Luggage Tote” bag a slightly inverted triangle or “winged” look. Fashionistas and handbag aficionados have gone crazy for Celine’s design over the past few years and the handbag is popping up on city streets around the world. Although Celine’s “Luggage Tote” is quite expensive with prices starting well above $2000, fans of the handbag have been snapping it up regardless of their spending power. Of course, do to this craze, many illegal replicas have hit the marketplace further saturating the style on the street and lining the pockets of criminals.

Due to the popularity of Celine’s “Luggage Tote” and the freshness of the winged look, designers from across the globe have taken tried their hand with the new silhouette and introduced their own versions for the fall 2013 season. This means the inverted triangle or winged tote is the “IT” tote of the fall season. Hope you love it!

Designers have gone crazy designing winged totes for fall 2013. There are mini versions, which compete with the current mini satchel trend, as well as large versions which could easily be used for weekend getaways and airplane carry-ons. Whatever the size tote you need for fall, someone has designed a winged tote for you.

The jury is still out as to whether or not this silhouette will turn into a classic look, or feel dated in a few years. So, if you love the style, go ahead and splurge on the designer winged tote of your choice. If you are more conservative in your handbag purchases, but love the freshness of the silhouette and need a tote, look for a more reasonably priced bag which will carry you through one or two seasons.

I found a few fabulous winged totes in varying sizes around the web for fall 2013 and assembled them into the shopping widget below. Hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 

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Leather backpacks for fall 2013

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Photos: Leather Backpack: vintage Kenneth Cole / Earrings: John Hardy / Dress: Gap / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Gentle Monica” / Bracelets: Tory Burch & c/o Twisted Silver / Nail Polish: Chanel Paparazzi / Boots: Prada Leather backpacks.

This was a huge trend from the mid-1990’s which eventually evolved into the “mini-backpack” trend of the mid to late 1990’s. If you lived in San Francisco at the time, mini-backpacks could be spotted on almost every 20-something on Union Street and the Triangle area. This time around, mini-backpacks are scarce (let’s hope it stays that way) and medium sized, luxurious leather backpacks are everywhere.

The leather backpack, while spotted on the fall/winter 2013/2014 runways, was not a dominant trend from designers. Consumers picked up on the style and took off with it, making the leather backpack a street style trend for fall 2013.

Leather backpacks are being shown in medium sizes made from soft and slouchy leather. The leather backpack is being shown in neutral, classic hues of black, charcoal and shades of brown. This is not a trend to wear in seasonal colors, bright colors, or any colors other than black, charcoal or light to dark brown.

If you wore leather backpacks for school, work or fun back in the 1990’s and kept your backpack in storage, you are in luck! Bring it out from the back of your closet and use it for casual days this fall as an alternative to a shopper tote. If not, this is the perfect time to invest in a leather backpack. Although trendy, leather backpacks are great for traveling and make the perfect carry-on for airplane rides when they are not considered trendy. Is it classic? Yes! Investment worthy? Yes! Great alternative to a bulky shopper tote for fall? Yes yes yes!

I found a few fabulous leather backpacks around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 


Kao Pao Shu pop of red

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Outfit details: Earrings: Kathy Kamai / Tee-shirt: Gap / Sweater vest: c/o Calypso St. Barth / Clutch: c/o Kao Pao Shu / Jeans: Gap / Bracelet: c/o Twisted Silver / Rings: John Hardy / Leather wrap bracelet: Tory Burch / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Gentle Monica” / Nail Polish: Chanel Paparazzi / Shoes: Valentino (past season-current versions here and here)

In today’s society, it is a chore to try and find goods sold in the United States which are also made in the United States. When it comes to handbags, the majority of manufacturers are located in China, while a few remain in Italy, the majority are in China. And as for the United States? Good luck finding a handbag made here!

I was thrilled when Los Angeles based handbag company Kao Pao Shu contacted me about their products. Not only are their handbags designed and made in the United States, they are from California! Love that! These beautiful handbags, which are non-leather and perfect for vegetarian and vegan Fashionistas, are from right here in the Golden State.

I am in love with this beautiful red clutch from Kao Pao Shu which offers an asymmetrical silhouette and edgy vibe. The clutch easily fits my wallet, iPhone, car keys and lipstick. The fabrication allows the clutch to be worn with jeans, as I styled it above, during the day, or paired with a dress for a night on the town. Day into evening = love!

Kap Pao Shu offers a full line of handbags for both men and women. The color palette is classic allowing Kao Pao Shu handbags to easily be worn during any season for years to come. To view Kao Pao Shu’s collection online, please visit kaopaoshu.com.

Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 

Photos: Bay Area Fashionista 2013©