Handbags

National Handbag Day 2023

October 10, 2023 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged fall 2023 / national handbag day by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Blue dress / silver bracelet / black shoulder bag /

Happy National Handbag Day! This is always such a fun day, because we can celebrate our love for handbags, and no-one will judge us! Love that!

Every year, I write about National Handbag Day in a slightly different way. Some years I celebrate my favorite bags, while other years I talk about trends or popular IT bags of the moment. Since we are currently in the anonymous handbag era, I will feature my favorite anonymous handbags of the moment.

While I mentioned they are my favorite bags of the moment, they are also investment handbags I have either owned for a long period of time and they are still relevant, or they have the potential to be long-lasting, investment pieces.

I was only going to write about my five favorite, anonymous handbags of the moment, but I could not narrow it down, so here are six!

Mulberry Amberley

My new obsession is Mulberry handbags. The quality of leather is incredible, and the craftsmanship is top notch. I also love their attention to sustainability and efforts to produce handbags in a more eco-conscious manner. This is something important to watch for as we move into the future and when we invest in handbags as well as shoes, accessories, and apparel. The way a company handles manufacturing can make or break my support. We only have one planet, and companies need to treat factory personnel ethically. My Mulberry wish list is quite long!

Back to the Amberley, this is a fabulous bag! My Mulberry Amberley is very comfortable and easy to wear on a daily basis. The quality and craftsmanship are amazing, and I really love this bag! I cannot wait to add more colors to my collection! As I mentioned before, my Mulberry wish list is quite long!

Givenchy Antigona

If you have been following along for some time, you already know my Givenchy Antigona satchel is my favorite workhorse bag. It has strong construction which enables me to carry heavy items and really stuff the bag without having to worry about the bag falling apart. It really is a workhorse! This bag holds up strong and can get tossed around without scratching. Please note, I have the sugar leather which is incredibly durable. Love it! Since I love my Givenchy Antigona so much, I own two! The black one pictured above, and I also have a pale blue Antigona. The pale blue is beautiful, but difficult to photograph with my camera so you don’t see it featured here very often, but I do wear it!

Mansur Gavriel bucket bag

My Mansur Gavriel bucket bag is a classic handbag which is nearing its tenth anniversary! This is also a workhorse bag I use as an alternative to a tote when I need to truck a ton of stuff around. When I say stuff, I mean a sweatshirt, scarf, snacks, water bottle, and who knows what else! haha, I do have three kids, although teenagers, they still require extra stuff such as snacks etc. This bag also has fabulous construction and can really withstand a lot of weight. The quality is amazing, and it has really withstood the test of time. I look forward to using it for a lifetime!

Coach Swinger

Coach Messenger Tabby 19

When it comes to mini bags, my collection is full. I love my Coach Swinger which features two different straps and has turned out to be extremely practical. It has also held up in the rain without showing any wear. It is very sturdy and has impeccable Contruction. Love! Speaking of Coach, my Tabby Messenger 19 is also an easy bag to wear often and has some boho, 1970s vibes which I love.

Bottega Veneta Loop

Of course, the Bottega Veneta Loop bag is a classic mini bag which I had to get in “Bottega green!” I love wearing it when I need a pop of color in my look; and the soft leather is luxurious, and surprisingly strong. It is another great quality bag to cherish for a lifetime!

Well, those are my favorite handbags of the moment which are currently on rotation. Of course, I have more handbags, which I love, but I cannot write about all of them today! Have a fabulous and happy National Handbag Day and feel free to sound off in the comment section below letting me know your favorite handbags of the moment!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Handbag Spotlight: Savette Symmetry

September 27, 2023 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged handbag spotlight / investment dressing / satchels / savette by Bay Area Fashionista

Handbag Spotlight: Savette Symmetry in black shown /

New series alert! There are always so many fabulous handbags to talk about, but sometimes I limit myself on the blog because I don’t own the bag. Just because I don’t own a handbag, does not mean it isn’t relevant or fabulous, sometimes it is the contrary! Therefore, I decided to create a new series named “Handbag Spotlight” where I can share with you a fabulous IT bag of the moment which may also have investment bag potential. I hope you enjoy this new series and find it helpful as you enjoy the world of handbags with me!

OK, if you are active on social media, there is a really good chance you already know about Savette. If not, let me share this fabulous and young handbag company with you! After all, several handbags from Savette are on my wish list!

Savette is a company based in New York which designs beautiful, investment quality handbags. The designs transcend trends and offer timeless appeal, high quality materials, and excellent craftsmanship. Created in 2020, Savette’s founder wanted to create handbags which can be passed down from generation to generation; heirloom bags. They are handcrafted by skilled artisans in Italy and are both refined and functional. I am in love with this brand!

There are several designs on the market from Savette, but two are extremely popular with handbag fans; the Symmetry and the Tondo. Today, I would like to highlight the Savette Symmetry handbag since it is the most sought-after bag of the moment from the brand.

This beautiful top handle bag is available in multiple sizes, as well as a shoulder bag style. The hardware offers understated yet fresh design which is eye-catching and downright beautiful. Without loud logos, this bag will be recognized only be those know handbags. I love this! The Savette Symmetry is a true anonymous handbag, which is both quiet and luxurious.

The Savette Symmetry is made in mostly neutral hues as well as a beautiful shade of red. I love it in dark brown, ivory and black. It is classic and sleek. Love this look! If smooth leather isn’t catching your eye, the Symmetry by Savette is also available in lizard and suede. The suede looks so soft! Love!

Shop the Savette Symmetry around the web:

What do you think of this investment handbag? My favorite version is the shoulder bag. Which style/size do you prefer?

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more “Handbag Spotlight” posts!

XOXO

Cathy

Toteme T Lock bag review

September 18, 2023 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged handbag reviews / outfits / satchels / shoulder bags / toteme by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Toteme T Lock bag / fall nail polish /

Can a handbag be both an IT bag and an investment bag? Yes! Yes it can! The Toteme T Lock bag has all of the qualities of a trending IT bag, as well as an investment purchase to love a lifetime.

Toteme has been for around for almost a decade, but their handbag collection is barely a year old. This doesn’t mean it lacks longevity, quite the opposite. The brand stands for high quality, eco-conscious materials and manufacturing, as well as creating items which transcend trends. For their T Lock bag to launch and immediately become an IT bag, could be contradictory to what the brand stands for, but that doesn’t make it confusing.

The reason this beautiful handbag is so highly sought-after, is because of what it stands for. Consumers want eco-conscious brands, in fact, they hunger for them! Not only that, timeless styles coupled with high quality fabrications and craftsmanship, creates an equation that equals success. This is exactly what makes both an IT bag and an investment bag. Love this!

The T Lock bag by Toteme is not only high functioning and styled beautifully, but also versatile. This quiet and luxurious handbag can be both a satchel and a shoulder bag. It is versatile and can be worn to suit one’s mood, outfit, and lifestyle. Love this!

wearing: hoop earrings / stripe tee / handbag / fall nail polish / black belt / flare jeans / black boots /

In addition to being able to wear the Toteme T Lock bag as both a top handle bag and a shoulder bag, it is roomy and strong. I wanted a bag slightly larger than the small shoulder bags I have been carrying for the last year.

This roomy handbag suits the need for more space as we head into colder months. As you can see below, there is extra room on top of my purse essentials where I can place a pair of warm gloves and a thin scarf.

The interior of the Toteme T Lock bag offers slip pockets where you can store credit cards, receipts, or other slim items. I have not used the pockets, but it is nice to know they are there if I need them.

The shoulder strap can also be stored inside the handbag when being worn as a top handle bag in case you want to quickly convert it into a shoulder bag and free up your hands. The loops are inside the bag, and the strap has easy to snap on hardware. I have found I prefer wearing it as a shoulder bag, so as of right now, I am keeping the strap intact.

The Toteme T Lock bag has a signature T Lock which twists to allow the lock to open. After the first time wearing the bag, I got the hang of the lock and find it easy to maneuver. The top handle is right there when you reach inside the bag, but if you slip your hand in front of it when reaching inside, the top handle isn’t the nuisance it might appear to be in photos. Therefore, getting in and out of the bag earns an A- grade from me.

There are two sizes, or should I say versions, of the Toteme T Lock bag. The one I am reviewing is the regular sized bag which comes with a top handle and detachable shoulder strap. The other version is smaller and named a clutch. The smaller version can be worn as a clutch or a shoulder bag. I prefer the larger size since the top handle is more useful to me than holding a bag as a clutch, plus, I like having a roomy bag in addition to my current line-up of small shoulder bags.

This is a difficult bag to find! I have linked up the Toteme T Lock in stock around the web, so hopefully when you read this and click the link you will find the bag in stock. If not, you can sign up for the wait list, and in some cases, pre-order the bag.

Lastly, I love the design of the Toteme T Lock handbag. It doesn’t have any loud logos and just showcases high quality and craftsmanship. Although a current IT bag, it transcends trends and has the markings of an investment bag to cherish for generations.