Handbags

The death of the logo bag

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged winter 2019 by

staud clear plastic tote bag

pictured: not a logo bag. Categorized as a quiet, trendy bag. Can be found online here, check out my review here.

The death of the logo bag. You knew it was coming.

Logo bags have been a hot trend for the past few years, but in 2018, they started to wane. As we move into 2019, the logo bag is over. 2019 is all about expressing yourself through your handbag. It is a year to tell the world a story. It is not a year to be a walking billboard.

There isn’t one stand out IT bag this year, instead, we are looking at IT trends in the handbag world. There are three distinct handbag trends that will evolve over the coming year, branching off into separate trends for each distinct season. In 2019, we are looking at forms of the understated trendy bag, the quiet status bag, and the bold bag.

The Understated Trendy Bag

Are you always on the cusp of the latest trends? Then a handbag from an emerging designer will be your bag of the moment. This bag will have a distinct structure and style; without a distinct logo. Those in-the-know will recognize your bag instantly, while those not in-the-know, will be left scratching their heads.

Shop understated trendy bags:

The Quiet Status Bag

Does your bag show your status? If you wear your bag the way you drive your car, then your Hermes, Chanel, Louis, and Gucci will still be OK; just don’t flaunt them. If your bag is full of logos, then you are telling the world you are all flash and no cash. Stop trying to prove something to the world. In 2019, you can wear silent IT designers. Wear Chanel, just wear a quiet Chanel. Wear Louis, just wear a quiet Louis. You get the picture? There is no reason for the designer logo to be splashed all over your bag. It’s so last year, and so not #money.

Shop quiet status bags:

The Bold Handbag

Do you love standing out in the crowd? This year look for handbags that stand out. Perhaps a multi-colored, artistic handbag will be your go-to bag. Or, you might opt for a neon pink bag. If you want to get noticed, then look for a bright handbag that stands out. Your bag needs to shout “Look at Me!” not “Look at How Much I Cost!” That’s so last year.

Shop bold handbags:

The economy is good, but individual people are not always good. Taxes have gone up, and wages have been stagnant or gone down. People have disposable income, but not as much as they did a few years ago. There is an overall feeling of being unsettled as global politics shifts to the far-left, and to the far-right; leaving the moderate middle feeling unsafe.

This unsettled political climate means fashion is more about self-expression, and less about showing off the price of something. Handbags will be the hardest hit by this shift as they are often thought of as the ultimate status item in a woman’s closet. In 2019, the handbag shifts from a status piece, to a form of telling the world who you are, or how you are feeling.

What are your thoughts? Are you still feeling the logo bag trend, or are you over it? Which type of bag will you wear this year?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Mansur Gavriel Protea bag review

 in Handbags  tagged handbag reviews / mansur gavriel by

mansur gavriel protea bag review

pictured: Mansur Gavriel Protea bag in blue with navy interior / nail polish / grey faux fur coat / purple scarf /

If you have been here awhile, you know I am a HUGE Mansur Gavriel fan. I have been collecting their handbags steadily over the past several years, so it comes as no surprise that I have found another style to acquire; the new Mansur Gavriel Protea bag in blue with navy interior. I am in love!

The Mansur Gavriel Protea Bag is a bit different than other handbags we have grown to love from the New York brand. This bag is soft, lush, and relaxed; the yin to the traditional bucket bag’s yang. It is a must-have for any Mansur Gavriel fan; or handbag fan for that matter!

The Protea bag by Mansur Gavriel offers the same dual coloring that put MG on the map five years ago. With the contrasting interior color, the bag is instantly elevated from a regular, slouchy drawstring bag, to a must-have basic which is anything but basic. It is currently available in black with flamma interior, blue with navy interior (the one that caught my eye), yellow with blush interior (almost went with this one), red with yellow interior (this one is on fire!), and blush with medium pink interior. Like the bucket bag, the black with red interior sold out quickly and is currently wait list only. You can get yourself on the list online here.

There are two sizes of the Mansur Gavriel Protea handbag currently available. You can find the regular size, which is the one I purchased and am featuring in this post, or you can find a mini size which is great for everyday too. I went with the bigger size because with my kids, I never know how many things I might need to carry with me. That being said, I think I could have survived with the smaller size too; I just wanted to be safe.

What fits inside the Mansur Gavriel Protea bag

mansur gavriel protea bag in stockmansur gavriel protea handbag sizermansur gavriel protea bag interior capacity

Inside my Protea bag: lip balm / lipstick / phone case / sunglasses / wallet /

The interior of the Protea bag by Mansur Gavriel is quite roomy. I normally carry my wallet, sunglasses, lipstick, lip balm, and phone with me. With these essential items, there is still plenty of room to add items my kids no longer want to carry; or we acquire throughout the day. You would be surprised how many cookies and phones end up in my bag when I am out with my family! haha

In addition to being practical, and beautiful, the new Mansur Gavriel Protea bag is lightweight. I can pile a lot of items inside the bag and it is very lightweight; much more so than the bucket bag; which was the previous IT bag by MG.

There are drawstrings on the sides of the bag which can be individually adjusted to cinch the bag more or less; depending upon your mood. The sides of the bag also have hidden magnets which can help give the bag the illusion of being slimmer than it is.

mansur gavriel lamb protea bag mansur gavriel lamb protea bag review

These magnets can be worn open, which is how I leave them, or cinched together to close up the bag a bit. This is very soft and luxurious to the touch, love it!

I love the slouchy silhouette of this bag, and how it gives off a relaxed vibe. The open top makes it easy to get in and out of, while the magnets and drawstring help you close up the bag to make it more secure. This is definitely going to be my go-to bag this spring season. I am starting to think I might need to purchase the black with red interior too! It is such an easy to use bag, and I love how it looks; why not own more than one!

Shop the Mansur Gavriel lamb Protea bag online:

What do you think of the new Protea bag by Mansur Gavriel?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Handbag gift ideas 2018

 in Handbags  tagged Holiday Gift Guide 2018 / holiday gift ideas by

holiday gift guide handbag it bag gift ideas 2018

Holiday Gift Guide handbag gift ideas 2018 from top left: circle Gucci bag / red cross body bag (under $200) / Gucci Marmont camera bag (under $1000) / rainbow shoulder bag (very on trend-IT bag!) / tan hobo bag (IT bag for the minimalist on your list and under $1000) / Gucci satchel / classic red tote bag (great for work, beach, school, or parents-under $350) / tan shoulder bag (hot IT bag from the Paris runways!!)

This is my absolute favorite gift guide to create every holiday season! Handbags are my jam! I would love love love to find every single one of these handbags under the tree this Christmas, alas, that won’t happen. I will ask Santa for the fabulous tan shoulder bag at the bottom of the above graphic. I am also loving that understated hobo-perhaps in black? It comes in so many fabulous neutrals! I swing back and forth on the understated handbag look, back to the IT bag look. I just love all genre’s of bags!

When shopping for a handbag this holiday gift giving season, be sure to write down a few things about the person you are shopping for. First, what is your handbag budget? Second, is she understated, or does she love flashing the hottest IT bag in town? What is her lifestyle? Does she need a roomy bag for the office, or for carrying a lot of her kids things? Maybe she is young and needs a fun going-out-at-night bag! Once you have answered these questions, then you can focus on what to get her!

For someone who needs a smaller bag, check out these cross body bags, and shoulder bags below:

If you are shopping for someone who needs a roomy bag, then the bags below are what you’re looking for:

Is she a fashionista in need of an IT bag? These are the bags for her:

Is she understated or into minimalism? You should snag her one of these:

Looking for something within budget? These bags are priced under $100:

Dear Santa, I would love any or all of the bags in the shopping widget below, under the tree this Christmas. Thank you!

If you are using an ad blocker, you might not see the shopping widgets above-be sure to toggle your ad blocker off for my website so you can enjoy all the features of this gift guide! Don’t worry, I don’t have pop-up ads.

Which handbag gift is on your holiday list? Be sure to forward this post to someone who needs guidance about what to get you for the holidays!

Happy holidays, and keep being fabulous!!

XOXO

Cathy