Bay Area Fashionista

Balenciaga Hourglass top handle bag review

balenciaga hourglass satchel top handle small satchel lady bag

Pictured: Balenciaga Hourglass top handle bag in small /

Balenciaga is having a moment, and it’s more of a grown-up moment than back in the day when the moto bag was all the rage. This time around, Balenciaga is sophisticated, tailored, and offering us a handbag with classic and avant-garde fused together into a design that is both fabulous and practical. Say what???? Yes, yes, I put fabulous and practical in one sentence about that same bag. Let’s dive in…

This structured little handbag was debuted by Balenciaga a few seasons ago, and handbag fans such as celebrities, Bravolebrities, street style stars, and style setters around the globe took notice. Slowly, we have started to see this little bag pop up on television, street style photos, and around town on the streets. This is the emerging IT bag of the moment, and I am here for it!

Balenciaga is giving us a few versions of the Hourglass bag to choose from. This top handle satchel version comes in micro-mini (nano), small, and medium. I purchased the small which is just the right size for me to rock the small bag trend without sacrificing internal capacity. There is also a wallet-on-a-chain version which is also popular, and available in both classic and trendy hues. I had a hard time choosing between the two styles, but ultimately went with the top handle because I felt like the wallet-on-a-chain was too similar to other bags I currently have on rotation.

I love the Balenciaga Hourglass top handle bag because it can be worn in a few different ways; offering versatility. The strap is detachable, so it can be worn as a satchel on the forearm or handheld. With the strap, it can be worn as a cross-body bag or shoulder bag. I notice most people wear it as a shoulder bag.

The Balanciaga Hourglass top handle bag in small offers a magnetic closure, opera ticket pocket on the backside (this pocket does not fit a phone-it’s good for receipts and tickets), there is a zipper pocket inside the bag, and I can fit my wallet, iPhone, lipstick, and keys inside. Sunglasses or glasses do not fit inside with these items present. Remember, I purchased the small. If you want to fit more inside, consider the medium size version of the Hourglass bag. The dimensions for the small size are 8.75″ x 6.25″ x 4″.

The stamped croc gives the bag a luxurious and dressy look which I love. It’s a nice contrast to the smooth leather, soft leather, and polished leather we are seeing from other designers. Of course, stamped exotic is a huge trend in 2022, so this fits right in, and yes, other designers are stamping their leather with exotics too. That being said, stamped exotic is timeless anyway, so trend or no trend, it’s always in fashion. Love that!

Shop the Balenciaga Hourglass top handle bag online:

I’m excited about this no-fuss, structured bag from Balenciaga. It is a nice contrast to the hobo trend which is hot right now. When you are not in the mood for a hobo, this is your bag!

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for my 2022 IT bag trend report coming up next week!

XOXO
Cathy

it bag 2022 hottest must have handbag balenciaga hourglass top handle bag

BAF Weekly IT List

BAF Weekly IT List from top left: periwinkle cardigan sweater (on major sale!) / Dior cruise nail polish / Dior spring top coat / Chanel spring nail polish / Dior cruise nail polish / small red hobo bag / faux leather pants / structured hobo bag (caramel color on sale) / small convertible handbag / black pouch bag / lug sole loafers / lug sole boots /

Winter is in full swing, and we are all starting to think about spring trends we can rock now; such as nail polish and hobo bags. These are easy ways to update our cold weather looks with a little touch of sunshine. Love that!

If you haven’t invested in a pair of leather, or faux leather pants yet, what are you waiting for? This is a huge trend which started last year, and designers are still loving the look well into 2022. Be careful when shopping for faux leather, as some types can look plasticky. If you love this trend, it’s worth spending a little bit more in order to ensure getting smooth and non-plastic-looking faux leather. The pair I own look amazing in person and are very soft to the touch; I highly recommend them!

Looking for a new handbag in 2022? I am working on my annual handbag trends article which will post later this month. In the meantime, think hobos, bucket bags, top handle lady bags, mini bags, and the continuation of the pouch. Leather is going to be soft, polished, or stamped exotic. Handbags are getting smaller with a more understated footprint. More details later this month!

Shop the BAF Weekly IT List online:

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for a review of the hottest emerging IT bag of 2022! Here is a hint; it has been spotted on a few real housewives in Salt Lake City, Beverly Hills, and Orange County as well as a-list celebrities and trend setters. It’s small, structured, and fabulous. Can you guess?

XOXO
Cathy

San Jose winter street style

Wearing: sunglasses / earrings / puffer jacket (almost sold out, also love this one) / long sleeve collared tee shirt / G buckle belt / red slouchy hobo / dark wash jeans / spring nail polish / faux fur boots (on major sale!) /

It’s that chilly time of year when everyone in the south bay is bundling up in faux fur boots, jeans, and a puffer jacket or coat. This year, puffer jackets are everywhere. Not that they aren’t normally around, they are a winter staple, but this year they seem a little bit more popular.

I love this puffer jacket because it has a dramatic collar, and it is both comfortable and cozy. It’s no wonder almost all the sizes are sold out! There is a similar version of this jacket, which is made from fabric instead of vegan leather, it is equally fabulous and available in tons of colors. I might have to snap up a fun color for the rest of the season! I wear this jacket almost everyday!

My mom snapped these photos for me while we were walking to the new Dumpling Time restaurant at Santana Row in San Jose. This is a famed restaurant from the city which is known for their xlb dumplings. We were quite hungry when we arrived, and if you look at the photos below, you can see the two of us ordered a lot of food! haha

We ordered the pork xlb dumpling, spring rolls, pork dumplings, gyoza, har gow, lobster shu mai, and pork buns. It was a lot of food and we ended up taking roughly 1/3 of it home. My kids ended up eating the leftovers, and they loved them! Next time I go, I will take my whole family. My mom and I really enjoyed the food, and the service was very attentive and friendly. We loved it!

It’s always fun to add a new restaurant to the rotation. So, if you are local, be sure to check out the new Dumpling Time at Santana Row!

Shop my winter street style look online:

Also, these faux fur boots are on sale! They come in several colors and they are very comfortable. I get a lot of arch pain, but these boots support my arches and I am pain free walking around in them. Love!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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