Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote review

summer 2018 tote bag

pictured: Summer tote bag c/o Brahmin /

Raise your hand if you are constantly on the quest for the perfect tote. My hand is waaaay up! A few weeks ago I attended a dinner in San Francisco hosted by handbag brand Brahmin. The event showcased their new summer collection. After the event, they gifted us with this beautiful Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag. To say I was thrilled, was an understatement.

This tote bag is perfect for both the office and playtime. Keep reading for my full review!

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This Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag is a beautiful yet sturdy tote which can be worn for a variety of activities. It is roomy enough to carry a DSLR camera or a laptop, yet compact enough to not feel like a large beach tote. It’s perfect for the summer. I can fit a water-bottle, a wrap for when the fog sneaks in, my camera, and more. This tote is already getting a lot of use by me, it will definitely be getting a ton of use this summer season!

brahmin julian melbourne tote bag interior

The interior of the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag has just the right amount of pockets. There is a roomy zipper pocket, a key fob so your keys can easily be found, two slip pockets which are great for lipsticks, a phone, or receipts, and a slim pocket which is just right for your favorite pen.

This isn’t a tote you will have to worry about allowing it’s contents to spill out. The bag offers a chic magnetic closure which is easy to open and close. Love that!

brahmin julian melbourne tote bag review brahmin julian melbourne tote bag exterior

The exterior of the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag offers a roomy pocket on the backside which is great for a phone or anything you need to reach for quickly; such as a passport, plane tickets, theater tickets, and more. The underneath of the tote features four brass feet which help the bag stand up straight and keep the leather clean if you need to put the bag down. There is also an understated label plate and chic hanging logo; which is understated as well. The stamped croc pattern looks real and gives the bag a fabulous richness. Love!

The exterior of the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag also offers side snaps which alter the silhouette of the bag, and can make interior larger or smaller depending on how much stuff you need to put inside.

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With the side snaps closed, the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag offers a smaller interior capacity which is great if you aren’t carrying a ton of items. It also slims down the bag, making it really easy to wear over the shoulder. This is also a great way to help keep items inside from slipping out if the bag tips over.

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It almost looks like two different tote bag styles doesn’t it! With the snaps left open, the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag offers a more traditional, rectangular design which is wide open and roomy. This is ideal for carrying a laptop, folders, and other items you may need for the office. Love that!

All in all the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote is a fabulous workhorse tote which can easily be used for the office and other, more enjoyable summer activities. 😉 It’s priced under $300 and comes in several  beautiful colors. It’s amazing how affordable it is considering all of the luxurious features this tote bag offers. Plus, the construction is exceptionally strong and high quality. Love!

You can find the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote online here.

Shop the Brahmin Julian Melbourne tote bag around the web:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

*thank you Brahmin for gifting me this handbag. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

brahmin summer 2018 totes

Pastel stripes and mixed metals

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wearing: double circle gold-tone earrings (under $15!!) / Chanel lipstick / white and pastel stripe top / mixed metal bracelet set / Chanel summer nail polish / summer tote bag c/o Brahmin (under $300!) / vintage Prada belt (love this black belt) / black leather and silver watch / side stripe jeans / silver mules (on major sale-avl in five colors!)

During the summer months, I love casual clothing that breathes. While denim doesn’t exactly breathe, this top sure does! haha, so does that help??

I love this breezy top for the summer season. It has soft, pastel stripes and laid-back, lace-up design. The fabric is loosely woven, so it allows airflow through the fabric. This is fantastic on hot summer days.

This is the outfit I wore last Sunday afternoon when it was ninety-three degrees outside. I am not sure why I wore jeans. This top was perfect, but the jeans were a little too heavy for the weather. I should have worn my denim shorts with this top. That will be my go-to outfit on hot days this summer.

Do you ever reach for jeans without thinking about the weather? I feel like this is something I do often. I just love jeans! What would I have done if Levi hadn’t invented denim pants? I would be living in a sartorial nightmare-that’s what! haha

Shop my casual summer look:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

pastel stripes mixed metal summer 2018

In honor of Kate Spade

I had originally planned to post a summer outfit today but considering the news yesterday of Kate Spade’s suicide by hanging, I felt it would be better to open the following discussion.

Artists tend to create from the heart. Many times when we look at any type of art, be it a painting, sculpture, fashion, and the like; it represents something the artist was feeling at the time of creation. Art is a result of emotion, internal feelings, and environment. Fashion, which is wearable art, expresses the mood, climate, and emotions of a given period. While many designers create according to what they think will sell at the moment, many designers create from the heart and design a collection which embodies their own personal internal emotions of the moment.

Kate Spade always created whimsical, light-hearted collections. She played with color, silhouette, texture, and vintage inspiration. Her collections always infused kitschy vibes into something which was wearable and commercial. She was a master at evoking a playful spirit which could also be worn daily by women everywhere. She made art wearable, down-to-earth, and accessible. While her price points may not have been accessible to everyone, her playful spirit was accessible to everyone.

Now the question presents itself; how could a designer who inspires playfulness commit suicide? Aren’t designers expressing themselves through their art? Wouldn’t that mean Kate Spade was a playful, happy person? Her suicide tells a very different story than her art. Perhaps her art expresses how she wished she felt, rather than how she actually felt.

We hear about celebrity suicides every so often. Many times we already know from the press that a celebrity is unhappy, going through a rough patch personally and/or professionally, and/or has been on a course of self-destruction for quite some time. But Kate Spade? She wasn’t exactly in the news for anything that wasn’t positive. On the outside, we see a successful entrepreneur who was both creative and business savvy. She also appeared happily married with one beautiful child. So, what brought her to commit suicide?

We never know what demons someone is fighting on the inside. Many people can appear perfectly happy on the outside, and they are miserable on the inside. How can we help these people when we don’t know they are struggling and hurting inside? All I can think of is to continually raise awareness for suicide prevention.

The suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255.

Thoughts and prayers to Kate Spade’s family and friends during this difficult time.

In her honor, please help spread the word that no-one is alone. There are people who can help anyone who considers suicide as the only way out. There is always another way to solve problems and find happiness. Please help spread the word and stick close to anyone who seems to be going through a tough time. Sometimes just one person can make a difference in someone’s life; thus saving that life.

All photos from Kate Spade’s spring 2015 collection presented at New York Fashion Week in September 2014. She was an amazing designer who inspired all of us to be a bit more playful, light-hearted, and whimsical.

Thank you Ms. Spade for your beautiful designs. I wish you knew how much you will be missed.

XOXO

Cathy