handbag reviews

Veronica Beard Dash Bag review

 in General Fashion  tagged handbag reviews / satchels / totes / veronica beard by

pictured: Veronica Beard Dash Bag in medium / phone case / sunglasses /

How fabulous is the Veronica Beard Dash Bag! You may have noticed I have been featuring this bag in collages for quite some time. It has been number one on my wish list throughout 2025. Finally for Christmas, I gifted it to myself! Love!

The Veronica Beard Dash Bag is available in multiple sizes; I decided on the medium because I felt like it worked perfectly for daily use. I can fit my daily essential inside the bag which include my wallet, sunglasses, phone, keys, a small Kleenex package and lipstick. With those items, there is plenty of room inside the bag for extras such as snacks, gloves, and more!

There are several colors available on the Veronica Beard Dash Bag. I decided to go with classic black because, well, I love black handbags! It is timeless and easy to wear with any outfit in black. Love it!

The interior of the Dash Bag offers a double slip pocket and a zipper pocket. The clasp is magnetic and there is a removable crossbody strap. In case you are wondering about quality, it is beautiful! The leather is thick without being heavy; plus, it is soft, durable, and extremely high quality. This bag feels like it’s much more expensive than it is. In fact, it offers better quality than a lot of bags on the market right now which are well into the four figures. I am in love!

The Veronica Beard Dash Bag is definitely an investment bag. I am thrilled to have gifted it to myself!

So, if you are looking for the perfect classic belted tote, this it is! Plus, it is under $1000. Love that!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Poolside Lori straw tote review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged beach / handbag reviews / investment dressing / poolside / totes by

pictured: Poolside Lori tote bag (customize the embroidery) /

I am not sure how I failed to review my beloved Poolside Lori tote back when I purchased it six years ago! Thankfully I have realized my mistake and am reviewing it now!

You read that right, I purchased this tote six years ago and it still looks fresh and new! The photo at the very bottom was taken in 2019, and the photo above was taken last month. As you can see, the tote still looks fabulous. This is a nod to the high quality of Poolside bags. You know I love a high-quality handbag! This is exactly that! Love!

Straw totes and straw handbags are always hot in the summer months. It makes sense to invest in one you can keep and use year after year. This way, you won’t find yourself purchasing a one season handbag every year. In the long run, investing in a good straw tote will save you money and time. The quality of the Poolside Lori tote is impeccable. The lining is strong and there is a drawstring for securing what’s inside your bag. It is made of a thick linen which can withstand daily use as well as beach days. Since I tend to bring my straw tote to the beach, I have had a lot of sand and sun touching my bag. It is easy to shake out and return to daily use in the city. Love that!

My Poolside Lori tote can fit a lot of essentials. As you can see, even with my wallet, phone, lipstick, keys, sunblock, and a book, there is plenty of room for snacks and other items. This is a nice, roomy tote; perfect for beach days, travel, and more.

The fun part? You can customize your tote bag! Mine says “Jet Set,” but you can have anything you want embroidered on the bag. You can put your name, your initials, or a cute phrase. The color of the embroidery is your choice too!

So, overall, I rate my Poolside Lori tote five out of five stars. Love!

Shop Poolside totes and handbags I love:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

straw bags summer 2019

Celebrating ten years of handbag reviews

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged handbag reviews / reviews by
saint laurent sac du jour nano and shore projects watch

Pictured: My first handbag review on the blog! You can read it here. / Most recent handbag review, read here. /

Handbags! You know I love them, and so do you! As someone who has written about handbags since before the blog, it was only natural, ten years ago, to add a handbag review section to Bay Area Fashionista! It really doesn’t seem like that long ago when I started my official reviews; as opposed to my handbag mentions and articles about specific handbags.

The handbag reviews have been fun because they give a specific post to each bag, instead of having to hunt through the blog for a paragraph here or there with a mini review. All the information you need a about a specific handbag is all wrapped up in the review article. Love that!

This fabulous bucket bag, pictured above, is my most recent review. I really love this handbag and find myself wearing it often. The studded details add a little edge and interest to the overall style of the bag. It is also quite practical and fits everything I need in a day. Love!

Talking about handbags I love. . .

it bags fall 2017

One of my favorite handbags of all time is my Givenchy Antigona. I own two! After falling in love with my black one, I indulged and invested in a pale blue Antigona. The black gets the most wear, and the pale blue one gets worn and babied a little more due to the light color. I love them both and also love the fact that the Givenchy Antigona has become a classic handbag which can be worn season after season. You know me, I love a good investment handbag!

Lastly, the handbag you have loved the most over the years has been the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag. This classic drawstring bucket bag is still going strong and is a fabulous investment bag at a reasonable price. Love that!

My favorite handbags:

Thank you for coming to Bay Area Fashionista over the years for my handbag reviews, and more! There are more handbag reviews on the way, so stay tuned!

Thank you for your support!

XOXO
Cathy

mansur gavriel bucket bag pink