handbag reviews

Balenciaga City Bag review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged balenciaga / handbag reviews / vintage styles by

pictured: Balenciaga Le City Bag vintage circa 2009 (formerly known as the Balenciaga City Tote) / nail polish / iPhone case /

It’s back! Demand for the original Balenciaga City Bag exploded in 2025, and as we land in 2026, demand is still skyrocketing. Is it possible to revive an IT bag from yesteryear? It sure looks like it!

The Balenciaga City Bag was iconic in the early 2000’s. I snapped up mine in 2009. It was originally a light, denim blue but has faded to more of a grey-blue. Colored leather is always susceptible to fading and color changes. For a more stable color, I recommend natural colors and also black. That being said, I still love the color it has become over the years.

Now, let’s chat a little bit about Balenciaga itself. The design house was popular for decades going back to it’s founding in 1917. Nicolas Ghesquiere launched the city bag collection, and it exploded to IT status rather quickly. Unfortunately, when Demna took over, the brand’s vibe became dark; and let’s not start in about the advertising scandal. It’s too shameful.

Thankfully, Balenciaga has parted ways with Demna and now they have Pierpaolo Piccioli and the brand is once again, out of the dark.

This may have led to the renewed intereest in Balenicaga’s handbag collection as well as designs as a whole. For now, the City bag collection is exploding once again, just like 15-20 years ago. If you have one in your archives, it is time to pull it back out and rock it on casual days.

If you do not already own one of these soft and squishy, delightful bags, what are you waiting for! Look at the squishy and soft leather!

I love the whole moto-chic vibe of the Balenciaga City Bag and how it can be worn by the top handles or the attached shoulder strap. My bag is from 2009, and it has been worn A LOT! The leather is in amazing shape, minus the faded color. The craftsmanship, quality, leather, and style are impeccable. If you don’t already own one, I highly recommend investing in a Balenciaga City Bag for your collection. It is well worth it!

The interior features a zipper pocket and there is a mirror attached to the bag you can move around. I keep mine tucked inside the bag. There is also an exterior zipper pocket, which I never use.

I plan to wear mine a lot this spring and summer seasons. I am so happy this bag is back in style. It is one of my all-time favorite bags! Love!

Shop the Balenciaga City Bag online:

What do you think of the Balenciaga City Bag? Do you love it too?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Land’s End canvas tote review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged casual style / handbag reviews / lands end / totes by

pictured: Land’s End canvas tote size small / water bottle /

How cute is this small version of Land’s End classic canvas tote bag! Love!

So, I already own the medium sized tote from Land’s End in red. I have used it for several years and love the durability, practicality, and timeless appeal. So, I thought the small version would come in handy for going to the gym, the beach, and anytime I want a casual tote. Love it!

The interior of the small tote has one small pocket and one large pocket. This is handy for keeping smaller items such as Kleenex, lipstick, and receipts in order. There is also a key strap, just like in the larger tote, which hooks onto your keychain so you can easily find your keys. Love!

In addition, the exterior features a small pocket, which I haven’t found a use for yet, but might be useful in the future. We shall see! You can also have the tote personalized, just like with the larger sizes. My medium tote is not personalized, but I thought it would be fun to personalize the canvas tote. You can choose your color and font. I love the blue I chose, but next time I might go with a darker color.

You can also add a cross-body strap! After using the tote for a few weeks, I have come to the conclusion I should order the strap. I think it would be nice to have the option of using the tote hands-free.

The canvas tote from Land’s End is available in a variety of colors, so the color combos with personalization are endless. Love that! I plan to get a lighter color as we move into spring. This is such a great little canvas tote!

If you are looking for a casual small tote, or if you are interested in one of the larger sizes, I highly recommend the Land’s End canvas tote bag. The medium canvas tote has five pockets, and the small canvas tote has three pockets. The price is right, plus they are extremely durable. Love that!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

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