handbag reviews

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

Madewell Essential Medium Bucket Tote review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged bucket bag / handbag reviews / madewell / outfits / totes by
madewell essential medium bucket tote outfit ideas

pictured: grey sweater / jeans / boots / Madewell Essential Medium Bucket Tote with studs /

I am loving this north/south tote, soft and slouchy bucket tote trend! While not super trendy, this classic style is extremely popular at the moment. This makes it a great investment purchase as an everyday bag. Love!

So, after getting this suede and leather tote, I felt like I needed something similar in black in my life. When I spotted Madewell’s collection of soft and slouchy bucket bags, I was hooked! Not only is their version of this style available in a wide range of colors, but it is also priced under $200. Love that more!

Studded handbags are something I have been known to gravitate towards. When I spotted this black tote with studs along the strap, I was hooked! This is the black, everyday tote of my dreams. I am so glad I purchased this one!

The Madewell Essential Medium Bucket Tote is very roomy and can fit my everyday purse essentials as well as the kitchen sink; although the sink might be heavy to carry around, haha, but I digress. In addition to plenty of space, the interior features a double slip pocket which can fit a phone or other slim items such as receipts.

madewell essential bucket tote interior

For security, there is a magnetic closure on the top of the bag which is thoughtfully hidden through clever construction. The strap is adjustable, and the overall comfort and practicality of the bag are off the charts. This is a fabulous everyday bag!

I would also like to give Madewell a shout out for exceptional quality. When a bag is priced under $200, you don’t really expect much. This bag offers strong and thick leather as well as quality craftsmanship. I would have guessed the Essential Medium Bucket Tote by Madewell was priced more in the $500 range. This is exceptional quality for the price. I definitely want to add more Madewell handbags to my collection in the future. I am impressed and very happy with my purchase!

I highly recommend this soft and slouchy tote bag. It is perfect for everyday wear, and I know I will get a ton of use out of it. Madewell offers it in several colors as well as a couple colors with studs. I hope you love it too!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID mini shoulder bag review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged handbag reviews / ralph lauren / shoulder bags by
polo ralph lauren polo id mini shoulder bag review

pictured: Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID mini shoulder bag / mini green sweater /

Well, this cute little moon shaped hobo bag from Polo Ralph Lauren has been following me around the internet for the past year. So, this fall season, I couldn’t help myself, I decided to invest in the suede version of it!

Have you ever opened your various social media apps and find there are photos of a handbag at the top of your feed? Has it been the same handbag in various apps? That’s what happened here. This bag kept popping up in different apps, at the top of my feed. I guess I succumbed to the visual pressure because I fell in love with it, and when I saw this pretty suede version, I decided it was the one I would invest in for the fall season and beyond.

The Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID bag comes in varying sizes, the smallest of which is this mini shoulder bag. I decided to get the mini because as you know, I don’t carry a lot of things around with me. If I do need a larger bag, I will reach for a tote bag. The Polo ID bag by Polo Ralph Lauren is perfect for daily use as it fits my everyday essentials.

The Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID mini bag offers just enough interior room. There is a small slit pocket and secure zipper closure. The logo, which features the signature polo horse figure, is on a leather strap that flaps over the front of the bag. As you can see in the photo above, it is loose, so if you are not carrying the bag up-and-down, the strap will tilt.

The easiest way to carry this bag is on the forearm. But, if you need to put it over your shoulder, it does fit comfortably. The strap features a clasp, so if you want to add a small chain to make the strap longer, it can be done.

One of my favorite features about this bag is the fact that the leather is thick and extremely high quality. I feel like the price is lower than expected for the quality. This makes Polo Ralph Lauren an exceptional value for the price. Love that!

The Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID bag comes in various leather colors as well as suede. The suede version is a little bit trendier than the leather versions, which is a classic look.

Shop the Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID mini shoulder bag online:

I’m in love with this bag! If you are looking for an everyday mini bag, I highly recommend the Polo Ralph Lauren Polo ID mini shoulder bag!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy