handbag reviews


Chloe Nile shoulder bag review

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wearing Chloe Nile medium in black / handbag content: lipstick / phone case / wallet / sunglasses

Chloe has a new IT bag in town! While there are several IT bags on the market right now, the Chloe Nile incorporates a lot of  handbag trends at the moment; making it an all-in-one IT bag.

Let’s chat about the current handbag trends, shall we? Circles are a huge trend in bags at the moment. While the Chloe Nile is not a circle bag per se, it has a convertible handle in the shape of a circle. This checks off the circle trend.

Saddle bags have been huge in fashion for the past several seasons. The Chloe Nile is a traditional saddle bag with clean lines, and one little twist; the brass circle!

The “Lady Bag,” or single top handle satchel is also a huge trend right now. While the Chloe Nile does not offer a satchel silhouette, it can be carried by its’ hoop; giving it a satchel-like feeling. (I might be reaching on that one-but go with it. haha)

Now for my review! The Chloe Nile first appeared on Chloe’s Paris Fashion Week runway three seasons ago. I spotted it in their runway video, but felt like I was in a place where I didn’t need to add another bag to my collection just yet. I tried really hard to tell myself I didn’t need another bag. I watched this bag get a ton of press after Chloe debuted it. Then, I watched as it appeared on Instagram, over, and over, and over again. All one has to do is look at the #ChloeGirls hashtag on Instagram to find the Chloe Nile in it’s mini, small, and medium form.

It became increasingly obvious that the Chloe Nile shoulder bag was destined to be one of the new IT bags of 2017. While other IT bags floated through the IT bag realm such as the Gucci Marmont, and the Cult Gaia Ark bag, the Chloe Nile haunted me; begging to be bought.

I fell in love with the clean lines, and the added brass ring. I loved the idea of a convertible handbag which could be worn as a shoulder bag, worn on my forearm, or carried by hand. There was something easy yet alluring about the design of the bag. The more I tried to talk myself out of it, the more my mind raced, telling me I needed to own one. So, I broke down, and voila! I am the proud owner of the medium Chloe Nile in black.

Let me just tell you, this bag is worth the splurge. While it is hard to call Chloe an investment, due to it’s “meh” resale value, it is a handbag brand which offers stellar quality. When you buy a Chloe bag, it isn’t to resell it someday, it is to wear it over and over again; and love it for life.

The Chloe Nile is a fabulous shoulder bag to add to one’s handbag collection. I chose the medium size because the mini and the small sizes looked way too tiny. With the medium, I can fit my wallet, sunglasses, lipstick, iPhone, and keys. There isn’t room for anything extra. The small or the mini, can hold much less. If you don’t carry very many things in your bag, then you can get away with the mini or small versions. For $100 more then the small, the medium offers a lot more interior space for your everyday purse essentials.

This is a great bag to wear everyday. There is no need to save it for special occasions, or certain outfits. The medium sized Chloe Nile is a workhorse. It is perfect for grabbing to run errands, wearing to lunch, or carrying for date night. It is an easy style to pair with casual jeans, or a dinner dress. Carried by the brass ring, the bag has a dressier feel which I love for evening occasions. Worn over the shoulder, the Chloe Nile is the ultimate everyday bag.

The interior of the Chloe Nile offers one large, main compartment, with one thin interior pocket. The interior pocket is a bit snug for my iPhone, but it is perfect for storing receipts. There is also an Opera ticket pocket on the exterior of the bag. I don’t really use Opera ticket pockets, but they are handy to have for that rare occasion I want to reach for my tickets for an event without opening my bag. It is also a handy spot for keeping a shopping list, or paper directions.

All in all, I rate the Chloe Nile shoulder bag, in medium, five out of five stars. I love the medium size of the bag, the design, and the functionality for everyday use. The mini version of the Nile would be a great alternative to an evening clutch. When I looked at it, it appeared to only hold lipstick, keys, and money outside of a wallet. A wallet will not fit inside the mini. If you are looking at the mini, the classic black version, or metallic leather version, would be a fashion-forward choice.

Many of Chloe’s handbags become classic IT bags. We have watched the Chloe Marcie, Chloe Drew, and Chloe Faye go from IT bag status, to settling into classic, closet-must-have bags. While I cannot predict the future, based on the design and functionality of the Chloe Nile, I think it is safe to say that this too will become one of Chloe’s classic “must-have’s” over time. I would recommend purchasing one in a classic color which can be worn during any season, and year-after-year.

Shop Chloe Nile in mini:

Shop Chloe Nile in small:

Shop Chloe Nile in medium:

Thank you for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

medium chloe nile handbag


Boutique Mexico Stella tote review

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Pictured: pink and orange tote c/o Boutique Mexico, this is the Stella tote in medium.

If you are wondering where the next big thing in fashion will come from, it will come from Mexico. Mexico is starting to gain recognition in the fashion industry through their hand-made brands, and couture designers. One of the hot brands from Mexico to watch, and shop from, is Boutique Mexico.

Boutique Mexico not only combines traditional Mexican craftsmanship with fashion, they enable artists to rise above poverty and help their communities achieve economic stability. Isn’t that amazing! You can read abut their entire story online here. Love!

The Stella tote by Boutique Mexico is hand-made by artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is hand-woven with plastic, making it a great tote for all-around use. I love wearing mine as a handbag, as seen here, or as a beach tote. It can be worn for any occasion where a tote is needed! I love the addition of the hand-made tassels; they add a fashion-forward and fun element to the bag itself.

This spring, I have been carrying my denim jacket, a book, wallet, sunglasses, lipstick, iPhone, and keys around in my Stella tote. Even with all of these items I still have plenty of room inside the tote bag in case my kids want me to carry something for them. It is really roomy!

Tassels are a huge trend right now in fashion. The tassels on the Stella tote make it on-trend; plus they are so cute and fun! Love them! The tote comes in a variety of colors, but the orange and pink version is my favorite.

Boutique Mexico has amazing products in addition to handbags. They offer hand-made jewelry, accessories and more! Each product is made in a different village or town in Mexico. It really is a one-stop-shop for Mexican fashion and gifts. Love it!

The medium size tote is shown in this post; which is extremely roomy. There is also a large version which is great for travel, poolside, or the beach. In addition to the Stella tote, Boutique Mexico has a large selection of handbags to choose from, all of which are hand-made!

You can find the Boutique Mexico Stella tote online here, or visit the whole shop at BoutiqueMexico.com.


Cult Gaia Ark handbag review

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Pictured: Cult Gaia Ark bag natural size large

Wondering what the new IT bag of 2017 is? Look no further, it is the Cult Gaia Ark bag; and it does not cost an arm and a leg to obtain. Love that!

Normally IT bags are priced well into the four figures. Well, this cute little wooden half circle of a bag is priced well under $200. Can you believe it! I was a bit shocked myself.

cult gaia ark bag review

The Cult Gaia Ark bag started to emerge as a hot handbag last year. I remember seeing it and thinking it was cute, but it didn’t click until the fall season. Since the bag is basket-like, it did not seem like something I needed in cooler weather. There is something about the Cult Gaia Ark bag which evokes a vacation vibe. It feels tropical; taking you from the busy city streets to a calm beach where you don’t have a care in the world. Yes! I need this now!

Since spring has sprung, and the Cult Gaia Ark bag is in stock, for the moment, I decided it was time to pull the trigger and bring a vacation vibe to my spring wardrobe. There are several colors to choose from, and the Cult Gaia Ark bag comes in two sizes; small and large. Since I have kids, I decided large was the size for me. I also chose the natural hue since it is the IT color for this bag. Natural is perfect since it is a neutral hue which works well with any outfit or color palette. Love!

how to get your hands on a cult gaia ark bag

As you can see, the interior of the Cult Gaia Ark bag is roomy in the large size. I can even fit a book inside! Since it is also a great bag for the beach, this size will come in handy since I can fit a book, a few snacks, and more. Relaxation, here I come!

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My biggest concern about the Cult Gaia Ark bag was the sturdiness of the weave. So far, I haven’t heard any snaps or creaks. It seems to be quite sturdy as it can handle the large book I am currently reading, as well as my sunglasses; two bulky items with a bit of weight. Whew!

The bag has two handles and easily sits upright, making it easy to set down without having to worry about the bag tipping over and spilling; since there isn’t a clasp. The handle is comfortable to carry, but if you need to hold it for a long period of time, I would recommend wrapping it in a scarf. Which leads me to my next thought. . .

This bag is see through! I am sure you noticed that. ;- ) If you don’t want the world to see what is inside your Cult Gaia Ark bag, then this is great opportunity to personalize your Ark bag! You can easily slip a square scarf into the bag as a liner. This will cover your purse contents and add color, or even a fun print, to your bag. I plan on trying out different scarves with the bag as the season progresses.

how to style a cult gaia ark bag

If you are wondering how to get your hands on a Cult Gaia Ark handbag, now is the time! You have to act fast because the Cult Gaia Ark handbag sells out almost as quickly as it comes in stock. Remember the days of Mansur Gavriel selling out before you even knew it was there? This isn’t as bad as that, but the bags sell out in a few days, so move fast if you want one!

If the natural hue isn’t your thing, I recommend the Cult Gaia Ark bag in classic black. It is chic, and translates well into both city and beach dressing. If I grab another one, it will be a small black Ark bag. I think it would be the perfect alternative to a clutch this spring and summer season.

What do you think of the Cult Gaia Ark bag? Are you excited to see an affordable IT bag this year? I am super excited to see an IT bag which is unconventional, yet sleek enough to pair with almost anything. Plus, the price is amazing!

You can find the Cult Gaia Ark bag in stock online here.

Cult Gaia Ark in natural around the web:

In additional colors:

how to wear a cult gaia ark bag