handbag reviews

Mansur Gavriel Candy Bag review

September 28, 2021 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged handbag reviews / hobos / mansur gavriel by Bay Area Fashionista

pictured: Mansur Gavriel Candy Bag /

Mansur Gavriel has come out with a structured hobo! As you know, the structured hobo is hotter than hot right now, and with polished leather, it’s even hotter. This classic hobo silhouette was popular in the late 1990s, and this year it really is the most important style in handbags. Love!

The new Mansur Gavriel Candy Bag is a beautiful version of the structured hobo. It is made with strong leather and fine craftsmanship; what we have grown to love about Mansur Gavriel. The Candy Bag by Mansur Gavriel is a medium sized hobo bag with one slit pocket on the inside. It is roomy enough for everyday essentials, as well as a couple extra items such as a mask and a pair of winter gloves.

Mansur Gavriel’s Candy Bag has debuted in five colors; classic black with flamma interior, sky, golden yellow, caramel (my choice), and claret. It’s a good combination of seasonal hues, and classic colors.

I am loving my Candy Bag because the size is ideal for everyday use, and the bag itself is lightweight. The Mansur Gavriel Candy Bag fits nicely on my arm and stays put; something you would not expect from shiny leather. Mansur Gavriel always puts thought into how a bag fits and feels while being carried; one of the many things I love about the brand.

Many polished leathers scratch easily. This bag does not. I am not sure how Mansur Gavriel was able to treat the leather to make it not scratch as easily as other polished leathers, but they did it! Love that! It will occasionally get fingerprints and smudges, but those wipe off easily with a soft cloth. I will admit, I wipe off smudges with the bottom of my shirt; works like a charm. haha

You can find the Mansur Gavriel Candy Bag online here. Which color is your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 review

September 19, 2021 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged coach / handbag reviews / spring 2022 / totes by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: fall nail polish / bracelets (local San Jose designer) / Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 in vanilla (under $500) / similar jeans / loafers /

How cute it this little everyday tote by Coach?! I was thrilled when I saw it on Coach’s New York Fashion Week runway for spring 2022. After viewing this new collection, I went to Coach’s Instagram to see if there were any close-up photos of the bag, since my photo service only had full look shots, and no detailed pictures. Lo and behold! This bag turned out to be a “See now buy now” handbag from their spring 2022 collection! What?!?!? Yes!!!

Like the handbag fan that I am, I quickly went to Coach’s website to find this beautiful, everyday tote that I knew I needed in my life. There it was! Coach had their spring 2022 Cashin Carry tote 22 available in four colors on the home page of their website. Score!

The four colors available were all really pretty, but I ultimately decided that the vanilla hue was what I needed in my life. This color is a neutral shade with a yellow tinge, so I felt like I would be able to wear it now, in the fall season, and then again in the spring and summer seasons of next year. It’s a great color! Plus, there is a detachable, cross body strap in coral; another hot hue for spring 2022. If I wanted to go a little more neutral, I could always switch the cross body strap with something not so bright. Right now, the bright strap is fun, and I am enjoying it.

Now, let’s chat about how fabulous the Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 is for everyday wear! There is no disputing that a small tote is a handbag to use everyday. You can easily reach inside and pull out what you need. Plus, the bag is small in stature, but very roomy on the inside. This small little tote fits more than just everyday purse essentials. You can put other items inside too, such as a folded up wool scarf, snacks, gloves, and a snow hat. It’s very roomy! As a mom, a roomy handbag, that isn’t bulky, is a must-have for everyday use.

Inside the Coach Cashin Carry tote 22

Roomy interior Coach Cashin Carry tote 22

Pictured: fall nail polish / Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 in vanilla / sunglasses / iPhone case / lipstick /

As you can see, the interior capacity of the Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 is very roomy. These are my typical items I carry around in my handbag on a daily basis. I often add a mask, and as the weather cools down, a folded scarf will also go inside the bag. There is plenty of room for everything I need to carry around. Love that!

The leather on the Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 is soft yet structured. The bag holds it’s shape no matter how much is stuffed inside. It is also lightweight enough when empty to not be a weight issue when stuffed with everything we all need to carry around.

In addition to the main compartment, there is one zipper pocket, and one credit card sized slot, inside the bag. These are great for important items you want to keep secure such as a vaccine card, ID, passport, tickets, and more.

I understand Coach has only released a small inventory of the spring 2022 version of the Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 right now. The full collection, with more color choices and multiple sizes, will debut in the early part of 2022. I will update this post with new links when the collection expands.

What do you think of this cute little tote bag priced under $500? Do you love it as much as I do?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Coach Cashin Carry tote 22 in vanilla for spring 2022

Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch review

May 13, 2021 in Handbags tagged bottega veneta / clutches / handbag reviews / shoulder bags by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch in Fondant (dark brown) /

Ah, the Bottega Veneta Pouch, the bag that started the pouch trend several years ago; I finally broke down and purchased the chain version! The Pouch clutch is a hot trend which hasn’t faded from the streets since it began roughly three years ago. As the trend matures, it is starting to look like pouch clutches are moving from trend-of-the-moment, into classic IT bag territory. Of course, only time will tell.

What makes an IT bag move into classic territory? When sales are steady, people continue to wear their bag and not shelve it, and subtle variations come to market which are just as popular as the original versions; and those variations don’t slow down the original style’s sales. My proof? The Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch.

The Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch is a convertible version of the original pouch clutch. This version features a chunky chain which can be placed on the bag through loops on the side allowing it to be worn as a shoulder bag, carried on the forearm, or held by hand. The strap can also be attached on one side, giving it more of a clutch strap. Lastly, the chain can be detached and hidden inside the bag so that it can be worn as a classic pouch; although you can see one link on the side when it is worn this way. Love that!

I have wanted to invest in an Bottega Veneta bag for sometime now, but the price made me plan my purchase slowly; I also had to save up for it! I toggled between the chain pouch and the padded cassette bag; ultimately, I decided on the chain pouch for it’s longevity, sleek silhouette, and versatile chain.

Over the years, I have found sticking to neutral hues on a leather handbag is a safe bet. Sometimes trendy colors not only go out of fashion, they don’t keep their original vibrancy over time. For seasonal or trendy colors, I prefer to purchase a bag in moderate or affordable price ranges. So for my Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch, I went with dark brown. Although a traditional fall hue, dark brown can easily be worn throughout the year since it is neutral and classic. It is also a nice alternative to black. Since I own enough black bags, this was a good alternative hue, which reflects my personal style.

The Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch is a great bag to wear daily. It has just enough interior capacity for my daily purse essentials including sunglasses, wallet, keys, lipstick, and phone. It’s always nice to have everything fit, that is what makes a great daily bag!

I love that everything fits nicely inside my Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch bag. There is still a little room to spare for a granola bar, receipts, a pen, or other small object.

The pouch is really easy to get in and out of. The opening is a pull open/close which keeps the bag safe from pickpockets. I have found myself wearing it as a shoulder bag tucked under my arm; although it can be worn as a clutch, and on the forearm as well. The chain is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable on my shoulder; despite looking heavy and chunky. Love that!

The Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch is also easy to wear both casually and dressy. So far I have been pairing mine with jeans, but it will also look fabulous with skirts and dresses. Can’t wait to dress mine up!

Shop the Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch online:

I rate the Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch five out of five stars! I really love the lightweight and comfortable feel of the bag as well as the sleek look. The chain adds some fun and versatility to the bag as well. Love it!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Inside the Coach Cashin Carry tote 22

Cookie Notice