investment dressing

BAF Weekly IT List

June 16, 2023 in General Fashion tagged baf weekly it list / investment dressing / sales and deals / summer 2023 by Bay Area Fashionista

BAF Weekly IT List from top left: blue top / Chanel summer nail polish / Dior summer nail polish / large hoop earrings (under $100) / silver bracelet / hair oil / moon shaped bag (avl in several colors) / m frame bag / saddle bag (designer-on major sale!) / classic belt / green woven handbag / basket bag /

The designer sales are in full swing! My absolute favorite designer sale right now is from Mulberry. They are a classic handbag brand based in England which implements eco-friendly manufacturing practices. I love their excellent quality and craftsmanship, as well as their strong attention to clean manufacturing processes. If you haven’t checked out the brand yet, please do! You can learn more here.

The black saddle bag pictured above, is the one I just picked up. I am so excited about it! Mulberry has been on my wish list for quite some time, and I was thrilled to find a classic and chic, black handbag, on major sale! They have so many classic styles on sale right now. It is the seasonal colors on sale, the styles are not being discontinued. This means you can pick up a timeless handbag for less money. Love that! Mulberry handbags are truly investment handbags, so you will have the bag forever. Love!

Here are a few of my favorite designer handbags from around the web on major sale right :

This year, style is all about investment dressing and classis styles. As a recession looms, it is important to spend wisely on timeless items you can wear for years and years, instead of fleeting trends. Look for high quality handbags, logo-less styles, and high-quality basics to round out your wardrobe. I will speak more on this topic in the coming weeks.

Shop the BAF Weekly IT List online:

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more coverage!

XOXO
Cathy

Coach Day Tote review

June 14, 2023 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged coach / handbag reviews / investment dressing / totes by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Coach Day Tote in Silver/Faded Blue (looks like pale turquoise or mint green in person) /

How pretty is this tote bag! I love having a good, workhorse tote bag; especially during the summer months. This roomy tote bag has everything I need, and possibly you too, in a tote bag. Love!

The Coach Day Tote is currently available in several colors, ivory, mustard, canvas, black and faded blue. I love this faded blue color because it is reminiscent of the sea and is so pretty in person. These photos do not do the color justice!

As with all of Coach’s handbags, the Day Tote is made from sturdy pebbled leather and the craftsmanship is high quality. This means the stitching is strong, and the bag can handle everything you put inside of it without being compromised. I have also found that the leather is easy to clean if it gets dirty. I use a slightly damp cloth, and dirt wipes off easily without damaging the leather or rubbing the color off of the bag.

Most open tote bags do not have a clasp, the Coach Day Tote offers a magnetic clasp which I find to be a good feature. I clasp it when I set the bag down so it keeps it’s shape, which helps it from flopping over if the contents are unbalanced. Who knew a small clasp would be so helpful! Love!

Typically, most tote bags have an interior pocket of some sort. The Coach Day Tote has a detachable pocket which is really a little pouch. This is handy if you use the tote for work. You can keep your lunch money in the pouch and detach it when going to lunch or buying more coffee. This is also handy for travel if you don’t want to bring a purse in addition to the tote bag. You can use the little pouch as a small clutch.

The interior capacity of the Coach Day Tote is quite large. Even with my typical tote bag contents, there is still plenty of room. This tote fits my laptop too with plenty of room to spare. It is a great work tote, travel tote, or summer activity tote. I am in love!

For smaller items such as lipstick and keys, the interior pouch can be used. For photography purposes I threw everything inside the bag so you could see the space. If you use a tote organizer, it will fit nicely inside the Day Tote too.

Pictured: Coach Day Tote / book / lipstick / scarf / (golden nail polish pictured in clasp photo) /

The Coach Day Tote is a great, workhorse tote bag which can be used for years. It offers a classic style and silhouette as well as roomy interior capacity. The detachable pouch a great feature too. I love the faded blue hue for the summer season, but if you are looking for something to wear all year long, the classic black, ivory, or signature canvas might be perfect for you.

Shop the Coach Day Tote online:

The perfect tote! Love it!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

The anonymous handbag

April 5, 2023 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends tagged cross body bags / investment dressing / shoulder bags / spring 2023 / street style trends by Bay Area Fashionista

anonymous handbag spring 2023 handbag trends it bags

The anonymous handbag from top left: green woven handbag / ivory moon shaped bag (under $500) / M frame shoulder bag / black shoulder bag /

The anonymous handbag is the ultimate IT bag right now; and as I am sure you have heard, logos everywhere are over. As we move away from loud logos on everything from handbags to belts to clothing, our personal style is shifting to a more understated and chic aesthetic; and I am here for it!

Quiet luxury is a term you will often hear, and it stands for beautiful items with top craftsmanship. Your handbag this year should speak volumes about your attention for detail and love for investment dressing. While a kitschy bag shaped like a firefly is a fun conversation starter, it will perfectly acceptable as long as the designer or brand isn’t plastered all over it. So, the moral of the story is, wear a neon handbag, as long as the logo isn’t blasting in your face. You can also wear a fun shape, asymmetrical and artistic bag, as long as the logo isn’t shouting at the world. Logos are bad, while classic, bright, and kitschy are good.

There are certain traits of popular designers you won’t be able to get away from, such as Bottega Veneta’s trademark weave, or Mansur Gavriel’s M Frame, or Louis Vuitton’s iconic Alma in a fabrication other than monogram vernis. It is OK to wear a bag which can be easily guessed, but only those who know will be able to guess. The brand or designer will not be readily displayed for the masses to have how much you spent shoved in their faces. This is the anonymous handbag.

I have never really been a big logo fan, except for belt buckles, so I have a belt to replace! haha When it comes to handbags, I prefer the anonymous handbag since I love high quality craftsmanship and beautiful styles. Since I have two daughters, I think of my handbags as something I can hand down to them when they are older. This is why I gravitate towards classic styles which will swing in and out of style, or will remain important 365 days per year, every year, forever.

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