investment dressing

Givenchy Antigona Sugar small review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged classic style / givenchy / handbag reviews / investment dressing / satchels by

givenchy sugar antigona casual outfitDSC_0195givenchy antigona reviewGivenchy Antigona smallgivenchy sugar antigona smallDSC_0192kendra scott summer 2015 bracelets blogger outfit ideagivenchy antigona black sugar small handbag blogger

Pictured: Givenchy Antigona Sugar in size small. iPhone cover online here.

The Givenchy Antigona is one of my favorite handbags of all time. So, I am thrilled to review the Givenchy Antigona in Sugar leather, size small, for you!

The Givenchy Antigona satchel is considered a classic, doctor bag style satchel. It has an east/west silhouette with a roomy interior. The sides are wide; allowing the handbag to be larger inside than it appears from the outside.

Givenchy has designed the Antigona in several sizes. The smallest size is the mini, which is a cross-body style that fits perfectly into the current mini-satchel trend. The next size up is the small. This is the size I own. The interior easily fits a paperback novel, an iPad mini, a wallet, keys, lipstick, smart phone, and more! I wore my small Antigona to fashion week last February and my DSLR camera fit nicely inside, along with my wallet, phone, keys, gloves, and knit beanie! It definitely is bigger inside than it seems on paper! The next size up is the medium. This is a larger version of the Antigona which is ideal for someone who needs more space than what I described the small size offers.

Givenchy’s Antigona features two top handles which are easy to wear on the forearm or handheld. There is also a detachable shoulder strap which is ideal for short periods of time. Since the handbag is rounded, and the strap is short, the handles end up getting in the way when it is worn as a shoulder bag. I only use the strap when I need both hands, or if I need to be able to run after one of my kids, or a taxi. I find the easiest way to carry the bag is by hand; but I also wear it on my forearm about 30% of the time.

The sugar leather is soft and pebbled. This leather is fabulous! I was caught in the snow in New York and the handbag didn’t show any signs of moisture. I also wear the bag when I am with my kids at the park, and other child-related activities. The leather does not show any scratches. It is as strong as pebbled leather, or saffiano leather. Love it!

The top handles on the Givenchy Antigona are extremely strong. When I was in New York, I stuffed my DSLR camera, and many other objects, into the bag. The camera alone has quite a bit of weight to it, and the handbag didn’t sag or show any signs of stress. Perfection!

The interior space of the Givenchy Antigona is nicely made and easy to use. The lining is a thick, strong canvas which can take a beating. There is a roomy zipper pocket on one of the interior, and an open, double pocket on the opposite side. The double pocket has one small opening and one medium sized opening. The medium opening is perfect for my iPhone, and the small pocket is the perfect size for a lipstick, or portable phone charger. These pockets come in very handy while traveling.

Overall, I have zero complaints about my Givenchy Antigona. I would love to own another one in a light neutral color; or maybe a fun seasonal color! If I do purchase a second one, I will stick with the small size and sugar leather. The small size is perfect for my lifestyle, and the sugar leather is strong, and it remains scratch-free from travel; and the wrath of my  three children!

Givenchy Antigona Sugar size small rating: five out of five stars! I am in love 🙂

Givenchy Antigona round the web:

Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bag review

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged bucket bag / drawstring bag / handbag reviews / investment dressing / mansur gavriel / reviews by

DSC_0941DSC_0821mansur gavriel bucket bag reviewDSC_0954DSC_0952mansur gavriel mini drawstring bagDSC_0946DSC_0956DSC_0966DSC_0960Pictured: Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bags. Black bag is vegetable tanned leather. White bag is saffiano leather. Mini bag is vegetable tanned leather. Photos: 2015©

The Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bag is one of the most sought-after handbags on the planet. This has made the handbag even more alluring than it would be if it was found sitting alone on a store shelf. Mansur Gavriel’s handbags are handmade in Italy and extremely high quality. This fact, combined with the moderate pricing structure, makes Mansur Gavriel’s handbags a great deal!

I have owned both the large size drawstring bag and mini drawstring bag for about one year. They have both held up extremely well. Although not shown, my DSLR camera fits nicely into both sizes. Even when my DSLR is inside, the handbag still offers plenty of room for everything I need in day-to-life. With the weight of my camera and other items, Mansur Gavriel’s handbags have held up perfectly. They are extremely strong! This is a key feature for a Mom like me.

One of the concerns a handbag fan may have with vegetable tanned leather is how much wear and tear will show on the leather itself. Although it does show scratches, the scratches blend into the leather, and with time, the patina is beautiful and does not look scratched at all. 

While my black handbag, and white handbag, have held their colors nicely, my mini bag has darkened over the past year. It went from a light tan to a medium tan. I like how it looks, but if you are looking for a pale tan or beige bag, this will not be the one you are looking for.

The drawstring handbags by Mansur Gavriel are lightweight, which makes them easy to stuff with things without worrying about making the bag too heavy. The strap is comfortable and the handbag stays put on my shoulder; unless I am bending down or running.

I find the mini drawstring bag to be the perfect size for day to day use. The regular drawstring bag is a little bit big and I find myself having to dig in deep to find my wallet or lipstick. 

My white drawstring bag is only a few months old, but it has held up well too. The white is incredibly durable and does not take any dirt. The saffiano leather is durable and remains scratch-free after daily use. Love that!

Although the regular size drawstring bucket bag comes with a detachable pouch, I have not used it. The pouch is narrow and only seems to be useful for storing receipts or business cards.

Overall, I rate Mansur Gavriel’s drawstring bags; both regular and mini, five out of five stars. They are durable, priced right, offer clean lines, and fit everything one would need to get through the day! Love that!

To shop Mansur Gavriel, please click here, here, or here. If they are currently sold out, please refer to my previous article about getting your hands on a coveted Mansur Gavriel handbag by clicking here.

The Seasonless “IT” Bag

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion / Handbags  tagged chanel / classic style / investment dressing / shoulder bags by

The San Francisco Bay Area is proud to be a region that classifies its style as “classic.” Here in the Bay Area, as well as most of the country, women’s handbags are as much of a status symbol as a man’s car.  Since the region is flush with millionaires and wannabe millionaires, it comes as no surprise that one of the most popular purses on the shoulders of the well-dressed is the classic Chanel 2.55 or flap handbag.

This fabulous purse was invented by Coco Chanel, who wanted a handbag that would free up her hands. She designed a handbag with a strap and introduced it in 1929. In 1955 she was enjoying a resurgence in popularity so she decided to update her handbag design and in February 1955 she introduced the 2.55 handbag. This beautiful black handbag had a burgundy interior and secret zipper pocket which Coco used to store love letters. As the decades have moved forward to present day, the remake of this handbag is known as the “reissue 2.55” and it comes in a variety of colors on vintage-treated lambskin.

Chanel also has a classic take on this handbag which was introduced by Karl Lagerfeld. This is a similar style to the reissue 2.55 but instead of a traditional clasp, there is an interlocking “CC” symbol on the clasp. The chain strap also has the same fabric as the handbag weaved through it. One chain strap takes an artisan roughly 17 hours to complete. This variation of the classic Chanel handbag is called the “Classic Flap” handbag. The classic flap comes in a variety of fabrications such as lambskin, caviar leather, jersey, tweed, patent leather, patent vinyl and other seasonal fabrics.

Every Fall, Winter and Spring the San Francisco Bay Area is host to many fabulous semi-formal events such as the Junior League of San Jose Fashion Show Luncheon. If a fashionista takes a moment to look at the handbags on the shoulders of many women in attendance at these events, she will notice a pattern. On average, one in five women is wearing the Chanel Classic Flap or 2.55. The majority of them are in black! Some women wear theirs with silver hardware while others gold. The size of choice varies as well. There are small, east/west flaps, medium flaps, jumbo flaps, maxi flaps and the 2.55 in sizes 226 and 227. It is amazing how many fashionable ladies in the Bay Area carry the same handbag for these special events!

It is very interesting to think about what attracts women to the same handbag. Critics may say it is because the handbag is made by Chanel and women are buying into a brand. Other critics may say it is because women like to keep up with the Jones. Who are the Jones anyway? The reason so many women in the San Francisco Bay Area flock to Chanel for their classic handbags is because the handbag is just that, “Classic.” Not only does Chanel give you a lifetime warranty on the construction of the bag, it is made to withstand the test of time. Chanel has the top resale value out of any handbag designer. Vintage Chanel handbags hold their value, as the prices for new Chanel flaps and 2.55’s increase, so does the resale value of the vintage purses. Therefore, if one were to purchase a Chanel bag in 1985 and sell it in 2015, she may very well make a $2000 profit! This is one reason investment dressing is so popular in the Bay Area. With one of the highest concentrations of graduate degrees in the country, the San Francisco Bay Area is home to women who know the value of the dollar and a hot commodity when they see it.