satchels

Can’t get enough of my . . . black top handle satchel!

 in General Fashion / Handbags  tagged cant get enough of my / givenchy / satchels by

silver boots for fall 2017 pleated skirts for fall

black satchel and outfit details shown in this post:

I think as a blogger, it is always fun to go through your posts and find items which reappear on a regular basis. In May, I discovered my favorite boyfriend jeans were on repeat; and I wondered if you were getting bored of them, or loving them! It was fun to write a post about how much I wear them, and love them. To this day, I still wear them often, although I am trying to not post them as much, for fear I’m boring you. What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy continuing to see an item I wear on repeat, or does it bore you to see it so often? Please weigh in with a comment!

This top handle black satchel by Givenchy has been in my closet since 2014. I found in early 2015 that is it a workhorse handbag. I wore this satchel to fashion week in February 2015, and found it was perfect for carrying my camera, as well as everything else I need to hold in my purse. I loved it so much, I purchased an Antigona in pale blue. Although the pale blue does not get worn nearly as often as the black version, it is still a workhorse and favorite bag of mine.

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There are so many things to love about my small Givenchy Antigona bag. Aside from the sturdy build, hearty sugar leather, and ideal size; this bag can be worn with almost anything, for any occasion! I carry it when I wear jeans, workout clothing, dresses, skirts, office attire, casual attire; you name it! This bag has a classic, almost-doctor-bag silhouette which offers a chic look, and timeless style. The construction is extremely sturdy; I have discovered this over the years by carrying heavy objects such as my DSLR camera. I have also found, that it is my favorite bag for getting through fashion week.

Although I love owning shoulder bags, clutches, and totes, my Givenchy Antigona satchel is my all-time favorite bag. I cannot imagine living without it. I keep it out and ready for use everyday. It fits snacks and toys for my kids, as well as work items for when I am on the go in the fashion scene. This bag has it all. When you hear the term “investment bag,” my Givenchy Antigona goes beyond the financial definition of an investment bag, for me, it is a priceless tool that gets me through the day.

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This bag transcends seasons, and trends. Like a Chanel 2.55 bag, the Givenchy Antigona is a classic. Someday I would love to add one to my collection in a neutral hue such as tan or beige.

Do you have a handbag in your closet that you can’t get enough of? I would love to hear about it!

Shop Givenchy Antigona handbags:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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Cult Gaia Ark handbag review

 in Handbags  tagged clutches / cult gaia / handbag reviews / satchels / totes by

cult gaia ark bag natural largecult gaia ark bag review cult gaia ark bag review

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!

cult gaia ark bag review cult gaia ark bag in stock

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

Best fall handbags under $1000 and under $500

 in Handbags / Shopping  tagged coach / fall 2016 / kate spade / rebecca minkoff / satchels / shoulder bags / tory burch / totes by

fall-handbags-under-1000

From top left: tan satchel (under $150) / leopard print shoulder bag (under $200) / bag strap (HUGE trend under $100) / navy suede tassel shoulder bag (under $500) / black box bag (hot emerging designer under $500) / classic navy bucket bag (under $500 and IT bag) / burgundy bucket bag (premier designer-great deal!) (under $600) / black embellished shoulder bag (hot fall trend under $600)

The fall season is upon us, and so are the hottest handbag trends from the runways to the street! For fall 2016, we are looking at embellished bags, saddle bags, bucket bags, boxy camera bags or train cases, and vintage appeal. Many of these trends can raise the price of a handbag; especially the embellished bag trend! It is hard to spend over $1000 on a handbag; especially when it might have a shelf life. So I scoured the web for the hottest, most fashionable, IT bags of the season-all under $1000 with some under $500 or under $200! Love that!

To sweeten the deal, many of these hot handbags are under $500, or under $200, or even under $150! How fab is that!?

When shopping for a fall handbag under $1000, there are a few things to keep in mind this season in order to ensure the handbag you purchase is 100% on trend. Look for one of more of these trends in a handbag when you shop this fall season: 1970s vintage inspiration, embellishments, thick shoulder straps, suede, saddle bag silhouettes, single top handle satchels or lady bags, and also dark colors such as black, grey, hunter green, burgundy, burnt orange, mustard, and shades of brown. Classic autumn is in!

If you are wondering about size this season when looking for the best of the fall handbags under $1000, don’t worry about it! Any size goes. Fall 2016 is all about totes, roomy hobos, any size of shoulder bag, any size single top handle satchel, and any size clutch. You cannot go wrong! If you plan to buy a basic color such as black in the hopes that the bag carries you through 2017, then stay away from mini bags. Spring 2017 will be moving away from mini bags.

Another hot trend for the fall 2016 season in handbags is the personalized strap. You can find funky, fun straps for under $1000 in the shopping widget below which easily attach to any one of your satchels at home. It is an inexpensive way to update you current handbag wardrobe without buying a new bag. I bought this one for fall. So excited to use it on my black satchel, which you can see in action here.

There are also several IT bags which are hot on the street this fall, and under $1000! You can find Mansur Gavriel’s iconic bucket bag in stock online here, and this hot boxy bag from an emerging designer online here. I really want to get my hands on the small version in black. Isn’t it cute!

So many fall handbags are under $1000 this season, and so many of them happen to be from hot, established and iconic designers, as well as emerging designers to watch. This is a great season for handbag shopping! Love that!

What is your favorite handbag style this fall 2016 season? Are you more of a shoulder bag girl? Or do you prefer the structure of a single top handle satchel? Perhaps you are feeling boho and gravitate towards fringe or tassels? Or perhaps you love chic and interesting designs such as embellished bags? I have found myself leaning towards saddle bags, buckets bags, and single top handle satchels. List your favorites in the comment section below!

Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉

Designer fall handbags under $1000

Designer fall handbags under $500

Designer fall handbags under $200

Statement making handbag straps under $150