satchels

Handbag gift ideas for the holidays 2015

November 20, 2015 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged Holiday Gift Guide 2015 / holiday gift ideas / satchels / shoulder bags by Bay Area Fashionista

Handbag gifts for the holidays from top left: pale pink clutch (under $400) / black shoulder bag (current IT bag) / off-white shoulder bag (current IT bag) / fuchsia cross body bag (luxury under $1000 other colors avl too) / blue mini satchel (IT bag under $700) / fringe cross body bag (I own this in black and love it! Under $200, more colors avl) / beige satchel (classic IT bag) / lavender satchel ( popular handbag of-the-moment under $400)

One of my favorite gifts to receive, are handbags! Therefore, I thought I should create the perfect handbag gift guide for the holidays. Don’t you want to give, or receive, a handbag for Christmas? Of course you do!

There are so many fabulous IT bags on the market, in varying price ranges, that the perfect handbag gift for your BFF, fashionable friend, or relative, is out there. I assembled all the top luxury, moderately priced, and under $200 handbags which are popular, or have some IT status, into this article.

When shopping this handbag gift guide for the holidays, think about the person you are shopping for. Does she prefer classic bags, or current IT bags? Which price range would you like buy her a gift from? Here is a breakdown of some fabulous handbags for each category:

Luxury IT bags. Does she love to have the most luxurious, and fabulous, bag-of-the-moment? These are the IT bags making a splash on the street, on the arms of celebrities, and style stars everywhere. These IT bags are priced above $1000 and can be found in the scroll bar below.

Classic handbags: Does she love a purse she can wear season after season? Does she prefer moderate to luxury priced bags? You want to find handbags which are highly sought after, season after season. This is the shopping scroll bar for her:

On trend handbags: Does she love having the hottest trend from the runway? You want to look for boho-chic fringe, pale pink, and geometric shapes. These are the bags for her:

Handbags make great gifts for the holidays since they always fit, and can be worn in any weather. She will love receiving a handbag this holiday season! Why not give yourself one too! I know I plan too!!! Happy holidays, and stay fabulous 😉

Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag review

November 13, 2015 in General Fashion / Handbags tagged handbag reviews / mansur gavriel / satchels by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured: Mansur Gavriel small lady bag in black with ballerina

The new Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag, which came out this summer, is the newest IT bag from acclaimed handbag brand Mansur Gavriel. There are so many wonderful traits in the Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag, it is hard to know where to start!

Let’s start with the color combinations. Like Mansur Gavriel’s famous drawstring bucket bag, the Lady Bag, in both the small and large sizes, offers bi-color styling. The Lady Bag features the same contrasting interior/exterior that Mansur Gavriel fans have grown to love from both the totes, and the drawstring bags. This automatically sets the Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag apart from the competition. Love that!

The Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag has more to covet when it comes to style besides the bi-color styling. The handbag offers a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap which allows you the versatility to carry the Lady Bag by the top handle, or over the shoulder, or cross body. How fabulous is that?!

In addition to practicality, and style, the single top handle lady bag is one of the hottest emerging trends in handbags we move into 2016. While the bucket bag, and the 70’s style saddle bag, have been enjoying thier moment in the IT bag spotlight, the single top handle satchel is positioned to take over the IT bag title as 2016 progresses. This makes the Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag a great investment for now, and into the next few years.

Make no mistake, the Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag is not just an emerging trend. The single top handle satchel, also called a “Lady Bag,” is a classic handbag style. Whether it is on the IT list, or not, the lady bag can be carried year after year, and passed down to future generations. Just look at the famous Hermes Kelly for lady bag history and reference!

The Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag comes in two sizes; small and large. The large size is ideal for the office, and can fit a small laptop. I chose to purchase the small Lady Bag since I don’t need room in my bag for a laptop. I find the small lady bag to be quite roomy, and practical!

The interior has a drawstring, so I can open or close up the bag according to how much I am carrying. This gives the bag a little bit more versatility when it comes to adjustments. I can carry around a sunglasses case, a novel, three iPads to keep my kids busy at a restaurant, a scarf; you name it! It holds as much as the large bucket bag, which is perfect for a busy mom like me!

I might bring this bag to New York in February to act as my fashion week workhorse. It can definitely fit everything I will need; DSLR camera, scarf, beanie, gloves, pen, and paper.

I am in love with my Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag, and cannot wait to wear it for many years. Mansur Gavriel handbags are high quality, and the construction is hearty. I can fill any Mansur Gavriel handbag, including the lady bag, with heavy items and not have to worry about the straps breaking, or any fraying. These are definitely workhorse bags! Love!

You can find the Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag available for pre-order right now online here, and here. I hope you love yours, as much as I love mine! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉

Mansur Gavriel in stock or available for pre-order online now:

Boxy handbags for fall 2015

August 13, 2015 in General Fashion / Handbags / Trends tagged fall 2015 / office attire / runway trends / satchels / shoulder bags / street style trends / winter 2016 by Bay Area Fashionista

Pictured from top left: black box bag (under $300!)/ lips box bag / green box bag / burgundy boxy satchel / black boxy satchel / pink bag inside a black boxy satchel

Fall 2015 has an answer to those who are not really into the bucket bag trend; the boxy satchel trend. Box bags and boxy satchels are a hot trend for the fall 2015 season. They are the alter ego to the relaxed, slouchy, drawstring bag trend which has reigned supreme over the past few seasons.

While a drawstring bucket bag looks fabulous with a casual ensemble on Saturday afternoon, it does not compliment a structured look during the week, when dressed for the office, the theater, or dinner. Fall 2015 has brought us the perfect answer to this handbag dilemma; the boxy satchel.

Box-like bags for fall 2015 are being shown in two distinct forms; the medium satchel, and the small boxy bag.

Medium boxy satchels, in rectangular and square forms, are ideal for the office, and daytime events. They have a wide width, allowing them to be stuffed to the brim with everything plus the kitchen sink. Boxy satchels offer two top handles, a roomy interior, oftentimes they offer multiple sections, and a neat, structured look for structured attire. Love that!

Fall 2015’s box bags are smaller in stature than their boxy satchels sisters, and beg to be carried to fundraisers, dinners, and more formal affairs. Box bags can be found in small, or mini sizes, in both casual, and formal forms. These smaller box bags tend to offer one top handle, and sometimes will feature a detachable shoulder strap. They can be found in one color, bi-color, decorated with kitschy words or pictures, or embellished with jewels, beadwork, and more! The embellished versions are like boho-chic meets uptown flair. Love it!

Boxy satchels and box bags offer a vintage vibe for fall 2015, reminiscent of the 1950’s and 1960’s. They transcend decades when paired with this season’s 1970’s styles, or an a-line miniskirt or flippy skirt.

What do you think of this emerging trend in handbags? Will you seek one out to use as your alternative this fall to your beloved bucket bag?

Box bags and boxy satchels for fall 2015:

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