Coach Kristin Tote
The Kristin tote is simple, yet sophisticated, with its rather classic look and its soft and supple leather and with its fine detailing that makes this Coach bag a favorite of celebrities like Sandra Bullock, who even accepted to be featured on the Coach official website, endorsing this tote bag.
Kristin is available in three color options: brown, green and coral, all of them featuring brass hardware. I think brass is a nice choice, because it matches very well all these three colors, giving this purse a plus of elegance and style. The 17” strap with chain detail looks cool, although I think I’d have preferred the strap without chain. The outside flap pocket is very nicely finished, I just love the details around its closure.
Bag size: 14” x 16” x 5 1/5” (at this size, it could accommodate one of those small netbooks that are in big fashion these days)
Bag price: $598
Monika Botkier – From Photographer to Fashion Designer
As a photographer for fashion magazines such as Mademoiselle and Surface, Monika Botkier spotted a niche that was still uncovered in the fashion design world: approachable designer creations. Always in search for the perfect bag, Monika ended up by creating her own line of handbags, which were a happy marriage between style and functionality. Her downtown Manhattan style made this first handbags collection a success, although when she started, she only wanted to make those bags for her personal use. Actually, Monika did create a few purses for her personal use, but many women in her entourage expressed their interest in buying such handbags, so she started considering this more seriously. From here to the international recognition Botkier has managed to acquire in 2007 when she became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, there was only one more step, translated in passion, creativity and hard work. Fashion magazines like Glamour, Vogue, Marie Claire or InStyle published articles about Botkier handbags and shoes collections and even featured them on the front cover.
After seven years of building her reputation in the fashion accessories industry, in January 2010 Monika Botkier opened her first flagship store in New York, in NoLIta district. In designing her boutique, she collaborated with interior designer Valerie Pasquiou for creating a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. Cool and chic, Botkier handbags are luxurious without being expensive, “an independent brand that marries luxury with utility” as Monika herself states on the Botkier website. Indeed the prices are in the $500 range, way less than what we’ve been used to when we talk about designer handbags.
Many celebrities such as Beyonce, Halle Berry or Megan Fox were spotted wearing Botkier creations.
Botkier Bags Collections
Here are the latest creations, covering various bag types such as satchel, hobo, crossbody, shoulder, tote or clutch. Detailed reviews of many bags in these product lines will make subjects for separate articles and will be published as we manage to write them.
Venice:
Botkier Venice crossbody clutch
Rio:
Dion
Harper
Howard:
Botkier Howard Street Satchel Bag
Brooklyn
Logan
Noa
Aiden
Tao
James
Sasha
Trigger
Sydney
Uma
Romeo By Lena Erziak: Unforgettable Fuchsia
Colors are one of the strongest points of Lena Erziak handbags. Fuchsia or magenta is extremely fashionable this year when it comes to clothing and fashion accessories such as shoes or bags. Romeo belongs to the summer 2010 collection of Lena Erziak and it is an oversize tote that can accommodate all a girl needs to carry around with her.
The bag is made of high-quality python printed leather and it features adjustable handles, thus offering a custom fit, which is an innovation for this type of handbags. It's always nice to be able to customize a handbag's handles according to your size and preferences, so it's one more reason to love this bag and to want to have it in your personal collection.
Romeo has a beautifully rounded shape, nicely evidentiated by the hand sewn stitching bordering seams which contrast with the bag color. The interior of the bag is crafted with the same care and attention for detail as the exterior: fully lined, with a key organizer and a hidden change pocket, it makes this bag very handy. The golden hardware and the signature tassel give this bag an exquisite, original look. The only color available is magenta.
Bag size: 15" x 18" x 4"
Bag price: $856
Lena Erziak Handbags: Timeless Elegance
What makes Lena Erziak bags so special? Well, they are modern, colorful, elegant and extremely practical, the perfect choice for the modern New York woman, discerning and confident, who strives for something unique in her looks, because she really wants to make a difference. Lena Erziak handbags offer all these qualities and even more: a timeless elegance which makes them a classic and refined line of fashion and clothing accessories. All Lena Erziak bags are handmade in Florence, Italy, only from carefully selected, finest leather and using high quality accessories. The attention for detail is visible in the impeccable finish of these bags, both at the exterior and at the interior. Florence artisans surely know very well their trade, as well as the Erziak sisters, Leona and Hasna know how to cover the needs of the modern woman who needs to accommodate a lot of items in her bag, from the lipstick and the keys to her Blackberry, digital camera and perhaps a book or two, or even a netbook. Lena Erziak everyday bags are stylish, yet roomy and well-compartmented, therefore perfect. Tiny details like the built-in key chain are inspired from real life, in which we all know how hard it can be in some situations to quickly find an item in your purse.
We are going to take a glimpse into the new 2010 Spring collection of bags, which seems very promising and which is soon going to be available in their Stella Filante downtown New York boutique, as well as in high-end specialty boutiques and department stores all over the US.
Lena Erziak 2010 Spring Collection
For 2010, Leona and Hasna expressed their creativity in a line of 15 styles of bags made of various materials such as suede, leather, python and ostrich, all of finest quality. Taking into consideration the excellent finish and quality of the Lena Erziak spring 2010 handbags, the price range of US $350 – US $980 is not as high as it may appear at first glance. These bags are really competitive at the highest standards, a level at which bag designers launch their creations at prices averaging several thousands dollars. Besides, most of these bags are true keepers, as they fall into the timeless fashion segment, so they would probably become vintage after a number of years. With a sense of fashion trends and a bit of luck, buying future vintage bags can be a good investment. But now let’s stop day dreaming and go back to our spring-summer 2010 collection. Here are a few of the most representative bags:
Alessandro
An eye-catching carryall, Alessandro is a beautiful bag, elegant and still large enough for fitting a lot of items inside. It falls in the $800 - $1000 price range. The two front pockets feature hand sewn stitches and the belted opening creates the illusion of a small bag.
The Alessandro bags are available in a few versions:
- Big size, red python print leather – price $979
- Small size, red python print leather – price $862
- Small size, ostrich leather, blue color – price $5750 (well, ostrich is not such a common bird, so prices are higher for this kind of leather goods)
Davide
Davide is a small shoulder bag featuring a classy stud detailing and adjustable shoulder strap and a signature tassel. It is available in black or purple leather and in saffron suede.
Davide is a cute bag, suitable for a fancy dinner or a cocktail party.
Price: $453
Elio
Elio is an oversized tote bag which looks amazingly good and which can really host a lot of stuff inside. Its handles are a combination of chain and leather, strong enough to resist even when the bag is fully loaded (provided that you don’t carry stones around). Elio is available in gold or fuchsia suede or in black leather and it costs $777.
Other bags in the Lena Erziak 2010 collection:
