Crystal Clear Bags

The future is crystal clear, and the forecast is calling for transparent totes, purses, and carryalls in tones ranging from white to neon.

Louis Vuitton could not help but dress models in sweet eyelet frocks paired with a variety of clear bags and clutches stamped with the brand's signature logo. Vuitton, however, is not the only design brand behind this trend. BCBG offers petit plastic totes, as well. Consider it a warning that plastic does not guarantee privacy, so accessorize at your own risk.

Text Katelyn Chef 
Source and Image Style.com

Moop Bags for Every Occasion

 

Moop makes beautiful handmade bags in their Pittsburgh studio with design and durability in mind. Every piece is designed and manufactured on-site, and their versatile bags are made for men, women, and kids. The company also believes in supporting small businesses who work hard to do what they love. See what they're up to in the studio on the Moop blog.

 Here's a short list of the perfect Moop bags for every occasion:

— Save a plastic bag by carrying home your groceries in The Very Useful Tote.
— Send your college student back to campus with the Messenger no.1 or Messenger no.2.
— A casual night out deserves The Letter Clutch.
— Every man deserves a sturdy briefcase like The Letter Bag.

What a great holiday idea! Which bag would you choose?

Text Rebecca Baust

Image Moop

Stylish Weekend Getaway Bag

So guys, you’ve got a weekend trip with your girlfriend coming up? Nice — but don’t go packing your things in that old Adidas duffle bag. Instead, pack with apt getaway style. Pendleton is synonymous with quality construction and style, and the Pendleton Weekender Bag is made with premium virgin wool and waxed leather. The turquoise mesa bag is a stunning vision of design, detail, and color, which makes it an incredible choice for an unmistakable weekend. You can purchase the bag here. 

Text Brandon Wood

Source Pendleton

Upgrade Your Smelly Gym Bag

Nothing downgrades a stellar work ensemble than a tattered sports insignia duffle bag wrapped around your shoulder. Well, that and flip flops. Throwing a gym bag into your car and retrieving it for a mere walk into the gym is one thing. But for city dwellers, the gym bag becomes part of your outfit as you carry it about your daily commute. If you're wondering whether your red Adidas striped bag looks good with your new John Varvatos 3-piece suit, it doesn't.

What qualifies as a quality gym bag?

1. It doesn't look like a gym bag. It looks like a dapper businessman's carry-on.

2. It's made out of a sturdy waxed canvas or leather. Like most men, these finishes get better with age.

3. It will hold a pair of sneakers and a change of clothes. We're not moving INTO the gym.

4. Unless you like to live right on the edge and use the gym's provided toiletries, it should also have an extra compartment for your shaving accoutrement and potions.

5. This bag will rest on a multitude of begrimed surfaces including a subway platform, locker room floor, and a dug-out. A light colored bag will serve as your enemy. Go with classic black, rusty brown, or even a dark shade of forest green.

Text Rebecca Baust

Image courtesy of Jack Spade

The Most Perfect Purse For The Demure Shouldered

We hit the jackpot while in search of the perfect purse for every occasion in and around our 9-to-5 work and a strict spinning schedule. Certain criteria our new purchase has to fill: 1. Enough space for a water bottle and snacks. 2. High style factor that will deter boredom. 3. Architectural beauty, enough structure so it agrees with this season's non-slouchy bag trend.

The Edie Purse by J.Crew. For an agreeable $238, this baby can be yours in red hot Flame or yummy pecan or plain jane Black.

Text by Joann Pan

Source(s): Jcrew.com

Boys Just Want To Have Fun...With Bags

Somewhere along the age-old evolution of fashion, a great divide naturally surfaced within the industry's gender roles. Women aimed to be chic, and men preferred to meet chicks. Women subscribed to the monthly Vogue, and men wore jeans, sneaks and other things not à la mode. Women were allowed bags, and men were assigned to carry them as their partners shopped the day away. In other words, men became bag holders rather than bag carriers. In this ill-fated world, men were beginning to fall into perpetual faux pas. But leave it to the gentlemen of Europe to revolutionize the public perception of what a man should wear and emphasize the meaning of class, a term classically unrelated to biological anatomy. Men too can carry bags if they wish. In fact, as conveyed by the exquisitely chic Filson bag in the above photo, men can give women quite the run for their money in the accessory department and still have time to bring home the bacon.

Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermès, and high-street counterparts like River Island are only some of the many brands that have envisioned a new life for the everyday man. This man can carry a functional tote across town without being considered effeminate. Or bear a designer clutch at fashion week without worrying about passerby criticism. Or sport a leather satchel on the way to the office without drawing semi-comical references to The Hangover. The limits in men's fashion have come close to being limitless, and the concept of "masculine" style has come a far ways from the days of gym shorts and fanny packs. But while the bag trend has signified a bright future for men's fashion, it is not very likely it will soon transcend the territory of couture gowns and dresses. Could it?

Text Ricardo Hernandez

Image courtesy of Jak and Jil by Tommy Ton

A Good Excuse to Buy Another Bag (No Really)

Earth day isn't until April 22; but in fashion, looking ahead is never a bad thing. One stylish way to celebrate is to gradually cut off those pesky, plastic grocery bags and opt for cuter ways to carry your pre-made organic salad or packets of ramen noodles. Eco-friendly options have been around for a while now. And with those disturbing documentaries and heart-pinching PSA's, the continued existence of plastic bags is baffling.

19 billion of these usually, tacky plastic sacks are used every year in California alone. So, let's show those corporate lobbyists and the Senate, which rejected the state's proposed ban on plastic shopping bags last September, by rebelling in style with these reusable totes. Other than clean streets and sanitary parks, the good news is that many of these are cheap, come in every color of the rainbow, and can be conveniently tucked away in the deepest cranny of your PS1 (real or knock-off).

American Apparel Emergency Bag (pictured above), $16; Baggu, $8; Etsy Eco Sail Tote, $75 (okay, kind of expensive for a grocery bag… but it's made from recycled sail boat sails! Just think of the crying Indian.); Thank You Tote Bag, $20; Smartcycle Reusable Shopping Bag, $4.95; For All The World Tote, $6.99. Click after the jump for pictures!

Text Kristina Bravo
Sources: LA Times, NBC San Diego, American Apparel, Baggu, Etsy, ThankYouToteBag.com, Reuseit.com, ModCloth.

All Around the Mulberry Bush...

….the monkey chased the weasel; the monkey thought ‘twas all in fun…POP goes the weasel! Until I sat down to write this post I had completely forgotten about how often I used to sing that as a kid (fairly frequently if I remember correctly). Now that I remember though, enough about my childhood antics. The real point of this post, though you may think it is to reminisce about the good ol’ days, is to make you aware of the Mulberry for Target collection that will launch on October 10th. The English luxury handbag house, which, according to creative director Emma Hill is neither uptight nor self-conscious (but can we really believe her?), promises to debut an affordable line that echoes the brand’s funky style and character. It is appropriate then, that this special collection will feature a large satchel in pink leopard print. Whether you plan to take the bags to work or out on the town, the Mulberry for Target collection does not disappoint.

Text Jessica Best

FEED

This past 4th of July weekend, as I was soaking up the rays on Long Beach Island, I couldn’t help but notice all the fun beach accessories worn by my fellow sun worshippers. There were glamorous shades and bright bikinis but what really caught my eye were all the chic beach bags. A friend I was with had an adorable but sturdy straw tote she found on the streets of Kenya. Needless to say, all the cute bags around me led to an intense online search for the perfect beach bag once I got home. Without much difficulty I found what I believe to be the most ideal beach bag. Not only is the “FEED Guatemala 3” bag, handmade by the country’s female artisans using traditional Ikat fabrics, super stylish, but it also supports women artisans and provides funding which helps UNICEF supply micro nutrient supplements to the children of Guatemala. The purchase of a “FEED Guatemala 3” bag for $39 (sold exclusively at Lord & Taylor) helps provide daily nutrient powder for 3 Guatemalan children for 1 year. With this bag you can be the envy of all the beach bums and do something good, what could be better?

By Jessica Best

ACCESSORIZE!!!

Okay so some of you may have heard of the shop ACCESSORIZE, there is only one based in the US and it's in Washington. Not to worry, you can order from their website and they deliver internationally. Yay! You can buy anything from clothes, accessories, shoes, things for the home, and lingerie. Their selection of bags and jewelry are best, a great choice and there is likely to be something to suit everyone, perfect!

In the picture you can see the bag on the left, this flower and linear foil print shoulder bag, available for just $44. The bag on the right is the Mary-Ellen checked flower embellished bag, buy this for $52. The charm bracelet watch, a cute and girl look, it's only $59. To stroll out in the sunshine wearing these cluster gem t-bar leather sandals will cost you only $44! Not bad for some summer essentials. 

The Beauty of a Draped Rose

Bags with floral applique are really in these days. I know most of you have probably already picked out your fall bag but I would suggest adding another into your mix.

I recently bought a black bag with a gorgeous draped rose taking over the front of the bag and I receive compliments on it all the time.

A draped rose bag, like the one featured above by Valentino, makes any outfit more feminine and sophisticated. This purse can be worn with any outfit. This bag resembles something from a different era. It looks like it was plucked right out of the 1920's but it still fits perfectly in today's society. It is a gracefully styled purse and is a piece that is timeless, twenty years from now this purse will still be in style.

If you're still shopping around for the perfect fall bag, do yourself a favour and seek out a draped rose purse, you will be the envy of all your friends.

-Erin Jones