Everyone knows the Celine Luggage Tote and the Celine Classic Box, but the Celine Bi-Cabas Tote has cruised along just below most people’s handbag radar for the last few seasons, largely the obsession of industry insiders and dedicated Celine fans. With its extremely minimal construction and huge colorblocking potential, the bag seems to be poised to make its biggest splash yet for Spring 2012. But what if you don’t want to pay over a grand for something relatively simple? Well, the Rebecca Minkoff Toki Tote offers the perfect alternative, but you’re going to have to trade leather for nylon. You do win a healthy dose of neon in that trade, so it might be worth it.
I’m continually surprised by the huge number of Michael Kors bags that I see women carrying in every city that I visit. One of the most recognizable bags from the line is the Michael Kors Hamilton, which has been issued in nearly countless colors, sized and materials. The version above may be the most exciting, though; like other designers, MK is always giving back and after the tragic earthquake in Japan, Michael decided to help.
MK debuted a limited edition Hamilton handbag in support of the Great East Japan Earthquake relief effort during Fashion’s Night out in Tokyo and to follow its success, the U.S. will launch this bag for a 24 hour period starting tomorrow, Monday January 22nd. The bag will be available only through a link from the Michael Kors facebook page and in select Michael Kors retail stores.
The designer will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the bag to support relief efforts for the Great East Japan Earthquake via the Japanese Red Cross Society. While many only give a portion of proceeds to causes, I find it entirely commendable that Michael Kors will give 100%.
The bag is the coveted Hamilton in a deep berry-colored matte embossed python finish. A keychain is attached that will serve as a reminder of those in Japan with a series of MK logo and “Michael Hearts Japan” charms. Not only is this bag for a great cause, but it truly is a great looking bag
In fact, I warned you back in May that Jimmy Choo seemed intent on foisting the Jimmy Choo Solar Studded Hobo on the fashion world, and it took a little longer than we (or the company, probably) anticipated to get here, but did you use that time to prepare yourself? To prepare your eyes to view…this? I bet you didn’t. Pictures of this bag were originally released with the Fall 2011 collection, so I’m not sure why it’s showing up on the Neiman Marcus arrivals page now, just when Spring 2012 is hitting stores, but I’m going to give everyone involved the benefit of the doubt by assuming that someone actually thought better of making this bag available for sale. I don’t know if it was the brand, the store or some crafty intern somewhere down the line who misdirected this shipment in a heroic bid to save us all, but like that bug that just can’t be effectively squashed, this design has lept out from behind a piece of furniture to terrify us.
Ok, so I’m being a little dramatic, but this thing is hideous. It’s not even a design, really. It’s just a plain leather hobo with a bunch of crap stuck to it in a seemingly random assortment, and the only person I can imagine having real affection for it is someone who considers themselves a hardcore astrology buff. And if you do, well, here’s your bag.
Below bags I love sure will be my list for birthday gifts.Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean gift-giving has ended. There are so many other opportunities for us to shop for ourselves and others, one major event being birthdays. For 2012, we will be making birthday gift guides to help you choose the bag you want to ask for or want to give.
Valentino Mini VaVaVoom Leather Shoulder Bag | Price is $1,695 via Net-A-Porter
This might be my favorite bag of the batch, as the sleek and compact design does not detract from the stand-out design. There is an optional shoulder strap or you can slide your hand behind the studded detailing to clutch it.
Balenciaga Giant Continental Gold Hamilton | Price is $645 via Barneys.But some kind of luck you can buy it on estylefocus.com only 150$!!!
Balenciaga is known for their wide variety of colors, and the Bordeaux color works well for the month of January and can be used for years to come.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Karlie Bag | Price is $258 via ShopBop
The Bordeaux color of this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag is truer to the color garnet, but lacks the bright pop of red that many of our choices have. This deeper color looks sultry and will easily finish off a day or evening look.
MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton Rock N’ Roll Leather Tote | $450 via Net-A-Porter
With a young rocker chick vibe, this MICHAEL Michael Kors bag is large is size and packs a punch with its punk-y silver studded detailing.
We all know that I can get a little bit feisty when I feel like companies are trying to cash in on their good name by shilling overpriced, under-designed canvas tote bags to their hungry fans, but Anya Hindmarch is always a notable exception to my personal canvas rule. Instead of merely slapping some leather handles and her logo on a canvas tote that you could get anywhere, Hindmarch’s design team actually take the time to, you know, design something.
With something like the Anya Hindmarch Printed Canvas Totes, you still get all the simple usability that you need out of a big, simple, lightweight bag. You also get a healthy dose of British humor, which I think makes the price tag a little bit more palatable.
As you can see, there are two versions of this bag – one beach-themed and on school-themed. Both of them have little details inside the trompe l’oeil graphics that make it worth your time to take a closer look. For example, the calculator on the homework bag has the digits to the old upside-down “boobless” gag typed in (I find it somehow comforting to know that sixth graders do that across the pond as well), and the beach-themed bag features a book called Bags and Bitches. Side note: I’d totally read a book called Bags and Bitches.
Compare to Louis vuitton speedy handbags ,celine triptyque bag is great choice. 2011 was a year filled with Celine bags for me. I went from owning zero Celine bags to owning three Celine bags with one more on the way. While most know Celine for its Luggage Bag, my favorite Celine bag may be the under-the-radar Triptyque.
Vlad and I spent the holidays in Germany and the Czech Republic and I decided to only take one bag with me. After much thought, I decided on taking my Celine Triptyque and it turned out to be the perfect option. With ample storage space, a refined design and plenty of fashion appeal, this bag deserves more love from me.
From the first time I laid eyes on this bag, I was sold. Part briefcase, part 70′s flight bag, I knew this bag would be ideal for traveling. The design is simple but there are lovely touches that are visible, including braided detail on the zipper pulls.
The East/West shape works so well on this bag, giving a professional feel that can easily be dressed down. From the side, you can see the three separate compartments. There is a bit of flare from the side view of both the front and back compartment, but I don’t find it distracting.
Celine bags are very simple and elegant, and the Triptyque shows this beautifully. I love the gold hardware against the rich red leather and the top handles along with the optional shoulder strap.
A few months ago, I wrote a funny little post about bags that could be used as weapons. As fashion’s penchant for embellishment grows increasingly inescapable, it seems as though most high-end accessories can be repurposed for self-defense in an emergency, and with the prices that designers charge, it’s frankly nice that they have the extra utility.

If I had only known that the Christian Louboutin Marquise Clutch would be coming out, I would have waited to write that post. This bag may be the first I’ve ever seen that would actually allow you to stab a mugger, a cheating husband, that jerk in front of you in the line at Target, whoever strikes your stabbing fancy. I wonder if this bag could be classified as a deadly weapon?
With the length of the spikes, I wouldn’t be surprised if airport security pulled you aside to have an extra look at this bag if they were to find it in your carry-on. Keep that in mind for future travel plans – if you’d like to carry this clutch (or wear the matching shoes) at your eventual destination, they should probably be stowed in your checked baggage. Once you’ve reached your destination, stab people to your little heart’s content
Let’s be real here: Internet Christmas shopping is basically done. It’s the 22nd, Christmas is on a Sunday this year, life is hard. Our super official Holiday Gift Guide 2011 has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of interesting ideas still left rolling around in our heads (or rolling around the vast and unknowable Internet, for that matter). Plus, Christmas isn’t the only time for gifts – people have birthdays every day, right? Because we have to come up with content until Christmas and you have to have something to read at the office while you wait for vacation to start and pretend to look at an Excel spreadsheet (I know what you’re doing, I’ve been you before), I’ve found a few weird tchotchkes for the person on your list who would shun any item you could find on a gift guide for reasonable people. Or, if you don’t have one of those friends, here’s some pleasantly odd stuff that you can buy on the Internet. For yourself. Because if you don’t know who the weird one in your group is, it’s probably you.
I miss a lot of things about college, and the crossword puzzle from the University of Georgia student newspaper is probably a lot higher up on that list than you’d expect. It was the perfect level of difficulty – I could finish it in about 45 minutes and feel challenged while still ultimately being victorious. Related: 45 minutes was approximately the length of one lecture class period at UGA. Over my four years there, I did hundreds of them.
Getting your news online brings with it a noticeable lack of crossword puzzles, which has left a sad little gap in my procrastination habits since 2008. The Christian Louboutin Cleo Sequined Satin Clutch isn’t literally a crossword puzzle in the same way that Louboutin has made literal tape measure shoes, but when I squint, it’s close enough for me.
There are a few things about this clutch that I really appreciate, above and beyond its at-a-distance resemblance to a word game that I enjoy. First, I like the square sequins. Fashion has been filled with paillettes and glitter and rhinestones for what seems like the last five years (but is probably more like the last year and a half), but the sequins chosen for bags have been almost exclusively round. Choosing square sequins in a range of shades between black and white seems completely fresh when compared to designs covered in the bright, round alternative that we’re all used to.
This design’s other redeeming factor is that it’s not absolutely clogged with embellishment. Every square or rectangle is carefully placed, and some of them perfectly match the underlying silk except for the difference in texture. That creates a very careful, elegant effect that’s often missing when sequins start being applied to a clutch. Christian Louboutin doesn’t always have the restraint to make a great bag, but this time, he’s succeeded admirably
I’ve been on a Celine kick for quite some time, and just as I thought my obsession begins to subside, I found a bag that makes it flare back up. I’ve gone back and forth trying to decide if I like the Celine Phantom, which is the most recent hit from the brand, and I have finally decided I want it.
With the middle of the bag matching the Luggage Tote that we know, the Celine Phantom expands in size with a more spacious east/west finish. When you zip the bag up, the shape comes back closer to the Luggage Tote, but I really like the bag left larger.











