Designer Handbags

You know you travel more than most when you start to have people who work the counter recognize you, can answer questions better than the airport staff, know exactly where each gate is at nearly every airport, and have the security check down. I am on land for another week and a half, and then up in the air on my way to Barcelona, then flying to Venice, then flying to Florida, then two weeks later to Ohio. Apparently I love cruising altitude more than steady turf. Yesterday I was lucky to sit next to a woman from Connecticut and talk about life, family, work, and everything in between. She was great. She has two kids and while I told her about Purse Blog she and I started to talk about travel gear. I couldn’t help but keep my mind from wandering about what would be perfect kid travel gear. Today I found a cool back pack for a dude and a cute roll on for a little girl. Funky and fresh, the Lipstik Luggage Roller is hand-painted and features, pink, denim, aqua, and purple coloring throughout. The front zipper pouch sports the words “love” and “peace” in paint. Easy to carry for a toddler to a tween, this roller is cute and affordable. Buy it through Neiman Marcus for $125. And for the cool dude, the Diesel Logo Backpack comes in an army green with blue denim trim and a white “Diesel 78″ on the front. Toss in an iPod, hand held game player, and a car magazine, and your cool dude is good to go. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $65.

Many men love cars but not handbags, man bags, etc. My dad could care less about his wallet or briefcase, as long as they carry his things and do not completely break apart and lose his important papers. Vlad has transformed to appreciating good handbags and loving LV Man Bags. Deep down though, the passion many men have for cars is undeniably larger than their passion for handbags (any of you not like this, let me know!!). This is why Paul Smith designs with men in mind. The Mini Cooper is a small car, fun and sporty, but not the typical man car; that is until it was seen in The Italian Job. What man after that movie did not want a small car to drive down subways and swerve in and our around town? Hell, even I did. The Paul Smith iconic striped Mini Cooper hits home for the man who loves dreaming of speed, heists, and driving down subways and sidewalks. I love the Paul Smith Mini Car Billfold because it is all work on the outside with black leather, and all play on the inside with the striped Mini Copper image. Different than anything you would see, the inside will be great for the inner boy inside your man (come on, they all still have it) and still has a folded bill pocket, two slot pockets, and eight card slots. Measurements are 4.25″ x 3.7″ x 0.7″ and this wallet is perfect for the guy who loves cars. Via eLuxury for $285.

I always wonder what it takes to have an accessory named after you. I need the specifics. Could I buy my way in, do I need to sing, should I dress like a hobo, should I be able to play the piano with my toes? In my perfect life, I would have an exquisite handbag named after me; one that exemplifies who I am as a person. I don’t see that happening any time soon, so I will chose to write about others who have had that happen for themselves. I am not sure if there is a specific Jessica in mind, but the Rafe Jessica Knotted Hobo should make all the ladies with the name Jessica smile. While having a bag named after you is wonderful, I would want my name associated with a bag that has a bit more going on than this Rafe number. This bag is made from brown Italian washed leather and features a knot on the shoulder strap. The antique brass hardware doubles with cowhide woven pull-tabs and seams. From the picture the size of the bag seems normal, but it is very large- 14″H x 24″W x3″D. I’m not saying Jessica is a boring name, but Rafe did not make this bag anything special in my opinion here. The bag is cute but plain. Maybe Jane would have been a better name to pair with it. Via Neiman Marcus for $575.

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Just 10 years ago the married couple, Kate and Jack, made their last name a household name; Spade. The Jack Spade approach offers men items that represent both honest, thoughtful design and practical purpose. For functionality the men of today need a messenger bag. You all know that the man of the Purse Blog and Forum just indulged in a Louis Vuitton Messenger

If you are opting for a clean and sleek look, the Jack Spade Bridle Leather Bags are perfect for the everyday man. There is the day bag or the field bag to choose from which both have an adjustable shoulder strap, two interior pockets, and an exterior back pocket. The day bag measures 13″ x 4.5″ x 10″ while the field bag measures 15″ x 6″ x 12″. If you are attempting to fit your 17″ MacBook Pro in there, it won’t happen (haha Vlad!) but if you only have a 15″ MacBook Pro like myself, the field bag is just right. The messenger style bags are available in black, chocolate, orange, blue, and red. The day bag goes for $495 while the field bag goes for $525 via Jack Spade.

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Today Vlad and I strolled the streets of SoHo. Seriously, if you have never been to SoHo put it on your to-do list. Many people have a misconception that the rich and famous shop on 5th Ave, when really SoHo is where it is at. Since Vlad and I have been spend happy, today we just browsed and enjoyed an amazing lunch. The street fashion there is very chic and laid-back. At that moment I realized I desperately need an across the body bag. I am not fully sure what bag will be the ‘one’ but I am determined to find a messenger that reflects my desire to be stylish and laid back all at once. I stumbled across the Bottega Veneta Woven Messenger Bag because of its signature woven leather along with its removable and adjustable shoulder strap. If you have touched a BV bag, you are well aware of the supple leather used. Nickel hardware is used to offset the leather and there is an inside zip pocket and canvas lining. This bag is a square shape, measuring 13″H X 13″L X 2″W. While I think I am more in the search for a rectangular bag, I will keep this beautiful BV number in the back of my mind. Available through Saks for $1350.

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As you may, or may not have noticed, the PurseBlog got a makeover and is now flying its brand-spanking-new summer outfit. Version 3.0 was getting boring to look at, and I’ve finally motivated myself to get the work done to recreate, renovate and redo the ol’ hag. Let me know if you like it! Do I get a cookie now?

Ok, I’ll pass on the cookie. Aside from the redesign, I’ve come to the conclusion that my bag arsenal totally sucks, especially for a guy who sits at the helm of interweb’s biggest site dedicated to… bags. A shame really. Before you suggest for me to indulge myself with some lady bags, I need to preemtively announce and I don’t fly lady bags. While other guys may respectfully disagree with me, I just don’t see myself ever wearing a Speedy, for example (although Megs claims that her recent aquisition does look good on me… yikes). On the search of a genuinely good looking man bag, I stumbled across the Hugo Boss Havana Canvas Messenger Bag, which, surprisingly, only goes for 275 dollar Americano. Not bad for a bag from Boss, I would have expected it to go for at least twice as much. The bag offers a sleek, sophisticated everyday style that I really see myself sporting every day. The flap over the front covers two large pouch pockets with magnetic snap closures while the flat pocket on the back is perfect for magazines or papers. Now I just have to figure out if the messenger fits my 17 inch Macbook Pro and I am ready to kick the Samsonite backpack in the dust. [via eLuxury]

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First and foremost Happy Father’s Day to all you amazing daddies out there!! My dad deserves a ton of appreciation and love today- he is amazing. Problem with my dad is that he is impossible to shop for. Designer anything is not his style. I wonder every year what to get him and he ends up with the same thing from everyone in the family, new work shirts and ties and sometimes a new suit. So dad, if you are reading this, please let me know what I can give you as a gift, you are impossible to shop for!

I have found a gift that is probably as far away from something that my dad would like as they come, but it is worth a manly try for some other amazing men out there. Paul Smith has quirky bags that may appeal to many men. Vlad for one loves motorcycles. It is not that I don’t think motorcycles are cool; it is that the safety factor terrifies me. So as long as I have any say in it, the closest Vlad will get to owning a motorcycle is this bag. The Paul Smith Triumph Messenger Bag is designed from woven canvas with leather trim and bright purple cotton canvas lining. The clincher is the photo image of a Triumph motorcycle on the front and back of the bag. This messenger bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and interior zip pocket and slot pocket. Honestly, I think this bag on a guy would look metro but could also be so handsome. Measuring 19″ x 12″ x 4.75″, buy this trendy thing for your man (or Dad!) for $420 through eLuxury.

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If men in this world only realized how sexy it is to carry a sleek designer bag, they may begin to understand us a little better. I find that men don’t want to give off the un-manly vibe, but that doesn’t mean that matching and looking good makes you un-manly? I don’t need a man who wears stripes and checks all at once (cough cough I won’t want to pick on anyone- but a certain someone whose name starts with a V and ends with a lad did that to me about 2 years ago and I nearly got rid of him then!!

) I know you all agree with me that a first impression lasts forever in your mind, and you know you want that guy that is dressed nicely. Even more so this impression lasts in the workplace. If you are going for an interview you know to mind your P’s and Q’s and dress to impress. So for the small amount of men that are out there reading this, do us all a favor and keep in mind that a) we like when you dress nice and b) you are allowed to wear a nice bag and still be considered manly!

What I have in mind for the men who do care to impress us and the work force is the Louis Vuitton Kasbek PM. This tote bag for men is made from both grained TaГѓВЇga and smooth leather. The outside is simple and appealing with the brown leather and brushed palladium hardware. But the compartments are what should lure you in- along with the simplistic elegance of the bag. This tote features two outside pockets (one is zipped), an inside zipped pocket, a cell phone pocket (which won’t get much use since the typical businessman lives on his cell), a large open pocket which could hold files, magazines, or your computer. The inside is also lines in Sari canvas and the tote comes with an adjustable shoulder strap (and when I say comes with I mean it is sold separately). Measuring 14.6″ L x 11.8″ H x 4.3″ W, this bag will help you men out there win your way into the fashion world and the ladies hearts. Buy it via eLuxury for $1470.

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Man bags are a must. Well in my opinion, they should be. For some reason men just do not want to ever say that they are carrying a ‘man bag’. What is the issue? Why not?! I am not asking you to carry a pink bag, but some bags are just so darn good looking on a man. Jack Spade has decided that man bags are a must, so all you ladies need to convince the men in your lives to nab a man bag. The Jack Spade Dad Backpack in Chocolate is a simple enough bag for any man to like. Made from brown triple-layered, weatherproof nylon, this bag is equipped for any daddy playing mommy for the day. The outside has a double-zip top, padded shoulder straps (since all the baby gear weighs quite a bit), and two front zip pockets. Not only will you open up to some bright green nylon lining, you will also find two bottle holders, and easy to access VelcroГ‚® pocket, laptop sleeve, key loop, and a bright green reversible changing pad (that green lump in the picture

). Overall stats are 17″H x 14″W x 6″D. All you men on the verge of trying to venture into the world of bags may find this bag to be the perfect beginner bag- especially if you have a cute little baby!. Buy it through Neiman Marcus for $225.

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It’s the attack of the killer man bag. Yikes. The controversial Jake Gyllenhaal, who has seemed to have the problem staying faithful, is completely secure in his fashion choice. If I’ve ever seen a man bag be worn so proudly, it is by Jake while he flirts- oops, I mean converses- with another woman (where you at for this one Dunst?). If anyone can be so comfortable with his masculinity and huge ego, it’s Jake- even with his messenger-style man bag/small backpack. Jake wears the bag well with. More power to him