Nancy Gonzalez “Crocodile Boxed Clutch”

Tell me if it’s possible not to stop and stare at this one? First and foremost - the color, then everything else - I simply love it! If it wasn’t for this splashing red color, I have to admit I wouldn’t have made to my to-do list

Being an exotic makes it all that much better, but the color is what set me on fire here. There’s no way you’ll pass unnoticed with this baby. It’s great how the shape and the size of this clutch work in synergy with the color making it much more than just a ”nice bag”. I have to say that besides the D&G Miss Easy Way Ayers Snakeskin Patchwork Satchel which I disliked (even though some of my friends strongly dissagree with me on that matter) I tend to only write about exotics I like. The thing is that it’s not an easy thing to do because there is no in-between with exotics - either you love the bag or you can’t stand it. So why bomb you with every exotic that gets released? I’d rather go post about them from time to time when something really beatiful and post worthy comes along. As for this one, I don’t have to say anything more about it. I made it clear how much I like it and that’s it. A magnetic closure reveals a chamois leather lined pocketless interior big enough to carry only your essentials and nothing else. If you are into exotics, don’t skip on this one, I know I won’t.

SIZE: 8.25″ x 8.25″ x 2.25″

PRICE: $1,350.00 @ Saks.com

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Fendi “Forever Pochette Clutch”

After the 10th anniversary of the Baguette, and after we had been bombed with a ton of different revamps and redesigns of the Baguette and the To You clutch, I am more than glad to see something like this. Talk about going from one extreme to another. That’s something we’re used to when we’re talking about Fendi though. It’s what made the label famous and if that’s the outset then it’s all good. But nevertheless, it’s ok to put your foot down from time to time and create something that will be awesome but won’t make everyone talk about it.

Here we have a perfect evening clutch, made to carry you through various special occassions be it weddings or coctail parties. I wouldn’t suggest carrying it on a “regular” night out, not only because it’s made of satin, but also because it has that sophisticated and classy touch to it. Two logo detailed snaps are the only thing distinguishing the bag and are also a nice detail since they are rather small and implemented in an unintrusive and elegant fashion. The interior features one divider and an open back pocket. Simple, elegant and not too expensive. I’ll bite!

SIZE: 12″ x 5.5″ x 1.5″

PRICE: $835.00 @ Saks.com

Marc Jacobs Collection “Quilted Colorblock Soft Pouch”

I absolutely love the whole Quilted Colorblock SS collection from Marc Jacobs. All of the bags in the collection have that special feminine touch to them which makes them very alluring. They make you put your hands on them and not let go, ever! The leather is of superior quality and soft both on the eye and to the touch. The combinations of colors used on these bags do a wonderful job giving them a distinct look that makes them stand out among other collections released this season. Victoria Beckham had the Mika Bag from this collection with here everywhere for some time and did a great job putting these fabulous bags in the spotlight.

I’ve heard a lot of comments on this collection and not all are positive. Some are saying these bags have that “old lady” touch to them, and come to think about it, that’s true. It’s just that I don’t see it as a bad thing. Marc Jacobs is well known for his wild combinations of styles and his talent to make the most impossible combinations imaginable work. Quilted Colorblock defintely isn’t your everyday handbag collection, we’ve got Marc by Marc Jacobs for that. If you consider this collection to be a bit too unusual or simply not you, you can always start with the Mika Bag or this pouch since they are a bit less overwhelming due to their size.

The key signatures of this collection are the quilt detail on the leather and the large shoulder chain with leather weaven through it. We’ve already seen that on other MJ bags, but this time he decided to go for an oversized approach, and if you ask me, he did a great job because it emphasizes the soft and and gently slouchy look. He did something similar on the Louis Vuitton Monogram Olympe bags with the oversized shoulder strap and the plaited leather… In fact, the whole look somehow reminded me of the Monogram Olympe… Anyway…

As I said, this bag is made of subtle grained leather with a quilt detail. The top is in beautiful a contrast to the brown leather bag body. Featuring gusseted sides and a pleated front which give the bag it’s feminine look, the Quilted Colorblock really won my heart. Interior is fine textile lined and featured with patch pocket. I really like it!

SIZE: 10″ x 6″ x 2.5″

PRICE: $695.00 @ eLuxury.com

Dolce & Gabbana “Miss Curly Clutch”

How many times do I have to say that kiss lock closures don’t work on shoulder bags? It just doesn’t click, at all, never has and never will. Kiss lock closures have that “special occassion” touch to them, looking all vintage and/or glamorous, and when you try to slap a detail like that on a shoulder bag, it has very slim chances of looking anything but fug.

It’s ok to have an evening shoulder bag (even though clutches work much better imho), but I just can’t stand seeing a kiss lock closed bag being carried on a shoulder. Maybe you’ll find my observation totally out of line, but I can’t get over it. Thank God this one has a detachable shoulder strap so not all hope is lost, but I am still under the original impression. Everything else about this bag is ok, especially the fact it is white. The leather looks very nice, soft and practical. I like how the slightly gathered leather on the top complemets the above mentioned kiss lock closure - I appreciate that, thank you - but not on a shoulder bag…

Anyway, the interior is featured with one card pocket, and if you were wondering, the shoulder strap is of a 10″ drop. Pricey, kiss lock, shoulder bag… I think I’ll pass on this one.

SIZE: 10″ x 7″ x 4″

PRICE: $1,350.00 @ Saks.com

Celine “Patent leather clutch”

Ok, I like the turqoise color, but that’s about it when it comes to the things I like about this clutch. The combination of the design and the size we have here wouldn’t get into my wanted list in a milion years. If they made it smaller it might have worked, but this is just too overwhelming for me… There is definitely too much going on with this bag and I don’t like it. One thing is certain though - you will be noticed everywhere you go with it, so if that’s what you are after this might just be the bag for the mission.

Ok, let me start with the colors. Two very strong colors - the turquoise colored patent leather and tan leather trims - both of these are pretty powerful on their own, and when they are combined like this, they create quite a bit of chaos. I wouldn’t have a problem with this if the designers stopped there, but adding a shoulder chain into this mix transforms this clutch into a chaotic something, and that something is not a purse, I really don’t know what it is. I find the tan leather and the shiny metal chain to be a terrible match to the patent turquoise leather.. As a cherry on the top, the interior is featured with a satin lining.

I don’t know, I really can’t say much more about this clutch.. It is clear the designers wanted to make an IT bag but got lost somewhere along the way. Too much of what’s currently hot - patent leather, vivid colors, oversized dimensions and a MJ style dangling link chain (alhough a lot thiner) makes this bag nothing but a wannabe bag. All mixed up like that with no beginning and no end and no story behind it - it’s really starting to hurt my eyes.

In all that chaos the bag got lost imho, and that’s it.

PRICE: $990.00 @ Net-a-Porter.com

Anya Hindmarch “Luce Small Clutch”

To tell you the truth, I have been eyeing this one for at least a month. I’ve just figured out that this cutie is not only cute, but highly, and I mean HIGHLY practical. I thought it was beautiful from the moment I first saw it, but the vintage looking clasp always managed to turn me off, eventhough I liked the fact it had two compartments.

So, let’s start with two clasp closure compartments which are spacious enough for you to put all your essentials inside. One of them features a zipped pocket which always comes in handy for the things you want to have accessable without needing to dig through the whole clutch. There is another zipped pocket on the back of the clutch and another one between the compartments, along with credit card slots, secured with a double magnetic closure. I loved this multiple pocket/compartment thing going on here, which is one of the main reasons I am writing this post.

This is definitely not an every day clutch (it’s more of an every night kind of clutch actually ). As I’ve already said, I find it totally cute. It does not stand out too much, being a bit smaller than most of the clutches this season. It will not pass unnoticed however, I can guarantee that.

At this price, it’s just too good to miss - Gold, perfectly practical, too cute and very affordable - it doesn’t get any batter than that!

SIZE: 9.5″w x 4.5″h x 1″d

PRICE: $345.00 @ Net-a-Porter.com

Derek Lam “Celeste Tassel Clutch”

Attention everybody, especially those of you looking for a new clutch! Well, not just you, everybody! This is a bag that will change your mind whether you’re looking for a backpack, a travel bag or a shiny new evening bag. This is the ultimate bag, I’m telling you. It has everyhing that makes a bag perfect by my criteria. It is big, but not too big. It’s fresh and feminine and simply delicious thanks to the charming leather bands surrounding the whole bag. The tassel, also completely disarming, is completely removable, so you can play with the looks you aim to achieve. There’s no need to mention the flap top since it has become a sort of a synonym for clutches recently. Interior is satin lined and featured with zip pocket. The price is somewhat high, but I love it so much I’ll just overlook it.

Must… Buy… It… Now…

SIZE: 10.5″ x 5.25″ x 2.25″

PRICE: $1,350.00 @ eLuxury.com

Chloe “Saskia Patchwork Pouchette”

I have to admit that I found the other bags from the Saskia line utterly unattractive. The oversized flaps on the front pockets give them a certain unproportional feel which simply doesn’t feel right. On the other hand, this Saskia pouchette caught my attention from the beginning. I have been eyeing it for a while, and the more I looked at it, the more it I grew to like it. At first, I thought it was refreshing but not something you’d see me carrying, but having caught myself opening its page on NAP couple of times in the past few days, I can definitely say I would like to have it in my collection.

The flaps on this Saskia pouchette are meant to bring a little bit of chaos into the mix, because it is a bag that has playful written all over it. The colors are vibrant, the pastel shades work together perfectly, and the whole bag has a soothing, playful vibe to it. This is what I particularly like about it, it is fun and energetic but not overdone. A very good job, Chloe, very very tempting

Let me cover all the important features: fully lined interior, magnetic closure, interior zip pocket, logo plaque and the buckle details. This pochette will hold all your essentials, it has a pocket for the important stuff or stuff you would like to be at your reach, and a secured top.

All in all, I really love it, I love the wild color scheme which is combined with a very ordinary shape. I would definitely carry this cutie everywhere with me for both day and night time activities. This is just how versatile this clutch is - a perfect spring investment!

SIZE: 9″w x 8.5″h x 4″d

PRICE: $1,560.00 @ Net-a-Porter.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs “Leather Clutch”

I loved it on the MJ Airliner Leather Bag and I love it here. The flap zip closed top clasped with the buckle once it’s folded - perfect. It is both simple and catchy at the same time. The combination of beautiful pebbled leather and gold toned hardware always pushes the right buttons in me if it’s done with sense of dose, which is the case here. Actually, I have nothing special to say about this bag. You might ask “what’s all the fuss about” but that’s just it. Sometimes the simplier a bag is, the more beautiful it turns out to be. And with all the designers, including Marc Jacobs himself, being so competitive and trying to come up with something “no one has ever seen before” which is almost impossible, a simple but beautiful handbag is always welcome. There’s no debate over the leather, necessary or unnecessary details, question of wearability or how long will the sytle be able to last…
It’s just plain nice and that’s it!

SIZE: 14.25″ x 10.25″ x 1″

PRICE: $328.00 @ Saks.com

Miu Miu “Matelasse Leather Clutch”

Here we have an example of how shrinking big bags to a smaller size doesn’t always go the right way. Zoe was right when she said that the “smaller, younger twins” of popular bags often turn out to be even better looking and more desirable than the originals. The smaller versions are also almost always more affordable which also counts for something .

Anyway, back to Matelasse clutch.. Well… How do I say this delicately? Last time I saw a bag released in a smaller version was when Mahina XS was introduced. Not only I was disappointed at first, but I also cought myself really disliking it, in all the ways you can dislike a bag. It wasn’t one bit of what I expected it would be and, truth to be told, I couldn’t believe it. Zoe did a great job covering that bag so there no point in me repeting everything she has said - I agree with her and that’s it. As for this one… It isn’t really a younger twin of another Miu Miu, but the way it’s made and the details on it reveal the idea behind it. The idea was a rebirth of the original Miu Miu Matelasse Coffer Bag, but in a smaller size and for a different purpose - can you say bad idea? When you come out with something like the original Matelasse and make a splash with it, making people all around the world go crazy over it, and define a certain fashion era with it, you really need to stop right there and not try to reinvent it over and over again.

Those who didn’t originally like this collection won’t like it now either, no matter how much smaller, bigger or different in any way you make it. Those who did go crazy over it have already bought it and are happy with what they have. They have moved on a long time ago and won’t go back. As I said, the original was a boom, whether you like the way it looks or not, and no other bag will ever be able to fill its shoes.

As for this pochette - been there, done that. Signature clasp as a front detail, thin shoulder strap for carrying it and fuchsia fully lined interior, meh.

PRICE: $795.00 @ Net-a-Porter.com