Perfect Handbag, Redux

Kym asked what bags were in the running for Perfect Handbag, so I thought I’d post links (dudes, I’m too lazy to save and upload all those pictures. Clickity click. It will be fun and worth it.) with comments about what I like or what is missing.

Jill pointed me to the Kelly Boy Bag. It is *so* close to perfection. I’m just not sure how I’d like the removable/adjustable velcro dividers. I’d have to mess around with them in person to tell.

I’ve long been a fan of Floto Imports and have a number of their bags, so I know the high quality I could expect from the Livorno Bag, but it is missing a key fob, a water bottle pocket, and pen slips. Still, that blue leather makes my heart sing.

Clare Vivier’s La Trop, in brown no less, has the classic, elegant look I crave, but, in the end, brown is wrong for me, and where are the pockets? Still, I’d use the heck out of this if I had it!

Covet by Rebecca Minkoff is also tres elegant. I like the sleekness of the bag, but I couldn’t put an A4 folder in it.

Jutta Neumann’s work is stylish and cool. She doesn’t show any interiors, though, so I’ll have to go to NYC to take a look in person (really, I’m astounded at how few sites selling bags give enough information about the interiors). I have a belt I purchased from her back in 2000-ish, and it makes me happy with its simplicity every time I wear it.

CrystalynKae Troubadour Bag has great interior pockets, but no flap, outside pockets, or cross-body strap. One of my colleagues swears by CrystalynKae bags, and I was impressed by the one she carried.

I would wait for the Kate Spade Algonquin Campbell to go on sale (Kate Spade runs great sales), but really, I want the handles to be long enough to wear on my shoulder, and there’s the water bottle issue. Still, like the Covet, I like it’s sleekness.

The biggest contenders right now come from MZ Wallace: the Jane, and, after consultation with @MZWallaceNYC on Twitter, the Haley is getting the highest score from me. It isn’t leather, which means it will be lighter weight (the Livorno is 3.5 pounds!), and while there is not a dedicated water bottle pocket, my new Twitter friend tested out a 16.9 oz. water bottle in one of the front pockets and called it perfect. So, the only drawbacks are the lack of pen slides (fine, I’ll start carrying my pencil case) and a key fob.

MZ Wallace is also getting a thumbs up for providing useful information about their bags’ interiors. I’d still like pictures, but the sketches and strong descriptions go a long way. The best place I’ve found for learning about a bag’s qualities is Zappos. They’ve created videos for many of the handbags they sell, which show the bags on regular people, who also open up the bag and show off the pockets and other features.

Kelly suggested that I find something close on Etsy or Artfire and ask the artisan to customize a bag for me. I have been scouting around, but have not yet found anything that makes my heart sing. Still, I’m closing in on my quest.

What have you been hunting for lately?

 

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