How many of you are starting a new year of school? My cousin is going to be a freshman in college, and has been on a search for the perfect tote. I was the student who carried around a Prada Nylon Messenger Bag, which at a Big 10 School was a tad over the top, but I loved it and found it to be super practical. A school bag should be different than your friends, with a look and feel that is inherently yours. I love the Jas MB Cracked Leather Tote because it appears to look worn in while still offering a cool ivory cracked leather with a perfectly practical detachable canvas strap. The brown accents are perfect against the ivory leather, and because the leather is given a distressed look, if it gets a little dirty it will only add to the worn-in-appeal. There is an option of two top handles. To throw in your necessities, there is a small zip fastening compartment on the front, and a large zip fastening across the front. Dimensions are ideal for a school bag, 16.5″ W x 16.5″ Handle drop x 12.5″ H x 6″ D. The price is great; buy through Net A Porter for $525.

A black handbag is a staple bag. No matter what the trend of the season is, it will never go out of style. A simple yet sophisticated black bag, the Ghibli Washed Leather Tote sports soft washed leather with a slouchy appeal. On the sides there are pockets for easy access, along with brass studs throughout and leather tassels to give off a rugged feel. The best part of this handbag is its price, which dubs it a bag deal. While many designers have their prices skyrocketing, reaching into the realm over $2,000, this handbag comes in under $400 and gets the job done just as well as many of the exorbitant price tag items. Available via Forzieri for $356.

What are your thoughts on this multi-colored patent leather tote? Is it funky and edgy or does it look like a water color train wreck? The Jimmy Choo Malena Tote shows off a seemingly changing patent leather coloring on the east west tote along with contrast suede panels. Double handles along with a zip fastening top finishing off the top, while brass hardware adorns the outside. Through Net-A-Porter for $2300.

Fab or Drab?

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For someone always on the go, an everyday bag is a must. My collection has quite a few ‘everyday’ bags by my own standards, but I am growing sick of some and others are too heavy. I have been toting my Chloe Paddington Tote (which is quite a bit heavier than my Paddington Satchel) recently, and while it is absolutely stunning it is also absolutely heavy. The probability is high that the weight of the bag is directly correlated with what I carry, which includes everything but the kitchen sink. I need a bag that is light, simple, and chic. The Vanessa Bruno Double Zip Tote is perfect for everyday wear, is light because it is made with black nylon, and catches the eye with leather trim and two folds. The nylon folds to meet in a leather strap that graces the middle of the bag, giving a slouchy yet chic shape. Finished off with zip pockets on either side, this handbag is a beauty and will be easy to maintain: $686 via Net-A-Porter.

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The past two days have been devoted to handbags that cost the price of a BMW, a nicer BMW, and a small house, but with a pinch on my arm and its all back to reality. This reality is, of course, still in the world of designer bags, but doesn’t that low 4 digit price tag look amazingly refreshing today? For an everyday tote which rides on the metallic wave trend, the Yves Saint Laurent Metallic Downtown Tote is a favorite. The Downtown Collection has been a hit thus far for YSL and the new colors of the hits keep rolling in. Metallic silver leather along with silver-tone hardware pair together in this funky tote. Front buckle strap detailing and front pockets give an added touch to an otherwise simple bag. I love the shape of this bag, which is perfect for everyday wear but will still provide you with some edge. Through Neiman Marcus for $1595.

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A while back I mentioned that unsymmetrical objects nearly drive me up the wall. I was recently at a work meeting and my co-worker set up our ‘props’ so to speak. The set up was not symmetrical on the table and I felt an awful twitch and sense of OCD come over my body. Nevertheless I fixed the ‘props’ and we won the client. Yes, it was all because of me But for some reason this D&G Dolce & Gabbana Multi Tonal Leather Weekend Bag sports asymmetrical pockets on the front of the bag (a long zipped pocket on the front paired with a snapped ouch pocket) and I can handle it. I must be overcoming my OCD because I am handling the pockets quite well. The multi tonal grained leather and aged brass hardware makes this bag casual. I am not sure about the color- from my end online it looks fine- but in person these lighter brown and darker brown combo has the chance to resemble something we would never want out bag to look like. On the inside there is floral cotton lining. This bag measures 20″ x 14.5″ x 10″. I’m not really excited about this bag (or color combo) but I am excited that I am handling the pocket combo. Via eLuxury for $625.

I am a blogger. Yet when people ask me if I blog, I kind of nod my head because I truly consider what Vlad and I do more of webmastering than blogging. But Wikipedia says that a blog is a “type of website where entries are made (such as in a journal or diary), displayed in a reverse chronological order”. Ok, so I blog. And I chuckle while I say this because the name of my website is Purse Blog- that should be a dead giveaway that I am a blogger. Yet many people are raging against the mainstream technology world of blogging. Go on and rage with a bag that shows you will defy the world of blogging with a bag that makes the statement. The ‘I do not have a blog’ Tote Bag combines 100% cotton canvas with a 22″ reinforced self-fabric handles and the phrase of those who are going against the norm of the blogging world on the front. Hey, more power to you if you do not blog or know someone who truly cringes at the thought of blogging. Easy to care, this bag is machine washable and measures 15″ x 18″ x 6″. While it is not the hottest handbag out there, it is a great gift (gag gift even) for a mere $17.99 via Cafe Press.

Yesterday was a day full of exploring the Village and SoHo. I am not going to lie; I spent a pretty penny and wished I had quite a few more to spend. The area is lined with store after store of designer goods. I checked out Chanel SoHo to only fall in love with the unpractical and pricey Chanel Luggage. What I did notice was for every posh woman there was a gorgeous bag. I carried my Chloe Paddington Tote proudly but started to drool at an exotic bag I saw. A beautifully tall and skinny blonde lady passed by me quickly carrying a Black Croc Birkin. No lies- it was STUNNING. But I haven’t won the lotto and I can’t afford a beauty like that anytime soon. So in order to appease my croc obsession, Nancy Gonzalez offers crock bags for a bite more affordable price. The Nancy Gonzalez Latticework Crocodile Tote is designed with black crocodile latticework and a croc top handle. Exotic and different, this bag is available through Bergdorf Goodman for $1350.

Who doesn’t have a hobby? I feel pretty safe to assume that we all have had at least one hobby in our lives and most likely dabbled with many more. I can laugh at it now, but I loved Ninja Turtles. What little girl does that?! I collected them and had a collectors carrying case. That may be much of the reason why my family laughs at me now for being such a fashion guru. Kate Spade has put hobbies to the test with some of her bags. The Kate Spade Hobby Gardening Tote boats a gardening theme screen print on the cotton canvas bag. The tote looks like it would fit perfectly under the arm and you really could take it out to your garden with you. Actually, if you lived in Germany for example, you could take it to your Strebergarten. There are four exterior slide pockets and the interior is lined with cotton twill and has a double slide pocket and zip pocket. The tote measures 10 1/2″h x 15 3/4″w x 7 3/4″d and is available via Kate Spade online for the sale price of $123.

But if you love going on weekend picnics, you may want to opt for the Kate Spade Hobby Picnic Tote. Showing off a screen print fork, knife, and spoon, this could be the perfect picnic basket-bag that you may be looking for. Also marked down via Kate Spade for $123.