When I discovered I was to write about 5 of the top luxury handbags on the market right now my heart skipped a beat. I shuddered as I leant forward over my 4-year-old laptop to approach the key board (or more accurately, board of some keys seeing as half the alphabet is missing from it) and click. Standing proudly on my screen, featuring the iconic Louis Vuitton logo embossed onto the finest leather, there is the beautiful Vernis leather Louis Vuitton MM Rossmore handbag which you can snap up for a mere $1,320 (that’s £792.32). The heart yearns. I love the versatility offered from this bag, with a removable strap transforming it from a day cross-body bag to an evening clutch It comes in two rectangular sizes and an array of punchy colours such as black cherry, purple, dark rouge, a red to rival that of Andy Warhol’s and in on-trend bittersweet pastel pink which reminds me of cake frosting due to its shiny patent texture. This sharp sophisticated bag means real business, especially in black. With vintage inspired details to thank for the femininity of the overall look, it screams luxury, with the brass trim on the fastening of the bag lending a hand towards the modern aesthetic, first released in 2011 she features a button closing fastening with the use of a magnet, and upon opening there are approximately 6 credit card holders in the interior of the bag with a zip running in the middle of the area space to hide anything in, almost serving as a bag within a bag, a detail I appreciate very much. Its plaque has been inspired by the ever popular LV Heritage trunks, an appealing homage to the brands traditional iconic pieces.
That ever- recognisable check, the engraved golden hardware, and a classic bag style every fashionista is scrambling to make their staple accessory, I present to you the Louis Vuitton Portobello handbag. Named after London’s famous Portobello road, the world’s largest antiques market, this bag features a relaxed structure made from extra-supple Damier canvas with small shiny golden brass hooks joining the smooth leather bag strap and actual bag with luxurious finesse. Unique design features like this along with the practicality and comfort of the bag make this the perfect city-slickers staple. At a price of $1,650 (£988.68), The Portobello handbag is the newest addition to Louis Vuitton’s Damier Ebene collection and would make a great investment to any women’s accessory collection due to the high quality and wear-with-anything status it has already gained, having become available on the market just last October. Emphasis is placed upon the overall comfort and practicality of this bag, whilst still being stylish. With dark brown microfiber lining (an unusual trait as the Damier lining is normally red), and a smooth leather trim, this bag comes in two sizes, with around an inch difference in height and two in width. The Portobello bag features an interior double flat pocket and a handy zipped pocket alongside the Louis Vuitton engraved plaque and is rife among bloggers, as worn by Cristina Z. from myfashionjuice.com. It fits nicely on the shoulder, snuggling comfortably between your torso and upper arm whilst remaining to look stylish and sophisticated which is a tough feat many daytime handbags fail to achieve. This is effortlessness at its best.
The Marc Jacob classic Q Francesca tote bag instantly made me do a quick reference in my brain to the Alexander McQueen leopard pony de manta clutch bag for A/W 2013 and I realise the shape of both are very similar, featuring two horn-like raises at the opening of the bag. I make this point because this bag structure is actually an update of a classic tote bag and is created using soft pleats with black pebbled leather leaving for a unique shape, which is one I particularly like and crave for the high street to catch on to and start churning out. Moving on, the texture of this bag along with the brass details of buckles and studs makes this the ultimate luxury handbag for the edgier among us. There are two darts running alongside each side of the bag, and a small square gold tone plaque on the bag with Marc Jacobs’s signature logo. Immediately I realise It is not like any other classic black handbag, this one has attitude, confidence but also modesty. Featuring a useful removable cross body strap with lots of interior storage compartments this makes for the perfect work-day essential for any woman. A tote-come-satchel this bag is of a good large, but not too large, size with an 8 inch drop from the handle and closes with a magnetic top featuring logo-printed lining. This bag is created using top quality leather, malleable enough for any weather the day throws at you and is available for a very reasonable £284.50. Worn by the likes of actress Ashley Benson from pretty little liars, it has every aesthetic appeal for the rock-chicks of today while still exuding that effortless sophistication Marc Jacobs is so famed for and comes in a variety of colours such as Bright persimmon, cardamom brown, cinnamon and electric blue.
Upon opening the Marc Jacobs hiller bag photograph I am disappointed to see a black tote. Then I scroll down. And I see it in green. My brain has a little party, while my creative juices dance! I am inspired to write about her. From a price point of around $350 (£210) if you want to get your hands on one of these divine luxuries worn by the likes of wild child Miley Cyrus And Gossip girl’s Blake Lively you will have to log into eBay because due to such high demand there is now none available on the Marc Jacob’s website. Versatile and perfect for settling the under-arm, hook-on-elbow debate (It’s easy, it’s clear… the strap was made just for settling snugly upon your shoulder and the bag designed to happily slouch between your torso and upper arm, unless of course you want to throw on the detachable strap and wear it over-the-body) In black I read “I’m serious about what’s happening today, and what’s happening in the future, but I’m also a relaxed person because the bags structure is pretty laid back” but In green I’m seeing an earth-loving hippy chick telling me that she “cares about fashion but more about fun”. Made of leather with a hidden magnetic closure and the standard logo-printed lining special features include an interior zip pocket along with wall and cell phone compartments, this bag comes in the colours yellow, brown, green and black and caters to the inner hobo in all of us with yellow and green serving as a kind gesture for the real boho fashionista’s out there who are bored of brown and black being the colour for “new takes” on the classic hobo bag. There is room only for one.
Here we have the Dior diorling chain strap bag. Not only do I love the name of this bag but I love the fact it comes in yellow, a fresh spring colour which is bang up to date accessorized with a jewelled chain shoulder strap and gold-tone clasp making this bag a modern update on the classic elegance of Dior. Made from the softest leather in calf skin and python, combining these with the sharp lines of the diorling enhances the leather, ranging in contrasting colours of latte, black, white and yellow this emphasises the refined details of this bag. Launched in Dior’s S/S collection of 2013 and then twice again pre-fall and fall of that year the diorling is back with a vengeance in fresh new colours, take your pick from small and large at a price of £2,450 it features a magnetic clasp in the flap ensuring safe closure with the interior body containing 3 compartments and two pockets, one with a zip for all the things girls like to carry and hide away. Seen often on the shoulder of Calvin Klein’s favourite model and actress Natalia Vodiana, it is a bag for the type of woman who likes to look classy and elegant whilst still retaining a hint of modernity. While the handbag itself really reminds me of a Celine piece I love the fact Dior has conjured up something so versatile and wearable with practicality for the wearer. The plated clasp features the Dior logo and is a very simple detail which proves how the refined details make this bag more elegant than edgy, an accomplishment to have in this balance with such a bright colour contrasting with the crisp silhouette of the Diorling, which is available for you to buy from their site now, just in time for Spring.