In my recent online adventures, I came across the NOVICA handbags site, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there. I’d heard of NOVICA before, I knew that they had some association with National Geographic, and that they had crafts for sale from around the world. I am a proponent of sustainable living (little known Pixie fact) and write another blog about my own experiences with it, so I am in complete agreement with NOVICA’s mission to help support global artisans. However, I mistakenly expected everything on this site to look like something from an art class project. NOVICA handbags does have its share of craftsy batik and hemp bags, but it also has some surprisingly beautiful and chic pieces.

The first one that caught my eye was the bag pictured above, the Bows handbag by Brazilian Rogerio Souza. A professional leather craftsman with 20 years of experience, he has designed a chic, uncomplicated, elegant leather bag suitable for the classiest occasions — for less than $120. At 12″ x 9″ it’s a very practical size, and smart details like the small bow and magnetic closure show the designer’s attention to detail.

The next item I found was the beaded silk Paisley evening bag. Handmade by an Indian woman named Nupur, the swirling paisley shape has been painstakingly hand-embroidered and beaded to create a unique, one-of-a-kind piece that looks much more expensive than its $70 price tag. I added this to my shopping cart instantly, even though I rarely have occasion to carry such a beautiful treasure.

Another classic shape, this leather Tea Time clutch would be equally at home at a business event, on a day trip to an art museum or having tea with the Queen. This framed style is made by Mexican designer Ricardo Hinojosa and is larger than it looks, measuring nearly 16″ x 10.” This style is also available in dark brown, but something about the golden honey color really appeals to me. At $115, this is extremely affordable elegance you can feel good about.

Lastly, I had to include this Apparition tote in my list of NOVICA favorites. This sturdy leather-and-cotton design does fall into the craftsy category, but the mix of textures and colors is quietly sweet. Brazilian husband-and-wife team Luciano and Fabiana weave their local customs and flavor into each of their designs, making this bag truly unique. It’s a large bag, about 17″ x 12″ x 5,” and it includes quality details such as a leather bottom and internal key hooks. This bag would be a great work tote, market tote, or even an overnight bag if you pack somewhat lightly. At $185 it’s a little pricier than the other bags, but still significantly less than the cost of a designer wallet or sunglasses.

Once upon a time, I had a Balenciaga Box in Rouge Vif. She was a beautiful, happy red purse, so I named her Boxey Love. I sold her for some reason (I think my car needed tires or something), and I’ve been missing her ever since. Balenciaga has since discontinued the Box style, which is sad because it was a great size and shape. Like Goldilocks’ quest for the perfect bed, this style was not too big, not too small, but just right. When I found this beauty at Belen Echandia, it reminded me so much of Boxey Love that I had to make her mine.

Be Mine Mini is about the same size and shape as the Bal Box style, but in truth I think I like it better. The color is simply luscious – it’s the perfect red, saturated and rich and juicy with slight blue undertones, but not too dark and not too bright. The leather is soft and slightly crinkly, with a glossy sheen. It is lined in Belen Echandia’s signature pink silk, and is roomier than it looks.

What really blows my skirt up about this handbag is the tiny details. The trim is edged in zigzag pinking, and there’s a tiny pink crystal embedded at each end of the zipper. The top zips securely, but there’s also a magnetic snap closure at the top…which I am more likely to use than the zipper. The outside half-moon-shaped pocket fits my iPhone easily; there are two inside slip pockets and one interior zip pocket.

At 13″ x 7″ x 6″, this is the Perfect Weekend Bag. It will fit essentials with room to spare, so it’s perfect for days when I don’t need to carry extra stuff to work. The handle drop is 6″, so this is strictly a hand- or arm-carried bag, but it’s lightweight so it won’t be obnoxious to lug around.

You can’t find the Be Mine Mini style on the main BE website, but you can register with Belen Echandia Couture and they will make one just for you, in your choice of more than 65 leathers (including purple python), gold or silver hardware, and 8 silk lining colors, plus customizations like longer straps or extra pockets. BE Couture is unique among handbag designers, because they offer truly personal service, spectacular quality and the opportunity to help design a one-of-a-kind bag…for less than “off-the-rack” bags from the big design houses. As with all Belen Echandia bags, BE Couture orders are handmade by skilled leather artisans in Tuscany. Because of this individual attention, Couture turnaround time is about a month — so if you want something for a special occasion, remember to order in advance.

This sky-blue Balenciaga Step is sister to the petal-pink version I wrote about last summer. I have given up almost all of my Balenciagas in favor of sturdier bags, but the Step style is one that I can’t seem to part with. The Step’s gently triangular shape reminds me ever so slightly of the Hermès Kelly bag, both ladylike and practical at the same time. The soft spring color (2008 Sky Blue for my Bal-obsessive sisters) is a cross between cloudless sky and Caribbean ocean, and will go great with jeans, but would also look spectacular with cool summer whites, neutral sandals and a tan.

The photo above shows this bag reclining in the shade, and the one at right is basking in the sunlight.

Unfortunately the Step style has been all but discontinued. I found this barely-loved beauty secondhand, which may be your best bet if you can’t find what you want the stores. HGBags is a reputable eBay seller with a good Balenciaga selection, or you may want to try Bonanzle or Ann’s Fabulous Finds.

I was looking for a stylish day bag for spring, and found the Mulberry Somerset Tote. The name alone makes this bag appealing – Mulberry is headquartered in Somerset, England, one of my favorite places, and many of its bags are still made there. But this bag’s beauty is not in name alone, it’s also present in the classic shape, the beautifully soft leather, the quality craftmanship, and thoughtful details.

The Somerset Tote is also a very practical bag, perfect to take to work every day. Measuring roughly 11″ x 15″ x 6″, it’s big enough that you can throw in your umbrella and a sandwich in addition to the usual stuff. The buttoned tabs at the top allow the bag to expand when needed. But the soft, silky pebbled leather means that the bag slouches nicely when it’s not full, so it takes up less room.

The only thing I’d change about this bag is the handles. I love hand-carried satchels, so I’d rather have slightly shorter handles — I think they would be a little nicer aesthetically. However, the longer strap drop does allow for carrying this bag on the shoulder, which is convenient if you need your hands free.

Unlike some of the other Mulberry bags, this one is fully lined in a lovely off-white cotton. There’s a zip pocket on the inside and one the outside, and the top of the bag closes with a magnetic snap.

What I love most about the Somerset Tote are the little thoughtful details – the mulberry-tree medallion on the front is echoed on the front zipper pull and even on the buttons for the side straps. The antique brass hardware gives this bag the look of an old and dear friend, but the sophisticated shape makes it just as sweet in the big city as it would be roaming the beautiful countryside of Somerset. If you would like to take Ms. Somerset on your own adventure, or even just to work and back, you can find her online at Mulberry.com.

I‘ve never written about Prada before because I haven’t fallen in love with anything Prada…until now. Prada tends to either hit it right or hit it really wrong – remember the Wookie-like fringe bags last year? This lovely Vitello Shine Tote in a go-with-anything shade of blue is an example of Prada getting it exactly right. I picked up this bag in a shop yesterday and had a very difficult time putting it back. I think she wanted to come home with me.

Part of this bag’s allure was the smell – it reminded me faintly of that Balenciaga bag smell, only more intense. The Vitello Shine is made of sturdy calf leather but is finished to feel more like a fine goatskin or sheepskin. The inside is lined with butter-soft, pale ivory leather that was delicious to touch, although not the most practical color. There are snaps at the top at either end to pleat the bag if you’re not carrying a lot in it, or to open wide for a bunch of stuff. The antique brass metal chain and hardware give it a bit of shine and interest, without adding too much bling. You can only see this in the white version I’ve pictured above, but the tote I saw yesterday had matching curved brass plates on the handles as well. This gives the bag a bit of renaissance-biker chic without adding a lot of weight.

The Vitello Shine comes in brown and black as well, but I really like this particular blue. It looks fabulous with jeans and would also be classy with a suit. The color is at least 3-season, but I can even see it in summer with white jeans. There are a few other styles in this collection, including a great hobo and a bowler, but the tote is the one that really speaks to me. At 12″ x 15″ x 7″ it’s a practical size for everyday, without being ginormous. If only I had a money tree, she would be mine! If you’ve got the cash, it’s $1895 at Neiman’s.

Ahhh, Mulberry. Classic and classy accessories with roots in Somerset, England – one of the most beautiful places on earth. I’ve written before about the lovely Bayswater, but Mabel definitely deserves a mention too.

I almost bought a Mabel last spring, when I found one on sale at Nordstrom in incredibly soft pale lavender lambskin. But I’m notoriously bad with light-colored bags, and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep it looking nice. I kicked myself later on, because the price was so good and the style is fun and funky. I just found this fuchsia Mabel at Bloomingdale’s in nice antiqued leather, so it’s back under consideration.

This style comes in both mini and maxi sizes, but the regular Mabel is 12″W x 9″H x 4″D, which is a little smaller than most of my everyday bags. It’s also a more structured shape than I usually wear, but I have the feeling it would slouch down a bit after it softens up a little. The straps appear to be long enough to wear on the shoulder if you’re slim, although I probably wouldn’t do that often. The matte gold hardware with tiny Mulberry tree detail is really pretty against this rich pink color. I do worry a bit about the belt thingy though – while it would be extra secure for travel, would it be annoying to deal with on a daily basis? Can it be tucked in without completely messing up the look of the bag?

This bag is another rockin’ design from Belen Echandia. I wrote about my love for the Love Me style a few months ago, and BE has done it again with Hug Me.

Hug Me isn’t as large as Love Me, but still measures a healthy 8″ tall x 14″ long x 7″ deep. When I don’t fill it up all the way it slouches nicely, but it will hold quite a bit when needed. The short handles are perfect (and very comfortable) for hand- or arm-carrying, but it also comes with a detachable long strap. The rounded shape really does make me want to hug it, and I have in fact done so a few times.

The most impressive thing about this bag is the leather. Designer Jackie Cawthra buys BE leather at the same Italian source as Miu Miu, and the black glossy variety is simply ideal. It’s thick and chewy and slightly pebbled, and reminds me of early Chloe Paddington leather. But it has a slight shine to it that gives it a bit of a rocker edge, which I just love. It also smells heavenly. The thick leather does make the bag a little on the heavy side when carrying for long periods of time, but the optional shoulder strap helps a great deal.

Equally as impressive is the overall quality. This is a really substantial bag, there’s nothing wimpy or flimsy about it. One reason I love BE bags is that they are individually crafted by hand, and this personal attention to detail really shines through in this bag. The silver hardware is chunky and solid but not oversized. Like all BE bags, it has a cheery bright-pink lining and a plethora of pockets (including two that run the fill length of the bag) to keep things organized. It’s finished off with two signature BE tags accented with little pink crystals that make me smile every time I carry it.

I can’t write about Belen Echandia without mentioning the customer service. My questions have been answered personally by the designer via email, and Jackie and her staff go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that all clients are completely satisfied with their orders. In this mass-market world, true customer service is a rare and beautiful feature, and I think it will enable BE to keep and grow their loyal following for years to come.

I have coveted the Hayden-Harnett Mercer Clutch for a couple of years now. I have only ever seen one other person carrying this style — a black one — and I was enthralled by the little HH details. When these Mercers went on sale last month, I could resist no longer, and ordered one in Pewter.

This color is, in a word, the perfect metallic. It has a bit of glow and shine, but zero bling. The top handle has a magnetic closure so it snaps itself shut gently, and the shoulder strap is remarkably handy. I wore this bag while standing in line for the iPhone, and the chain elements on the strap made it a little uncomfortable for longterm carrying, but it was good to have the option. While a great little bag for going out to dinner, the Mercer is a larger clutch, measuring 12″x 9″H x 2,” and will easily carry more than just bare necessities.

Unfortunately I suspect this style has been discontinued for the next season. It is still available in Yam at full price, but if you like metallic Violet (pictured at right) or Tango Red, the Mercer Clutch is still on sale for a very reasonable $160.

More than eight months after I first wrote about this style, I finally caved in and got one. Its cuteness just reeled me in!

I’d been looking for a small hand-held bag to carry on weekends, when I don’t need to carry all my workday stuff. I have a cute little black leather Cole-Haan bag that I adore for this purpose, but some days (especially in the summer), I want to carry something lighter than black. I saw Ms. Tivoli PM in person one day in June, at the Saks LV boutique…and then it started to grow on me. I thought about it for a couple of months, and then saw it on someone, and was so enthralled that I knew this style just had to be mine – the search was officially ON.

I looked for it on two occasions at the larger LV store, but they didn’t have any in stock. I checked both eLuxury and LouisVuitton.com, and it was continually out of stock in both places. Finally, I called the Saks boutique to see if perchance they had any left…and they had exactly one. Charlie, the nice gentleman on the phone, offered to hold it for me for 24 hours. I happily agreed, and went down there on my lunch break to pick it up. I know this is part of LV’s permanent line, but for the time being, I got the last one available in my city. Yay!

I just adore the detail on this bag – the leaf-shaped handle attachment bits, the soft pleats, the curved shape of the top, the little golden feet. In a practical sense, I am happy to see that Louis Vuitton is finally getting smarter and adding more interior pockets to their bags, and the Tivoli is no exception. This bag visually appears to be about the size of a Speedy 25, but its wide, flat bottom and pleats help it expand to hold as much as a Speedy 30. I may be able to use this as an everyday work bag after all. My only concern about the Tivoli PM is the vachetta leather around the zipper. While it makes it sturdier, I’ll need to be careful so it darkens at the same rate as the handles. I’ve had (and sold or returned) a number of LVs over the past few years, but I think this sweet little bag is a keeper.

It has been almost a year since I last posted about Balenciaga. I actually sold all my Bals over the past year or so, including a the Black and Violet/Grape Citys from my previous post, a Box in Rouge Vif, another City in Ink, a 2004 First in Eggplant, and a vintage 2005 City in Bubblegum Pink. Of course, when they came out with a new pink this past spring, I started pining for it all over again. That soft, silky Balenciaga leather, the iconic Motorcycle bag style…it started to feel compelling all over again.

Part of the reason I gave up my previous Bals, though, is that they are so often copied. The first time I carried my black City, I got a compliment from a woman who said she’d gotten one “exactly like it” from a street vendor in NYC. I hate to be a snob, but I strongly dislike fakes of any kind, whether we’re talking about people or technology or jewelry or bags. So I started looking at other Bal styles. I won’t go into the Balenciaga designs I don’t like and why — that’s a whole post of its own. But when I found the Step, a.k.a. Stepping Out, I suspected I’d hit on something good…and when I tried one on in real life, I knew I’d found my style.

Back in March I was looking for a new bag to take on a trip, and while browsing at Neiman Marcus I found the Step in Petal Pink. I tried it on, and it was love at first sight. Fits as much stuff as the City, but the slightly more vertical style and triangular shape make it a little classier and more elegant. It’s like a Kelly with an edge. Unfortunately it was not at all what I needed for my trip, and I wasn’t in a good financial position to buy two bags at one time, so I had to leave it behind. I try not to shop at Neiman’s anyway, because of their pain-in-the-ass policy dictating that I can’t use my Visa debit card like I do at every other store…but I digress. I was in Neiman’s a couple of weeks ago and happened to notice that “my” pink Step was still there. I thought about it for a while, and looked for other places to find one, but the Step is apparently not a big seller and many retailers (including the fabulous Aloha Rag) are not carrying them any more. So yesterday, I finally went back to NM and got her. This bag was not only the only pink Step they had left, but the only Step they had in any color…so it was a combination of good timing and fate. That’s my story, anyway, and I’m sticking to it.

2008 Petal Pink is often referred to as Bubblegum, but that makes it easy to confuse with the 2005 Bubblegum, which was very different IMO. My Petal Pink Step is agneau (lambskin) instead of the ultra-soft chevre (goatskin) used before this year, and the color is a little deeper and the finish a little shinier. Tiny girls can wear the Step as a shoulder bag, but I dislike armpit bags so it will be a strictly hand- or arm-carried bag for me. Part of the reason I sold my Bubblegum City was that the color was so light I was afraid to carry it and get it dirty, and I’m not so concerned about that with this bag. I have a lot of pink clothing and this color is neutral enough to go with almost all of it, but if I want to wear it with black or brown or grey it will really pop. I can carry it in the spring and summer, and in the dearth of winter when I’m craving anything that reminds me that spring is on the way.