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#crossbodybags

Signature Style- Crossbody Bags to Love

May 17, 2022 By kimwheeler 32 Comments

Hello it’s that time again for our monthly style report with Cindy and Sarah.  This month we are talking bags, but this time specifically crossbody bags, as it seems that’s the bag that’s here to stay and people are quite passionate about them!

After years of carrying a heavy tote, I feel like my shoulder can’t take a whole day with a leather tote anymore. I can sometimes do a straw one, but if I’m on a trip or an active day shopping or walking, or errands, a crossbody is what I opt for.

I own a few crossbody bags and the ones I use the most are this black Tory Burch Bombe bag I’ve had forever which is soft and roomy with two compartments and pockets. I also have this YSL bag in a turtle green color that I saved for and love, and a raffia Claire V Pot Du Miel bag, that I added my own strap to and my latest purchase this tiny Longchamp bag on camo (similar style).

*Someone inquired to my denim dress and it’s this one from Frank & Eileen and I love it to pieces. Great travel dress, no maintenance and can be a tunic too.

According to Harper’s Bazaar the big bag trends for Spring and Summer 2022 are woven bags and light and bright shades. Whether or not that’s a trend, I go that way anyway, when warm weather comes. Since this is springtime post and summer is almost here, I’m going to share what I noticed in woven looks and pretty colors. Greens and melons are all over and I do love them..

Crossbody bags that caught my eye this season..

Madewell Camera Bag in sage
Loeffler Randall Woven also black/ tan
TORY BURCH MCGRAW BAG
BEMBIEN BAG
J. CREW LISBON CROSSSBODY
TORY BURCH MCGRAW RAFFIA BAG
Willa Pouch bag in sand tone
TORY CROCHET BAG
Sydney Crossbody Madewell
Mark & Graham Alex Tote
Tory Burch Kira Woven Bag
Claire V Petal Rattan Bag
Anthro Raffia Bucket Bag

I want to call out a brand I mentioned before, Demellier London. If you’re looking to add a quality handbag to your closet, something to last a long time, they have so many unique and beautifully made bags. For every bag purchased they fund a set of lifesaving vaccines and treatments aimed to save the life of a child in need through A Bag, A Life, their charity. All the bags are handmade in Spain using Italian and Spanish materials.

Love the Alexandria bag shown below left and the Marrakesh in lime and toffee, and also the Vancouver bag in taupe. So many more fun bags it’s worth perusing their site. They also have the Montreal Bag in Nano size, bottom right, with a strap and it’s a cutie.

Other trends in crossbody bags is the fanny bag being worn as a crossbody along the chest like this one by Claire V. on the right below. If you have a fanny bag you can see if yours works this way or looks good like that.. You may need to adjust it and play around.

Chain straps and thinner straps are nice for evening looks..Also look at the sizes.. Nano and mini bags are becoming the new thing. Women are carrying less and loving it.

Big guitar straps are still seen all over as they can be added to existing bags for some flair and individuality..I see some interesting combinations with these straps and bags and it can be a good way to create your own look with a bag.

Other ideas are to add one of these to a bag you already have like this braided one by Salt.. They have a beautiful collection of the nicest straps. Salt is women owned and employs artisans and helps their communities while giving back. They also have a nice collection of bags. ETSY also has straps here.

I also just found out a stylish Instagram friend, Diana Amato, has her own line of crossbody straps here. You can follow her on Instagram as La Zingara Designs.

Finally, I just love this whole look on Hailey Beiber and with the simplest crossbody, so chic!

Similar shaped bag here and this below for $20 from Target…adorable!

More budget friendly options and just as stylish at Target are options like this Triple Compartment Bag with the perfect shape and size in many cute colors…( also in black, brown and a cognac.)

They also have this Handloom Bag in some many colors and a crochet and cotton versions too.

Handloom Bag
Target Handloom Bag

Don’t forget some of the best sources for unique and beautifully made bags that are more affordable are those that are upcycled and you can find bags that are barely worn and sometimes new with tags…

Look to your local resale shops for the best treasures and prices. Online places like ThredUp have bags that aren’t in the thousands like many resale spots. I actually see some of these places selling the bags for more than they are in the store new, so be aware.

Well, thats my thoughts on crossbody bags. What’s your opinion of them? Love them? If so what has been your favorite style or brand??

Please go see what my lovely pals have for you about crossbodies today on their blogs. I always love what they share.. (Their posts up at noon on Tuesday- this mailer went out early..Sorry!)

Cindy Hattersley

Sarah London Style

Thanks for being here!

Kim

You might also like last month’s Signature Style post on Wedding Guest Dressing Ideas

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Like this post? Save it on Pinterest..

Filed Under: Signature Style Tagged With: #crossbodybags, #handbags, #signaturestyle

Signature Style- Let’s Talk Bags -Crossbody, Canvas Totes and Trends

November 18, 2021 By kimwheeler 19 Comments

It’s that time again for a signature style post with my chic pals, Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London. Wow the month flew by didn’t it? This episode we are chatting about handbags! The role of handbags has evolved hugely during the pandemic. With masks and keeping our hands clean, I began to going hands-free more and using a crossbody bag, a backpack or just my wallet tucked in my jacket, but now paying with my phone I don’t even really need that a lot of times.

This cream bag is a Rebecca Minkoff that goes as a shoulder bag or a crossbody and is a smart style to have in your closet depending on what you are doing that day! Rebecca has some great options in crossbody/shoulder bags. A similar one to mine here.

The crossbody bag wins me over with its hands-free feeling, less strain on the shoulder and the security too. I now mostly just carry a small card case, a lip balm, glasses, hand spray and my keys. When I need to carry a bit more I have a small backpack which feels light too. Today I’m going to talk about a new trend and bags that make us feel less encumbered.

That brings me to an exciting development that Sarah London shared with our Signature Style group, that the upcoming Sex and The City reboot has our girl Carrie Bradshaw sporting in many scenes a canvas tote bag, not a designer bag. It’s a logo bag you get for giving your money to public television or radio. Many young women in Korea were already sporting these status free bags, bookstore ones in particular.

This begs the question, is the designer bag beginning its descent? When literally everyone has them, from your 12 year old neighbor to all the people at the grocery, have they lost their appeal? When all with a credit card can buy a multi-thousand dollar purse, maybe the smartest 2021 bag is the tote from the last museum visit or that you got with a purchase at your favorite store? Food for thought.

Some of the paparazzi photos of Sarah filming in NYC with canvas bags..

I personally have been collecting these sort of bags on trips for a long time! My favorites come from museums and I never miss a gift shop as they are the kind of souvenir that is useful while traveling and grocery shopping when back home.

Just for fun, I thought I’d wear one of mine out to lunch this week as a handbag. It was light and I felt like one of the cool kids! This was from the Mary Quant exhibit I saw at the V&A before the pandemic. The tote has her name and the other side of it is white 70’s flowers.

I have a lot of the V&A totes – most are under $10 and you can see them all here. My choices of the best below. Of course you need to pay for shipping. Check out local bookstores, museums or historic spots with gift shops for unique ones.

Some more cloth totes like these at Nordstrom, below left and these Baggu ones with a handy outside pocket and in many patterns and colors..

Crossbody bags are everywhere and make up a huge part of the purse segment now. This YSL bag one is my newest and I’ve used so much this fall. I realize this is an expensive bag and I saved for it and used some gift cards too. I chose this bag for the size, lightweight and the color, which I knew would be a fun option, but still classic. I think a lot about each purchase as I don’t want a closet of just okay things anymore. I am really trying to save for pieces I’ll love for years and that is why I splurged a bit on this bag.

I have seen a lot of women with great Tory Burch crossbody bags. I have two that are many years old, worn a zillion times and still looking good.

Tory’s been making more unique styles lately and appreciate the quality of her handbags for the cost. This Kira Chain Wallet in the sycamore color is a pretty design and the right size with a zip section too.

Her Perry Bombe Mini Bags are well designed with two zip sections and very roomy and light. I have a this bag in black. The latest offerings in this style are here. I love the burgundy! All of the Tory crossbody styles here.

If you must have a larger bag, they also come in crossbody styles. I have large vintage Coach I bought at a resale store years ago and it’s still one I reach for when I’m in a big city like San Francisco all day and need to carry more..

If you can find a Coach bag in good condition at a vintage or resale store, grab it. Coach sells these vintage beauties on their site and they have restored ones as well. Keep checking back as some are added regularly if they look sold out. I wish I had saved some of my older bags. I was lucky to get mine many moons ago and for a song. I commend Coach for getting us all in the mindset that we should value what’s here and older items are classics are even cooler than new!

I also love Coach bags from the regular store. They have a pretty bag now called the Willow that’s a crossbody/shoulder hybrid in a beautiful color block and other tones. Coach is making its way back on the cool list I see with a lot of people. Right now they are having 25% off full price styles.

The white backpack from coach is still a best seller.

I have been using this Longchamp backpack that was a gift from a dear friend and it’s the perfect piece for travel as it packs down very small and so good for a hike and can carry a water bottle, sunscreen and a granola bar- and more. I had it in Tahoe this summer biking and forgot I was even wearing it as it’s so light. Such a thoughtful gift.

I also kind of love this ClaireV backpack for dressier times. I have one of her totes and I think her bags are so nicely made and just a little different which I like.

This crossbody is another classic style she makes in many different mixes. This green leopard with the stripes is a standout and fun.

A few of my friends with crossbody bags- Heidi, with a cool zip pouch, Jeanne with a Rag & Bone and and Dawn-of Fashion Should Be Fun with a beautiful silver grey YSL bag.

It is worth shopping your closet and see what bags can be turned into crossbody bags by just attaching a longer strap to the side handle links. Not all bags will have this, but I was able to do this with a few bags by taking the long removable strap off one and attach to another. Play around and see what works!

You can also buy straps from Madewell, which has many versions and gives a new look and options to a bag like below..

If you still need of a good basic crossbody well made, to last you many years, the brand Cuyana, is high on my list for gorgeous basics like this Top Handle Crossbody in many pretty textures and colors..I know many friends who love this brand.

They also have a modern Saddlebag and a pretty backpack. Here is more about Cuyana and their vision of less things, made better and responsibly through good practices and their whole collection.

Staud bags have also been having a moment, particularly this fun shaped crossbody/tote with a removable pouch.

Similar to the vintage Coach style is this Oslo Soft leather Crossbody that’s half off now at J Crew in a few colors. I kind of love the red for a change. It reminds me of French women who often wear a red handbag or a shoe as a pop of color on a monochrome outfit.

I’d love to get your feedback about bags. What are you using and has that changed the past year or so and what are you looking for in bags now? What has lasted for you and still looks great and how do you feel about status bags versus this new canvas uprising?

Please pop over to my chic collaborators blogs and see what they have in store for you today. I know they will have some great thoughts and always beautiful options…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Sarah London Style

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

Filed Under: handbags Tagged With: #crossbodybags, #fall2021style, #handbagreview, #handbags, #handsfreebags, #walletbags

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Blogger, writer and explorer sharing about my native California, and parts farther afield. Join me here where I chat about things to love in the worlds of design, fashion, home, travel and culture.

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Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m joining a group of talented women and we all have some Valentine ideas for you. My blog is about an easy Valentine or Galentine‘s dinner you can recreate. I tried to make this super simple because the whole point is gathering with your people and having a good time. 

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@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns
 Happy Sunday!

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Don’t forget to visit Juliet and Elizabeth blogs ..links as always, in our bios or stories:
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