longtime readers of LAM know that i have a weakness for handbags. recently, while cleaning out my closet, i realized that while i've managed to acquire a decent mix of day / work / weekend bags over the last few years, a handy little crossbody bag is still missing from my collection.
lately, i've been in a mood for minis. specifically, a mini crossbody that's hands-free for running quick errands around the neighborhood, or a night out in a crowded venue. there's nothing worse than realizing that you're carrying a clunky, too-big bag that just gets in the way of a carefree evening!
earlier this spring, while meeting a friend for brunch in Shanghai, i spotted a girl waiting in line wearing the perfect outfit. i loved everything about her look, especially her Celine mini bag.
i'm currently crushing on this steven alan mini bag – it reminds me a bit of the Celine with the zip compartments. when i was in SF recently, i stopped by the Hayes Valley Steven Alan boutique (a lovely shop, by the way!) and scoped this out.
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this is the second or third season now that steven alan has been designing their own line of handbags, and i really love what they're doing on all fronts. the designs and attention to practical detail are quintessential SA, the quality echoes old-school vintage Coach, and the price points are quite accessible.
what do you think? do you have a mini bag? how do you use it?
I typically carry more things with me in the fall and winter seasons due to school and work, but much less in the summer, so I have what I call my 'summer handbag', a leather crossbody bag in a light cognac colour. It was deinitely practical and so, so light. I just popped in my money and cards, keys, lip balm, cellphone... I'd like to have a more versatile, all-seasons one, but it's far down in my priority list. :) The burgundy Steven Alan one is absolutely lovely.
ReplyDeletei have had a burgundy bag on my list for seasons now. this might be the one!
DeleteI've got a small tan leather bag that I use as a small everyday bag in summer, a small navy quilted leather bag with gold hardware as a more classic evening bag, and a small McQueen-inspired studded box bag for those times when a quilted bag is a bit too formal. All three were either high street or second hand - I don't have enough small-bag-occasions yet to justify spending big bucks on one, as I usually haul half my life around in my Bayswater :)
ReplyDeletewhich one is your quilted leather mini? i just realized that the reason why i don't yet have a mini bag is that i've been loathe to spend $$ on a bag that's small...except i'm realizing that's exactly what i need some of the time!
DeleteIt is this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/majapiraja/5951636629/in/set-72157627102394521 , from a vintage store in Oslo :)
DeleteIf I carry a small bag like this, I generally need to have a larger tote in the car to carry my other sundry essentials. Just my sunglasses case is larger than this! I aspire to carry less.
ReplyDeleteon aspiring to carry less...i'm totally with you!
DeleteI always thought I needed a roomier bag to fit all my essentials, but I realized a smaller one works just as well. I've been seeing all the bloggers carry their beautiful Celine trios. This Steven Alan version is a nice, more affordable alternative, and is that a stingray texture I see?? Hmm...
ReplyDeletei think one needs both roomier and smaller bags in one's closet. i could never just rely on just large or just mini bags as there are different occasions and uses for each :)
DeleteI've been eyeing that SA bag for a while - the black with one pocket of pebbled leather is pretty great. The other small bags that have caught my attention are the ps1 chain wallet and the momo, but both are a lot more expensive! I didn't see any in one of the SAs in New York, but maybe a different branch here has them? I'd probably use it at concerts and errands- when you want your hands free and can't worry about a bag.
ReplyDeleteexactly! and i also like the top-zips on this so everything's still secure.
DeleteI love the SA bag - I want it! At this point, my mother and sister would be nodding their head in approval at the zips as their first priority is safety from pickpockets (my sister lives in Hong Kong) and all those compartments for pocket tissues (for toilets). I remember buying a bag in Hong Kong and they inspected it over and gave it the nod of approval as it had the requisite number of compartments and zips. Me - I just liked the bag :o)
ReplyDeletehaha! yes i am quite familiar with the 'pickpocket-proof' stamp of approval, after living in Shanghai for a year...
DeleteI love my Mayle Baby Bille for this purpose -- although it's sort of a pain to transfer the contents of my regular wallet b/c it won't fit in the smaller bag!
ReplyDeleteI never ever ever should have clicked on that link to the Steven Alan store. The little bag is just too little for me, but the Adelaide style... perfection. And those Japanese canvas bags are divine. I now have a new addiction.
ReplyDeletehehehe! an addiction to the Steven Alan boutique is definitely going to net you a lot of well made, beautiful gems! consistently one of my all-time favorite shops in NYC.
DeleteI love the burgundy bag! I really love both the gigantic and the mini bag. I find that crossbody/mini bags are really useful for quick errands around town--particularly grocery shopping! I really hate having to keep on hoisting my bag up my shoulder when trying to bag a bunch of asparagus hahaha. Unfortunately, it's pretty tough to get the mini bag just right and I haven't found 'the one' yet.
ReplyDeletehttp://0000.codexed.com
exactly - also there's really no way to dance around on a night out without a mini crossbody bag.
Deletei splurged and got the celine trio this year.. in burgundy! i love it for errands and nights out. this SA looks nearly like it, for a fraction of the price. go for it!
ReplyDeleteI just bought my first mini, cross-body bag, the Proenza Schouler large chain wallet and I love it. It's great because it has compartments for cash, credit cards slots, two zipped compartments plus a pocket out front. I'm amazed how much I can fit in it. The chain is also detachable (or easy to keep in the bag) so it can easily convert into a clutch. I was choosing between the chain wallet and the PS1 pouch but the latter would be bulky to hold in your hand without the strap.
ReplyDeleteI've always been inclined towards larger bags, but now I really do see how great smaller bags can be.
oh do post some photos of your PS bag! i do think PS makes some of the best compartmentalized bags on the market.
DeleteI'll see if I can take presentable pictures of my chain wallet, but for now, the pictures on the PS site will give you an idea of the compartments (it's the last photo): http://www.proenzaschouler.com/shop/small-leather-goods/ps1-large-chain-wallet-leather.html?color=Smoke
DeleteIt pretty much fits all my essentials: money, credit cards and IDs, keys, iPhone, lip balm, hand sanitizer and keys.
Such an elegant bag and I love the colour.
ReplyDeleteI have a few mini-bags - a dark brown Indian leather box bag given to me by my dad when I was a teen, and two recent purchases, a black quilted lambskin Michael Michael Kors bag with a chain strap and a taupe textured box bag with a chain strap from a local store in Delhi. I use them most weekends, when I am glad to give my bigger bags a rest :)
i'm intrigued by your box bag! would love to see a photo of you wearing it :)
DeleteI've become a fan of the mid-sized bag, mostly because I carry my iPad around with me virtually everywhere (it fits quite nicely in my PS11), although if that weren't an issue I think my day bag would end up being one of the Celine trios - I saw them in Paris and while admittedly pricey, they were so beautiful, and soft, and I loved that the pouches come apart!
ReplyDeletei have a bunch of cross bodies that all get rotated fairly regularly in Paris (LV trocadero epi, Vintage Courreges saddle bag) but the two that get the most attention these days are the two i recently purchased at Agnes B.
ReplyDeleteThe pochette i bought in navy and is so soft and easy to wear out.
The Sac Alia is the most amazing bag ever. Soft, roomy, yet deceptively close I can carry EVERYTHING i need in paris on a day to day basis and never feel bogged down or schleppy.
http://usa.agnesb.com/en/shopping_online/product/voyage-3/women-2/pochette-bag-3/000
http://usa.agnesb.com/en/shopping_online/product/voyage-3/women-2/sac-alia-1/000
I might buy the Sac Alia in a burgandy color just to have some variation! I love Agnes B products... very understated but always high quality.
Cheers!
oooh your vintage Courreges sounds divine! i am still after a burgundy bag and the SA mini crossbody just looks better and better... :)
DeleteCorrection- my navy Agnes b. is the Sac Jemma
ReplyDeletehttp://usa.agnesb.com/en/shopping_online/product/voyage-3/women-2/sac-jemma/635
:)
I don't have a small crossbody bag, but this post is making me think that I need one. :D
ReplyDeletei wasn't convinced at all about the mini bag a few years ago, but after many a night out with a shoulder bag that was just a bit too big and wasn't hands-free, the mini crossbody is now at the top of my list!
DeleteYep been thinking the same thing of late. Love the colour and the look, but the flatness is a drawback. If you put something like sunglasses (will you get them in???) the bag might not look pretty anymore!! I think lv has one but as someone else said you don't want to spend megabucks on something which gets irregular use.... love to hear what everyone has.
ReplyDeletei usually clip my sunglasses to my shirt or wear them on my head if i'm carrying a smaller bag. the beauty of a compact mini bag is just that! :)
DeleteCross over shoulder bags are the best. I've been wearing my mum's old Mulberry one for years now. It's small but not too small to fit all the essentials in (and I have a tendency to carry my whole life in my handbag!) and you're always hands free!
ReplyDeleteLove the Celine one too but it is massively overpriced for the size. The Steven Alan looks a great alternative.
http://herribbonsandherbows.blogspot.co.uk/
Very nice! I've co-opted a small leather purse of my sister's for a few months now and it's very handy on the weekends where my Chanel reissue is just a bit too much. I've been looking out for something too but am in no hurry since my sister hasn't asked for her purse back...
ReplyDeleteI like the Steven Alan purse and its Celine inspiration but I'd still prefer something less flat.
i have 2 minis. one is a black collina strada alea trio which i use for errands, dinner, and definitely concerts. another is the tannis hagan leather satchel from anaise. it's my go-to for summer and i often take it out for errands and dinner. they are both SO cute! mini bags are the best--i love something that doesn't weigh me down, but fits all of my essentials--keys, phone, wallet.
ReplyDeleteMy only mini bag is a Hoi Bo Wet Wax Mini Messenger which is deceptively small, and not as flat as this SA bag. It can hold my coin/card purse, keys, phone, essential toiletries, and still have room for my mammoth YSL sunglass case. Once when I was feeling really ambitious I also managed to squeeze a mini water bottle in there as well! I really like the look and feel of the waxed canvas, but it does pick up a lot of dust. I guess my search for a leather mini bag begins.
ReplyDeleteLove the burgundy bag! So perfect for Autum and weekends when you don't need much!
ReplyDelete