in hot pursuit of a handbag, #14

What is it about gold hardware on a black bag with a chain double-strap that makes you think luxe? Chanel. End of sentence. It's easy to evoke a luxury feel with these hardware details, thanks to Chanel who did it so singly and strongly.

Let's take Marc Jacobs, for example. He had his own signature bag style in 2004. It was wonderful. And then he abandoned it to make Chanel-look bags with quilted leather and chain straps. Why? I really do want to know why.

But anyway, the bag my subject was carrying in Midtown is likely luxe, given the proportions and the nice quality of leather. Does anyone want to venture a guess as to the brand?