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?

Well this is a first. In Hot Pursuit of a Handbag, Brooklyn Edition. I saw this excellent bag with oddly placed handle this past weekend on Franklin Street in Greenpoint. Normally, the best place to catch a glimpse of a luxury bag I'd want to own is in Midtown Manhattan at lunchtime. And in the past, Greenpoint was the neighborhood of ironic totes. But not so much any more.

Can you name the designer of this great pebbled leather bag?

After pursuing my subject for two blocks on Third Avenue today, she turned into a lunch spot and I got the shot. Perfect. This black leather crossbody satchel is an ideal compact size (approx. 9" x 7" x 3") with minimalist black-on-black details. A classic.

In Hot Pursuit of a Handbag, one of my signature columns on my blog, is back! And newly archived on my Pinterest page too, for your at-a-glance viewing pleasure. Get caught up on the archives, and then stay tuned. There will be many more posts on this topic where I chase down a bag I love, photograph it for all to see, and try to figure out where we can all get one too. Because if you ask me, the streets of New York are optimum for chasing down a trend. Don't you agree?

I could not resist pursuing this bag yesterday. It combines the two trends I recently highlighted: slouchy hobo meets stud-accented segments.

I saw this beautiful studded bag and ran to get right behind her
on the moving sidewalk at Court Square.

The moving sidewalk. You would think it would be easier to get a clear picture.
But I had to keep jockeying to maintain my position. You know how it is.

I'm not normally a fan of studs, but I thought this was done so well.
I love the seams and segments. A very eye-catching detail.
The quality of the leather and the workmanship sold me.

As you may concur, fashion has been foaming at the mouth since the turn of this century, showing every style, color and hemline, all in the same season. The explanation for this collective embrace of every trend always goes something like this, "Women aren't slaves to trends anymore. They are individuals and follow their own sense of style." Yeah sure.

The result is that pretty much every style is "in" all the time. Animal prints are always in (although they should be out), color is in, neutrals are in, structured clutch bags are in, soft and slouchy bags with less surface adornment are in, but so are bags with hardware and structure. Yes, all kinds of hardware, and especially studs, are definitely still in. So why not embrace it all I guess. If the bag fits, wear it.

Is that a map of Brooklyn? Or France? (hee)

My subject stayed nice and still, but I got nervous that she would realize
I was just inches from her, stealthily taking this shot. Oops, blurry. I moved.


But I got a clear shot before the V train arrived. Phew.

I pursued the 'Brooklyn Map Tote' and my subject to the end of the V platform at 23rd Street. I had half a mind to ask her where she bought it, because I kind of want one. But I didn't. Why spoil the wordlessness of our interaction.

Once again, chasing someone down the stairs while fighting to stay in position on the way to the E platform makes for some seriously blurry pictures. But my subject finally came to rest, and I got a nice clear(ish) shot. Doesn't this bag remind you of one at YLLI? (see my article from March) The eye-catching 'spin-tuck' detail is very similar to the black leather Carrington bag by Goldenbleu ($759), don't you think? I'll bet my subject shops at YLLI. She has good taste.

Readers please note: YLLI is currently having an 'up to 80% off sale' right now! Don't miss it. I personally won't be missing it. I can't wait!

It is easy to capture my subject because she is sitting across from me on the subway.
Although I have my camera pointed directly at her, she does not protest.
I find it hard, however, to get a clear shot of the bag,
because she keeps it scrunched on her lap.

Well I finally saw one today. An 'I'm NOT A Plastic bag' bag by Anya Hindmarch. We know that the victorious proud owner, depicted above, went to great lengths to get this now-collector's item. Somehow I get the feeling that she does not intend to carry groceries in this bag... Just a hunch.

My feeling on the whole matter: This bag doth protest too much.



Spotted on the 7 Train at Times Square. Identities of the fashionable always protected on this blog. gee

I am within inches of my subject's back here
with no room to back up for the shot

I am going crazy lately, seeing so many beautiful bag and shoe combos everywhere I turn. It must be the summer weather. I saw an 80 year old lady walk by on 3rd Avenue today with a fabulous shoe-bag-outfit combo. Beautiful subdued colors. But I didn't have my camera on me! Rats.

Above, I bring you a great shirt and bag combination which I viewed in line at Penn Station on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. I could not back up from my subject to get a clear shot because I was squashed in the throng of Amtrak holiday travelers. Her top was teal-ish with an elastic empire waist, and her bag was greenish with some well-placed hardware. Little does she know, she is on my blog now.

I was so fixated on her perforated slouchy boots
that I didn't realize her handbag wasn't in position for the shot.


She adjusted her bag just before she got on the train.

This outfit was another one that struck me. I would have never put the slouchy boots with the black dress. And then the denim jacket was good too. Along with the bag: a really nice canvas tote with yellow leather trim. It all worked somehow. Luckily she was engrossed in conversation with a co-worker, so she didn't notice me taking the pictures.

I have similar perforated boots. And a similar black dress: my Tuxedo Dress. And a denim jacket. And a new yellow bag. I'll keep it in mind. I don't know about the boots with the dress for me though. I'd probably go with sandals. Or espadrilles.

As I pursued this Blake Pocket Bag by Marc Jacobs, accessorized nicely with a scarf,* I wanted to capture her whole outfit for you. I wanted to take note of how she combined her colors. Brown shoes, navy pants, tan jacket, warmer tan bag (which MJ calls 'cocoa'), scarf with tan, yellow, orange, lavender, brown. I would have never thought to put brown shoes with navy pants, but with this ensemble, it really worked. It was hard to capture the true colors in the mid-morning Midtown sun, particularly of the pants and shoes, but you can get a rough idea.


*This past week, I saw 8 different bags accessorized with scarves. I do like this look, but I am surprised to see it back. It became so trendy after that first Legally Blonde movie a few years ago. Actually, I don't mind if they bring it back. It is a nice Spring look.

I chased this silver tote-style handbag down just outside of Grand Central on Lex this past Wednesday. Oh the crowds. It makes it quite difficult to capture one's subject clearly, I'll tell you. (I was jogging behind her, trying to hold the camera steady.) This bag was so enchanting. I loved the asymmetry in the pocket arrangement, and those lovely curved insets at the corners. I have a particular fondness for curved insets.

Do any of you recognize this bag? I will try to find it and provide a better picture. I am still working on the first one too, which I have seen carried by three more women, this week alone. It must be an 'It Bag.' Upon closer look yesterday, I found that it has not one, but two extra-long tassels!

Running after my subject. Oh no, stairs!
That doesn't work. Too blurry.


Someone rushes past. Kind of neat looking though.


Almost, but she moved.


Oh no, train coming. Aha! Good enough.

Yesterday morning on the subway, I noticed a fabulous bag with a tassel. I pursued my unknowing subject from the G to the E, trying to get a good clear photo of the bag in question, so I could investigate the maker later. At last, a clear photo. The things I do for fashion. Sheesh.