I’m personally not a big fan of metallic bags… or totes… but this roomy plaited leather shoulder tote bag from Anya Hindmarch caught my eye. Anya Hindmarch, a renowned British accessories designer, has been making luxury bags since the 90s — enough of that ridiculous “I’m not a plastic bag” nonsense.

This gorgeous wrapped calf leather shoulder bag has a suede interior, zippered pockets and a drawstring closure top.

Anya Hindmarch Plaited Leather Shoulder Bag
US$995
Click here for more information.

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Why not supersize it? Go on - make it bigger and bigger. And while you’re at it, make the handles as small as you can. That’s bags this season: oversized holdalls that are made to only be held in the hand. Practical? Wait to see how many bags actually get into production, you’ll probably find that in-store, the proportions change to a far more manageable state of affairs. The key message though is that the bag is being used as a punctuation point to your outfit, and that the clothes are meant to be left unhindered - there’s something snappy about the silhouette with the bag held in the hand. Even more so when, as at Prada, the handles are ignored and the bag is held in a curl.
– British GQ (September 2007)

Click the thumbnails for full-sized scans.

Gucci gray suede and leather box bag (£925)
Mulberry brown soft leather holdall (£895)
Bottega Veneta yellow woven holdall (£6,525)
Boss Selection black leather enlarged duffel bag (£1,249)
Prada gray and black patent leather oblong bag (£595)
Yves Saint Laurent yellow box holdall (£1,050)
Burberry brown holdall (£895)

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The Natural: These boxy, palm-size clutches are packed with island charm.

• Celestina Abalone Shell Miniaudiere Bag $880
• Celestina Crocodile Clutch Bag $1,750
• Celestina Clutch Bag Mother-of-Pearl Mosaic $1,160
• Celestina Wood-Framed Crocodile Clutch Bag $1,385
• Celestina Woven Sterling Silver Clutch Bag $2,210
• Celestina Woven Brass Clutch Bag $650
• Celestina Handwoven Brass Miniaudiere $510

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Celestina, Tina Maristela-Ocampo’s first name in full and the name of her line, merges her creative instincts (she’s already had careers in eyewear, design, modeling, and retail) with the talents of artisans from her native Philippines. The signature boxlike bags of mother-of-pearl, filigreed metals, and shagreen are framed (often with ebony from the province of Pampanga) and decorated with jade, carnelian, and tiger’s-eye. Other pochettes are woven of sterling silver, copper, or brass from Baguio.

–American Vogue

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Beautiful, bold and absurd.

Louis Vuitton feather bracelet, US$2,310 by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.
Fall/Winter 2007
Photo credit: New York Times/Jamel Toppin

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