Although much of the united states appears to be handling a late-arriving and unwelcome bout of winter season weather, that doesn’t imply that it will never be warm again. (Or does it? Seriously, I’m starting to wonder.) Eventually, the sun will come out for good, or at least until October, and the temperatures will rise and we’ll all pull out the purchases that we’ve been hoarding for the past few weeks in anticipation of warm weather’s return.
With bright solids making up much of the season’s clothing trends, there’s never been a better time to try out accessories – everything from oversized jewelry to embellished shoes looks terrific against a background of solid color, but obviously, our favorite choice for an off-kilter spring accessory is a patterned bag. I’m not just talking about animal print, either; we’ve got choices for practically any budget and personal style, ranging from psychedelic flowers to pale abstraction. And, ok, one leopard bag for good measure.
Kate Spade has been making a solid selection of patterned bags for years, and the Kate Spade Paley Paisley medium Sidney tote incorporates some of the hottest colors of the season in a simple, functional shape. purchase through Nordstrom for $255.
If you’d choose something a bit much more controlled and a lot much more expensive, the Bottega Veneta printed leather Slouchy tote offers a subtle yet striking combination of white and grey. purchase through Net-a-Porter for $2680.
At this point, one of my goals in life is to own a piece featuring one of Alexander McQueen’s exquisite digital prints, such as the Alexander McQueen De-Manta printed Clutch. (I like to keep my goals manageable.) purchase through Neiman Marcus for $475.
Milly’s handbag line, brand new for spring 2011, features tons of terrific multicolored and patterned bags at a very sensible contemporary price point. The Milly rose garden tote is big enough to use to make a very bold statement, if that’s your style. purchase through Nordstrom for $295.
I tried to make this list without any animal prints because we’ve already done several messages on that trend, but the purple and gunmetal iteration of the Mulberry Bayswater Belt Bag is just too amazing to resist. warm weather? cold weather? It doesn’t matter; this is a year-round favorite. purchase through Net-a-Porter for $425.
You won’t find numerous handcrafted bags at this price point, and the neo-Native American pattern and beaded finish of the Paul and Joe Perlee handcrafted beaded Bag fit the season’s print and texture trends to a T. My recommendation, though, is to find a seller that sells bags actually made by native Americans so that you can get the look and contribute the the sustenance of the culture simultaneously. purchase through Net-a-Porter for $315.