Kooba

Bows are back. Well, actually, do they ever completely go away? I mean, I definitely notice that bows are more popular some years than the next, but I feel like bows are an accessory that never completely disappear. Kooba found a great way to incorporate a bow into their clutch. The Kooba Kasie Bow Clutch is definitely one I would love to see in my closet. The crosshatched metallic leather is contrasted with leather piping. The pleating and bow detail on the front of the clutch takes a classic look and makes it chic, urban and youthful. Now, since I am a huge Kooba fan, I am sure my opinion could be a little biased. But, I have to say, Kooba bags are wonderfully made. I’ve had my first Kooba for about six years now and it looks as amazing as the day it was given to me. Well, minus a few of my own mishaps of course. So, if this clutch is made like a typical Kooba bag, it is sure to stay looking gorgeous for all the bow seasons to come. Buy through Bluefly for $195.

A while back when we began thinking about how we’d like to see Purse Blog grow, we had all sorts of ideas. Shoes? Clothing? Accessories? Well, it sort of dawned on us that for now, we should probably stick to what we know – handbags. As we got ready to launch Purse Blog Savvy we picked the Savvy brands and Kooba made the cut. I’ve mentioned it before, but a Kooba bag was one of the first handbags I ever had that I truly loved. I loved and still love everything about it – the shape, the color, the versatility, and of course, the compliments I get from others. Well, not only am I thrilled to feature Kooba more often on Purse Blog Savvy, but I am beyond ecstatic about the fact that during their next trip to NYC, Megs and Vlad will be meeting with Abbe Held, the creative director behind Kooba. In order to tempt you just a bit, Abbe was gracious enough to answer a few questions we had. We hope you enjoy this teaser and eagerly await the full interview like we do! Click here to read the questions we asked!

I think it should be clear by now: Kooba is a brand that keeps my attention despite making at least a couple of missteps per season. I’ve already written about one Kooba bag I loved and one bag I hated for their fall collection, and I’m about to write about yet another one: the Kooba Halle in red (also available in black and brown, but you know me…).

So do I love this one, or hate it? This one, I LOVE. Well, I love it without the chain. The chain is kinda awkward, right? But I love the color (the red leather is really saturated and bright, unlike a lot of red bags), I love Kooba’s super-soft signature leather, and I love that the flap is asymmetrical and with an unexpected zipper for emphasis.

Kooba went through a weird phase for a few seasons where their bags got increasingly more expensive, and I felt like they were pricing themselves out of their market a bit – their bags weren’t selling at nearly $700 for a regular-sized purse, so their stuff was continuously in the sale section. This last season, though, was a bit of a change – most of their really popular bags seemed to be in the $500-$600 range, and a lot of them never made it to the sale sections of our favorite shopping websites.

This season seems to be a continuation of that trend – the Halle, a perfect everyday bag, is a mere $495. I can personally attest – for the quality of leather that I’ve had in my previous Kooba bags, that’s a steal. Buy through Shop Bop for $495.

Do you remember the first really nice handbag you owned? Well, my sister was always a little more fashion forward than I was. While I had no problem bumming around in jeans and a t-shirt, my sister was sporting a one of the newest trends. In order to “help” me along, she bought me my very first “nice” handbag; a Kooba. As I opened the wrapping and held my new gift up, I thought to myself, “yep, there certainly is a difference between this and the purse I currently tote around”. From that point on, even if I couldn’t buy a new bag every time I wanted to, I always made sure to notice new trends, new styles and the quality of the bags I was interested in. At the same time, I continue to have a soft spot in my heart for all things Kooba; after all, it was this line of handbags which helped me become a little more fashion savvy.

So, as I was looking around the other day, I stumbled across the Kooba Hope Clutch and it certainly caught my eye. The bag is one I would love to my collection. First of all, I for one find clutches to be a lot of fun. I love the detail and swooping effect of the fabric. I think my favorite part is the ring and strap detail on the side of the clutch. It might seem like a small detail, but it is kind of detail that sticks out and makes this clutch unique. However, the clutch is ivory. Everyone needs to diversify their collections, but any shade of white generally makes me think twice. is it just me, or are white bags hard to keep looking new? I guess I just worry that the handbag will get too dirty too quickly. But then again, if you take care of the clutch, there shouldn’t be a problem. Buy through ShopBop for $325.

You know, sometimes I find myself wondering which celeb might sport the bags I like. Sure, peruse any gossip magazine, celeb sighting site or a variety of other sources and you will see exactly who is carrying what and when. But I still look at some bags and think, “you know what, I could really see so and so carrying this”. Either way, I can see tons of people (famous or not) carrying the Kooba Ashley Shoulder Satchel. To me, the bag is so multipurpose. Sometimes I try and justify a purpose by telling myself I can use the bag with so many outfits, so many different occasions, bla bla bla. But, with this bag, I know it is true. Plus, it doesn’t look seasonal; it can be used from season to season without anyone thinking twice about it.

The details about the handbag are awesome as well. Although the bag is made out of soft, slouchy Italian leather, the bag doesn’t lose its shape. The way the leather is cinched down the center gives the bag character and draws the eye towards the buckle and stud details. I love sturdy handles and this bag appears to have them. The bag has a zip closure, an inside large zipper, pen, cell phone and open pocket and is accented with a dog leash for keys. Honestly, I might not waste much time and treat myself to this bag ASAP! But back to my first thoughts, which celebs could you see carrying this bag? Buy through Saks for $625.