See by Chloe

Every time that I think I might be able to jump on board with what See by Chloe is doing, I find another one of their bags that absolutely hits me in the face with its terribleness.

Their leather bags have been growing on my quite a bit lately, and the more I look at them, the more I like them. But then I saw the See by Chloe Joy Rider Tote, and it has nearly sent me back to square one.

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Maybe it’s because I’m currently watching the Teen Choice Awards, but I had a craving for a young, happy, and sunny bag, and this See by Chloe Punch Line Cross Body Bag fits the ticket. The yellow is so summery, of course, and the floral-print canvas that peeks out from the cutout dots adds a flirty touch. Sure, it’s adorable and has a unique origami shape, not to mention a stylish long, thin strap. But there’s no denying that this bag has its place.

We cover a lot of great everyday bags here on PurseBlog Savvy, but at some point we’ve all got a need (or a want, really) for a non-everyday bag. That is, a bag that we can really only wear on a specific occasion, whether it be evening or daytime. And this, my friends, is that sort of bag. Though I have no doubt that this would make a super everyday bag for someone with that kind of fantastic, bohemian, feminine style. But otherwise, this bag would be unbelievable with a whimsical outfit, or mix it up with some ballet-inspired wear, or even rocker leather. With a bag like this, you’d better back it up with some good garb. Buy through Shopbop for $395.

I said just a few days ago that I had yet to find a See by Chloe bag that entirely tickled my fancy. And while that’s still pretty much true, I do like the See by Chloe Tag Along Hobo more than I’ve liked a lot of their bags in the past. And no, it’s not just because the name reminds me of Girl Scout cookies. But, of course, that doesn’t hurt.

I like the combination of matte black leather and navy blue patent – when done correctly, the unexpected use of both of those colors can look very hip and modern, and that’s exactly what they achieve here through the differences in texture. I’m not entirely sure about the double flaps that form the bag’s “closure,” since they might just mean that my bag is forever gaping open, but I’d have to try it in person to know. I also wish that the hobo strap was flat instead of rolled – do rolled handles fall off of anyone’s shoulders except mine? All in all, though, a solid effort. Buy through ShopBop for $650.

I have yet to jump on the See by Chloe bandwagon. Theoretically, I think I should probably like them. Chloe appears to be trying hard to position them in the same spot in the marketplace as Marc by Marc Jacobs, a brand that I love and of which I continually sing the praises.

See by Chloe is a young brand in the handbag world, though, so they may have more interesting things coming along in the future. As for what’s available right now, I definitely don’t hate the See by Chloe Backstage Hobo. It’s not the greatest thing I’ve ever seen, but the red leather (the parts that aren’t snake-stamped, at least) look both plush and vibrant and the shape isn’t terrible, although it reminds me more of a functional piece of backpacking equipment than a stylish handbag. I’ve seen better, but also far worse. Buy through ShopBop for $595.

Since it’s summer and the best thing to do is go on little weekend vacations, what better thing to review than a weekend duffel? I have to say, though, this See by Chloe Dance of Die Bag is not for everyone. I like it, because I’m a big fan of canvas and dancer styles, and I prefer duffels to totes for weekend jaunts. Also, this mint duffel reminds me a lot of the little pink duffel that I used to take to ballet class. Yes, my old duffel was pink and plastic, but both have the same unique small barrel shape, and canvas is a lot more forgiving than plastic.

What better bag to throw in the trunk (or take to dance class)? And unlike a tote, you don’t have to worry about it staying upright. Plus, it has a kind of rustic sensibility that appeals to me. It’s bags like these that remind us that designers don’t have to make everything out of lambskin or patent leather, but sometimes design something simpler and a bit more usable-what a relief. Buy through Shopbop for $247.50 on sale.

I’ll start by saying that I don’t think that I like this bag…but I’m not sure. The See by Chloe SBC Shopper Bag has me making my confused face. And my confused face is not cute, so we better figure this out quickly, ok? On the one hand, I like the color combo. For the past several days, green bags have been very appealing to me, so much so that I’m thinking about going out and buying a small, inexpensive one just to satisfy the urge (and prevent myself from spending far more money on a big designer one). So my sudden enamored state might be swaying me, although I’m much more in the mood for lime green that sea green. I’m also digging the wrinkly leather – I’m a sucker for texture, and this back looks soft and crinkly at the same time. That’s a trick I might like, I think. And then, the logo. Don’t like the logo. I doubt the average person has any idea what SBC is, but I’m not a fan out outsized branding of any sort, and the enormous lettering ultimately ruins this bag for me. Which is too bad, since I think the price point is good and the leather looks nice. Lose the letters, and I’m on board. Buy through ShopBop for $595.

Do you ever find yourself wishing you had talents you don’t? Sometimes I wish I was a better artist than I am. I wish that I could pick up a paintbrush, dip it in some paint, and just paint on a large canvas. Sure, I can do that, but the result isn’t necessarily what I hope it can be. So, how did all of this come up today? Well, I came across the See by Chloé Floral Canvas Tote and could only think of one instance where I might actually use the bag – to hold my art supplies. Honestly, other than holding my arts and crafts supplies, I can’t really think of another situation in which this bag could be practical. Perhaps as a beach bag, but other than that, the bag is just way too busy for me. The multicolored canvas floral print is a lot for your eyes to take in. The bag has shoulder straps and is clearly large enough to stuff in all sorts of things. But, is this the kind of bag that is a bit much for day to day errands? I kind of think so. I do think the bag has a funky side to it and perhaps there are some of you who could completely pull it off. But, for me, unless I am stuffing my brushes, paint, pencils, and other necessities a budding artist might carry into this bag, I don’t think I see myself adding it to my collection anytime soon. What do you think? Buy through Net-a-Porter for $160.

I am not OK with this. This is the opposite of what is acceptable. The See by Chloe Ring Around Crossbody Bag is a pretty complete representation of everything I dislike about bags of this sort. I find the huge strap/tiny bag proportion disconcerting – there’s more strap here than there is bag. A strap is supposed to be a part of a larger whole, not the entire show. I also think the proportions, matched with the shape and structure of the bag, look really sloppy. It’s just a big blob of mustard-colored leather, and there’s nothing about it that’s refined or expensive-looking. I see people wearing hemp and white-person-dreadlocks carrying bags like this at the organic grocery store all the time. It’s not a good look on them, and for over $500, it’s not a good look on you. I promise. And we didn’t even get into the whole awkward-boob-strap issue that crossbody bags create. Just say no, folks. Buy through Nordstrom for $550.

Are you a big handbag kind of person? I certainly am. Well I guess I should rephrase that, I am an any kind of handbag person. But I do have to say that I tend to have favorites. Big handbags definitely fall into that category. But just because I like big handbags doesn’t mean that I like all big handbags out there. The See by Chole Flap Jack Tote Bag is a big bag that is growing on me. I definitely like the color. For the most part I think I have become accustom to seeing large bags that are black. A bright colored large bag is a pleasant surprise. This calfskin bag with double shoulder straps, metallic calfskin trim and silvertone hardware all come together to make a unique handbag. It has cotton canvas lining, several pockets and of course plenty of room for just about anything you might want to store in it. To be honest, one of my favorite parts of this bag is the the metallic calfskin trim; it is definitely not something you see on every bag. Do you think more designers should try to add color into the larger bags they make? Buy this bag through Bloomingdales for $795.

It’s a gloomy day here in South Florida. It’s not rainy or anything like that, but overcast and just kind of nasty looking. Actually, these kind of days are the best days to curl up on the couch and watch a great movie. But at the same time, gloomy days lead me on a search for some kind of color. The See by Chloé Patent Cutout Shoulder Bag is a bright colored bag, but definitely not one that would make this gloomy day any better. It’s as simple as this: I think this is a handbag gone horribly wrong. The color and cutout detail with visible multicolored lining does not work. It almost looks like someone took a hole-punch to the bag and just went to town. For me, I can’t see any situation that I would carry this bag – unless maybe I was dressing up as a clown for Halloween. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $400.