Tory Burch

I love surprises. I really do. I love planning surprises and having surprises planned for me. The element of surprise always results in a reaction (good or bad). Today my friends, I was totally hit with an element of surprise when I came across this bag. There is no way that I would have ever guessed it was a Tory Burch handbag. Would you have?

Well, the Tory Burch Studded Satchel is a welcomed surprise. This black leather satchel is adorned with front and back gold pyramid stud detailing. I love the double rolled handles and while I personally wouldn’t use the detachable shoulder strap, it is an option. It makes me a happy handbag aficionado when I see designers give something new a try. So, Tory, if you are listening, keep up the good work – you are branching out wonderfully! Buy through ShopBop for $595.

Oh sweet merciful crap, I love this. I don’t know why I love thing so much lately. It’s about to be my “lady time,” so theoretically, I should be hating everything. And besides handbags, I kind of am. But I’m LOVING almost every new bag that has come out for fall so far, and I particularly love the Tory Burch Tiled Teardrop Clutch.

It seems to me that the folks at Tory Burch have really been getting their handbag act together recently. This clutch is particularly sleek – it’s a structured black clamshell with dozens of square metal tiles stitched to the exterior. The effect is both ornate and sophisticated, and striking a balance between the two is notoriously difficult. It’s shiny and fun without being cheesy or loud and provides just the right amount of shimmer to dress up a going-out ensemble. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $375.

Another structured bag… I just couldn’t help myself! If there’s anything I love more than structured bags (and purple bags) it is miniscule bags, ones that are so miniature that they can carry only the bare essentials. And this Tory Burch Alize Mini Bag quite obviously fits the criteria. Not only that, it has a long handle, which means it can be carried as a tiny messenger if you are into the cross-body style, which I am. But this little bag packs a punch.

The colors are vibrant, but not too vibrant. The lime and almost denim-like blue works perfectly against the tan leather and the gold hardware. The chain handle may be a bit uncomfortable, but it adds a significant amount of class to a bag that could certainly look very casual with only a tan leather strap. When I think of tan leather accenting on a canvas bag, what usually comes to mind is those icky black canvas totes with the tan leather handles. But this bag has reversed my view and I am now prepared to accept more tan-leather accents on bags. Provided that they are this tiny and adorable, of course. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $395.

One of the most important things that a fashionable girl can have in her summer wardrobe is a good straw clutch. Summer can be too hot for leather or suede, and straw clutches looks so season-appropriate and do a great job walking the line between casual and glam. We’ve featured several straw clutches in this space over the past few months, but none quite so glam as the Tory Burch Straw Logo Clutch.

This bag combines metallic, tightly-woven straw with the big gold logo that Tory Burch is known for. Usually I hate it, but on this bag, it kinda works. From a distance, the straw has such a shine to it that it looks a bit like woven chain, and other than that, the bling is the bag’s only visual interest. I think it strikes a sleek and sophisticated note despite the big logo, and I’d love to have one to match with printed maxi dresses and gladiator sandals. Buy through Shop Bop for $275.

Wow! A Tory Burch handbag that doesn’t have doesn’t scream Tory Burch! This makes me happy. Don’t get me wrong, for the most part I am ok with TB logos; they are usually pretty simple, understated and really prove to be a nice signature aspect to the bags. However, I am all for switching things up a bit. The Tory Burch Vintage Metallic Aldwin Clutch has gorgeous vintage metallic leather. Yet it is the contrast leather trim that actually helps the entire bag pop. And not that you will be walking around with the clutch open all the time, but when you do open this clutch, the frame is hexagonal. What a great surprise. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $295.

One of my favorite things in the world is when a brand that I’ve hated on in the past starts to make a bit of a turnaround. I’ve seen a couple of decently cute new Tory Burch bags pop up on shopping sites lately, and I had been cautiously hopeful, but I wasn’t sure if I should say anything until I saw the Tory Burch Efram Hobo.

This bag made me sit up and pay attention as soon as I laid eyes upon it, and I could barely believe that it was one of Ms. Burch’s bags. It’s lines are so clean, it’s color so wonderful, and it’s branding so understated that I wondered for a moment if the website had mislabeled it. But they hadn’t – the very cool-looking rows of tonally colored enamel tiles running down the sides of the bag bare the brand’s logo, but in a way that is subtle and tasteful. I never thought I’d describe one of her bags as subtle OR tasteful, and this beautiful, functional hobo embodies both of those qualities. And the price ain’t bad either – Buy through Nordstrom for $550.

Whenever I publicly express my distaste for a brand, I like to try and find a bag in their collection that I have nice things to say about – it only seems fair. I have yet to find an entire line about which I can’t find a single redeeming quality, and I like to give everyone a fair shake. So guess what, folks! I found a Tory Burch bag that I actually like pretty well.

The Tory Burch Metallic Leather Tote has one major difference from most of the line’s other bags – a shocking lack of obvious, gaudy, giant logo. And that’s my favorite part, easily. Giant logos are unnecessary and increasingly gauche, and it’s nice to see that Tory’s people have at least a few ideas for making bags without them. I also like how they combined the shiny gold leather with such a sober neutral – the tan and gold coordinate, and the tan helps tone down a bit of the bling to make the tote really wearable. My one problem with it? The handles are a bit awkward, I would have preferred a flat strap to the quasi-rolled ones that it has. A minor correction, however, when you consider the brand’s other handbag offerings. Buy through Saks for $465.

Ok, so, I know Tory Burch is, like, a “thing.” There are flats in all manner of color and texture bearing her name and little symbol doodad, and even Gossip Girl has referenced her (and when that happens, you KNOW she’s made it). But I have to say…I’ve yet to see a handbag from her line that’s made me want to get up off my couch, so to speak. Take the Tory Burch Thalie Tote, for example. Perhaps my lack of enthusiasm is because of my preternatural opposition to obvious logos, and this bag is one giant, obvious logo. I’m sure that’s part of it, and probably a big part of my distaste for her line in general, but that’s not the entire issue.

The rest of my problem is with the proportions that she uses for a lot of her bags. The Thalie Tote is a pretty large bag (and a north/south proportion at that – always tricky to design), and it’s got a small handle for hand-carry at the top and a thin, unimpressive chain strap for shoulder carry. Neither of those carrying options seems that attractive to me, and neither seems to match the bag itself very well. Not that this would be a particularly easy bag to match – red patent overlay over a beige pattern is not a gold medalist in the Aesthetics Olympics, if you catch my drift. Buy through Nordstrom for $550.

I am going to be perfectly honest here. At first I really just wanted to write about this handbag because of the name, Meagan. Now, I am sure all of you know Megs, my sister whose full name is the long, drawn out Irish version, Meaghan. Although all versions of Megan seem to be pretty popular, there’s always something a little fun about a handbag with your name in it (even if it isn’t spelled exactly the way you spell it). Ok, now that I said that, on to the handbag itself.

The Tory Burch Straw Meagan Tote has me dreaming about summer already. This tote makes me think pools, beaches, boats, mixed drinks and hanging with some of my favorite people. I have to say, although there are always several totes to choose from as the warmer months approach, I can’t always seem to find a bag that suits me. This one does. The straw tote with canvas panels say I am beach ready while the topstitched patent banding and stud detail say I’ll look good at the poolside bar. I am a huge fan of resort totes that don’t seem too beachy or too fancy for the beach – it has to be the perfect combination of the two. I think this tote gets at what I am talking about. What kind of beach tote do you carry? Buy this one through Shop Bop for $450.

Over the weekend we had the chance to meet Tory Burch while she made an appearance at her Bal Harbour store in Miami. It is always great to meet the designer behind the brand. At the same time we were lucky enough to meet one of the creative designers behind the handbag line. Of course we talked shop a bit and I bet this is one of the reasons why the Tory Burch Kerry Resin Clutch popped out when I came across it. Tory Burch handbags always seem to look sleek to me. This handbag is no exception. The resin clutch comes in tile blue and poppy coral. Both of these colors pop and would add a nice splash of color to your outfit. I do like how the clutch looks textured. I can see myself practically strumming it as I carry it. And of course, the clutch is topped off with the ever so recognizable logo medallion. Buy through Shop Bop for $335.