Recently in Ask the Snob Category

Dear Bag Snob,

Love,
Stella Benett

Left- Marc Jacobs stam bag $1275 Right- Miu Miu coffer bag $1445

Dearest Stella,

Love,
The Bag Snob

Dearest Bag Snob,

Much love,
Glamour Geek

Chloe Double Pocket Satchel $1785

Chloe Edith Satchel $1560


Mulberry Baywater Tote $995

Dear Glamour Geek,
We had so many great bags to choose from as big bags are a popular trend this season and would double perfectly as college book bags! (but not so big that it'd dwarf you) Since you did not mention your budget we thought we'd suggest bags in different price ranges. We love the double pocket Chloe bag in light gray cuz it just screams collegiate. But if you want something more alternative and hip, the Chloe edith tote is totally fabulous. The roomy outer pocket is perfect for your cell, homework planner, and Hello Kitty pencil case. If you are budget concious, however, we recommend the Mulberry Baywater tote. It's a classic shape made from sturdy leather that will last you beyond your dorm days.
Good luck!
Love,
The Bag Snob

Dear Bag Snob,

I love your website and all that you do to keep us informed of the latest bag offerings. I also like the looks of the JPG crossbody bag that you just featured. Tell me though, you have mentioned in the past how some of the spendy designer bags' workmanship does not hold up to everyday wear while others do. Will the JPG bag hold up as well as my Tod's bag? I definitely love the idea of this bag for travel (tired of juggling everything in my hands) as well as everyday wear.

Thanks for providing such great insight.

Marla

Dear Marla,

Thanks for loving us!! We love to be loved =) The JPG bag is fantastic. I had a JPG bag for years and it held up pretty well, but if you want to compare it to a Tod's you will be disappointed. Tod's bags are made entirely for quality, not necessarily style, that's why all their bags are so classic and let's be honest, plain, but in a good way. If you are looking for glamour and flash, you will not find it with Tod's. But I think the JPG bag will last you as long as you want to use it. You won't be passing it down to future generations but it will not fail you.

Love,
The Bag Snob

Dear Bag Snob,
I own several beach/summer tote bags because I practically live at the Soho House pool in the summer and like to keep a change of outfit in my bag in case friends call to meet up for drinks. My problem is I don't know what to do with my wet bathing suit! I've been keeping it inside a plastic bag in my purse which is totally gross and trashy but it beats sitting in rush hour traffic to get to my apartment in mid-town to change. Do you have any suggestions? I love your blog and agree with the London Guardian, this is the best website EVER! It's the mother of all blogs!
Love,
Bikini Babe

Dear Bikini Babe,
We love hanging out poolside at the Soho House whenever we're in town as well! (we're the chicks using our birkins to tote sunscreen and trashy novels). We totally understand your dilemma and have the ultimate solution to your problem. The "Wet Bikini Bag" is every bikini babe's must have! It has an inner plastic lining so our wet bikini won't seep through and damage our Hermes wallet while we drink champagne in the bar. Best of all, it has lots of glittery and sparkly embellishments so we can be stylish while being practical! It's available at Wrapables.com for $21.95, ground shipping is only $5 so get yours today!

Kisses,
The Bag Snob

The Bag Snob receives requests for bag advice not only from our dear readers but from fashion experts and stylists too! Here is a recent email we received from Parisian style/etiquette expert Guillaume Coutheillas.

Bonjour chère Bag Snob!

Comment ca va… It was nice seeing you on Saturday…what a gorgeous day!! If you have time on your busy schedule, I would love to get advice and tips from you…

Which is your favourite messenger/shoulder bag…I am looking for a small flat one for a jet setting client's upcoming summer trips.

A bientot j espère,
Guillame

Bonjour chèr Guillaume,

We'd love to help! We adore chic French men who rescue stylish damsels in distress and we are extremely flattered you came to us for bag tips.

We have just the bag for your client, Bottega Veneta's fabulous messenger bag is perfect for globe trotting. It is available at Saks.com for $1350.

It will wear well for years and get softer as time goes by, Bottega bags are worthy investments!

Kisses,
The Bag Snob

We keep getting comments and emails asking where to buy fakes, which outlets sells the most "realistic" fakes, which ebay sellers sell real vs. fake, etc. and we have not responded simply because none of this is legitimate. We feel like we need to respond now because it is getting out of control. We do not condone buying fakes and we absolutely DO NOT recommend buying bags on ebay because it is hard to authenticate. The only place to buy bags is through authorized dealers. Net A Porter is the authorized online retailer for Chloe but Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman also carry it. These are the ONLY places you should go to buy Chloe. Do we need to remind you of the Sophisticated Spirit debacle? If you need more of a reason, here is a comment we just received:

"Oh no... my bag came... most hideous (Paddington) knockoff I have ever laid eyes on. Not to scare anyone who has ordered from ebay, but i wouldn't recommend it for the future. The photograph on ebay wasn't even legitimate (and obviously, neither was the seller). The bag is orange vinyl, the gold paint is chipping off the hardware and the 'serial number' is on a white price sticker. The seller has relocated to China."

We really hate to see unsuspecting shoppers buy a fake especially because if they are selling it as real, you are still paying a lot of money for it. And for those Chinatown shoppers, it doesn't matter how "real" your fake is, the main reason to have nice things is that they are.... well, nice. You know it's fake and how awkward is it to lie about your fake, or worse having to admit that it is a fake when you are caught!

Dear Bag Snob,

I echo all of the platitudes that have been deservedly heaped on you. My quest in life, is for the perfect travel bag. I travel around the world and I am notorious for thinking I have lost passports, tickets, and have melt downs in airports all of the time. I also travel with my three children who are older, but not old enough to carry their own documents. My requirements are: Outside zip pocket for tickets and boarding passes, inside zip for passports, it must go over my shoulder because I can't hand carry, must fit magazines, a water bottle, and usual "stuff", it has to have a fully closeable zipper top, the bag cannot be too heavy empty because by the time I have gotten to the last gate at the airport, my shoulder will be lopsided, and I am always at the last gate. And I'd like it for under $2,000.00.

I am not particular about color. Shoppers haven't worked for me because things fall to the bottom. I gave serious consideration to Chloe's Betty, but it is just to heavy. Also, the Chloe store here has the Edith bags in stock....approx $1,300.00 for a med sized one. I am truly desperate, and have a 12 flight summer coming up. I NEED this bag!

Sincerely,
Melanie

Dear Bag Snob,

First of all, I love your website...it is perfection, and your taste is impeccable. I, too, am a fashion snob, but one with limited means. (sob) I have decided to make a new purchase and have been saving my money to buy one handbag. My price range is between $500 and $800, unless you think that I should save my money and wait until I can afford the right kind of bag.

Bag criteria:

- Go from day to night, go with almost everything
- Medium sized (I want to fit things in it, but look chic, not like a peasant carting their entire life around town).
- Undeniably stylish (I am only 22, so it needs to be young. I have a classic style that's also hip and modern. I want to be able to wear the bag with dressier oufits but it has to be able to go with jeans and white converse too)
- Not be over next season (like the Balenciaga bags... I saw that coming miles away, but still loved those bags).
- Unsnubbable (I don't want anyone to be able to look down on my bag....and I mean anyone.)

Colors I am considering are white (but will it be over after spring/summer?), pale gold/metallic bronze (I love metallics when used as an accent in the right way, and don't care if this trend is over) and dark brown/black (but not fun for summer, and does brown go with black/black with brown?)

Thank you, your expert opinion would be extremely appreciated!

Sincerely,
Eliza

We've had numerous inquries about getting authentic Edith bags so it was perfect timing for the Bag Snob to receive a call from Rebecca at Bergdorf today about a shipment of Edith bags that just arrived! Call her ASAP! 212-872-8768. You can also purchase online from Net-a-Porter

Hi,
Which colour do you think is the best colour for Edith and paddington? Also.. Is the colour craie discontinued?
It seems there are only off-white paddington out there.... and no craie. What is the difference between the two, is it just slightly different?
Joyce

Hi Joyce,
First, let me commend you on having excellent taste as these are the two most fabulous handbags right now! The Chloe Edith looks best in Whiskey as it really shows off the contrasting top stitching. As for the Paddington, the Anthracite metallic is our favorite. It's a gun metal gray and will be a neutral to go with everything in your closet plus it can be used as an evening bag. The craie is an ashier color than the off-white but there is not much difference. Check with Net-a-porter often for more anthracite Paddingtons and whiskey Edith bags.
Best, The Snob