Recently in Canvas/Linen Category

See a bag you like but not in the color or material you want? Now you can customize the color and material of your bag with Design Guru Bags! If you are PETA freak (notice they slyly put up an ad through blog ads, don't click on it unless you want to lose your lunch) you can choose a man made material instead of leather. You start by choosing one of four bag styles.

The bags are nothing to write home about but they are simple and functional. Sometimes you just want an easy tote to look nice without making any kind of statement or fuss. You can choose one color or add a contrasting second color in addition to choosing an interior color. Lastly, you can personalize it with a symbol for the lining of the bag (each represent a different meaning-- peace and harmony or vitality, etc). It's kind of fun just to play around with this software. It shows you exactly how the bag will look! Gotta love modern technology. Prices are reasonable at $495 for the Mini Mapmaker (shown above left), $695 for the Mapmaker above right (14"x12"), $795 for the Stadia (shown below) and $695 the West Wind for laptop/work (10"x13" shown below right). Go to Design Guru now and have fun customizing your own bag! Jump for more photos!

Our faithful reader Janet alerted us to this MoMA tote bag - a total knockoff of the YSL Raspail painted canvas. It's so nice to have our readers doing the work for us! Now we can just focus on the bitching =) Now, you all know we love YSL but there are limits to everything and the love ends with this splatter canvas tote. The strange thing is, I like the MoMA knockoff, not only because it is $18 compared to the $995 YSL (it is on sale now for $895, jeez big whoop, it is still overpriced by at least $800) but because it is appropriate for what this really is and should be, a throwaway grocery store cotton tote. Of course the YSL is higher quality, it is structured with a gusset and piping, and the interior is immaculate, but that only proves my point even more, why go through all that trouble for something that is only useful for unimportant events like carrying magazines to the bathroom and pot luck to your in-laws? The one good thing though, MoMA has made the YSL brand a part of pop culture and that is definitely a plus for my "real" YSL bag collection. The MoMA tote is available at their online store and YSL Medium Raspail is on YSL.com.

It looks like both Tina and I need therapy. Either that or YSL is seriously paying us some big bucks to gush non stop about them (people at YSL, please email us if this sounds like something you would be interested in). Well, neither of us have discipline when it comes to YSL because I just bought the Marjorelle in blue patent, it is a different blue than the Muse blue but it is so bright and beautiful!! I love it!! Then I saw this picture of this embroidered Downtown on Elle.com and immediately picked up the phone to call my girl at the YSL boutique. It is so fun for Spring, I started fantasizing about how great would it be for the beach and for traveling!! Uh, turns out this is the mini version of the downtown, as in, it is in total, 6 inches tall (just slightly bigger than this actual picture). Useless you say? Not for my 3 year old daughter who would think it's cool for about a day. Seriously, what is the meaning of this? I was told it was only done in that size and none of the buyers bought it so it will not be made. Gee, what a surprise. Just when we thought YSL could do no wrong. Well, just the merchandising was off, I would have totally gotten this in the medium Downtown, if it was about $875 (because it is canvas). Maybe instead of giving us money, they can hire us to merchandise for them.

It is because I am a Bag Snob that I do not use nice bags at the beach. Uuhh, I don't want to get sand and god forbid, suntan oil on them!! Well, as you know, loving bags does not mean you have to use ultra expensive bags. You just have to find ones that fit your style and budget (and be snob worthy, of course!). For me, I cannot justify using a $2000 bag at the beach but I am going on 3 beach vacations this summer so I need something appropriate. Gustto actually has some pretty decent bags this season and this linen beach bag is among the top few picks (but please do not look at the metallic crackled version of this bag, it is so beyond awful!!!). I love the fun and bold embellishments, perfect for the kitchy beach look. I don't see why this bag couldn't leave the beach and go into the city for casual afternoons, it is way cute enough for any snob. It is big but light and can actually close which most beach bags do not. The deep shoulder strap drop is essential so you can keep things together as you hobble your way through the sand. Gustto 'Estiva' Linen Beach Bag at Nordstrom for $385. That, I can totally justify for sandy, snacky, oily messes. Which also make this our Cheap Thrills choice of the week.

As I’m traveling and lamenting the fact that I should have brought more practical traveling accoutrements, I am loving this travel tote from Smython more and more. I am literally sitting on a plane right now, carefully balancing my birkin between my feet and using a stupid shopping bag to carry my water and sandwich lest they spill and stain my precious. Why the birkin? Well, I don’t trust the airline to deliver it back to me and besides I didn’t want to use an extra large suitcase so that I can properly pack it. I know, why do we go through all this? What I really need is a big travel tote (15.75" x 11" x 6") that is light (linen) and in a color that doesn’t easily dirty (and linen is easily cleaned with mild soap and water, but of course spot clean only) but is super cute and trimmed in my favorite color (turquoise). Voila!! I am going to call Smythson as soon as I get off the plane to order this dream travel bag of mine. The color combo of the linen and turquoise is so beautiful and has the perfect peppy pop of color you need when traveling. It’s perfect as an overnighter and really really perfect as a carryon. This can even double as my work tote when I have a lot of stuff or when I am taking my kids to auntie’s house for babysitting. The removable shoulder strap will really come in handy at the airport so unlike the rest of my bags that come with a shoulder strap, this one will stay in the bag and be used. At Smythson boutiques worldwide or online for $1450.

It is totally shocking that I would like a Burberry bag! They have really made an effort to design their bags as bags rather than a lame interpretation of their clothes, which is as imaginative as Uggs pawning off their boots as bags by putting a strap on it. It's not that I am not a fan of Burberry in general, they have great basics, but I lived in Boston and apparently no trench coats other than Burberry are sold in that city. I went to an event and seriously every single person, man and woman, walked in with a Burberry coat. I was like, what the hell? Did a Burberry delivery truck turn over and dump their entire shipment outside? This travel bag is devoid of all tartan and actually has current stylish details. It is brilliant to have a travel bag in canvas to lighten the load - the metallic finish makes the bag of the moment especially with the dark leather trim and handles to contrast. The loose pleat makes the shape super cute and extra roomy inside. It has a magnetic closure which is really smart for a travel bag. Of course this will be a carry on if you're flying but traveling requires easy access to so many things that usually zippers remain unzipped, which totally defeats the idea that having a zipper closure is safest when traveling. I do realize that this is very similar to the Pauric Sweeney but for the price and the fact that this is made of canvas (light and painless when destroyed) I actually prefer this. I mean, who needs the hassle of being all precious with a travel bag? $795 at Saks Fifth Avenue. Free shipping with any order with code "HOLIDAY7" (I've been taking advantage of all the free shipping and finished all my Christmas shopping without once entering a mall. OK, I had to go to Best Buy. Those annoying men are so hard to shop for!).

This is the first studded bag I have approved of, I love the contrast and interest it brings to the leather tote. Givenchy is a new love of mine and I am intrigued by its designs. Avant-garde and stylish, this is also an ergonomically sound bag, your arm slips right through without fuss to tote it around town or it can be slung on the shoulder without fear of slip and slide. Sure I hear some of you with the rabbit ear inference but really, are you not sick of shoulder straps doing everything but stay on the shoulder? Give this a whirl, I know you will love it. $1,600 at Barneys New York.

I know summer is almost over but this is a Bottega Veneta so save this for next year and get it on sale NOW!! It is $500 for a Bottega, you are not ever going to see this deal again anytime soon. These kind of bags are so great for the summer for the beach, pool parties and travel. You throw in your magazines, sunblock, water bottle and hat and you are ready to relax somewhere nice. Of course this is also a great everyday tote - you don't have to be on vacation or be doing anything extra fun but just having a cute pink bag with you can make you feel like you are having fun and on vacation! How great is that? Isn't that why we love bags? It can make you feel good just because. Hurry before it sells out (you know it will in like a day). At Net-a-Porter.