Tracy Reese has been designing clothing for quite some time, under her eponymous Tracy Reese label as well as the funkier Plenty by Tracey Reese collection. She's also quietly started producing handbags...and that's a really good thing!
One style which caught my eye is the Santiago.
An over sized hobo, with a whipstitch detail, and brass accents, this bag is a knockout. The brass hardware is all brushed so it adds subtle shine without being too heavy looking. Which brings me to the bag's only drawback (which all things considered isn't major). The hardware is solid and weighty, so the luggage tag tends to pull on the side. Moved to the top handle, it would hang better. The bag itself, considering it's size is not terribly heavy (and I tested it by sticking my entire purse inside and carrying it). One of the cutest features is a tiny hidden zip pocket on the front of the bag...great for emergency dough or a metro card.
The bag itself, is a nice pebbled leather with a magnetic snap and a cotton lining in a great print. Inside there are several slots and a zip pocket, the usual. The shoulder strap which is removable is a cotton web, like a military belt, which works surprisingly well considering the classy edge the rest of the bag has.
The most surprising thing about the bag to me was the price. It's $495 (other Tracy Reese styles are in the $650-$700 range) at Nordstrom and is only still available in Black. I saw it in a lovely cream at Bloomingdales, but it's not currently online.
