Every so often, the world of fashion **will be rocked by an **up-and-coming designer that is so on point with both quality and design that it makes everyone stop and stare. For the past few months in the world of handbags, this designer has been Rebecca Minkoff.

Minkoff started off designing both clothes and accessories, and quickly found a niche with handbags. Since then she has parlayed this talent into a fantastic bag line that is sweeping North America by storm. This fall, Minkoff was picked up by Neiman Marcus, making the purses more available than ever before. She uses imported Italian leathers that scream luxury, and all of the design and work is done right here in the good ol’ U.S.A., making her a designer with an edge. With a move towards more environmental and ethically-conscious work, bag lovers can rest assured that their bag was made with care and love under the direction of the designer herself. And more than that, the bag didn’t travel umpteenth thousand miles to get to its owner.

While Minkoff has a slue of yummy bags on her agenda, the one making headlines at the moment is the Matinee Handbag. Already seen on many a starlet in the past few months, the Matinee is the a great bag to have on hand for casual weekends, and holiday shopping. The leather is amazingly soft, and the details are just what Minkoff’s style is all about. Two clever contrasting flaps can be folded for a pop of color, or pulled down to make the bag solid. The flying tassels evoke a great rock star vibe, and Minkoff offers the bag in an array of colors. Our favorite is the wine, which has been toted in recent days by budding fashionista, Vanessa Hudgens.

Ahh…to be young with a gorgeous handbag. What a life! $625 at Rebecca Minkoff.com

Check out more of Rebecca Minkoff’s bags at rebeccaminkoff.com

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