luxury handbags,designer handbags,

First and foremost, I want to say that I totally respect the reasoning behind why Stella McCartney does not use leather in her bags. It’s hard to find people that walk the walk as much as they talk the talk, particularly when it could have a significant impact on their business, and she does. Of course, when your dad is a Beatle, I’m not sure that you’re as concerned about things that might affect your bottom line as much as the average person might be.

That being said, I wish she didn’t stick to doggedly to her principles, because I would absolutely love the Stella McCartney Chain-Detail Tote if it was real leather.

This take on the season’s industrial trends is decidedly simple and straight-forward, which is kind of refreshing when you consider the glut of studs, zippers, and chains that adorn everything we’ve come across recently. The shiny, thick silver hardware frames an enormous piece of matte black faux leather that I can only wish were real. I’ve never come across non-leather approximations of the material that I found at all inspiring, and I fear this may even smell funny in person, but I sincerely hope it does and that it fools everyone. But I doubt it will – the graining of the material is just too uniform to look like the real thing.

And also, it has to be said – the way that the chain is attached and forms the handle reminds me of the Chanel Coco Cabas totes from a few years back. There, I said it. I’m officially turning into one of those people that thinks that everyone rips off Chanel. Go ahead and put my out of my misery now, while I still have an original thought or two in my head. I still really like this bag, though.   $1145.

If this bag is any indication, Lanvin is continuing their endless mission to morph their bag line into an a slighty hipster-y version of Chanel. I generally hate it when others complain that a bag looks like it’s Chanel just because it’s quilted or has a chain handle, but I can’t help but think that it’s an incredibly apt comparison in this case.

Not only is the Lanvin Happy Sac Partage Bag bag quilted, but it also has a chain handle, and its a flap bag with a front closure, just like a few other bags we’ve all seen in the past.

In fairness, this bag is made of navy blue velvet instead of the black leather that Chanel uses time and again. So that’s a difference, although Chanel is no stranger to velvet in general. And it’s quilted in a chevron pattern instead of the diamond shape we’re used to, so that’s another one. But on the whole, the feel is just sort of…similar.

Which disappoints me, since Lanvin is one of the most exciting brands that there is right now. They make collection after collection of interesting clothes and shoes, but their bags lag behind the rest of their creations (with a few notable exceptions). I’d rather they made awful things than make boring bags that we’ve seen done better elsewhere, which is exactly what they seem to be up to lately. To make matters worse, I’m not every going to pay $1500 for a bag made of velvet. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1500.