I haven’t been paying much attention to Pippa Middleton, younger sister of the Duchess of Cambridge. But when I stumbled across this photo of her, I immediately stopped in my tracks. It wasn’t her outfit that caught my attention. Although I will admit she looks great dressed head-to-toe in light denim blue. Her top is adorable, I love the ruffled bib and satin covered buttons! No, it was the gorgeous handbag held firmly in her hand …

… its beloved Legacy Stripe just in time for summer! This year, the palette on the Weekend Stripe Medium Tote is brilliant – a cheerful array of rainbow-bright hues just made for pairing with chic white eyelet dresses, Lilly Pulitzer pastels and so much more. No matter what you wear it with, though, count on it to capture some attention all on its own. The pattern is so uplifting that you can’t help but smile, and it’s got a bit of a country club-meets-tropical-island versatility about …

… there, I can’t quite get behind all of them. Direct your attention to the Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium Patchwork Lux Satchel, which isn’t quite oddball, really, but is definitely bland. Blandness isn’t a quality I expect of patchwork, since there’s practically no room to “mess up” the design – I mean, there has to be an interesting patch somewhere in the mix, right? I was obviously mistaken, because this boring hodgepodge of banal, earthy hues doesn’t do much to excite the bag …

Whether you’re traveling by jet or not this summer, this Michael Kors Jet Set Medium Gather Shoulder Tote will be the perfect companion. Not only will you appear polished and sophisticated once you reach your destination, you’ll have everything you need with you in one sleek bag. It has interior pockets for organizing your items, and if you load it so full it becomes too heavy for the handles, there’s a shoulder strap to distribute the weight of all of those People …

… come across a quality satchel that exudes both functionality and personality but this Furla Royal Medium Satchel masters both! It features attractive ostrich-embossed leather, a secure zippered closure, protective metal feet, logo lining, a removable logo hang tag, and goldtone hardware. Plus, it has those cool flexible snap closure sides that can be styled open and free or left close for a tighter, firmer look – I sure love a purse with options! If you’re picking up the same cool kid …

… time finding what seems to be a pretty simple request! What I’m looking for is a good quality tan leather handbag that has enough of a drop so I can wear it as a shoulder bag, but not so long that it is a crossbody.  Second, I would prefer it to be in the medium size category (no more than 12″ in any dimension).  I have seen some great ones out and about, but haven’t been able to locate one myself. Your help would be ever so much appreciated!”

Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to help …

… a statement this season than with a colorblocked bag on your arm. This Pour la Victoire Palermo Medium Tote really shows off the trend at its best, with splashes of seafoam bordering a strong black and white palette. The yellow handles are the unexpected twist that really make the trend such a fun one to begin with – and, surprisingly, this wildly mixed-up color palette works quite well. Available for $375 at Nordstrom.

Incoming search terms: pour la victoire palermo tote …

… purse chosen (after a chillingly close finish) for our lookalike shopping spree was the Givenchy Medium Nightingale in Blue! First spotted for $1,945 from Forward by Elyse Walker, this gorgeous bag seemed out of reach – but have no fear: we’ve found five more affordable lookalikes (NOT fakes) for you to buy and love. Be sure to tell us your favorite by leaving a comment below. Enjoy!

 

1. Remi & Emmy Flatiron Brooke Satchel $298

2. New York & Company Buckle Satchel …

… a bag sweeter than this lately? Vivienne Westwood goes for prim and proper prettiness with her Medium Fabric Bag. The sorbet palette pops with mouthwatering shades of pink and juicy orange, all neatly finished with a minimal gold clasp. This is the kind of shoulder bag that just barely makes a statement – sure, it’s pretty, but it’s not quite glamorous or elegant. Sometimes, that’s just what you need. Available for $1005 at The Corner.

The Marianne Medium Hobo Bag is a simple but chic color block bag that would look perfect with a crisp linen suit. The turquoise base is topped with white pebble-grain calfskin. The turquoise is seen again atop the silver chain link shoulder strap. If this all looks too conservative for your style not to worry –as soon as you unzip this hot hobo you’ll find a cherry red linen lining. You can order this …