Chloé Patty Leather Shopper

Over the past couple of seasons, Chloé has impressed me with its ability to mix feminine style with minimalistic, simple designs.  I definitely consider Chloé one of my favourite labels.  So when I was asked to pick up a Chloé handbag for a friend, I was more excited than the two previous times when she asked for a Louis Vuitton and Chanel bag picked up.  The bag that I picked up this time was the Chloé Patty Leather Shopper in black:

At first glance, I wasn't exactly keen on the bag.  I'm not generally a fan of pebbled leather, as I tend to gravitate towards smooth leather, and the front flap didn't strike me as being a particularly flattering shape.  However, after looking more closely at the bag, I realized that this bag is in fact fantastically modern, without being overtly trendy.  The shape of the gold hardware is artistically geometric, and the sculpted flap is delightfully characteristic of Chloé.  A whiff of leather was also all-encompassing the moment I took the bag out, which is another plus with me.

It's lightly structured, and I can imagine it looking wonderful with either a classic, clean outfit, or something a bit more modern but still simple.  I'm not quite sure if my friend has the appropriate wardrobe to go with this bag, although she will no doubt find a way to make it work.  This bag can also be transformed into a shoulder bag, but because of the size of the bag, it doesn't look fitting snuggled against a hip.  Even though I might have bought another bag from the collection, this bag is definitely a good choice, and I think my friend spent her money well.  What do you think?

Image Source: Nordstrom

Chloé: A story of lust

Lately, it seems as if Holt Renfrew has not been skimping when it comes to making its customers feel welcomed!  Everytime I shop there, I have been greeted by complimentary drinks from Starbucks and chocolate.  This time, I was greeted with glasses of white and red wine (which, of course, I did not try), and a piece of absolutely delicious cake in the form of a baby blue Marc by Marc Jacobs bag to celebrate the label's 10th anniversary.

With the spring stock finally calling Holt Renfrew its home, there were fantastic new pieces on the racks, some taken straight off the runway.  In the shoe department, there was one shoe in particular that had me sweeping it up, and unwilling to put it back down.  And that shoe was a pair of Chloé braided strap flats in nude:

The glimmer of the braided, silver chain ankle strap makes this more than just your average pair of flats.  I love how the simplicity of the flat is paired with the elegance and glamour of the ankle strap.  But that does not mean the rest of the flat is not beautiful in itself.  The leather vamp of the shoe is smooth and polished, and the round toe is shaped to perfection.

This flat also comes in metallic black leather, but I find the nude matches better with the ankle strap, and it's more feminine.  However, I do recall the leather looking slightly darker - more towards a brown - in real life, but maybe I am mistaken.

If there's any way to subtly draw attention to your shoes, this is one of them.  Chloé has given me yet another thing to lust after.

Image Source: Lyst, Net-a-Porter

Braided Bag

One of my favourite things to do at Holt Renfrew is to take a look at their handbags.  There never fails to be at least one bag that catches my fancy.  This time, it was Chloé that did it.  The first thing I noticed about this bag was the braided handles:

The position of the belt across the bag is quite interesting, and the leather is buttery soft to the touch, resulting in the perfect amount of slouch.  I know that braided bag handles are nothing new, but on this Chloé bag, it just looks so right.  The simplicity of the leather and the lack of flashy hardware make the braided handles stand out and slightly more special.  And not to mention, they look absolutely scrumptious, especially in that gorgeous chocolate colour!

Image Source: Chloe.com