Haute handbag pick: the Marc by Marc Jacobs Party Girl Tribal Pixie Bucket Bag

There’s something about this small studded drawstring bucket bag that makes us want to don a leather vest, fedora and denim cutoffs, sling it over our arm and head to a concert in the park. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Party Girl Tribal Pixie Bucket Bag is petite yet packs a punch with its pebbled leather, gunmetal grommets and assorted stud detail. The long (24″) grommeted strap allows you to wear it crossbody style with ease.

Buy it for $398 at shopbop

Salvatore Ferragamo Nappa Bucket Tote

Salvatore Ferragamo is the king of quiet, understated luxury. His bags, in particular are beautifully designed and free of fuss - just classic designs with a slight touch like a hint of exotic material, sumptuous leather and that signature horseshoe logo. A recent example is the Salvatore Ferragamo Nappa Bucket Tote. Even if the design didn’t lure me in, the material definitely would. The bronze metallic lambskin has gunmetal silver undertones and a sueded finish. I haven’t seen too many designers attempt this bucket style in a while but Ferragamo executed it perfectly. The rounded shape gives you tons of room but the external grid/quilted design draws your eye away from the hugeness and keeps it looking quite stylish. A simple, rolled leather handle is attached by contrast silver hardware. And I love that unlike most bucket bags, it doesn’t have a tacky drawstring closure or even worse, no closure at all! A simple magnet keeps your stuff concealed inside this beautiful bag. Buy it at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Devi Does it Again

As much as I would love to own almost every bag ever made by every handbag designer, that’s just not practical or realistic. But the ones I do own allow me to make better judgments about the quality while carrying them every day. My Devi Kroell ‘Tiffany’ bag is one of the best bags I’ve owned in terms of materials, design and construction, so now I’m a lifelong fan! Kroell recently launched her Spring/Summer 2008 collection which is full of even more beautiful bags with mixed exotic skins and innovative designs. One of my favorites is the Frame Bag in Patent. The purple shoulder strap and turquoise body provide contrasting tones that blend brilliantly and the patent leather shines without looking cheap. The shape is innovative - I love the shoulder, bucket-style with the frame closure which solves the issue of protecting your stuff in an open-top bucket bag. The closure is practical and looks amazing, especially coupled with the fold over aspect. It seems that Devi doesn’t know how to design a bad bag!

Check out more of her chic handbags here.

DVF Wrap Bag

Since the 1970’s, the DvF wraparound dress has been a best-seller and has become an iconic staple in every woman’s wardrobe. So the logical next step was for Diane Von Furstenberg to design a companion wraparound handbag. The DvF “Wrap” bag ($900) is a bucket-shaped hobo made from rich Italian leather with an adjustable strap that wraps around each bag, thus the name. Each bag comes with a detachable change purse that can double as a clutch, perfect for those of you like me who like to have options. The bag comes in ‘olive’ (green), ‘denim’ (powder blue), and ‘tabac’ (tan), and large and bold sizes.

Haute or Not: Socoley Bucket Bag

Socoley is one of the hottest new emerging handbag designers. Their styles include everyday basics jazzed up with unusual details, and a signature flower buckle displayed on each bag. This Bucket Bag is a different take on the traditional, with the body vertically ruched, instead of standard horizontal ruching. Though the design is ambitious, the ruching makes the circumference of the bag appear to be smaller than it is.

So haute, or just so-so?