Store Appeal: Very rarely does an American designer craft handbags that could pass for the Old World glory that is seen in Chanel and Balenciaga – with the exception of Marc Jacobs.  But many American handbag designers have a very streamlined, modern interpretation, which is not a fault, but they find it hard to recreate what’s already been so successful in Europe for over a century.  American designer handbag line Be&D does a brilliant job of melding the two for modern twist on an old favorite, though this is not by accident.  Be&D, which was founded in 2004 by Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain, is now helmed solely by Dumain, who grew up with an affection for antique luggage and in college studied international business, Spanish and art. The handbags, shoes and other leather goods are modern and sexy, but carry elegant and flattering lines. Just what every woman wants.  My personal favorite is the Be&D Kan Kan Tote.

Our Vote: While the online store is easily navigable, the photos are only one-dimensional and can be a bit lackluster, particularly when trying to demonstrate the detail of the fabrics, materials and hardware used on the products. Nonetheless, the shopper still gets a decent idea of what the product might feel and look like in hand, and fortunately, the dimensions and vivid descriptions of the materials used in each product are listed.

Our Favorites:

1.    Be&D Kan Kan Tote - $1,390

2.    Be&D Rizzo Shoes – $458

3.    Be&D Dallas Tote - $895

Store Appeal: The Cartier Watch. The brand is associated with prestige, elegance, and royalty; it’s legacy is in jewelry and watches. Doing my research on this French brand I discovered that in 1904 (according to the Cartier Wikipedia page) Cartier came out with the very first practical wristwatch. With a reputation like that it’s no wonder that famous Princes, Kings, and celebrities have been adorned with Cartier on their wrists for ages. Well not only on their wrists, Cartier’s diamonds and jewelry is renowned all over the world as well. Take for example this gorgeous image of Princess Grace of Monaco in her Cartier engagement diamonds. Absolutely stunning!

Our Vote: If money were no object then it’d be a natural choice to adorn my wrist with the Cartier watch of my dreams. These watches are $$$$$, but their fantastic history among royalty and their timeless appeal make them a treasure worth handing down to future generations. There’s no denying the beauty and class wearing a Cartier automatically brings to any woman, man, king, or queen. I’d like to think that one day I’ll be successful enough to own something with such history and prestige!

Our Favorites:

1. Cartier Santos Dumont watch, $10,985.00.I know this is supposed to be a gentleman’s watch, but I love love love it’s vintage look and the alligator band. So classic.

2. Cartier Tank Francaise Diamond Watch, $15,840.00.

3. Cartier Women’s Santos 100 Automatic Pearl Rose Leather watch, $3,750.00.

Check out more Cartier women’s watches here.

Store Appeal: While Balenciaga has been around since the beginning of the Twentieth Century, this luxury lifestyle brand has expanded its collection of handbags, leather goods and fragrances to appeal to the modern women while maintaining the couture quality the brand is rooted in. From opulent materials like lambskin, to vibrant use of color and shapes, a Balenciaga bag is easily defined by its structure, use of hardware and well-designed details.

Our Vote: Unlike many high-end designer’s online stores which either have very little content or are more about the design of the site versus the utility of shopping, the Balenciaga site combines both artistry and function, making it highly navigable and a pleasure to view. While Balenciaga is well-known for its red carpet gowns and couture frocks, its handbags and leather goods are perhaps what the brand is best known for in recent years, thanks to the advent of the “it bag.”

Our Favorites:

1.) City Patchwork (in blues or golds) – $2,345

2.) Giant Money (in Moutarde) – $555

3.) Canard Compagnon Wallet – $ 575

Shop Balenciaga online…

Store Appeal: Bodhi? Never heard of the word? According to wikipedia, this ancient Sanskrit word can be defined as follows: “Bodhi is traditionally translated as “enlightenment”, but frequently (and more accurately) translated as “awakening” or “to Know“.

That being said, you can see the minimalist, Zen-like simplicity of the bags designed by Angela Han and Joseph Janus of Bodhi handbags and accessories. This collection is comprised of traditional canvas and leather goods, designed with function in mind, and have an architectural sophistication about them. They have both a men’s and women’s collection, and have been featured in publications worldwide, including Oprah Magazine and Maxim.

Our Vote: The site is very user friendly, with clean images that really showcase the craftsmanship and architectural quality of the bags. The website also has a great section of travel accessories. The leather Kindle holder really caught my eye, as I haven’t seen many companies designing accessories for the ever so popular Kindle wireless reading device.

Our Favorites:

1. Small soft leather clutch in Tusk, $228.00.

2. Men’s modern leather briefcase in Iced Latte, $698.00.

3. Travel drawstring canvas backpack in Tequila Gold, $498.00.

More Bodhi bags can be found here.