The Chouette is very well-made

Susan Wagner — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:00:27 -0500

One of the reasons I like to see samples of bags is because I'm always wondering the same thing Sophie is -- is it REALY well-made? The Chouette bag certainly is. The fabric is sturdy (more like upholstery fabric than something you would make clothing out of) and the leather is soft to the touch. The bag transitions easily from one style to the next and doesn't bunch or pull.

I'm really impressed with it, honestly.

Fashion Find | Friday Playdate

The Chouette

hipgirlie — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:26:34 -0500

Sounds interesting. Is the quality actually good? From looking at their site it appears so from the descriptions, the imprints look good as well. Imagine how many different activities you could use this one bag for. I was amazed to see just how many different styles they offered as well.

Sophie

http://www.HipGirlie.com

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Chouette Sac - One bag, eighteen looks

Susan Wagner — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:35:11 -0500

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Chouette.

If you're thinking about ways to update your wardrobe on a budget (and who isn't these days?) think about adding one great accessory, something that will work with everything and last beyond this season. The simplest upgrade is a really fantastic bag. Bags are fabulous because they always fit (unlike your jeans), they're practical (your cell phone has to go SOMEWHERE!), and the right bag can dress up even the most basic jeans-and-tee combo.

But a distinctive handbag can be both an asset and a liability. My favorite handbag is a silk tote in a beautiful floral print; it's the perfect size and shape and the color is stunning, but sometimes the print isn't right with what I'm wearing or I'm in the mood for a hobo not a tote or I really want just a wee clutch to take to dinner, and I find myself scrambling to move my stuff from one bag to another as I'm running out the door. A great bag should NOT leave you scrambling; it should work with everything, all the time. But of course that means that you need a bag for every mood and every style, right?

Maybe. But what if I told you that there was ONE bag that would work for all your various looks? What if I told you, in fact, that there was ONE bag that could do everything you want a bag to do, including change color and shape and size?

The Chouette Sac can do precisely that. Seriously.

The Chouette is a beautifully made tote. No, wait, it's a hobo. No, it's a backpack! It's a lustrous leather bag. No wait it's a stunning fabric bag! It's the perfect bag for day! And evening! And weekends!

Actually, it's all of that and more. The Chouette Sac is one bag that can be styled eighteen different ways. The basic design is simple: the bag is a rectangular tote; the basic bag is reversible, with one side in leather and the other in fabric. By changing how you fold the bag and how you attach the straps, the Chouette Sac can be converted into a huge range of styles and colors. It also includes a smaller bag that can either serve as an internal pocket for the big bag, or can work on its own as a clutch or wristlet or small shoulder bag.

When I first read about the Chouette Sac, I was skeptical. Because really, how was it possible to for ONE bag to do all of that? Surely it would be a hassle to reshape, or the fabric would be ugly, or the bag would be floppy and unstructured. Because that's a lot ask from a bag, you know, that it convert to every possible style you can imagine.

And then I got my hands on an actual Chouette Sac, and honestly? It's all that and more. The bag is simple to convert, it looks great in every possible incarnation, and the construction is lovely. I may have wept a little when I had to put it back in the box to return it. Possibly.

The Chouette Sac is available in an impressive array of fabrics and leathers; custom orders are also possible. Prices range from $395.00 to $420.00, but keep in mind that this is truly like getting 18 bags for that price. That's less than $25.00 per bag, if you think about it, and I'm willing to bet that you have bags in your closet that you only RARELY carry that cost more than $25.00.

I'm not the only one with bags on my mind just now:

Gigi at Everything and the Girl has some great advice on how to buy an investment handbag. She's smart, that Gigi. Listen to her.

Cindy at Handbags.com has tips on maintaining your handbag -- care for your bag and it will last and last.

And just for fun, Pursnickety tells us what the Queen of England carries in HER handbag. The best part: "One thing that can always be found in the Queen’s handbags is an
S-shaped metal meat hook that she places on the dinner table’s edge to
suspend her bag from so that it doesn’t touch the floor." Awesome. And smart!

Susan Wagner writes about style at Fashion Find and ParentDish, and about everything else at Friday Playdate. Have a pressing style question? Email her at fridaystyle.susan@gmail.com.

BlogHer - Chouette Sac - One bag, eighteen looks - Comments

The Chouette is very well-made

The Chouette

Chouette Sac - One bag, eighteen looks