Neat TREND! Stylish Portlanders sling crossbody bags
May 11, 2010 by karenvitt
Filed under Neat STUFF, Neat TREND
By Erin Flesch and Karen Vitt, NEAT local trend watchers
Crossbody bags are basically the fashion embodiment of everything we wish we were: cool, laid back, stylish and practical (if you’ve ever seen us drop an entire rent check on a cute outfit, you’d know we are quite the opposite of that last adjective). This relaxed, hands-free purse style is a perennial favorite among always-on-the-go Portlanders, but it’s more stylish than ever for spring and summer 2010. These days we’re seeing crossbody bags slung across fashionable women wherever we go, and local Portland shops are slinging some fantastic styles.
Given our natural affinity for anything outdoorsy, crossbody bags are an obvious choice for style-conscious Portlanders. “A crossbody bag is a must-have for anyone who leads an active lifestyle, and who doesn’t want to sacrifice function for fashion,” said Amanda Carter, marketing manager for the chic Northwest-based Ellington Handbags. “Spring and summer are the seasons for outdoor adventures – day hikes, bike rides, shopping at Saturday Market, concerts at the zoo, festivals at the Gorge. A crossbody bag is perfect for carrying your essentials without weighing you down.”
Carter’s current faves include Ellington’s glossy leather “Bella” crossbody purse (above right, $129) or the “Annie” bag in lightweight nylon ($39). “In particular,” Carter notes, “the crossbody style is really well suited for bicyclists – and we know how PDX loves its bicycles!” We do, indeed.
Whether you spend your free time at the farmer’s market, biking across the Hawthorne Bridge or you just like to have your hands free for browsing the racks on Northwest 23rd Avenue, there is a chic crossbody bag just waiting to make your life easier. Here are some stylish local crossbody handbag options for urban Portland warrior women on the run (or on the ride):
Moxie – This sweet brown-and-gold bird print purse by Mimsy is on our must-own list, and it just screams Portland-chic in its vegan vinyl glory. Adorably square, with yellow checkered lining, it’s a steal for $56 (on sale from $84!). Moxie, 2400 E. Burnside St.; 503-296-6943. www.moxiepdx.com
Amenity Shoes – We love the crossbody bags with versatile straps that can be worn as more traditional shoulder bags when you’re not in warrior mode. Done up in a sexy forest green (or red or brown if you like), this beautiful bag from Nino Bossi ($192) is sleek and stylish, with plenty of pockets to hold your goodies as you skip from desk to dinner without missing a style beat. Amenity Shoes, 3430 N.E. 41st Ave.; 503-282-4555. www.amenityshoes.com
Ellington Handbags – Amanda Carter mentioned a couple of neat crossbody bags from the local handbag heroes above, but they have so many perfectly Portland styles we have to shout out a few more. We are practically drooling over the cheery yellow Brooke crossbody bag ($109); the pretty purple Eva messenger style satchel (right, $159); and of course the easy-riding and eco-friendly “Joni” bag in grass green (top pic, $99). Ellington, 1533 N.W. 24th Ave.; 503-542-3149. www.ellingtonhandbags.com
Frumoasa Boutique – We found another versatile keeper at this neat Northwest 23rd Avenue shop. The Anita handbag in a brilliant blue comes with a long, attachable strap so you can enjoy two bags for the price of one. Frumoasa Boutique, 728 N.W. 23rd Ave; 503-299-6300. www.frumoasaboutique.com
Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes – We’ve wanted to petition Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes to add the word “Handbags” to its title for a long time now. The streetwise accessories shop is as great a source for cool handbags as it is for footwear, and right now they’ve got tons of crossbody bags we covet. Some favorites include the slouchy, bright blue Tano 4581 small body buckle bag ($142), which is perfect for day; and the compact, sexy little black Hobo VI 3687 (right, $98) which is well suited for night time antics. Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes just introduced online shopping, so you can now check out even more cool crossbodies online. Imeldas and Louie’s Shoes, 3426 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.; 503-233-7476 and 935 N.W. Everett St.; 503-595-4970; www.imeldasandlouies.com
Queen Bee Creations – Portland handbag classic Queen Bee just opened a new Hive headquarters on North Williams Avenue, so it’s easy to shop for all its cute crossbody bags in one cheery space. Our fave is the Chirp Tomo Bag ($64), which is just the right size for all your essentials and has the Bee’s cute signature chirping bird logo and an adjustable seatbelt style strap that goes from shoulder bag to crossbody in a flash. 3961 N. Williams Ave.; 503-232-1755. www.queenbee-creations.com
Fossil – We’re fans of Fossil for its consistent output of high quality, vintage inspired clothing and accessories, and that holds true to Fossil’s spring collection of cute crossbody bags, too. We love this cool, retro-inspired printed canvas Sasha crossbody bag ($78, which we also found at Nordstrom, by the way), and which comes with a removable strap that converts the style into a shoulder bag. Fossil, Pioneer Place Mall, 700 S.W. Fifth Ave.; 971-544-1952. www.fossil.com
Top photos courtesy of Ellington Handbags. If you like what you see on The Neat Sheet, please consider becoming our Facebook Fan, following us on Twitter and/or linking to us from your site. We need your help to spread the word so we can keep it up!
