Hexagona Paris Bags At Fair Prices

Hexagona Paris is a French leather goods company celebrated for blending traditional Parisian style with everyday functionality. The brand creates affordable luxury, aiming to “democratize" high-quality leather goods without compromising on aesthetics or craftsmanship, making the label’s bags a great find!

  

The brand began as a family-run leather goods enterprise in the 1980s, then in 1986 launched the House of Hexagona in the heart of Paris’ fashion district. Its mission is to deliver beautifully designed and crafted bags that are utilitarian at fair market prices. With a classic and minimalist aesthetic, the bags are made of full-grain and vegetable-tanned cowhide leather, incorporating high-quality zips and shiny gunmetal or gold embellishments. Several water-resistant synthetic and nylon bags are also offered for the retailer's vegan-only customers.

The merchant caters to both men and women with a full array of top-handles, shoulder bags, crossbody styles, backpacks, and small leather goods. Each leather bag comes in up to 8 colors. Impressive!

Its nylon bags can be hand-washed with soap and water. Canvas and faux leather should be spot-cleaned.

I’ve posted a few of my favorites, and it was hard to stop at 11! The website has many more appealing styles. 

The days of overpriced and overhyped designer bags may be numbered. Moreover, isn’t it time to stop supporting retailers who fail to love you back? At Heagona Paris, customers don’t pay a premium for premium French leather goods.

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Please Bring Back The Original COACH Cassie

As a value shopper I’ve lost out on buying a few items I’ve waited to go on sale. It’s the risk you take when trying to stick to your budget. THEN I had a suitable everyday COACH handbag and didn’t feel comfortable spending $350 for a new bag I wanted, but didn’t really need at that movement, even one to this day I fawn over. Not pulling the trigger if you’re not deprived is a sensible best practice in money management. Often buying too far into the future ends up being a waste of money. Your needs change, or a better version of an item you covet launches. 

Well here we are in the future. The time has come for me to buy a new everyday leather handbag, so the original COACH Cassie (a medium size bag) is the one that got away! Such a classic handbag, COUCH surprised me by discontinuing it! True COACH fans never saw it coming!

The original COACH Cassie is 10" (L) x 7 1/4" (H) x 1 3/4" (W) with a top handle, outside pocket, turnlock closure and crossbody strap -- every characteristic I need and love!

I refuse to pay the inflated prices of the Cassies listed on the pre-loved market, costing more or the same as what it sold for new in pristine condition at COACH retail stores. If not a bargain, we should pass on buying a seller's used purse!!!

Therefore, I’m appealing to (um imploring, begging) COACH to reissue this classic bag in its larger size. I don’t care if COACH makes it slightly bigger, but I can’t use smaller dimensions in an everyday bag. Also please keep the super cute top handle as is. The looser top handles in the smaller COACH Cassie 19 or 17 isn’t as stylish. (I don’t understand the small bag craze at all. Costing nearly as much as a full-sized bag, yet you can’t fit your essentials inside! Waste of money!! Heck, just go with your pants pocket.😂) Finally, I prefer either pebbled leather or glovetan leather! Glovetan leather would be a dream!!!

Readers, the Cassie was inspired by the Court, a vintage COACH messenger bag in glovetan leather. If reissued, I’d buy either, or, and be over the moon!🦖

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Meet The Floto Milano Crossbody Shoulder Bag

Sometimes I regret not buying Coach's full-sized Cassie Crossbody bag before it was discontinued, an action by Coach that surprises me. Nowadays you can get a smaller Cassie 19, which is still a terrific bag, yet too small (7 inches long) to hold my essentials. With the Cassie 19, I'd have to carry a tote too.

Let me introduce you to Floto, an American small business that sells bags handcrafted in Italy on Amazon.

The retailer's Floto Miano Crossbody Shoulder Bag is a twin style to Coach's Cassie Crossbody bag for 1/3 of the price! The Floto bag is certified full-grain Italian leather (namely calfskin). The leather is hand-stained to patina by artisans in Tuscany to look better over time.

It comes in 2 sizes: Large: 8.5"W x 3.5"D x 6"H and Small: 7". The Floto Crossbody is shaped so similarly to the Cassie and has the same turnover closure plus 3 compartments to organize daily necessities such as a back pocket with a zipper to fit a cell phone. It's such a timeless and popular style!

With customer service, a warehouse, and a leather workshop located in Connecticut, the leather merchant offers a lifetime limited warranty meaning it strives to make good if anything goes wrong with the normal usage of its bag.

Amazon is bad for small businesses when they can't compete, yet a positive aspect is Amazon also gives small businesses a platform to sell their creations if or before they can afford to open brick-and-mortar stores. It's an opportunity for small businesses to reach and sell to customers far and wide. 

For consumers, it's safe to buy online from unfamiliar small businesses due to Amazon's free returns policy. Still, I'm committed to mindful shopping as I don't want to see a change in Amazon's free returns policy. Nowadays more retailers require customers to return items in-store to avoid fees because of abuses of online free returns. In appreciation for great customer care, let's treat everybody's money as if it were our own! Savvy Shoppers expect to be treated in good faith by retailers and are fair to retailers with generous return policies!

Wow, the Floto Milano Crossover Shoulder bag, as well as, the whole Floto line is such a smart Amazon find! Superb leather and craftsmanship at a reasonable price. Nice!

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5 Coach Bags Going From Office To Dinner

When you spend the day at the office but plan to have coffee, drinks, or dinner with friends after work you want a bag that holds all your essentials and yet can easily travel with you. As a big Coach fan, it's where I would always look first for fine leather or canvas bags at affordable, sane prices: See Coach, Coach Outlet and the Coach page on Amazon.

I'll feature 5 recommendations for bags that are compact and come in several colors or textures plus share one huge benefit that makes each one travel-friendly. All have straps, either a shoulder or crossbody strap for hands-free portability!

The following are 5 Coach From Desk to Dinner Bags:

The above 4 also have side compartments and pockets to organize all your necessities so you can reach in to grab items without a search or emptying your bag. It makes it simple to travel light. Still, there's a 5th bag I'm obsessed with right now for the woman who can't travel quite as light. Perhaps you need a tote to take papers, water, a computer, or an umbrella home after leaving work: 

Maggie Tote Bag

The Maggie Tote, our 5th bag, is bigger, professional, dressy, and ultra gorgeous! What a stunning and versatile bag ... as are all 5 Coach bags. Dressy in the right color! Of course, patterns or canvas tend to be a bit more casual. You can pick your color, according to lifestyle and how you wish to use your bag.

Golly, I really love the tote! Want, need, want, Ahhhhhhh😱Coach temptation strikes again!!👜🦖

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3 Quiet Luxury Bags

I'm happy to have finished my teens and 20s before the logo designer bag craze began. My parents bought me well-made leather shoes that held up and later on I followed their example with handbags. Moreover, we didn't collect them, just bought them as needed. After spending a fortune, some luxury-obsessed fashionistas are waking up and feeling the sting of debt for the surface status and not necessarily the quality of the luxury bags they collect ... and luxe brands including Hermès, Dior, and Chanel are noticing shrinking profits (in 2023 - 2024) -- some critics say due to their arrogance and greed in mistreating loyal customers. A shame as we love the aesthetics of the high fashion labels.

Today I'm featuring 3 luxury quality leather bags that are pricey yet attainable and made by companies that don't play the designer bag games with consumers, namely a) by creating scarcity and artificial demand; b) while offering poor snarly customer service; c) by charging $1000s more than the worth of the bags, i.e., for a logo; and d) sometimes selling customers inferior quality while hiking up prices several times a year.

Today's 3 featured brands offer customers fairness and quality for their business!

Full disclosure: I love the leather and craftsmanship of the featured bags below👇, however, I'm not a handbag maven, myself, and don't own them. I'm happy with COACH. But if ever I see an unbelievable deal, I'll know to snatch up the following bags and you will too!:

1) Strathberry - I'm featuring the tote (👆top image) and East/West (👈left image), but as with the other 2 accessory makers, there are many bag styles for customers. All Strathberry bags take up to 20 days to handcraft by artisans in Spain. The style is simple elegant lines oftentimes completed by Strathberry's signature bar closure.

2) Pourchet - A French brand that began making bags in 1903. The classic bags in its collection are made of durable smooth calf leather with impeccable craftsmanship and timeless straight lines. The Trianon is perhaps the retailer's most popular bag. It's minis a few Alexander Hamilton's under $400 which is far less than competitor French luxury bags.

3) Le Tanneur - is another French leather goods merchant that has been stitching full-grain leather bags since 1898. The Emile bag above reminds me of Saint Laurent's best-selling Envelope bag for roughly half the price!

If you're a bag maven who is tired of being gauged and underappreciated by the flashy logo brands (whose practices seem to care more about taking your money than giving you quality, service, or the respect you deserve for your purchase) perhaps consider Strathberry, Pourchet, or Le Tanneur. Each makes gorgeous, exceptionally crafted bags (indeed not cheap), yet for thousands less!

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Walmart Has Genuine Leather Bags Cheap

Real leather bag by Forestyashe at Walmart - Available in 7 colors on clearance $11 - $15

Walmart may not be the first retailer that comes to mind for finding a smart trendy bag, but you'd be surprised at the stylish deals and steals available on its website. For sure, I am! The styles, hues, and materials are many. I've picked 6 of the genuine leather options that are a fraction of their usual retail prices. There are more! The bags come in up to 7 colors.

HKCLUF Crossbody Hobo Bag

GAEKEAO Small Crossbody Bag

Michael Kors Pebbled Leather Small Tote 

FALAN MULE Clutch and Wristlet 

KAMUGO Leather Handbag with Gold Hardware and Cache

Walmart has quite an online selection of bags of all types. Sometimes the bags are cheaper than what a replacement strap costs elsewhere. By the way, if you like the bag but want to buy a thicker leather strap (look on Etsy, Amazon, or the retailer of your look-alike bag) as you are left with the funds to do so! The Walmart Birkin dupe bag comes from 4 third-party sellers listed within Walmart's online store, including Judy, Kamugo, Bestspr, and Ymtq. Reportedly it's genuine leather.

The London Fog bookbag dupe is reviewed here.

Be sure to read the descriptions carefully so you catch the sizes and textures of the bags. Reading every customer review is super helpful in not ordering mistakes, but if you don't like your purchase, Walmart has an easy and inexpensive return policy.

A nice bag on a budget, one that won't fall apart soon. Who knew?

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London Fog's Dupe For Christian Dior's Tote Bag

Three years ago Dior launched its wildly popular tote bag (called a book bag in the UK). Fashionistas bought them. But if you don't want to shell out $3,350 for it, have I got a smart dupe for you. It's London Fog's Beach Canvas Tote, and it sells at Walmart for $15, reduced to an unbelievable $10.50. The price points of both fashionable canvas bags are insane ... but only one is fabulous!

London Fog makes a durable, functional bag with the same vibe. The writing is only on one side, so you can show it or not. London Fog makes first-rate raincoats and umbrellas so I'd trust the quality of its totes also. Stylin' for a lot less.

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Loewe's Popular Puzzle Bag

Photo: Fashionphile

The popular decade-old Puzzle bag was the debut bag of Loewe's new creative director in 2014, Jonathan Anderson, and what a brilliant brainchild it turned out to be, putting a purse from a forgotten heritage brand on top of every luxury fashionista's wish list. The puzzle bag's unique cuboid shape and cutting method create its recognizable geometric lines. It was first conceived as a man's duffle bag. After women began buying it, the puzzle bag was also parlayed over to the women's department.

The Puzzle bag became a hit, not only due to its artistic modern design but also because of its rich and durable calf leather and outstanding craftsmanship. Each bag is hand-stitched together. The bag is fairly practical too. Not only does it hold all your everyday essentials, but it's also super versatile to use: You can clutch carry it, grab its top handle, or wear it as a shoulder or crossbody bag. Plus the bag has no screaming logos. Industry people like to call the Puzzle bag quiet-luxury, an if you know, you know bag. It also folds flat.

The bag is available in 5 sizes: Nano (5.25 x 4" x 2"), Mini (6.75" x 4.5"), Small (9.5" x 6.25" x 4.25"), Medium (11.5" x 7.75" x 4.75") and Large (14" x 8.25" x 5.75"). 

Now there are 2 versions, the Original Puzzle bag and a redesigned version called the Puzzle Edge bag. Here's the difference: (1) The Original Puzzle bag is made of several pieces of leather that are separately hand-sewn together, and it takes longer to make while (2) the Puzzle Edge bag has fewer pieces of leather that are folded into the same iconic cuboid shape for quicker production. (1) The Original has visible black lines where the seams are sewn together (2) while the Edge with leather folds doesn't. (1) The Original bag has metal feet and (2) the Puzzle Edge omits them. I don't know about you, but I favor bags with metal feet to protect the bottom of the bag. Why remove them?

Photo: Fashionphile

Many observers fear the Puzzle Edge is replacing the Original Puzzle bag, but so far both editions are for sell on the company's website at about the same price.

So will the original puzzle bag eventually be phased out? Nobody knows, but it kind of looks like it. More customers seem to prefer the original over the newer puzzle edge.

The puzzle bag still maintains its early duffle bag likeness, and fashion editors think it will be around for a long, long time to become a classic, making it hold its value on the resale market.

So which bag are you? The original or the edge?

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COACH In Lieu Of Jacquemus

I sound like a broken record, in saying I'm not a luxury bag maven. Instead, I'm loyal to COACH because you can't beat the leather, craftsmanship, or durability of its bags while spending far less money than what you'd pay for similar in-quality, luxury handbags. I hope the fantastic value of COACH continues into the future as Tapestry, COACH's parent company, recently bought Versace. How disappointing if we start seeing steep price hikes on COACH bags! So far, so good!

Certainly, I appreciate a well-made handbag, and can understand the appeal and temptation of procuring the top-tier luxury brands! Yet, even luxury bags that aren't as exclusive, well-made, or insanely overpriced as Hermès are expensive! Let me show you one example that sells for around $1,000 then I'll show you a COACH handbag to consider costing about 1/7 less in price. Wouldn't it be great to keep a tidy sum of your own money in your bank account?

The Jacquemus Le Grand Bambino Crossbody at $1,025 is a stunning classic handbag. If you bought it in a department store like Nordstrom, or Neiman Marcus at the right time, you could shave off roughly $130 from its full retail price. There is nothing wrong with this bag ... it's notable in leather, style, and craftsmanship.

And yet, if you're willing to compromise a tad on style to still end up with a smart, classic, and stellar leather handbag, consider the COACH Large Morgan Crossbody. At COACH's Outlet, the Morgan costs between $135 - $199 depending on color. It comes in black, white, light violet, light blue, dark green, red, and blocked canvas. While stock lasts, the Morgan is offered in either refined calf or crocodile-textured leathers. The workmanship of COACH is impeccable, plus guaranteed for life.

Obviously, the Morgan and Bombino aren't replicas of one another, but both bags have a similar shape, size, and classic vibe. Although I love the top handle and edginess of the Jacquemus, personally I wouldn't pay an extra $800 for it because the bags are enough alike in the ways that matter. You get the effect for far less moola. A true handbag aficionado would likely want the Bombino at any cost. Are you a bag enthusiast who'd part with an extra $800 if you had a similar cheaper option?

COACH is accessible to everyone with a job. I prefer sales to exclusiveness. COACH possesses everything I need: Classic style, fine leather, excellent craftsmanship, and durability at a fair price.

Of the two brands featured, which bag would you buy? Please explain.

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