Get ready men. Exclusively for Barneys NY, this Men's Fox Fur Hobo with metallic snake handles and strap from Leonello Borghi is completely over the top. What a way to tote your belongings as you saunter up Madison Avenue to window shop.

Quite large at 20" x 14" x 6" you could even pack for a weekend in Reykjavic. $2670 USD.

Available at Barneys NY here.

Tomas Maier has created a limited edition Bottega Veneta Cabat inspired by the iconic Yellow Cabs of NYC, called the NYCabat. The black nappa leather has been hand woven and hand brushed to reveal the iconic taxi yellow undertone, which makes each piece totally unique. The sterling silver plate on the interior will be engraved with the edition number and NYC.

“I loved the graphic black and yellow of the taxi cabs when I first visited New York City in the 1970s,” says Creative Director Tomas Maier. “For me, as for many others, the taxi was shorthand for New York: bold, unyielding, exhilarating, a vehicle, quite literally, to so many possibilities. The new Cabat reflects my feeling that, as much as the city and the world have changed, New York remains incredibly vibrant.”

Limited edition of 50, available exclusively at Bottega Veneta Fifth Avenue.

It's a beautiful Sunday morning and we are relieved that the rain has subsided. These bright and cheerful totes would be the perfect companion and are inspired by the above true story: "The plan for the posters was to relay a message from King George VI to his people that all capable measures to defend the Country were being taken". I think the sentiment is as true as ever, reminding us all to: Keep Calm and SHOP On. Available at Leffot, $45 USD.

Leffot website here.

I have been wanting a Louis Vuitton 45 Keepall for some time. I have two 50s (Classic Monogram and Stephen Sprouse Graffiti Original 2001 Khaki) but they are for travel exclusively and I want an LV for everyday. I've been hoping for a great deal on ebay, but I am always concerned about authenticity. But, when I noticed this new Macassar Keepall with black leather handles and trim, I really got obsessed. I love the modern update in black leather with the new burgundy interior and I think the size would work well for my daily needs. Should I splurge?

Available here for $1320 USD.

Back down to earth. The Bottega Veneta Satchels I featured yesterday in exclusive Exotic skins are not your only option. Tomas Maier has included these luscious Toro Satchels in the collection in Nero and Truffle as well, for a quite reasonable $680 USD. This new Toro skin is a gorgeous glowing grained bull calf. In Bottega Veneta Boutiques now. Total Classic.

These gorgeous new Black Exotic Fall/Winter 2009 Men's Satchels from Bottega Veneta are to die for. The Waxed Python Double Flap is the perfect Luxury for toting around those A4 documents. The Soft Crocodile satchel is as luxurious to touch as it is to behold. Of course, either one would be appropriate for evening. The Man Clutch in its most extravagant rendition.

Available at Bottega Veneta here.

The House of Balenciaga has neglected the men in the bag department until this season. We were basically left with only the Weekender, which I love, but we were always craving more. Finally, new for Fall/Winter '09 are these two styles. The two bags on the left are fantastic laptop bags with a roomy enough interior for toting gym essentials. They are approximately 40cm wide. I would unzip the double zipped top and tuck in the flap, using it as an open top tote. The bag on the right is a much larger travel size. The interesting thing I learned today is that they are made of Camel skin, which is tougher, thicker and more structured than the traditional Balenciaga lambskin or goatskin. Grey and black only for now. The laptop bag is $1595 USD.

Thom Browne has not truly entered into the accessories arena until now. Sure, the odd one off briefcase in his showroom or a few pairs of shoes, but not a signature bag. This briefcase will suit his customer perfectly. This retrofitted "Samsonite style" case, replete with red, white and blue striped interior lining is so completely true to its brand: 1960s upscale WASP business executive. Available at Barneys NY. Price approximately 910 USD.

Inspired by Kevin's "Gender Bender" series at his inspirational blog: www.MyMANybags.blogspot.com, I present my first "Crossover Bag" from Prada, the Large Nappa Bowler in Black. It think the styling and size would be a great man's day bag/large briefcase and would even work as a small gym bag.

Available at Barneys.com.

I haven't really paid enough attention to Balenciaga until a striking bag caught my eye at Barneys NY a few weeks ago in a new Pre-Fall '09 color called Galet. Galet means Pebble in French and it could not be more accurate. The color is a warm grey or pale taupe. It is incredibly neutral and very seductive. Barneys had already sold the bag by the time I called, so here is a bit of my visit to Balenciaga New York.

Presenting my new Balenciaga Weekender in Galet!!

I am sure that the Louis Vuitton Macassar Monogram collection will be arriving in stores soon. There were many pieces shown on the Fall 2009 runway, but there is still some question as to which ones will make it into production and finally to the stores. Macassar Ebony is a precious decorative wood known for its pronounced black and brown streaks. Vuitton is no doubt evoking this unique coloration with its use of black leather trim on these traditional monogram bags. Macassar Monogram gives a new edge to the traditional monogram that will be perfect for urban men everywhere. Who says you can't wear black with brown?

I couldn't find an image of Galet, but this Sahara is close. I like that the hardware does not pop as much against the light neutral background.

I packed my Hermès Travel Birkin to the brim and squashed it into the trunk of the car for our long rainy drive to Provincetown. It survived and was large enough to fit all my essentials. Maybe I don't need a Balenciaga Weekender after all.

I love this bag for being so over the top. I saw one in pale grey at Barneys and I also like this version in "Officier" from the Balenciaga website. Bold and Beautiful.

Marc Jacobs sure does love the competition: Hermès. First Marc was seen toting a 40cm HAC around Paris (first photo) and his latest bag is a 40cm Birkin that he has been carrying around NYC (the other three photos). I love that Marc loves Hermès.

The Hermès Luxury brand has been in continuous existence since 1837, when they were primarily a saddlery or sellier. In 1892, Émile-Maurice Hermès, grandson of the founder Thierry, introduced the Haut à Courroies or HAC for short, which translates loosely as "High Belts", referring to the belt straps that are used to close the bag. The HAC was inspired by the totes he had witnessed the Argentinian gauchos using to carry their riding equipment on his recent trip to South America. Over the years the HAC has been produced in various sizes from 40cm - 60cm and is primarily used as a travel bag. Famously, Humphrey Bogart carried one that is on view at the Hermès Museum.

Like all Hermès bags, it is produced entirely by a single craftsperson with a double needle saddle stitch that is done completely by hand with beeswax coated linen thread. If a stitch should break, the bag will not unravel because of this double needle technique. The hardware is applied by a method unique to Hermès, called pearling: the plate is first nailed on and then the nail is cut off on the back side and the rough end is hammered down by hand until it resembles a pearl. This method is painstaking, but more permanent than screws, which can come undone. The handles, also produced by hand require several layers of leather and are shaped on the thigh of the craftsperson, so that they are all slightly unique. This attention to detail, in part, explains the cost.

In the 1930s, inspired by the new desire for ladies handbags, Hermès introduced the "Petit Sac Haut à Courroies", which was a smaller, single handled bag, which retained the closing straps of the original HAC. This bag was only a mild success until Grace Kelly started to carry it and was famously snapped by a paparazzo, while she tried to hide her pregnancy behind a large black crocodile version. This image was splashed across LIFE Magazine in 1956 making the bag as famous as the Princess carrying it. A short time later, this bag was renamed the "Kelly", in her honor.

In 1984, when songbird Jane Birkin found herself seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then President of Hermès, on an Air France flight from Paris to London, she took the opportunity to express the lack of a great leather travel bag for women--she pointed to the straw tote she had resorted to using. This discussion ended up with Dumas taking notes and making sketches. Dumas returned to the workshop and basically modified the HAC to Ms. Birkin's specifications, making it both smaller and shorter, but with longer handles, enabling it to be carried in the crook of the arm. The end result was delivered to Jane Birkin, creating the first "Birkin". It is my understanding that she receives a new one each year as a gift from Hermès and that she donates her old bag to a charity auction.

Ultimately, I believe that much of the success of Hermès can be traced back to the original and iconic HAC. The bag that inspired it all. Without the HAC, there likely would never have been a Kelly or a Birkin. I imagine that if the HAC has survived for over 100 years, it will survive another. The Kelly and the Birkin are so iconic that they are now part of the fashion lexicon.

A special thanks to Dana Thomas and her inspiring book, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster.

A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to his home in Singapore. He found this luscious black matte crocodile hobo at Kwanpen, a Luxury Exotic bag maker from the island. I think it is just gorgeous.

Kwanpen's website here.

These are my favorite bags from the Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2010 Men's Collection. The three different Cabats are all amazing. I can't wait to see them in person. I am happy to report that Tomas Maier has repeated the Vachette Tote in Purple--one of my favorite colors. My report on the Natural Vachette Tote here. I think it is destined to become a classic.

Just unveiled at the Dolce & Gabbana Men's Spring/Summer 2010 show, virtually every model sauntered down the catwalk carrying a clutch. I remember years ago while Domenico and Stefano were espousing cargo pants, they said how much they hated manbags. Ah, how times have changed. As the final evening looks were being presented, take note that none of the models were carrying these bags. The first image is my favorite look from the collection.

I ride a Vespa everyday in Manhattan, where I live. I think it is the best form of transportation for an urban locale. I hate the subway and a taxi is so slow. I can zoom up to Madison Avenue in a flash or be in SoHo in minutes. I was getting on my scooter when I looked down and I thought this was a funny image. You see, I carry my bags on the hook between my handlebars, which works better than one would think.