It’s no secret that the wardrobe stylings of TV’s Mad Men have more than influenced the past few seasons of fashion. We don’t think it would be too bold as to claim that Mad Men’s costume designer Janie Bryant is single-handedly responsible for the resurrection of the notion of ladylike dressing, i.e. ditching the jeans and tees in favor of A-line skirts, blouses and pleated wool pants. And for this we thank her. We now have a new game we like to play in the morning when we stand naked in front of our closet, desperately searching for an outfit. It’s called “What Would Betty Wear?”, Betty of course referring to Mad Men‘s leading lady, Betty Draper. When it comes to our handbag choice, the answer is fairly obvious. No hobo bag, oversized satchel or tote bag for her. Instead, taking a cue from Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2010 runway, we’re turning to small, structured ladylike purses (with top handles to boot) that we know Mrs. Draper would surely approve. And Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs isn’t the only designer creating prim and proper purses for the season. Design houses including Dior, Celine, Lanvin, Mulberry and Yves Saint Laurent are crafting their own elegant pieces of armcandy for fall, pieces we know Betty Draper would love to get her hands on. Click through to shop our top 10 ladylike handbags for Fall/Winter 2010.
1) Leather croc lock bag – $84.25 at ASOS
Nothing says sophistication like crocodile leather, even if it is only mock. The square shape and briefcase design of ASOS’ lock bag compliment the croc effect and make it our number one ladylike bag for the season.
2) Bow two tone box bag – $55 at Topshop
Ribbons and bows have always been a favorite amongst the ladies who lunch. Topshop’s girly bow box bag is too adorable to resist.
3) Leather portfolio clutch with chain handle – $92.68 at ASOS
The designer resemblance is quite clear in ASOS’ leather portfolio bag but at less than $100, we’d be more than happy to give this bag a home.
4) Patent vinyl twist-lock purse – $24.80 at Forever 21
Talk about retro! Forever 21′s patent twist-lock purse might be a little too bold for Betty Draper, but its lipstick red shade is just right for us.
5) Kate Spade Five Points Camille handbag – $475 at Kate Spade
Even though Kate Spade’s Five Points Camille bag is slightly larger than our other nine selections, we had to mention its muted metallic gold shade, subtle pleating and solid top handle.
6) Coach haircalf Hamptons Ocelet bag – $338 at Coach
No collection of ladylike handbags is complete without an animal print version, like Coach’s Hamptons Ocelet bag in haircalf. Keep the outfit tame while sporting this purse – basic black or camel are two color stories to stick with.
7) Me Char Grace of Grey leather bag – $399.99 at Mod Cloth
We never knew how nice grey and orange looked together until we saw Me Char’s Grace of Grey handbag. The orange frill detail give the purse a slightly juvenille look but the twist lock clasp and chain strap bring it back up to ladylike status.
8) Halston Heritage Carla Lady Flap bag – $295 at Nordstrom
Because even the most ladylike of all ladies needs a shot of color every once in a while, we had to include Halston Heritage’s Carla Lady Flap bag. The glossy patent stripes are available in both lime and scarlet.
9) Vegan leather Matt & Nat Air handbag – $145 at Matt and Nat
We have a tendency to lean towards black handbags simply for their versatility. When it comes to choosing a ladylike handbag that we know we still love a year down the road, we pick Matt & Nat’s Air handbag in vegan leather.
10) Alexander Wang Tai Dopp Kit Bag – $795 at Shopbop
Even Alexander Wang, the maven of touch-girl chic, couldn’t resist designing a structured ladylike handbag for fall. His snake-embossed Tai Dopp Kit bag is a hybrid lunchbox meets toolbox meets grandma’s vintage treasure.
