Do the middle panel with the snakeskins, but in a horizontal manner, then the two side panels with plain leather…whatever, this one looks really off….

 I love colorblocking. I love the way the seemingly simple trend took over the fashion world quickly and had everyone feeling like some novel idea was introduced in a ground-breaking manner. Yet the trend works so well on everyone, showcasing solid colors paired together to give a sleek yet bold look. The handbag world has taken to the trend as well, with many designers releasing versions of the trend that they believe will get people buzzing. But as always, some do it in a way that draws us in, and others totally miss the mark.

Chloe missed the mark with its Gabby Bucket Bag and its sister bag, the Chloe Gabby Mixed-Snakeskin Duffel is just as bad, if not worse.

   Chloe goes the predictable route, but this time, to great effect,It’s gorgeous! I love the color! And it’s definitely a bag that you’ll carry for years, if the lambskin holds up.
    I’ve written before about Chloe’s tendency to stripmine every halfway successful accessory the brand has ever had into oblivion. “Oh, what’s this? We’ve made a satchel that people sort of like? Redesign it into a tote, a shoulder bag, a clutch and three different types of hobos immediately. And make it into a second satchel, just for good measure.” Those tactics are used to a certain extent by most designers, but Chloe’s insistence on beating a good design into the ground is almost singular in its ferocity.

   Every now and then, though, the practice works out, as with the Chloe Madeleine Lambskin Tote, based on last season’s beautiful minimalist runway satchel. What can I say? Even a stopped clock is right twice per day. This handbag is one of those times for Chloe.
  Perhaps obviously, it’s the leather and color combination that really make the bag in this case. And when minimalism is the order of the day, smart choices in material are so important, because it’s one of the only distinguishing characteristics that the bag has. Chloe did well to pick a supple material in an on-trend shade, and this is the sort of bag that could be carried for years to come. If only Chloe made more of these types of accessories. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $2681.

At first glance, the See by Chloe Stamped Dotty Carmen Satchel is a pretty nice choice. The leather is neutral and plentiful, the shape is classic and at less than $500, the price is right. But the more I look at it, the more a couple of things about the design are bothering me, and I’m wondering if I’m the only one.

 First, is this supposed to be ostrich? The bag’s retail listing makes no mention of the leather’s possible faux-exotic intentions, only that it’s embossed, and the texture isn’t quite right to mimic real ostrich. So depending on who you are, you might look at this bag and think, “Oh, dots,” or “Oh, really bad fake ostrich.” My compulsion is the latter, unfortunately, and now that I’ve had the thought, I can’t unthink it.

As See by Chloe bags tend to do, though, that’s not all that’s bothering me. I don’t like when designers add on visual features that are usually functional, but do so purely for aesthetic sake, and that’s the case with the twee little pockets that you see here. What are you supposed to put in there, a single breath mint? I’ll partially forgive the design faux pas because the company saw fit to provide an optional crossbody strap, but still, those pockets bother me something fierce. I kind of want to saw them off. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $495.