Who: Matt and Nat  – Montreal, Quebec

What: Matt and Nat Yacht Studded Envelope Bag

Where: Eco-Tobi – $205 $153, in black or bone

Why We Love It: We’ve held out long enough on the heavy metal/zipper trend, but after seeing this Matt and Nat bag we are ready to throw in the towel. The studded bag has all the features we’ve be looking for. It’s got the slim profile of a clutch with the volume of a satchel and plenty of pockets for stowing those must-haves. It’s incredibly versatile -  it comes with a long detachable chain link shoulder strap for hands-free ease,  a shorter strap for a more tucked tote and you could go without a strap and you’ve got an oversized clutch. And of course, this bag comes complete with the vegan and style factor we’ve come to expect from Matt and Nat.

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Who: L.L.Bean Signature – Portland, ME

What: Mariner Leather Purse

Where: L.L.Bean – $155 on sale for $124 on sale even more for $77.50! In tan or blue (see also leather tote)

Why We Love It: So yes, perhaps we are biased because of our Maine roots (we grew up going to L.L.Bean at midnight, for a long time they had no locks on their doors because they never closed!), but we are seiously swooning over L.L.Bean’s new Signature Collection, a nod to L.L.Bean’s heritage and classic Americana. Click to continue »

Who: Lotus Jayne – Montclair, NJ

What: Red Checked Kroma Scarf

Where: Lotus Jayne – $9 for small in red & $12 for blue (Update: Lotus Jayne just received a new shipment of scarves, so the red one is back!.)

Why We Love Them: We are totally smitten with spring and summer scarves. Not only is it the answer to surviving over A/C-ed buildings, but it’s also the female equivalent to the tie and a great way to spice up an outfit by adding color, texture and pattern. This red-checked scarf brought to us from Cambodia by Jill Kimball of Lotus Jayne is absolutely one of our favorites.

It is incredibly versatile and is the perfect compliment to any outfit. We’ve worn ours with dresses, jeans, skirts, stripes, prints, blues, whites, jackets, tanks, vests, the whole gamut and it works with just about everything. And best yet, the purchase of this scarf supports artisans in regions of the world like Cambodia, where this 100% cotton scarf is hand-woven by fair trade collectives supporting these struggling communities. And by wearing this scarf you can share the story of the Kroma Scarf:

During the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970′s, brutal dictator Pol Pot made the checked kroma the national scarf for the tyranny that led to deaths of over a million Cambodian people. Today, however, the cotton kroma has been defiantly reborn as an optimistic symbol of a bright future for the Cambodian people. In Cambodia today, you will see the krama worn by everyone and used in every conceivable way, not only as a stylish accessory but also as a grocery-sling, doll, cart pull — the krama’s uses are endless.

Read more at Leisure Cambodia.

Who: s u w h a – London, U.K.

What: Taylor Hat

Where: s u w h a -  $199 & 30% off all full-priced items through May 12th with coupon code “bonvoyage12″ (oh & this coupon is good for the entire bon voyage collection!)

Why We Love It: We can’t help but get wrapped up in the fantasy of this hat -  donning our Katherine Hepburn trousers and a crisp white button-up or wandering through the bodega in a long flowy white dress or leaning against a fence with a cigar, rolled up jeans and a v-neck tee or curled up on the beach with a colorgul tunic and a stack of trashy magazines….  all that from one single hat, and that’s what makes it the quintessential hat for summer. Click to continue »

Who: Nervous System – Boston, MA

What: peltate earrings

Where: Nervous System – stainless steel $50,  gold plated $60

Why We Love It: This has got to be the smartest jewelry on the planet. Combining math and science, technology and imagination, MIT grads Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg have created this one-of-a-kind collection of jewelry rooted in nature. Using computer simulations, selective laser sintering (3-D printing) and CNC machines the turn the most intricate patterns found in nature like the walls of plant cells, the growth of coral branches and the web of veins that permeate leaves, into truly amazing pieces of jewelry. Click to continue »

Who: Pansy Maiden – Medford, MA

What: Hands in my Pockets (H.I.M.P.) Clutch. In celebration of Earth Day,20% of sales  between April 16th to the 25th will be donated to the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

Where: Pansy Maiden – $72

Why We Love It: So we love this clutch from the outside – the charcoal grey with the white band, the oversize flap, the versatility- it can be worn as a wristlet, a shoulder bag, a clutch, and with some ingenuity as a chic waist slung bag, not to be confused with a fanny pack. Click to continue »

Earth Week Goal #1 – Find new home for perfectly good, hard-to-part-with stuff that I love, but have never used. (Goal #2, only buy stuff that fits, that I love, that is quality and will get lots of use… )

Spring has arrived (just barely here in New England) and I am on a mission to get organized, so I am holding an Earth Day Sale!!

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Who: Kate Aiello – Kennebunkport, ME

What: Recycled Glass Necklace

Where: etsy- $100

Why We Love It: We completely smitten with this eco-modern interpretation of the classic pearl necklace (we never could pull off pearls).  The perfectly imperfect recycled glass beads remind us of sun-kissed days spent on the beach in search of those precious pieces of sea glass that had washed ashore…  Love the simple elegance with the slightly frosted tumbled glass strung on a pure white satin ribbon. Oh, just absolutely perfect for the beach-loving bride! Click to continue »

Who: N:F:P (New Form Perspective) – Beacon, NY 

What: Snap Neck Warmer

Where: N:F:P – $55

Why We Love ‘Em: The worst of the winter is behind us (hopefully), and yet we can’t help but pine for this versatile scarf from N:F:P. Love the wear-many-ways approach to the design. This snappy scarf can be worn buttoned up as a turtleneck, draped as a cowl neck, snapped on the sides for a chic scarf or as a neck warmer by pulling the ends through the slit on the side. Each scarf is handknit from your choice of 100% merino wool or bamboo. Click to continue »

Who: Po Campo, Chicago, IL

What: Bike Rack Bag

Where: Supermarket – $160 for the Rack Bag & $90 for the Handlebar Bag

Why We Love ‘Em: Finally the solution of the age old dilemma of how to look cute on your bike without succumbing to the cumbersome messenger bag or the dreaded backpack. Now, thanks to the ladies at Po Campo, you can ride in style with your cute little Rack Bag strapped neatly to the back. Once you arrive at your destination simply unclip the straps and you are off with your stylish tote in tow. They also have a handlebar bag if you prefer to keep your valuables in front.

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