We love these new totes and bags from designer Gretchen Christine, so when we had an opportunity to review them, we were keen to check them out.
As a new brand for us, we opted for a fun shoulder bag with pockets on the inside (so necessary for travelers) and beautifully embroidered flowers on the front, and a smaller purse that makes for a great bag when you don’t need to carry as much, which although it doesn’t come with inside pockets, includes a smaller bag inside — great for versatility.
The Gretchen Christine Jami Embroidered Convertible Tote
We love the elegance of this gorgeous black tote, which offers studs on the outside. This noir vegan leather handbag is lined with a durable maroon microsuede and features two internal pockets (yay!) and a removable inside pouch, which is great for a mobile device, chargers, make-up or other items which create a mess in a purse. We’ve all been there!
The handle drop is around 6.5 inches and the size is reasonable, making a better travel bag than day-to-day at 19 inches wide and 11 inches tall. This lovely Gretchen Christine tote has a great little tassle as well which we think is a fun add-on.
Note that the inside bag shown below can attach to a hook on the inside of the main bag, which I’ve been using for keys. No more fishing for them at the bottom of my bag, which I often do with other similar bags in my collection.
See below for the interior of the bag and the rich look of the maroon microsuede. I use the open pockets for business cards, lipstick and pens and there’s a zipped pocket on the other side as well.
Its magnetic snap closures are key for travelers as well. I love this bag and have been getting comments on it wherever I go. Honestly.
Gretchen Christine Audriana: Vegan Leather Messenger
Next up is a super functional bag from Gretchen Christine, great for an event moreso than an every day bag because of its lack of inside pockets.
The Audriana is made with vegan leather as well and offers a magnetic closure externally, and a two-in-one internal compartment that can removed and used as its own crossbody. We really love the little crossbody bag because its simplicity and size make it a great option for those dinner rendezvous or more elegant events.
This bag comes in three colors: gray, nude and black and all have a luxe microsuede interior, gilded-gold hardware, and a reversible guitar strap. Note that while the bag comes with the below strap, Gretchen Christine offers changeable straps that are loaded with fun, for versatility and to create a different look each and every time you head out the door. I absolutely love this feature!
Cleaning is easy – we already tried. You can simply wipe off the vegan leather with a damp soapy sponge and it look as good as new. They offer a two-year warranty on all Gretchen Christine products, which includes normal wear and tear as well as manufacturing defects.
Head on over to their website for more information on their brand, photos of other bags and how to order.
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Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
