A Peek Inside Leah Ketcham's Carry On Bag

Leah Ketcham was inspired to start the Krickette line of handbags after a trip to India in 2009—you can see the influence in her whimsical, colorful bags. The bags also give back: some of the line is made in Los Angeles and the textiles and adornments are sourced from global charitable community groups in foreign lands. You just know Leah's going to have a unique carry on bag. Here's what she travels with:

What does your carry on bag look like?

I use the Krickette carry-on bag,  It is out of this world cool, very colorful and a real eye-catcher. Crazy fun color combinations and bright colors in the blue and sand versions. Not for the tame hearted! The pink version is feminine with flower patterned embroidery. The pompom tassel embellishment is fun and whimsical.

What are some of your fave beauty products for traveling? 

I am low maintenance when it comes to travel beauty products: My key items are: drinking water, Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer, Purel Deep cleaning hand sanitizer wipes and eye drops. I typically don’t wear make-up on flights and just wear a lot of moisturizer and eye cream.

What type of sweater or wrap do you wear? 

My girlfriend represents the Magaschoni line. I have several cashmere wraps in fun colors. I also wear Seaton Boyfriend sweaters. Both of which are super cozy and warm.

This Magaschoni cardi is ideal for a plane.

What do you like to read on the plane? 

I try to catch up on several pounds of magazines that pile up waiting for a “rainy day” or “trip”. I also use the plane ride to get a lot of work done (e.g., contracts, financials, etc.).

What type of music do you listen to on the plane? 

I usually don’t listen to music. I save that for working out. If I listen to anything on the plane, it is a movie.

What tech gadgets do you use when on the plane? 

I’m a “PC person” but, when I travel I rely on my Mac Book Air.

Where have you traveled recently? 

In the past year: India, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Paris, London, Dominican Republic, Greece, Newport, Nantucket, Orcas Island.

Jonathan Adler Beach Bags

Jonathan Adler Beach Bags by Jet Set Girls featuring tote handbags

Whether you're headed to Europe, Brazil, south of the border or simply to your neighborhood pool, Jonathan Adler has you covered with this line of kitschy beach bags. The canvas is coated so your beach reads and magazines won't get wet. The bags also feature interior pockets and patent leather trim. Save a lounge chair for us!

Kate Spade Elephants

Judith Leiber can keep her rhinestones, we're crazy for this little wicker number by Kate Spade. The Royal Plantation Elephant Basket bag was inspired by the Jamaican resort of the same name.

Royal Plantation Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Our elephant fever led us to this necklace from Calypso St. Barth for Target Elephant pendant necklace. Do you suppose wearing both is overkill?

Kate Moss for Lonchamp - The Faraway Collection

The latest handbag collection, from the eternally chic Kate Moss recently launched at Longchamp. The Faraway collection features three different lines of bags (from left to right): The Faraway Chic “adapts to the hippy deluxe ambiance,” Faraway Exotic was inspired by Kate’s trip to Peru—she brought back fabric samples that inspired the bag; Faraway on the Road is said to “evoke a timeless spirit of adventure” and is one kick ass weekend bag.

Kate Moss for Longchamp Women - Handbag and luggage : Longchamp.com, $745
Kate Moss for Longchamp Women - Handbag and luggage : Longchamp.com, $575
Longchamp handbag, $1,270

Watch the Faraway mini-movies on Longhamp.com featuring Ms. Moss, the bags and Marrakech, Morocco.

A Peek Inside Rebecca Minkoff's Carry On Bag

She make some of our favorite bags, including the classic Morning After Bag (below) and counts wine-tasting on the North Fork of Log Island as a favorite girls' getaway locale, so we had to know what Rebecaa Minkoff takes with her when she travels:

I currently use a Samsonite bag, it's durable and I feel like they thought of all the needed compartments.

What are some of your must have beauty products on the plane? 
Moisturizer, Chapstick and Darphin Eye Cream.

What type of sweater or wrap do you wear? 
A cashmere one.

Any recent or fave plane reads?
The History of Love is one of my fave books. 

What music do you listen too when flying? 
Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes and Florence and the Machine.

Anything else you have to have with you when you travel? 
Water and a scarf. I always get cold on the plane!

Where have you gone recently and where are you headed? 
I went on a month long tour this fall to Paris, London, Italy, Korea, and China. Next destination is Mexico for a vacation!

Rebecca Minkoff's Cherish Lattice Tote

This tote would be perfect for a beach or cruise vacation. Rebecca Minkoff designed a bag that straddles classy and edgy with the lattice detail in a natural leather that will look great with your bikini and tunic! It has a metallic snap to keep it together, one zip pocket for your valuables, and more open pockets for organizing. It's big enough to carry your necessities on board the airplane and small enough to be considered a purse, which means you can still bring your small wheel suitcase.  The Cherish Lattice Leather Tote is available at Saks for $395. Happy travels!

Lauren Merkin Sample Sale

One of the many reasons we love living in NYC is that we're able to hit all the best sample sales. But good news for those of you who don't live in the Big Apple: One of our fave sales, Lauren Merkin, is now happening online. We basically got all our girlfriends gifts at last year's (and maybe an item or two for ourselves). You'll find great bargains, like the Tatum Glossy Croc bag (above) for $125 marked down from $325. The sale runs through December 19.

Mulberry for Target

Mulberry for Target launches online and in stores today. The line includes a denim take on the classic Mulbbery satchel, the same bag in velvet and black patent leather

and a crossbody bag in pink leopard.

Let us know what you score!

Juicy Couture Handbags

The other day, we had the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with Juicy Couture Handbag designer, Kristen Schwinn. We arrived a little late, because we were coming from another event first, but one thing we overheard Kristen say, really hit a nerve:

As we were standing there with our shoulder aching from running around the city with a weighty handbag complete with a superfluous chain that must clock in a 3 pounds minimum, Kristen said that yes, she absolutely considers a bag's weight when designing.

We fell for the chiffon day dreamer bag (above) and the sequin clutch (below) is ideal for holiday gifts.

This post was based on a free sample.

FEED bags by Lauren Bush

One of the activities I most look forward to when planning an overseas vacation is shopping! The feeling of finding exotic items like a scarf in the indigenous print, tribal jewelery, a wooden decorative mask or a beautiful embroidered blouse and bringing back a piece of the destination is exciting. Lauren Bush brings us a little piece of Guatemala with her FEED Guatemala bags created in partnership with UNICEF and Lord & Taylor.

The FEED Guatemala bags are handmade a nonprofit organization called Nest, that empowers women and female artists around the world. The Guatemalan Nest artisans are using their traditional Ikat fabrics to make these bags the colors and woven patterns which reflect the vibrant Guatemalan culture. In addition to empowering women, the bags generate funds to help UNICEF provide micronutrient supplements to Guatemalan children who are stricken by poverty.

Because of its exotic look, carrying this bag around town will make you look like you just got back from vacation and you will feel great about it knowing the lives of those women who helped to create it, is better off because of your purchase. The FEED Tote bag is available at Lord & Taylor for $39 and the pouch for $19 and FEED will donate $10.50 or $3.50 respectively to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help support UNICEF’s nutrition programs in Guatemala.

Contributed by The Stylester.

This review was based on a free sample.

Carlos Falchi Henna Tiger-Snake Collection

We have Carlos Falchi's daughter, Kate to thank for the sexy new Henna Tiger-Snake collection. According to WWD, Kate studied the art of wedding henna for this Indian-inspired line of handbags. It's easy to see the henna motifs and curry colors in this clutch. "It has an air of funkiness without it being too over the top," she said.

The Carlos Falchi Henna Tiger-Snake Collection is available at Bergdorf Goodman and Saks.

Lead-Free Handbags

Until last night, we didn't even know there was a possibility our handbags could contain lead. We must have been on vacation when the report came out in January that a number of PVC bags, including those from Target, H&M, Macys and Kohl's, were found to contain lead. (We're wondering if our PVC shoes from these stores are at risk for lead, too?)

Now, thanks to the Robert Verdi eco-tweetup last night, we know there are safer options, including the K.C. Malhan line of bags. Designer Jessica Singh creates vegan bags made with lead-free beads (Does that mean our beaded tops could have lead too? We can't even think about that possibility.)

We love the leopard print clutch and the cosmo coin purse, both available at K.C. Malhan.

See our other favorite products that are good for the earth.

This review was based on a free sample.

Straw Bags

We spent last summer on the hunt for the perfect straw bag, to no avail. We couldn't find any bags that fit the bill of being stylish and functional. This upcoming season, looks like the challenge will be to pick just one!

We're partial to the Tory Burch Slouchy Straw Tote--Gold trim will always get us!

The Prada Straw and Leather Shopper is no slouch either, with fringed trim and a stylish rosette.

For a dash of color, there's the Kate Spade Foley Beach Benedictia.

Leave it to Jimmy Choo to make raffia look naughty in the Bazli raffia and leather tote.

For a bargain, try the Croft and Barrow ZigZag bag, available at Kohl's.

Best Friend Bags

 Remember those little heart necklaces you would break in two and share with your BFF back in the day? This Rebecca Minkoff take on the trend is a modern way to share your affection with your bestie! These are coin purses, but we would use ours to hold our lipgloss in our carry ons. Too cute!

Available at Bloomingdales.

Microbartering 101

One of our favorite things about our girls' trip is shopping. It's especially fun when you're in the Caribbean or somewhere with local crafts. If you don't have a trip planned to anywhere exotic, Buildanest.com brings the artisans to you. The site even does it one step better: the group provides interest-free financing to women in third world countries so they can purchase supplies, space at a bazaar and other items they need to start their own business. The proceeds from their items sold on the site, go to help the next generation of women.

The above lace rainbow tote is from Guatemala and retails for $60.

Eco-Friendly Bags and Wallets

We were first attracted to the looks of the Matt and Nat bags--then liked them even more once we learned the vegan bags feature linings made of recycled bottles. The lining of each bag is stamped to let you know exactly how many bottles were used, for example, 16 recycled bottles were used for the above bag.

If candy wrappers are more your thing, consider the Nahu Ollin line of bags that are made of recycled wrappers by small communities in Mexico.

Or check ot this Harvey Treecycle Wallet, made of recycled seatbelts.

Gap Fringe Bag

Glad to see our favorite fringe bag trend is still going strong--at both ends of the price spectrum.

Marc Jacobs leather fringe bag feels like a day at the beach.

While Gap's Suede Fringe Bag is made for City Girls.

Last Day to Enter! Coach Audrey Giveaway

You know you want it!! Tell us your dream getaway on our Facebook page before 11:59 PST tonight and you'll be entered to win the Coach Audrey Metallic bag shown above. Read on for more info on how to win.

Holiday Gift Ideas - Jimmy Choo Conti Bag

Forget the 80s, we want to take it back to the 70s and go disco style! One of our lifelong laments is that we weren't around to experience Studio 54 back in its heyday. If we could time travel, we would take the Jimmy Choo Conti bag, head to W. 54th Street on a Saturday night and wave it in Steve Rubell's face. No doubt the velvet ropes would instantly part and we would finally get our chance to party with Andy, Liza and Bianca.

*SIGH* Time travel or no, the print pony and snakeskin clutch is still pretty fab and definitely on our holiday wish list!

Holiday Gift Ideas - Studded Leather Clutch

This chic, studded bag from Top Shop could easily be mistaken for Jimmy Choo. We love that it's roomy enough to carry our phone, our Flip and our favorite lip gloss. It even has a strap for when we want to use it in the daytime. And at $70, it's not breaking anyone's bank.