Changing gender norms are bringing us beautiful, more functional handbags

The new trend is a combination in feminine and masculine aesthetics, it's an androgynous style. This style open up a world of fashion possibilities and give designers new inspiration to create beautiful and functional handbags.

Not so long ago, handbags were designed to look delicate and feminine. All other qualities were secondary. The blurring of traditional gender norms, however, are (at long last) changing that. 

Androgynous trends, which combine feminine and masculine aesthetics, are now giving us new, liberating looks that open up a world of fashion possibilities and give designers new, refreshing ways to create beautiful, functional handbags.

Just look at leather purses. They've always been a strictly feminine accessory. Lately, though, you'll see men carrying trendy man purses ("murses"), designer briefcases, or travel bags that rival women's accessories in terms of sheer elegance. 

And while "manbags" are one of the most visible examples of crumbling male stereotypes in fashion, women are seeing just as many changes. 

As women make strides in the workplace, they’ve begun to value functional, "neutral" handbags over embellished or delicate-looking ones. Minimalist leather satchels and totes are gaining ground as they often behave like briefcases or sport duffels. These styles not only convey the determined message some want to send, they also compliment modern women's lifestyles and needs.

As roles continue to change, though, there are things to keep in mind to ensure your bag is serving your needs, while still looking great: 

• Practicality: Your bag, whether medium or large, must be practical. A functional handbag not only can handle all the stuff you lug around, it should be comfortable and not hinder your natural movements. Being comfortable makes you look smart. Smart is professional. Smart is attractive. 

• Material: Leather handbags are timeless and durable and are usually the first choice for high-end handbag designers.

• Style: Whatever style you choose, your bag should be easy to match with many outfits and be appropriate for many occasions: meetings, lunches, after-work drinks, and so on. (Check out some of our tips on choosing the right color and size handbag.) (Add links to previous posts.) 

• Quality: Functionality comes from great design and craftsmanship. Clean lines, perfect stitching, and quality material are the foundation of every great accessory. Never trade quality for a trend. 

At Nantív, we’ve designed two handbags that fit the above criteria and that straddle that fun line between the feminine and masculine. 

TIV: Our very own androgynous briefcase. 

Briefcases have always lived firmly within the male domain. Not anymore. Women need a structured bag with simple geometry that can hold an iPad or small laptop as well as everything else. TIV is our idea of the perfect feminine briefcase. It’s rectangular and can hold most 13” laptops while remaining slim and compact. It can be worn over the shoulder like a satchel or as a crossbody. It strikes the perfect professional tone at a presentation or on a business trip.

VITA: Our perfectly feminine traveling duffel. 

Like briefcases, duffels have always been for the boys. Our VITA, however, has something to say about that. It’s actually a large, leather tote, but it's as close to a duffel as you can get without looking like you're heading to the gym. It's perfect for travel days - or just busy days - when you’re carrying additional gadgets or documents or need to bring along a pair of sneakers to do some walking.

 You can carry it on the shoulder or as a crossbody. The great thing about VITA is that no matter how much you put in it, its shape is always well-defined. It opens wide for easy searching, yet it’s soft and semi-structured (because we think rigid handbags aren't as comfortable or functional). 

You can buy handbags online anywhere. But all of our handbags—mini-satchels, totes and buckets—are handcrafted in Italy by old-world artisans who obsess over the smallest details. 

One thing we don't obsess over at Nantiv, however, are gender norms in fashion.

Love and flow, 

Nantiv

     Text taken from Nantív

Taking Care of Your Leather Handbag

We talk you about taking care with your taken bag. Follow this tips to keep it for many years to come. Read more in this post.

You love your leather handbag and want to take care of it. The whole point of splurging on a luxury leather bag, in fact, is to keep it for many years to come. Decades, even.

 Yet, while dark leather often gets more beautiful as it ages, white or cream colors can start to look shabby as dirt, spots, and scratches accumulate. 

Taking care of a genuine leather handbag isn't complicated. What's true for your body also applies to your handbag. Treat it well and it'll age well. Mistreat it and it won't. That being said, here are some specific tips to make your prized accessory last a lifetime. 

Stains 

Try to avoid stains to begin with. If you're at a restaurant or bar, keep your bag away from food and drink. Don't put it on the table or floor where spills can hit it. Red wine and coffee, in particular, are your bag’s worst enemy. 

Hanging it from your chair is often the best option, but be vigilant. Thieves love your handbag as much as you do! And if you take it with you to the bathroom, don't place it on or near the sink. Water, over time, will degrade it. 

Meanwhile, try not to handle your bag with greasy hands or if you've just applied hand cream. Natural leather is porous and can hold onto tiny particles that are difficult to wipe off. 

If you do end up with a stain, despite your best efforts, take it to a professional who specializes in cleaning leather handbags. Whatever you do, don't rub the stain. You could end up increasing its size or darkness. A single noticeable stain can ruin your bag’s look—and yours!

Knicks and Scratches 

Never place your bag near the edge of a table or counter. It could fall and sustain an "injury,” especially if it’s a rigidly structured bag. 

Likewise, don't place it near objects with sharp edges or in crowded racks and closets. The sharp hardware of other bags and coats (like zippers) can scratch it when placing them in or taking them out. 

Fading and Deformation 

Avoid exposing your bag to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. Leather is organic. Its color will fade and it may harden or become rough, even under moderate sunlight. 

When you store your bag, meanwhile, always use the dust bag it came with. The accumulation of dust on leather can eventually alter its color. Even better, keep it in its original box. It'll help preserve your bag's shape at the same time, especially if it's softly structured, like a bucket bag. If you don't have either of those things, you can buy them aftermarket. 

To further protect your bag's color, avoid storing it where it will be pressed against something that's richly dyed to avoid color transfer and staining.

 Finally, clean your bag a couple times a year with a specially made leather cleaner so it doesn't lose its luster. 

Summary 

We don’t want to scare you with a long list of do and don’ts, but it's important to be informed about the proper handling and care of expensive leather handbags—especially lighter-toned white and cream bags. 

Meanwhile, the industry has begun using new technology, applying an invisible plastic coating to leather handbags that help protect them. At Nantív, however, we love unadulterated, organic leather. It's supple, soft and has a distinct temperature when you touch it. It also has a wonderful, earthy smell that's true to what it is and recognizable the world over. 

This, we believe, is part of what makes an authentic luxury handbag that you can fall in love with over and over as the years go by. 

We carry both dark and cream-colored leather bags that you can buy online. We have a tote leather bag we've named 'VITA,' a crossbody called 'TIV,' a bucket bag named 'VINT,' and a sweet, little satchel we call 'EVE.' 

If you take as much loving care of your Nantiv as our skilled artisans did in creating them, they'll last you a lifetime. 

Love and flow, 

Nantív

     Text taken from Nantív

Going Green: Here’s why you need a green handbag

Green color could be perfect to match your bag with your outfits. Is the life color, is elegant, sober and different. The green color simbolizes a nature style and status.

Black, brown and beige are the most common handbag colors for womens. Why? Because they’re easy to match with a variety of outfits. 

Sure, you’ll dust off a different colored bag from the back of your closet now and then. But usually just for a special occasion or to match a special outfit. (Recommended: Bags every woman should own) 

We get it. It’s hard to know which colors contrast well with others. And you don’t want a loud or busy look. When it comes to leather handbags, though, there are certain colors—in gorgeous tones—that are both subtle and versatile. 

One of those colors is green. More specifically, forest green. 

Besides being the color of pastoral fantasies, it looks great with a dark outfit—like black or navy—without creating a strong contrast. Yet, it also works with warmer tones, patterns, and lighter textures, so it’s perfect for spring and summer. Just get in mine select the perfect bag for your body type. 

Forest green doesn’t dominate. It’s not risky. It’s even, dare we say, interesting. 

The symbolism of green

Green is the result of combining blue and yellow. That makes it a secondary color. Yet, from a psychological perspective, it feels like a primary color because of its prominence in nature and its symbolic status. 

According to web design agency Bourne Creative, "Green, the color of life, renewal, nature and energy, is associated with meanings of growth, harmony, freshness, safety, fertility and environment. ...The color green has healing power and is understood to be the most restful and relaxing color for the human eye to view... 

It is a natural choice in interior design as an ideal background or backdrop because we as humans are so used to seeing it everywhere."  

Green, of course, also symbolizes success, health and security. In other words, it's a versatile color. And that, perhaps, is one of  the best reasons to incorporate it into your repertoire. A green leather handbag can add tranquility or audacity to your style, depending on the context. 

Either way, it feels smart and elegant and is one of the best colors to use to break the endless black-brown-beige handbag cycle that women are forever caught in.   

Combos to try 

A bucket bag is cool and casual. In a soft forest green, it becomes a statement. 

Paired with a salmon-toned outfit, it becomes what Town & County magazine calls 'the best color combination ever' and might even make you the “happiest person on the planet.” 

Paired with an autumn palette, like brick colors, makes for an equally stunning combo with a more toned-down appeal. 

Paired with prints and textures creates an even more complex style that blends effortlessly with green. 

Green and navy work especially nicely together if you're going for an elegant, sober look. That makes it perfect for the office or work-related events. Our TIV handbag, in forest green, strikes that perfect professional tone. Its shape is clean and unpretentious. Its color adds that indelible green allure. 

For a more casual look, our beautiful VINT is also available in forest green. It pairs beautifully with jeans and a black shirt. Depending on the season, you can experiment with different colored outfits or add an edge with an interesting pair of shoes. You can also go for the ultimate urban look with a pair of trendy sneakers.

Meanwhile, a monochromatic style, consisting mainly of black and whites pieces, looks incredible with our VITA bag in forest green. The bag becomes the highlight, the feature that brings flair to an understated look. Keep in mind that for it to work, you should follow a simple rule: the lighter your clothes, the smaller your bag should be. And, of course, smaller bags are usually preferable for the evening. 

So, stop playing it safe. Bring some green to your look. Or should we say, bring some life to your look! 

At Nantiv, we carry all our handbag styles in forest green. Why? Because our Italian leather looks and feels amazing in this color. It also embodies our philosophy of 'flow' better than almost any other color. 

More importantly, we just love it! 

And love is what we’re going for.

     Text taken from Nantív