After sharing what I wore on our Italy trip, I realized I never told you about the part where I fell in love with the leather…
Florence is known for its leather—centuries of craftsmanship, small workshops, and a long tradition of working with hides right in the city.
I’m not really a handbag person… at least I didn’t used to be.
We set aside some time to wander through the leather markets and shops. Tables, stalls, tiny storefronts—bags everywhere.
And I became slightly obsessed with the leather (my husband would confirm!).
The colors, the texture, the way it feels in your hands, even the hardware. I found myself picking them up, trying them on, switching them out… at one point I was fully hugging one of them.
I usually lean toward cotton, canvas, practical, easy bags. But my visit to Florence shifted that a bit— and I got a gorgeous white leather backpack for my trip!
I couldn’t stop there and ended up choosing a handful of styles that I loved enough to bring back to the shop.
Some favorites:
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Raffia and leather bags—lightweight woven raffia with Italian leather trim
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A baguette-shaped shoulder bag with taller handles
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Crossbody bags with a knotted leather detail and a gold ring
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A multicolored bucket bag with a top handle, crossbody strap, and inner pouch— each is one-of-a-kind!
Most of them can be worn a few different ways, which is my jam.
At a certain point, I realized I had gone a little beyond what would fit in my suitcase… so I bought another (suitcase!) one and brought 18 of them home.
Back at the shop, we’ve unwrapped them, tried them on, passed them around, lived with them a bit.
I have a small assortment in now, and more are on the way from Florence.
I’ve added some to the website, but they’re one of those things that are better in person—the feel of the leather, the weight of them, the color.
If you’re nearby this summer, come take a look.
