My money’s on the latter – Botkier still have a lot of promotion before they can claim It purse status, although there’s no doubt the product is lovely. 

It’s called the Botkier Skeleton Big Drawstring, an imaginative name for a very imaginative-looking purse.

What you see is pretty much what you get – gorgeously soft minty-forest green leather with big white straps that are bolted on with gold hardware. The top has a drawstring closing, as the name indicates – altogether a very unusual purse that does sort of grow on you after a while.

For all you lining ladies, it’s got a hardy lining so don’t be afraid to fill her up.

Something very different for the spring… 

SRP $645.00 

That’s a very sweet touch because different people like different things. Some women like longer, slouchy straps so that the purse fits nicely against the top of their hip, others like the comfort and security of a bag that fits just under their arm.

It’s a typically gorgeous Botkier purse in all other ways — luxurious Italian leather, detailed clasp and craft, solid hardware with a overflap closure and an all-round look of cutting edge style and design.

Available in a variety of colours. 

SRP $765.00 

This purse would make a lovely gift in any occasion –  the Hobo Stirrup bag from Botkier, in blue (or, as they call it, "Metallic Twilight"). It’s made of leather, with suede tassels which are attached to real pockets rather than just decorative ones. The hardware is silver and the strap is adjustable.

The only minus point might be that the top is open (with a magnetic closing) which means you have to be slightly more careful with it.

Otherwise, it’s a great hobo in a gorgeous colour (also available in chestnut brown).

SRP $660 

Today, we’re Botkiering again but from a totally different angle. Forget delicacy and femininity. Forget softness and sweetness. What we have here is the Emily stirrup bag, (funny really, the Clyde should be called Emily and vice versa, right?). It’s a slightly stern, serious purse, not quite a tote, not quite a shoulder bag — metallic in colour and very KGB in style.

Now, how on earth does such a purse avoid masculinity? And what kind of woman would own such a thing?

A woman who works in a male-dominated field, that’s who. For example… oh, say, a female Russian secret agent. Cold as ice on the outside yet warm and strong on the inside, this is the perfect "I could kill you with my bare hands and a stilletto" purse. A fine example of a purse taking on the characteristics of the owner, no?

Or if not a Russian agent… well, a fifteen-year old goth kid with a more than generous trust fund. It’s a very small world when it comes to purses.

Botkier, you’ve surprised me! 

Oh, there is other stuff <i>of course</i> — like the lush cowhide leather, or the lovely little pockets everywhere, the cool slouchy boho style, that lovely salmony pinky peachy colour (also available in jet-black)… I could go on and on, but really, you already know its a beautifully made accessory. You already know the quality is superb and it’s a worthy investment. You already know that it will last forever…

So, let’s just cut all that other stuff out and be gloriously superficial for this post… altogether now:

Ahhhh… so pretty!