The Bottega Veneta Cervo Flap Shoulder Bag is probably soft enough to use as a pillow

There are several brand sections that I never miss when I go to a department store – we all have our favorites, and I can’t leave without checking up on Balenciaga and Valentino because they make my favorite bags, but I also don’t miss an opportunity for Bottega Veneta leather-fondling. One touch is all you need to know why the brand’s bags are so pricey.

I usually prefer it when Bottega makes their bags out of solid pieces instead of their famed intrecciato because it makes the quality of the material that much easier to appreciate, and that’s exactly what they’ve done with the Bottega Veneta Cervo Flap Shoulder Bag. It still has the woven touches that make it unmistakably Bottega, but the subtly grained flat leather is the real star of the show.

This isn’t the super-buttery leather that most Bottega bags feature, but it looks pretty scrumptious in its own right. It’s made of deerskin, which isn’t super common but feels amazing, and there’s plenty of it. I like the woven details around the edges of the flap and the bag itself, but I particularly like the way that the combination of flat and woven leather shows of the subtle variations in the color – it’s not usually possible to say that about black bags. Buy through Saks for $1780.

Bottega Veneta Perforated Leather Bag

For the most part, I’ve always considered Bottega Veneta to be a classic, iconic brand. The intrecciato weaving technique is one that can be spotted from across the room or even across a busy street. Personally, it is the classic element of the brand that I love and have come to always expect.

Now, just because there are certain things I expect from a brand like Bottega Veneta does not mean that I cannot appreciate when they think and design a little bit out of the box. Certainly, in order for the design to work, what has *made* the brand what it is needs to be upheld and visible at some point. Thankfully, in this instance, BV tried something a little different and it worked.

The Bottega Veneta Perforated Leather Bag received a double take from me. When I came across the bag I wasn’t really that sure it was BV since the intrecciato weaving didn’t jump out at me. Fear not BV handbag lovers, this is acceptable. It appears that this bag takes classic brand and makes it a bit edgy. I can appreciate that. The smallish leather bag is adorned with open grommets and tiny studs that seem to sparkle. There is a small hint of that classic intrecciato weaving along the front flap which in fact assists in making the bag seem a bit more edgy than one might expect. While I might imagine some of you could say there are too many design elements on such a small bag, for me, it works. This is definitely the kind of bag that can, and I am sure will be worn by a variety of women who possess very different tastes. Buy through Saks for $1550.

Bottega Veneta China Soft Crocodile Fume Loop Bag

The brand to turn to for exotic skins is Bottega Veneta. I have never been let down by the skins Bottega Veneta chooses for their bags, from leathers to exotics. When the Fall Winter 2010 collection went down the runway, I had a hard time keeping myself from actively drooling on my keyboard. Not only did I see gorgeous designs, but also there was use of color that worked perfectly for fall and winter while not being drab. One of the colors that immediately caught my attention was a rich hue of blue.

It just so happens the blue bag that I found myself yearning for was also designed in a gorgeous exotic skin. Welcome the Bottega Veneta China Soft Crocodile Fume Loop Bag to your screen. Gorgeous, right?


I have had the privilege of holding a soft crocodile skin from Bottega Veneta before. If you have not, pop into Bottega Veneta next time you can and ask to hold one of their exotic skin handbags. One of the strong points of the brand is their focus on finding the best skins available, clearly this bag showcases that. Even from the photo, you can see the quality of the skin used.

This style hobo is very familiar for all of us. In fact, this bag reminds me of the popular YSL Roady Hobo with its single shoulder strap. You had to know the price was coming next and you had to know that it would be high. Once available, the bag will be $35,000 at Bottega Veneta.

Even Bottega Veneta Makes Classic Accessories

We are covered this Bottega Veneta Woven Zip Wallet before, when Megs was considering getting it as a replacement for her LV Zip Around Wallet. As even a cursory glance and click around the blog will confirm that our love for Bottega Veneta has grown epically since Megs penned that post more than a year ago.

But even while the glamour of the brand surrounds us, with their ability to custom-make pieces and their head-turning exotics, it  important to remember that they still make basics like the Bottega Veneta Woven Zip Wallet, that are, for lack of a better word, gorgeous.

his wallet  bright sunshine yellow is an example of the company  intrecciato signature, which combines with a simple color to create a piece that  so awesome, not to mention buttery soft and durable. So if you have yet to purchase a Bottega, then you and I are in the same boat. Donar get overwhelmed by their crazy amazing pieces, though! If need be, it always good to stick to basics ?at least in the beginning! Buy through Bluefly for $504.

Reasons Why You Must Visit This

Part of the reason people love going into a designer boutique is for the shopping experience. The fancy shelves, tangible products, and great feeling of walking out of a store with a big shopping bag. Personally, I appreciate the one-on-one attention and the luxury feel of the stores I shop in. However, with our lives getting busier and fancy boutiques being often too far away, we turn to online shopping.

Bottega Veneta is known for the experience their stores offer customers. One of the main reasons for the site overhaul was to give their online shoppers the most luxurious and personal shopping experience possible. What matters most to me are the visual aspects of a site. I want to see an item in large, clean, and crisp pictures. Bottega Veneta now offers this, along with multiple views and even video looks. The overall shopping experience has been refined to make navigation through categories and areas easy.

My shopping picks from top left to right: Flannel Shiny Python Cosmetic Case, White Gold Pepita Ring, Flannel Cashmere Headband, Runway Look 8, Fuchsia Veneta, Billiard Suede Cashmere Wedge Bootie, and Opera Intrecciato Plume Crossbody Bag.

Discover the Hand of the Artisan, one of the most integral parts of the Bottega Veneta brand
The brand is ubiquitous with craftsmanship and quality. Being able to see the hand of the artisan is not only an interesting addition to the website, but imperative to see for anyone interested in the brand. By witnessing the work being done on Bottega Veneta pieces, the understanding of the work that artisans create gives further understanding to the brand itself. Remember, the classic Intrecciato Cabat takes two people two full days to weave the leather into the seamless shape! Discover the Hand of the Artisan at Bottega Veneta online.

Preview, browse, watch, look, repeat
The new BottegaVeneta.com is revamped in a way to bring you every opportunity to be a part of the brand. The new site is all about engaging the visitor. That is why the shopping experience is tightly integrated with the runway video experience. This in turn is integrated with the hand of the artisan experience which is then further tied together with previewing upcoming collections. The transition from section to section is seamless, which makes the site unfortunately a little difficult to navigate. It is easy to get lost, I know I have.

The most beautiful briefcase ever? This Bottega Veneta just might be it.

I’m not the kind of person who’s prone to inappropriate effusiveness or quick superlatives, but I’m not sure what other way to approach the Bottega Veneta Uniform Cocco Lave Briefcase. Superlatives were made for this bag.

I’m not sure exactly what I could say that isn’t already clear from looking at the picture; you won’t see crocodile skin so pristine anywhere else this side of Hermes. This is the sort of bag that I would want to keep in my closet and take out every morning to lovingly admire it before work, just to remind myself of what a splendid life I lead. Bottega Veneta has priced it roughly the same as a new Volkswagon, so life would have to be splendid indeed to own one. Buy through Bottega Veneta for $25,700.

Want something more luxe than leather? Try sterling silver with Bottega Veneta

Sure, alligator or crocodile versions of the highly collectable Bottega Veneta Knot Clutches might be enough to satisfty the luxury lust for some people, but for those who want something a bit more unique, the Bottega Veneta Sterling Silver Knot Clutch is just the ticket.


The idea of a sterling silver box clutch is not exactly a new thing, but as far as I can tell, this is the first such iteration of the famous Knot. In classic Bottega Veneta style, it’s styled to look exactly like one of the brand’s intrecciato knot clutches, right down to the raised textured on some of the “woven” metal strips.

Carrying this bag would sort of function like carrying a giant piece of jewelry, although the townside that immediately comes to mind is the unfortunate eventuality of smudgy finger prints on the smooth, shiny metal. I’m already a compulsive glasses-cleaner (I have the little spray in my purse and everything, it’s bad), so I could see myself sitting in the corner of a party with my silver clutch, obsessively wiping it down over and over again with one of those little microfiber cloths. A brushed finish on this bag might have been a wiser choice, but I like the clutch as a showpiece. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $8200.