LIFESTYLE / Fashion

Carry on the bag trends

Updated: 2006-03-29 22:05

Spring Fling: It may be too early to slip into spring's flirty dresses and stacked sandals, but you can update your dreary winter wardrobe with a new hobo. The slouchy bags are getting a warm-weather makeover with luxurious leathers, dazzling metallics and plenty of eye-catching details--yet they remain fabulously functional, says designer Devi Kroell. "You can throw anything in there."

Be Bold: Basic black will never go out of style, but the latest hobos are all about the unexpected. "The bag is the perfect vehicle for lush, over-the-top skins like python, karung and alligator," says Kroell. "It's refreshing. Exotic skins have never seen such a carefree design before."

Ready-to-Wear: Still not convinced? Consider the hobo's dress-it-up/dress-it-
down versatility: You can add a sophisticated sparkle to jeans and a T-shirt with a metallic hobo, while the same bag will give a playful edge to a more elegant outfit. "It's the perfect bag," insists Kroell. Who are we to argue?