eBags Blog

It’s Employee Picture Day at eBags! Don’t worry we have serious ones too but these are so much more fun don’t you think?

Summer is right around the corner and, with the warmer temperatures, our thoughts turn to fun in the sun. While the beach and the pool are popular destinations this time of year, many also flock to lakes, bays, and oceans for boating excursions and events or coastal towns for shopping and festivals. Whether you’re heading out for one of these adventures or just want to look like you are, there’s no better way to capture the spirit of the perfect day by the water than by carrying a nautical themed handbag or accessory.

Nautical handbags and accessories typically feature boating imagery like anchors and sails. However, even bags that have the iconic horizontal stripe pattern fall in this category.

To help you get started finding your perfect nautical handbag or accessory, check out our top 8 below:

Straw Studios Bar Harbor Large Satchel	Juicy Couture Leni Convertible Cross body	Apt. No 5 Anchor Charm Necklace	Magid Paper Straw Wide Stripe Beach Rope Tote
Sun N Sand Maritime	Vera Bradley Seashore Tote	M. Andonia Anchor’s Away Chic	Ashley M Sailor Skull Striped Tote Bag

Bag Shown: Tignanello Perfect 10 Studded Shopper

A handbag is like a woman’s sidekick. Whenever we need a little help in our daily lives, we reach to the handbag for help… to get some cash to buy some chocolate on a rainy day, or to grab some makeup when we are about to meet up with a cute guy. We have grown to need our handbags in our normal lives, and it is no surprise that we need to have a handbag on our travels as well.

When I travel, I generally need a place to put my money, little things like chapstick and a hair brush, a map and/or my iPhone, perhaps my camera and even a water bottle. But, what kind of handbag you choose probably depends on the type of travel you are partaking in.

The Daypack:

Most of the time, when I’m backpacking, I just use a daypack as a purse. I usually travel with the Pacsafe Slingsafe 300 GII because it is both small and secure. The famous Pacsafe features, such as the exomesh layer (that can’t be slashed easily), zipper clips and RFID pockets, make this bag one that you can wear on your back in a crowd without the worry of pickpockets having a go, or without getting swiped so easily at a cafe. That’s right, the strap can be locked around your chair or table for extra security.

The daypack usually works for me when I’m truly moving around a lot, am not in cities where fashion speaks louder than function, or when I need to have several items for my day out (like a jacket, scarf, swimsuit, etc.).

The Handbag:

The only times when I travel with a normal, fashionable handbag is when I’m going to another city in my home country. So, I might be partaking in shopping and dining out, but I will not need a place to securely store my passport. I also don’t foresee myself in very crowded, touristy areas where petty crime might be more common.

In this case, your normal handbag may be the way to go.

The Messenger Bag / Camera Handbag:

Now, if you’re the type of person that travels with a DSLR camera, then you may want to choose a bag that can double as your handbag. For example, you can choose a quality messenger bag and then include a camera bag insert in order to both compartmentalize the bag and offer protection to the camera. In that case, the bag no longer looks like a normal camera bag, and we all know that drawing less attention to yourself when traveling is a great idea.

The Wristlet / Wallet:

For those that will be doing a combination of backpacking and city sights, perhaps a wristlet or wallet handbag is the travel bag of choice. A wristlet is great because it can act as a simple wallet, tossed into your backpack or daypack while in transit. Or, it can be worn alone, when going out to dinner for example, looking cute in the process. You won’t be able to fit much into it, so camera phones on those occasions will likely need to suffice.

Pacsafe also makes a great little purse/wristlet with slashproof exomesh and RFID pocket worth considering.

Other ideas for including handbag on your packing lists involve buying one in your destination country that has true local flavor (also a great souvenir!) or packing one that is collapsible/stuffable in nature. Or, you can invest in some cargo travel pants and use the side pockets to store your money and cosmetics. I know, that’s not a very feminine look, but it gets the job done on those more off the beaten path travels.

Happy handbag shopping, but mostly, happy travels!

About the Author: Brooke Schoenman is the founder and editor of Her Packing List – a resource on packing and gear for female travelers. Brooke is a seasoned traveler, having acquired stamps in her passport from destinations such as Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia, and Guatemala to name a few. She blogs and writes for a living, and you can follow the Her Packing List related side of her life on Twitter, Facebookand Pinterest.

We’re introducing the Trina Turk Collection for M-Edge, where fashion embraces function. Wrap your device in chic, colorful Trina Turk signature prints and industry-leading designs.

Trina is both inspired by and represents the lifestyle of California: optimistic, progressive, accessible, effortless, colorful and confident. Her creations are influenced by her love of vintage apparel, jewelry and accessories from the 1960s and ‘70s modernist and graphic arts and mid-century modern architecture. Trina is widely known for her usage of dynamic colors and signature prints, from bright florals to bold graphics to vintage-inspired Jacquards.

Shop bright and colorful cases for your iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire and laptop now.

Kaboo The Tina iPad Tote in Rustic Saddle

Happy Monday Everyone! We’re so sad to see this awesome giveaway come to an end from our friends over at Kaboo!

To win this weeks giveaway the Kaboo The Tina iPad Tote in Rustic Saddle (pictured above) simpy leave a comment below and tell us how your mom makes you feel special! The most creative, thoughtful comment will win a new Kaboo Handbag! We will announce a winner each Friday.  Also, you can earn extra entries by tweeting, pinning, facebooking or blogging this giveaway (please leave a separate comment below for each instance with a link to where else you’ve shared it!).

Good Luck and we can’t wait to read your comments and make sure to stop by every Monday until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th.

*Bracelet shown: MINU Jewels

*U.S.A. Residents Only

*Must be 18+ to enter

*One Entry Per Person

Click Here to learn more about Kaboo

Kaboo (kah-boo) bags are the fashionable choice to protect your technology. Whether you carry a tablet, iPad, netbook, or other portable device, if you’re looking for a stylish bag that looks more like a handbag than a conservative storage solution, you’re sure to find it in Kaboo’s colorful collection.

More than just designer accessories, these bags are feature-rich, crafted to give you peace of mind knowing your technology is well-protected. Each style includes the trademark Kaboo™ Tech Pouch - a shock absorbing cradle tailored to protect your portable device. Inspired by a Kangaroo’s pouch, this Tech Pouch is reinforced with an impact resistant core between two layers of foam padding.

Boho Chic is usually 60’s and 70’s inspired. Colors commonly associated with this look are earth tones, delicate jewelry and of course natural florals. This style is all about being effortless, comfortable and being a free spirit. A great look to wear to Summer music festivals, running errands on the weekends and lunch with friends!

Items Shown:

1. Piazza Torino Backpack in Terra Cotta

2. Vera Bradley Claudette Sunnies

3. Silvana K Designs Good Karma Adjustable Ring

4. Silvana K Designs Amber Necklace

Taking a walk around the eBags HQ at lunch today, I couldn’t help but notice all the green grass, sunshine, and birds. I even snapped this picture of some flowers. Unfortunately, we’re expecting another round of cold temperatures and snow tonight through tomorrow. Regardless of this impending unseasonable Colorado weather, I know that summer is just right around the corner. It’s even hit some areas like California early. That got me thinking about bags and accessories that are perfect for summer.

Some of our bags just scream summer. Like these summery handbags below. You just can’t help but think of warm days by the beach or pool when you see these.

Juicy Couture Wave Print Clutch

Sun N Sand Flip Flop Shore

Milly Sun Print Tote

Life is good Latitude Tote

Of course, bags aren’t the only accessories that evoke images of summer. Summer accessories are not only functional, but can also be stylish reminders that warmer weather is on its way.

Sunglasses

Hats

Picnic Time Gardener Folding Chair with Tools

Picnic Time BBQ Apron Tote

What reminds you of summer? Is it warm where you are? Comment and share your thoughts about summer with us.

A few travel tips that will help make your family vacation go smoothly and a memorable one!

• Pack snacks whether driving or flying, it saves money, time but it’s also something familiar and who likes a hungry kiddo anyway?
• Less is more. For each family member, lay out all clothing and personal care items needed for the trip. Remove half before you pack the rest. Investigate packing cubes. Pack clothing, socks, underwear and personal items in packing cubes will cut wrinkles, protect clothing, and organize suitcases. Commercial organizers can be worth the cost for frequent travelers. Check them out!
• A visit to the Dollar Store can go a long way to amuse kiddos while traveling. For maximum impact, pack small toys, books, and games separately and dole them out one at a time.
• Download new movies and apps before you leave. Keeping everyone entertained with a special movie or new game will make time go by a lot faster for everyone!
• Don’t Be Afraid of Downtime. We like to pack in as much as we can on a trip. We all want to get our money’s worth which is totally understandable! With a family, this is not always the best move! Sometimes spending some time around the hotel pool or in the room relaxing is just what the family needs to make the rest of the vacation go smoothly.

Kaboo The Olivia Handbag in Plum

Congrats to Jessica Johnson!

Read her winning entry -

“My mother is a very important role model in my life! I am a full time student, single mother of a 7 year old! Whenever I am fusterated with school or life she always had a positive feedback for me, how can someone have so much positive attitude? That’s because if her quote she always reminds me of “worry about the things you can change and let go of the things you can’t! ” I want to be my mother to my son! Life is easy, it’s what you make of it that’s hard!

Happy Monday! Today is the third week for our Kaboo Mother’s Day Giveaway!”

To win this weeks giveaway the Kaboo The Olivia Shoulder Handbag in Plum (pictured above) simpy leave a comment below and tell us how your mom makes you feel special! The most creative, thoughtful comment will win a newKaboo Handbag! We will announce a winner each Friday.  Also, you can earn extra entries by tweeting, pinning, facebooking or blogging this giveaway (please leave a separate comment below for each instance with a link to where else you’ve shared it!).

Good Luck and we can’t wait to read your comments and make sure to stop by every Monday until Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th.

*U.S.A. Residents Only

*Must be 18+ to enter

*One Entry Per Person

Click Here to learn more about Kaboo

Kaboo (kah-boo) bags are the fashionable choice to protect your technology. Whether you carry a tablet, iPad, netbook, or other portable device, if you’re looking for a stylish bag that looks more like a handbag than a conservative storage solution, you’re sure to find it in Kaboo’s colorful collection.

More than just designer accessories, these bags are feature-rich, crafted to give you peace of mind knowing your technology is well-protected. Each style includes the trademark Kaboo™ Tech Pouch - a shock absorbing cradle tailored to protect your portable device. Inspired by a Kangaroo’s pouch, this Tech Pouch is reinforced with an impact resistant core between two layers of foam padding.

A classic outfit with a twist, great for work & play! Glam up any pair of jeans with a striped top layered with a floral collared shirt underneath, comfy wedges, cateye sunnies and add a punch of color with the Piazza Triple Zip Olivia Tote in Watermelon!