Betty, showing off the makeup bag by Clutch Bags NY on the streets of Greenwich Village in Manhattan. Designer Laura Dotolo calls this makeup bag her “Coin Bag”. 

Isn’t Betty so cute?  Betty showed up for her interview for Clutch Bags in a bright red dress on a warm New York City summer day.  She had gotten stuck in traffic on her way downtown at rush hour.  I was so glad that she could make it and that she persevered.  She had arrived to show off to the camera her favorite Clutch Bag…the wristlet pouch, known as the Coin Bag.  I always recommend it as a make up bag too, as it is the perfect size and is not vinyl, if you get my drift.

And boy, did she work it.  With a fantastic smile and great energy, she spoke about what it is that she likes about a little purse that you are able to just grab with ease while walking out the door. That is the purpose of a real, true clutch bag.

Betty really hit it on the head when she spoke about what she liked about NYC.  She spoke of the diversity of the people. Bingo.

That is one of the biggest draws of New York City and definitely one of the biggest draws here for me.  When I am designing a new style of handbag, I look to the streets of NY for inspiration.  I look at the people, what they are wearing, what they are carrying, how they carry it, the attitude they have doing it.  I look to the college students and the interns, to their style, which is usually fresh and new.  Younger people usually have the seeds of new trends.  They are the ones who take an idea and tweak it in a different direction.

They dare to pair….pair it up with something unexpected and crazy.  Wow!  New trend born.

I look to different ethnicities as well, to see how they are using or interpreting an object, an accessory, a style.  What fabrics they are drawn to, how they wear trends, or start a trend or maybe they just have something on that is like nothing you have ever seen before.  NYC is just one of those places.  So many different types of people coming from so many different places makes for so many different ways to look, live, be and see!