What’s so great about a Tano bag? I can think of a few things–the first being that a cute leather bag always makes me happy. I never heard of this brand until I strolled into Therapy on Valencia near 16th Street one day to check out their boot selection. A woman was looking at a long strap Tano bag that went around the body (trend for fall and spring) and it was gorgeous–brown leather with very conveniently placed pockets.
The store clerk at Therapy explained that Tano bags aren’t widely sold online (though limited styles are available) because the brand wants to encourage supporting local boutiques. They also believe that you can’t really understand how great a Tano bag is until you feel the leather, try it on and really see the vivid colors of the bag. And I’d agree.
Tano bags often come in the sorts of colors that many women won’t consider versatile enough to be incorporated into their wardrobe, but they can. Why not invest in a purple bag? If the leather is quality (which it always is for a Tano bag) then you will likely have that bag for several years. Plus, it’s nice to throw a little color into your wardrobe. Even in places like New York where everyone wears black a colorful bag goes a long way to spice up an outfit.
A simple jeans and tee outfit can look either fancy or funky once you throw on a cute enough bag.
Right now colorful bags are in. Versace’s Spring/Summer 2010 runway show was full of colorful and creative looks. Carlos Falchi is offering bags in apple reds and emerald greens. It’s about to be spring, the time for a statement bag. For the Mission shopper uninterested in going to Target for a cheaper bag, but doesn’t have the money to splurge on a Chloe or Alexander McQueen carryall, Tano is the way to go.
Therapy gets new designs with each new season, for fall and spring, and colors often change. So if you see that gorgeous blue Tano bag in November you better get it because there’s a chance that it might not be coming back.
The bags come in different textures of leather–sometimes softer, sometimes cleaner–and they age with a vintage look. I appreciate that they have clean lines, simple structures and minimal hardware. A schoolteacher could carry a Tano, but so could a college student or mother with small children. And with a price point of about $200-$300 it’s refreshing to know that Therapy works with the company to handle complimentary repairs on bags for their customers. With the tightening of purse strings these days it’s nice to know that if I drop that much on one bag it’ll last me until the next big recession–which we’re hoping won’t be for a long, long time.
Wow, the mission has become another mall? Have I been away that long