You know Lori Naon as our very own Handbag Designer, but in her other life, she’s busy growing her up-and-coming business, Hardware Handbags, based in Seattle.

She’s known for bags that are roomy, durable and cruelty-free, and her new designs are no exception. In celebration of her new “Tumbled Steer” and “Patent Croc” collections, Lori is offering a 20% discount on all of her styles, just for StyleFeeders and the Tastemaker community. Just enter code “sfwwd20″ upon checkout to take advantage of the special savings.

Here are some of my faves from her new work. I love the Addison in red:

And I’m totally coveting the Small Tote in teal green patent croc:

Thanks, Lori, for making your work accessible to other Tastemakers!

I didn’t plan to fall in love. It just happened. I was enjoying a chilly, snowy weekend up in Vermont, and as I was strolling down a quaint, quintessential New England Main Street, it caught my eye. Called to me, really, from the store of a little shop. A bright, shiny, patent leather bag that held the promise of spring in its showy, lemon yellow exterior. There was no discussion, no consideration, save a quick peek at the roomy interior. I wandered in and immediately made it mine.

Looks like other StyleFeeders have the same idea. Judging by the handbags that have been added to the site lately, shade is going to be more important than shape for spring. So I say, if you’re going to buy one bag this season, make it patent leather in a primary color. Blue, yellow and red nicely offset the other bright shades that are in for warmer weather, and will give your spirits a boost!

If you’ve got the coin, this blue Dolce & Gabbana beauty is a worthy splurge:

If you’re on a budget, check out these lookers that both come in for well under $40: Alloy’s Pedley hobo in a fetching shade of yellow, and ASOS’ patent red clutch, inspired by Sienna Miller’s penchant for Chanel:

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What do you do when you discover a warehouse full of never used automotive fabrics from the 70’s and 80’s? Well, if you’re Kim White, you buy up the whole lot and turn them into a hip line of vintage handbags. It turns out these upholstery fabrics meant to cover the seats of a 1983 Camaro or a 1975 Chevy van are perfectly suited for handbags because they’re incredibly durable. When you buy your favorite eco-friendly style, it has a tag marking the year and make of the fabric, from say a 78’ Ford Mustang…doesn’t get any groovier than that!

Oh, and one more thing, you’ll never guess where Kim lives. She’s just minutes from the Peterson Automotive Museum in L.A…how fitting! All Kim White handbags are proudly made in the USA.

You won’t need a tag for this clutch. It has CAMARO written all over it! A 1983 Camaro to be exact. This bag has a great spring frame that allows it to open and shut with a snap. The cut-out gives you the option to hold it in your hand or under your arm.

It’s hard to find an optical print like this on a handbag! This vibrant blue with black version (from a vintage 1980 Ford Mustang print) is so striking and versatile from weekend to work.

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