Review of Tylie Malibu Suede Utility Handbag

For months I lusted after Tylie Malibu Handbags - They were beautifully handcrafted in rich suede colors and caught your eye with sparkling shoulder straps. Retailing at Nordstrom's for about $295, I wasn't sure my meager checkbook could afford such a love. And even if it could, would this bag withstand months of abuse from a busy college student? Eventually, its beauty consumed me, and I bought a black suede Tylie Malibu Suede Utility bag. That's what credit cards are for, right?

Tylie Malibu boasts that all of their bags are handcrafted and made with the finest materials available. My bag is thick dyed black suede, double stitched along the seams. The suede isn't the cheap variety used on shoes - it is very thick and velvety, but strong enough to endure weight and resist stains.

The jeweled strap lends a funky and dressy vibe to this bag, and makes it a fun choice for lugging around campus. All of the Swarovski crystals are embedded by polished steel studs. When glimmering in the sunlight, this strap makes a beautiful spray of rainbow lights. In addition to the crystals, polished round studs form a triple diamond pattern across a thick pebbled leather strap. This purse is not lacking in hardware, as the leather strap is held up by two steel hooks attached to the suede body. A silver lobster clip keeps the top of the purse open or closed. While the bag feels richly delicate, is it strong, and made to withhold heavy loads.

I am very happy with my purchase of this bag. In addition to its supreme good looks, the bag itself is fully functional and offers several inner and outer pockets to stash cell phones, lip glosses and other accessories. For true purse lovers, this bag comes with a stitched cell phone pocket inside the bag, and the inside is lined with material touting Tylie's Logo - "Once Bitten, Forever Smitten."