Heaven in a Handbag

The design idea came from Belgian Shoes," says Hayden Lasher of her eponymous handbag line. Like the classic slippers—brought to the States by her great-great-uncle Henri Bendel in 1956—Lasher's bags are handmade in one style, offered in different colors, and embellished with the iconic Belgian bow. Having worked in accessories for Michael Kors, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Oscar de la Renta, Lasher understands that uptown and downtown girls have similar needs when it comes to that elusive, goes-anywhere-fits-everything statement bag. Lasher herself was tired of feeling inelegant while rooting around in her metastasizing handbags. So each Lasher bag—available exclusively at Belgian Shoes—has a key chain, along with discrete compartments for a cell phone and credit cards and a shoulder strap for cross-body versatility. "Anyone can wear this bag," she says, "whetheryou're 25 or 80." (haydenlasher.com)

FOR DETAILS, GO TO VF.COM/CREDITS

MAUREEN CALLAHAN