Signature Elements: this label is known for its sleek, classic, safe bets — you can buy most any Cole Haan bag and rest-assured that you can take it anywhere. Most of them won’t turn heads, but they will serve you well as an “everywhere” bag.

Famous Handbag: This brand is not identified by a specific bag, and they’re completed by teams of designers. The new Genevieve collection, known for its dynamic weave pattern as shown in the Denney bag at right, is a contender for a signature look.

Founder: Founded in 1928 in Chicago, IL by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan as a well-crafted men’s footwear brand. They struggled in the 90s and reinvented themselves with the Nike partnership.