From Paris, With Love

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and everyone in need of a little extra amour, especially these days, I thought I’d create a special gift set, from Paris, with love. What better than a gorgeous bouquet of fresh blooms from 100-year old florist L’Arrosoir along with one of my hand-painted Paris-themed bags and a (signed) book by one of the City of Light’s talented authors. Et voilà! The perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

For those living in Paris, order your bag, bouquet, and book online, choosing between the latest books by local authors (and Rive Droite residents) David Lebovitz, Lindsey Tramuta, Jessie Kanelos Weiner, Krystal Kenney, Lily Heise, and Rebekah Peppler.

You can choose between the Rive Droite and Rive Gauche bags, depending on your favorite side of the city. There’s also the I heart Paris bag or a bag featuring one of Paris’s 20 arrondissements. All bags from this collection are hand-painted and reversible and each one costs €65 instead of €90 with the bouquet and book.

If you’re not in Paris to pick up your gift set, I welcome you to order a bag for your Valentine using 20% off code FromParisWithLove for all Kasia Dietz handbags from now until February 14th. All of the above books, which are a must-read for any Francophile, can be ordered via Amazon. As for the bouquets at L’Arrosoir, for those, you’ll need to come to Paris.

Travel by Bag

While I love to design bags, clutches, and purses, more recently I created something a little different, a combination of my sashes and purses. This hands-free bag, or what I consider a more chic version of the fanny pack, is essentially a sash or a belt, worn by both men and women. As with all of my collections the Kasia Dietz city sashes are limited edition, inspired by travel and made in Paris. What’s more, these stylish sash bags available in one or two pocket versions are reversible! All photos by the talented Catherine O’Hara.

Each sash bag is inspired by a city as these sashes are perfect for running around, or even simply just running.

I remember the days when money belts were used for traveling. These sashes worn around the waist/hips or across the body safely hold money, smartphones, passports… the ideal unisex travel accessory! Travel by bag to Paris, London, New York or Tokyo, take your pick!

I hope you enjoy these sash bags as much as I loved creating them! Stay tuned for more in the months ahead.

The Paris We Love

When I moved to Paris almost ten years ago, I took a few books as souvenirs from my father’s vast library. As a writer and fellow Francophile, I discovered a Paris guide book published in 1950 titled The Paris We Love. I often refer to this book, a series of 23 vignettes, each written by a different French writer, to discover just how much Paris has or hasn’t changed.

I particularly enjoy the chapter about my Marais neighborhood with a map detailing my frequented streets.

It was after a meeting with Fiona of Storie Shop who calls Montparnasse home, that an idea sprang to mind.

Inspired by this book with an introduction and cover by Jean Cocteau, a Kasia Dietz handbag was created!

This limited-edition Paris tote featuring a hand-painted design, leather handles and two interior pockets is available exclusively at Storie Shop. What better fashionable souvenir for fellow Francophiles?

Basque Inspired

Forever drawn to the sun and sea, my latest handbag collection takes its inspiration from a recent trip to Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz. This colorful collection crosses the border from the Basque region of France into Spain. Photographed in the Luxembourg Gardens by Catherine O’Hara, here’s a look at the Basque Collection.

What better to compliment Kasia Dietz handbags than the latest collection by local designer Koshka Mashka.

Each limited edition bag turns inside out to reveal a unique print. As always, made in Paris and worn globally.

Several years ago, my love affair with Basque Country began in the foodie capital of San Sebastian, Spain.

Boasting Frank Gehry’s impressive Guggenheim museum, the city of Bilbao also made a lasting impression.

Paris to London

I’ve always loved London. Just a quick Eurostar ride away, it’s easy to spend a few days in this dynamic city. My most recent trip across the channel inspired me to design a London bag collection since my bags do love to travel. On a recent afternoon I met with photographer Catherine O’Hara at one of my beloved locations in Paris, Palais Royal. I dressed in the latest Koshka Mashka attire – a perfect compliment to Kasia Dietz handbags! Here’s the Kensington tote, waterproof and as always, reversible. Isn’t tartan timelessly elegant and stylish?

Nothing like stopping for a coffee with a little people watching at cafe Le Nemours. The Shoreditch tote is named for this eclectic and artsy London neighborhood.

In the past I had designed an extra-large tote bag, and soon sold out of it. The XL style is back, this time inspired by Notting Hill. This tote too is reversible, revealing a floral side. The perfect weekender!

To thank you for your continuous support, and since today is Small Business Saturday, I’m offering 30% off all Kasia Dietz handbags until November 30th using code: shopsmall. Happy shopping!

Save the Elephants

I’m very excited to present my latest Kenya inspired handbag collection, designed in collaboration with my friend and photographer Kirsten Alana. During her trip to Kenya, I was deeply moved by unruly poaching of innocent elephants, all for their tusks. As Kirsten mentioned in her #dontletthemdisappear post, Every day in Africa, somewhere on the continent: an elephant loses its life to illegal poaching on an average of every 15 minutes. More than 90 elephants a day lose their lives for the ivory in their tusks.

I decided to take action and do what I could to help these African elephants. Together with Kirsten, we designed a bag collection in the colors and spirit of Kenya. Each bag is named for a region where elephants roam wild. With every purchase from this collection, I’m donating 30% of proceeds to Wildlife Direct and Elephant Trust.

Below are the Amboseli and Sambura bags, all reversible and made in Paris. Sustainable fashion for a cause!

Here is the Tsavo bag along with the Laikipia, both foldable to fit inside their matching purses. Travel savvy!


Photos by photographer Catherine O’Hara wearing Koshka Mashka in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum.

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