"The British are coming! The British are coming! And this
time, they're carrying adorable little purses!" Okay, that's not the warning
cry most Bostonians learned on their elementary-school field trips, but please
allow us some historical revision as we celebrate the new arrival of Jocasi
handbags at Persona (flagship store at
The Shops at the Hotel Commonwealth, 504 Comm Ave, Boston, 617.266.3003;
additional locations at the Taj Boston, Ritz Carlton, and Colonnade), which
will serve as the exclusive U.S. outpost for the London-based bag and belt
designer. There are cute quilted leather clutches and distressed styles with
straps or chains, and most feature the brand's trademark "Union Jack boutique
buckle," a bulky moon-shaped crescent capturing that other red,
white, and blue subtly in brass. You can spot that on one of our favorites, the
Miss City bag ($245), though we also love the version that replaces the buckle
with a silver snake clasp. But among all the styles, probably the most dramatic
is the one with a loud leopard-print backdrop setting off a screaming-red
patent-leather Union Jack ($110). Come by land, come by sea, come however you
like - just come over to our place afterwards so we can borrow your bag.
