Rocco e Dante handbags blend luxury and function

When I first heard the name of Rocco e Dante, a new line of handbags from local designer and Washington state native Tara Sauvage, it conjured up visions of virile Italian men. But in reality, Rocco and Dante are Sauvage's adorable fawn pugs, who do triple duty as her pets, her muses and her models, posing in all the marketing materials for her collection of leather bags.

After spending more than seven years in Los Angeles working for a private accessories label, Sauvage moved back to Washington, settled in Seattle and began creating her own luxurious line of leather satchels, shoulder bags and clutches using leather from New Zealand and Italy. Before finalizing the design of a new style, Sauvage carries the bag around with her and uses her experience to make adjustments to clasps, the length of the straps and other details.

The slick black leather Rocco e Dante satchels are certain to become lifetime bags, and the bold blues and lipstick reds of the colored bags pack a lot of punch. All the bags are available at downtown handbag boutique Clutch, with prices ranging from $295 to $495.

Meet the designer -- and the pugs -- March 28 at the Rocco e Dante trunk show at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., and while you won't be able to buy a bag at the show, you'll have the opportunity to order one from the new collection. Drinks and light appetizers will be served; check with the hotel's concierge for the suite number.

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