Laptop bags go from geek to chic

Fashion designer Julien MacDonald is used to dressing some of the world's most beautiful and chic women - from Kylie Minogue to Joely Richardson.

MacDonald has dragged the laptop bag into the 21st Century
Now the House of Givenchy designer has turned his hand to technology with a creation that could have thousands of women leaping with joy in their Manolo Blahniks.

He has teamed up with Intel to take the laptop bag out of the world of geeky black nylon and into the world of chic.

MacDonald describes the three laptop bags he has created as "fashionable, funky and functional at the same time".

Only 500 have been made, with 100 available in the UK. The good news is the profits will go to a children's charity, something that MacDonald thought women would appreciate.
Funky

Most pleasing for gadget freaks is that they are full of zippy and popper-buttoned compartments for phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), batteries, and memory sticks, never mind lipsticks.

He created them when he realised that although laptop bags already served their function well in protecting the goods inside, they did not exactly look good.

Many of them would be going out straight from work, but did not want to lug around heavy "nylon, ugly, horrible" laptop bags.

"So I thought I should do one of those," he says.

"I realised there was a real niche in the market for a lightweight stylish bag that had the technology in it to hold a computer, but also the technology in it so that if you dropped the bag, the laptop wouldn't break."

As laptops get slimmer and lighter, many working women are finding it increasingly essential to carry them around.

With wi-fi hotspots, allowing high-speed net access without wires, popping up around the country in bars and cafes, staying connected on the move is becoming an important part of the job.

"Computers and laptops are becoming a fashion accessory in their own right now," MacDonald explains, particularly for aspiring Sex and the City chicks.

"But you don't want to turn up to work in a gorgeous tailored suit then carry around this horrible ugly bag", he says.

They have inhabited the world that fashion forgot for so long because the demand for style has not been there until now.

"All the design that went into laptop bags was focused on the travelling businessman.
"People never thought women were just as business orientated as men and that they have those roles too," he says.

Now that they are, women are demanding the accessories to accompany their hi-tech get a touch of hi-tech fashion too.

Geek to chic
"People want their computers and phones to be functional and fashionable and there is a real crossover in products at the moment," MacDonald argues.

MacDonald: Technology is the future for everything

"People want products that also associate them with a brand, an image."

To MacDonald, people make choices in what technology they buy based on the "feel good factor" and what it says about image or personality over what it can actually do.

Which is why he decided to design the bags in different colours, for the sophisticated, the understated and the loud.

The fashion industry in general is waking up to technology and is being forced to change as tech gets smaller, portable, part of a fashionable image and essential.

Technological developments in fabric, with Teflon coated clothing repelling rain and Lycra that needs no ironing, have successfully been adopted by the fashion industry.

But things are moving slowly towards wearable technologies and creating garments that will accommodate them.

"If something has added value, customers will respond well to that," says MacDonald.
As for the laptop bags, MacDonald predicts they will be copied on the High Street soon, a relief for those whose busy working lives do not pay sufficiently to afford such a luxury item.

Before You Buy a Handbag

A handbag can make or break an outfit. Wear a fun bag out with friends to show your personality. Or carry the ultimate bag to work and impress your boss. But if you choose the wrong bag, your look suffers.

How to Choose the Right Handbag
Just like a great pair of jeans, a handbag should fit your body type. The shape of a bag shouldn't match your figure: instead, choose the opposite of your body type. For example, pick a bigger bag if you're a tall and thin woman. Don't be afraid to try the handbag on at the store. Get a feel for how it fits. Pass on anything that makes you uncomfortable. Basic designs and styles will last you through the years while maintaining a sense of up-to-date style.

Fakes vs. Lookalikes
Fakes are complete knockoffs (with fake logos most of the time) and lookalikes are pieces that are merely inspired by the original (like many department store handbag lines). Fakes may seem great at the time of purchase--they're cheap and have the designer label--but counterfeiters have ties to all types of crime. How to know if your buy is fake and not the real thing? If the deal seems too good to be true (i.e. Louis Vuitton bag for $20) it probably is.

Get the Low-Down on Designer Bags
Most designers have websites for you to check out their merchandise. Go ahead and get an idea of which bag you like, and if it's in your price range, get it. But if it's a little too expensive, designers have specialty outlet stores that offer legitimate designer bags for a reasonable price such as efashionhouse.com.

'It' Bags
Now that you know the difference between fakes and lookalikes, you'll want to study up on which styles are hot in the fashion world. "It" bags -- expensive designer bags that get must-have status each season -- don't come cheap. Remember that fashion goes in cycles, so hold on to these pricey investments: they'll be back in style in a few years.

Fall '05 Fashion Trends

Black, Romance, Volume

Think of Fall '05 fashion trends as the darker, richer version of spring and summer trends: turquoise turns to teal, gauze becomes wool, camisoles become romantic blouses.

While there's plenty of newness to shop from in the stores (fuller silhouettes) there are also new reasons to buy staples like denim (now it's embellished).

Designer have revived favorites that make sense to most women such as black (the universal color of chic) and tall boots (no ridiculous bare legs and sandals in freezing weather anymore).

Sample a bit from each Fall 2005 fashion trend and mix it in a unique way, making it personal with jewelry, color and layering.

Black is the New Black
After seasons of bright colors and white, black reappears as a chic look for everything from dresses to accessories.

Unlike the minimalist appeal of black in the past, black now has pretty embellishments, full volume, soft fabrics and other intriguing details to make it not-so-basic black.

Color Story
Spring and summer's turquoise has mellowed into a rich teal (also called peacock or Moroccan blue).

Rich browns also make this season's must-have list, accented by shots of burnt orange, moss, ginger and other naturally inspired hues.

Romantically Inclined
Soft, sheer blouses in white, black or prints are the top of the season. With bits of lace, velvet, ribbon trims or even puffy sleeves, these romantic tops are the perfect layer under fitted velvet jackets.

Retailers are calling this trend "Baroque" or "Renaissance."

Volume Dressing
Worn with a fitted topper (jacket, shrug, capelet, etc.) and paired with tall boots, the full skirt takes on a new look for fall.

Volume also comes in full gauchos or culottes, or a loose, dolman-sleeve top.
The key to wearing volume without looking sloppy is to pair a full item with a slim item (dolman-sleeve sweater with skinny jeans or full skirt with a fitted top).

Boots
Tall, to-the-knee boots are the best footwear option for everything from full skirts to gauchos.
A new, flat silhouette in tall boots is new, as is the wedge heel.

Lace-up styles, ruched looks and croc embossing are great alternatives to basic leather boots.

Big Bags
From oversized hobo bags to large structured styles, the bold bag is this season's must-have. While luggage-sized satchels are around, the most manageable sizes are slightly oversized.

Award for designer who made Burberry hip for the masses

CHRISTOPHER BAILEY, Burberry’s creative director, was named designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards last night, beating off stiff competition from Sophia Kokosalaki and Roland Mouret.

Bailey was among several leading British names to be honoured at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which played host to the gala dinner that has been dubbed the Oscars of the British fashion industry.

The Yorkshire-born, 34- year-old designer has been instrumental in reviving the fashion kudos of Burberry. His Prorsum range has been a hit with discerning fashion circles, even if the label’s once ubiquitous check received unsavoury press attention for its “chav-chic” associations. Everyone from Kate Moss to the Queen wears the brand.

Rose-Marie Bravo, the company’s charismatic chief executive, appointed Bailey in 2001, since when the pair have built up a billion-pound company. After graduating from the Royal College of Art he began designing womenswear for Donna Karan before joining Gucci in 1996, where he worked with Tom Ford. Today he is in charge of designing seven lines as well as overseeing sunglasses, perfumes, windows and advertising.

His clothes are characterised by a British cool that is modern, yet which also displays a dishevelled elegance, giving traditional plaids and William Morris prints an understated twist.
He is also a dab hand at re- inventing the house classic, the Burberry trench coat. Recent best-selling reincarnations include the capelet.

Next season’s collection, which was a highlight of Milan Fashion Week, will give a nod to the Sixties, evidenced by swing coats, brass-button details and shift dresses. Bailey was reportedly a key figure in the decision to appoint Angela Ahrendts as replacement chief executive when Bravo steps down next year.

Mouret, who was another nominee for Bailey’s award, received the red carpet accolade instead. His 1940s-style galaxy dress, which has an £800 price-tag, is the must-have item this autumn. Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore and Keira Knightley have all been photographed in one. The award will come as welcome news after the recent announcement that he has quit the company that bears his own name after falling out with his backers.

The prize for best new designer went to Duro Olowu, who launched his womens-wear label in October 1994. His idiosyncratic Empire-line dresses with billowing sleeves in vibrant silk prints have become fashion essentials with the international set.

Stephen Jones, the milliner, beat Georgina Goodman and Terry de Havilland, both shoe-designers, who were also nominated in the accessory designers’ category.

Knock-offs: You can buy it cheap, but still pay a high price.

If you dress to impress but can't afford the price tag that comes with carrying a designer purse, don't worry, the knock-off artists have just what you're looking for.

In this in-depth report, Michelle Nicks explains why you can buy it cheap, but still pay a high price.

One Boardman woman says those designer fakes ruined her life. She was charged criminally with selling the knock-off purses under an Ohio law that deals with trademark counterfeiting.

So why are others allowed to advertise and sell the same merchandise out in the open, and could you be in trouble if you buy one?

They're dressing up store windows all over town and more than five thousand websites market the designer knock-off purses. But there are websites selling the real thing: Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Channel, Prada, Burberry, and Coach.

In-style designer purses that carry a status symbol for anyone who owns them, but in some cases it's often difficult to distinguish the real thing from the fabulous fakes.

For example, if the outside says Burberry London, but the inside says made in China, you have your answer.

"In New York you say, 'what's that purse?' They say, 'what do you want it to be?' And then they put a label on it," says Josephine Perrett who sold designer fakes.

A common practice that funds a 450 billion dollar knock-off industry.

"You go anywhere, beauty salon, anywhere in the street, in a grocery store. You go in, they have by the truckloads, and they police are not doing anything.

"But when Josephine Perrett of Boardman was accused of selling the designer fakes at a store called the Nanny's Nest in Canfield.

Police came with a search warrant. She claims they took nearly 50 thousand dollars in merchandise as evidence of a crime.

Perrett, who says she's never even had a parking ticket, was charged under an Ohio Law that deals with trademark counterfeiting and is serving one-year probation.

"That law actually encompasses everything from the manufacturing of the counterfeit item, such as attaching, affixing, or otherwise putting a counterfeit trademark on an item," says Sergernt Paul Grimes of the Youngstown Police Department.

But many otherwise law-abidding citizens buying into the hype of the designer knock-off purses could also be charged with a crime if they host one of those innocent little purse parties.

Designers hire their own investigators to check out local stores trying to profit off of their name, that's how police say the Boardman woman was singled out.

But authorities admit it's not often that they make arrests for the crime. That's because more serious and violent crimes that threaten safety take priority.

So if you get caught having a purse party you could face criminal charges, but it's not against the law to buy one for your own personal use.

Even then you might think of it this way, the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition in Washington, D.C. says if you're trying to get real, by sporting a fake you are not only funding organized crime. There have been cases where heroin has been sewn inside the lining of knock-off purses.

Buying a fake also supports tax evasion. The city of New York estimates losing 500 million a year because of counterfeit goods. Money that could've been used to better your community.

Then there's the issue of sweatshops and child labor in countries like China. But even more disturbing the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition has ample evidence to show the sale of some fake purses are funding terrorism.

Knockoff designer goods kept top secret

NEW YORK -- It's become as much a part of Chinatown's reputation as dim sum, but the trade in counterfeit fashion has been driven underground.

Once hawked openly from dozens of Canal Street's ramshackle stalls, the fake Louis Vuitton and Prada purses, the Tag and Rolex watches, have gone.

But a New York Daily News investigation found they haven't gone far, forced into a secretive criminal empire filled with locked back rooms, passwords, well-placed lookouts and gang members linked by walkie-talkies.

No designer, no designer." The cry was almost deafening as tourist after tourist tripped off what must be Canal Street's most-used words: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton.

Everybody seems to want them. Nobody wants to be seen selling them.
Illegal counterfeits -- products made to look exactly like genuine designer goods and sold at a fraction of the price and quality -- cost New York City more than $1 billion in lost tax revenue last year, city Controller William Thompson estimates.

Faced with such a huge deficit, a major crackdown on forgeries has pushed many fake "designer" labels off the shelves.

But the New York Daily News found several dealers are still connected to the illegal trade, and complex networks have been organized to cover their tracks.

"Try one of the store owners on Broadway," said one "designer"-free shopkeeper, a walkie-talkie already in his hands.

A salesman in that store told a reporter, "There are two women standing outside Starbucks at Canal and Centre Streets. They might know."

The pair was easy to spot. One stood in a puffy jacket, hands in pockets, not looking particularly friendly, chatting in Chinese to her companion. They acted dumb at requests, offering an umbrella to keep off the pouring rain, but nothing more.

But it took only a couple of minutes to gain their confidence.

A crumpled, laminated sheet of paper was pulled out of the puffy jacket pocket and offered. It was covered with tiny pictures of Louis Vuitton purses.

"Lots of Louis," she said. "You follow me?"

So began a dash through the maze of north Chinatown. The diminutive woman marched through the rain, her companion crossing the street and constantly watching for followers behind. At least one man, standing scanning the foot traffic at a crossroads, nodded as they passed.

The guide led our reporter into a shopping mall passageway a few blocks from Canal Street, stopping by a door covered by metal pull-down shutters.

The shutters were rolled up, a door unlocked and, as it was locked again, a room packed full of counterfeits -- mainly Louis Vuitton, Coach and Christian Dior purses, along with DVDs of movies still selling out theaters -- was exposed.

A replica Louis Vuitton purse was bought for $40. A real one would cost $775.

It seems these well-hidden hauls of illegal products have become common.

Most Canal Street stores visited by the Daily News last week claimed not to sell gear bearing names of the biggest fashion houses -- even when a reporter uttered a password sources said would open up a secret Aladdin's cave of contraband.

But extended efforts showed the ease with which counterfeits still can be found.

Despite protesting that the cheap, unnamed bags on display at a Canal Street store were all that was stocked, two assistants were eventually persuaded to nervously pull out discreet Louis Vuitton and Coach catalogues.

An ordered purse -- designed to look like a Coach and bought for $38, compared with the $278 price tag for the genuine article -- appeared from a back room, already packaged.

Tim Trainer, president of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, said, "Forcing this gear out of public view is the first step in drastically reducing the problem.

"I have seen this happen before in a place in Hong Kong. The authorities put pressure on for two years and the whole thing was driven underground.

"Canal Street is still one of the worst places in the country for counterfeits, but New York City, the police and the designer companies have realized the extent of the problem, and they're taking huge steps to crack down on it."

Tara Reid, Britney Spears Paris Hilton and the Designer Handbags

Soon after the American Pie actress Tara Read’s black Balenciaga designer bag carrying $180,000 in Jewels was stolen in Ibiza Airport, designer handbags appeared in celebrity news around the world. Tara Reid’s bag was snatched from her trolley in the Ibiza, Spain airport last week as she was retrieving her luggage from the carousel. Reid was in Europe to film a segment of her "Wild on Tara" reality TV show. According to Pr Newswire, interest in Balenciaga designer handbags has jumped since the starlet revealed she was carrying her personal jewelry collection worth about $180,000 in the black bag when it was stolen. Reid claims that among those items taken was a Rolex watch of great sentimental value to her. She reportedly became hysterical when the bag was lifted, but Spanish police hold little hope of recovery.

Designer handbags became a very attractive targets to thieves. Britney Spears and paris Hilton both own Melvone designer handbags, as do Oprah, Debra Messing and Poppy Montgomery. Britney and Paris have been seen carrying their dogs in Melvone bags. Both might become just as hysterical at losing that precious cargo along with their designer handbags, but neither are likely to leave their puppies unattended on baggage carts. Designers LA.com represents Melvone, previewing her most recent collection at New York's Fashion Coterie "Sole Commerce" Trade show. Her summer 2006 collection consists of detailed hand-woven Italian leather to colored python and striking hand-painted suede. The show will be held September 20th - 22nd at Pier 94 NYC, booth 2322. Designers LA.com-represented fashion jewelry designer Lynn Leatart at a showing on Sunday, September 18th at the Melrose Co-op Designer Market. Her cutting-edge fashion jewelry gave Tara Reid the opportunity to fill another designer handbag from Balenciaga, Fendi, Gioiosa or Prada with enough jewelry for her next reality TV show…

Faking it

How to spot a fake by Alice Temple
Just how do you tell a fake Louis Vuitton or Gucci bag from the real deal? Find out how to take home the genuine article every time with this indispensible guide to spotting the fakes.
© Gucci


Handbag wars
With the advent of the Internet the crims are raking in the dirty dollars. Ebay is a breeding ground for fake designer merchandise and while there are websites selling the genuine article, there are just as many passing off counterfeit goods as the real thing. The problem is taken seriously by those at the top. Rumour has it that security staff at Louis Vuitton will even confiscate guests' handbags at their fashion shows if they are suspected fakes (oh the shame)! So, what are the signs to look out for?

The design
Do your research. Every celeb worth their close-up carries a status bag - the pages of Heat, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar are full of them. Check sites like http://www.vogue.com/ or the designers' own sites (http://www.gucci.com/, http://www.vuitton.com/, http://www.dior.com/) to see the styles and details of authentic merchandise clearly. Never seen a Murakami visor? That's because they don't exist outside of Canal Street.

Puckered leather and wonky stitching are sure signs of a fake

The fabric
When paying big bucks for a designer bag you're definitely paying for the name, but also the craftsmanship. The reason a real Hermès Kelly bag costs an arm and a leg is because they're hand made. You won't see shoddy workmanship on a legitimate bag - puckered leather and wonky stitching are sure signs of a fake. Only accept an article in pristine condition; if you're questioning the quality it's likely to be suspect.

The details
Don't overlook the smaller features. The zips, handles, buckles and other trimmings are often what lets down a fake. Hermès bags should have an 'Hermès Paris' stamp, while genuine Louis Vuitton leather goods say 'Louis Vuitton Paris, Made In France'. However, the fakers are cannier than ever and are wise to the fact that savvy shoppers seek the 'LV' stamp on zips and press studs. In this case, look even closer. Monograms should be clearly printed, not smudged - and stitches should be tiny and discreet, not clumsy and gaudy.

The nod of approval
There are some websites authorised to sell designer labels. Amongst the most popular are http://www.efashionhouse.com/, a legitimate designer etailers. Natalie Massenet from Net-a-porter.com that sells bags by Marc Jacobs, Chloé and Moschino advises, 'Consumers should look to shop on websites that are recommended by the brands themselves or by a trusted source such as high-end fashion magazines. http://www.jimmychoo.com/. If in doubt about the authenticity of the goods available online you should always review the Terms and Conditions of the website, which should explain the provenance of the goods.' It's also worth checking the returns policy. All sites are bound by law to offer a refund service. If it doesn't, alarm bells should ring.

The extras
When buying from auction sites like http://www.ebay.com/ look for extras like branded dustbags, boxes (designers love packaging) and identity cards. But be alert. However much you follow these rules the fakers are always one step ahead. In many cases they can fake the packaging and ID cards as well as the handbags, so don't let your guard down. The bottom line is: if you have any doubts, don't buy.

IPod All the Rage in High Fashion

Forget the $200 iPod bag from Gucci; it's for cheapskates.

The ultimate iPod accessory is Fendi's Juke Box, a $1,500 carrying case for transporting multiple iPods.

That's right: multiple iPods.

The bag, unveiled by the Italian fashion house at a catwalk show in Milan, is a rectangular gilded purse about the size of a bread bin. It is lined with multicolored cloth and incorporates a pocket for holding up to a dozen iPods.

Lest it seem like a joke, it is not. The purse is designed specifically as an iPod carrying case. There's even a hole on one side for the iPod's earpiece cable.

"It was designed for the iPod," confirmed Fendi spokeswoman Ayana Lewis, who is based in New York.

The bag is supposedly available at Fendi boutiques nationwide, although outlets in New York and Los Angeles have yet to receive a shipment, according to sales floor associates.

The Juke Box was designed by German designer and iPod fanatic Karl Lagerfeld.

It is based on Lagerfeld's own iPod carrying case, an antique leather case "monogrammed for some Jazz Age aristocrat," according to a description by Hamish Bowles, Vogue's European editor at large.

Lagerfeld uses the case to stow his multiple iPods -- a dozen at last count, which translates into around 120,000 tracks, all of which he seems to know where to find a Bowles reports.

However, since Bowles' report, Lagerfeld has increased his collection significantly -- to 40 iPods. That's right, he now owns 40 iPods, according to the latest issue of French Elle. Modeling a silver jogging suit, Lagerfeld confesses to owning 40 of the devices. Although at first glance the reader may assume he means a single 40-GB iPod, he meant what he said: He has 40 iPods.

Lagerfeld has converted his collection of 60,000 compact discs to a unique iPod storage system, according to a recent report in Womens Wear Daily. Lagerfeld keeps most of the iPods scattered around his various homes, which, in turn, are scattered around the globe.

"The iPod completely changed the way people approach music," Lagerfeld told WWD.
The report continues, "The technology also inspired him to create iPod carrying cases for Fendi, and he allowed that their shape and materials could also be inspiring for fashion in general."
The iPod's influence can indeed be seen throughout Lagerfeld's latest collection for Fendi.
As well as the Juke Box, there's a silver iPod carrying case, which has not yet gone into production. Several items in the collection are made of translucent materials (reminiscent of Apple's use of transparent plastic) or feature a circular motif, a reference, perhaps, to the iPod's scroll wheel interface. For example, Lagerfeld designed a large silver ring called the Disk, a circular purse in semi-translucent leather, and the Compilation, a gold purse with a circular clasp.

"Lagerfeld's passion for the musical mix has obviously infused the entire Fendi studio," Bowles wrote of the collection.

Lagerfeld is so taken with the iPod, he often steers interviews toward talk of Apple's technology; at least, that's the running joke on sites like MacBidouille.

But while Lagerfeld may have use for a giant gilded iPod suitcase, it is unclear why he feels Fendi customers need, or want, one.

Unfortunately, Fendi in Rome did not respond to repeated requests for more information, or an interview with Lagerfeld.

A sales associate at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco, one of the city's Fendi outlets, said the store didn't stock iPod cases, designer or not, and customers never asked for them.

Fendi is not the only fashion house to introduce expensive and luxurious iPod accessories. Gucci recently introduced an iPod Sling, a $200 carrying case with leather trim and silver clasps.
In fact, most of the major international design houses sell iPod cases, including Pucci, Dior, Chanel and Coach. Anya Hindmarch's bespoke Ebury handbag, a hot item this season, has a special compartment just for the iPod.

"The same consumer who buys an iPod buys luxury goods," Floriane de Saint Pierre, a Parisian fashion-industry headhunter, told the International Herald Tribune.

"It's a hot gadget right now, and these designers don't want to miss the boat," said Janet Ozzard, executive editor of Style.com, the online home of Vogue and W. Ozzard said she saw the same thing with cell phones -- designers quickly turned out expensive and luxurious carrying cases and accessories.

Danika Cleary, Apple's iPod product manager, said, "The iPod has become iconic, and fashion designers have picked up on it. It's a fashion item in itself."

Luxury purses carry a message: I'm extravagant

Designer Purses are appealing to wider markets, including younger women, who often overextend on bags they can't afford. We've seen the odd trend to women renting handbags and fighting over handbags when stores have big sales. Handbags and purses are becoming the new luxury item to be seen with and more women are splurging on bags costing as much as $6,000 in some cases.

The headline above leads to an article by Ruth La Ferla of The New York Times (syndicated by Orlando Sentinel). It points out how even with increasing prices on gas, inflation and a weaker dollar, women are scrimping and saving to buy their favorite bag or two, regardless of the extravagant prices.

If more of these women shopped for handbags and purses online, they'd learn how easy it is to save substantial cash on their handbag bling. Maybe it is as important to be seen in the boutique as to be seen carrying the bag? Save big on bags by shopping online for designer purses this Christmas.

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Designer Handbag Sale Needs Police to Stop Fights

Boy! Discount purses and Designer Handbags can create quite a scuffle when shoppers hear of discounts. Goodness, why don't they just shop with eFashionHouse.com? No waiting in line, no fights over merchandise and no long drives to the store! The link to the headline above leads to a news story about Maryland purse pandemonium when a local boutique had a long advertised sale on designer handbags.

Here's a snip from the story:

JOPPATOWNE, Md. -- Pandemonium forced managers of a discount store in Joppatowne to close shop briefly after hundreds of unruly customers began scuffling over deeply discounted designer handbags. C-Mart had advertised the sale for months.

But shortly after the store opened Thursday, managers called in Harford County sheriff's officers when pushing and shoving broke out among customers taking advantage of the deal on high-end handbags.

The sale was halted and the doors locked for hours, after the crowd exploded in anger over the store's attempt to manage the flow of nearly 1,000 customers.

You don't have to fight with other shoppers to get the best deal and the best selection on FERRAGAMO PRADA TODS No waiting, no driving, no crowds, no hassle. Maybe they don't have computers or internet connections? ;-)

1.4 Million Designer Handbag Counterfeit Scam - Four Arrested

Seems like Christmas shopping is bringing out the crooks as four were arrested in Boston for conspiring to sell $1.4 Million in fake designer purses and Handbags. They were sold from storage units, flea markets and back alley deals from the trunk of a car. When will people stop believing they are gettting a deal and realize they are dealing with criminals? Here's a quote from the story:

When investigators raided the storage facility in Revere, they seized more than 12,000 counterfeit handbags and more than 7,600 counterfeit wallets with trademarks for luxury designers, including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and Fendi, prosecutors said.
Investigators also allegedly found other designer-label clothing, including scarves, sunglasses and hats, and enough labels and medallions to turn more than 50,000 generic handbags and wallets into counterfeits.
The four suspects are charged with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods and conspiracy to commit money laundering.