Fendi's charmed circle; Dolce & Gabbana come into the light

By Suzy Menkes

Published: September 27, 2007

MILAN: A liquid softness, translucent fabrics, bigger volumes, long, full hemlines and artistic prints - as the Milan shows draw to a close, that is the point of view of designers who all seem to be striving for a modern romance.

When Karl Lagerfeld talks of the "birth of the day" and its streaks of dawn pink and pale blue, referring to the soft hues in his Fendi show, you know that times are changing. Likewise, Dolce & Gabbana exchanged sirens of the night for sylphs of summer as the designers' more familiar heavy metal and sultry sex were eclipsed by artsy flowers.

This surprising consensus among disparate designers is what we call fashion. And if their proposals are acceptable to women, there will be a change of mood and of silhouette for spring/summer 2008.

The Fendi show was celebrating, in discreet style, 10 years of the Baguette bag, which Silvia Venturini Fendi described as "timeless," saying: "I think the Baguette deserves a longer life than an 'It' bag."
For the show, against the canvas of Lagerfeld's semi-sheer mid-calf dresses, worked on a circle format, the Baguette bags were shown in varying sizes and decorated with big raindrops of beads and inset snakeskin clouds to go with the overall watery theme. That was reinforced by liquid flowing through looping pipes on both the backdrop and runway.

Fendi's charmed circle; Dolce & Gabbana come into the lightCoping with celebrity, the red carpet character testPrivate equity firms ready to cash in on luxury brandsThe idea was worked both in - and on - the graceful dresses, some with a perfect round of sleeve or collars; others with circle prints that Lagerfeld called "controlled graphics," inspired by the work of the DaDa artist François Picabia. "I was in the mood for print but didn't want flowers, so I thought of a rainbow," said Lagerfeld to explain how the arc turned into a circle.
Why did this cultured, elegant and well-thought out Fendi collection miss out on the emotional charge fundamental to a great show? Like a square peg in a round hole, Lagerfeld's transformation from a designer of sharp lines and silhouettes to a sweeter softness seemed slightly forced, although he played a masterly game of angular against circular, with geometric pieces buckling a circle of a belt.

The mid-calf dresses, white and semi-opaque, worn over shorts, caught a sporty modernity. But other dresses, especially those with soft gray and pink patterns, looked almost like a 1950s revival. But it was a good show with a clear vision. And that circle is going to play perfectly in China, where Fendi is off to do a show on the Great Wall and where, with serendipity, a circle symbolizes happiness.

It was a happy fashion moment to see Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana emerge from their dark, sharp club world and move on. The show started with paintbrushes dabbling on silk, running rivulets of color with Jackson Pollock enthusiasm to create bold, abstract flowers. From the small screen to the big stage as the video of work-in-progress in the Dolce & Gabbana studio morphed into the artistically patterned dresses spreading skirts like modern art canvases across the runway.

This was Dolce & Gabbana light - airy bubbles of skirts, caging nets of fabric, bouncy short hemlines and artsy evening gowns echoing Christian Lacroix in his haute pouf heyday.

But this colorful show was also about light in a different sense. The design duo let daylight in on their nighttime party clothes, moving into a parallel universe where women step out in pants and a gauzy shirt, swinging a flat bag (itself an artistic object) with a smaller purse attached. They even allowed themselves to show a lean pantsuit, displaying their tailoring side that has been idling for a while.

The main change in silhouette was that, as elsewhere in Milan, things had loosened up, moving away from last season's clinging sexiness with shiny metallic accessories. No one has ever doubted that Dolce & Gabbana had a more romantic side, and it was a wise move to turn to that sweeter register.

Even the footwear veered between not-too-high heels on laced shoes and summer flats. Not everything worked. A dress with a braiding of drapes looked like a fitted dress suddenly come undone. And some of the evening ball poufs were pure theater.

But the flowers were oh-so-pretty! - from sweet wisteria and orchids to more abstract dabs. They were a metaphor for the change in spirit from pert to pastoral. A slightly heavier theme reflected the flocked wallpaper of the backdrop and produced velvet brocades of William Morris-style patterns. But the overall result was of charming dresses that were mostly wearable and covetable.

Pucci does Cheyenne on a road trip down Route 66? Now that sounds like an unlikely fashion destination for the aristocratic Emilio. But with desert sand and coral colors - not the least of which was on the neon-patterned backdrop - the designer Matthew Williamson created a refreshing take Thursday on Emilio Pucci's noble heritage.

The designer's own boho instincts draw him toward a 1970s aesthetic. But this show was not so much retro as ethnic American in a hyper-sophisticated way, right down to feather pieces dangling from curving platform sandals. A chamois leather jacket, with a snakeskin mosaic of Pucci patterns, was a standout piece with Western influence.

But Williamson did not go wild for the West - apart from those sunset and sandstorm colors. "I was inspired by the archives and the boxy shapes Emilio did," said the designer, referring to square-cut dresses filled with geometric patterns that were in line with the general widening of shapes.

Since a little of Pucci pattern goes a long way, a sand-yellow suit, cinched with a wide belt, or a long, draped dress in solid colors of pink and orange gave a break from the prints. A chamois dress with the pattern cut like a doily into the suede was a master work - but not necessarily as desirable as a square-cut sweater worn with a pair of sloppy pants. Pucci could do with more simple sportswear pieces, which Williamson offers only as seductive swimwear.

But the British designer is making a good, straightforward job with brand Pucci - and there was one very satisfied client. The Pucci board member Delphine Arnault Gancia, of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton dynasty, wore a simple dress with a big history. The print was first designed for Marilyn Monroe but re-colored by Williamson. Just one of the ways that the designer is modernizing Pucci and giving it new life.
Suzy Menkes is fashion editor at the International Herald Tribune.

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Fine Sense Of Designer Bags

Written by EditorsChoice

Thursday, 27 September 2007

We are enraptured by the sense and styles that the actresses all wear. A designer bag can make or break an outfit; the bag is just as important as any other accessory you put on your body. Just watch any celebrity on the T.V screen you can see most reporters will talk about whose designer bag are they sporting. But whether we want to admit it or not designer bags are the one of the most expensive item you can purchase. We are just like any other person out there as we like to watch which celebrity is sporting the newest designer bag trend or style. Of course, we too, would like to own one ourselves. The question is which bags are celebrities are buying and wearing now and days? Here are a a few of the brands some of the celebrities are wearing this season or buying.

Prada Gauffre Antik handbag - Designed by Prada, its popular amongst such celebrities as Ashley Simpson, Beyonce and Victoria Beckham. The Gauffre Antik bag is richly trimmed, with lots of room to insert items for day and travel.

Yves Saint Larent Muse handbag - This little number is in the consent pages of glamor mags. You'll find celeb's like Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba sporting the bag. This bag is roomy and sturdy with its heavy stitching.

The Balenciaga Boston Handbag - Elegance with well blended color schemes. It dons the shoulders of Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz and Anna Kournikova. The boston handbag has rich tones and top not stitching.

Jimmy Choo Mahala handbag - This bag hits top score with the likes of celebs such as Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Jessica Simpson and Eva Mandes. Easy to tote with zippers galore, this bag is quite the style icon in its own right.

Christian Dior Gaucho handbag - This nifty little handbag sports details that accent the bag perfectly. Celebs such as Jessica Alba, Ashley Olsen, Kate moss, and Keria Knightly enjoy its extra features like a cell phone holder. It comes with many pockets so you can stuff your heart out. Plus it comes in many styles and colors to boot too.
These are just a few of what the celebrities are wearing over their shoulders. You can still sport a designer bag but you just have to shop around for the best affordable price in the store.

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Marc Jacobs Trendy And Unique Designer Handbags

There are a multitude of designers out there. From Gucci to Guess to Kate Spade to Prada. Have you noticed that many of the handbags look alike in style and color? Marc Jacobs stands alone as an independent designer who has developed and promoted trendy handbags that are like none other.

Marc Jacobs has a unique style of casual vintage grunge with sophistication. He is a young designer who prides himself on being unique and bold with his use of colors and designs. He is adored and respected across the board from rock stars to Hollywood starlettes. He has a diverse crowd of followers who are looking for something different that is not mainstream.

Marc Jacobs was born in New York City and studied at the Parsons School of Design. He originally designed hand knit sweaters. While he was still in college, he has won numerous awards including the Perry Ellis Gold Thimble and other prestigious awards. His first collection was ?sketchbook? and he was a partner with Robert Duffy. After working with him for several years, Marc Jacobs went out on his own.

He designs clothing and handbags for both men and women. He introduced his handbag collection in 2000. One of the most popular is the satchel which has a zipper closure with a belt like strap. The strap doubles as a shoulder strap or it can be carried by hand. Typically, the purses are lined in suede. The purses retail for $1,000 however, if you shop on line you make be able to find an authentic Marc Jacobs handbag for around $500-$600.00.

The Hobo handbag is made of soft leather with two front flaps. It has a front pocket with a buckle and a double shoulder strap. Other popular handbags include the lambskin quilted Stam bag, Ursula Bowler, Luxury Leather Marisa and Ventia Bronze.

The Spring line of Marc Jacobs handbags include a white calf leather and is named Karolina White. The Elise is quilted with a vintage look. The leather straps are rolled and it has a roomy interior. Also a pocket for a cell phone and many small functional compartments which makes this handbag very practical.

Womens Daily magazine named him the ?Guru of Grunge?. The line includes bright colors, many layers, stripes and large prints. Marc Jacobs is known for going against the grain and he is not afraid to take chances and risks. In 2002, Marc Jacobs designed a yoga bag to benefit Cancer research. He is also working on an accessory line to compliment his handbags. His style has been desribed as edgey and he is described as an enlightened designer who is forward thinking. If you are looking for a unique handbag pay attention to the Marc Jacobs line and see what is next on the horizon. You will most likely be pleasantly surprised.

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The death of luxury

Outrageously expensive handbags have become the new status symbols. Some women I know will have to avoid this book like the plague for it will ruin their favourite self-indulgence, shopping for mostly unnecessary, always expensive designer items.

Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Lustre (Penguin, $37) looks at the world of designer brands from every conceivable angle. Author Dana Thomas is a Newsweek journalist who's covered the fashion beat for years and for this 346-page expose she click-clacked round the world on her Manolos researching the history and modern reality of the best-known luxury brands: Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada and more. What she discovered is that much of it - although thankfully not all - is just one great big con.

The luxury goods industry is a US$157 billion ($214 billion) business and many of the once-family run companies founded in the 18th and 19th centuries by artisans have been snapped up by big conglomerates. LVMH, for example, is run by French tycoon Bernard Arnault and owns up to 50 flash brands including Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon and Givenchy. To companies like this, argues Thomas, luxury is now all marketing and the bottom line is an exercise in cynicism that has turned what was once covetable into something available to anyone, anywhere. "In order to make luxury accessible," writes Thomas, "tycoons have stripped away all that has made it special."

Thanks to Hollywood stars photographed parading the streets clutching a double mocha latte in one hand and an It-bag in the other, crazily expensive handbags have become objects of desire for women once content to tote their necessities in something more modest. Now they spend thousands on a Bottega Veneta woven leather bag. Handbags are the perfect "entry "level" designer purchase. This thrills the design houses, especially when Vuitton can sell a handbag for about13 times what it costs to make. And, although the companies deny it, Thomas says she's seen how many brands manufacture goods in China where production costs are 30 to 40 per cent less than in Italy.

This was a brave book to write and it reads as if it has been well researched. The most shocking chapter is on counterfeiting. I had no idea some profits are believed to fund international terrorism.

Thomas does find one place where the rich can still feel special: in a Brazilian design emporium called Daslu. There you get your own salesgirl - a Dasluzette - and can spend three days exploring the vast interconnecting salons stuffed with desirable things. It sounds splendid.

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Most Coveted Designer Handbags for the Fall

From patent leather to exotic skins, there are so many bags to drool over this season it is hard to pick our favorites...well almost. We've assembled a list of our picks for Fall based on the season's hottest designer handbag trends, enjoy:

1) Sensational Skins

Exotic skins is big for the fall and you can't go wrong carrying the latest styles in crocodile, alligator, ostrich, eel and even snake skin. And if you don't want to shell out $1k+ it usually takes to own one of the exotics, than carry a "crocodile embossed" designer handbag like this one seen here from FURLA, but if you can't live without the real thing than snag this PRADA ostrich bag and make a statement:

FURLA brown leather crocodile embossed satchel. Dark brown leather with crocodile embossed. Measures approximately 16 inch length by 11 inch tall with a 6 inch base. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

PRADA genuine ostrich leather shoulder bag. Black ostrich leather handbag measures 16 inches wide X 7 inches tall X 4 inches deep X 16 inches strap drop. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.


2) Power in Patents

Who says being 'shiny' isn't fashionable. Shine has never looked so good with this season's hot patent leather trend. Whether it's a night on the town or just spicing up the work-wear, we can't get enough of patent leather:

CHRISTIAN DIOR red patent leather chain-link purse. Bag measures approximately 15 inch length by 4 inch tall with a 2d interior in Dior signature fabric with one open pocket. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

GUCCI white patent leather shoulder bag. From the Gucci anniversary runway couture collection. White patent leather exterior with a white cream suede interior. Flap over top closure. Measures approximately 12 L x 13 H x 1.5 inch depth. Strap measures about 35 inches long with a 16 inch drop. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.



3) Lite up my life - Jewel Tones

Although we are big fans of the basic colors, we are all about the value of adding splashes of color to our wardrobes and love this season's jewel tones in blue, purple, orange and green hues that we appreciate like the 'jewels' they are.

BOTTEGA VENETA blue woven leather brass chain designer purse. Measures approximately 5 W x 3 H. Back of purse has a full length fully lined zippered pocket. Brass chain measures about 38 inches long. Chain has a dog leash snap which can shorten the chain to about 22 inches. Bottega Veneta stamped on inside of handbag. Comes with sleeper bag. Guaranteed authentic.



MARC JACOBS green leather shoulder bag. Measures approximately 16 W x 7 H with an 8 inch depth. Double strap leather handles measure about 20 inches with a 9.5 inch drop. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.



4) Chain Gang

Each season designers find new ways to reinvent the chain strap and it continues to survive in the world of handbag styles and for that we are glad. Nothing dresses up a designer handbag, or an outfit for that matter, better than a rich bronze, gold or silver chain. Following are just a few of the designer handbags that make us want to start our own chain gang:



DULCE pleated snap-top chain shoulder bag. Soft calf leather with contrasting brass hardware. Snap top and gathers. Measures approx 14" X 7" X 4" with a single shoulder strap 12" drop. Inside the 2" wide leather strap at top is embossed with these words: 'LOVE IS SWEETER THAN HONEY." Guaranteed authentic.





MARC JACOBS tan leather chain shoulder bag. Measures about 11 x 7 x 5 inches with double chain and leather straps about 22 inches each. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

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Chanel's Two-Toned Wonder

By Pia Catton

NYSun.com
September 25, 2006

Next week, the fashion world will descend upon Paris to see the spring 2008 ready-to-wear collections. Each season, among the biggest shows is Chanel's, presented in the light-filled Grand Palais. Karl Lagerfeld's collections for Chanel have a significant influence on the fashion cycle, but even more interesting than his impact on the future is his deft use of the past.

The Chanel brand is strongly connected to its origins through specific design elements that are referenced with care. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Chanel's iconic two-tone shoes, and this season, as in the past, the shoes will surely evolve one step further.

Launched in 1957, the first design was for sling-backs, beige with black at the toes. The darker color at the tip was an innovation intended to help hide scuffs and stains. But there were other practical factors in the design: The beige color blended into the leg, creating the illusion of length, while the black toe appeared to shorten the foot. The originals were executed by the shoemaker Massaro — whose son and grandson carry on the legacy, working with the house of Chanel to the present day.

Since joining Chanel in 1983, Mr. Lagerfeld has turned the two-tone shoes into everything from thigh-high boots to tennis sneakers. And though the materials started with leather, they range from clear plastic to jersey. The signature, darktoe shoes are now available in styles as varied as a high-heel pump with an ankle band ($975), and a colorful tweed boot ($1,575).

If you like CHANEL handbags as much as you like CHANEL shoes, check out these CHANEL handbags that are up to 40% off retail price:

CHANEL black satin evening bag. Measures approximately 6.25 inch long by 5 inch tall by 2 inch deep. Polished silver chain surrounds mirror with the CC logo on it. Flap closure with magnetic snap. Inside of flap black smooth leather lining. Inside of purse is fully lined with Chanel monogram. Strap can be removed from one side of purse so the bag can be used as a clutch. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag. Save 25%

CHANEL silver deerskin shoulder bag. Measures approximately 14 W x 5.5 H with an 8 inch depth. Leather strap handles measure about 15 inches long with a 6.5 inch drop. Zip top closure with a silver CC pull tab. Fully lined interior with one zippered pocket. Comes with sleeper bag. Guaranteed authentic. Save 23%

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Fab Bag of the Day - Hobo Clutch

We haven't featured a lot of styles from today's featured designer handbag brand but we sure are fans. Known for being affordable and offering a variety of styles, HOBO handbags are the fashionista-on-a-budget dream brand because you can carry the latest styles without dropping the rent check. HOBO INTERNATIONAL ruby clutch measures approximately 9 inch long by 4.5 inch tall by 1 inch deep. Chain strap is about 13 inches long with a 4 inch drop. Metal chain strap is removable. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to get this HOBO bag for only $70!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Valentino Shopper

With autumn officially here (September 23 marked the first day of autumn), we are shopping around for our next designer handbag and we can't pass up this dark brown croc embossed shopper from VALENTINO. Big enough to trek to and from work with and trendy enough to flaunt on the weekends - fall here we come. VALENTINO shopper Measurements: 14 inches wide X 11 inches tall X 4 inches deep. Comes with sleeper bag. Guaranteed authentic.

Click here to shop authentic VALENTINO handbags at up to 60% off!

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Prada Handbags Fashionable Designer Handbags From Italy

from Brandsofhandbags.com

Prada handbags may go down in history as the most fashionable handbags. They are made of high quality materials and carry a sense of elegance. Some people describe them as works of art.

The company is based in Italy and they manufacture all of their products. Mario Prada founded the company in the early 1900's. The first stores were in Milan where they started selling, handbags, luggage and shoes.

The handbags are described as luxurious and carry a very unique sense of style. However, the handbags are known to be simplistic and elegant.

The first handbags were made from walrus skins and then finer leathers were used. The handbags are designed with intricate details and the company uses crystals, shells and wood to add fine details to the design of the handbag. The handbags are sold in the United States, Europe and throughout the world.

The company's original founder Mario retired the company to his granddaughter in the 1970's. She has since owned and expanded the company. His granddaughter Miuccia had an eye for fashion. She actually expanded and developed the company to include more haute couture items. The Pocone became the most popular handbag in the United States. It is a large nylon, waterproof backpack handbag. Miuccia Prada has won numerous awards including a special achievement award from the National Italian American Foundation in 2000. Prada handbags are known to be both practical and fashionable which can be a rare combination.

In an effort to reach a younger population, the company introduced the Miu Mui collection in 1992. The emphasis turned to more earthy, practical colors and more of a hobo type design. The designs were compared to expensive vintage items. Also, a sport collection was introduced, chidlren's clothes, cosmetic, home and a children?s line was introduced. Also, belts and other accessories were designed and promoted.

It is difficult these days to discern the authentic Prada handbags from the imitations. The design of the Prada symbol is easily duplicated which makes the company a target for imitators.

One of the most popular Prada handbags is the Prada backpack which is described as a ?must have.?It retails for approximately $350.00. It has two pocket compartments in the front with a drawstring closure, buckle and snap. The inside lining is Parda?s signature black lining.

Another popular handbag is the Prada Shoulder bag which is made of soft nylon and has details of leather patches. It looks similar to a tote with black top stitching and a zippered pocket.

The messenger bag is very popular as it is similar to a purse and a briefcase in one. It has a very roomy interior with small side pockets.

The Wall Street Journal ahs named Miuccia one of the thirty most influential women in the world. She took over the company from her grandfather and made it one of the hottest fashion empires in the world.

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Tano Handbags: Affordable Leather Handbags

from Brandsofhandbags.com

Do you love the smell and feel of leather? When asked, the company answer that all of their products are made of leather and leather and leather. Then you may want to consider a Tano handbag. The chick designs and colors will make you a dedicated follower of these stylish bags that are fashionable and trendy. The company headquarters are based out of New York and the products are sold internationally.

They are economically designed and range in price from $50 to $200.00. The quality of the design and use of top of the line products make these handbags very fashionable and very affordable. The handbags are only sold in specialty shops and boutiques. They do have an exclusive website and products can be bought directly on line. They boast of having an anti department store rule because they do not want to become mass merchandisers.

The Boogie Bucket is a very popular handbag. It is made of a silky smooth leather and has a matte finish. All of the handbags are lined. This handbag features an adjustable shoulder strap and comes in some vibrant colors such as green, melon, ocean blue and floral orange.

The Jet Setter is made of Italian tag leather and has a very smooth texture. It is very lightweight and portable. It is available in brown and blue.

Oversized handbags. These bags are hand stained to give them a rich tone on tone look. There are small pockets for cell phones with an adjustable strap. The retail price is approximately $150.00.

Other popular handbags are the Misunderstood bag, Depeche bag, Lhasa Apso , Sid Delicious, Miss Congenialty, Lost Art, Stevie Kicks, Bottle Blond, Hollywould, Love Boat and Sex Bomb. The company is owned by a 35 mother of three. She admits to being a shopaholic and started with the company as a buyer. Recently, the original owner?s sons have taken over the business and have expanded the product line.

The owners describe the purchase of their hand bags as a sensual experience. They want consumers to touch and feel their hand bags and absolutely adore them before deciding to purchase them.

The company values the exclusivity of their designs and do not want women to be carrying just another bag. They pride them selves on craftsmanship and unique designs and colors. The bags are described as soft, squishy and comfortable.

There are a multitude of handbags available from trendy Gucci to quilted Vera Bradley and at times, it is difficult to choose. If you are love with leather Tano is definitely worth the price. The bags are very fashionable and they come in an array of styles and unique colors. If you cannot decide, buy two or three. After all, you need handbags for a variety of different occasions.

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Gucci Handbags: A Long Tradition Of Quality And Class

from Brandsofhandbags.com

Have you heard of them? Chances are that you have as they are one of the most famous and well known brands across the world. They are probably one of the most popular name brands. It is known as a haute couture company with sophisticated patterns and designs that are traditional and trendy. The company was established in the 1920's by Guccio Gucci and Italian from Florence , Italy who wanted to manufacture high quality leather goods. The label carries the infamous two Gs after the founder's name. He and his wife Aida had 6 kids and two of his sons ended up inheriting the company and fighting for control of it.

Their first handbag was made with bamboo handles and it is still manufactured today. They also manufacture perfume and watches. The first specialty stores opened in London, Paris and New York. The company then moved east into Japan, Hong Kong and Korea.

They come in an array of styles, sizes and colors. The name Gucci stands alone for quality and durability. The handbags have been known to last a lifetime and they rarely show signs of wear even after years. They are reasonably priced with the consumer in mind.

They can be found across the country and world in specialty shops, department stores and on line. If you carry a Gucci, you are carrying a quality name and product.

Some very famous Vanity Fair cover ladies such as Jackie Onassis, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn could be seen carrying a Gucci handbag.

The company became a corporation in the 1980's after the founder died. The Gucci team diversified as other well known designers such as Geoff Beene and Calvin Klein assisted in the design of merchandise.

One of their most popular handbags is the one made out of silk and leather. It is a Gucci signature pink and has a handcrafted strap made of bamboo. It has an elegant look because of the gold tabs and link chain. This handbag sells for approximately $450.00.

The Hobo bag is meant for casual wear or it can be dressed up if needed. It looks expensive but is reasonably priced. It is made of calf leather and has gold tabs with a soft interior lining. It sells for approximately $250.00.

The large White Tote is also very popular. It is known for its elegance and graceful lines. It comes in variegated colors of beige and tan and has gold tabs and a canvas lining. It has some specialty pockets for a cell phone and extra large pockets. It retails for approximately $200.00.

The Gucci name will be around for a long, long time. The company has expanded and has taken over other well known brands such as Rossi, Yves Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney.

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Burberry Handbags Designer Handbags From The Uk

from Brandsofhandbags.com

Some women consider their handbag to be a device for security as they may carry anything from a weapon to flashlights, to sharp objects to fend off thieves and purse snatchers. While others, consider their small, chic purse a fashion statement.

Burberry makes fine leather purses and they are based out of the United Kingdom. They also manufacture clothing and shoes. They have a signature plaid pattern that is used on almost everything they manufacture. They also have a catalog and fashion line. They have recently introduces a line of baby and infant clothing.

The company was founded the 1800's by a drapery apprentice. Thomas Burberry opened his first store in London in the late 1800's. He started out designing and manufacturing trench coats and then moved on to handbags.

Their handbag collection is diverse and they come in all shapes and sizes. Across the world, Burberry handbags are high quality and are geared towards the professional business woman.

One of their most popular handbags is a checked tote. It is large enough a lunch or any accessory items needed for work. It has two handles and sections and two extra large pockets on the outside. The handbag sells for approximately $450.00.

The Burberry satchel is geared towards a colder climate and would mostly be seen in the Winter. It is a larger handbag with one handle and a magnetic closure. It is made of very high quality leather and retails for approximately $1200.00. You can find it in large department stores, specialty shops and on line.

The Leather Pocket bag is made of stony leather which makes the finish look textured rather than smooth. It is known for its simple and chic design. It has an extra long strap with a buckle. It has a flap closure with extra large side pockets. It has a zippered pocket with a lined interior.

The Primrose Handbag has a nova check pattern. It is the most popular handbag made by Burberry. It has silver engraved tabs and are made of very high quality leather. There are many, many pockets and has a silky lined interior. Typically, this handbag sells for approximately $300.00.

Quality and craftsmanship are known for Burberry handbags. They are known for stylish handbags that come in all shapes and sizes for evening galas, work or shopping on a Saturday afternoon. You will find a Burberry handbag to compliment any outfit or event that you are going to.

They have specialty stores across the world. Some of the larger retail department stores sell their handbags and they have a website where you can purchase their handbags directly from them. Burberry also makes scarves, shoes, wallets and other fine accessories to compliment your handbag. If you are looking for a quality handbag look for Burberry.

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eFashionHouse.com on About.com:Style

eFashionHouse.com on About.com:Style

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About.com:Shoes

1. eFashionHouse - Discounter of Chanel Handbags and Other Labels

This site's been making a lot of news, and was chosen "Best of the Web" by PEOPLE Magazine StyleWatch. The site is actually divided into several sections. If you're looking for authentic Chanel handbags and accessories, you'll want to check the "BrandsBoutique."

Vendor's Site

Special thanks to About.com's Desiree Stimpert.

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Fab Bag of the Day - Marc Jacobs Blondie Tote

Heading into the weekend, we wanted to feature a designer handbag that is the perfect weekend tote, and this 'Blondie' tote from MARC JACOBS is just that. Paying homage to one of our favorite music icons, the blue MARC JACOBS tote has a picture of Debbie Harry on the front with the message "Marc Jacobs and Debbie Harry Proudly Support the Provincetown Art Association and Museum" on the back of the tote. Tote measures about 10 x 12 x 4 inches. Double straps are about 20 inches each with about a 10 inch drop. Guaranteed authentic.

Click here to purchase this MARC JACOBS tote for only $25!

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Discount Designer Handbags Without The High Price

Author: Tori A Hewitt

Women love designer handbags and women love bargains. Put together these two things, and you get the discount designer handbag. Many times, women who love the appearance and quality associated with designer handbags don't want to pay retail prices. The great news is that they may not have to. There are many different places where a savvy shopper can find a discount designer handbag.

There are several online retailers who offer a fabulous selection of genuine designer handbags at discounted prices. Brands Boutique is one such retailer. Brands Boutique boasts of a sizable inventory and wide selection of discount designer handbags, as well as many other types of discounted designer merchandise.

Those who shop with Brands Boutique can enjoy deep discounts on a wide variety of popular, high-end designers merchandise. The wide selection of designer merchandise available from Brands Boutique includes a wide selection of handbags designed by Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Diesel, Chloe, Chanel, Burberry, Balenciaga, Armani and many others. In addition to great deals on discount designer handbags, bargain hunters may also discover discounts on famous designer apparel and other accessories at Brands Boutique.

At Brands Boutique, bargain hunters have found excellent discount prices on classic handbags including the Gucci vintage aqua blue Jackie O shoulder bag -- the coveted red Birkin bag. Discount prices are also available on some of the more trendy designer handbags such as the Christian Dior denim handbag, the G Star recycled paper tote bag and the Dries van Noten distressed leather shoulder bag.

Another excellent online retailer specializing in discount designer handbags is Handbag Crew. While you aren't likely to find designer clothing at the Handbag Crew website, you will find an amazing selection of high-end discount designer handbags. This retailer specializes in the most sought-after designers such as Prada, Marc Jacobs, Fendi and others.

If you don't find the discount designer handbag of your dreams at the first online retailer you investigate, keep looking. There are many online retailers that offer a wide array of designer handbags at excellent discount prices. Remember that bargain hunting takes time and sometimes requires strategy. That is why it is called hunting! Make sure to purchase your discount designer handbag from a retailer that certifies the authenticity of your purchase and offers deeply discount pricing. There is nothing more satisfying than finding a great deal on the perfect designer handbag to complete your wardrobe.

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Fab Bag of the Day - Isabella Fiore Cashmere Hobo

We know it's not sweater season yet but we like to get ahead start on our shopping and we fell in love with this embroidered cashmere hobo from ISABELLE FIORE. Always original and never bland, ISABELLE FIORE makes us want to embrace the colder weather as long as we can sport this designer handbag. ISABELLA FIORE embroidered cashmere hobo measures about 12H X 18.5L X 3.5W. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop ISABELLE FIORE handbags at up to 60% off!

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Many find teenagers' expensive tastes both scary and shocking

By Monica Corcoran , Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Jillian Hurwitz doesn’t really need to shop for a back-to-school wardrobe. After all, the stylish 15-year-old attends a private school where she wears a uniform every day. But that didn’t stop her from hitting the racks at the Madison boutique in Brentwood on a recent afternoon.

Forget cruising the mall for $39.99 Gap fall sweaters. At the moment, Jillian is dallying with an armful of designer jackets and jumpers by Marc Jacobs.

“Chanel is definitely my favorite designer,” she says, emerging from the dressing room. She adds that her most prized designer purse is a black Yves Saint Laurent Muse bag, which sells for about $1,200. Her best friend, 14-year-old Jennifer Hourani, prefers her Chloe Paddington handbag. But today, Jennifer is carrying a pristine, white leather Dolce & Gabbana tote (it was shelved after Labor Day).

If this all leaves you aghast, you haven’t spent enough time at the mall lately. Teens have become a force in the luxury market. The days of begging parents for a Benetton rugby or Coach saddle bag are long gone. They don’t just covet luxury goods, they buy them. A lot of them, in fact.

Designer labels make up about 15.3 percent of purchases by 13- to 17-year-olds, according to a recent study by New York-based marketing research company NPD Group. Five years ago, that figure hovered at 9.6 percent. Increasingly, luxury brands are catering to younger customers.

There may be no generation as thoroughly saturated in brand advertising as the one growing up right now. Beyond the glossy ads in magazines and on television, Marc Jacobs runs Internet campaigns, celebrities are paid to brandish luxury goods (and what they wear is dutifully chronicled in gossip columns and Web sites) and luxury campaigns feature preteen spokesgirls. Not to mention label names are actual plot points in TV shows, music and movies.

No wonder teens talk waaaaay more about labels than their parents. A recent survey of more than 2,000 13- to 17-year-olds by marketing consultants Keller Fay Group found that kids have 145 conversations about brands per week. Adults invoke brand names about half as often.

Jillian and Jennifer are more fluent than most. They shop every weekend and quickly spot the new inventory at Ron Herman. Last summer, the girls bought purses in France and Spain — one that they will even share. And Jillian has her heart set on a quilted red Chanel designer handbag for her 16th birthday in February.

Jillian and Jennifer attend the Archer School for Girls, where the dress code forbids creative ensembles and excessive jewelry. When it comes to book bags and handbags, however, the sky is apparently the limit.

“Girls at school have Birkin bags,” says Jillian, referring to the iconic carryall by Hermes that commands upward of $10,000 and a two-year wait list. “I don’t know if I have seen anyone with a crocodile one, though.”

Birkins as book bags?

“The luxury brands are endearing themselves to younger audiences and making an emotional connection,” says J. Elias Portnoy, chief strategist at brand marketing agency the Portnoy Group. “If you develop a relationship early, you’re likely to have a customer for life.”

Jillian was willing to give up all her other gifts to get the YSL Muse bag last Christmas, says her mom, Laurie Feltheimer, who oversees a fashion Web site called “Hot in Hollywood” on hsn.com. Dad Jon Feltheimer runs Lionsgate. “Girls today know about the ‘It’ bag before it even comes out,” Laurie Feltheimer says. “It makes me a little sad.”

Skye Peters is another 15-year-old Archer School student who shops at Neiman Marcus and Barneys for her school tights. Her dream designers are Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent — she even pronounces Laurent flawlessly with a silent T — and she also shoulders a YSL Muse purse as her book bag.

Skye, whose parents are Hollywood producers Jon Peters and Christine Forsyth-Peters, says she sees classmates carrying moderately priced Le Sportsac carryalls, too. “Mainly, it’s the younger girls who have Birkins,” she says. “I guess it’s a little weird, since they are so expensive.”

Then again, the news in Us Weekly and other tabloids that Lindsay Lohan’s orange Birkin bag was stolen from Heathrow Airport last year enlightened her fans to the brand. An article on About.com on teen fashion lists the Hermes Birkin as a “must-have item of the moment that every handbag enthusiast should own, or at least know about.”

Blame Hollywood, too. Two years ago, on the now canceled “Gilmore Girls,” Rory received a Birkin from her boyfriend. She promptly responded by saying, “I love you,” and he replied, “The lady who sold this purse to me said that was going to happen.”

Now, that’s a romantic spin on young love.

French luxury retailer Hermes doesn’t market to teens, but other designers have no qualms about courting the Clearasil set. In this month’s Teen Vogue, glossy ads for oversize fall handbags by Gucci, Chloe, and Louis Vuitton can be found in the first 10 pages of the mini-magazine with a cult following among teenagers.

And that’s just the ads. The women’s media Web site Jezebel.com recently tallied the prices of the merchandise featured in the editorial content of the September issue of Teen Vogue to a total of $74,458. Per their research, Cosmopolitan — not CosmoGirl, mind you — rang in at just $27,636.64.

The fact that dewy Scarlett Johansson pouts as the face of Vuitton and Lohan now fronts for Jill Stuart is no accident either. Just ask Calvin Klein. When the designer put Brooke Shields, then 15 and an idol to teen girls, in his jeans for ads in 1980, CBS banned the commercial, but denim sales soared.

Marc Jacobs — who featured 12-year-old Dakota Fanning in his clothing ads in February — takes youth marketing to a new level with his new fragrance, Daisy. The scent’s MySpace-inspired online campaign revolves around a Web community that you must be invited to join. Who but a sullen teen sent to her room has time to play games to win Marc Jacobs screen savers?

Even Karl Lagerfeld’s recent announcement that he will design a line of eponymous handbags and luggage that won’t exceed $1,000 sounds like a way to target his adoring adolescent Chanelphiles.

“I get it,” says Jillian, over a cup of pea soup at California Pizza Kitchen. “These designers know that we like their brands and want to suck up to us.”

On this afternoon, Jillian wears Chanel flats and a pair of Chanel logo earrings. She adds that salespeople at the Beverly Hills store don’t shun her because of her age. “They’re nice to us.”

“These luxury stores don’t shoo out teens anymore,” says Portnoy, the marketing strategist. “They’ve been instructed to keep an eye out for them and take care of them.”

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Discount Designer Handbags & Purses: Fab Bag of the Day - Fendi B Bag

Discount Designer Handbags & Purses: Fab Bag of the Day - Fendi B Bag

Fab Bag of the Day - Fendi B Bag

We know summer is over but we thought we'd featured this stunning FENDI B BAG to pay homage to one of our favorite seasons of the year. FENDI B BAG in natural canvas with red patent leather straps and trim measures approximately 12 W x 8 H with a 4 inch depth. Strap handle measures about 21 inches long with an 8.5 inch drop. Gunmetal hardware. Flap over top with a tuck-in closure. Comes with sleeper bag. Guaranteed authentic.

Click here to shop authentic FENDI handbags at up to 60% off retail price!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Jack Spade Sling Bag

Now today's featured designer bag is strictly for the guys. Often times, guys need more color in their wardrobes which is why this JACK SPADE messenger sling bag in bright orange with black trim is a must for the men who are looking to get noticed. JAKE SPADE messenger sling features weatherproof nylon and measures about 10 x 9 inches. Adjustable black web shoulder strap. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop this JACK SPADE sling bag for only $69!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Trina Turk Tote

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Today's featured designer handbag from TRINA TURK is the perfect weekend bag for fall because of it's rich black color and functional shape. TRINA TURK Rio tote measures about 12 x 13 x 5 inches with double rolled and stitched shoulder straps measure about 20 inches each. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop TRINA TURK handbags now!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Marc Jacobs Satchel

We're all about comfort here, which is why today's featured designer handbag from MARC JACOBS is definitely our favorite the week. A comfy leather, green satchel that's sure to make your ensemble pop, this designer handbag is a must-have fall staple. MARC JACOBS designer purses measures approximately 16 W x 7 H with an 8 inch depth. Double strap leather handles measure about 20 inches with a 9.5 inch drop. Zip top closure. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop MARC JACOBS handbags at up to 60% off!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Chloe Carmel Shoulder Bag

Although there's been a lot of talk about how big bags can hurt your shoulders or be cumbersome at times, we still prefer a bigger bag for our everyday bag. Today's featured designer handbag from CHLOE is a great everyday bag because it has a comfortable shape, a lot of pockets and comes in a rich caramel shade. CHLOE designer purses measures approximately 12 inch wide by 11 inch tall with a 4 inch depth. Strap measures about 24 inches long with a n 11 inch drop. Strap is 1.5 inches wide. Hardware is silver with brass pull rings. Fully lined interior with one zippered pocket. Detachable coin wallet attached. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop authentic CHLOE handbags at up to 60% off retail price!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Roberto Cavalli Shoulder Bag

Today's featured designer handbag from ROBERTO CAVALLI combines two of this season's hottest trends, metallic and gray, to create a show stopping bag. We might be sad to see summer go but we are loving fall's new looks. ROBERTO CAVALLI FREEDOM collection designer purses in gray metallic. Featuring cotton twill construction with crocodile embossed leather. Length of strap 18.3 Inches. Width 13.3 Inches. Depth 2.3 Inches. Height 10 Inches. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag. Limited supply.

Click here to shop this authentic ROBERTO CAVALLI handbag at 41% off retail price!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Etro Hobo

Although we wish that summer could last forever, fall is just around the corner which means it's time to go shopping. Personally we like to buy the staples, black and chocolate brown, as our main fall handbag, but there are so many to choose from that we'll take them all if we could. But if you want to stretch your dollar, black is always a safe investment. Like today's featured designer handbag from fashion-forward Italian house, ETRO, which gives you the ultimate everyday bag. The style is slouchy hobo made from scratch resistant pebble grain leather and features the signature hardware rings in the shape of the icon Etro paisley. The hobo measures about 14x9x5 inches and has an adjustable shoulder strap from about 17 to 28 inches long. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop this Etro handbag for 28% retail price.

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Fab Bag of the Day - Chanel Tote

We can't get enough of CHANEL handbags. Maybe it's the classic details combined with exquisite craftsmanship, but we just love CHANEL. Today's designer handbag from CHANEL is a good example of why CHANEL has become the fashionhouse of choice for celebrities and fashionistas alike. Soft lambskin leather, in pale eggshell green, create the signature look of this classic CHANEL tote. Metal CC logo fob attached to side of purse. Measures approximately 15 W x 10 H with a 6 inch depth. The straps measure about 25 inches long with an 11 inch drop. Comes with sleeper bag. Guaranteed authentic.

Click here to shop this authentic CHANEL tote for 20% off.

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eFashionHouse.com supports ongoing designer handbag trends

Selling online for over twelve years, eFashionHouse.com, named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch Magazine for discount designer handbags announces continued strategies for upcoming designer handbag demands.

Desert Hot Springs, CA (PRWEB) September 7, 2007 -- Designer handbag trends are strong, and the demands for lower prices will become stronger in the near future. In 2004, the average cost of a new high-end designer handbag sold at a high-end department store was about $2000. Today, with the increased designer handbag trends and the strong Euro value, the average cost in the same high-end department stores has risen to about $2500 to $3000 for a new designer purse.

The prices are increasing and so are the pressures to buy new handbags. Some people have become desperate enough to rent a designer purse. But researchers like ABC News Consumer Correspondent Elizabeth Leamy and chemical biologists have shown bacteria found on a handbag are enough to make a person sick. In an article published in August 2006, Leamy documents the high risk of bacteria lurking in a used handbag. Renting or borrowing a purse may not be very smart, especially with the high cost of healthcare these days.

Pressures increase because teens and young adults seek style and fashion from celebrities who carry purses costing thousands of dollars -- some costing as much as the homes where average kids live. Today, parents are faced with providing not only the finances for education, but with the growing demands of providing high-end designer fashion accessories as well.

The eFashionHouse.com mission has remained consistent since its conception in the early 1990’s. “Our goal is to provide a resource for people to own high end designer fashion accessories without paying full retail price,” said Anna Miller, eFashionHouse.com owner. EFashionHouse.com has fulfilled more than 100K customer orders over the past twelve years providing authentic designer merchandise at below retail prices. The average eFashionHouse.com sale is between $200 - $300. The price of the more expensive eFashionHouse bags sell for around $1000. Their strategy allows them to sell at discounts of 25% to 60% off the full retail prices.

EFashionHouse.com announced today new strategies to continually provide resources for people to obtain designer merchandise without having to refinance their homes. A new layaway plan is being implemented which provides people an opportunity to design their own payment plan according to their budget. Establishing new and stronger resources for sourcing authentic designer merchandise within the USA have been achieved and implemented this past year. EFashionHouse.com covers all sales tax for its USA customers, and provides free domestic shipping on the majority of its orders.

EFashionHouse.com is committed to supporting the ongoing designer handbag trends by continuing to provide an easily assessable, convenient and safe online resource for high-end authentic designer merchandise at off retail prices. Their twelve-year track record in today’s ecommerce market is a good indication of eFashionHouse.com’s ability to continually support the strong designer handbag needs and trends.

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Fab Bag of the Day - Juicy Couture Cream Tote

Who says that you can't wear white after Labor Day? Today's featured designer handbag from JUICY COUTURE puts a youthful twist on the very functional tote style. Perfect for a day of shopping, hitting the beach or just going to work, cream leather has never looked so good.

Item Description: JUICY COUTURE designer handbags cream leather and white cotton multi pocket designer purse. Measures approximately 18 W x 11 H with a 8.5 inch depth. One inside zippered pocket plus an open cell phone and pen pocket. Face of bag has a large white cotton bow with three pockets. Comes with sleeper bag. Guaranteed authentic.

Click here to shop authentic JUICY COUTURE handbags at up to 60% off retail price!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Trina Turk Clutch

Although wearing a clutch on an everyday basis isn't always easy in today's world, we still love this completely feminine staple. Today's designer handbag from TRINA TURK takes a modern twist on a traditional style, combining brown metallic leather with a 1920's look. With all of the cute clutches available this season, this once popular style is on its way to making a comeback.

Item Description: TRINA TURK designer purses florence brown leather clutch. Modern design leather frame clutch bag with antique brass oversize snap closure. Fully lined. Inside extra pockets. Roomy. Contemporary style easily transitions from a day bag to evening. Measures about 15 x 6 x 3 inches. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Click here to shop this authentic TRINA TURK handbags now!

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Fab Bag of the Day - Pietro Alessandro Pewter Satchel

We love the shape of this bag. Seen all over the streets of Manhattan, today's featured designer handbag from PIETRO ALESSANDRO features the handbag style that has taken NYC by storm. And we can see why, this unique satchel is both comfortable and goes with everything.

Item Description: PIETRO ALESSANDRO designer purses pewter metallic leather satchel. New this season. All leather construction. High end designer details throughout the construction. Secure top closure. Fully lined. Extra pockets. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag. Measures about 18 x 17 x 3 with a 28 inch strap.

Click here to shop PIETRO ALESSANDRO designer handbags now!

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Old School Handcrafting from Tano Bags

Posted by Ellen, BagExchange.com

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We love luxury items, because they make us feel special. We believe that we are some of the privileged who are able to get a hold of a quality good that has been limited in their quantity. High-end leather goods companies encourage the association of crafting with uniqueness. Yet, the problem is that while the ‘$what?!$’ bags are so lust-worthy, they are exorbitantly expensive. .

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Honestly, how many of us can plunk down the credit card and say, “Hey, I’m in the mood to buy a Hermes today.” It’s not like buying an ice cream cone, chocolate or a lipstick to make you feel better. Good sense says to save, to which we all endeavor. However, lust is lust and there’s got to be a way to satisfy it in tiny increments until you decide to lose all rationality and go for the big buy.

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The rare beast is the one that offers unadulterated luxury without the uber pricey tag. That’s the boutique handbag, and more specifically, the ones that are not outsourced to some comglomerate manufacturer, but the ones still being cut, hammered, and sewn by a small cache of master craftsmen. And when you can find one of these, it’s a jackpot. Tano Bags exists in this tiny fraternity.

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Here’s the deal. Tano Bags is a family owned business that have been in existence for three generations. Most of Tano’s bags cost only around $150 to $250. They are made of, simply, “leather, leather, leather” in the U.S. of A. Tano is strictly a boutique bag with a ‘no department stores’ policy, making the buyer automatically one of the selected few. In fact, there is only one online dealership, musthavebags.com. Most of them have to be pre-ordered. I am thinking of getting the East London, but will have to wait a while as I just purchased a Goldenbleu. Still, yum, yum to all those colorful, squishy, abundantly proportioned lovelies.

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For more information about Designer Handbags, Fashion Accessories, Hip Jewelry and Very Cool Clothing visit http://bagexchange.com/

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CLICK HERE to purchase TANO Leather Bags

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"It" bag designer handbags a thing of the past

Designer purse purchases based upon specific criteria

We all dream about owning an “it” bag, but in reality our everyday purse is something we purchase based on specific criteria. The average person is looking for an everyday bag. The everyday designer handbag is not something the average shopper will spend up to $60,000.00 to carry.

Let’s keep it real. When it comes to shopping, bargain hunting for your next designer purse is the name of the game. We all love to own purses. Our closets are full of all sorts of Designer Names like Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Christian Dior, Prada and Chanel. We even have some older Coach, Cole Haan and Dooney & Bourke lurking in our collection. Nonetheless, when it comes to making the final decision, we base the purchase on realistic factors, not whether or not we can refinance our home to own a new designer purse.

Here’s what the average shopper looks for when making a designer purse purchase. The topics listed below are not arranged in order of importance or priority. They are just factors which come into play when a person gets ready to purchase a new designer purse.


PRICE.
In 2004, the average price tag of a high-end designer bag sitting on the shelves at Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue was around $2000. Today, according to a Designer Handbag Sales Person at Neimans in Beverly Hills, the average ticket price has risen. As a matter of fact, there’s nothing on the shelves today with a price tag less than about $1800. That will make the average cost hit around $2500 - $3000 each or more! Wow! We need resources for discount authentic designer handbags.

Online shopping seems to be the best way to find what you want fast with ease and convenience. There are search engines like Google.com where a shopper can enter the search terms “designer handbags” or “designer purses” and receive a list of potential ecommerce sites for making an educated, cost-effective purchase.

An unlimited list of websites selling discounted brands have surfaced over the past several years like Overstock, eFashionHouse.com, Smart Bargains, and others. Sticking to sites like these with longevity is probably a bargain hunters best bet. These sites have been online for over ten years and are considered Internet Pioneers.

If price doesn’t matter, eLuxury sells many of the name brands at full retail prices. As does Neimans and Saks. And, there are sales to hit frequently throughout the year, but most of the time the full-retail sites’ prices are still out of reach for the average shopper.

We contacted some of the discount websites about price points. EFashionHouse.com’s average sale is about $200-$300, and the majority of discount shoppers spend around $200 - $500 for their everyday handbag.

Price points rise to the occasion, and when it comes to special events or certain brands even bargain hunters will pay a little more for brands like Chanel or Hermes. This includes some of the high-end Chloe or Chanel bags that range in an off retail price of about $900 to $1900 each. Keep in mind, full retail for the same items range from about $2000 to $4000 each. Chanel jewelry items sporting the iconic CC logo are also collector items. The jewelry items become part of the owner’s collection and are handed down through the generations just like the famous designer handbags.

AUTHENTICITY.
Some people say the authenticity of a designer item doesn’t matter, but it really does matter. I’d bet 99% of the people who own a fake designer purse would say it doesn’t matter. In my opinion, 1% are being honest and the other 99% are telling a lie.

It also makes sense to assume in most instances, the person who purchases a fake designer item doesn’t know it’s fake until well after the purchase is made, if ever. Maybe the shopper does not know where to purchase authentic items at an affordable price. Or, thinks they can’t afford to buy a real designer item.

If all you’re looking for is something to carry your stuff, then authenticity doesn’t matter. If you are a true designer handbag appreciator, then it matters big time.

Anyone who owns a fake bag knows it’s a fake. So, what does that say about the person? Are they living a lie? Is their life a fake? Isn’t how we show up in life a statement of what we are about? We are what we eat. So, if we carry a fake designer handbag, then we must be a fake.

Counterfeiting is illegal. It defacing the image of the real designer, and most designers spend their entire career building their credibility and image. It’s not politically correct to deface the logo of a designer without the designer’s permission. Besides, fake designer products are made poorly and won’t last past one season’s wear.

Authenticity matters to the person who is looking for longevity, durability and integrity. Carrying an authentic bag makes a person feel a sense of esteem especially if the person saved their hard earned cash to buy it. Knowing it’s real and it was a small investment adds to the reassurance of value and values.

STYLE.
Just like the assortment of jelly beans at JellyBelly.com are the style of designer handbags. There are shoulder bags, clutch bags, tote bags, wristlets, hobos, satchels, doctor bags, brief case bags, backpacks, everyday bags, dressy bags, sling bags, body bags, man bags, leather bags, monogram bags, studded bags, metallic bags, messenger bag, school bag, book bag, patent bags, evening bags, beaded bags, vegan bags, cloth bags, vinyl bags, etc. The list is endless and dynamic.

Style predicts functionality, construction and versatility. The majority of handbag users (there are women who do not carry a purse) own a variety of styles because a different purse is needed for every occasion. The average person’s designer purse collection consists of several basic styles like a shoulder bag, clutch bag, tote bag, satchel and dressy evening bag. The majority of people have several of each style. Why? Because they want to!

Shoulder bags are the most popular style of all. The shoulder bag has a strap conveniently long enough to carry over the shoulder with comfort and ease keeping both hands free (i.e., for shopping and clapping when a perfectly priced designer purse is found). Many shoulder straps are adjustable creating a different style for different needs. Usually, an adjustable shoulder strap can be carried on the shoulder, made longer to carry across the body as a messenger bag or made short enough to carry snugly under the arm.

Many styles are named due to familiarity like the satchel styled doctor bag or the baguette named after a loaf of baguette Italian or French bread. In Europe, a fresh loaf of Italian or French bread is carried home from the bakery snuggly under the arm and close to the body. Hence, the famous baguette style handbag was born. Some say the baguette is a style of the past, yet it’s a style that will live on for handbags like Elvis lives on for rock and roll.

COLOR.
Need we discuss the purpose of color? The seasons predict the handbag colors as do the designers. The design houses meet regularly to set trends and share color pallets. That’s why we see the new black each season.

Anyone who knows anything about fashion understands the importance of and owns a little black dress. The same holds true for a designer handbag. Black is the staple color and everything else is for enhancement, mood and pleasure.

In 2007, we can carry any color any time of the year to any type of event we desire. The rules have changed. We think and do what we want. Some follow no rules at all. The more conservatives stick to the basics, and the edgy fashion freaks pull off a lime green pebble grain Hermes bag with comfort and ease.

Matching sMhoes and bags is a thing of the past, too. The true fashionista doesn’t match because it’s boring. The striking eye catching habit of a fashion guru is sporting one glorious high end designer accessory to pull the entire outfit together.

We spend under a hundred bucks for our jeans keeping the color neutral making the background work nicely with an outrageously funky colored or multi colored designer purse.

Oh yeah, color plays a roll regardless of one’s conservability level. Even the more conservative dresser will pull it all together with a staple like a black or brown Prada bag.

DESIGN.
Design and style are somewhat synonymous. However, design falls more closely within the areas of size and functionality creating a unique designer look with versatility and appeal.

All the talk about size doesn’t matter is not true when it comes to a new purse. Size does matter. The bigger the better for some, and small, petite for others. The design of a large bag will affect the price tag when it’s a high end designer purse. So, if you are making your first designer handbag purchase and want to start out slowly, buy a smaller bag.

Most of the designers use functionality as criteria when designing a bag. Pockets are inside and outside the bag. Today, cell phone and iPod pockets are an added attraction. External zip pockets change the design, look and feel of a bag as do studs which create a unique design.

A variety of factors go into the design of a purse especially its fabrication. You will be pleased with a hand crafted bag. That’s why we encourage shoppers to buy authentic items and stay away from the Made in China labels. The differences are obvious when inspecting the stitching, leather quality, hardware and linings. Even top designer Stella McCartney who never uses any animal products in her handbags uses top quality fabrics and expert craftsmanship. The non leather, pricey, vinyl, McCartney totes cost thousands of dollars!

FUNCTIONALITY.
ithout sounding redundant, a touch on function is important when making a handbag purchase. School bags serve a specific purpose as do evening bags. So, it’s wise to select your designer handbag based on how you plan to use it.

Call me silly, but I wear a Gucci belt bag when I walk. Sorry, I admit I’m a brand horror. Functionality plays an important role for a purse. When shopping, it’s smart to carry a bag to keep your hands free. For evening or dress up, carry a small clutch bag because all you’ll need is keys, a credit card and a condom!

CRAFTMANSHIP.
Whenever you get a chance, pick up a Hermes bag and inspect it carefully. Hermes equates craftsmanship and are the leaders of pack. They are tradition and quality. Once you’ve had Hermes it’s hard to go back. If you don’t understand that statement, then you haven’t owned a Hermes.

Yet, we can’t all afford to carry a Hermes or save our money to buy one because most of the Hermes purses cost more than the blue book value of the cars we drive. The Hermes leather bags range in price from $5000 to $50,000.

However, we can save our money for other well crafted designer merchandise by famous people like Miuccia Prada, Maria Silvia Venturini Fendi, Louis Vuitton, CoCo Chanel, Bottega Veneta and Marc Jacobs. Of news lately is the announcement made by Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld who has signed a deal with Accessory Network Group to produce his own line of leather handbags. They are scheduled to hit the shelves in 2008.

VERSATILITY.
Although versatility is a factor in making a designer purse purchase, the role it plays is probably not as important as you may think. Probably the most versatile factoring thought crossing our mind at the time of purchase is this, “Can I carry this bag when wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt and flip flops?”

All kidding aside, when we think of versatility we apply the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of the time we’ll be using this bag everyday for work, school or play. Whereas, twenty percent of the time, we will not!

Versatility of a new purse applies to our everyday lifestyle. We can relate to the object as “my bag, my look, it’s me.” And, if putting out a hefty dollar amount, you’ll want to make certain it’s something you’ll want to keep around for a long time.

AVAILABILITY.
I hear women talk about spending the day shopping and not finding anything. That doesn’t happen to me. I may spend time surfing the net looking for bargains and not buying a lot of stuff, but spending the day at the mall and coming home empty handed doesn’t happen to me.

It’s true, supply and demand play an important role in availability of a new designer purse. But more importantly is the money you have available to spend for it, who you are and who you know. A good example is the Hermes Birkin and Kelly Bags. They are rare finds. Yet, every celebrity owns them. And, most people who shop Hermes regularly can get most anything they want.

Currently, Bottega Veneta woven leathers are difficult to source at discount prices. They rarely go on sale, and the supply is not as available as it was in the past. Maybe the value of the Euro has caused this phenomenon to occur. Almost all of the high end designer handbags made in Europe have steadily increased in priced and decreased in availability since the Euro hit the market.

MOOD.
Don’t laugh. I’m in my late 50’s and just recently purchased my first Louis Vuitton bag. I finally found a couple of styles I like, so I made the leap. I own Hermes Birkin and Kelly bags, and because I’m a minimalist, my favorites are simple totes by Goyard or Chloe. But the mood hit me one day and during my evening ritual shopping online I picked up two Louis Vuittons on eLuxury, and love them both.

Does mood affect your purchase? Oh, yes absolutely. Some even equate shopping for a new purse therapeutic and much more worthy of one’s hard earned dollars than paying a therapist’s hourly rate.

IMPULSE.
Whether impulse is a true factor in making a designer handbag purchase is unknown, but most of us have experienced an impulse buy. There’s really not much good when a purchase is made from impulse. It’s mentioned only because some of us make impulse purchases and regret it later. An impulse purchase is probably done for all the wrong reasons, and sometimes guilt or remorse follow. When that happens you may have a serious shopping problem.

If shopping is causing a problem in your life, visit ShopaholicsAnonymous.org.

STATUS.
The role of status and designer handbags is more important to some than to others. Just like driving a Mercedes vs. a Volkswagen is important when it comes to cars, carrying a Hermes vs. a Kenneth Cole leather handbag can be important for the person making a purse purchase.

Nonetheless, it only goes to reason the higher the price tag the greater status, the bigger the ego the bigger designer name, and rubbing elbows with Bill Gates at a party Saturday night vs. coffee with the church pastor Sunday morning all play a role in factoring in status for your next handbag purchase.

While trying to keep up with the Jones’ is not your style, maybe owning a status symbol as an investment is. Some of the designer handbags purchased years ago sell today for hundreds if not, thousands of dollars more today than their purchase prices.

So, status may not be your intention, but when digging through Grandma’s closet reveals a 1950’s Hermes Kelly Bag you’re sure to feel like a million bucks!

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'It' bags all about exclusivity

Sep 01, 2007

Rita Zekas, Living reporter

With apologies to the late James Brown, Papa doesn't have a brand new bag. It's Mama – and if she's Beyoncé, it is worth $52,500.

Fourteen Louis Vuitton bags were cut up and cobbled together by hand for this bag, the Tribute Patchwork. To ensure that you will be the only kid on the block carrying this summer's ultimate "It" bag, there are only five for sale in North America and 24 worldwide. None is available in Toronto and representatives from Vuitton were unavailable for comment.

Beyoncé has scored one, as has one woman in Washington, presumably not Laura Bush.

In December, Chanel is reportedly launching an "It" bag made of white alligator skin and diamonds. Only 13 will be available worldwide and they go for $260,150.

Why are bags costing as much as luxury cars or a down payment on a house? Even Coach, whose bags average $300, introduced a collection of limited-edition $10,000 crocodile bags. Neiman Marcus is celebrating its centennial with exclusive online offers like the Prada $8,990 croc clutch – making it a good time to be in the accessories biz but a bad time to be a crocodile.

The trend is all about exclusivity. If everyone has the standard-issue Vuitton priced at a mere several thousand bucks, then what's in it for the high rollers or the real cool kids?

"I sat in on a panel last year about luxury brands and what it means to the high luxe client," says Christina McDowell, image consultant and national spokesperson for Holt Renfrew, which stocks all the must-have brands from Bottega Veneta to YSL. "Is the client bothered by how everyone can access that brand? That's why that client demands more embellishment and variety."

Blame the knock-offs, says John Maloney, executive vice-president of design at Design News, an accessories wholesaler based in Dallas.

"The average retail price point for a designer bag at Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bergdorfs and Holt Renfrew is $1,000," Maloney says. "The new buzz is exclusivity. The major design houses have to come up with ultra novelty fabrications, special treatments and sewing techniques to try and make their product less easy to spot on the cart in Chinatown. How demoralizing is it to see your assistant carrying a great knock-off of the bag you paid a house payment for?"

These "It" bags are carried by celebs and have become celebs themselves with their own names: the Hermès Kelly; the Fendi Spy bag; the Dior saddle bag; the Chloe Paddington bag. There is even more cachet if the bag has its own waiting list, à la the Hermès Birkin, costing anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 (U.S.)

There is no "It" bag this season, according to Rebecca Stern, former head of global merchandising at Gucci and currently a freelance fashion consultant based in Italy.

"Now it is multiple `It' bags," Stern says. "The crazy pricing is to create a difference between the wannabes who are now wearing Gucci, Prada and Marc Jacobs, and the true VIPs who can afford the Birkin or more expensive status symbols. Gucci, Prada, etc., are now `mass' market."

The high euro drives up prices of luxury goods – where a few years ago, the must-have bag was $500, they now go for well over $1,000. Prices have gone wild – from $895 for a Marc Jacobs shirt to $3,900 dressing gowns at Tom Ford's new bespoke store in Manhattan.

Ford says he wanted to create a place "where Cary Grant would shop if he were alive today." (In fact, Grant was outrageously cheap, according to photographer Maureen Donaldson, his live-in during the '70s. Donaldson contends that Grant used to buy dented cans of food and stockpile them.)

Inflated prices just play into the snob appeal: luxury sales worldwide topped $150 billion (U.S.) last year, of which 30 per cent came from the United States, according to statistics from Telsey Advisory Group. StatsCan doesn't track luxury goods.

And there is gilt by association.

Anya Hindmarch's environmentally correct canvas "I'm Not a Plastic Bag," priced at $15, caused a feeding frenzy from Asia to Manhattan and then was sold on eBay for hundreds of dollars. You can bet nobody is carrying green onions in them.

But there will be no bag-lash. Women will always be bag hags because purses are so forgiving – you don't have to be 20 years old or weigh 20 pounds to be able to carry one off.

One woman collected designer bags because she said she was too big to fit into designer clothes. She dropped the weight and she still collects bags, but they got smaller.

"Women no longer buy two and a half bags a year," explains Ellen Goldstein, chair of the accessories design department at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology. "Now they buy from four to 12. Women look at bags as luxury items which are integral parts of their wardrobe, something that is part of their personality and image."

"Why do women spend what they do on bags? Men don't quite get it," McDowell asks. "It's immediate gratification, relatively affordable, a status symbol and an investment piece. And it can make your outfit. You put on a plain T-shirt, black pants, then throw on a fabulous bag and shoe and you're pretty cool."

The designer bag demographic ranges "from the little tweens all the way up," says Goldstein. "Young girls convince their moms they need the Coach bag, the Prada, the Gucci – any of the brands. They know brands."

They'd been watching The O.C. to see what bag Mischa Barton would be sporting each week.
The Holt bag customer crosses the boundaries of age, culture and style sense, says McDowell – "from students who use their summer job money to buy a Gucci or Coach bag to trendy hipsters and their Marc Jacobs and YSL Downtown bags ($1,595) to the more traditional Burberry."

Bag blogs like The Bag Lady, Pursed Lips, bagsnob, ValueBags have sprung up on the Internet faster than pop tartlets with DUIs.

With their hefty price tags, designer bags are touted as investment pieces and do help save landfill space.

"The winner is the Hermès bag," says Maloney. "It is handmade and not trendy. Pass it down to your daughter – she'll pass it down to hers because it's always chic. Have you seen anyone carrying around a Fendi baguette lately?"

You can purchase authentic discount designer handbags at eFashionHouse.com.

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Fashion follows fusion

from the Austalian Fairfax Digital (Fashion Section)

They came, they shopped, they stopped us in our tracks with their great outfits. Rachel Wells celebrates the influence of Melbourne's Asian students on the city's fashion.

Joyce Kun doesn't like to look like everyone else. She prefers her own style, which has evolved since she moved from Malaysia to Melbourne to study business at RMIT three years ago.

"It changes depending on how I feel," says the 20-year-old, "but it's a bit Asian, a bit European and then it's a bit Melbourne." Today, that means hot-pink mini and gold court shoes (very Asia), big white designer handbag and black nail polish (that's Europe), and for the local look, black top and leggings.

"At uni, we all look at what each other is wearing. I guess we kind of pick up different looks from each other ... But you see more and more Asian designs here now. Even if you go into a store like General Pants, you see lots of cute prints and things that are very Japanese-looking. You see a lot more Asian-style fashion now."

She's right. Walk through the city on any given day and it's hard to ignore the Asian fashion aesthetic - young Asian students dressed in mini skirts, thigh-high socks and neon Chuck Taylor high-tops. It's not exactly the crazy parades of Tokyo's Harajuku district, but the colour, the bold prints and motifs, the designer handbags, the kitsch bling - it's hard to miss. So too, the dozens of Asian fashion boutiques. Some racked with cheap and cheerful imports and Hello Kitty and other assorted kawaii (Japanese for "cute") accessories; others with hard-to-find Japanese street labels.

It's a seismic sartorial shift for Melbourne, a city long admired for its European fashion sensibility - a look that can be traced back to the post-war waves of Jewish, Italian and Greek migrants who established the city's rag trade; a general tendency to look to "fashionable" European cities such as Paris and Milan for our style cues; and our European climate. But things are definitely changing.

"If you walk the breadth of Swanston Street, there are parts where you feel like you could be walking through a city in Asia," says Karen Webster, L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival director and former head of fashion at RMIT. "There's a really, really strong Asian influence. There's that strong sense of almost a quirky Hello Kitty style of fashion."
You notice it most along the Swanston Street stretch between RMIT on La Trobe Street and the Bourke Street Mall, and in the little arcades that run off Little Bourke Street - like the Mid City Complex and the Paramount Centre - where fashion boutiques catering to a predominantly Asian market sit alongside noodle shops and stores selling anime comic books and manga videos and DVDs.

The OzAsian fashion boom can be traced to a number of causes. Most significantly, it's driven by Melbourne's recent influx of international Asian students. A 2005 study conducted by the Melbourne Vice-Chancellors Forum revealed there were 69,700 international students at Victorian universities, and 48,600 of them lived in Melbourne. It's estimated that more than 12,600 live in the city - students from China, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Japan.

There is no question the rising Asian student population has changed the city's retail landscape.

Rhianna Coleman, who opened Yukie Clothing, a Little Lonsdale Street boutique selling mostly Asian street labels, in February, says 80 per cent of her clients are international students.

Coleman says she set out to stock high-end local and international fashion brands for women but when a steady stream of men came in requesting the Japanese labels, such as A Bathing Ape, that the previous owners had stocked, she saw a better business opportunity.

"It made more sense for me to stock the labels they were after, the Japanese street labels...because of the make-up of the population in that part of the city, it just made more sense."

David Chen, a former international student from Malaysia, also saw a business opportunity in selling Japanese street labels to the ever-growing Asian student population. Last year, he opened Crosover, in Little Bourke Street's Paramount Centre, with Kevin Wang, also a former international student from China. They stock mostly Japanese street labels including Visvin, Neighbourhood, higher-end Japanese brands such as Comme Des Garcons, hot Hong Kong label Clot and Billionaire Boys Club - a collaboration between A Bathing Ape's Nigo and R&B superstar Pharrell Williams.

"When we arrived in Melbourne, we noticed there was a lack of these kinds of labels and were frustrated at the lack of places to buy these brands," says Chen. "Most of our clientele are Asian students but more and more Australians are now trying to get hold of these labels. Japanese design is becoming very popular now. It is certainly leading the way in terms of fashion."

It may not be the economic powerhouse it once was, but Japan is the cultural superpower of the 21st century. Even the slick promises of American pop culture are both outpaced and influenced by Japan's cultural output, from the bug-eyed look of its anime, manga, video games and collectables (the spawn of Hello Kitty) to the innovations of J-pop music, graphic design and fashion.

The Marubeni Research Institute - a Tokyo economic think tank - estimated that Japanese cultural exports including music, video games, anime, art, films and fashion were worth $15 billion in 2002, three times more than in 1992; and a special government and industry taskforce, Japanesque Modern, has been set up to market Japan as a cultural power across the globe.

When it comes to fashion, there are few cities in the world that peddle cool better than Tokyo - particularly the shopping precincts around Harajuku, Urahara (the back streets of Harajuku), Shibuya, Daikanyama and Ginza. While high-end designers such as Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto have always had fashion cred, they now share the attention with streetwear designers such as A Bathing Ape's Nigo and Fragment Design's Hiroshi Fujiwara.

So it's not surprising that Australian designers, like the rest of the world, are looking towards Japan for inspiration. Melbourne brands Princess Tina, Genki and P.A.M. are among those clearly inspired by Japanese designs.

"We are seeing that Japanese influence more and more," says Coleman, "from big international brands like Paul Frank to local labels like Alice McCall, or brands like Nike and Carhartt, who are increasingly collaborating with Japanese designers and artists."

Webster agrees: "The streetwear which is so strong in Japan really suits our lifestyle here. It's much easier for designers to reinterpret those trends in the Australian market than you can with some of the European designers."
Once you start looking, you can see OzAsian fashion has moved beyond the footpaths of Swanston Street and into the suburbs.

In other places - such as Brunswick or Chapel streets - it's there too. It's just less obvious. It's more of an Asian fusion rather than slap-you-in-the-face Harajuku costumes. You can see it in the shock of colours, prints and motifs working their way into the black strongholds of our wardrobes.

"You have a walk around Chadstone or a place like that and you will equally find it there," says Webster. "It's more of a fusion of fashion in the same way we talk about fusion food. If you go into a store like Alice Euphemia or the Fat stores or Cactus Jam, you just get this mix that's quite quirky, where it's a little bit kind of Japanese or Hong Kong influenced, especially in the graphics, but you've still got that European tailoring. Then there's also the Australian fondness for a casual way of dressing...so you might see T-shirting fabrics and knits. So you throw all of that together and you've actually got quite a unique aesthetic that exists here in Melbourne that you're pushed to see anywhere else in the world."

ValueBags.com Comments:

We love the OzAsian fusion fashion look and everything about "fashion fusion." For more information about this topic, Google "Fashion follows fusion"

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Money bags

From The Sunday Times
September 2, 2007

The profit on a top handbag can be 13 times what it cost to make. Dana Thomas, in a new book, looks at the lucrative business of luxury goods

LOOK at a woman today, any woman, and what do you see? Clothes that are more or less anonymous. Shoes that are more or less anonymous.

And a handbag. It could be made of leather or canvas or nylon. It could be a tiny clutch in her hand or a back-pack slung over her shoulder. Never mind what’s in it. More than anything else today, the handbag tells the story of a woman – her reality, her dreams. And thanks to luxury-brand marketing, that handbag changes every few months, like the seasons, like her moods.

Since the late 1990s, handbags and other small leather goods have joined perfume as “entrance products” to a luxury brand. They come in a wide range of materials, from nylon to crocodile, and an abundant number of styles at prices as low as $200 (£100).

Unlike perfume, handbags are visible on the body, and – like Air Jordans for teenagers – give the wearer the chance to brandish the logo and publicly declare her status or her aspiration. “[They] make your life more pleasant, make you dream, give you confidence, and show your neighbours you are doing well,” according to Karl Lagerfeld. “Everyone can afford a luxury handbag.”

Today, when you walk into a luxury-brand store anywhere in the world, you will find yourself surrounded by handbags. They are the easiest luxury fashion item to sell because they don’t require sizing or trying on: you look at it, and if you like it, you buy it. Done. They are easier to create and produce than perfumes, and the profit margin is astounding: for most luxury brands the profit is between 10 and 12 times the cost to make the item. At Louis Vuitton, it’s as much as 13 times.

Handbags are the engine that drives luxury brands today. According to annual consumer surveys, the average American woman bought two new handbags a year in 2000; by 2004, that number was more than four. At Vuitton’s immense four-floor store in Tokyo, 40% of all sales are made in the first room, which sells only monogram handbags, wallets and other small leather goods.

“With the bag . . . there are no left-overs because there are no sizes, unlike shoes or clothes,” said fashion designer Miuccia Prada. “It’s easier to choose a bag than a dress because you don’t have to face the age, the weight, all the problems. And there is a kind of an obsession with bags. It’s so easy to make money. The bag is the miracle of the company.”

In 2004, luxury brands sold $11.7 billion worth of handbags and other leather accessories, and the segment is getting still stronger. While the luxury market grew by 1.2% each year from 2001 to 2004, leather-goods sales increased by 7.5% each year. A large share of those sales are “It” bags: the latest hot designs that – thanks to luxury-brand advertising campaigns and fashion-magazine articles – become the must-have of the season. Recent “It” bags include the Louis Vuitton Murakami, with the signature monogram stamped in rainbow tones on white leather, and the Gucci Flora, a pretty floral print taken from a scarf originally designed by the house for Princess Grace of Monaco in the 1960s.

Handbags have become so important in fashion today that an English journalist wrote during London Fashion Week in 2006: “Everybody – everybody – is talking about handbags with the intensity of cardinals appointing a new pope.”

The “It” bag phenomenon is young – less than 20 years old – and has been wholly created by the marketing wizards at luxury-brand companies. In the early 1990s fashion magazines declared that if you couldn’t afford to change your wardrobe each season, you could update your look with a new handbag. And luxury brands have been pushing the message, and the product, relentlessly. “It’s like you’ve gotta have it or you’ll die,” said Tom Ford, the former Gucci designer.

Leather companies launched ready-to-wear lines to make the brands – and therefore their handbags – sexier. Fashion companies pushed handbags to the forefront of their offerings and made them the centrepiece of their increasingly provocative advertising. Handbags became an intoxicating lure.

And women got hooked, some disturbingly so. There are Japanese girls who work as prostitutes to earn money to buy Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermès bags. In September 2005, victims of Hurricane Katrina used their Red Cross cards to buy $800 bags at the Louis Vuitton boutique in Atlanta. Websites such as Bagborroworsteal.com have cropped up for women to rent luxury and designer handbags for a fashionably short time instead of buying them – that way, they can change their bags more often.

In the world of luxury-brand handbags, as in cars and clothing, there is a pyramid of quality: made-to-order down to mass-manufactured. The best – the equivalent of a Rolls-Royce or Chanel couture suit – is a Hermès handbag. Made of the finest leather and fabrics, sewn by hand, and with starting prices of more than $6,000 and year-long waiting lists, Hermès handbags are considered by many to be the last true luxury goods in the luxury fashion industry. They have long been the bag of choice for those who can afford to choose. Jackie Onassis was photographed so often with her Con-stance bag slung over her shoulder that customers would ask Hermès sales staff for “Jackie O’s bag”.

Maryvonne Pinault, wife of Gucci Group owner François Pinault, raised fashion eyebrows when she attended the Paris womenswear shows in the autumn of 2001 not with a Gucci or a Saint Laurent, but with a large alligator Hermès Birkin bag on her arm. Martha Stewart showed up at her insider-trading trial in 2004 carrying a buttery brown Birkin and was taken to task by the press for her indiscretion. Carrying into a jury trial “a bag that is surrounded by such a thick cloud of wealth and privilege was ill-advised”, opined Robin Givhan in The Washing-ton Post.

Today, buying a luxury-brand handbag is often an exercise in banality. You walk into the shop past the chic-suited security guards, peruse what’s on display, choose, pay, and walk out with your purchase. The shopping experience may have been pleasant, but in the end it was no different from going to Gap, except for the price. There is nothing unique about the product: the brand has churned out thousands of them, absolutely identical. Unless you place a special order to have something custom made – and that is a very limited business, available at only a few companies – what you get is a ready-to-carry bag.

Buying a Hermès handbag – or saddle, or luggage – on the other hand, is still a true experience in luxury. Hermès boutiques do receive a few bags each season to sell to customers who walk in – a bit like a good restaurant always saving a table for a regular who drops in without a reservation. But generally, if you want to buy a Hermès bag, you have to order it. The bags on display in the store are just that: display models to show you the options. You choose the material: cowhide, reptile, ostrich, or even canvas. You choose the colour and the kind of hardware: silver, gold, diamond-encrusted. And for the Kelly, you choose if the seams are on the outside of the bag or turned in. And then you wait several months while it is made to your specifications. When it arrives in the shop and you are invited to pick it up, it is your bag. Another woman may have a navy blue cowhide Kelly with gold hardware and turned-in seams, but that was her idea, just as yours was yours.

Hermès handbags are the antithesis of an “It” bag: most of the designs have been around for almost a century and are coveted not because they are in fashion but because they never go out of fashion. They don’t bear ostentatious logos; the bags themselves are sufficiently recog-nisable. Hermès handbags convey old money and refinement – even if those who carry them have neither. They are a discreet symbol of wealth and success.

In 2007, Hermès had 257 outlets around the world, in cosmopolitan shopping districts, suburban shopping malls, five-star hotels, and international air-ports. But the loveliest by far is the original flagship at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, just steps off the Place de la Con-corde in Paris. The two-floor store in the six-storey company headquarters is a throwback to the late-19th-century emporium: heavy black iron-and-glass doors, well-worn mosaic tile floors, highly polished oak sales counters topped with glass display cases, deco-domed lighting. On the walls hang beautiful 18th and 19th century equestrian prints and paintings. Among them is a stunning 1727 portrait of King Louis XV astride a high-stepping steed, one of three by Jean-Baptiste van Loo and Charles Parrocel. Another hangs in the Louvre.

Walk in any time of day and the place is humming with activity. Chic saleswomen dramatically unfurl silk scarf after silk scarf for clusters of Japanese shoppers and elegant Parisiennes. Tailors take measurements for suits, and millinery experts size up chapeaux to be worn at the next big wedding or horse race. On the mezzanine, jewellers fit watches or help select the perfect pair of cufflinks.

In the back, salesmen in the saddle department show off bridles, hacking jackets, and saddles, which, like Hermès handbags, are made to order and by hand. Hermès has made more than 43,000 saddles since it was founded in 1837. To be measured for one, customers make their way up the back stairs to the saddle atelier, where they straddle a leather sawhorse – just as clients have for more than a century – as one of the company’s eight saddlemakers gets to work.

That, in a snapshot, is what sets Hermès apart from its competitors in the luxury business. As its 2004 autumn ad campaign declared: “Nothing changes, but everything changes.”

© Dana Thomas 2007 Extracted from Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Lustre, to be published by Allen Lane on September 6 at £20. Available from The Sunday Times BooksFirst for £18 (free p&p) 0870 1658585 ROYAL BEGINNINGS LUXURY fashion was born in Europe’s royal courts – primarily those of France. In the 17th century, French king Henri IV’s second wife, Marie de Medicis, wore for the baptism of one of her children a gown embroidered with 32,000 pearls and 3,000 diamonds. Louis XIV dressed in satin suits with velvet sashes and frilly blouses, high-heeled shoes or boots, and wigs of flowing curls topped with ostrich-plumed chapeaux.

To maintain control over his courtiers, he dictated what they could wear, what height necklines should be, and the length of gown trains. To please the king, the ladies of the court wore wigs so tall that their servants stood on ladders to assemble them.

Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV, personally encouraged and supported the luxury artisans and helped to found the Sèvres porcelain factory to provide the Château de Versailles with its services. Louis XVI’s wife, Marie-Antoinette, overran her annual clothing budget of $3.6m by buying gowns encrusted with sapphires, diamonds, silver and gold.

The attitude was summed up by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV’s finance minister, who declared: “French fashions must be France’s answers to Spain’s goldmines in Peru.”

ValueBags.com Comments:

We do NOT endorse the renting of purses. We base our decision on an article Your Purse Could Be Making You Sick: A Microbiologist Found Millions of Germs on Purses (The outside and the bottom of purses can be what one expert called "subways for germs."From GMA published by By ELISABETH LEAMY Aug. 8, 2006")

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6 Options for Storing Your Purses

Jeri Dansky is a Professional Organizer and helps people get their "life" in order. She has a blog located at http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com. Jeri has all sorts of tips and ways to help us organize the clutter in our lives. I found the article below about storing handbags and purses. I think the ValueBags.com readers can get some helpful ideas for keeping their high end designer bags organized neatly in small spaces:

6 Options for Storing Your Purses

by Jeri Dansky
Once you've sorted through your purses and have carefully decided which to save, you can then look at how best to store them. Here are some products meant specifically for purse storage. (Of course, you could easily use non-purse-specific options - a drawer in a dresser, an under-bed storage box, simple hooks, etc.)

1. The Hanging Purse Organizer from KangaRoom

2. The 8-Pocket Clear Vinyl Handbag File available at The Container Store

3. The Shoe & Handbag Storage Cube, also at The Container Store

4. Another type of clear purse box

5. The Park-A-Purse Organizer

6. The Purse Rack from Davison Inventagration, available at Hanger City and many other places[illustration from Bloom Designs, where you can find some lovely stationery]

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Italy's Ferragamo appoints new designer

MILAN (Reuters) - Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo has picked Cristina Ortiz, who has worked with Prada and Maison Lanvin, as its ready-to-wear designer, replacing Graeme Black, the company said on Thursday.

Ortiz has most recently designed the womenswear line for Brioni. "I'm very happy to be working for such a great Italian brand, with a rich and prestigious history and enormous potential in the world of luxury," Ortiz said in a statement. She will take on her new role for the autumn/winter 2008 collection, which should go down the catwalk in February 2008.

Black's last designs for the Florence-based fashion house will be for spring/summer 2008. They will be presented in Milan on September 26.

Ferragamo was founded in the 1920s and Salvatore Ferragamo, who died in 1960, started out designing footwear.

It is now perhaps best known for its men's silk ties, handbags and scarves for women -- items particularly favored by fashion houses as they need less retail space than clothing and have the added advantage of selling in one size only.

Ferragamo Chief Executive Michele Norsa, who took the reins in October 2006, plans to sell shares to the public by the end of 2008.

The company has about 26 percent of its sales in the United States and 22 percent in Japan, its two biggest single country markets.

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