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MARC JACOBS Collection Mix Quilted Classic Rosen in Lavender Leather



Retail Price: $1,095.00

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MARC JACOBS Collection Mix Quilted Classic Rosen in Lavender Leather with matching lavender and double layered link silvertone chain handles. These handles are secured with contrasting lavender leather and silvertone studs that have MARC JACOBS engraved into them. This designer handbag has a flap closure that is secured with a concealed magnetic snap. There is contrasting gray stitching on this bag with diamond stitching in the bottom corners of this purse. Read More..

Handbag Demand

By: Kenneth Elliott

Without a doubt the one accessory that most women cannot go without is a ladies handbag. And why not, the ladies handbag is a sanctuary, a place to store makeup, their cell phones, and many other wares that are essential to the on the go women. To this end ladies handbag demand has increased in the market place. As a result, so has the selection. And no doubt the top handbag distributors have taken notice.

Coach Bags at Unbelievable prices at Efashionhouse

Take for instance Coach; known for their coach handbags, wallets and other accessories, coach handbags are manufactured to be soft glove tanned leather, which has evolved with new shapes, styles, and material. Coach handbags have always been one of the top handbags to have. But many people cannot afford an authentic coach handbag. This is where replicas step in. No, I can't say that a replica is a good choice, but if you want the coach look but you don't have the coach pocket book, well a coach handbag replica is a good choice.

One of the most popular types of ladies handbags is a handbag crafted from leather. Leather handbags are available in several different color, sizes and shades. Many women prefer a neutral shade such as brown or black when purchasing a handbag.

Tommy Hilfiger Purse in nylon canvas at Valuebags


If you don't like leather, handbags also come in other materials like vinyl-coated canvas. Or even nylon. If you can imagine it, is probably for sale.

Handbags come in various sizes and shapes and there is sure to be one to please you. From totes, compacts to shoulder designs, small clutches to sakes there is a handbag out their made just for your style.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Shopping For Trendy and Stylish Handbags

By Janet Verra

Handbag is an attraction for many women. It is irresistible, beautiful charm that we often seen carried by women anywhere. Evey woman can have this beautiful accessory to add with her fashion statement, completing a desired look. Like any custom-made products, a great choice of handbag can turn an ordinary look into an extraordinary appearance. As a result, many stylish people especially women are becoming lucrative in collecting handbags to match with different outfits. In fact, basic outfits like a simple linen slip dress or even sweaters and jeans looks great with a great choice of handbag.

Affordable Handbags

Because of unstoppable growth of our population, the demand of handbags are also increasing everywhere. However due to increasing prices of products today, many people are considering handbags that are budget-friendly. While many people opt for inexpensive choices, others still prefer original brands. You can find variety of affordable handbags everywhere, mostly in discount stores and markets. They sell designer inspired purses, clutches, tote bags, etc. If you have enough money, you can always go for customized bags, these are quite expensive but not as much as branded ones. Customized handbags are great when it comes to gift-giving. In customization, you'll be able to create your own design. Why not make it personalized gift? Create a personalized handbags by monogramming your receiver's initials, name or even short scriptures. Having this idea is a sure hit during Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Holidays and others.

Choices of Handbags

This accessory have become a vital part of women's fashion statement. However, the real challenge here is on how to choose and use a particular handbag to match a certain outfit. Choosing handbags can be very tricky, though. Many of us assumed that this is as easy as picking jewelry in our jewelry box, but it is not. With the help of new technology, shopping for this accessory become less frustrating. Just few clicking and you'll see wide assortment of handbags that you can match with your outfits. Searching online can give you easy and convenient shopping option and you get to compare handbags' prices.

The choices of this accessory varies in color, shape, size and material. You can find a choice of handbag that matches your personality with matching color, size and shape you need. They also come in several styles like practical, theatrical, fanciful and bold. You can get a cute purse or clutch to for evening parties, while a tote bag for working days and travels.

Nowadays, you can even find different assortment of beautiful personalized handbags, even plastic bags with decorated designs and styles. Also, other containers like personalized canvas bags, sports bags and even customized cosmetic bags and toiletry bags. This means not a fancy party accessory alone can be customized, but also functional large bags that we often use in our other activities. When you think of giving gifts, these large accessories can be perfect also. For instance, a personalized sports bag can make a great gift to a lady who's interest is sports. Or perhaps, a cosmetic bag for a woman who's always on the go for business trips. With this accessory, they'll be able to finish their another day of activity with a lot of convenience. Just make sure you'll buy one for yourself also.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Designer Handbags Are More Affordable Through Online Shopping

By: Nicole Ross

Of all the handbags available to the handbag consumer, designer seems to be the best of them all. Designer handbags leave people green with envy when they see others carrying them. If you are not currently sporting one of these magnificent handbags, then you need to stop what you are doing and find the nearest retailer.

An even easier way to find the latest and newest styles is just a click away. That's correct, all you have to do is point and click on the Internet, and within a few days you too will have others admiring your fine taste.

Some find that the only set back that they have about purchasing an authentic designer handbag is the price. Not everyone has $200-$500, or sometimes thousands, just sitting around to splurge on a handbag. Therefore, finding these handbags for discount prices is a great asset for the consumer to have.

The best option for these individuals is to shop at online discount stores. eBay is a great store that offers many different styles of handbags. Just be sure to use common sense when online shopping. Always check for authenticity. Brands such as Coach and Louis Vuitton have a serial number printed inside each authentic handbag. Pictures are shown to verify the authenticity.

Amazon.com is another place to go to get great deals on handbags and other products. There are many online stores that cater to the needs of individuals who enjoy searching for the best prices and who love to bargain hunt. Some stores will even drop their prices to match up with their competitors. That is really cool!

Shopping online is a great way to save lots of money and also allows you to find other bargains without ever having to leave your home. The best thing about online shopping is the luxury of not having to fight face to face with other consumers who are after the same item that you are interested in. I just recently had to fuss with a sales associate in a store for giving away a scarf that she knew I just told her I wanted. Luckily, I told on her and got my scarf back. But, who wants to go through that? That is such a huge hassle especially around the holidays.

Online shopping is extremely helpful for men who are shopping for loved ones and do not like the hustle and bustle of crowds. I live with a man who will not do any holiday shopping outside of his office. Thank goodness for online shopping!

So, when you decide that you are ready to get that fabulous designer handbag, or anything else you need, remember that shopping in the stores can be fun, but when wanting to save money, what better fun is there than saving lots of money. Online shopping for your new purchase is a better way to go.

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

Hot Trend in Handbags – Hobo Purses

By: Tatyana Turner


Isn’t it great, when what is currently in fashion is also comfortable and practical? Totes and hobo purses are this year’s favorites. Find out how to select the best one for you.

A tote is an open-top bag that has straps or handles; you can wear it over your shoulder or carry in your hand. A hobo bag is a crescent-shaped bag that hangs from your shoulder. Both are large, so you can fit a lot of stuff in them.

You can get totes and hobo bags in just about any color. Bright-colored handbags are hot this year, but bear in mind that, if you have a large, brightly colored bag, it will attract attention. What I mean is that you don’t want your bag to overpower your outfit or face. However, if you wear a plain outfit in a classic color, like black, grey or white, you can brighten it up with a green or orange purse.

The most popular materials are luxurious leather, leatherette, canvas, linen, tapestry and straw. Combinations of leather and fabric also look very stylish, but are more affordable than leather.

Hobo bags and totes also come with beautiful prints on them; totes that feature celebrities are particularly popular, just now. Animal lovers can get totes that have adorable pictures of pups or kittens on them. You can even order a custom made tote with a photo of your own pet - all you need is to provide a photo of reasonable quality.

Most of us think of a tote as a casual bag for shopping, but you can also get elegant, stylish varieties. If it is leather, suede, or a leather-fabric combination, a tote can be a good companion for a work outfit.

Most hobo bags are not expensive. If you do a little bit of comparison shopping online, you will find fabric and leather-like bags for under 50 dollars, and quality leather for under a hundred. That is, of course, for non-designer bags - but they are of good quality, all the same. If you are after Gucci, Fendi or Prada totes and hobo purses, though, expect to pay a few hundred dollars.

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

Legitimate Wholesalers of Authentic Designer Handbags

By: surajlc

Get Designer Handbags Collection - EFASHIONHOUSE

Get Rich Quick Scams Revealed
Read this article before you consider paying for a "get rich quick" program.
From: Authentic Designer Handbags
Everybody would love to make lots of money quickly, working from home, and only doing a few hours of work per week. I've spent the past two years trying to find a great way of doing this. Only over the course of the past few months have I found any "get rich quick" programs worth buying. I've been trying to make money online for a long time. I had a few small websites, but they never made much more than a few hundred per month. It was easy money and didn't require much work on my part, but I knew there were people out there doing better than I was and I knew I could do as well as them.
Now, I've seen a lot of "get rich quick" programs. Most of these people make claims about earning $2000/day with Google or something similarly insane. Almost all of these people are complete liars. Even if they were making $2000/day with Google AdSense, it'd be because they had high- traffic websites with a lot of quality content. I'd know, because in one whole month, I never even made half of what they promised I'd make daily with their programs. Maybe you've already been scammed by one of these fraudsters. Anyway, I finally got sick of what was being offered.
I decided I'd look through the all of the "get rich quick" programs I could find and see if there were any that were actually legitimate. I found that there were owners selling their programs for well over $100, but the information in them could be found almost anywhere online for free. Additionally, they all contained out-of-date information, had no e-mail support, no money back guarantees, and broken links in the downloads section.
In conclusion, almost all of the programs I found were completely useless. The owners knew it, but they couldn't care less about their customers since they didn't offer refund policies! Amazingly, while looking through all of the programs, I actually did find a few legitimate programs. They were run by ordinary people like you and me, and they had found some great methods of making money from their home by doing very little work.
I spent some time working with those programs, and my income is now ten times what it used to be. These programs provided a large amount of great information on how to make extra money on your computer doing very little work. Numerous customers had provided great feedback and reviews for their products. Many of them have started to make money just days after buying!
Their programs have excellent prices, and the authors have a group of paid staff who are dedicating to helping you or providing assistance if you need any. I must say I was amazed! If you do decide to purchase any of the programs listed below, I recommend you join quickly. Most of the owners tell me they are getting an overwhelming number of sales and plan on raising prices in the near future, so order while prices are still low!
To Your Online Success,
Authentic Designer Handbags

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF HANDBAGS THERE ARE?

By Gregg Hall
A ROBERTO CAVALLI BAGUETTE, A MARC JACOBS POUCHETTE, A PRADA BACK PACK, AN ELAINE TURNER BUCKET BAG ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLE OF WHAT EFASHIONHOUSE HAS ON OFFER

All handbags are not created equal, not even close! Just like automobiles and cowboy boots, some are classic, some are trendy, some are practical, and some are just simply arm candy. Check out this overview of handbags. Some of the most popular include:

Accordion: Made of two or three pouches side by side, fastened together by stitching, snaps or fasteners to allow expansion or contraction of the bag, according to its capacity.

Baguette: Long, small, narrow bag with a shoulder strap, carried under the arm.

Balantine: Made of leather, fabric or metal, suspended from a long cord. The Balantine swings back and forth at knee height as you walk. These are very popular at present.

Pompadour: Small velvet or lace pouches worn hanging from a cord used to carry small items, a notebook or money.

Pouchette: Also called a clutch, this is a small lady's bag without a handle or shoulder strap.

Reticule: Comprised of string, net or mesh. This bag once used for provisions or tools.

Rucksack/Backpack: Worn on the back, held in place by two buckled straps and closed by a drawstring sometimes concealed under a flap.

Bucket Bag: Usually known as the "carryall" bag. Sometimes closed by a flap with a loop to protect against prying eyes but usually open.

Purses are basically a large pouch, and have been used by man (and women, of course) for as long as we can remember. African priests carried beaded bags, which were used for carrying bones considered to be tokens of seduction. Peasants early on used bags to carry seeds.

In fashion, it's the little things that mean a lot. It is significant to you what goes into your bag. Which in turn become very personal, because it conceals a secret that gives you a sense of personal power? For a woman, the bag holds not only the things you need for your day but it is also your personal glamour shop, which is very important to your identity.

While the inside of a woman's bag is hypothetically personal and intimate, the outside is a commercial, selling one's place in the world. The handbag remains a desirable item, with must-have status.

The Handbag will continue to be invented and re-invented at the turn of every season. They will be done in terry cloth, tweed, with sequins on it, fabric appliqués, jewels, clasps, leather, fur and other most recognizable elements. To many women, a bag is the entry-level item to the luxury market.

The handbag has become even more significant over the past two decades due to the fact that women do not wear as much fashion. In the 1940's you wore the total fashion look, now clothes are mixed and matched and handbags are part of the new freedom of fashion. It is a lot cheaper to pay for a small bag than an entire outfit.

Zarah Garde-Wilson's man under pressure, court told

Emily Power and Antonia Magee


THE father of gangland solicitor Zarah Garde-Wilson's unborn baby has been freed on bail after allegedly vandalising $28,000 worth of designer handbags.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard Lansley "Lance" Simon, 24, was under pressure because of his relationship with the high-profile lawyer. A magistrate accepted Mr Simon believed he had to fulfil the perceived expectations of his pregnant girlfriend. The court was told Mr Simon and Ms Garde-Wilson are expecting a baby together, but as a condition of bail he must live with his mother in Rosanna.

Mr Simon is accused of spraying nine expensive handbags with paint at the exclusive Versace boutique at Crown casino last Friday, while on bail for other unrelated matters. He faces a criminal damage charge. Lawyer Glenn Thexton told the court his client was not a risk of re-offending, and his arrest had been a wake-up call.

"The defendant has committed this offence while under significant pressure as a consequence of this relationship he's in," Mr Thexton said. Mr Simon's mother, Daniella Perry, gave evidence Ms Garde-Wilson was a "nice girl but heavily in the media".

Ms Perry said her son was afraid of not living up to Ms Garde-Wilson's expectations and was buying expensive gifts for her. "She's gotten pregnant and the crunch time to get a house and move in together has just overwhelmed him," Ms Perry said. "He's reached a crisis point." Ms Perry said the media had hounded the couple because Ms Garde-Wilson had previously wanted a child with her dead lover.

"This offending I see is a cry for help . . . it was over the interview with the girlfriend," she told the court. "They are trying to enjoy their own baby but it has kind have been overshadowed." Magistrate Amanda Chambers agreed with Ms Perry that her son reacted with immaturity to his problems. Ms Chambers said Mr Simon had a history of not turning up to court when he was younger, but she did not believe he was an unacceptable risk of re-offending.

His bail conditions include reporting to police, attending counselling and not going to the Versace boutique. Ms Garde-Wilson, 30, revealed her pregnancy in an interview on Channel Seven on Monday night. Today Tonight host Anna Coren introduced part two of the interview last night by saying that Ms Garde-Wilson had walked away from the father of her child.

Mr Simon will appear again in court at a later date.

The French pipedream come true

Designer handbags - Designer purses - Designer accessories

by Emily Dunn
Exclusive French accessories brand, Longchamp, is celebrating its 60th year of styling the jetset.
Kate Moss could have ended up as the face of a range of French tobacco accessories. Instead, in the latest catalogue from French leathergoods brand Longchamp, the supermodel drapes herself across a patent-leather handbag, staring out across a New York skyline. The images, shot by celebrity fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti, are a long way from the company's beginnings 60 years ago, designing and manufacturing leather-clad smoking pipes.

With tobacco now decidedly out of fashion, Longchamp's chief executive, Jean Cassegrain, is pleased to have traded smoking accessories for arm candy. "I am grateful we evolved from pipes because I am not sure we would still be in business," Cassegrain says from the design showroom above Longchamp's flagship store on Paris's famed fashion strip, Rue St-Honore.

"To start, Longchamp was a very masculine-orientated company but then we made the transition to luggage and now, to fashion."

One of the few French luxury brands still privately owned and in family hands, Longchamp celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

At the head is Philippe Cassegrain, who inherited the company mantle from his father and founder, Jean Cassegrain. Now 70, Cassegrain continues to design for the company but leaves the business to eldest son Jean.

Daughter Sophie de la Fontaine designs the brand's evolving fashion range, while younger son Olivier is based in New York.

It was Philippe who first guided the brand to leather luggage and then, in the 1970s and '80s, to what has now become the company's signature product, the nylon bag.

Made from the same fabric used in the tents of the French armed forces, it was the catalyst for a revolution in luggage dominated by hard cases and leather. Nylon is now de rigueur for luggage.

"Philippe was the first to have the idea to use nylon to make luggage," Jean says of his father. "Using nylon gave us a strong identity. The nylon used to make luggage in the 1970s is the grandfather of today's Pliage handbag."

Longchamp's Le Pliage handbags constitute 70 per cent of the business, selling more than 2 million a year and becoming the brand's most recognisable "ambassador". Its other ambassador is Moss, the first "face" of the company.

Jean Cassegrain hired Moss at the height of the "cocaine Kate" scandal. When the supermodel was caught on camera taking drugs at a London recording studio, she lost contracts with brands such as Burberry. She had been in talks with Longchamp for several months. Three days after the scandal broke, Moss signed with Longchamp.

"If we had been a publicly owned company, it wouldn't have happened," Cassegrain says. "A board would have said it was too high a risk ... we were able to take that risk."

The decision to hire Moss paid off. Twelve months later the supermodel's portfolio had expanded with contracts from cosmetics companies and fashion houses such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Burberry.

For Cassegrain, Moss has been instrumental in the company's evolution from luggage brand to fashion label. "Kate Moss was the best person to help us do that job," he says. "Not only because she is a fashion icon but because she is recognised around the world. We needed an ambassador with worldwide recognition and appeal.

"Now, the market for ladies' leathergoods is so much bigger, and for most customers the quality of the product is a given.

"It is a necessity but it is not what can help you make them choose your handbag over another - you need to have fashion appeal."

Moss may be the brand's most publicised collaborator but she is not the first. In the past decade the company has forged alliances with artists such as Tracey Emin, who in 2003 designed a range of Pliage handbags to celebrate the product's 10th anniversary, launched at the Colette concept store in Paris and championed by Elizabeth Hurley.

Last year the company enlisted kooky US fashion designer Jeremy Scott for a range of limited-edition Pliage bags and French DJ Michel Gaubert designed a range of technology-friendly luggage.

At the opening party for the company's Manhattan store, Gaubert performed for guests and "friends" of the brand, including Susan Sarandon, Uma Thurman and Isabella Rossellini. In London, Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Prince William, is regularly spotted toting the bags.

Olivier Cassegrain - responsible for the two New York stores, as well as stores in Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami - says the brand's French heritage has been central in marketing Longchamp in the US.

When he first moved to New York in 1998, knowledge of the brand was non-existent.

"Now the customers come in and they know more about it than some of the staff."

He also resists the suggestion that the new catalogue, the first to be shot with a foreign city as a backdrop, heralds the arrival of Longchamp as an international player.

"It can seem like it is a step but it is just part of a process, when a company is changing it takes four or five years for the changes to be noticed."

In Paris, his sister, Sophie de la Fontaine, is leading the fashion charge, overseeing the introduction of the do-it-yourself Pliage and the evolving fashion lines.

When Sophie first joined the family business in 1995, from French children's wear label Bonpoint, Longchamp's ladies handbags were "functional and conventional".

Last year she collaborated with Moss on the Legende, a new line of handbags and totes inspired by the visiting bags of Victorian-era doctors. Moss was also granted the first Legende off the production line.

"We wanted to give a face to the Longchamp woman. Someone romantic but someone a bit rock'n'roll," de la Fontaine says. The current springsummer collection includes white and camel Legende bags and patent leather versions of The Rival line, a more relaxed shape, de la Fontaine explains, inspired by the "modern maiden".

Silk scarves, part of the company's collection since the 1970s, continue, alongside fashion accessories such as wide patent leather belts in fuchsia and turquoise and slip-on canvas shoes in floral patterns. Metallic clutches sit alongside more sensible shoulder bags in tan and chocolate.

The new season also includes a small range of ready-to-wear, including colourful knits, loose-fitting shirt dresses and trench coats. Winter 2007 also featured some ready-to-wear, such as pull-on patent leather boots and leather jackets.

Sophie de la Fontaine denies the company's next push will be into runway fashion, however.

"We are not a couture house. We are coming from a handbag-first perspective and this is what sets us apart. Many of the other luxury brands are coming from ready-to-wear first but for us the clothes are only to complement the handbags."

Jean Cassegrain agrees the current obsession with statement handbags will work to Longchamp's advantage.

"Handbags used to be utilitarian ... of secondary importance to ready-to-wear; women would have a black bag and a brown bag," he says.

"Now handbags are more important than ready-to-wear. Women now wear jeans but will carry a designer handbag - it is the handbag that has become the fashion statement."

A history of Longchamp
1948 Jean Cassegrain starts Longchamp, designing leatherclad pipes.

1957 Opens first factory at Segre in the Loire Valley.

1960s and '70s New products are developed, including lambskin travel bags, a line of lightweight bags in nylon and leather and the Xtra foldable travel bag.

1979 Longchamp opens boutiques in Hong Kong and Japan.

1980 Current president Philippe Cassegrain inherits the company leadership.

1988 Longchamp opens its first Paris boutique, on Rue St-Honore.

1993 Longchamp introduces its Le Pliage line.

1998 Celebrates 50th anniversary under the glass pyramid of the Louvre.

2004 Company celebrates 10th anniversary of the Pliage with a collection designed by prominent "Brit artist" Tracey Emin; company signs Emin's close friend, Kate Moss, as its first official "face".

2006 Opens 100th boutique worldwide in New York's SoHo, La Maison Unique Longchamp, designed by Thomas Heatherwick.

2007 Collaborates on a Le Pliage range with New York fashion designer Jeremy Scott and a range of travel bags with Parisian DJ Michel Gaubert.

September 2008 Longchamp will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Happy birthday to you, too.
Salvatore Ferragamo, 80 The late Italian shoe master's birthday celebrations were held recently in China with an exhibition, Salvatore Ferragamo: Evolving Legend 1928-2008, opening at the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai.

Lacoste, 75 French tennis ace Rene Lacoste started making the now-iconic polo shirt in 1933 for himself and other tennis players who wanted an alternative to the long-sleeved, starched white shirts and jumpers common on centre court during that era. The first "crocodile" logo was drawn in 1927, after a journalist nicknamed Lacoste "the alligator" for his tenacity.

Emanuel Ungaro, 40 It was in 1968 that Ungaro founded his ready-to-wear line. Four decades later, the fashion house will celebrate with new designer Esteban Cortazar

Calvin Klein, 35 It's 25 years of CK underwear and 35 years since the American designer launched his sportswear line. Francisco Costa, creative director of Calvin Klein, recently won the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2008 Womenswear Designer of the Year award.

Women’s Bag Fashion Trends 2008 - What the Best Dressed Women are Carrying This Year

Never pay full price. Shop online eFashionHouse.com.

From Women's Accesories by Gill Hart

2008 sees a trend for stronger, larger, designer bags that can cope with women who carry the equivalent of 2.5 kilos over their shoulders.

It’s official: women now carry everything in their handbag but the kitchen sink. British newspaper The Daily Mail claims in its Femail section that the average British woman’s handbag “weighs the same as five bags of sugar” (Nick McDermott, 12/13/07). That’s 5 pounds or nearly 2.5 kilos of stuff, “equivalent to a hod carrier on a building site.”

According to The Daily Mail, "the burden on a woman's shoulder has increased by 38% in the past five years." With this in mind, handbags and purses for 2008 are bigger and stronger. Sue Braddick, assistant handbag buyer at John Lewis, a British department store chain says, “We’re seeing a trend for bigger bags.”

Not surprising, when our love of all things electronic means that today’s best dressed women are also shouldering their laptops, mobile phone chargers, ipods and other gadgetry; which are just as important as cosmetics and purses.

The weight carried in our handbags has grown to such an extent that UK major retailers like Asda are requesting their suppliers toughen straps and stitching to make bags more durable. Consequently we need to make sure that any bag we purchase will last.

Big Bags and Back Pain
However, this is not good news for Britain’s chiropractors who state, “We are considering issuing a warning”. Carrying around five pounds of bag regularly is not conducive to good health. Whilst such a heavy weight may not have instant repercussions, it can have a cumulative effect on body posture and may cause back strain.

Says Daily Mail reader Judith from Paris, France: “In Paris you often see women carrying two big bags. One has their personal stuff and the other has work stuff. Or college/uni stuff if they're a student. It's true we have more junk to carry round and you have to wonder what all of this is doing to our backs. We'll all be bent over double in old age.”

Bag Fashion Trends 2008
Along with the reinvention of the maxi dress, 2008 sees a trend for larger tote-style or shoulder bags. Increased weight and bulk means that the humble clutch purse is relegated to evening wear, as the majority of bags are now carried over the shoulder rather than in the hand.

Designer compartment-style bags are a "must have" for the modern woman, with pockets in different shapes and sizes to help organize the clutter inside. Modern women need lots of tailor-made spaces to house their new toys.

Natasha Shamdasani, Handbagdesigner101.com, refers to the current trend as Homes for Hi Tech, stating that “there is a big trend for men’s bags …..with specialized pockets for gadgets and electronics such as ipods, laptops, blackberrys, flash keys and more.”

So what does this mean for fashionistas in 2008? Tote bags (open-top with straps or handles) are selling well, along with the Messenger, a large soft, long-strapped shoulder bag worn across the body, dispersing the weight. These cross-body straps are reminiscent of '80s fashion trends. Many bags for Spring 2008 follow the floral spring-like color trend, with golden olive, diaquiri green, and pinkish reds.

In particular Radley Tote bags are proving popular, and according to Sue Braddick, John Lewis, “sales of Mulberry bags are up by 10%”

For those who prefer hand-held bags or balancing them in the crook of the elbow, the antique doctor-style is proving popular, in particular Dolce & Gabbana’s Large Leather Framed bag, a snip at around $1300.

If you want the real thing, be wary of fake designer bags. Counterfeit bags are getting harder to spot these days. If your bargain sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Match Your Bag With Your Body Shape
As bags are bigger and bolder this year, it is important to find one that flatters your body shape.

With shoulder bags making a come back, consider their length in relation to your height and frame. Remember that wherever the bag ends, it will draw attention to that particular part of your body. For those conscious of a spare tire, then go for a bag which ends at the hips and not at the waist.

If you are short and curvy, juxtapose your assets by choosing a long and sleek, rectangular or square style. In a soft fabric and good quality leather, this can knock off the pounds. If you are tall and slim then a slouchy, rounded hobo-style will compliment your frame. Elfin British model, Kate Moss is rarely seen separated from her oversized Chloe Betty and Cameron Diaz regularly totes her Burberry Knight Studded Bag

Overweight and Oversized Bags Command Respect
This season men will need to beware. With the average woman sporting a five-pound handbag, she can cause some serious damage should she choose to aim one their way! As one Daily Mail reader, Bob, from Nottingham, puts it “Time to show more respect or risk getting clobbered seriously.”

With the weight of women's handbags expected to increase a further 20% within the next decade, it gives a new meaning to the phrase "it' s in the bag!"

Graduation Gifts Most Likely to Succeed

Here's a tip.... She wants a REAL designer purse for graduation!

Whether she's into Yoga or an obvious Fashionista, decide the award your girly grad deserves and say "congrats" with an authentic designer handbag for the Class of 2008. You know she really wants a designer purse this year! And, she's all grown up and wants something special.

Shopping Online SAVES YOU MONEY! No travel time or gas to buy! Shop from the comfort of home 24/7!

All the girls are carrying a new purse to their new job. Your little graduate dreams about a new designer handbag. There are many styles and designs to select in price ranges from under $100 to more than $500. It's up to you. Whatever you pick will be a hit. Some of our favorites are Tano bags, Melie Bianco handbags, Elaine Turner handbags, Pietro Alessandro handbags, Gucci Bags, Prada bags, Fendi bags and many more. And, they are all on Sale! See the coupon codes below and start saving on your graduation gifts for that special gal in your life.

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Graduation is here! She wants a REAL Designer Handbag! Have fun shopping! Here's a series of Graduation Tid-Bits we found amusing and thought you might, too!

Bad Graduation Gift Ideas
by Andy

A Briefcase: Oh, thanks Uncle Frank. You getting me this briefcase ensures that I’m supposed to work the same 9-5 office job that you've worked for that last 25 years while complaining about it and cheating on my wife with my secretary. (Sorry Aunt Jane)

“Planet Earth” on DVD: Am I that hard to shop for? How long did it take you to pick this out at Wal-Mart? Do you think that all I do is get high and watch the Discovery Channel? Well guess what, I DO!

“Planet Earth” on VHS: What? There’s like 20 tapes. Get out of my sight Grandma.

Money: What am I supposed to do with this? It's only four dollars.

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All Sorts of Graduation Ideas
from My Expression

Graduation Party Ideas
The Traditions of Graduation Party -Traditions are the lifeblood of every college. Traditions connect the students to the past of the college while at the same time preparing them for the future. From the historic to the contemporary, traditions can express a spirit of unity and create a sense of community while providing for loads of fun.

Graduation Planning Checklist - Its Graduation time! You’re planning on hosting a graduation party and you want it to be unique and exciting. Planning any party can be overwhelming and many things can go wrong. So, to be on the safer side, you need to come up with a graduation planning checklist to keep things from bouncing out of control.

The Do’s and Don’ts in the Graduation Party - So, you’re graduating from high school or college and what better excuse to throw a party! Spring is that time of the year for graduation invitations, announcements and gifts. Etiquettes and manners form a very important part of our being social animals.

What To Wear on Your Graduation Day - For 12 (in some cases more) seemingly never-ending years, you obediently went through the schoolyard quarrels, your first boy-girl party, your first date, the Prom, and now finally what you’ve always been waiting for – your Graduation day! This time you’re going to be wearing an outfit that your parents will finally approve of – a gown and a cap ...

Decorating your Graduation Party - So, its graduation day and you’re all set to host a special theme party. Yes, theme parties are fun and a whole lot easier to decorate! Half the fun of hosting a graduation party is decorating the party. You can decorate your room, your lawn, you table, and even your guests! You can turn graduation caps upside down and fill them with balloons or flowers ...

Graduation Speeches Etiquette - The graduation ceremony confirms each student’s quest for knowledge. Traditionally, the ceremony will include a graduation speech that seeks to put each and every students hard work (in some cases, not so hard work) into the perspective of their future. Yes, most of us have heard one or more graduation speeches either as spectators or as graduates ourselves ...

Graduation Gift Ideas - The date is fixed, and the invitations and announcements have already been given out. So, the day has finally come for you students to cry and to cheer and to leave your school or college halls forever. Yes, graduation day is indeed one of the biggest days in everyone’s life. After years and years of hard work, your efforts have finally paid off. You’re happy but ...

Chance to Promote Your Business with Graduation Open House Invitations - Do you plan to host a graduation open house for yourself or one of your children? It may not seem like it could work, but you can actually promote your business when you have an open house. You can start the promotion with something as simple as mention that the open house is being hosted by your business. This will definitely ...

Graduation Announcement Tips, Wording, and Special Poems
Graduation Announcement Wording Tips - Graduation is an important time in life, and should be announced properly. Stationary with crayons and graduation caps on it is an appropriate means of announcing a child graduating from kindergarten. A photo announcement is a nice keepsake for loved ones who are being invited to the graduation ...

Graduation Announcements Wording Ideas - So, you’re graduating from high school or college and you’re busier than ever! Your last year of college is filled with thousands of events and activities that you have never even tried to attempt during your college years. From sending out resumes and applications to asking for letter of recommendation, you have loads ...

Do it yourself Graduation Announcements - A great substitute to printed graduation announcements are announcements that you print by yourself on your personal computer. Not only are these ‘Do-it-yourself’ graduation announcements a lot more economical, but they can also be equally colorful and creative. Start of by using plain white card stock or even plain white paper ...

Sending Graduation Announcements - So, its graduation day and its time to let everyone know that you are a proud graduate. Now that all those seemingly endless years of toil and hard work have finally paid off, it’s finally time to celebrate. First things first, start by sending out graduation invitations and announcements to all your near and dear ones. Most colleges and high schools ...

Graduation Invitations in General and the Etiquette
Graduation Party Invitations - Planning the Party - Everyone who has played a role in the life of the graduate should be sent an invitation to the graduation party. It is understood by most that tickets to commencement are limited, however an open house allows for everyone to congratulate the graduate. - Invitations - You can choose informal themes, such as a backyard ...

Graduation Invitations Etiquette - There is a very good reason why people call graduation ceremonies ‘commencement ceremonies’. This is because graduation does not mark the end; it marks the beginning. Graduation is the achievement of all goals, and rewarding the graduate for his or her hard work is a must. Graduation time is the time to invite friends and family together for an exclusive ...

Choosing Graduation Invitations Theme - Whether for you or a friend, Graduation day is one of the most joyous and welcomed occasions in any student’s life. It marks the end of your educational journey that can sometimes seem to be an endless and intolerable journey. Graduation is a once in a lifetime event, so give this event the honor and prestige that it truly deserves. The very first ...

The Traditions of Graduation Cap & Black Color in Your Invitations - When it comes to graduation invitations or stationary there are some traditions that are still observed by most people. In the majority of samples that you look at while shopping you will find that there are graduation caps in the majority of them. This is simply an obvious choice of décor since it is an invitation for a graduation ...

Graduation Invitations Theme
Casual Graduation Party Ideas - If you want to throw a wonderful party for that special high school or college graduate in your life, don’t assume you have to spend a fortune and put together some very elegant get together. After all, your graduate has already worked very hard to achieve this accomplishment and now just needs some time to relax and unwind. That’s why sometimes a more casual ...

Throwing a Cocktail Theme Graduation Party - Graduating from college is a major accomplishment and is definitely one of the best reasons to have a celebration. However, too many graduation parties are all the same. If you want to throw an amazing party, then you’ll want to take a creative approach with your graduation celebration. One idea is to celebrate with a cocktail theme ...

Throwing a Party for Valedictorians and Summa Cum Laude Graduates - Graduating from high school or college is a huge achievement, but if your student is graduating with honors then that achievement is even more deserving of a special celebration. No ordinary graduation is going to be sufficient. Background on Graduation Honors - If you’re not familiar with all of the “honors” terminology, then ...

Black, Red, and Green for Graduation Invitations - Graduations are one of those major milestones in life that deserve not only to be recognized but also to be celebrated. Whether the student in your life has just earned a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, or an even higher degree, you’ll want to find a way to show him or her just how proud you are of their hard work ...
Ideas for a Formal Graduation Party - When we think of graduation parties, sometimes we have the impression that all of them are just full of young people drinking too much and playing loud music. And sure some graduation parties would fit that description pretty well, but that isn’t your only option if you’re planning a celebration for a special student in your life ...

Feng Shui Graduation Party Ideas - Celebrating a graduation is a big deal. The family wants to show their pride at how well their student has succeeded. The student wants to know that he or she has done a good job by achieving this important life goal. When you’re planning something this special, then it only makes sense that you should take into consideration every possible way of ...

Creating Tassel as Embellishments For Your Invitations - If you want to create a graduation invitation that is sure to get the attention of those you invite you can do a lot of it yourself. It can be fun to add your own personal touch to it, even if you order the actual stationary and then create a tassel as an embellishment. Everyone associates a tassel with graduation, so this can be a fun addition! If you ...

Clip-Arts for Graduation Invitations - Do you want to add some fun and uniqueness to your graduation invitation but you aren’t sure what may or may not be appropriate? If so, you aren’t alone. The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of fun or original things that you can do; you simply need to infuse your own style into it and get creative. Anything that you can imagine can generally be created ...

Personalize Your Graduation Invitations with Special Inspirations - A graduation invitation can be just a graduation invite, but there are some great things that you can do to add your personal touch and make it interesting and even inspirational to those that you send them to. There is nothing better than sending out invites that have been infused with your own personal style, whatever that may be ...

Differentiating Masculine & Feminine Invitations Theme - Because both men and women graduate from high school as well as college there needs to be a way to differentiate between invitations that are more appropriate for men and those that are more appropriate for women. This is not to say that there aren’t invitations that are appropriate for both genders, but if you want something that ...

Seasonal Graduation Invitations
Show Your Patriotism with Patriotic Graduation Invitations Theme - Over the last couple years the patriotism in our country seems to have been renewed and this includes the young, the old, and everyone in between. If you are graduating from high school or college why not share your patriotism with others with a patriotic invitation theme? Why go drab when you can serve to inspire those that ...

Graduation Photo Christmas Cards - Are you graduating early? Many students that graduate early, graduate in the winter months, which is a great opportunity to do something different with your graduation invitation. You can not only send an invite to all those that you would like to attend your graduation ceremonies; you can send a Christmas greeting at the same time by enclosing a Christmas card with a photo ...

After The Graduation
Sending Graduation Thank You Cards - So, your graduation day has come and gone, the ceremonies were amazing, the graduation party was brilliant, and above all, the graduation gifts were super cool! The graduate is happy, the graduate’s guests are happy, everyone is happy. But, after the ceremony, party and gifts comes the most daunting part – sending out ...

Graduation Photo and your Scrapbooking Project - Honoring the graduate is one of the most important parts of the graduation ceremony. If you’ve organized your photo albums over the years, then everything should be up to date. But, if you are like most of us, then you’re family photos are probably piled up in boxes in the attic. Since you are going to be graduating pretty soon, now ...

Career Guide After Graduation - Transitioning out of college can be both, an exciting as well as a scary experience. There are newer and tougher challenges to face, unwritten laws to be followed, unexplored opportunities for progress – and humiliation – in every nook and cranny. While recent graduates and most other college students are preparing themselves to become experts ...

Reunion Graduate Party Planning - Once you graduate, you only get to see you friends every ten years at each reunion! So you want to have a fun reunion party this time and not a boring formal one? Planning for your reunion would mean coming up with a special plan or an idea for the party. From the decorations to the food and particularly the entertainment, your graduate reunion party ...

Celebrate Memorial Day with American Fashion Designers

Use coupon code MDS08 for an extra 20% off. Click Here!

Celebrate Memorial Day in style and take an extra 20% off all the American Designers at eFashionHouse.com. We owe a lot to the European influence when it comes to fashion. Yet, the American Designers produce an image we call, "Home." People like Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, Melie Bianco and Elaine Turner pave the way for upcoming American fashion influence.

Designers like Tano Bags, BCBG, Coach, Dooney & Bourke and Brighton bring a sense of American style and unique image to their collections. We honor all the American Designers this season and celebrate with them for Memorial Day 2008.

Whether you are looking for a new handbag, wallet, tote or leather shoulder bag, you can find a perfect American Designer Handbag for an unbeatable price. But don't lose sight of the true meaning of Memorial Day. We celebrate in honor of many people who have died in military service protecting our country. It's really about honoring our heros.

Yes, we are addicted to fashion, and we admire the creative design process. We are always seeking a bargain, and we shop online for the best deals we can find. So, get ready for Memorial Day with a celebration of American Designers at an additional 20% off, and remember our heros who lived their lives to make America our home.

MORE ABOUT Memorial Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer by many, for many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day.

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. US Eastern time. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers place a U.S. flag upon each gravesite located in a National Cemetery.

Many politicians and community leaders give speeches at community gatherings on Memorial Day.In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events. Some Americans also view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of the season. The national Click it or ticket campaign ramps up beginning Memorial Day weekend, noting the beginning of the most dangerous season for auto accidents and other safety related incidents. The USAF "101 Critical days of summer" begin on this day as well. Some Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.

Flags flying at Fort Logan National Cemetery during Memorial Day 2006.Memorial Day formerly occurred on May 30, and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), advocate returning to this fixed date, although the significance of the date is tenuous. The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

Following the end of the Civil War, many communities set aside a day to mark the end of the war or as a memorial to those who had died. Some of the places creating an early memorial day include Charleston, South Carolina; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Carbondale, Illinois; Columbus, Mississippi; many communities in Vermont; and some two dozen other cities and towns. These observances eventually coalesced around Decoration Day, honoring the Union dead, and the several Confederate Memorial Days.

Decoration Day, c. 1900. "You bet I'm goin' to be a soldier, too, like my Uncle David, when I grow up."According to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.

The official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The village was credited with being the birthplace because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter, and because it is likely that the friendship of General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo, and General John A. Logan, who led the call for the day to be observed each year and helped spread the event nationwide, was a key factor in its growth.

General Logan had been impressed by the way the South honored their dead with a special day and decided the Union needed a similar day. Reportedly, Logan said that it was most fitting; that the ancients, especially the Greeks, had honored their dead, particularly their heroes, by chaplets of laurel and flowers, and that he intended to issue an order designating a day for decorating the grave of every soldier in the land, and if he could he would have made it a holiday.

Logan had been the principal speaker in a citywide memorial observation on April 29, 1866, at a cemetery in Carbondale, Illinois, an event that likely gave him the idea to make it a national holiday. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The tombs of fallen Union soldiers were decorated in remembrance of this day.

Many of the states of the U.S. South refused to celebrate Decoration Day, due to lingering hostility towards the Union Army and also because there were very few veterans of the Union Army who lived in the South. A notable exception was Columbus, Mississippi, which on April 25, 1866 at its Decoration Day commemorated both the Union and Confederate casualties buried in its cemetery.

The alternative name of "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967 . On June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend and for the first time recognized Columbus Day as a federal holiday. The holidays included Washington's Birthday (which evolved into Presidents' Day), Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971 . After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply at the state level, all fifty states adopted the measure within a few years, although Veterans Day was eventually changed back to its traditional date. Ironically, most corporate businesses no longer close on Columbus Day or Veterans Day, and an increasing number are staying open on President's Day as well. The holiday has endured as one where most businesses stay closed because it marks the beginning of the "summer vacation season" (similar to neighboring Canada's Victoria Day, which occurs on the prior Monday).

Meet the bag ladies

from Daily Mail

When it comes to must-have accessories, nothing quite tops the female fantasy list like a handbag. So obsessed are we with each season's essential piece of arm candy, we no longer flinch at the idea of paying a month's earnings for the latest It-bag.

But the price of instantly recognisable designer bags keeps on rising. Just a few years ago, it was all about the £595 Mulberry Roxanne - as carried by Scarlett Johansson and Julia Roberts. Now the standard Fendi Spy or McQueen Novak doesn't leave much change from £2,000.

Yet isn't it cooler to have something more unusual? While we continue to justify our whims with the bank manager, there are those who have been smart enough to make a business out of their obsessions. KAREN CLARKSON speaks to five women who have turned bags into business:

TOP RIGHT: Pontine Paus, 33, lives and works from her Notting Hill townhouse. Her bags are popular with Kylie and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Pontine says:

When I embarked upon my master's degree in industrial design at Domus Academy in Milan, I never imagined that I would end up as a handbag designer - I thought I'd go into furniture or architecture. However, as part of this course I experimented with materials and chemicals. I covered some silk in plastic and decided to make a handbag out of it.

One day in Milan a woman, who owned a boutique, asked me where my bag was from. When I told her I had made it myself she asked me immediately to make a collection for her to sell.

My bags took off. I sold them through shops in Italy and created a range for the designer Louisa Beccaria. My father encouraged me to learn some business skills, so I stopped making the bags while I took a business course.

In 2002 I started making bags again. They became popular straightaway. Now we're stocked all over the world - Scandinavia, Italy, France, the Middle East and Japan.

Not everyone wants to make a major fashion statement with their clothes - most women feel more comfortable experimenting with accessories instead.

The beauty of handbags is that they can suit you whatever your age, figure or looks. They're also not as intrusive as clothing, as you can put them down when you want. I grew up surrounded by bags as my mother loves them and has a huge collection of Hermes ones. Now she only wears mine!

I own about 70 bags. I used to have a lot of vintage ones but I moved house recently and had to get rid of loads as I didn't have enough space. Now I only wear my own - if I need one for an occasion I just design it. I carry one bag for maybe six months and wear it to death before moving on.

I love big bags for the day. But for evenings I vary them depending on my outfit - my favourite is a clutch bag called The Night Owl. Every season I'm inspired by something different. I want to make beautifully-crafted bags with character. My Hunter bags for next season are all about war and hope - symbolised by star and camouflage prints. My Bandit bags were inspired by cowboys. I like having a story behind each one - that's where my art background comes in. www.pontinepaus.com

Swedish-born Charlott Vasberg, 31, lives in Chelsea. She says:

I studied womenswear design at London College of Fashion, followed by an MA in womenswear at St Martins. I graduated in 2003.

I didn't want to work for someone else, and making bags enabled me to be creative with patterncutting which is quite stimulating for me. My first collection consisted of five bags. They were soft leather bags with lots of zips. I called them 'transformation bags' - by opening and closing zips you could change their shape and look. In 2004, I sent some pictures to a few shops and got a call immediately from Selfridges. They placed an order on my first collection.

I own at least 40 bags. For day I like big bags which I can throw everything into. I have a large Twist Bag which I've been carrying almost every day for two years. For evening I like small totes and clutches. At home, my bags are hanging on the sides of my wardrobes. I also have a huge basket full of them. Most of these I've made myself, but if I was to wear one by another designer it would probably be Fendi. www.charlottvasberg.com

Susannah Hunter, 35, lives in Kilburn, London, and has been designing bags for five years. Elle Macpherson, Nicole Kidman and Uma Thurman are fans. She says:

I studied fashion design at St Martins, graduating in 1993. While working in retail at Margaret Howell, I began making handbags in my spare time for myself and for friends. The first one was olivegreen leather with irises appliquÈd all over. I carried it everywhere.
One evening at a party I met a model called Angela Dunn. She loved my bags and promoted my work within the fashion industry. She was best friends with Patsy Kensit who immediately bought four bags from me. Soon I had an order from the fashionable Holland Park boutique The Cross.

Now we're stocked in Harvey Nichols, The West Village, Paul & Joe, and Barneys and Saks in America. We're also about to open our first shop in London. Initially, I made the bags in my bedroom. Now I have a workshop with a full-time team of six people.

With the appliqued flowers, my bags look distinctive, but I change the colours and shapes each season.

Growing up in Scotland where my mother is a painter, I was always surrounded by colour and images of nature. I take pictures of flowers whenever I travel and this is the inspiration for my bags. My drawings get turned into leather flowers, which are layered onto the bag.

Everything is made by hand - it takes about a day to make each bag. I find it amazing how much women are willing to spend on bags. Mine retail between £295 and £770. Designer bags in big department stores are even more. I only own about 15 bags. Most of them are my own, apart from a few vintage bags and one from Issey Miyake. My favourite is still the first one I ever made, which I still carry to this day. www.susannahhunter.com

Canadian-born Victoria Sleeper, 35, lives and works in London and Paris. She is a bag consultant to fashion houses from YSL, Chanel and LVMH, and sells her vintage bags in Liberty, Urban Outfitters and Portobello market. Vicky says:

Growing up in Mid-West Canada, I learned how to do needlework, metal work and woodwork because if you wanted something personal you had to make it yourself.
I never studied fashion - everything I know about bags I've taught myself. I'm not very interested in fashion, but bags encompass so much - they hold our money, our lipstick and all the things that are important to us, while being tactile, sculptural and interesting to look at. I'm constantly researching things about bags.

I probably have a collection of about 20,000 bags, dating from 1600 to 1980. They come from all over the world. One of my favourites is a gentleman's hobo bag from the 1920s and I love my pre-1970s Hermes bags, the stitching is amazing. I'm also a big fan of beaded bags, probably because of my Canadian roots.

I love to change the bags I carry around with me. Sometimes I'll carry five bags in one day - I hate the thought of them being locked up in a cupboard, they need to live!

I sell a lot of bags to fashion designers but in Portobello I have all sorts of customers. Teri Hatcher bought some recently when she was in London; this morning I sold one to Helen Mirren; and I even sold a bag to the Queen.

The bags I make appeal to men and women. They're lightweight, multi-functional and in primal colours. I've just finished creating my first collection of Vicky Sleeper bags. My daughter describes them as avant-garde; my friends say they are art; and someone else has called them 21st-century urban camouflage. www.vickysleeper.com

Tabitha Somerset-Webb, 31, lives and works in Battersea, London. Customers include Cat Deeley, Denise Van Outen and Dannii Minogue. Tabitha says:

I'm probably the least likely handbag designer you can imagine. I never studied fashion or art, and I can't draw. Bags weren't even something I particularly liked. The problem was I could never find the right one for me, so in the end I thought I should just design one.
After working hard as a producer in advertising and TV, I wanted to get out and start my own business. I came up with an idea to make one bag, and ended up going around the East End begging manufacturers to make up my designs. One agreed to make some samples.

The scenario was haphazard. I took a stand at the Top Drawer trade fair in Olympia to try to start selling my bags to retailers. After three days no one had placed an order, and I was about to give up when House of Fraser placed an order for £20,000 worth of bags.

Our first orders arrived late and half the bags fell apart. But despite the hiccups, the orders grew, so I went to China to find a decent factory to make the bags. We've become well-known for our modernlooking metallic leather bags, and we're now stocked in Fenwick, Harrods, Graham & Green and The Conran Shop, and Macy's and Bloomingdale's in the U.S. We're just about to open our first shop on the King's Road. My own collection is around 40 - they are stored under my bed. I have a few vintage ones, but they are mostly my own creations.

Forget the flowers! Mom wants a new designer handbag for Mother’s Day

What mom really wants for Mother’s Day is a new designer handbag so eFashionHouse.com is making shopping for mom easy with free shipping.

Sky Valley, CA (PRWEB), April 24, 2008: Gone are the days where shopping for mom meant a pretty floral arrangement or a box of her favorite chocolate. Today’s moms are more interested in trendy or classic designer handbags, so eFashionHouse.com is making shopping for mom a little easier with free shipping for Mother’s Day (May 11).

Named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch for below retail priced designer handbags and recognized by About.com as the top of three online retailers of off-priced Chanel, eFashionHouse.com has all the designers and styles moms want. From handbag darling Elaine Turner, to couture legend Chanel, to American staple Coach, eFashionHouse.com offers the latest in designer handbags for all budgets.

"It’s not only fashionistas that want the latest designer handbag all the time, today’s mom is very hip and wants to carry a nice leather handbag as well" said Anna Miller, eFashionHouse Owner. "To meet the needs of our clients, we now carry handbags that are age-friendly…meaning most of the designers we carry cater to women of all ages who simply love fashion."

Not only does eFashionHouse.com, and its five fashion ecommerce stores (BrandsBoutique, LuxuryVintage, DesignersLA, ItalysOutlet and ValueBags), offer a wide variety of authentic designer handbags but they guarantee the lowest prices online for Tano, Melie Bianco, Murval, Elaine Turner and Pietro Alessandro. Plus the site offers a layaway plan that allows its clients to pay over time and still get the bag of their dreams.

If you still don’t know what to get mom, here’s a couple of hot selling bags that are sure to make her smile (and maybe even giggle with glee):

• COACH Hamptons Cream Large Tote – 26% off
• ELAINE TURNER Andie Platinum Distressed Leather Satchel – 24% off
• Tano Bauhaus Leather Tote – 21% off
• Gucci Brit Medium Tote in Brown – 26% off
• Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Tote in Cream – 21% off
• Vintage Chanel Quilted Lambskin Shoulder Bag – only $499

In addition to huge savings on brand new, 100% authentic designer handbags, shoppers will receive free ground shipping from April 24th thru May 2nd on purchase over $100 with coupon code MD08. Plus there is no sales tax on all purchases worldwide.

About eFashionHouse.com
Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She operates the website http://www.efashionhouse.com/ and sells high-end authentic designer handbags and accessories at off-retail prices. EFashionHouse.com was named Best of the Web by People Magazine StyleWatch for Discount Designer Handbags and Purses. eFashionHouse.com should not be confused with any other website selling a similar product or using a similar name. EfashionHouse.com is the home of five fashion ecommerce stores: BrandsBoutique, LuxuryVintage, DesignersLA, ItalysOutlet, and ValueBags. Anna is considered an Internet Pioneer & Ecommerce Entrepreneur. She’s been reselling Designer Merchandise online since the early 90s. eFashionHouse.com has an extensive Press Page and a Fashion Blog Network. Visit the site for more details.

Myth Buster Designer Handbags in the News

It was a fleeting thought, but nonetheless, we were thinking about renting a purse the other day. Poof! The thought was gone.

We did some Google browsing and stumbled across all the news media quotes listed below. So, we decided to consult some handbag experts to bust some of the myths floating around. We also did our own research and came up with some surprising data. Bottom line, it's not cheaper to rent a designer handbag. In the long term, you are better off owning the purse of your dreams. The media has taken hold as usual, it is all hype and drama. The proof is in the numbers. Rental fees can be as high as $300 per month or more for a famous high-end designer handbag (12 x $300 = $3600).

No wonder all the advertising is being pushed like none other. People are being blind-sighted by one of the worst investments a woman can make with her hard earned cash! Too bad there aren't laws to protect financial rape. Women, wise up. If you can't afford to buy yourself a new purse a few times a year, you certainly shouldn't be worried about impressing people with designer fashion accessories.

Here are a list of quotes made by prominent publications. They are myths, and we just busted them!

MYTH #1 -
“Because hot handbags have such a short shelf life, why not rent one instead of buying? That’s the logic behind…” — The Washington Times

Not true. A classic designer handbags does NOT have a short shelf life. Let's take the Fendi Baguette as an example. It started the entire "it" bag movement about twelve years ago and it's still going strong. As a matter of fact, Fendi introduced a "rebirth" of the detailed ornate baguette this past season. It's still alive and doing well. And, for all you Fendi baguette lovers out there, those designer handbags you purchased over the years are now becoming collector's items are reselling for a ton of cash. So, don't cash in yet. Hang onto, or still hang it over your shoulder and look fabulously current carrying a Fendit baguette. The Fendi Baguette is available in a small version about 9 x 6 inches in size or the larger MaMa Baguette style. Whichever, you picked a winner.

Not only has the Fendi Baguette survived over a decade of shelf life, it has been copied by all the major handbag brands. The word "baguette" is not synonomous to any small shoulder bag that fits neatly tucked under the arm when carried over the shoulder. Coach has one, so does Prada, Gucci and all the big handbag designers.

MYTH #2 -
“Fashion handbags are now a $5 billion industry, and a growing number of women are renting bags instead of buying them. For the price of a single designer bag, women can rent a year’s worth.” — NPR

Not true. Wait. Maybe true if you are willing to settle for less than the high end designer handbag style. You can rent at a low rate, but the designer bag is a low-rate, too. You get what you pay for in rentals and in retail.

A year's worth of high-end designer rentals like Chanel would cost much more than the price you'd pay for owning a classic Chanel handbag of your own. Chanel maintains its value, too. So, look at a Chanel purchase as an investment. The classic black quilted lamb leather chain shoulder bag rents for more than $300 per month. HUH! You can purchase one for about $1500. That's 5 months of rental fees, not including insurance and other hidden fees for renting Chanel.

Classic Chanel bags last a lifetime and are passed down through generations. Rentals are like booze, here today and gone tomorrow.

MYTH #3 -
“Do you want to look like Uma Thurman, the new face for Louis Vuitton, but just can’t afford those accessories? No problem. Now the middle class is scrambling for brand-name luxuries, borrowing has become the next-best way to look rich.” — Time

Think Keith Richards. Can't resist the Time Magazine quote we stumbled upon online. The new face of Louis Vuitton is Keith Richards! LOL. Now, re-read the quote above. Replace Uma Thurman with the name Keith Richards. Think Twice about what you wish for!


MYTH #4v-
“Ten years ago in the US the trend was towards cappuccinos and lattes – the sort of small luxury indulgence that was affordable to everyone. It’s the same idea with handbags you can rent.” — The Times

What? handbags have been around since the beginning of time. Check out Wikipedia. There's some great information online about the history of the handbag. Man-bags transformed into women's purses, and they've continually evolved throughout the ages. As a matter of fact, the best thing about a fabulous handbag is it can be carried to make your raggiest pair of jeans, a pair of flip-flops and cotton T-shirt look like Vogue. All you need is a fabulous bag and your entire ensemble is pulled together to make a fashion statement.

Yet, renting a designer purse is not a good comparison to the cost of a cup of coffee, even if it's $5 from Starbucks. Let's see, McDonald's just introduced the "designer" flavored ice coffee drink on tap for $1.89. Hmmmm....am I dreaming? The Times is a bit off in their price comparisons here. To rent a high-end designer handbag you'll be putting out more than $300 per month. Let's see. Big decision here. Should I rent a purse or make my car payment?


MYTH #5 -
“In the age of new luxury where some people would forgo a month’s rent for a the new Chloe Paddington bag, retail analysts say there is a burgeoning group of middle-class Americans who are indulging a yen for high-end fashion. Companies ...are catering to fashionistas who lack the disposable income to satisfy their cravings for Coach satchels and Chanel clutches, but for whom carrying a cheaper knockoff is blasphemy.” — The Boston Globe

Sorry, Boston Globe, the Coach handbag is so very moderately priced that renting one is not a very good investment of a person's money at all. To encourage people to rent Coach is not a good financial strategy. Buy Coach. Actually, renting Chanel is not a good investment either. The rental fees for Chanel begin at about $270, and that's not including membership fees, insurance fees, and other hidden fees none of the news media discloses in all the free advertising they do to promote designer rental companies.

Rent a luxury car? Rent a luxury airplane? Rent a luxury suite? These make financial sense for the occassion at hand. Renting a purse? Well, think twice about your cost and pay-off. Do your homework first before jumping into something you can't get out of later.

Nobody should ever carry a fake counterfeit handbag. However, designers like Melie Bianco and Murval make fabulous similar looking eco friendly handbags for a fraction of what you'd pay for a good counterfeit. And, if we are working toward a youthful "new earth" movement, then doesn't the inauthenticity of "renting" a purse to look good actually make a person look bad? Renting a designer handbag in order to "look good" is like living a lie. Authenticity rocks!

MYTH #6 -
“Cash-strapped fashionistas rejoice. The authentic $850 Gucci pink clutch you’ve been eyeing … can be yours for $72.90.” — National Post

You'll have to show us this to prove it. All the handbag rental stores we scoured had much higher prices than $73. Maybe $73 per day, with a minimum rental membership fee, plus other fees like shipping, insurance and etc., etc. Do you really think paying $73 to carry a Gucci bag for one day is going to transform your life? your appearance? your stature? Hello?

MYTH #7 -
“You can pretty much look like a million bucks, without breaking the bank.” — KCNC-TV CBS, Denver

I wonder what Susie Ormand would say about that! Let's ask her. Susie, if you are reading this post, please send us an email with your comments. Is renting a designer handbag a good use of a person's budget? Email KarrBernadette at hotmail.com. Thanks Susie!

Now, refer to the comments made about Myth #4 and living your life authentically. Thank you.

MYTH #8 -
“If you’re a handbag junkie, there is hope online – a service that rents out designer handbags and prevents you from breaking the bank.” — CBS Market Watch Weekend

See Myth #6.


MYTH #9 -
loan[s] out ‘it’ bags that cost more than your rent – and that are guaranteed to be out of style in three months – plus a host of classic styles from designers such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Donney & Bourke.” — Time Out New York

See Myths #1, #6 and #7.


MYTH #10 -
“Wake up and smell the Chloe. The Chloe Paddington bag, that is…it’s now possible for you (or that hard-to-please fashionista on your holiday gift list) to carry the $500 or $2000 bag of your dreams – and to swap it out for a brand spanking new model every month – for a fraction of what it would cost to buy all the latest must-have bags outright.” — FWD

Swapping bags out can only be achieved if the bag is available! But your monthly dues is automatically charged to your credit card. Just like that gym membership. It's not any good to your budget unless your are using it and getting the results you want.

But, if you save your money and make a personal invnestment in a designer handbag, it's yours for a lifetime. When the bag is yours all it takes is a walk to your closet when you are in the mood to change handbags . And, you never have to worry about who carried the bag before you. Can you imagine using a purse someone you don't know used for possibly carrying their puppy?

MYTH #11 -
‘I love it. I would never – and could never – afford to buy one of the bags, but I can rent one for three weeks for about $50.’ — SLTtoday.com

Not true. A three week designer handbag rental is about $210 at one of the lowest membership fee schedules for a really nice bag. Anything less than that, you may as well not even consider.

MYTH #12 -
“It says that you’ve arrived. That you’re part of an exclusive club. That you are a fashion insider.. And an affluent one. Your purse packs a punch.” — The Denver Post

Do you see the humor in this quote? Who are you trying to fool? The people around you know whether you can afford the purse you are carrying. What do you think people would really be saying if they see you carrying a designer handbag they know you can't afford to own?

MYTH #13 -
"…thousands of women have signed up to lease the latest luxury brand bags on market, many of them coming back for more week after week, month after month, or every time a new event or outfit calls for the perfect handbag.” — Baltimore Sun

Pure media hype. There's no proof in the quote by the Baltimore Sun. As a matter of fact, there's so much hype in the media it makes the regular person ask, "What's all this hype about?" Think about it. Paying rent sucks. We do it for a place to live or a car to drive. When it comes to a purse, let's get real. Now, we have to worry about making enough money to pay our purse fees?

MYTH #14 -
“A key feature of the business is that women can rent several different handbags over a year for the same price or less than it would take to buy a new purse.” — Pioneer Press

Agreed, a person can rent several purses over the course of one year. But, the cost would be much higher than making an investment in the purchase of one classic high end designer handbag. See Myth #2.

MYTH #15 -
“Business is booming…and retail experts say consumers don’t attach a stigma anymore to leasing large sticker items like cars, even furniture, so it makes sense that pricey purses would fall in line.” —WXYZ-TV, Detroit

Once again comparing a handbag to a $60K Lexus is not a good comparison. Same holds true for furniture. Pricey purses carry very high rental fees.

MYTH #16 -
“Fashion conscientious women will pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars for handbags , everything from Gucci to Kate Spade, but now there is a local company that offers the exact, and we mean the exact, purses for as little as $20….” — KSTP-TV, Minneapolis

Not true, period.

MYTH #17 -
“It can cost a pretty penny…to carry a stylish handbag, and if you want a new bag each season, you’re talking some big bucks, but we’ve found away around it.” — Action News – WXYZ-TV, Detroit

For the rental price you pay, you can easily purchase a gorgeous new handbag every season.

Click here.

Desiring Designer Handbags - B. Bag

FENDI designer purses B BAG natural canvas with red patent leather straps and trim 8BN165 designer handbags.

from The Life of Luxury

For as long as I can recall, I have been completely obsessed with designer handbags. I spent the majority of my youth dreaming of the day when I could afford to buy my favorite designer handbags. Here I am, some ten years later, still looking forward to that day. While I have been known to skip out on my bills to buy the latest trendy handbag, I have yet to spend more than $1000.00 on an individual bag. A girl can still dream, can’t she?

I was leafing through some catalogs over the weekend, and I was amazed at how incredibly expensive some of the high-end designer handbags really are. I knew they were expensive, but I had no clue how very expensive. Oh…the innocence of youth! I decided that it would be useful for our legion of faithful readers to have a handy reference of the most expensive designer handbags on the planet.

So here goes… It has been written about countless times in the press and in the blogosphere, but I simply cannot resist this little gem! If I had to name an all-time favorite design house, Fendi would be the one. I don’t know how they manage to do it, but they are consistently able to strike an incredible balance between innovation and classic design in all of their creations. Fendi designs some of the most exciting handbags in the fashion industry, and the “B.Bag” is one of the most sought-after handbags in the world. One might think that the $30,000 price tag might be a deterrent, but not for those with the means to support their addiction!

Another bag that has given me far too many sleepless nights is the Hermes “Birkin” bag! These bags were named after Jane Birkin, the oh-so-fabulous British actress and fashion icon. These bags are often duplicated, but never truly replicated. With a price tag of over $20,000, it is easy to understand why they are a favorite of vendors of cheap, imitation handbags. As you are likely aware, these bags are available by special order only.

Furthermore, the final costs will very much be dependent on the materials and hardware used in their construction. Wow! Do I need a Sugar Daddy, or what? If there was one other bag that creeps into my dreams with any regularity, it would be the “Muse” from Yves Saint Laurent. It is very much like a traditional bowling bag in shape and design. The first time I saw her was at Saks on Fifth Ave in NYC, and from that moment I knew one day she would be mine. If I had my way, I would choose the oh-so-supple white crocodile version. I cannot think of anything I would rather spend $20,000 on…aside from the “Birkin” bag mentioned above. Wouldn’t I make the perfect girlfriend? Wanna go shopping sometime?

Recession proof online shopping designer handbags

by Anna Miller

With all the talk about recession issues there’s one thing you can depend upon no matter what shape the economy. Online shopping saves you time, money and stress. At close to $4 a gallon, gasoline is not worth buying to drive around town. It is easier to sit at your computer and get everything you need. Save that gas money and use it to buy yourself something.

One of the great things about shopping online is 24 hour 7 days a week availability. And, with the help of search engines like Google, a person can get anything they want at prices much lower than what they would pay at the store.

Considering fuel charges alone, one trip to the local shopping mall could be as much as you would pay for a new designer handbag by Melie Bianco or MURVAL. These designers create the high end look without the high end price tag. They also provide roomy versatile purses made of eco friendly materials. If there is one thing a woman can not live without it is an occasional new purse.

If leather is your choice of handbag, Elaine Turner makes a complete line of affordable, moderately priced women’s bags and accessories. Elaine is fairly new to the designer handbag scene. She started her handbag business in Dallas, Texas around 2000. Her designs are made exceptionally well, and the handbags have classic appeal among women.

All-in-all, to recession proof shopping habits, you must start thinking smart about using your budget wisely. An average trip to the mall or department store costs about $12 in gasoline, plus lunch about $16 (minimum), and parking in major cities anywhere from $6 - $15. That’s a hefty price to spend an afternoon browsing stores. The irony of the situation is most of the stores you browse are available online, too.

You may feel the day out is deserved after a long work week -- agreed. Treating yourself with a reward is motivating. That’s not the point, here. If the economy dictates our spending, then maybe we need to re-examine how we spend and where our money goes.

McDonalds just announced the introduction of a new flavored ice-coffee on tap in their fast food restaurants. I bet many of the Starbuck addicts at $5 a pop will try switching to the $1.89 McDonald coffee. It is a smart choice and an alternative without depriving yourself of something you enjoy. And, the savings is huge if you drive through or stop for coffee once per day.

Same is true with designer fashion accessories like handbags, purses, scarves, hats, jewelry, and tote bags. Why deprive yourself of something you want if there is a way to obtain the items at affordable prices. A fashion keepsake is something you will have forever. So, it only makes sense to find something affordable and adorable. Online shopping provides resources to get these special things at great discount prices.

It appears as though the designer industry is out of control. From handbags to watches to foot wear, shoes, boots, and just about anything with a designer label has gotten to an unreachable, unattainable price level. Some people advocate the rental of these high end designer items to give the appearance of affluence. It is somewhat discouraging to know people feel the need to put on a fake front by renting fashion. And, it doesn’t fit into the smart shopper attitude. Why rent and pay high fees when you can buy something of your own.

Actually, with all the transmitted diseases and germs spreading like viruses, who would want to use a purse an unknown person carried previously. Scary thought seeing as an average trip to the doctor is about $150, and if medication or a shot is needed, add another couple hundred dollars. Not worth the risk nowadays. Designer rental companies are a lot of hype and advertising without ROI (return of investment) for the customer – very high cost, extremely low value.

Well, it is time to go surfing -- nope, not to the ocean, directly to Google. You want a new designer handbag -- easily, type into the search box, Designer Handbag. A list of resources appears before your eyes. Browse the online stores, compare prices and choose wisely. Contact the website with questions. A good online store will respond to your questions promptly. Find those special places online to get the things you want without any overhead expenses. You can shop anytime day or night, save time, save money and do it all in the privacy of your own home.

Happy bargain hunting online is a great way to shop smart using your budget wisely.

About the Author
Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She owns and operates a website called eFashionHouse.com. Selling online for over twelve years, Anna is considered an Internet Pioneer and Ecommerce Entrepreneur. eFashionHouse.com was named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch Magazine for Discount Designer Handbags & Accessories. About.com named eFashionHouse.com the top online retailer of discount Chanel. For more information, visit http://www.efashionhouse/

Design-Preneurs of Fashion Handbags

MELIE BIANCO HANDBAGS - priced just right around $60

by Bridget Wright

Leaving your Wall Street job for the entrepreneur’s life? These women in this news article did just that. What’s so intriguing is how they all started a designer handbag business with a simple love for the stuff. Well, I have a love for the stuff. I love handbags, I really do. I think that owning and managing my very own designer handbag business would be a blast! But when I read that starting the business took about $250,000 to $500,000, well, let’s just say I decided to re-think my career choice.

ELAINE TURNER HANDBAGS - high quality moderately priced around $300

Being a handbag designer sounds like something that is really doable, for the right person. What would interest me is finding my own design and look and being able to offer a brand that is totally different from everyone else’s. Since the suggested investment is so high, I want to be sure to that I can offer customers a unique item, one that they won’t find every other woman walking around with it on her arm.

Could you envision becoming a designer handbag entrepreneur? What unique look would you give your handbags?

MURVAL HANDBAGS - designer handbags every woman can afford - $50

Times are tough, but women are still buying designer handbags

Photo of Tano Handbag

It doesn't matter what the economy is doing, women still want to feel good about carrying a designer handbag. Women are still buying purses. They may not be spending thousands of dollars on a new purse, but nonetheless, they are still buying bags.

There are the very high priced designer handbags like Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Lanvin and Chanel for the upper crust. These designs usually run into the thousands for a new purse. Of course, you get high quality craftmanship, materials and hardware if you are willing to and can afford to pay top dollar for a new purse. But, nowadays, it seems as thought the "it" bag craze has somewhat subsided. It hasn't stopped, it's just not as important anymore as it used to be. Now, the people who can afford to spend a few thousand dollars on a new handbag do, and the others find an alternative route to getting the bag of their dreamy needs.

Many new designers are hitting the market like no other time in the history of designer handbags. It's a tough and competitive business. The cost of manufacturing, outsourcing and importing all take its toll on the final product, its price and availability.

Women will find a way to get themselves a new designer handbag even during tough times. With the cost of gasoline competing with fashion, a women needs to think creatively to obtain that new tote bag. Some of the moderately priced designers are doing very well these days at supplying just the right product at the right price with perfect timing.

Elaine Turner introduced a leather handbag collection with much success in the early 2000's. Women love her handbags because they are priced right, made extremely well and have a classic design and style. The Elaine Turner handbag collection is very sophisticated, well made and priced from $200 - $500 each. Elaine Turner uses many reptile embossed leathers in her styles. She is sold at majoy department stores throughout the USA. Her home base is Dallas, Texas.

Paying $2000 for a new handbag may not be realistic for everyone, but $200 may just do the trick. The Tano leather handbag ranges from about $100 - $200 each. The bags are funky, comfortable and roomy. Another designer we'll all soon grow to love is Melie Bianco. Her handbags range from $50 - $70 and are constructed of synthetic leather making them very eco-friendly. Melie Bianco takes the best from the best and designs handbags every woman can afford to own.

A few years ago two sisters from Paris (France), Murial and Valerie, introduced the Murval Handbag collection. Murval handbags are very cost effective with prices ranging from $20 - $50. They haven't quite caught on in the USA as much as they have in Europe, but they will become very popular as time goes on.

It's only natural that women get what they want, when they want it. It may not always be exactly as planned, but as the old saying goes, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you'll get what you need." When it comes to a new designer handbag, regardless of the economy, women always get what they need!

Launch Bags presents THE INDEPENDENT HANDBAG DESIGNER AWARDS™

from Handbag Designer 101

Handbag Designer 101 invites you to compete in the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards™, the only handbag competition of its kind in the world. Win a chance to present your handbag at a high profile New York event and compete for one of six Awards for Handbag Design Excellence, international recognition, a variety of coveted prizes and a chance to have your handbag go on a marketing press tour.

To participate in the open call, you are required to upload one digital jpeg image in any one or more of the following categories:

Best Student Made Handbag
Best Handmade Handbag
Most Socially Responsible Handbag
Best Green Handbag
Audience-Selected Handbag*
Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design

Submissions will be accepted from February 29, 2008 until April 18, 2008.

The staff of Handbag Designer 101 will review all submissions at a Prescreening Event in late April. At this Prescreening, HB101 will choose five finalists in each category who will be judged on the merits of their submitted designs. All finalists will be invited to participate in the Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards™ that will take place on June 18, 2008, at the New York Historical Society in New York City. (Note: Finalists or their representatives are responsible for their own transportation to the event.)

Finalists must provide the handbag shown in the photo submitted to compete at the IHDA. The finalist's handbags will be on display on the evening of the event. Over 500 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers, will attend the Independent Handbag Designer Awards™.

A Fashion Panel of esteemed and influential handbag design experts, editors, stylists, buyers and professors will judge the designs presented and select a winner from each category who will receive the Best Handbag in each respective category and determine who truly stands out as an Independent Handbag Designer.

These finalists will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their bags featured in a window display at Henri Bendel, and to participate in a trunk show to promote and sell their lines at the store. In addition, the winner of the Best Student-Made Handbag will receive an apprenticeship with the Henri Bendel accessory design team.

Finalists will also be able to offer their bags through Bag, Borrow Or Steal, the leading online retailer that allows women to borrow designer handbags and jewelry. Bag, Borrow Or Steal will give more women the opportunity to experience these wonderful bags and learn about the talented designers who created them.

The Winner of the Best Overall Handbag in Style and Design will have the chance to showcase their award-winning handbag collection with a free 10x10 booth (a $6,000 value) to 120,000 fashion industry influentials at the WWDMAGIC Accessories Show in Las Vegas, August 25-27, 2008.

Legendary handbag brand LEIBER will receive the IHDA ICONOCLAST Award. LEIBER has revolutionized the landscape of accessory design. Celebrating their 45th anniversary and now under the creative direction of Frank Zambrelli, LEIBER has stood the test of time and continues to earn international acclaim with their innovative handbags and accessories, and most recently "Most Prestigious Handbag" by the Luxury Institute.

Qualifications per Category:

Best Student-Made Handbag:
Students who have successfully started their lines while still in school

- Currently attending high school or university
- Bags must be under student designer's own label
- Major in Design is optional

Best Handmade Handbag:
Sewn, crocheted, knitted or any other material where the designer themselves is making their bag by hand or machine

- Bags must be made by you, by machine or hand
- Bags must be under designer's own label
- Mass manufacturing on any level is not acceptable

Most Socially Responsible Handbag:
Bags that meet certain ethical and moral standards in regards to production, employment and philanthropy and have impacted the local culture of the country of manufacturing

- Bags must be under designer's own label
- Bags that are made where a portion of the proceeds are given back to that country of manufacturing
- Bags must be made by local communities to create jobs
- Bags that have helped improve the quality of life in the local culture in the country of manufacturing

Best Green Handbag:
Bags that are made out of sustainable, recycled or organic materials

- Bags should be made from 100% organic cotton, hemp, bamboo or other raw materials, OR 100% recycled materials (could be recycled cloth, recycled soda bottles, recycled vinyl, etc.), OR one of the new corn-based fibers, or in some combination
- All components - metal zippers, buttons, clasps, snaps should be made from recycled metal or reused pieces
- The bags should be recyclable at the end of its life
- Any dyed fabric should be done with a nontoxic dye that doesn't use toxic fixing agents

Audience-Selected Handbag:
*Handbag designer selected by Handbag Designer 101 and Bag, Borrow or Steal voters, based on finalists of the preliminary judging panel

Best Handbag in Overall Style & Design:
Best executed handbag overall in style and design

- Bags must be under designer's own label
- Bags must be unique in their overall style and design

Deadline: All entries must be received by 11:59pm on April 18, 2008.
Entries submitted without full information filled out will be disqualified.

Contact Handbag Designer 101 at their website for more details.

A Designer Handbag Shows Good Taste

Fendi Yellow Baguette

A designer handbag shows good taste, well at least this is the commonly held wisdom of many women today. Many women in fact consider a handbag to be a necessary part of their outfit, no matter what the occasion. A handbag from Gucci, or Coach or one of the other brand names that screams quality and individuality can definitely attract the attention of fashion conscious women, and many of them are quite particular about the type of handbags they will carry.

Coach Monogram Designer Handbags

Dooney & Bourke Designer Handbag Style DN451 Banana Bag

Prada, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Dior, and Dooney and Burke are just a few of the quality handbags that have soared in popularity in the past few years. These designer handbags are in fact so popular that used handbags go for a pretty penny when sold through online auctions. Many who buy these handbags however still consider them to be bargains, especially when compared to the prices of new designer handbags.

GUCCI designer handbags cream canvas and brown leather tote 162429

Many ladies who are looking for bargains in the way of designer handbags check out various web sites including online auctions. Others find that half the fun of purchasing a bargain handbag lies in finding it in person in the physical world, leading them to haunt thrift stores, flea markets and charity auctions in their home towns. Whatever the source, however, finding a good deal on a handbag is certainly on the mind of many women.

New Is Best, Of Course
Of course, most of these women would prefer to pick up a new designer handbag for the special occasion mentioned. And best of all, many of them would simply like to receive one as a gift. If you have a special woman in your life, and you'd like to find a gift for her that will truly make a lasting and very positive impression, then consider a handbag, as a nice designer handbag can be the perfect give to show that you care.

PRADA backpack BZ0020 designer handbag

A handbag? That will be £23,484

BOTTEGA VENETA handbags extra-large Veneta bag
designer purse brown intreciatto woven leather designer handbag

John Elliott and Laura Myers

STAND by for handbags at dawn. Status-conscious women are fuelling a boom in demand for designer bags that has pushed up the most ostentatious items to prices above that of a Mercedes car. The top-priced “arm-wear” includes a Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork bag costing £23,484, followed by a Fendi bag made from chinchilla and sable and priced at £20,000. More budget-minded buyers could opt for a crocodile-skin Carolyn from Marc Jacobs for £13,000 or Valextra’s Carla, made of alligator hide and priced at £11,160.

The bag frenzy has taken off in the past few years and is not confined to the highest end of the price range. Selfridges, the department store chain, reports that the average price tag on designer handbags at its shops has risen by 55% to about £850 since 2005. Fashion experts say women are increasingly seeking “bragging rights” through owning a handbag that will be the envy of their peers.

Francesca Marotta, a 32-year-old fashion designer from west London, said: “I know a lot of women who will starve to get a handbag. I’ve got a lot of friends like that.” For many, bags have replaced the craze for high-priced shoes from designers such as Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik. Some retailers insist owning a bag costing more than £1,000 can make financial sense to middle-class women — they may scrimp on clothing, but the same expensive bag can be carried daily, adding a touch of glamour to different outfits.

Items such as the Tribute Patchwork, made from cut-up bits of 15 handbags from Louis Vuitton’s ranges and incorporating rare feathers and alligator skin, serve as flagships for the new trend. Only one of these bags will be available in Britain, according to the fashion house. Its cost is nearly £3,000 higher than the £20,630 tag for a Mercedes C 180 K Coupé SE. Abigail Rainer, a fashion executive at Harrods, said: “Historically, English women were quite mean about handbags — now we’ve got into it. It’s an investment and a status symbol. Python-skin bags have become quite a mainstream thing, and £1,000 is pretty average.”

Lorna Rhodes, 30, a make-up artist who owns more than 200 handbags, said: “When I wear a designer bag, the way I walk is different, the way I feel is different. It makes me feel good to have a designer bag.”

All about LANVIN

LANVIN designer handbags tall black napa leather tote
kentucky bag shoulder bag designer purse.

A perfect find for the designer purse connoisseur. A tall black patent leather trimmed with black grain leather. Double rolled and stitched straps. Fully lined. Inside pocket. LANVIN silver and gold tone medallion hangs off one side of the handle. Black leather strapping completely around the top of the bag and down front and backside. Adjustable notches can be used to change the size of the bag. The Lanvin Kentucky bag measures about 14 x 13 x 5 inches with double straps about 20 inches each. The drop is about 8 inches. The Lanvin bag is called the Kentucky bag. It is constructed of calf veau verni. This model has been handcrafted with the most natural leathers and treated in order to respect their authenticity. The irregular aspect is inherited from the natural beauty of this leather.Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag.

Lanvin is a Paris clothing label founded by Jeanne Lanvin. Jeanne Lanvin was born in 1847 and died in 1946. She was a French fashion designer and the founder of the Lanvin fashion house. Lanvin became known for her mother and daughter outfits and exquisite robes de style as well as her modern and global approach to the fashion industry. Lanvin was the eldest of 11 children. At age 16 she was an apprentice milliner at Madame Felix in Paris then trained at dressmaker Talbot and 1889 set up as a milliner at 22 rue du Faubourg Saint Honore. The House of Lanvin is one of the most famous Paris design houses of our time.

the designers
Madame Jeanne Lanvin's active fashion career spanned 50 years from the 1890's up to the New Look just after World War II. In 1867 Jeanne Lanvin was born in Brittany, France. She was the eldest of 10 children of a pair of Breton concierges. She first trained as a dressmaker at a house called Talbot and then as a milliner. In 1890 she opened a millinery shop in the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. While making hats, she also made dresses for a younger sister and her daughter. Lanvin's clothes came to the attention of other mothers with daughters, who asked her to make dresses for them, so in 1909 Jeanne began making dresses for sale and her reputation grew. As can be seen from the pictures of the clothes she made, she made no distinction between women's and children's wear, the youthfulness of both being an important aspect of 20th century fashion. Demand by young women for her clothes, persuaded Jeanne Lanvin to open a couture house selling mother-daughter garments. Paul Iribe, the famous illustrator, created the Logo for the house of Lanvin, from a drawing by Jeanne of the bond between mother and daughter. Her daughter became the Comtesse de Polignac, and continued to wear her mother's beautiful gowns. In 1913 Lanvin created her famous "robes de style" based on 18th century designs. These small waisted, full skirted dresses remained popular for many years and were fore-runners of the New Look which Dior brought out just after World War II. In 1914 influenced by orientalism, she turned to exotic evening wear in Eastern-style velvets and satins. During the 20's Lanvin made a simple Chemise dress which later became the basic outline for the twenties. Over the following years, she introduced several interesting developments. In 1921 a Riviera collection introduced Aztec embroidery. In 1922 a Breton suit appeared in the Lanvin collection. This comprised a gently gathered skirt, a short braided jacket with lots of small buttons and a big white organdie collar turning down over a red satin bow. A sailor hat topped the outfit. In 1926 a menswear division was opened by Lanvin, and so she became the first couturier to dress whole families. Her branches were opened in Nice, Cannes and Biarritz. Jeanne Lanvin dressed film actresses like Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich and Yvonne Printemps in the 20's and 30's. She also had clients like the Queens of Italy and Roumania, and English princesses. The house of Lanvin, like all other houses, suffered throughout the 2nd World War, although she kept designing. In 1946, Jeanne Lanvin died at the age of 79. Her daughter Marie-Blanche took over the running of the house, till she herself died in 1958.

the label
Antonio del Castillo, a Spanish designer, joined Lanvin as designer in 1950 and returned the house to great success. He remained until 1962. In 1963 Jules-Francois Crahay, a Belgian designer, took over the reins of the house, and remained till 1984. In 1982 Maryll Lanvin, the third generation of the Lanvin family, started designing for the house. The Cosmetic giant L'Oreal acquired the house of Lanvin in 1990 and has appointed several designers thereafter. During the 90's in addition to presenting his own collections, Claude Montana has also been designing for Lanvin. Giorgio Armani also designed for a while. From 1997 to 2001 Christina Ortiz was the chief designer for haute couture. From 1997 to 2001 Lanvin's ready-to-wear collections were being designed by ex-Versace, ex-Herve Leger designer Ocimar Versolato. In August 2001 an investor group led by Shaw Lan Wang, a Taiwanese media baroness, took over the house of Lanvin. They appointed Israeli-born designer Elber Albaz as the new creative director of Lanvin. His first collection was Fall 2002. In October 2001, the house of Lanvin announced the appointment of Alber Elbaz as the new creative director. His first collection was Fall 2002. Alber has become much beloved by Lanvin clientele. He uses not only black, or the white he chose when Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons asked him to participate in her London store, but also vivid satins in parakeet green or fuchsia, or a bright red trench coat. He says that his boss offers him freedom and respect so that he can mix sportswear with couture grace, comfort with elegance.

the look
Her work was easily recognizable by her skilful use of embroidery, and her fine craftsmanship. She used a particular shade of blue so often, that it came to be called "Lanvin Blue". For Jeanne Lanvin, women were meant to wear clothes of unabashed feminity, in colours that were pretty, and whose shapes had a "young girl" look. She set the mood with narrow empire-wasted dresses and long trailing sleeves. The fabrics that she used were silk, taffeta, velvet, silk chiffon, organza, lace, tulle, etc. She used a lot of free-flowing ribbons, ruffles, flowers, lace, mirrors, etc., and liked ornamentation like applique, couching, quilting, parallel stitching,

Are you crazy for couture?

We're Crazy for Couture! Are you? Click here to see what's waiting for you. Designer handbags and accessories below retail from all the top Designers. Receive free ground shipping $200 orders and pay no sales tax worldwide. Visit the Sale and Final Clearance sections and get deeper discounts. eFashionHouse.com was named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch and named the top online Chanel retailer by About.com. Check it out. We know you are crazy for couture or you would not have read this far! See the eFashionHouse Press Page. Interested in an EFH Layaway Plan? You can put anything on layaway. Read about the EFH Layaway here: eFashionHouse.com Layaway Program.

The Prada Label

PRADA designer handbags BL0429 animal print fur bowler shoulder bag designer purse.

from About.com

The Prada label was started in 1913 by Mario Prada, who sold handbags, shoes and suitcases in two namesake boutiques in Milan. In 1978 Mario's granddaughter Miuccia took over the company, and she has been the brand's creative force ever since. One of the most groundbreaking things that Miuccia did was introduce a black nylon fabric handbag to the line in 1985, and it has since become a hallmark of the brand. Now Prada's nylon bags can be found in numerous colors and shapes, including this sassy red hobo. Just be sure to look for the Prada triangle logo on the front.

Designer handbags? Sorry, there's a limit.

Hermes Birkin Bag carried by Celebrities Worldwide

by Eric Wilson
International Herald Tribune

NEW YORK: For products that are truly in demand, like Wii game consoles, tickets to the Super Bowl or cans of corn on double-coupon day, it may seem reasonable to limit the number a customer can buy at one time. But readers of the fine print on the Web sites of luxury retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman may be surprised to discover that such a policy also now applies to designer handbags. These include Prada's latest ruched nylon styles, which cost $1,290; Bottega Veneta's signature woven leather hobos, at $1,490; and the new rectangular Yves Saint Laurent clutch that looks like a postcard addressed to the designer (with a $1,395 stamp).

"Due to popular demand," potential shoppers are warned, "a customer may order no more than three units of these items every 30 days." Popular, the bags may be. But how many of the customers who can afford them really want more than one, or for that matter, three? On its face, the policy sounds odd; that is because it really does not have anything to do with popular demand. Rather, it is the fear that foreign buyers, taking advantage of the severely weakened U.S. dollar, will hoard the bags, then resell them in Europe or Asia, where the same items in Prada and Gucci stores typically cost 20 to 40 percent more.

Yves Saint Laurent's Downtown Bag carried by Celebrities Worldwide

The popular Yves Saint Laurent Downtown bag, which is restricted to three per customer at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, costs $1,495. At Harvey Nichols in London, the same bag is £910 (or about $1,796). Foreign tourists who are treating U.S. department stores as if they were a nationwide outlet sale have largely been viewed as beneficial to retailers, and by some estimates those shoppers were the only bright spot in what was otherwise a feeble holiday sales season.

But that spending power has not been so welcome to luxury companies like Gucci and Prada , which have spent the last decade trying to reach those customers in their home countries by opening expensive new shops throughout Europe and Asia. Now those companies stand to suffer a sting from increasingly educated comparison shoppers, if not a more serious blow from a gray market of designer goods resold from U.S. stores.

For now, the policies of Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman apply only to online sales of handbags and shoes from Prada and the Gucci Group labels (Gucci owns Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta), but not other luxury brands like Dior or Givenchy, which are owned by the competing fashion conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Meanwhile, LVMH sells its Louis Vuitton handbags online only on its own site, www.eLuxury.com, where the policy is even more strict: two of each style per customer, per calendar year. There are no stated restrictions on shopping inside the 39 branches of Neiman Marcus or at the company's Bergdorf Goodman store in Manhattan, Reeder said. But a sales associate at Bergdorf said this week that employees were instructed to use discretion with customers looking to buy a large number of items. A salesman at the Louis Vuitton store across the street said a customer trying to buy more than two bags would be asked to give a reason.

Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to reporters. None of the makers of the designer brands would speak for the record, but several executives acknowledged privately that they are meant to prevent bags from being resold. During the luxury boom of 2000 and 2001, when shoppers lined up in the street outside Gucci, Hermès and Vuitton shops in Paris, the companies drew criticism for putting into effect bag-per-customer limits that appeared to be aimed primarily at Asian shoppers.

Some Asian customers complained they had been banned from Vuitton stores, and they could be found on the Champs-Élysées offering to pay Western tourists to buy bags for them. What has surprised some retail analysts is how quickly the concept of quotas has arrived in the United States - and not just for handbags . In its online store, Apple limits customers to five iPhones per order. "This is not an unusual situation for designer brands," said Claudia D'Arpizio, a luxury goods consultant at Bain in Milan.

"It's unusual for the United States. What is changing now is the geography of the touristic flows." In the '80s, American and Asian tourists commonly shopped for luxury bargains in Italy, when the lira was weak against the dollar. But since the dollar began its spiraling decline against the euro in 2000, shortly after its introduction as the European common currency, the value-minded tourist tide has shifted to the United States. Travelers who buy multiple items to resell to friends back home are only a small portion of the gray market, said Fred Felman, the chief marketing officer of MarkMonitor, a San Francisco agency specializing in brand protection.

It is more problematic when professional networks resell luxury goods through small shops throughout Asia, or through online retailers like eBay. In December, Patricia Pao, an independent retail consultant, arrived at Newark airport, in New Jersey, from Los Angeles and was approached by a young woman who asked her to help close a suitcase by sitting on it. The woman was returning to Slovenia with what appeared to be 200 pairs of designer jeans, the least expensive bearing a price tag of $228. "She said that by selling the jeans back home she could not only cover the expenses of her trip, but she could also make a profit," Pao said. "The weakened dollar makes everything here look like a bonanza."

As anecdotes about foreign shoppers flocking to buy electronics, toys and Manhattan real estate become more common, analysts are debating the long-term impact of shopping tourism on brands that place a premium on their exclusivity. "Imagine a scenario where you have people buying all your stuff," Pao said. "In the short term you benefit, but in the long term, you don't, because you don't know where the sales are going, and that is very scary to these people."

Facing Growing Pains: Indie Bag Brands Soar, But Tough Road Ahead

from Women's Wear Daily

It's becoming harder than ever for the little guy to survive and thrive in the handbag business.

Even as demand for handbags continues to climb at retail, and scores of new designers flood the market in hopes of becoming the next Kate Spade or Coach, many independent brands are facing an increasing number of hurdles to growing their businesses — from the weakness of the dollar against the euro to the marketing might of major designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Prada. Then there's the concern of expanding too quickly for fear of becoming too popular too quickly and causing a brand to burn out.

"My competition is the big brands," said Devi Kroell, who designs python and leather handbags for her four-year-old signature firm. "They have advertising behind them and they have the clothes behind them. All of this creates a strong brand identity. We don't have those advantages."

Kroell is slated to open a store in Manhattan this year and opened a boutique in East Hampton, N.Y., in 2006. With so many moneyed, established ready-to-wear brands launching handbag collections in the last two years

— Diane von Furstenberg, Jill Stuart and Elie Tahari among them — independent designers are going up against larger companies with much bigger marketing and design budgets.

Jessie Randall of Loeffler Randall — who last year won the CFDA Swarovski Accessories Award — has also felt the heat in the market, specifically with her materials. Loeffler Randall's leather totes and clutches wholesale from $85 to $385.

"Our leather out of Italy has really affected our pricing," Loeffler said. "We've worked hard to stay within our market, but it's a challenge because the euro has gone above where we'd imagine it would ever go. We try and buy early, but it's still a gamble."

The euro's surge has had similar effects on European designers. Nadine Ferber, who owns Mick Margo, a boutique in New York's West Village that seeks out lesser-known labels, said she is shortening her order of brands she encounters at the Paris trade shows.

"I don't take a chance on the smaller designers anymore," Ferber said. "For smaller French labels, people here aren't willing to pay the up-charge now. I'll go to Paris this season, but if it continues to rise, it becomes less valuable to go over there for us."

The average number of bags the American woman buys annually has tripled, according to Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at The NPD Group, a research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y.: She now buys three every two years instead of one every two years.

In the Nineties, retailers created showcases on the main floors of their stores for innovative, trendy bags priced a level below the leather goods icons such as Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton. Out came lines like Kooba and Botkier, with fashionable leather bags selling for around $375, compared with the top-tier brand's average bag prices of $1,000. The lower-priced bags turned up on the arms of celebrities such as Sienna Miller, whose name was given to Kooba's signature whipstitched style, and Lindsay Lohan, who often wore Botkier's Trigger design.

In this category, Spade is both the benchmark for fledgling bag companies and the warning signal. Started in 1993 by Kate and Andy Spade, the company built its brand based on a concept of handbags as fashion items, opened stores and branched out into multiple categories, from shoes to tabletop. Spade was acquired by Liz Claiborne Inc. in 2006 for $125 million, but many believe the brand's core bags have lost some of their luster in recent years, given the rapid expansion into other categories. Claiborne hired Deborah Lloyd as Spade's new creative director, and has charged her with first reinvigorating the core handbag line.

Spade's presence in the market is an example of how a successful small brand inevitably makes the leap to big business. Handbag brands with strong sales often expand into other categories in a similar effort to expand their company. Loeffler Randall recently added swimwear to its repertoire. But they must be careful not to dilute their brands and weaken their core product.

Many independent labels are sitting on this cusp. Kooba, for example brought on an equity partner through a growth investment from Swander Pace Capital in October. Botkier reported increases of 40 percent. Devi Kroell, another CFDA winner, said her sales have tripled in the last year.

But designers entering the race need to grow their core category brand by pairing up with smaller specialty stores and boutiques. And despite the rising cost the euro is placing on the consumer, firms need to keep their wholesale prices affordable.

"We can't compete with certain big-name stores and neither can our boutiques," said Jeremy Bassan, owner of Big Buddha, a handbag firm based in Santa Cruz, Calif. "So we try to provide [the boutiques] with good individual styles at affordable costs. We treat them well."

According to Emily Blumenthal, who founded the Web site handbagdesigner101.com to guide emerging designers, boutiques are often the better option for independent designers, regardless of department store interest. They often take more chances on lesser-known names.

"The idea of getting a bag into a department store is an aspirational goal, but a whole lot of work," Blumenthal said.

Cynthia O'Connor, whose New York showroom COC + Co. represented Kate Spade, Kooba and Isabella Fiore in their early years, found that since the luxury handbag boom, bigger stores are less inclined to pick up contemporary or independent labels.

"Right now, we're battling the issue of 'luxury is what sells,'" O'Connor said. "The more luxury bags stores have, the more sales per square foot they get. And as long as designer product blows out of stores, dollars will close on contemporary."

Cate Adair, a costume designer on "Desperate Housewives," is well known throughout fashion and Hollywood circles but has had a hard time selling her namesake fledgling handbag line at Bloomingdale's. The retailer picked up the line from the get-go, but the brand was getting lost among major designer brands. Adair has had more success at smaller stores such as Kitson and Fred Segal.

"It's hard because you have to build a name and brand [yourself]," Adair said. "You really do need to build your brand in smaller stores first."

Tim Schifter, chairman and chief executive officer of Schifter + Partners, which produces and distributes L.A.M.B., Jill Stuart and Kid Robot handbags, emphasized the importance of having strong brand awareness before shopping a label to a big store.

"When retailers see a brand's rtw line doing really well, they're going to take the chance on the handbags," Schifter said. "It's about having an emotional connection."

Kassidy Babcock, buyer for Shopbop.com, scours the New York trade shows — like the recent Accessorie Circuit and AccessoriesTheShow — for independent labels, where her budget for emerging designers is about 31 percent of her open-to-buy, compared with 23 percent last spring. Babcock said in 2007, handbag sales grew 222 percent, and projects 125 percent growth this year. She encourages those designers to stay under the $400 retail price tag and find their own niche.

"The market is tough," Babcock said. "I like seeing individuals do their own thing and not knock off higher-end designs, which is a challenge. Those people are doing extremely well, though."

Babcock noted the Foley + Corinna City Tote has an almost "cult-like" following. Other strong sellers are Lauren Merkin clutches and any bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Sandra Wilson, accessories fashion director for Neiman Marcus, said the store "is always looking for fresh new talent, new ideas and great product that would appeal to our customer. We are just beginning the process for this fall."

Most independent companies are still seeking editorial coverage from magazines and celebrities to endorse their brand.

Loeffler recalled the impact bloggers had on her launch. She attributed much of her start to fashion sites such as refinery29.com and racked.com.

Celebrity power in building a brand hasn't declined either. In the last three years, handbag firms such as Kooba and Bulga have exploded thanks to paparazzi and red-carpet coverage of such stars as Jessica Alba and Cameron Diaz.

"I'm happy celebrities are wearing the bags," said designer Monica Botkier, whose label is a Hollywood favorite. "But they're also real women. We have a great following with Angelina Jolie. She's a mom of four and running around. It's great to see her using her bag with her kids."

Botkier acknowledged such celebrity snapshots have sparked consumer demand at retail. Jolie's Sasha Duffle is a top seller.

Some independent labels are playing to a broader customer base by creating capsule collections with big-name retailers. Rafe, Loeffler Randall and Devi Kroell are three firms that have stretched their brand awareness by partnering with Target Corp.

"For us, the main benefit was to get the brand name out there," Loeffler said. "We're fairly new and people know us, but I don't think people in Middle America know about our brand. It's a great way to get it out. Plus, the marketing money Target put behind the campaign was incredible. We don't advertise, so for us to have an ad in the back page of the [New York Times'] Sunday Styles section is huge."

Kroell said her partnership with the retailer helped her see how to eventually start a secondary line to her designer bag collection, which wholesales from $300 to $7,000.

Showroom operator O'Connor said independent handbag designers must start branding themselves from the moment they complete their first sketch and that the issue is not whether it's a bad or good time to enter the race, but whether it's a good time for a particular designer.

"Ninety percent of the people who design have no clue where the money is coming from, it's all a pipe dream," O'Connor said. "I look for people who know where their next $3 million is coming from. If they do, and if they know where their next $3 million will come from after that, it's a good time."

What's in your bag? What's on your mind?

You see her everywhere, carrying a Hermes Birkin or wearing the lastest fashion accesory. What's in this Marc Jacobs bag? It's Victoria Beckham, of course! What else would you expect? Perfect little photo and perfect advertisement.

Here's the scoop on MARC JACOBS taken from Vogue . . .

With a timely ability to design what the fashion pack want to wear even before they know what to want, Marc Jacobs has become one of the world's hottest and hippest designers. Nicknamed the Guru of Grunge by Women's Wear Daily, Jacobs created a phenomenon in the Nineties when he sent models parading down the catwalk with a Seattle-inspired, rugged mix and match sensibility of army boots and plaid shirts paired with floral dresses and unfinished seams.

Born in New York City in 1963, Jacobs decided he wanted to become a designer while at grammar school. His sister taught him how to embroider his jeans and his grandmother, who he credits with being "the biggest influence in [his] life", taught him how to knit. At 15, Jacobs worked as a stockboy in New York's trendy Charivari boutique and it was there that he was introduced to Perry Ellis who "embodied cool to me. He had long hair; he didn't wear a suit and tie, and he made funky clothes that were a big success. He gave me a lot of hope." After graduating from the High School for Art and Design in 1981 and following Ellis' advice, Jacobs studied at the Parsons School of Art and Design in New York where he won the Perry Ellis Golden Thimble award in 1984. While at Parsons, he designed a small collection of hand-knit sweaters for the Charivari boutique.

The following year, Jacobs was hired as vice president of womenswear at Perry Ellis. While there, he designed the infamous but timely grunge collection that was triumphed by those in fashion circles from Kal Ruttenstein, head of merchandising at Bloomingdales, to US Vogue editor Anna Wintour who said of the collection, "You can't change fashion by parading 25 navy suits down the runway. Marc isn't about investment dressing. Yet, when you go to the showroom and see the clothes, you realise they're eminently wearable." At the time, Jacobs described the collection as his best ever, having wanted to visually translate the clash and noise of the music [of Pearl Jam and Nirvana] into pattern and colour. However, Jacobs was to be too radical for Perry Ellis and the American sportswear house laid him off in 1992. He went on to win the Women's Designer of the Year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America that same year.

In 1994, Jacobs, along with his business partner Robert Duffy, launched his highly anticipated eponymous line onto the catwalk for the first time on his 31st birthday. He created quite a stir when the $10,000-a-day supermodel gang, including Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, walked the catwalk for free in support of their friend. The collection was a European take on colour, texture and silhouette and teamed mini skirts with fishnet tights and white duchess satin jackets or acid green rubber coats over pinstripes. The look was Jacobs take on post-grunge glamour, and was inspired by "a woman who brings home the bacon, but also fries it up in the pan".

In 1997, Jacobs was appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton where he developed the company's first ready-to-wear line. His first collection for the Parisian house saw models in white minimalist pieces devoid of accessories or the even the famous LV logo. In 2001, Jacobs launched his more affordable diffusion line, Marc, that rapidly became a must-have label for young urban hipsters. Marc by Marc Jacobs has proved so popular that it is one of the first diffusion lines that has threatened to overshadow the mainline. By 2003, Jacob's company offered a full range of products from perfume and eyewear to accessories and shoes, and he had opened flagship stores on both coasts of the United States.

Jacobs has succeeded in designing seasonal must-haves for his own two lines, while keeping the Louis Vuitton label modern and contemporary. At LV, he has been triumphant in revamping the famous accessory line and has collaborated with the likes of Steven Sprouse, who designed the ever-popular graffiti bag for spring 2001, Julie

collaborated with the likes of Steven Sprouse, who designed the ever-popular graffiti bag for spring 2001, Julie Verhoeven, who created patchwork collage bags, and graphic artist Takashi Murakami, who contributed to the bubblegum-cute accessories for spring/summer 2003. His designs continue to be admired on the catwalk and continually mimicked on the high streets.

A great self-promoter and not one to shy away from the headlines, Jacobs clothes have been seen on the fabulous and super-stylish. Sarah Jessica Parker wore his pretty frocks while pregnant and Winona Ryder who infamously borrowed his pieces from Saks Fifth Avenue in 2001, wore his demure designs to her trial and subsequently appeared in his spring/summer 2003 ad campaign shot by Juergen Teller.

During his studies at Parsons, Jacobs frequented the notorious Area club in New York and continues to use the spirit of that era as inspiration for his collections: It's about a constant re-celebration of what turns us on," he explains. "Youth, energy, vitality, freedom... not in this pining for the past way, but again just constantly celebrating that its energy is still relevant."

Marc Jacobs spends most of his time in Paris, where he lives with his Bull Terrier Alfred.

MARC JACOBS designer handbag in eggshell colored leather is called "little lou."

Measures approximately 9.5 W x 8.5 H with a 2 inch depth. The polished brass chain strap measures about 28 inches long with a 9.5 inch drop. March Jacobs is embossed on the polished brass hardware. Purse is trimmed in a brown leather. Zip top closure with a large brass and leather pull tag. Fully lined interior with one zippered pocket.

Handbags Online - A Blog Dedicated to the Rantings of Handbag Addicts!

We all have our weaknesses. Some people like to collect antiques, others spoons. Well, we like to collect handbags. I guess it all began for me about twenty years ago when wearing a comfortable pair of jeans and a T-shirt needed an accessory to pull the ensemble all-together. At first, spending more than $50 on a new purse seemed an outrage. Yet, after my first expensive trip to Fendi, it became an easy to shop for a new designer handbag.

I remember my first designer handbag purchase as though it was yesterday. I'd heard about brands like Prada, Gucci and Fendi. But, I never visited any of their shops. I lived in Houston at the time and the Galleria Mall had all the fabulous designer stores. There was even an ice-skating rink in the center of the three-level enclosed shopping center. It was a wonderful place to get lost for a few hours.

Back in the 80's and 90's designer backpacks were really sylish. The Prada backpack was the biggest thing on the market and just about the time I started looking for my first designer purse, I stumbled into the Prada boutique at the Galleria. The Prada salesperson wasn't very friendly. I didn't feel welcomed. I asked a few questions, and really didn't feel like spending my hard-earned cash at Prada. So, I left. Besides, the Prada backpack didn't seem like it was worth $550! It consisted of a thin layer of nylon, a top closure and backpack adjustable straps. Actually, I was shocked at it's price tag.

I walked across the mall and entered the Fendi boutique. The salesperson was very friendly and I felt more at ease. I had been in the Fendi boutique several times before, so I was somewhat a familiar face. Yet, I hadn't made any purchases, I felt like a purchase was about to happen. I had been eyeing and trying on a Fendi FF Zucca print backpack for about a month or so. It was $450 on sale that day for $325. I pulled it off the rack and threw it over my shoulder again. The salesperson said, "If you try that bag on one more time, it's going to be worn out by the time you buy it."

To me, making a purchase for a $325 purse was a life-changing event. The most I'd ever paid for a handbag was $39! But, I had to have that Fendi! I called my husband and explained my dilemna. It was an approach avoidance conflict and I was stuck! He said, "Buy it."

My walk back into the Fendi store was fun. I explained to the salesperson how difficult it was for me to spend over $300 on a new purse. Of course, she laughed, and said,"The fist time is always hard, but believe me it's downhill from there."

Little did I know I had just entered a new phase of my life. I learned it's not difficult to get the things you want as long as you are willing to work for them, appreciate them and not get too carried away.