Melie Bianco Handbags

Shoulder Bags - Tote Bags - Travel Bags - Clutch Bags - Colorful, Edgey, Fashion Accessories by the One & Only Melie Bianco! Never Pay a Fortune & Always Look Your Best! Designer Handbags Priced Under $100! Shop Online.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Today's designer purses

By: Austin Wolf


Handbags come in all type, many will be in style for years to come while others will make you wonder why you bought them in the first place. Bags come in a right variety looks that could make them ideal for certain events, and styles. Finding the right bag for the right occasion is what you should have to do.

When categorizing handbags you should think of them in 2 different ways; the shape of the bag and the way you carry it. In today's fashion world small details are extremely important. It is because of these facts that many of us carry bags for use in evening, travelling, for doing casual shopping and another one for places like work, school, college etc. Let's accept that you can't use the same bag for college or work which you use for shopping.
Handbags are very private and personal, as they are used to keep our daily essentially needful things an advertising factor is the outside of the bag so it is far from personal. This serves to label who you are, the styles you like and your personality type. Most women both want and need handbags.

A handbag is an essential accessory which should be top notch. The idea of the handbag is has become increasingly important over the last two decades. As an example, in the 40's you wore fashion mostly in your clothing. Almost anything goes in the fashion world today and so it is with handbags. Accessories such as bags can help save and change the look you have.
The notion of what constitutes a great handbag is one that is constantly evolving and changing. A bag is the entry-level item to the luxury market and one of the most popular forms of handbag in recent times is the designer handbag.

Asking for advice on the bags we want to buy can help you to more choosy and be challenge.

I don't get why women have so many different handbags. Some women have to have a different handbag for every outfit they own. And no matter what the cost if they see a bag they want, they will buy it. It just doesn't make sense to me. But handbags are special, and make women really look stylish. They are very popular as they are handmade and each one is unique.

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/

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Friday, October 10, 2008

The Popularity Of Designer Handbags

By: Marsha Gabin

Today we are inundated with a veritable plethora of top quality house designers who consistently provide such wonderful handbag creations, that anyone who owns more than one bag often takes to collect more!

Owning a designer bag is more than just complimenting your outfit. In today’s competitive and dare I say vain age, more and more men and women are using the bag more as a status symbol than an item designed to carry things.


The types and styles of designer handbags are so diverse and unbelievably different, that it means virtually every taste and preference is catered for somewhere along the line.

Prada, Gucci, Burberry and hundreds more designers such as Chanel, make up what has now become a very competitive and exclusive club to be in; the creators of handbags which every fashion conscious man or woman desire to own. Where giants roam, there are always dwarves who follow, and the quality designer pieces now are often subject to fake renditions being peddled at extremely cheap prices.

These days a designer handbag can cost upwards of $10,000 with a rendition costing just $20. Obviously the replica bags are usually of immense inferior quality and can be spotted miles away by a purveyor of the ‘real thing’ but still, people buy them in order to get their little taste of a handbag in the style of a top-notch designer.

Nothing can beat the real thing though, and this often leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of those who cannot afford them. Each design house integrates a special feature in their bags, some purposefully and some without intention.

These features tend to become the trademark of a good designer handbag and without realizing it the purchasers of these bags tend to look for these little additions that make a decent designer handbag into something that is a big part in the desirability of owning one.

A Chanel handbag is classically identifiable by its unusual logo; the two mirrored C’s which back onto each other has always been the easiest way to spot a Chanel design. Burberry is famous for its unusual checked pattern and leather features and the list goes on.

These logos and features are the things a competitive design house lover will always notice, or go for when deciding to purchase a bag from a particular fashion house. The strength of a bag’s design and the name that adorns it is usually the deciding factor when it comes to a handbag purchase.

People are still very color coordinated with regards to handbags and other accessories, but nowadays the designer can win over color because of the prestige a person feels when ‘toting’ (sorry!) around a quality designer item.

People are sold onto handbags daily because of the image they think they portray when carrying one, but in a way they’re right. Status symbols are part of our everyday life, and it IS important to feel good about yourself.

A handbag is more than just a designer piece, it is quite often an important part of a man or woman’s make-up also, increased confidence when carrying a well designed item is common.

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

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Melie Bianco handbags graduate to new heights



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.


Shop the Sale Section. Take an extra 10% off!

Use Coupon OFF10 at
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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 ...

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Melie Bianco Celebrates 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).

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Friday, April 25, 2008

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.

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

No, it's not a Marc Jacobs, it's a Melie Bianco handbag!

And, at $65.00 you may want to grab one in every color! It's synthetic leather, easy to maintain and has the feel and look of the $1500.00 Marc Jacobs bag. Melie Bianco takes the best of the best and makes a designer handbag we can afford! MELIE BIANCO handbags designer handbag designer purse W7295 tan quilted frame shoulder chain bag. If this design reminds you of a high end designer handbag you are right. All the celebrities carry these shoulder bags and now you can too. Melie Bianco takes the best of the best and makes her designer handbags affordable for the masses. We love Melie Bianco and we are introducing her collection for the first time on DesignersLA. The Melie Bianco handbag line is made of very soft pleather or synthetic leather like material. The sizes are considered medium to large. The Melie Bianco bags have a secure top closure. The bags are fully lined and have extra storage pockets. You will be delighted to add a Melie Bianco handbag to your collection. And at these prices you may want to add several while supplies last. Your Melie Bianco handbag comes complete inside its sleeper bag packaged directly from the Melie Bianco warehouse. Guaranteed authentic. Measurements are approximate. The Melie Bianco handbag measures about 16 x 10 x 4.5 inches with double handles about 21 inches each with about a 6.5 inch drop. There is an additional chain shoulder strap included. See photo. MELIE BIANCO handbags designer handbag designer purse W7295 tan quilted frame shoulder chain bag.




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Saturday, April 12, 2008

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.

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Sunday, April 6, 2008

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/

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Friday, April 4, 2008

All you can carry

by Lara Zamiatin

Statement handbags are hardly new but if you were lugging a massive leather tote around a couple of centuries ago, you were quite clearly a peasant or the hired help. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the smaller the bag, the richer the owner was likely to be, says Glynis Jones, curator, fashion and dress, at the Powerhouse Museum.

"There's a sense of people [in those days] not having to carry much," Jones says. "Wealthy women had servants to buy things. A handkerchief was all they needed."

In contrast to 21st-century clubbers whose bags bulge with mobiles, make-up and life's modern necessities, revellers at 19th-century balls went out with few requirements. "If you went to a ball you had a little booklet and pencil," Jones says, "and you'd write down your dance partners for the evening."

A "reticule", or small drawstring bag, was carried by hand or wrist and rose to prominence when straight cut-tight-under-the-bust empire line dresses became fashionable and bags could no longer be hidden beneath outer clothing. Previously bags - or "pockets", as they were called - were tied around a woman's waist and concealed under voluminous crinoline skirts. A small slit in the garment allowed the wearer to reach her pocket. Resembling the inside of modern-day pockets, such bags, Jones says, were often exquisitely embroidered by their owners. Likening the unseen labour to corsetry, Jones says: "There's that secret pleasure of wearing beautiful things that aren't seen."

The secret and not-so-secret pleasures of the handbag are the highlight of a new exhibition at the Queen Victoria Building, Handbags Through The Ages, which displays more than 140 antique, vintage and modern bags. Twentieth-century creations from fashion houses such as Escada, Longchamp and Versace are on display, along with wares from several QVB retailers. There are also 122 handbags, dating back to 1760, from the 4000-piece Darnell Collection of vintage garments and accessories - the owner, Blue Mountains collector Charlotte Smith, also curated the exhibition.

The Darnell pieces include a brown velvet beaded bag from 1840 that was owned by the young Bostonian Lizzy Boott, wife of American artist Frank Duveneck, and an Edwardian suede pouch that was crafted by an Austrian accessories designer for the French couture firm The House of Worth.

Bags that made it into the exhibition, Smith says, "were either typical of a period or pieces that you'd never associate with a period". An example: Vivienne Westwood's petite Orb purse, which would not look out of place in a Jane Austen costume drama.

As well as pockets and reticules, Handbags Through The Ages contains examples of chatelaines and miser's purses, typical of the Victorian era.

Named from the French chatelain, or "lord of the castle", a chatelaine hung decoratively off the waistband by a hook. Women carried useful household items such as thimbles and scissors.

The miser's bag was anything but decorative, Smith says. "The Victorians were so conscious of style, shape and detail," she says, and yet the miser's bags "were ugly, looking like slugs". There was an opening in the centre, into which owners pushed coins that were held at either end of the bag by a metal ring. They were called miser's bags, Smith says, because "if you were a miser you pulled out only one coin at a time".

By the early 20th century, with women travelling more frequently, handbags expanded and became more of a statement, Jones says. The introduction of chemical dyes brought in vividly coloured bags. New technology in the 1920s enabled manufacturers to created tightly woven mesh and started the trend for the decade's fine mesh purses. Innovative early plastics such as bakelite and zeolite came into play about the same time, producing moulded bags in an array of weird and wacky shapes. In Britain in the 1930s, women started co-ordinating bags and shoes.

Reflecting the new role of women during World War II, no-nonsense go-anywhere shoulder bags entered the fray.

By the '50s, handbags started to resemble the large items women now carry, Smith says. By this time they held "car keys, big sunglasses, lipsticks and lots of stuff".

Handbags by necessity are functional accessories, yet functionality is a term that rarely enters the vocabulary of Sydney retailer Claudia Chan Shaw and her fashion designer mother, Vivian. For the Shaws, form reigns supreme over function.

"We're the sort of girls who like things that are unusual and quirky," Shaw says. "If you're going to be creative with a handbag, you can be a bit nutty with the shape or form." The Shaws have lent 10 bags for the QVB exhibition, including a Brazilian bag from 1987 that is made from a recycled Coca-Cola can and embellished with cut crystal; an American handbag resembling a loaf of bread; and a gigantic asymmetrical leather bag from Italy that has semi-circular curves not unlike the sail-like structures of the Opera House.

Fashion historians charting the rise of the It bag pinpoint the '50s as the era when designers began naming individual bags. Citing Chanel's quilted and chained 2.55 bag (named because it was first produced in February 1955), Roger Leong, curator, international fashion and textiles, at the National Gallery of Victoria, attributes the emergence of It bags to the phenomenon of leather travel bag companies such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi expanding into apparel, particularly since the early 1990s.

"These houses have a long tradition of craftsmanship and then they launched themselves into fashion," Leong says. "The trend of the past 15 years has been for these companies to employ very creative designers to produce some fantastic collections of clothes but the money is made on their extremely desirable handbags, shoes and belts.

"Young women will buy a chainstore outfit but they'll save up for the It bag. Shoes and handbags are the success stories of the last 15 years. Accessories used to be seen as accessories. Now they've become the main story."

Nicola Sault, the owner of the Grandma Takes a Trip vintage boutiques in Surry Hills and Bondi Beach, happily admits to owning about 350 handbags. "A beautiful vintage bag is an easy way to add a unique style to an outfit," she says. Likening her handbags to old friends, she explains: "They're always there and hopefully you never lose them. They look after your stuff, they're charming and they make you look fabulous."

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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Cheap chic


from Gainesville.com
The Wal-Mart Metro7 line of clothing.
By VANESSA GARCIA
Sun staff writer

In her most exaggerated faux french, 24-year-old University of Florida student Lauren Parigi dropped the name of her favorite local clothing store.

Continue to 2nd paragraph "Tar-zhay," she laughed. That's what Parigi and her friends call discount retail giant Target when they're combing the clothing department for trendy dresses and tops. When they're in the market for, say, a toaster or economy-sized pack of toilet paper, the store retains its common name.

Parigi and her friends didn't coin the nickname. Fans of the retailer - best known for launching the "cheap chic" design concept - have associated Target's bull's-eye with affordable style since 2003 when Isaac Mizrahi raised industry eyebrows with an exclusive line of affordable apparel. Since then, Target has teamed up with dozens of high-end designers who offer everything from throw pillows and candles to bikinis and maternity tunics at budget-friendly prices. Now, every other discount retailer on the block is rolling out star-studded competition.

See our cheap chic shopping guide for local examples.

Why are A-list designers so eager to swap their Manhattan boutiques and well-heeled clientele for racks next to Slushy machines and soccer mom customers?

The appeal is three-fold, said Barton Weitz, executive director of UF's Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research.

For up-and-coming designers, these high-traffic chains offer the rare opportunity to upgrade from relatively unknown to household name overnight. For "over the hill" designers, it's a chance to reinvent their brand and market it to a group of consumers who may not have had access before.

At the heart of the cheap chic phenomenon is social conscience, the desire to make quality design affordable and accessible, Weitz said. Several established designers and celebrities (think Vera Wang for Kohl's and Shaquille O'Neal for Payless) deliberately use these partnerships to challenge the notion that sophisticated style requires gobs of money.

From a retail perspective, it's about keeping up with smarter, more fashion-savvy consumers. With more magazines, blogs, Web sites and how-to television shows dedicated to design and celebrity style, Americans of all budgets know more, want more and expect more, he said.

Ready to usher in the warmer weather seasons with a snazzy new wardrobe? Use this local guide to discount designer shopping to keep your budget intact as you upgrade.

TARGET

GO International: Every few months Target teams up with a Vogue-worthy designer to create a fresh line of clothing and accessories that reflect current runway trends. The products, which range from denim jeans to party dresses, sell for a fraction of the designer's usual triple (and even quadruple-digit) department store price. Just look for the racks marked GO.

More good news: Every garment is offered in "real women" plus and petite sizes (0-16). Shop online at target.com if you can't find your size in store.

Designer spotlight: Jovovich-Hawk; At Saks Fifth Avenue a sun dress from this ultra-chic design duo runs for about $495. At Target, snatch a spring ensemble by Jovovich-Hawk for about $30.

For real steals: Comb the clearance racks (usually located in the back corners of the women's clothing department) for past GO designers. Rumor has it, you can score marked down designer duds for as little as $10.

Design For All campaign: Target brings designer accessories, cosmetics, furniture and home decorations to the masses. The store currently works with about a dozen designers who create everything from funky throw pillows (Victoria Hagan) to fine jewelry (Justin Giunta) and - beginning April 6 - luxury handbags (Joy Gryson).

Save vs. splurge: At Bergdorf Goodman, Gryson's trendy bags (often toted by actress Jessica Biel) sell for about $800. Her limited-edition Target line, which will hit shelves Sunday, will offer faux-leather bags beginning at $19.99.

URBAN THREAD

Find unused catalog returns from top clothing and home decor designers. Prices are marked down 50 to 70 percent depending on overstock. A second location (13th Street at NW 16th Street) opened in February. The University Avenue store exclusively offers clothing from J.Crew and Anthropology. The 13th Street store offers discounted items from Free People, Crewcuts (J.Crew's children's line), Anthropologie Home and Urban Outfitters (clothing and home decor).

Guaranteed fresh: A vast majority of the store's offerings come from the current design season, which means you won't miss a single style step.

Something for everyone: Shop for discounted business suits and work-appropriate separates, special occasion dresses (including J.Crew bridal wear), clothing for kids and gift-worthy home decorations in the same store.

In Gainesville: Shop at 1117 W. University Ave. or NW 13th Street (at the intersection of NW 16th Street).

Simply Vera Wang: Wedding gown guru, Vera Wang, adds her signature design touches (subtle pleats, feminine fabrics, sophisticated details) to affordable home decor and a casual apparel line for Kohl's.

Dress like Avril Lavigne: This Grammy award winner will soon share her pop punk style with the masses. Her junior clothing line, Abbey Dawn, will hit Kohl's stores in July. Items will range for $24 to $48.

Coming soon: No need to worry. A Kohl's is on its way to Gainesville. The department store will replace the vacant Winn-Dixie shopping center on Archer Road. If you can't wait, visit the retailer in Orlando or Jacksonville.

WAL-MART

Norma Kamali: Hot off the pages of Vogue and Elle, Norma Kamali, a Manhattan-based clothing designer known for her mod take on sportswear and swimwear, is planning a line exclusively for Wal-Mart shoppers. Items will hit shelves Fall 2008.

J.C. PENNEY

Chris Madden for Home Collection: Find Moroccan-inspired area rugs, embroidered bedding and embossed dinnerware from this host of HGTV's Interiors by Design.

American Living: Style icon Ralph Lauren launched this apparel and home decor line in February. Get quality, sophisticated clothes, accessories and footwear for men, women and kids.

PAYLESS SHOESOURCE

Dunk like Shaq: Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal developed Dunkman, a line of athletic shoes, that sells for as little as $15.

Abaete: While Laura Poretzky's dresses run for about $500 at Saks, all of her sunglasses, shoes and handbags for Payless sell for less than $30.

Lela Rose: This Texas native's whimsical collection of pumps and flats is now available.

Shop online: Designer items are only sent to select stores. If local Payless locations don't carry what you want, check out payless.com.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Snag a Bag

Melie Bianco Handbags are designed for the budget conscious person. Melie Bianco takes the best from the best and creates an affordable designer handbag. Click here.

Samantha Cabrera, Papierdoll

Landing a designer bag is now the mainstay of nearly every woman’s fashion desires. It began with a few boldface names and constant reminders of what we should be wearing by every budding starlet that now put ‘fashionista’ on their resume as well. After a decade of spending hundreds, and now thousands, of dollars on designer handbags, the fever has spread like wildfire. Everyone from the soccer mom to the urban high school teacher to the young professional wants a piece of the pie when it comes to toting a “good bag.”

Papierdoll brings you THE ultimate guide to shopping for a designer bag and scoring a deal at the same time. Understanding how to stakeout your prey and strike at the right time is similar to something out of Planet Earth, so keep this handy as heavy sale season approaches. As with any other sale purchases, understand that a vast majority of the time, sale handbags are final sale, especially when shopping online or from a high end boutique store, so shop accordingly. Of course if you’re a true steals-and-deals gal, you’ll have all season to scope what you may land come first markdowns.

On the web
Landing a bag online is probably the easiest, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come with tons of panic or several phone calls. A lot of this depends on what bag you’re looking for, whether it was an It bag or not, and how many are available once the sale hits. Often online stores do not replenish stock the way a major department store or boutique might, but because so many hardcore bag hags have gotten away from buying their bags online, there are many deals to be had. You could go the eBay route for a steal, but that comes with the whole is-it-real? song and dance, along with the notion of a good chunk of change going through the Paypal system. If you’re comfortable with this, go for it, but be sure to have the bag authenticated at a forum known for their handbag experts like ***spot.com or ***forum.com. Both sites have authentication sections where experts decipher a bag’s lining, hardware and leather to come to the conclusion of whether a bag is genuine. It isn’t always the easiest the process, but for every Marc Jacobs Stam fake that prowls ebay (and there’s a lot of them), there’s a vintage Chanel bag that’s authentic and whose owner has no clue of the starting value.

If you’re wary of eBay, I don’t blame you. Horror stories of real pictures and fake product paint the eBay forums, so opting for an actual online store is a far safer bet. Thepursepage.com is a
designer handbag site devoted to designer handbag reviews and purses donned by celebrities. This site makes it easy to navigate upcoming designer handbag sales as well as sample sales, which usually take place in the LA or NYC areas, depending on the designer. Bookmarking the premier and designer handbag pages of major department stores like Saks.com and Barneys.com, also allows you to check back regularly to see if that beloved Givenchy Nightingale has been marked down yet. Most websites like these have newsletters you can sign up for, which will notify you of specific sales or promotional events. This makes it a bit easier, but know that, like you, a trillion other handbags lovers are signed up for this same email list, so pounce quickly if you see your bag available. Online boutique stores like shopbop.com, allow you to buy both contemporary and premier designers on their site, so you have a clear idea of what’s available. Other sites like aloharag.com (the only online site to purchase Balenciaga handbags) allow you to peruse the merchandise online, make an informed decision, and then call the store to make a purchase. This same policy goes for buying AR’s sale bags.

The thing with online stores is that there’s always a
bag on sale somewhere. This can be good or bad for your bank account, depending on how you treat it.

As mentioned before, online stores sometimes have drastic markdowns, so the chance that your sale dream bag is a final sale is a solid one. Some sites do have exchange policies (meaning you can exchange the bag for store credit, in the event it is returned unused and in the original condition), but be sure to read the fine print. Most online boutiques have live chat or a 1800 number if you can’t find enough details on their website.

Boutique-ing Boutique stores have taken over in a major way in the past decade. Like the It bag,
boutiques seemed to pop out of nowhere, and before you knew it, there were several in every major city, usually specializing in some sort of contemporary wear, footwear, or accessories. Boutique shopping is arguably the best of the shopping experiences since it allows you to shop at your leisure, in most cases. I’m sure we’ve all fallen victim to an early morning trip to a cute shop looking for a relaxing way to take our mind off of things, only to be hounded by the convenient sales associate that lurks around every corner. The key here is to be aloof and discerning, as associates can sniff out a girl who knows her stuff the way a dog sniffs out a piece of raw steak. Building a relationship with a boutique SA is well worth the effort, especially come sale time. A good SA will give you a ring when upcoming sales are in the near future, and most of the time, they will pull things for you, especially if you know you’re going to buy and hand over your payment information on the spot. This eliminates the need to shop the sale in the first place, as that lovely watermelon Muse (yes, I can’t wait until this one’s marked down!) can arrive at your doorstep in the exact same manner it would have had you paid full price.

The upside of building a relationship with a SA from a brand boutique (think
Chanel, YSL, Prada) is they can often pull from another store. So if you know exactly what you’re looking for (and you should come equipped: style number, bag name, retail price, and color code, if you can), inventories can be checked, phone calls can be made and your next trip to the store may involve picking up your bag on sale. To build this relationship can sometimes take time depending on the size of the store, and how high traffic is, but make yourself known. When you visit, ask questions, and make it clear what bag you’re interested in. If purchasing something isn’t in the cards, request that you’re put on the store’s mailing list, as to keep up with events. “Events,” in the eyes of many boutiques translates to trunk shows, and yes, sales.

The client/SA relationship is also crucial (if not more so) for the independent boutique sale. Usually these sales are advertised once in the local major newspaper, and the client list is consulted for making folks aware of the upcoming markdowns. Smaller boutiques often let clients shop the sale early, and reserve items for the day of the sale. This isn’t always the case, but it’s worth looking in to if you plan on getting a Derek Lam bag on sale. Most independent boutiques have a strict final sale policy year round, so if you can’t physically get to the
shop to check out the bag, be sure to request pictures to ensure it’s a safe purchase. Don’t let the notion of 30% off cloud your mind, because an expensive bag is still an expensive bag and if you’re stuck with something you don’t want…well, that’s never a good thing, regardless of the “deal” you got.

Shopping the ‘Department’ Department store shopping is usually the safest, if you’re unsure about the handbag or aren’t very familiar with the high end handbag world. One of the saddest things is a woman who gets insane with the handbag hunt, lands her bag, and opens the box only to realize that, yep, $1100 is a lot to spend on a bag…even if it was on sale. Do this with a boutique store purchase and you can pretty much hope to get half of what you spent after the whole eBay process, or buy from Nordstrom and know you’re home free. All a department store asks is that you hold on to your receipt! I know this may seem like such a hassle to some, but once you get in the groove of doing it, you realize it makes your life so much less hectic. Keep your receipts in your wallet and at the end of each shopping trip put them in an envelope or Ziploc. So if you decide that bright turquoise Tory Burch clutch works with nothing in your closet, you’re able to head back to the store and get your money back (or, find something that does work!).

Building a relationship with a department store SA is just as important as building one with a boutique SA, so don’t neglect to leave your name and number with someone who gives you particularly good service. Now that designer handbag sales are at an all-time high, sales associates know that going above and beyond only once can make a client for life. The relationship with a department store SA is beneficial because not only can they notify you of sales, allow you to pre-order sale items, and do store transfers, they are also (sometimes) knowledgeable on multiple brands. This comes in handy when choosing certain bags (yes, Balenciaga we’re talking to you) due to the variations in leather and color. When you begin to delve into the world of high end handbags, you quickly realize that a bag is not a bag is not a bag.

Shopping department store sales is great if you know when to shop. The prime sale seasons are late spring/summer, and right at Christmas approaches. Many retailers do first markdowns just two or three days before Christmas to get an early start on moving inventory after the holidays. During the first days of holiday sales, expect extra savings during early hours.

What I like about shopping department store sales is that the sale bags are usually pretty identifiable, even during the season. Styles that are specific to a designer’s current season will be marked down, as well fashion/seasonal colors in classic styles. By this I mean, you may not find a black Stam on sale at Saks, but you will find its beige sister with bright yellow python trim. If the seasonal colors aren’t your thing and you’re plunking down big bucks only once for your big hurrah bag, try shopping during gift card events at Neiman Marcus or Saks. In some cases, you have to shop with the house credit card, but other times you’re required to spend a certain amount in order to quality for gift card to use on a future purchases. I know this isn’t quite the same as cash in your pocket, but it does take some of the sting away.

Landing a
designer handbag on a budget isn’t impossible, but as laid out, it does take some work. If you’re reluctant to go on the hunt, look into authentic resellers like realdealcollection.com, a New Mexico-based online resale shop that specializes on gently used and new Balenciaga handbags and accessories. ****collection.com even offers a layaway program encouraging clients to put 30% down to “hold” a bag, and pay the remainder within the next month. Heck, you can even hire a personal shopper to find your dream bag for you with services like luxurypersonalshoppers.com. Handbag lover Mona El Rafie will hunt far and wide to land your bag at a discount, and she only asks for 10% of the discount price as a fee.

Regardless of your budget, there’s a
designer purse out there for you, you just have to look. And having patience and this guide in your corner won’t hurt either.

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Designer Purses For Traveling - All You Need To Know



from Designer Purses n Bags

... designer purses for traveling. Read it. Believe me, you will thank me.

If you are a travel buff, who loves land hopping, you should look after your designer purse. Unlike travel bags, designer handbags are not meant for constant use or rough weather. You inadvertently drench yourself – with your handbag in your hand – in a sudden downpour, and most likely that will spell the death bell for your favorite designer purse whatever whether you catch cold or not. In addition, some leather might find it too hard to stand the summer temperatures of Asia and Africa, or even some part of the American continent.

The next important issue is storing or preserving your designer handbags while you travel. You might only need the designer bag for occasions and not for the entire journey. If so, it is obvious that you’ll have to tuck it somewhere in the bag, and the way you do it is crucial. It has to be preserved properly, away from pests and moisture, dust and dirt, and heat of course. In some cases, a small bag with sufficient air circulation will serve the purpose. Another priceless tip is to stuff the designer purse with some tissue paper so that it retains its shape inside the bag.

Finally, don’t keep your designer purses in the open, unattended place, even if it is in your hotel room or the restaurant table when you leave to powder your face for few moments. Doing so actually reduces the chances of somebody will steal it. Unfortunately, we tend to misplace items more often while on travel. Being a bit on guard will save you from saying goodbye to your beloved designer purse.

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Sunday, March 16, 2008

Years of record growth for handbag sales could be over



By Cotten Timberlake Bloomberg News

NEW YORK: The $7 billion market in the United States for handbags, the fastest-growing product in the fashion industry, might be slowing from the record growth seen in recent years. Some analysts and retailers say that the increases in U.S. handbag sales may have peaked, as competition from other accessories like shoes and jewelry heats up and as higher gasoline and mortgage costs slows consumer spending. The sales increases that reached as high as 28 percent in 2004, the strongest annual pace on record, could fall back to as little as 15 percent this year, with no signs of recovering before 2009, according to the Telsey Advisory Group, a stock research firm in New York.

The firm was founded by Dana Telsey, a retail industry analyst who was ranked the top speciality stores analyst by Institutional Investor magazine every year in the seven years to 2005. Stephen Sadove, chief executive of Saks, said the handbag's status as a must-have item is being challenged. "It used to be all about the shoes and our woman had so many shoes in her closet, then it became the multiplicity of handbags," Sadove told investors at a Goldman Sachs conference in September. "What you are seeing now is a new trend, which is branded designer fine jewelry."

Handbag makers, led by Coach and Louis Vuitton, are vying for the attention of affluent consumers, who are turning their attention to items like Tory Burch ballet flats and David Yurman bracelets, retail executives said. "The handbag business has softened up a little bit," said Kathryn Deane, president of Tobe, a fashion consulting firm in New York whose clients have included Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. "When the consumer looks at accessories, she is not just looking at handbags anymore."

U.S. sales of handbags costing at least $100 could expand 20 percent this year, compared with a 22 percent increase last year, according to research from Coach, a maker of handbags and other accessories in New York. Coach and Telsey began providing sales data on handbags in 2001, after demand began to soar in the late 1990s. Patricia Edwards, who helps manage investments including Coach shares at Wentworth, Hauser & Violich in Seattle, said, "Slower growth in the handbag segment overall is a prudent outlook given the economic situation we find ourselves in right now."

Coach, whose handbags sell for $200 to $400, expects overall revenue, which also includes jewelry, shoes and fragrances, to rise 21 percent in the year through June 28, 2008, said its chief financial officer, Michael Devine, at an analyst meeting at the company's headquarters in New York in September. In the year that ended in June, the company recorded a 28 percent rise, with handbags accounting for 64 percent of Coach's sales.

Sales at Coach stores in North America that have been open at least a year will rise "north of 10 percent," Devine said. His guidance is similar to what the company has said in previous years. In the year that ended in June, those sales rose 22 percent. Coach is introducing three handbag lines this year. The retailer will need popular new products and a more buoyant economy to sustain the revenue gains of recent years, said Edwards, at Wentworth Howard.

"The growth further out might be more problematic unless they have a fabulous product line coincidental with better economic news," Edwards said. While sales gains may be slowing, handbags are still leading the growth in the U.S. fashion industry, ahead of earrings, wallets and other small leather goods, according to NPD Group, a market research firm in Port Washington, New York. Coach shares have risen 8.6 percent this year through Monday, outpacing the 7.7 percent climb for LVMH stock and the 1.5 percent decline for the Standard & Poor's 500 index of 29 U.S. retailers

Louis Vuitton has found that "growth in the U.S. luxury market segment continues to accelerate on an annual basis," said Molly Morse, a spokeswoman for the company. She declined to provide more detailed figures, and Louis Vuitton does not provide revenue figures for its various divisions.

John Guy, an analyst at MF Global Securities in London, estimated that sales of fashion and leather goods at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, could slow from the 11 percent growth recorded in 2006. At Prada, based in Milan, "we are growing the handbag business at a faster pace compared to other product categories," said a spokesman, Tomaso Galli, who declined to give specific figures. "We plan to continue to do so going forward." Prada and Gucci, owned by PPR, declined to provide sales forecasts.

A Goldman Sachs survey of 1,550 U.S. consumers that was released in June found that 32 percent expected to buy fewer handbags this year. About 18 percent said they would buy more, and 51 percent said they planned to purchase the same number. A survey of 1,491 people in May by WSL Strategic Retail, a consulting firm in New York, showed that 43 percent of women respondents were reducing personal spending because of higher gasoline prices. Of those, 73 percent said they would cut back on fashion accessories, said Wendy Liebmann, the president of WSL.

In a WSL survey carried out six months earlier, 32 percent were cutting back on spending, and 62 percent identified fashion accessories, a category that can include purses, jewelry, belts and scarves, as an area to rein in purchases. "That's what makes us nervous, the 11-point increase in the number," Liebmann said. Her firm's clients include Saks, Target and J.C. Penney.

For premium handbags, which sell for at least $300 and represent 80 percent of the U.S. market, price growth was 14 percent in 2006, the same rate of growth for the entire handbag market, according to Telsey Advisory. Cristin Murphy, who lives in Aliso Veijo, California, illustrates the overall market trend. She said her spending on bags peaked in 2003, leaving her with a handbag wardrobe that included five Coach, two Prada, a Burberry, and a Kate Spade. "I have kind of made my investment in handbags," Murphy said. "So I do not necessarily need to go out and buy a bag today."

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Handbags - Melie Bianco Handbags


from Wikipedia

History
Purses, handbags, and pouches have taken on many looks over the years. The first appearance of them is on Egyptian hieroglyphics showing pouches worn around the waist. The next appearance is in 14th century Europe. In Europe they often showed social status based on the embroidery and quality of the bag. At this time the purses were for women mainly and were therefore attached to their girdle.

In the 15th century, both men and women wore purses. They were often finely embroidered or ornamented with gold. It was also customary for men to give their new brides purses embroidered with an illustration of a love story. Later in the century, women, now wearing finer dresses, preferred to wear their pouches under their skirts.

In the 16th century, handbags were made out of common materials. They were leather and fastened with drawstring on top. Large cloth bags were introduced and and worn by travelers diagonally across the body.

In the 17th century, bags became more complex and elaborate. Girls were taught skills such as embroidery, that would make them marriageable. These skills gave rise to stitched artwork on purses. Also at this time in 1670, men's breeches were made with built-in pockets which caused them to stop carrying purses. They did however carry little netted purses in their pocket to carry money.

In the 18th century, as neo-classical clothing came into fashion, women started carrying their handbags as not to ruin their outfits. They named these bags reticules. Women also had more of them and certain ones for each occasion. Contents of these bags might include rouge, face powder, a fan, a scent bottle, visiting cards, a card case, and smelling salts.

In the early 1900s people began calling their bags, handbags. This term referred to luggage that men carried. They then inspired women, who began carrying bags with complicated fasteners, internal compartments, and locks. In the 1920s, it became popular that bags no longer had to match your outfit. In the 1940s, with WWII, women's purses were made out of wood or plastic since metal was being saved for supplies. In the 1950s, popular handbag designers included Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes.

The word purse is derived from the Latin bursa, from the Greek ßorsa, meaning oxhide. Purses are usually carried by women, though men sometimes carry one as a smaller alternative to a backpack; such a purse is sometimes termed a murse or manbag (portmanteaus "man" with "purse" and "handbag" respectively). It can also be called a man-purse. Such bags are often similar or identical to messenger bags. Smaller children also use purses, but usually just for show.

Coin purses are small purses, just large enough to hold paper money, cards and coins

A medium-to-small-sized purse with a short handle, designed to be carried (clutched) in one's hand is often called a clutch.

A larger purse with two handles is often called a tote.

A pocketbook is similar to a purse (in the British English sense), but allows the carrying of sheets of paper as well.

A security bag protects the carrier from travel theft. The purse includes an invisible stainless steel strap sewn into the fabric and a protectant on the main zipper.

Clutch: Small,yet long (rectangular), evening bag without a handle.
Satchel: large bag with small handle that is carried on the arm rather than on the shoulder.
Duffle: A large bag usually used for travel or sports.
Tote: A medium to large bag with two straps.
Messenger bag : A bag with a long strap to be worn across the body.
Sling bag : A bag with a long strap (similar to a messenger bag), yet smaller.

It Bag is a fashion handbag.
The term was coined in the 1990s with the explosive growth of the handbag market in fashion. Designers vied to produce one bag that would sell hundreds of thousands of units by becoming the bag "of the moment" -- a single handbag style that would spread like wildfire in popularity through the intertwined worlds of fashion and celebrity, aided by clever or just plain lucky marketing. Another way to define them is to say what other bags are not: "They are most definitely not it bags in the sense that they become isn't bags the next season." (Poppy Harlow)

As consumers have become more demanding, and in the face of structural changes in the handbag market, the It Bag is declining in popularity[1]. More and more fashion companies are diversifying their offers, and no longer does one style blaze through a season.

In American English, a purse is a small bag, also called a handbag or a pocketbook. In British English, a purse is a small money container similar to a wallet, but typically used by women and including a compartment for coins, with a handbag being considerably larger.

A purse or handbag is often fashionably designed, and is used to hold a number of items such as a wallet, keys, tissues, makeup, a hairbrush, cellular device or personal digital assistant, feminine products, or other items.

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Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards





New York, NY (PRWEB) March 15, 2008 -- The Second Annual Independent Handbag Awards is now accepting designer submissions. The "Handbag Awards" provides an opportunity for emerging and established independent designers to be recognized and stand out into the highly-saturated accessory market. This unique event is the only one of its kind internationally where only handbags are the star and the designer's compete for the once-in-a-career time opportunity to expose their work to the entire fashion industry in New York City, the fashion capital of the world.

This year, designers of the most innovative handbag designers will be squaring off against one another with 6 awards to be given for Handbag Design Excellence, on June 18th at the landmark New York Historical Society. Over 500 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers, are expected to attend the Independent Handbag Designer Awards event.

Judging by the industry support we have received here in New York and around the world, this event is here to stay. To register in the preliminary selection round, a single digital image upload is required. Applications will be accepted through www.handbagdesigner101.com and clicking on the "Handbag Awards" icon, until April 18, 2008.

The Categories include:

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

The staff of Handbag Designer 101 will review all entries and choose finalists in each category based on the merits of their submitted designs. A Fashion Panel consisting of Ann Watson (Fashion Director for Henri Bendel), Lisa Smilor (Associate Director for the Council of Fashion Designers of America), Dana Palzkill (Senior Vice President of Product Management for Bag, Borrow or Steal), Rebecca Weinberg (Emmy Award Winning Costume Designer and Stylist), David Zyla (Daytime Emmy Nominated Costume Designer for ABC Inc./All My Children) and Julia Poteat (Assistant Professor of Fashion Methods for Parsons The New School for Design) will decide who has created the "Top Handbag Design" and select a winner from each respective category.

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 over 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. For 45 years, LEIBER has been a leader in luxury accessory design. For the last four years, the brand has been under the creative direction of Frank Zambrelli, and has broadened its customer base by evolving the product to meet the needs of a younger customer while remaining true to its heritage. LEIBER has stood the test of time and continues to earn international acclaim with their innovative handbags and accessories, and most recently selected as "Most Prestigious Handbag" by the Luxury Institute's Luxury Brand Status Index.

LaunchBags, LLC. is proud to announce its support as underwriting sponsor of Handbag Designer 101's Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards. LaunchBags is the one-stop shop for all things handbag. From inception to sale, their services support, emerging and established talent in the accessories industry - making this event an organic fit.

"Myself and our entire team are extremely excited about sponsoring this incredible event because it is at the heart and soul of who we are and the designers that we serve," says Jana Hanci CEO of LaunchBags, LLC. "As a full scale handbag company 'from concept to sale, we believe the independent handbag designer brings unique and creative ideas to the marketplace that drive consumers to seek their one-of-a-kind style. The IHDA event is a perfect venue for elevating the independent handbag designer and we couldn't be more thrilled to contribute."

Handbag Designer 101 - the handbag designer resource (www.handbagdesigner101.com), where handbag designers, aficionados and experts unite to find undiscovered handbags by independent designers; learn about the latest handbag trends; see the handbags that celebrities are wearing today; find out about the latest handbag shopping events and even learn about accessory jobs and services. Boasting over 10,000 unique visitors daily, Handbag Designer 101 has struck a chord within the handbag community which is reflected in the excitement for this year's Second Annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards.

"Based on the overwhelming response and enormous success of last year's IHDA event, it is clear that this awards program fills a gap in the ever-growing population of undiscovered and talented handbag designers," said Emily Blumenthal, creator of the Yasmena and Yazzy Bag and founder of Handbag Designer 101. "The Handbag Awards gives these designers a unique platform to receive recognition and accolades and give them an opportunity to stand out and become the latest 'it' bag." Blumenthal added, "Judging by the industry support we have received here in New York and around the world, this event is here to stay."

Additional sponsors include: The Fashion Business Improvement District: The Fashion Center, Commerce Bank, Rosenthal & Rosenthal Inc., The Garment Industry Development Corporation, Parsons The New School of Design, Wathne Limited, M&J Trimming, TUKATECH, Leather Suede Skins, Rosen & Chadick Fabrics, RIRI Zippers/Pacific Trimmings, Verve NYC, Digital Plus, Clothing Labels 4U.com, 360 Vodka, Glaceau, POM Wonderful and the Bottomless Closet.

Handbag Designer 101, the handbag designer resource, was inspired by the need for the handbag designer, aficionado and fan in all of us as one knows we can never have too many bags. Handbag Designer 101 and Independent Handbag Designer Awards trademarks are owned by handbagdesigner101.com, a privately held company based in New York City.

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Monday, March 10, 2008

Year of the designer handbag


By Raphael Minder

Hong Kong is bracing itself this week for a French battle of the handbags, as Louis Vuitton and Chanel vie for the limelight with grand openings that underline Asia's growing importance to the fashion industry.

Tomorrow Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel's pony-tailed designer, will attend the official launch of a moveable museum before it heads off on a world tour of fashion capitals. Housed in a 700 sq m structure designed by architect Zaha Hadid, the Mobile Art Museum - which looks more like a spaceship than a fashion gallery - brings together 20 leading artists and their interpretation of the classic Chanel handbag.

Across the Hong Kong harbour on Canton road, Louis Vuitton is re-opening a store that it has overhauled and expanded. The outlet will be its second-largest worldwide, after its flagship Champs Elysées store in Paris. Louis Vuitton's event will close on Friday night with a party for 2,500 guests held in a golden tent and hosted by Bernard Arnault, chairman of parent company LVMH, or Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Beyond this week's extravaganza, almost every leading fashion house has earmarked 2008 as the year of expansion in Asia, much of it focused on China. Louis Vuitton is turning its attention to second-tier Chinese cities, which will boost its mainland presence from 19 stores to 25 by year-end. "Today we see demand in every provincial city in mainland China," says Yves Carcelle, chief executive of Louis Vuitton.

The switch to second-tier cities is a telling sign of China's emergence as a key fashion market. Thibault Villet, a former L'Oréal executive who is now Greater China president of Coach, the US maker of handbags and other accessories, says: "When I worked in cosmetics in Asia, the development of second and third-tier cities happened five to seven years ago, but it's only just now happening for fashion. That shows that it's really the right time and a market that is reaching a new dimension."

The company will soon inaugurate a Hong Kong store with the biggest Coach façade worldwide and a lavish interior adorned with white Italian marble floors. Meanwhile Salvatore Ferragamo, the luxury goods group, plans to celebrate its 80th anniversary with a fashion show in Shanghai later this month.

The Asian growth story goes well beyond China, argue executives. Louis Vuitton's revenues rose "more than 300 per cent" last year in Vietnam, according to Mr Carcelle, who describes the Communist country as "a new dragon".

Alain Li, regional chief executive for Richemont, the Swiss-based luxury goods group, says: "China is of course a significant part of the story but we're really seeing the whole region as having very strong momentum and that hopefully will continue."

The thrust into Asia is not just about business. Nathan Jenden, a leading figure among the new generation of British designers, says: "The energy I get from Asia is something that I can't find anywhere else in the world. I think that New York is definitely not as exciting as Shanghai right now . . . Chinese ladies are in some cases much more elegant than some of the people back home . . . The local designers there are also incredibly avant-garde."

The scale and number of fashion events scheduled this year also underline another leitmotiv among fashion executives - the "new sophistication" of their Asian clientele. Louis Vuitton's Canton road store, for example, will feature a bookstore and will be the first to host an art exhibition area.

"I think the fashion world is beginning to realise that Asian customers are getting more sophisticated by the day," says Mr Jenden. "Yes, there are cultural differences. Europeans don't pick their teeth. But it's very important not to be jaded or patronising when in Asia."

Brenda Wang, founder of Brandxcel, a Hong Kong-based consultancy firm that advises luxury and fashion brands planning to enter the Asian market, also warns against a blanket approach to Asia. "If you try to hit three or four countries at the same time, there is a tendency to spread yourself too thin . . . People tend to view Asia as one country, but this is a place with different buying patterns and distribution landscapes across the key markets."

As an example, Mr Villet from Coach points to the importance of footwear in China, as well as the male focus on accessories. "Luxury in China started with men and historically-speaking they have a tradition of purchasing leather-wear accessories for themselves as well as for gifts," he notes. "Chinese men represent a very different market that you have to study and understand."

As to how immersed they should become in Asian culture, fashion executives point to a difficult balancing act between nurturing their brand and embracing the local culture. Coach, for example, will be relying on Asian celebrities to help promote its launches but is counting on a Hollywood actress, Kate Bosworth, to lead its media advertising campaign.

"We are clearly a New York brand and so we need to communicate an image in accordance with our DNA,'' says Mr Villet. "But the right way for us to go local is when we do events, where we certainly want to be working with the local celebrities."

Similarly, fashion brands are seeing opportunities in contributing to the development of the local fashion scene. Next month Yohji Yamamoto will fly into Beijing an entire cast of models for Y's fashion show, which will be held in a World Heritage site. But the event is also being combined with the launch of a foundation that will sponsor new Chinese designers and offer them education opportunities outside China.

Growth in some Asian markets, notably India, is constrained by a lack of property in the right locations or disproportionately expensive sites. On the other hand, store leases tend to be shorter while furniture and shop-fitting costs are much cheaper. "If a location is not working as well as expected, it is financially easier to get out of," says John Durnin, Asia chief executive for Alfred Dunhill.

Another challenge for Asia's fashion development is one shared across many other industries - a shortage of skills. Ms Wang, the consultant, says: "Finding a prime location is certainly difficult, but you may end up with the right location and inexperienced sales staff and as such, maximising sales or increasing repeat business will be limited."

Will image-conscious fashion houses join the outsourcing bandwagon by shifting production to Asia? Most insist that production there will concern specific products and remain on a small scale.

Last year Louis Vuitton made its first manufacturing foray outside of Europe by establishing a shoe production venture in Pondicherry, India. About 100 people are employed in its workshop there, which is "very limited," Mr Carcelle stresses. "We have no intention to go further."

India's couture honey-pot that may take time to sweeten

India's increasingly affluent society could turn into another honey-pot for the fashion industry - but patience may be required. Executives warn that India's traditional tastes in clothing and its poor infrastructure mean China is likely to continue to outpace it as a profitable fashion market for the foreseeable future.

The differences are also stark when it comes to women's wear. Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, chairman of L'Oréal, recently described witnessing China's transition in just a few years from "the Mao uniform to miniskirts" as one of the most "magical" experiences of his career.

In contrast, the sari remains de rigueur in India for women looking to impress. Vijay Murjani, managing director of Murjani Group, which distributes brands such as Gucci and Jimmy Choo in India, says: "The market is ready for accessories but it's definitely looking much tougher for ready-to-wear. The high-end couture market is going to remain very limited because when women here get dressed for a big evening out, they still wear Indian."

However, more property is now coming on to the market and Louis Vuitton is scheduled to open stores this year in two malls, in New Delhi and Bangalore.

Yves Carcelle, Louis Vuitton's chief executive, recognises that India's fashion development will be "slower than China". But he sees a silver lining to this time gap: "We don't need all the markets to explode at the same time."

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Monday, March 3, 2008

Melie Bianco is 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.

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Saturday, March 1, 2008

What Everyone Should Know About Handbags


by jordan shoes

A handbag is a word that brings up numerous images. Depending on the era you most relate too, handbags may illicit memories of the stylish trend associated with your favorite handbag. Yes, everyone has a favorite: sometimes two or three. A good handbag will withstand the test of time. A good handbag can be proudly passed from a grandmother to her excited granddaughter.

Perhaps the versatility of the handbag is the deciding factor in its durability; however, durability has many factors. The majority of fashionable and versatile handbags are designed and created in leather. Even leather is not completely cut-and-dry. There are many types of leather, each with its own characteristics: ostrich, rawhide, lamb, deer, moose, alligator, and swine just to name a few good examples. The process in which the leather is processed, treated, cured, and eventually shaped is extremely important to the life of the handbag. Obviously, many of the handbag designers are going to use a higher quality of leather depending on the potential price tag to the consumer.

Of course, the actual design of the handbag is essential to the life of the handbag as well. The compartments of a handbag are a vitally important feature to any handbag . However, some people like many compartments, some like only a few: some like big compartments, some like small. Handbag designers try to keep the variety of their potential consumers in mind. One thing is certain about the design of the handbag: all handbags are potentially unique. All handbags offer the individual user a sense of uniqueness and style. Handbags are an invaluable accessory to anyone’s wardrobe: yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Price is an important consideration to many people purchasing a handbag . Finding a reasonable and acceptable price is often daunting and something straight out of a spy movie. Finding a Mulberry handbag for $29 on the street corner may seem exceptionally wonderful. However, you must ask yourself: do you honestly believe that a Mulberry handbag for $29 is an authentic handbag handbag? Many people sell imitation handbags -often referred to as “knock-offs”. If a handbag looks like a name brand handbag, has the name brand tag, and is a steal… proceed with extreme caution. Owning a knock-off brand is illegal in most countries. Now keep in mind that many people purchase replica handbags. These handbags do not claim to be the original brand at all, but closely replicated facsimiles. Of course, the replica handbags are not going to be the same quality of the name brand. Remember: you get what you pay for.

Deciding to purchase a handbag is filled with options, options, and more options. Do not feel overwhelmed. Be aware of what you want before you begin. Know the price range you are looking for. Know the options you just cannot live without. Then buy exactly what you want and need. A good handbag will offer the owner many important factors: versatility, reliability, functionality, and all of this while remaining stylish, trendy, and afforable.

Wholesale handbags offer the latest style and quality at the best prices. Wholesale handbags are usually sold to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services. Most companies provide excellent customer service. Some companies provide printed catalogs to introduce their new products. There are others with a comprehensive and updated online catalog. Wholesale distributors purchase bulk quantity handbags directly from the manufacturers at cheap prices and make considerable profit while selling them to customers.

If you want to order the handbags wholesale, then e-mail your business name, address, phone number and tax ID to the corresponding company websites. After reviewing your request, they will e-mail you a link to their wholesale only website. The companies fix a minimum purchase amount for each order. Most companies accept all major credit cards. Some companies do not accept the other company checks and personal checks. In addition to the cash discount, certain companies offer certain free accessories with the wholesale purchasing of handbags. Some companies provide free shipping also. Most companies will ship only to the billing address of the credit card holder, due to security reasons. For international orders, the USPS (United States Postal Service) is the cheapest mode of shipping. Depending on the country, size of box and weight, the shipping charge will vary.

Wholesale handbags feature front and back open pockets, interior and exterior zipper pockets, or inner open pockets. Single or dual shoulder straps, velvet jeweled shoulder straps, and magnetic closures are some of the features of these handbags. Beaded and embroidered handbags are excellent choices. Sometimes, wholesale merchants allow customers to buy directly from them. This is the best opportunity to profitably purchase a variety of handbags to complement your beautiful dresses.

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Never too many purses



Funky handbags debut in Roseville, Granite Bay shops
By Lauren Weber, The Press-Tribune

A girl can never have too many purses. Lyndi Eimerl of Fuffy J Couture agrees. Eimerl is co-founder of the Woodland-based handbag company that she and her sister, Kristin Morrow, own. The sister duo offers Roseville and Granite Bay one-of-a-kind, handmade designer handbags. “Everyone loves the handbag,” Eimerl said. “The handbag will always fit you and make you feel good no matter how stylish you are.” What sets Fuffy J Couture apart, besides the name, are the bags themselves. Co-founder Morrow, 23, designs each bag to have its own flair. From clutches and hobo bags, to diaper bags and little girl’s purses, each bag is made from selected tapestry and embellished with vintage-inspired fabrics such as silk, chiffon and cotton.

What started out as a pastime for Morrow in high school, turned into a full-fledged business in September 2006. About a year later, the bags made their way into Sacramento shops Krazy Mary’s Boutique and Felicia Strati, and have recently made their debut in Roseville and Granite Bay boutiques. When employees at Silver Spoon Children’s Boutique in Granite Bay saw the one-of-a-kind diaper bags, they snatched up the line. The store carries two diaper bags and a little girl’s purse that owners Kathy Baenziger and Barbara Norman were able to partially design by choosing the fabrics they wanted. Morrow is happy to do custom-designed handbags and does them quite often, Eimerl said. “A lot of people are drawn to us because it’s something different,” she said.

“They’re very eclectic. More like a piece of art than a handbag,” Morrow said. “I have a love of fine arts. That’s what I enjoy most, being artistic.” Not only are the bags different, but the name is as well. But it took some doing to find a way to describe the sisters’ business. “One day it just hit us,” Eimerl said. It seems the girls’ grandfather, Norman Joerger, deemed the nickname Fuffy J when Eimerl was a young girl and like many kids, wasn’t able to pronounce the word, grandpa. Instead, Fuffy came out and being the oldest grandchild, the name stuck. “He found beauty in everything,” Eimerl said.

Once the name was set and bags were designed, Eimerl and Morrow became walking advertisements for their company. “We get a positive response with the bags everywhere we go,” Eimerl said. And now shoppers in the Roseville area can check out what makes these bags stand out. In addition to Silver Spoon, they can be found in Lil’ Suckers and Home Gift Art Boutique in Roseville and Dionna K Boutique in Granite Bay. Cathi Erlandson, the owner of Lil’ Suckers on Galleria Boulevard, sells four styles of Fuffy J Couture children’s purses. She’s always looking for items that are different and local. Plus the designs are cute, she said.

“Right now we’re focused on boutiques because that’s where customers go to get something out of the ordinary,” Eimerl said. In the next five years, they hope to sell their line nationally, if not internationally. “We have a very big vision and big goals,” she said.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The History of Handbags


By Seth Miller

If we were to trace the origin of handbags, women would likely be surprised to know that they were first utilized by a group of men some 2000 years ago. Although wholesale handbags were not in the scene at this time, men in biblical times did indeed carry the equivalent of what we consider to be the handbags of today.

This practice came to women’s knowledge and from then on, its handbags became completely indispensable. Handbags, purses, or any other kinds of totes will forever be a part of women’s wardrobes. Although some men continue to don handbags occasionally, women have dominated the scene in the handbag industry. No outfit can stand alone without a matching handbag. By far, handbags have encapsulated women’s fashion ever since the first modern versions appeared in France.

Nowadays, handbags were everywhere. Thousands of handbags of all imaginable styles and designs are on the market. Apparently, each kind has found its use in the wardrobe of every woman. And yet, with the overwhelming number of handbags that has emerged year after year and grabbed up by female consumers, there are still many, many more soon to invade women’s fashionable wardrobes. Moreover, handbags designers are proliferating. From a non-designer label to outrageously priced designer handbags, from a simple and plain masterpiece to shiny and elegantly embroidered handbags, the fashion industry will never cease to crank out new handbags for the market.

Who would have ever thought that men from biblical times may have been the ones to give rise to the industry of fashionable handbags?

Handbags provides detailed information on Handbags, Wholesale Handbags, Designer Handbag, Replica Handbags and more. Handbags is affiliated with Discount Designer Handbags.

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Handbags and Feng Shui

melie bianco handbags online
By Silvana Rosati-capizzano

Here are some tips help you stay organized and function at optimum levels:

Make sure your handbag is clean, neat and organized.

A smaller handbag that can be worn across your chest, freeing up both your hands will make for an easier shopping trip as well.

What does your handbag look like? Messy, stained, filled with receipts, lists, candy wrappers, endless "to do" lists, old lipsticks, cosmetics, toiletries, heaps of memorabilia, money just thrown in?

Often our handbags become a sea of junk. A lot of us invest a good amount of money in our handbags. We love them, we carry them with pride - but what we carry, is often much more than we need. We often don't give it a thought until it is overflowing with so much stuff that it creates shoulder and neck pain. A messy, heavy handbag is very inauspicious. It causes us stress when we constantly have to dig to find anything. It blocks wealth energy and bogs us down figuratively, physically and literally.

Be reasonable about what and how much you carry.

Make it a habit to clean it out once a week.

To attract wealth energy, also keep a clean, neat, and organized wallet. Coins, bills and cards in their correct space.

Keep lists in an easy access area. When you have completed that days "to do's", throw it out your list.

A clean purse is very auspicious and attracts wealth energy.

A red handbag carry's energized, yang chi. By placing three chinese coins tied together with a red string inside will attract money. If you know a wealthy person, ask them for a bill of money to carry inside your purse. This will carry increased wealth energy inside your handbag.

Help all that money going out this season to find it's way back in.

What ever handbag you fancy, keep it clean, neat, light and organized.

© 2007 Silvana Rosati-Capizzano

Silvana is a well respected Interior Decorator, International Feng Shui Expert and the Principal of the Award Winning Home & Life Design Firm: Blue Avalon. Along with her years of study in Home Decor and Feng Shui, she has the unique ability of being able create luxurious interiors with balance and optimum energy flow thus creating a beautiful environment of positive energy, balance and harmony.

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Women better protect purses



from Contra Costa Times

THE PURSE IS a curse to every woman who dreams of having her hands free. It's a black hole that swallows up coins and car keys and compacts, not to mention other female items, which we feel compelled to carry. And yet, carry them we must. We load up our purses and haul them around because it's our duty. Lord knows, someone might need something and we have to be ready.

The downside of carrying a handbag is the ease with which it can be stolen. In the past week alone, the Town Crier has heard of three purse thefts, including a spate of snatchings at the Safeway on Redwood Road. Police say a man/woman team has been distracting customers in the store and stealing purses from their shopping carts. It's a crime of opportunity and can easily be avoided by wearing one's purse like a necktie. A couple of knots and your strap is secure, only to be stolen if it's ripped from your body.

ANOTHER ALERT: On the topic of crime, police say three armed men hit the parking lot of the Redwood Road Safeway on a recent Sunday afternoon, robbing at least six people who were loading groceries into their trunks. The thugs took off in a waiting car after terrorizing the customers and taking their cash.

SEEING RED: Oakland's plans for a stoplight at Mountain and La Salle have had Montclair residents seeing red for months, now. But their arguments may come to a head Tuesday when the issue is addressed by the City Council's Public Works Committee. Stoplight opponent Derek Liecty says

he'll need a good turnout of "upset Montclair residents" to dissuade members from the project they're "hell-bent" on pushing through. You can e-mail him at spoker@sbcglobal.net for the meeting time and place.

AROUND TOWN: Rumor has it a thrift shop is moving into the Lakeshore Avenue space vacated by KidsGap. Not just any thrift shop, but the chain store called "Out of the Closet," started by Magic Johnson to raise money for the Aids Healthcare Foundation. Even with the star status, not everyone is thrilled to see a popular brand name retailer replaced by a thrift shop -- especially in one of Oakland's most upscale shopping districts.

Speaking of shopping, there's good buzz about the new designer clothing store at 4395 Piedmont Avenue called McMullens. Not only does the owner, Sherri McMullen, have great fashion sense, she offers closet consultations and alterations to help clients optimize their wardrobes. Service and style are two things Sherri learned well - cutting her teeth in retail at Nieman Marcus. This is her first boutique and the fulfillment of a dream. Good luck, Sherri!

ROAD HAZARD: Driving in the hills is challenging enough without having to dodge a sink hole the size of Seattle on Shepherd Canyon Road. Neighborhood activist Mike Petouhoff says the hole could "swallow an entire car" if it weren't covered by a large metal plate. He says it's time for the city to come up with a permanent fix, as the pit only seems to only grow bigger with age.

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Saturday, February 23, 2008

So You Love Handbags?

The Melie Bianco handbag plisse shown above is
available in a new Spring Turquoise Blue or Black.
Click here for more details about Melie Bianco handbags online.


from BagFancy

A few things to consider before shopping. So you really like handbags. Okay, maybe you love them. That much is clear. But now what? Picking a handbag isn't rocket science, but there are some things to think about when shopping. Some are questions of what you want in a bag, while other considerations are much more practical. Thinking through these can make a difference between being happy with your purchase or leaving your new bag sitting in your closet collecting dust.

Style
You're browsing, and you spot a bag that you're absolutely in love with. Sitting on the rack (or calling to you from your computer screen), it's the cutest thing you've ever seen! But unless you're going to hang it on the wall of your apartment for your guests to admire, you'll want to ask yourself this question: What is this bag going to look like on me? Remember that a bag is only one piece of the puzzle - it should ideally match an outfit or your wardrobe (not just color, but also style and attitude). So before buying, mentally cruise your closet and try to think of what you would wear while carrying that bag. Image is everything!!! When considering handbags/outfits, look at the image you are trying to project. Whether you're going for cute, sexy, cool, chic, conservative, etc. think of how the bag will help you pull off the image. Remember, everyone is unique and some styles don't work for everyone. Also, not all styles work for every occasion. Generally you will shop with specific kinds of activities or events in mind - and of course a formal night out is not going to be the same as a day of running errands. You might eventually want to develop a rotating repertoire of different styles for different occasions. Finally, consider your body shape and size. Handbags come in many different shapes and colors along with style, so make sure to pick one that is flattering for you. Take a look at a guide to matching body and handbag shape before picking (see Links at bottom of article).

Carrying Capacity
All right, so you've found a handbag that looks great on you. But it is a bag, after all, and you just might also want to put stuff in it. How much will you be able to fit in your potential bag? Also, what are you going to put in it? Along with the overall size of the bag, give some thought to things like compartments and accessibility.

Comfort
Another question: how easy will it be to carry? How big is the bag, and what kind of handle does it have? Depending on where you're going and whether you have a place to put your bag, you might end up holding it for a while. You're going to look great with your new handbag. You might as well be comfortable too!

Price
From the infrequent buyer to the shopaholic, we all eventually ask ourselves: How much should I spend? What is this bag worth to me? "Worth" is not just a matter of a dollar value, but also of what it does for you when you have it. Will you be happy that you spent the money and bought it? Is it worth giving up lunch for a week to own that cute bag? Is it worth giving up the extra week's lunch for the matching shoes you now need? Whether you spend thousands of dollars on a Hermes Kelly Bag or $8 on a tote bag from Target, if it was worth it to you, then as Bob Barker says… the price is right.

In the end… Shopping for a bag should be fun. That's what it's all about, isn't it? But if you take a little extra time to consider whether the style, carry capacity, comfort level, and price all suit you - you can end up being that much happier with your choice. And hey… Informed shopping can be that much more enjoyable anyway!

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Friday, February 15, 2008

Is This It for the It Bag?


By ERIC WILSON

EVERYONE’S talking about the bubble, and when it will burst.

There is too much inventory. Prices are absurdly high. And analysts are predicting a slowdown in a market that may have already passed its peak of irrational growth, in 2004. Even as prices have increased exponentially over the last three years, with buyers trying to get in on the ground floor of premier properties — the Paddington, the Muse, the Giant City — so, too, have reports of dwindling consumer confidence and a looming credit crisis that could potentially wipe out the value of Uptowns and Downtowns alike. Some people are concerned that a combination of volatile interest rates and the weakened dollar will ultimately cripple the market. Status handbags, you see, are a lot like housing. After the rise of the $1,000 purse, fashion’s equivalent of the $1 million studio, there inevitably comes talk of a backlash. Are we now living in a handbag bubble?

“The new condo market today is comparable to the It bag,” said Stephanie Phair, the vice president for merchandising for Portero, an online auction house that specializes in the resale of luxury goods. “Every bag has a name. At least in New York, you see the same thing with all those condo buildings going up with valets, pools, dog parks and fancy names. At some point, people are going to decide that, in fact, what they’d like is to go back to the tried and tested, the classic prewar or the apartment on lower Fifth Avenue.” “The appeal of the It bag,” Ms. Phair said, “has started to wane.”

Yet this is a moment when every bag seems to have, in addition to a price tag that could be confused with a ZIP code, a name that conjures up images of a wealthy enclave or a cast member of “Gossip Girl.” Heloise, Mathilde and Beata are bags by Chloé; Mariah, Camila and Elsa come from Marc Jacobs; the Uptown, the Downtown and the Muse are designs from Yves Saint Laurent, not buildings by André Balazs.

An entire genre of slouchy handbags, described as “hobos,” may even strike some readers as unintentionally funny, if not slightly offensive, with their earnest descriptions and indiscreet prices — the Dolce & Gabbana Miss Perfect hobo, $795; the Celine Bittersweet hobo, $1,700; the Prada nappa gauffre Antic hobo, $1,750 (a crazy gopher hobo?) — for bags meant to look as if they once belonged to tramps. “Designers are just testing the laws of economics by pricing handbags higher and higher until people stop buying them,” said Lauren Goodman, the fashion director of Domino magazine. “They are so expensive, and drive you to buy a new one every season, which is kind of a horrifying thought.”

Ms. Goodman is aware of the hot bags of the moment: the Prada leather styles that repeat the ombré patterns of the fall collection; the Marc Jacobs oversize clutch, carried by several editors during the spring collections; the YSL Downtown bag, which is shaped like a Chinese takeout container with a handle. “Some people still carry the Muse,” she said of another YSL style. “They think the Muse is hot, because they’re kind of behind.” But how does one afford to stay ahead?

At the rate that designers are introducing new styles, that no longer seems possible, which has led to a shift in perceptions about status bags. “That whole phenomenon has changed,” said Julie Gilhart, the fashion director of Barneys New York. “Our customers seem to be looking for something more interesting. They don’t want to spend money on something everyone else has.” They don’t want a one-season bag.

At the least, there is anecdotal evidence that the fastest-growing segment of the fashion industry, also considered its most lucrative because of its high profit margins, may not be immune to market exhaustion. Coach, the leading American handbag company, reported last month that its profit growth may slow this holiday season, setting off jitters among investors who view the brand as the entry-level threshold for luxury goods and an indicator for the broader health of the market. One could not avoid the sense of dread reflected in a Women’s Wear Daily headline this week: “A Chilly Wind Blows: Retailers Are on Edge About Holiday Season.”

Handbag sales in the $7 billion United States market are expected to increase by 15 percent this year, according to the stock research firm Telsey Advisory Group. This is considered a disappointment, because the growth is about half as strong as the category’s 28 percent gain in 2004. “That $5,000 Marc Jacobs bag is so yesterday’s news,” said Elizabeth Kiester, the chief creative director of LeSportsac, which is developing a line of bags with Stella McCartney that will sell for under $350, beginning in February. “The luxury market is so over the top now that it is demented. I call them limo bags. I don’t have a limo.”

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Thursday, February 14, 2008

5 More Things To Consider When Purchasing A Designer Handbag


by Bridget Wright

I ran across this site that gave 5 things to consider when purchasing a designer handbag. Well, just to add my .02 to it, I came up with 5 MORE things to consider…blah…blah…blah.

1. Does it look great with EVERY and ANYthing you wear? This is important, especially for women who don’t like to change purses everytime they wear an outfit. If the purse is versatile, it’s a definite plus for me.

2. Is there an exchange return policy? Again, important if you’re not 100% sure if you’re going to like the bag, for whatever reason. Tastes do wane for certain styles. You want to be happy with your purcahse, right? With a return policy, the retailer is saying, “We’re not happy until you are happy!”

3. Is the label or the bag manufacturer in a prominent place on the bag? Enough said.

4. Can it be ordered, purchased and returned all online? The convenience of ordering online can be wonderful for any situation and also offers the comfort and privacy AND time you need to really make good selections before investing so much money.

5. Do any of your friends have one just like it? If they do, go to the next choice, right?

These to me are very, very important considerations to examine when you’re about to make a big purchase like a designer handbag. Consider and weigh ALL options, but just make sure you’re happy, really happy with the bag that you do choose!

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