Creative people are known for their predispositions toward mental illnesses. The public is so accustomed to treating news of celebrity breakdowns as juicy entertainment that the seriousness of these legitimate medical conditions is overlooked. Mental illnesses do not stop being life-threatening just because certain starlets’ antics seem hilarious from a distance. Other people’s psychological problems should not be sources of entertainment.

Symptoms of mental illnesses are hard to see in celebrities because their actions do not differ greatly from those who are merely eccentric or arrogant. Bipolar disorder causes sufferers to be wildly erratic and emotional, which would seem to contribute toward an acting career. When talented actors start exhibiting the symptoms of bipolar disorder, people fail to notice because they are used to seeing the actors in emotional states. Narcissistic personality disorder would appear to be present in anyone who seeks a career in the public eye. Celebrities resist treatment because they are rewarded for reveling in their symptoms.

From: BestMastersInCounseling.com

J. Furmani amps up the glam with its sparkly Crystal Clutch.

This purse follows in the footsteps of the crystal covered creations of high end designers like Judith Leiber and Kathrine Baumann. However, happily for J. Furmani fans, the label hasn’t inflated its usual prices. At $65, it’s a fraction of the cost of those luxury purses.

Of course, that low cost doesn’t come without some compromises. The crystal clutch isn’t studded with real crystals at all. While the big names use Austrian crystals, generally from the house of Swarovski, J. Furmani’s opted for run of the mill rhinestones. It’s also kept the gems on the front of the purse, and picked cheaper metal mesh on the back. As a result the purse lacks the cohesiveness of comparable models.

The design is also a bit uninspired. Where those revered designers would have played with the clutch’s shape and an assortment of colored gems, J. Furmani shows no such flair.

While we all drool over those glittery designer purses, few of us have the social calendars to justify their expense. This Crystal Clutch might not hold a candle to them, but it’s a decent compromise for girls on a budget.

More Features of This J. Furmani Rhinestone Covered Clutch

• Zip closure
• An interior slide pocket
• A drop-in chain strap with a 22 inch drop
• Measures 1 x 9 x 4.5 inches

Get this J. Furmani Crystal Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]J Furmani crystal clutch, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this J. Furmani bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More J. Furmani bags on BagBunch
• The Judith Leiber Ritz Fizz bag, a great alternative to this crystal bag.
• Searching for more J. Furmani bags on eBay

Valentino is proving black isn’t boring with its elegant new Noir capsule collection. Just in time for the fall style season, the line features all-black accessories designed to take fashion lovers from day to night.

Valentino creative directors Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo Piccioli say they were inspired to create the new all black line because they believe the neutral hue is the “irreversible sum of all colors.”

The designers have certainly brought out the best in the classic shade by playing with textures. Lush leather and exotic skin bases, iconic ruthenium hardware, and lace and stud accents make sure this collection’s full of show-stoppers. There are large angled tote bags and retro inspired top-handled satchels for daytime use, and dramatic box clutches for the evening.

The spread of prices is also impressive. I can’t imagine many of us having the cash to indulge in the $17, 000 pieces at the top end of the range, but with prices starting at just $195 we can all afford to add a little Noir to our wardrobes.

Look for Valentino’s Noir collection in the fashion house’s stores and Saks Fifth Avenue this fall. What do you think of this black limited edition accessories collection?

[Source: The Bag Snob]

Black Valentino Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Valentino black, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Nina serves up an affordable evening purse for less with its Lois Clutch.

The soft satiny finish is emphasized by the upswept modern bow. I love the way this feature naturally creates feminine pleats in the fabric. I’m just not so sure about the fringed edge. I suppose Nina hoped it’d look modern, but to me it just seems unfinished, almost as if Nina forgot to run it through the overlocker to prevent fraying.

If you can embrace the Lois’ frayed finish, you should also appreciate its functional features. We don’t expect evening purses to be very practical, but this one’s long dimensions ensure it holds all the things we need on an evening out. We should be able to find them all too, even in a dim nightclub, thanks to that bold pink satin lining. The long chain strap, which converts the Lois from a clutch to a cross-body, is another practical perk.

The Lois’ look won’t appeal to everyone, but it’s something different. That individuality is something we rarely see in a purse costing just $44.

More Features of This Nina Satin Clutch

• Magnetic snap closure
• Interior wall pocket
• A drop-in chain with a 21.5 inch drop
• Measures 1.5 x 10.2 x 5 inches

Get this Nina Lois Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]Nina Lois, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Buy’s Internet Superstore eBay store to see if this Nina bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More clutch bags on BagBunch
• The green Nina Lois bag, a great alternative to this black bag.
• Searching for more Nina bags on eBay

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen put backpacks back on the fashion map when their The Row label released an exotic alligator skin version last October. Despite its $39, 000 price tag the bag sold out, and we started to regard backpacks as serious style contenders rather than simply practical accessories for school kids.

Clava builds on the current popularity of the backpack with the Urban Survival. It will never go toe to toe with The Row’s exotic creation, but at just $250 it’s not meant to. Instead the Urban Survival is a luxury backpack at a price we can all afford.

Vachetta leather doesn’t have the same dramatic allure of patent alligator skin, but it’s buttery soft and very sophisticated. The neutral colors, including this classic tan, help the Urban Survival suit any situation. With so many designers creating backpacks with loud colors and prints, this more subdued alternative fills a more elegant niche.

While style is at the forefront, Clava doesn’t forget about the backpack’s practical roots. The Urban Survival has plenty of pockets, inside and out, and an ample amount of space. The drawstring gives the backpack a relaxed look, while the magnetic strap offers extra security. Side snaps help the Urban Survival collapse for easy storage, although a bag with such evergreen styling probably won’t be packed away for long!

The Urban Survival is a great representation of a modern backpack, an accessory which can take us from the classroom to the office.

More Features of This Clava Vachetta Leather Backpack

• Fully lined main compartment
• Measures 7.5 x 14 x 13 inches

Get this Clava Urban Survival Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock in some colors)
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]Clava Urban Survival, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Clava bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More backpacks on BagBunch
• The Jack Georges Generations Edge Backpack bag, a great alternative to this leather bag.
• Searching for more Clava bags on eBay

Balenciaga has teamed up with Grace Coddington on a limited edition accessories line which will make its debut on Fashion’s Night Out.

The Pumpkin collection features drawn images of the Vogue creative director’s beloved cat Pumpkin. The cartoon kitty wears apparel from the Balenciaga vault on the line’s tote bag and pair of scarves.

Being bag lovers here, we’re most interested in the Pumpkin Papier Tote, a reimagining of Balenciaga’s popular Papier Tote. It’s crafted from canvas and leather and available in your choice of orange or ecru. It’s also super expensive at $1000.

We’re certainly balking at the price, despite its whimsical pattern and limited edition status. If you’re teetering, perhaps the collection’s charity component will tip you over the edge. One fifth of the proceeds from every sale will benefit the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons. It seems a strange choice of charity, as anything operating in the Hamptons probably isn’t hurting for a dollar, but I support the affluent area’s animals need rescuing too!

The Pumpkin tote and scarves will make their debut at Fashion’s Night Out, September 6, at Balenciaga’s Los Angeles and New York stores. New Yorkers are in for an extra treat, as Grace Coddington herself will appear at the Big Apple store between 6 and 9 pm on the big night. Do you think Pumpkin will call in too?

[Source: Fashionista]

Balenciaga Papier Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Balenciaga papier, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Swimming superstar Michael Phelps is the latest big name tapped for Louis Vuitton’s Core Values advertising campaign. It’s no big surprise really, as an image of the record-breaking Olympic medallist in a bathtub next to a Louis Vuitton bag was leaked online last week. However we’ve now got our first official look at the commercial.
Phelps poses with fellow Olympian Larisa Latynina, a gymnast who won 18 medals for the Russian Federation between 1956 and 1964. The juxtaposition is poignant, as Latynina held the record for the most number of Olympic medals for 48 years, until Phelps took his total to 22 at the London Games. Don’t feel too sorry for the old dear though; she still holds the record for medals in individual events at 14. With Phelps now enjoying retirement, it seems her tally is safe for the moment.

Phelps and Latynina follow in the large footsteps of Muhammed Ali, Bono, Angelina Jolie, Buzz Aldrin, and other Core Values ambassadors. This might be one of Louis Vuitton’s best campaigns, as it brings together two true Olympic legends at a poignant moment in their careers. It’s like a changing of the guard if you will, and that message transcends mere advertising.

What do you think of Louis Vuitton’s latest Core Values commercial?

[Source: The Purse Blog]

Louis Vuitton Handbags on eBay

[phpbay]Louis Vuitton, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]