Youth label XOXO takes a more grown-up approach than usual with this Double Vision shoulder bag.

It’s not quite the edgy rock and roll inspired purse it intends to be, but it’s getting there. The long center zip and front flap pockets call to mind a motorcycle jacket. The black vinyl has all of the edge of the black leather garment, although substantially less quality. However it does see this shoulder bag priced at just $72, which is just right for a teen handbag.

The glittery finish on the flaps undermines the Double Vision’s edginess, but it’s also what we’d expect from a teen label. It’s not a deal breaker, but it does remind us that this purse isn’t for most grown-ups.

While its design isn’t perfect, and its quality a little under par, I can’t fault the Double Vision’s functionality. Its fully lined interior is enormous, and its pair of patch pockets and zippered pouch is just what we’d expect from a high-end label. Sure, we’d expect those designers to use something better than polyester and line those pockets with leather, but at least the features here do the job.

I’m sure teens will graduate to a more polished purse once their budget allows, but until then this one does the job with more style than the average XOXO accessory.

More Features of This XOXO Zippered Shoulder Bag

• Zip top closure
• A single shoulder strap
• Measures 12 x 14.5 x 3 inches

Get this XOXO Double Vision Handbag:

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

[phpbay]XOXO Double Vision, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Andjey131 eBay store to see if this XOXO bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More XOXO bags on BagBunch
• The gunmetal XOXO Double Vision bag, a great alternative to this black bag.
• Searching for more XOXO bags on eBay
• Other XOXO shoulder bags on eBay:

Danielle Nicole created a limited edition version of her popular Sydney Shopper Tote for Oprah Winfrey’s recent O You! event. Lady O and her 5,500 special guests all took home the tote bag, which was filled with goodies from the event’s sponsors.

Winfrey has long admired the Sydney Shopper; she even named it one of  her Favorite Things during her long-running chat show. However it seems this event was the designer’s first chance to meet the former queen of daytime television. She called the opportunity to chat with Oprah about her career “an experience I will never forget,” and commented that she was “overwhelmed with emotion” to see first-hand the way Winfrey influenced the thousands of people at the event.

Danielle Nicole has reportedly been working on the limited edition Sydney Shopper tote for the past year, but I’m honestly not sure how she’s been spending that time. Any changes seem to be minimal. The brown synthetic may be a little paler, but all of the essential elements are there including the famous reversible design and the attachable coin purse.

If you weren’t at the O You! event you can win one of the limited edition Danielle Nicole Sydney Shoppers, complete with all the samples, from the Oprah Winfrey website. Alternatively you can buy one of the regular Sydney Shoppers for $110 from the Danielle Nicole website.

[Source: Examiner]
[Image Source: Danielle Nicole website]

Danielle Nicole Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Danielle Nicole, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

As if metal mesh wasn’t already retro enough, Whiting & Davis treats us to a bit of 70s color with this Opposing Stripes clutch.

This is a discolicious purse with its wide stripes and bold metallic colors. I really like the way the envelope flap mimics the chevron stripes decorating it, just as the vertical stripes match the body’s basic box shape. I enjoy what’s happening up front so much that the more basic black back is a bit of a letdown. I’d love to see more color here, but it’s not to be. Just make sure you note how you’re carrying it before you step out.

We get a couple of choices in that department, which is always welcome. Metal mesh feels heavenly in our hands, but no one enjoys carrying a clutch that way all night. Whiting & Davis also gives us a chain strap to use once the evening wears on. This is detachable too, so it needn’t clutter up your handbag when it’s not in use.

$170 is a little more than I like spending on a clutch, but I think this one is worth the splurge. Its modern style and spacious interior could easily work during the daylight hours too, so we’ll likely get our money’s worth.

More Features of This Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh Envelope Clutch

• Zip closure
• An interior slide pocket
• Black signature polyester lining
• A detachable chain strap with a 12 inch drop
• Measures 0.5 x 10.2 x 6.5 inches

Get this Whiting & Davis Opposing Stripes Metal Mesh Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Whiting & Davis bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Whiting & Davis bags on BagBunch
• The Whiting & Davis Opposing Stripes cross-body bag, a great alternative to this clutch bag.
• Searching for more Whiting & Davis bags on eBay
• Other Whiting & Davis Opposing Stripes bags on eBay:

[phpbay]Whiting Davis Opposing Stripes, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

With a new fashion season looming, it’s time to spruce up your wardrobe. Many of us don’t have the budget to indulge in a whole new wardrobe, but some on-trend accessories can be the perfect way to revamp your closet. Leading pre-loved accessories e-tailer Bella Bag has made its predictions for winter’s hottest looks.

Cassandra Connors, the founder and director of Bella Bag, says the new season’s handbags epitomize “wearable glam.” They need to work for you, but they should also look the part.

Think about the luxury of python, other exotic skins, and sumptuous furs. Of course if you’re skint or concerned about animal cruelty you can always replicate the looks with manmade alternatives. Quilted finishes and shiny patents will also catch the eye this winter.

When it comes to color, you’ve got to be bold. With 70s fashion still enjoying a revival, bordeaux, cobalt blue, and burnt orange are hot colors during the day. Once night falls it’s time to get glitzy with bold gold and shimmery fabrics.

Clutches never really go out of vogue, but you’ll see plenty of women carrying them during the day and night this season. Structured ladylike purses are also perfect for the coming months. Think the Hermes Kelly, if you’ve got the budget for it, or its countless more affordable imitators if you don’t!

No doubt Bella Bag would love us to indulge in its own accessories, but this general guide allows you to indulge in the trends no matter what your budget. What will you be wearing this winter?

[Source: PR.com]
[Image Source: Matt Cook/Stock.xchng]

Python Clutch Bags on eBay

[phpbay]python clutch, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Vitalio Vera plays it uncharacteristically safe with this Alicia hobo.

The affordable fashion house often enjoys experimenting with colors, accents, and shapes, so the more muted style of the Alicia came as a real surprise. Its gray color is very mellow, to the point of being bland. However I suppose you needn’t worry about it clashing with your wardrobe. The shape is also very sedate, which for a bag of this size isn’t a bad thing. Hardware is kept to a minimum too; there are only a handful of studs around the top and a silver nameplate to distract us.

The Alicia is very cheap at $49.95. For that money the simulated lambskin is probably softer than we’d expect, and the design more practical. A large zippered pocket runs down the center of the interior, dividing the generously sized space into three user-friendly sections. There are also a range of pockets in the side walls, and another on the Alicia’s back.

But of course a bag doesn’t come so cheaply without a few compromises. The synthetic is prone to flaking, as most cheap ones are, and the lining is very thin. The zips also feel flimsy, so you’ll need to handle them with care to make them last.

No one gets change from a fifty and expects a purse to last a lifetime though. This is a throwaway accessory, the kind of thing that can serve you well and be replaced without too much heartache by the time the next season rolls around.

More Features of This Vitalio Vera Synthetic Hobo

• Top zip closure
• Cotton nylon blend lining
• Dual shoulder straps with a 7 inch drop
• Measures 13 x 17 x 5.5 inches

Get this Vitalio Vera Alicia Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check ThePursesBoutique eBay store to see if this Vitalio Vera bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Vitalio Vera bags on BagBunch
• The Vitalio Vera Cecilia bag, a great alternative to this gray hobo bag.
• Searching for more Vitalio Vera bags on eBay
• Other Vitalio Vera hobo bags on eBay:

[phpbay]Vitalio hobo, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Fiorelli has generously donated a one-of-a-kind handbag to an Oxfam charity store in the British seaside town of Whitby. The store on New Quay Road will auction off the unique purse to help provide food and water for African communities in need.

The donation has come at an important time for the store, who was forced to rebuild its funds after thieves robbed the premises earlier this year. Raffle tickets sold for the auction have already recouped the money lost.

But it’s no wonder that this one-of-a-kind purse is proving so popular. It’s made of a mix of leather and faux fur, and embedded with diamante crystals for an extra shot of glamour.

Margaret Humberstone, the manager of the Oxfam store, said that her employees were “stunned” when they saw Fiorelli’s donation, especially when they realized its rarity.

“It was really generous of them,” she said.

The Fiorelli purse auction is running concurrently with another auction which contains a variety of general interest items. These including memorabilia from popular British soap operas Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and EastEnders, a hamper from discount supermarket chain Lidl, and a giant Toblerone chocolate bar.

Tickets for both raffles can be purchased from the Oxfam street store on Whitby’s New Quay Road until the draw on October 29. They cost £5 per strip for the Fiorelli handbag raffle and £1 per strip for the regular draw.

[Source: Whitby Gazette]

Fiorelli Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Fiorelli, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

If studs are on the way out, Vieta clearly didn’t get the memo. It celebrates the metal accents with this Letha cross-body bag.

The Letha’s studs are delicate, but there’s nothing subtle about the way the label uses them. They’re applied with a heavy hand along the sides of the flap and the buckled ties. The use of several differently shaped studs further draws attention to the accents. I don’t mind them right now, but I think they’re going to date this purse before long.

When you pay $89, perhaps longevity isn’t a big concern. Ease of use probably is though, which is another area the Letha lets us down. It’s generously sized, so we have plenty of space for holding anything we need. However the carrying options aren’t ideal for a bag so bulky. The easiest way to carry such a large bag is over our shoulder, but instead we find a short handle and a cross-body strap.

I really like the electric blue color which takes me right back to the 80s. It’s also available in a burnt orange shade, which is every bit as attractive. Which one’s caught your eye?

More Features of This Vieta Studded Cross-Body Bag

• Magnetic snap locks
• Back zip pocket
• Measures 7 x 15 x 13 inches

Get this Vieta Letha Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Vieta Letha, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Vieta bags on BagBunch
• The Vieta Alisha bag, a great alternative to this studded bag.
• Searching for more Vieta bags on eBay

Christian Dior seems unaffected by the untimely exit of anti-Semitic creative director John Galliano. The company has posted a 21% increase in earnings for the year to date.

Perhaps the results prove the old adage that no publicity is really bad publicity. Dior has enjoyed plenty of time in the headlines this year, from Galliano’s very public fall from grace to rumors about his successor and the brand’s fate. There was even widespread condemnation of Bill Gaytten’s collections. But it seems luxury lovers are still buying.

However Vanessa Friedman of The Financial Times suggests that perhaps this is about more than media. While we’re devouring every tasty tidbit of the saga, its biggest fans may not be following things so closely, or perhaps they just don’t care. “They knew Dior, and it was enough,” she wrote.

If his exit has taught us anything, Christian Dior is much more than John Galliano. We’ve heard so many examples of high-end businesses thriving following the global recession, from British brand Burberry to Italian fashion house Prada. Perhaps Dior’s recent successes have less to do with its current inner turmoil and more to do with current trends.

What do you think is the key to Dior’s strong profits?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Stephen Carlile/Flickr]

Dior Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Dior, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Versace reminds us that sometimes less is more with this Animal Print Shoulder Bag.

When I first spotted this bag my heart skipped a few beats. I was instantly captivated by the art deco inspired front flap, with its bright red piping and lush juxtaposition of black leather and brown suede. But then I noticed the rest of the bag, and my heart sank.

While the large flap is lovely, it clashes terribly with this shoulder bag’s animal printed body. I say animal printed, because its large spots don’t really resemble any particular creature I’ve seen before. I suppose Versace used calf hair to make the print seem more authentic, but it fails dismally. I just don’t understand this bag’s body at all. Plain black leather, with a little more of that red piping, wouldn’t have been as interesting. However in my opinion it would have been much more stylish.

This shoulder bag had real promise, but it fails to live up to it. I think Versace needed to offer a more cohesive design to tempt us to spend $1,995 on this purse.

More Features of This Versace Calf Hair Shoulder Bag

• Magnetic snap fastening at front
• Golden satin lining
• Internal zip and slide pockets
• A single handle with a 7 inch drop
• Measures 11 x 6 x 2 inches

Get this Versace Animal Print Handbag:

• Available to buy at Net-A-Porter
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Versace bags on BagBunch
• The Christian Louboutin Pola bag, a great alternative to this calf hair bag.
• Searching for more Versace bags on eBay
• Other animal print calf hair bags on eBay:

[phpbay]animal print calf hair, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

New accessories store Arm Candy is now satisfying the cravings of Las Vegas’ green fashionistas.

The boutique, located at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, sells purses, headbands, wallets, and other accessories made from upcycled materials. It was originally conceived as a small kiosk, but it proved so popular that the Arm Candy team recently moved into their new larger digs.

In its early days Arm Candy originally sold handbags made from candy wrappers. These products still make up the bulk of the collection, but you can also find accessories crafted from old seat belts, tire tubes, license plates, and other items destined for landfill.

Store co-owner Zohar Lotem says the vivid colors of his new premises draw customers in, but it’s the accessories themselves that really impress.

“The product itself makes people stop and say, ‘How cool is this?’” he said. He explained that the candy wrapper bags have a nostalgic charm to them, and a history that you just don’t find in high end designer purses. “When you buy a Louis Vuitton, you have a brand name and it’s nice, but aside from that, it’s nothing special.“

You can spend as little as $15 on an Arm Candy headband or a coin purse, or really splash out on a Swarovski crystal decorated bag costing $800. Each purchase comes complete with an authenticity certificate assuring its green credentials.

[Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal]

Candy Wrapper Handbags on eBay

[phpbay]candy wrappers, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]