Once upon a time we could spot a Vera Bradley purse at ten paces. However in recent collections we’ve seen the American label experimenting. I’ve celebrated these more fashion forward creations, but with this Tippy Tie bag from the Frill collection I wonder whether the designer’s gone too far.

I think the biggest mistake here is the use of synthetic. The gathering around the top of the purse only emphasizes the material’s stiffness. The finish is so shiny that it looks cheap. I don’t mind the print, but I’d much rather see it on another fabric. We wouldn’t expect real leather from Vera Bradley, as the designer’s made her reputation on affordable accessories. But I wonder why she’s abandoned her iconic quilted cloth. In that material this bag would look lovely!

The design itself isn’t bad. The large bow at the strap gives this purse some feminine flair, and the elasticized top stretches for easy access. I can see potential here, but that synthetic has to go.

At least it’s cheap, right? At $22.95 this is one of the most affordable handbags I’ve seen in some time. It’s just a shame it doesn’t have more class.

More Features of This Vera Bradley Frill Bag

• Magnetic closure
• A knotted handle with a 3 inch drop
• Measures 7 x 5.5 x 3.75 inches

Get this Vera Bradley Tippy Tie Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Vera Bradley Tippy Tie, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check Thecrateonline eBay store to see if this Vera Bradley bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Vera Bradley bags on BagBunch
• The Vera Bradley Comin’ Up Roses bag, a great alternative to this poppy print bag.
• Searching for more Vera Bradley bags on eBay

Twilight actress Ashley Greene is trading in her fangs for a role as the new face of DKNY. Greene will star in the fashion house’s advertising campaigns and act as the label’s ambassador for the next twelve months.

It seems she’s got a head start on the latter part of her duties, as she’s already waxing lyrical about DKNY. The 24-year-old tweeted that she’s always admired Donna Karen’s designs, and she’s excited to be a part of her label’s creative vision. She means what she says too, as she’s been spotted wearing DKNY at Twilight premieres around the world and at this year’s Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala.

“It’s easy to talk about how these clothes work for my lifestyle, whether I’m in New York, L.A. or traveling for work,” she said. No doubt she’s just as enthusiastic about the label’s handbags, or at least she’ll pretend she is for the role!

The modeling side of the job should come easily too as Greene is a real stunner. We’ll get to judge for ourselves when her first commercials for DKNY and DKNY Jeans are released in a few months.

Do you think Ashley Greene is the right fit for DKNY?

[Source: InStyle]
[Image Source: G155/Wikipedia Commons]

DKNY Bags on eBay

[phpbay]DKNY, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

It’s not going to win any fans at PETA, but this VBH Original envelope bag makes a big impression.

This purse is crafted from mink dyed to resemble leopard fur. I suppose that’s better than hunting the real big cats, but only just. It’s a beautiful fur, and I’m sure it’d turn an ordinary winter outfit into an outstanding one. But part of me thinks this purse might have been even better if VBH had chosen a different material. I imagine leather would have made the envelope folds even crisper, more origami like in fact. PETA doesn’t like leather any better of course, but it’s always a more palatable choice than fur.

I might be on the fence about the materials, but I can certainly appreciate VBH’s craftsmanship. This purse is entirely handmade and that attention to detail really shines through.

That’s also no doubt what’s driven the price up to a whopping $3450. That’s a whole lot to spend on any purse, especially if it works against your personal ethics. I can appreciate this purse, but I’m definitely not buying it.

More Features of This VBH Mink Purse

• Oxidized hardware
• A multi-chain cross-body strap
• An interior plaque with its name and limited edition number
• Measures 8 x 1 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this VBH Origami Handbag:

• Available to buy at Neiman Marcus
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More VBH bags on BagBunch
• The Nina Ricci Vision shoulder bag, a great alternative to this mink bag.
• Searching for more VBH bags on eBay
• Other mink bags on eBay:

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Vanessa Bruno reminds us of the beauty of a simple black tote back with this lush leather offering.

The shape of this tote really is special. The gently curved top makes a real statement. So many unusually shaped bags compromise storage space, but not this one. Others appear so unusual that they jar the senses, but this retains its elegance.

The black leather is a safe choice but it’s also a smart one. It makes this tote a great anytime and anywhere bag. The cowhide doesn’t demand attention but it is beautiful, soft to touch with a gentle weathered grain.

The spacious interior has all the pockets we’d expect to find, the usual configuration of a zippered pouch and pair of open gadget slips. I wish there were a few extra features to make this enormous space easier to manage, but I can’t fault Vanessa Bruno for meeting our expectations.

That’s especially true for the price. At $729 it’s relatively affordable for a bag that will stay in vogue long after it leaves the store.

More Features of This Vanessa Bruno Black Tote

• Hook and ring closure
• Printed cotton lining
• Brass hardware
• Four brass studs on the base
• Two top handles with a 5 inch drop
• Measures 19 x 13 x 8 inches

Get this Vanessa Bruno Leather Handbag:

• Available to buy at La Garconne
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Vanessa Bruno bags on BagBunch
• The Robert Clergerie Tontoutax bag, a great alternative to this minimalist bag.
• Searching for more Vanessa Bruno bags on eBay
• Other black leather tote bags on eBay:

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Italian jewelry company Buccellati is suing Miami-based handbag company Laura Buccellati LLC. for copyright infringement, claiming the handbag firm is “capitalizing on the popularity of the Buccellati trademarks.”

Laura Buccellati is actually the grandniece of the famed jeweler Mario Buccellati, and it’s this heritage that led her to employ the tagline “jewel of a bag.” That’s probably been the tipping point here, but now it seems the handbag company could lose much more than its slogan.

If Buccellati’s court case is successful, Laura Buccellati will need to stop using the Buccellati name altogether. All products in the marketplace will be taken from sale, her website domain laurabuccellati.com will be revoked, and she’ll need to pay damages and court costs. That’s the sort of thing that could easily put a small fashion house out of business.

Laura Buccellati is refusing to comment on the matter at this time as she has not had the opportunity to review the lawsuit. I’d start reading if I were her, because this lawsuit is going to take some beating.

What’s your opinion of this case? Does the famous jewelry firm have a right to protect its famous surname, or should it be used in business by anyone else who bears it?

[Source: Accessories Magazine]
[Image Source: Jason Morrison/Stock.xchng]

Valentino has done it again with this Laser-Cut Patent Leather Shoulder Bag. Done what exactly? Why made me positively giddy!

I’m sure this must be love. What other explanation is there for wanting to own a purse despite knowing it’s all wrong for you? It’s too small to hold much of anything, so it fails on a practical level. At $575 it’s also far too expensive. We don’t get a lot of bag for that money, and as we discussed before, what we do have won’t hold much. $575 is ridiculous for a bag so unworkable.

And yet, I’m still looking at it, longingly. I’m drooling over the intricate laser-cut flowers, and the gentle dusty rose hue. I’m admiring the way the soft pink lining peeks through the holes the cut-out makes, adding another dimension to the purse. I’m swooning over the gorgeous golden chain strap, and panting at the unique dual compartment design.

Perhaps it’s time to put my credit card on ice. I’m just not sure I can rely on my own willpower right now. I know this small shoulder bag is all wrong for me, yet it still looks oh so right.

More Features of This Valentino Laser-Cut Shoulder Bag

• Fold-over lock fasteners
• A chain strap with a 25 inch drop
• Measures 5 x 4 inches

Get this Valentino Patent Leather Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Valentino bags on BagBunch
• The Valentino Fany Tote bag, a great alternative to this floral bag.
• Searching for more Valentino bags on eBay
• Other laser-cut bags on eBay:

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Bloomingdale’s has made a major blunder with its new Little Pink Bag, one of many pink products sold during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

It might seem unfair to point fingers at an accessory that’s doing good. I appreciate that a percentage of the sales goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, although donating just $2 from the bag’s $22.60 cost seems a little stingy. At least it’s something. I also appreciate the tote’s witty slogan, a play on the now famous Little Black Dress. And I can also tip my hat at its local manufacturing. With so many accessories being made offshore, it’s exciting to see Bloomie’s supporting local industry.

But the biggest problem here is the material. We wouldn’t expect leather for the price, but using polyvinyl chloride, or PVC as it’s commonly known, is a real faux pas. It’s well known that this material leaches plasticizers called phthalates into the atmosphere. These nasties have been linked to a host of problems including asthma, liver and kidney disease, and physical and neurological complications for babies exposed in utero. The PVC might not cause cancer, but attempting to eradicate one condition by exposing people to others seems crazy.

It’s easy to get sucked in by all the pink products we see during October, but it’s worth really thinking before we decide which ones to support.

[Source: Ecouterre]

Breast Cancer Tote Bags on eBay

[phpbay]breast cancer tote, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

The Santa Fe clutch is modern and stylish, just oozing Southwestern cool. Can you believe it comes from Ugg Australia?

I don’t mean to be disparaging, but I’ve never seen Ugg taking such a fashion-forward approach. Ordinarily its bags are decorated with fuzzy shearling and lambskin. They feel wonderful to touch, but they don’t exactly inspire purse envy. The Santa Fe on the other hand is making me green!

This clutch’s brown suede body is dressed up with zig zag stitching and tribal detailing. It’s like something I imagine Aztec tribesman may have created if they only had access to luxurious materials.

It’s large by clutch standards, so we can fit more than evening essentials inside it. However it won’t be easy to hold if you do pack it full. Thankfully Ugg’s addressed that issue by adding a leather cross-body strap. This is much skinnier than I’d like, but at least it’ll do the job.

At $265 the price is right too. That’s a little more than I’d spend on an evening purse, but as the Santa Fe’s rustic styling should work just as well during the day I think it’s worth the dollars.

More Features of This Ugg Australia Aztec Purse

• Fully lined interior
• Top zip closure
• A single strap with a 20 inch drop
• Measures 14 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches

Get this Ugg Australia Santa Fe Handbag:

• Available to buy at Zappos
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Ugg Australia bags on BagBunch
• The La Regale Stone & Bead flap clutch bag, a great alternative to this tribal clutch bag.
• Searching for more Ugg Australia bags on eBay
• Other tribal clutch bags on eBay:

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How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love your beautiful buttery leather, and your angled stitching. I love your zippered edges, and your edgy chain strap. And most of all, I love your minimalist design, which is such a rarity from Tylie Malibu!

Yes, the Browning has me waxing lyrical because it’s like a breath of fresh air from Tylie Malibu. All too often this fashion house makes its bags look fussy, covering them in heavy metal, fringing, and all manner of accents. But the Browning takes a more pared down approach, and it’s much more stylish for it.

It isn’t perfect though. While I love the appearance of the multi-chain strap, I can’t imagine it’ll be too comfortable to use. The Browning is relatively large as cross-bodies go, and if you overload it that strap will pull at your shoulder. Gee it looks modern though.

Perhaps it’s worth a little discomfort to carry it, especially at this price. At $310 the Browning is well priced for any bag with so much personality, particularly one that’s made from such high-quality materials.

More Features of This Tylie Malibu Zip Accented Cross-Body Bag

• Zip closure
• Smooth plainweave lining
• A chain strap with an 18 inch drop
• Measures 10.75 x 12.5 x 2.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Tylie Malibu Browning Handbag:

• Available to buy at Endless
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Tylie Malibu bags on BagBunch
• The Radley D’Arblay bag, a great alternative to this brown cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Tylie Malibu bags on eBay
• Other zip accented bags on eBay:

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Jonathan Saunders and Symthson offer a smart way to carry your iPad with the colorblocked cases in their new collaborative collection.

Sadly there are no handbags in this designer range, but there are some stunning diaries. Internet blogs seem to have replaced these notepads for the most part, but a lovely leather-bound book like this might just inspire us to pick up a pen. Confessing your innermost secrets here, rather than online, is certainly a much safer option!

The pairing of the British designers is an interesting one. Smythson is a very traditional leathergoods firm, while Jonathan Saunders lovers to play with modern techniques. While these accessories don’t feature the digitized patterns he loves, the unusual mix of colors we see here is one of his trademarks. The colorblocked effect works will with the collection’s classic, clean shapes.

The collection is available now from Net-A-Porter, but don’t expect to find any bargains. With the small diary costing $245 and the large a whopping $515 I think I’ll stick to my online blogging. The iPad case is also far from cheap at $690. It might be made of quality materials and come with the combined might of two esteemed designers, but it still seems too pricy.

[Source: FabSugar]

Leather iPad Cases on eBay

[phpbay]leather iPad case, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]