Christian Dior is continuing to tease us with news of a new creative director, some six months after anti-Semitic John Galliano was shown the door.

The rumor mill has been buzzing, with Marc Jacobs hotly tipped as the replacement. However when The Telegraph’s Lisa Armstrong recently visited Dior headquarters, company president Sidney Toledano was still tight lipped. However he did reveal that we will hear news “in the next few weeks.”

“There is an old proverb, those who don’t know, speak loudly. Those who know, stay silent,” he told the journalist.

And so, the silence continues. On one hand, it’s excruciating to think we’re so close, but still so far from an official announcement. On the other, we’ve already managed to wait out six long months. Surely another few weeks won’t hurt, will it?

It’s been a long, hard wait for fashion fans, but perhaps the ploy will pay off for Christian Dior. In waiting so long to announce Galliano’s successor it’s managed to achieve some distance from the controversy of earlier this year. It’s created a new collection of apparel and accessories which Armstrong noted is “far more discreet” than the ones Galliano made. Dior seems to be starting anew, and after the year it’s had that can only be a good thing.

[Source: The Telegraph]
[Image Source: CoCodoko/Wikipedia Commons]

Dior Handbags on eBay

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Nina Ricci’s created a vision in fur with this Vision Shoulder Bag.

Of course we all know we really shouldn’t indulge in genuine furs. But goodness it’s tempting when a designer uses the fuzzy material so well. Mink adds real depth to the simple flap-over design of this purse. After seeing so many overly fluffy fur bags lately, it’s refreshing to see one that’s a little more demure.

The Vision’s dimensions are on the small side, but fur is really more suited to after five wear than daytime use anyway. Its stature is perfect for evenings on the town, as it’ll hold a little more than the average clutch without overwhelming.

And unlike so many evening purses, it’ll feel comfortable on your shoulder thanks to that soft knotted leather strap. Evening purses are usually such a trial, but this is one I’d actually want to carry, ethics be damned!

The price is a major stumbling block though; at $3590 it’s far from cheap. However it’s also not completely unreasonable for a genuine mink purse. A synthetic fur one would undoubtedly be cheaper, but good luck finding one as well made as this Vision!

More Features of This Nina Ricci Mink Shoulder Bag

• Turn-lock closure
• A single handle with an 8 inch drop
• Measures 8 x 11 x 3 inches

Get this Nina Ricci Vision Handbag:

• Available to buy at Barneys New York
• Search online for this bag

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• The Ranch Long Hair Mink bag, a great alternative to this mink bag.
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Nicole Miller’s created an ideal go anywhere purse with the Ella.

Day or night, I can imagine the Ella fitting right in. Its exterior is decorated with just a bit of stitching, and that simplicity helps it work during the daylight hours. However its high quality finish and sophistication means it’ll look just as good when the sun goes down. It’s not a statement clutch, but a great complement to a busy patterned dress or show-stopping pair of shoes.

The Ella’s generous dimensions are perfect for its day-to-night application. It’s luxuriously large, and easy to organize thanks to its zippered pocket. There’s no shoulder strap though, which is really disappointing. It’ll work well enough tucked up underneath your arm, but most of us enjoy a hands-free option, especially as the day wears on.

The price is tempting though. At $295 it’s not exactly an impulse buy, but it’s quite reasonable for such a high quality purse that will suit any season or occasion. Look at it as an investment piece and consider it a bargain!

More Features of This Nicole Miller Classic Clutch

• Twill lined interior
• Magnetic closure
• Measures 7.5 x 14 x 2.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Nicole Miller Ella Handbag:

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

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• More Nicole Miller bags on BagBunch
• The Maison Martin Margiela metallic textured clutch bag, a great alternative to this nude bag.
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Neiman Marcus will host a luxurious scavenger hunt tomorrow October 1, with the help of location-based social networking site Foursquare.

The high-end retailer will hide 15 Nancy Gonzalez red crocodile clutch purses at 15 of its 41 stores across America. From noon customers can check in via Foursquare to determine whether they’re near one of the hidden purses. If they are hot on the trail, another message will provide more information about locating the arm candy. The first 15 people to find the $1400 clutches get to take them home.

The promotion will last until 4 pm, but something tells me it won’t take that long for luxury lovers to track down those bags. If you’re not lucky enough to snap one up, you can enter the in-store competition to win one. Every Neiman Marcus store will give away an additional Nancy Gonzalez clutch.

Gabrielle de Papp, Neiman Marcus’ vice president of corporate public relations, hopes the scavenger hunt will encourage customers to engage more with its Foursquare presence. I’m not sure whether it’ll do that, but it’s sure to generate a lot of buzz. Most of us can only dream of owning such an exotic purse, so anything that gives us the chance to win one is bound to be popular!

[Source: International Business Times]
[Image Source: John Stephen Dwyer/Wikipedia Commons]

Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Clutches on eBay

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Nicole Lee dares to be different with this bold Ilyssa tote.

Nicole Lee rejects the trends and classic styles to create a tote that really stands out. There’s so much going on here that it’s difficult to take it all in. There’s the buttons decorating the border of the asymmetrical flap, the geometric flowers, and the bold starburst underneath them.

If it wasn’t for the complementary color schemes it’d certainly be too much. In fact, many critics may decide it is anyway! But in these monochromatic hues I think Nicole Lee may get away with the gamble. In brighter blue and brown, I’m just not sure!

If the Ilyssa were all about its unique looks it may be easier to dismiss, but its design is actually pretty smart. Its interior is very generous, and it’s got an array of organizational pockets. The clasp underneath the flap and the long zip make the main compartment doubly secure. The handle could stand to be a few inches longer, but that’s really the only functional flaw.

The Ilyssa is made from leatherette rather than the genuine article, but for an affordable $69.99 that’s expected. Personally I don’t mind that compromise, as I’m not sure anyone would want to spend much more on such an unusual accessory.

More Features of This Nicole Lee Floral Tote

• Fully lined interior
• Measures 14.5 x 10.75 x 6.75 inches

Get this Nicole Lee Ilyssa Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the Nicole Lee Handbag World eBay store to see if this Nicole Lee bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• The Nicole Lee Ilyssa satchel bag, a great alternative to this tote bag.
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Tamara Mellon has taken a short break from her work with Jimmy Choo to do something good. The creative director of the world’s most famous footwear brand designed this hand-printed Stop bag to help end child sex trafficking.

This cute tote doesn’t feature just any hand prints. They’re actually the paws of some famous stars who also support the cause, including Aussie actress Nicole Kidman, British comedienne Joanna Lumley, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and DJ extraordinaire Mark Ronson.

The tote bag is available from The Body Shop stores for an affordable £4. And best of all, all that money goes straight to the non-profit group ECPAT International’s Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People campaign. Mellon, who has been a long-time supporter of the charity, said she was “thrilled” to work with The Body Shop in raising awareness of the program.

“I feel very strongly about prohibiting sex trafficking and knowing that the profits will help to end this modern day slavery and safeguard children makes the project even more worthwhile,” she explained.

The tote doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but its eye catching appearance should make it a great conversation piece. And that’s exactly what you want in a bag supporting such a worthwhile cause!

[Source: The Bag Lady]

Nancy Gonzalez ups her signature luxury with this Croc & Fox Tote.

Nancy Gonzalez is an expert with crocodile, but here the scaly skin takes a backseat to that fox fur. The lush tan pelt covers this domed tote, while deep tan croc skin forms the handles and trim. It’s not going to win any fans at PETA, but the appearance certainly is indulgent.

My biggest problem is that it seems a case of opulence for opulence’s sake. The design is frankly uninspired. While fur and croc generally speak for themselves, I can’t help feeling that the combination is a bit bland. It seems to be saying “Look at me, I’m expensive,” rather than “Look at me, I’m interesting.”

And expensive it is at a whopping $3950. Yes it’s large enough to hold everything you need, and it’s got the looks to stop traffic. But for that money I could buy several other bags that would do the job just as well, and likely still have change! And I’d sleep a little easier knowing the animal activists wouldn’t come after me!

More Features of This Nancy Gonzalez Luxury Tote

• Tubular top handles
• Measures 8.5 x 12.5 x 6.5 inches
• Made in Colombia

Get this Nancy Gonzalez Croc & Fox Handbag:

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

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• More Nancy Gonzalez bags on BagBunch
• The Christian Louboutin Anastasia bag, a great alternative to this fox fur bag.
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Moschino embraces its feminine side with this Corsage Mini Shoulder Bag from its Cheap & Chic collection.

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. Like everything from the Cheap & Chic line, it is far from cheap. At a little over $720, we’re not seeing a lot of bag for our dollar. When something is advertised as cheap, it puts a bad taste in our mouth when it isn’t. However at least what we do get it of exceptional quality.

I love the sexy gloss of the patent red finish, and the way it clashes delightfully with the soft black suede corsage. This color combination is bold and delightfully sinful. By using black for the bloom Moschino’s also ensured this mini purse doesn’t look too girly. It’s for ladies who love retro fashions rather than those who dress in head to toe pink.

As it’s a mini bag we don’t get a lot of space, but with two main compartments and a slip pocket we should be able to keep what we are carrying in order. The buckled strap is also removable so we can leave it at home and carry the purse like a clutch.

Perhaps it’s that versatility, and perhaps it’s the shoulder bag’s retro good looks that’s won me over. Whatever it is, this pint sized purse is tempting me!

More Features of This Moschino Cheap & Cheerful Patent Leather Mini

• Black fabric lining
• Measures 9.1 x 6.3 x 4.3 inches

Get Moschino Corsage Handbag:

• Available to buy at My Wardrobe
• Search online for this bag

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• The Anya Hindmarch Joss bag, a great alternative to this patent leather bag.
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Travel bag brand Tumi is doing its bit for Breast Cancer Awareness month next month with the release of a new limited edition pink luggage set.

The pink collection features a hard-shell carry-on case, an iPad cover, cosmetics cases, and a luggage tag. Each one is rendered in a tasteful powder pink rather than a saccharine shade, so they might win over girls who usually steer clear of the girly hue.

I think the wheeled carry-on case is my favorite. Its hard shell will make it tough enough to survive serious travel, but it’s lightweight enough to avoid sneaky baggage fees. At £465 it’s on the expensive side, but its charity component helps to sweeten the deal. If you don’t have much to give, the pink luggage tag, at £30, is a great way to make your checked luggage stand out on the baggage carousel. And the iPad cover, priced at £145, is the sort of accessory we’d get plenty of mileage from outside of the holiday season.

Tumi is donating a fairly generous 20% from each sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The pink travel goods will be available from October 1 at Tumi stores and the Tumi website.

[Source: The Bag Lady]

Tumi Travel Bags on eBay

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Moonsus takes a departure from its usual colored leather office accessories to create this business-like Marsus Metro backpack.

Rather than leather, this backpack is made from ballistic nylon. It’s not a luxurious material, but it’s lightweight and built to last. This makes it perfect for an office backpack which must be made to survive the nine to five grind. Its exterior is basic but stylish thanks to its leather panels. It probably won’t appeal to girly girls, but it gets the job done for working lads and ladies.

The interior is really where Moonsus has focused its attention. Its main zippered compartment is cushioned to hold a laptop with up to a 15.4 inch screen. There’s also another padded pouch for holding tech accessories, and a multitude of other smaller zip and slip pockets for carrying office essentials. The straps could do with some padding, but they are adjustable for just the right fit.

At $198 this backpack is on the expensive side, but its high quality design ensures you’ll see value for your investment.

More Features of This Moonsus Nylon Backpack

• Measures 7.5 x 16 x 12.5 inches
• Weighs 3.2 pounds

Get this Moonsus Marsus Metro Handbag:

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

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• The Alexander Wang Sydney velvet bag, a luxury alternative to this nylon bag.
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