British accessories designer Nadia Minkoff has designed two new travel accessories for duty free retailer Tourvest, to be sold exclusively on the international flights of its airline partners.

Kenya Airways is selling Minkoff’s new travel wallet. The purse’s black mock crocodile leatherette and simple styling should appeal to guys and girls on vacation. Its practical design features pockets and compartments for holding your passport, airline tickets, and foreign currency.

Jetsetters traveling on Virgin Atlantic flights can pick up one of Minkoff’s new Vintage World Map iPad covers. This cute tech case is made from copper colored leatherette embossed with a vintage style world map.

Tourvest’s luxury and gifting buyer Tracy Cilliers said her firm was “delighted” to collaborate again with Nadia Minkoff on the project. The London based designer has worked with Tourvest for many years, and continues to do so because she believes it is “forward thinking and looking for innovation.”

Green fashionistas may be disappointed that the new travel products aren’t made from the natural materials Nadia Minkoff usually favors. However she concedes that “the demands of travelers today call for items to be produced in other materials.” Personally I think that’s selling natural materials a bit short; we’ve seen plenty of green alternatives that are just as tough as synthetics. However Minkoff insists she’s “very happy with the finish” of the new travel accessories.

If the synthetics aren’t getting you down, you can find the new Nadia Minkoff accessories exclusively on selected Kenya Airlines and Virgin Atlantic flights.

[Source: The Moodie Report]

Faux Crocodile Wallets on eBay

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Literal rather than metaphorical corners have been cut in this stylish Cut-Corner Minaudiere from Judith Leiber.

It gets its name not from shoddy craftsmanship but from its stylish angled corners. I really love the contemporary quirk they bring to what is otherwise a very traditional Judith Leiber minaudiere. Traditional never means staid in the case of Judith Leiber though. Gray Austrian crystals are arranged in an arabesque design, nestled amongst onyx pyramid studs. The onyx cabochon decorated push lock clasp sits proudly atop the polished metal frame.

This minaudiere is far from practical though. It’s very small and slender, so you’ll be lucky to fit even the essentials inside. There’s also no strap, which may disappoint modern misses. Personally I think one would ruin the look, although there’s no denying it would have made it a bit more functional. This is really a purse that works more as a statement piece, a work of art, rather than a convenient carry case.

And we pay the sort of price usually reserved for a work of fine art too, a mammoth $3495. My frugal side suggests that no purse should cost that much, but my fashion loving one knows that a Judith Leiber clutch has every right to command the big bucks.

More Features of This Judith Leiber Crystal Covered Minaudiere

• Measures 3.6 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Made in Austria

Get this Judith Leiber Cut-Corner Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Judith Leiber bags on BagBunch
• The Judith Leiber Goddess Fine Crystal Clutch bag, a great alternative to this minaudiere bag.
• Searching for more Judith Leiber bags on eBay
• Other Judith Leiber minaudiere bags on eBay:

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A new exhibition at Boston Children’s Museum charts the growth of the reusable bag industry and celebrates the diverse range of reusable shoppers on the market. The display, called In the Bag: The Art and Politics of the Reusable Bag Movement, opens on Thursday.

One of the most interesting parts of the exhibition is a celebration of upcycled shoppers from around the world made from billboards, rice bags, juice boxes, and even old plastic bags. It features the work of fair trade organizations and prominent designers including Anya Hindmarch and Nahui Ollin and eco-fashion firm GG2G. There are also installations from modern artists using plastic bags as materials. These colorful creations help to balance the sections documenting the problems plastic bags cause around the world.

The new exhibition is part of Boston Children’s Museum’s ongoing green educational initiatives. It reminds individuals of their power to reduce dependency on plastic bags and improve the planet’s health. The museum realizes that change doesn’t just come from doing better, but encouraging young people to follow in your footsteps. Hopefully in a generation or two we’ll see people shunning plastic bags entirely.

In the Bag: The Art and Politics of the Reusable Bag Movement is on display at the Boston Children’s Museum from September 15 to November 27. Entry costs $12, but a portion of this fee benefits fair trade women’s cooperatives around the globe.

[Source: PR Web]
[Image Source: HouseofScandal/Wikipedia Commons]

Reusable Shopping Bags on eBay

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It takes a certain girl to pull off pink. And if you’re that girl, I’m sure this Sabrina Satchel from Joe’s Jeans will be right up your alley.

To be fair, this isn’t an over the top girly girl purse. Its pink color is bright but rich rather than sugary. The satchel’s design is clean, free of frills, sequins, or accents that plague the typical feminine bag. I’ve never been bold enough to add a pink purse to my wardrobe, but if I did I think it’d look a little something like this.

I’m not sure whether pink should ever be part of anyone’s everyday attire, but if you’re game this satchel could be. It’s enormous, but its array of pockets ensures it doesn’t feel unmanageable. These pockets are trimmed in leather so they should survive whatever punishment you can dish out. I also appreciate the dual straps, which are long and flat so they won’t slide from your shoulder.

At $325 this satchel represents a substantial commitment to pink, but it’s also not unreasonable for a bag that marries practical perks and quality craftsmanship.

More Features of This Joe’s Jeans Pink Satchel

• Magnetic closure
• Twill lined interior
• Protective feet on the base
• Dual handles with a 9 inch drop
• Measures 10 x 17 x 5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Joe’s Jeans Sabrina Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Joe’s Jeans bags on BagBunch
• The Joe’s Jeans Capos satchel bag, a great alternative to this leather bag.
• Searching for more Joe’s Jeans bags on eBay
• Other pink satchel bags on eBay:

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JJ Winters reminds us that sometimes you can have too much of a good thing with this Mini Fringe cross-body bag. I don’t mind a little fringing in moderation, but this is overkill.

Thank goodness this is a mini bag. Can you imagine how much fringing JJ Winters could have used on a larger canvas? Already the amount of suede strings seems messy, like it’s the bag reincarnation of The Addams Family’s Cousin It. Thankfully the fringing is our only embellishment so the look doesn’t get confused, but there’s admittedly not a lot of space for anything else.

The interior is small but adequate if you know how to pack it right. The purse’s soft body helps us squeeze in a few extra items. The satin lined space is simple, but a snap button on the top ensures everything we’re carrying stays safe.

I’m underwhelmed by this bag, despite its relatively affordable $165 price tag. However it seems not everyone agrees with me, as it’s been spotted on the arms of fashionable celebs like Minka Kelly, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jamie Chung. Can you see its appeal?

More Features of This JJ Winters Suede Mini Purse

• A removable cross-body shoulder strap with a 25 inch drop
• Measures 7 x 5.5 x 1 inches

Get this JJ Winters Fringe Handbag:

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

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• Check the Wild Cherry Style eBay store to see if this JJ Winters bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More JJ Winters bags on BagBunch
• The Big Buddha Ray hobo bag, a colorful alternative to this fringed bag.
• Searching for more JJ Winters bags on eBay

Yves Saint Laurent is doing amazing things lately. Its designs teeter on the edge of edginess, but veer towards the classy and classic. This Roady hobo is exactly what I’m talking about.

Who can resist this material? Really, though, it’s the very definition of sumptuous, but it’s also really rock ‘n’ roll, which makes it basically perfect in my book. The textured brown leather is so rich and dark that it’s almost black, and the gilded center embossing gives it a luxe, but understated, appeal.

The Roady might have a rock-inspired moniker, named after the gaffers that carry musicians’ equipment, but it’s all posh. The shape is hobo-esque, but streamlined and tailored in an irresistible way. The minimal rolled leather strap attaches to the bag with beautifully understated gold hardware, which is the only embellishment outside of the material.

Sleek, chic, and totally timeless, the Roady is going to inspire groupies for seasons to come.

More Features of the Yves Saint Laurent Roady Leather And Metallic Shoulder Bag

• 17″ x 15″ x 6″ size
• 7″ strap drop
• Internal pouch pocket
• Fully lined

Get this Roady Hobo by Yves Saint Laurent:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Yves Saint Laurent bags on BagBunch
• The Halston Foxy Pochette, an edgy alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Yves Saint Laurent bags on eBay
• Other black leather hobos on eBay:

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British brand SOURCED has created a new collection of messenger bags made from recycled truck tarpaulins. The eco-friendly accessories capitalize on the color and natural durability of its materials while helping the planet.

Each bag is handmade using a single tarp, and the unique variations and patterns on each one ensures every SOURCED messenger purse is a true original. In addition to keeping the lorry curtains out of landfill, SOURCED uses other salvaged items to decorate its handbags. The adjustable straps are made from old seat belts, while the little SOURCED logos are crafted from unwanted inner tire tubes.

The messengers’ green credentials will be enough to get hippie chicks on side, but I’m impressed that they’re functional too. Each one is large enough to hold a 13-inch MacBook or similar laptop or tablet. Interior pockets help you carry smaller gadgets including a Smart Phone or small camera. Two large Velcro strips hidden underneath the front flap ensure your personal technology and other valuables stay safe.

The SOURCED truck tarp messenger bags are affordably priced at £34.99 from the label’s website. If you prefer a different style you can also find SOURCED’s other truck tarp bags, including short and long handled shoppers, shoulder totes, and MacBook sleeves.

[Source: HolyCool]

Recycled Truck Tarp Bags on eBay

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When it comes to Jimmy Choo, you either get loud and proud or refined elegance. While bags that show its more flamboyant side haven’t always been to my taste, I think there’s a place in my wardrobe for the Parker.

There’s an air of seventies cool about this olive green purse, yet it doesn’t appear like a fashion throwback. It does so by avoiding the gimmicky retro accents and focusing on smooth, clean lines. It’s made from something Jimmy Choo calls cashmere calf leather, which hints at its buttery softness.

The convenient front pocket suggests that the Parker is as practical as it is poised, so I was disappointed to see only a single zippered pocket inside. This handbag isn’t enormous but I still think it’s too large for only one interior pocket. You’ll need to take a bit of a care to keep your cargo in order, because this bag won’t do it for you.

The slightly too high $1995 price tag won’t come as any surprise to Jimmy Choo fans. Personally I’d prefer to spend that money here, on a timeless item, than on one of the label’s more trend conscious creations.

More Features of This Jimmy Choo Leather Shoulder Bag

• Top zip closure
• Microfiber lined interior
• Metal feet at the base
• Dual handles with a 9 inch drop
• Measures 12.5 x 11 x 6 inches

Get this Jimmy Choo Parker Handbag:

• Available to buy at Shirise
• Check the Bluefly eBay store to see if this Jimmy Choo bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Jimmy Choo bags on BagBunch
• The Jimmy Choo Gaia bag, a great alternative to this classic bag.
• Searching for more Jimmy Choo bags on eBay
• Other olive green leather bags on eBay:

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Gucci has really been drawing on its roots this season. Every bag it puts out seems to be more classic than the next. This monogrammed canvas and leather shoulder bag is a great example of the way the line is reinvigorating its preppy chic aesthetic.

This navy and gray logo pattern is so iconic that it’s instantly recognizable. I’m not a big fan of logo prints, but this one has a lot of charm. I guess it’s because the label’s made it into a geometric design that is cool all on its own, with or without the status of the double Gs.

Compact handbags are making a big comeback right now, which is such a relief after all the hefty over-sized designs of the past few years. This is a great version because of all its organizational features. The exterior pocket is just right for stowing items that you’ll need often, and the interior is nice and open to accommodate all your larger items.

Overall, this is a low key, versatile carry-all that will carry you through several seasons of changing designs.

More Features Of The Gucci Monogram Canvas And Leather Shoulder Bag

• 9″ x 6″ x 2″ size
• 21″ strap drop
• Fully lined

Get this Gucci Monogram Shoulder Bag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Gucci bags on BagBunch
• The Anya Hindmarch Jackson Shoulder Bag, a larger, daytime alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Gucci bags on eBay
• Other Gucci logo bags on eBay:

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In a sign of its continued growth with Sarah Burton at the helm, Alexander McQueen has announced it will open its first store in China. The esteemed British fashion house will open a flagship boutique in Beijing in late October or November of this year.

Many of us were uncertain how Alexander McQueen would fare after the death of its namesake creative director in February of 2010. But the fashion firm has thrived under the direction of McQueen’s former right-hand woman Sarah Burton. Designing the wedding dress for the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton didn’t hurt matters either.

The opening isn’t only Alexander McQueen’s first foray into the Chinese market, but also a first for its parent company PPR. The firm’s chief executive and chairman Francois-Henri Pinault said that McQueen’s death and Sarah Burton’s appointment as chief designer “changed the scale of Alexander McQueen’s potential.” Her vision has helped the label reach more people, and opening more stores to capitalize on that interest is the next logical step. China’s insatiable appetite for luxury makes it a perfect location for an Alexander McQueen outlet.

It won’t be PPR’s last store in China though. Another PPR fashion label Stella McCartney plans to open a Chinese outlet in the next 12 to 15 months.

[Source: Vogue UK]
[Image Source: Damian Cugley/Wikipedia Commons]

Alexander McQueen Purses on eBay

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