With a gorgeous splash of Hunter green and timeless design, Hayden-Harnett has won me over with its Barnard cross-body bag.

This equestrian styled purse is an instant classic, with its gentle curves and sophisticated brass hardware. That lush green colored leather is unexpected, but I think it saves this cross-body from being too pedestrian. It’s my pick of the colors, but with nine different shades available it doesn’t matter if it’s not yours. You’ll also find the Barnard in conservative hues like black and chocolate brown, as well as more youthful ones like mulberry pink and ruby red.

Cross-body bags like this are always practical, but the extra features in this one help separate it from the pack. I really like the zippered back pocket, which sits safely against your body when you carry it, and the slip pocket hidden underneath the flap. The interior isn’t large but it is serviceable, with a pair of slip pockets and a large zippered one in the back wall.

The Barnard probably won’t turn a lot of heads but it’s the kind of purse that could easily work in your wardrobe no matter what the season, and what its trends. That makes it great value for its $450 price tag.

More Features of This Hayden-Harnett Leather Cross-Body Bag

• An adjustable strap with a 15.5 to 21.5 inch drop
• Measures 13 x 12 x 2 inches
• Made in the USA from locally sourced materials

Get this Hayden-Harnett Barnard Handbag:

• Available to buy at Hayden-Harnett
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Hayden-Harnett bags on BagBunch
• The Hayden-Harnett Garde Chain bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Hayden-Harnett bags on eBay
• Other green cross-body bags on eBay:

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Billionairess Petra Eccleston isn’t short on a dollar, but she stands to make a few more when she launches her Stark accessories line at New York Fashion Week this week.

Eccleston is a big name in her own right, but she insists the collection isn’t about trading on her celebrity.

“It’s not about me – it’s not a Petra Ecclestone handbag, it’s a Stark handbag,” she said. “There’s a huge difference.“

The Stark purses are befitting of an heiress with their golden hardware, lush leathers, exotic skins, and Swarovski crystal accents. They’re not altogether practical, but in Eccleston’s words they are “really kind of fun, glitzy pieces.”

Eccleston has taken a hands-on approach to the design of the purses bearing her name. That’s ensured they reflect her own opulent sense of style.

You don’t exactly need Eccleston’s bank balance to indulge in these creations, but they’re certainly expensive. You can buy the cheapest piece for $495, but the most expensive in the range will set you back $4,795. Given those prices it’s unsurprising that she’s targeting women her own age and a bit older. Because no one under the age of 22 has that sort of cash to splash around!

Stark goodies aren’t even on shelves yet and already Eccleston is looking to the future. She hopes to see her bags sold around the world, and she plans to add footwear to the range in future. Goodness knows she’s got the money to see it all happen!

[Source: Daily Mail]

Harveys brings some feminine flair to its famous woven seatbelts line with this Lily Rose purse.

We’ve seen Harveys woven seatbelt designs before, and in many ways this is more of the same. However its rosette detail gives this bag some real personality. The bloom is also made from more seatbelts for a cohesive look. This material doesn’t immediately spring to mind when you think of feminine details, but I think it’s a smart choice. Not only does it bring unity to the design, but its stiffness also gives the rose’s petals an appealing structure.

At $138 this is an expensive purse for its small stature, but its versatility helps to justify the extra cost. You can wear it as a cross-body or shoulder bag, double up the chain for another look, or remove it completely and carry the Lily Rose at a clutch. It’s almost like you’re buying four bags in one!

Personally I hoped for more organizational features inside. The Lily Rose isn’t large enough to warrant a plethora of pouches, but a few would have made it a bit more manageable. That’s disappointing, but not enough of a flaw to really turn me off. With a simple rose Harveys has breathed new life into a classic accessory.

More Features of This Harveys Rosette Cross-Body Clutch

• Zip top closure
• Measures 0.5 x 9.5 x 6 inches

Get this Harveys Lily Rose Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Harveys bags on BagBunch
• The Chinese Laundry Rose bag, a great alternative to this rosette bag.
• Searching for more Harveys bags on eBay
• Other Harveys rosette bags on eBay:

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Joelle Andrew has created wooden handbags that are real head-turners for her fledgling fashion label Supplii.

The brand’s tote and clutch purse are made from bentwood, a lightweight and flexible wood. Andrew first worked with the material when she made a bentwood chair for an architecture school project. The chair was a failure, but it inspired Andrew to work more with the material.

Supplii may have just burst onto the fashion scene, but its unusual bentwood bags have been a year in the making. It took twelve months of prototyping, testing, and trials to get the label’s unique tote and clutch purses just right.

Supplii is starting small. Its new Toolbox Series features only a tote and clutch purse in maple and black walnut colors. But by releasing just a couple of bags, Supplii ensures each one is produced to the highest standard. I really like the look of these purses, which appear like much chicer versions of the toolboxes our fathers used to carry. And when we open them up and fold out the sides, they’re almost as practical!

You can enjoy some of Supplii’s quality craftsmanship by ordering yours from the label’s website. Each wooden purse is available for $299.

[Source: Culture Map Houston]

Wooden Clutch Purses on eBay

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Harajuku Lovers slathers one of its loud signature prints on a classic tote with this Tokyo bag.

The trippy Raver Girls pattern is really what makes this bag. The cute female characters look like they’re in the middle of a great dance party, plastered this way and that against a rainbow colored geometric background. It’s a lot of fun, but also too loud to suit everyone. Personally I think Harajuku Lovers’ gets away with such a flamboyant print because the Tokyo’s design is so simple, but it’s a matter of personal taste.

The simplicity serves the Tokyo well on the outside, but it disappointing when you open it up. This large tote really deserves more than a single zippered pocket, especially since there’s no closing mechanism. That makes it easy to access everything we need, but that accessibility also sacrifices security. The base is flattened a little, but I’m not sure it’s enough to help the tote stand up. Unless you’re really careful your cargo will spill out once you set it down.

At $35 this tote is temptingly cheap, but we also get exactly what we pay for. Do you think a playful print is worth that sort of money?

More Features of This Harajuku Lovers Raver Girls Tote

• Signature lined interior
• A Gwen Stefani metal charm
• Dual straps with a 9 inch drop
• Measures 14 x 15 x 3.5 inches

Get this Harajuku Lovers Tokyo Handbag:

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

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• Check the CMC Intimates and Treasures eBay store to see if this Harajuku Lovers bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Harajuku Lovers bags on BagBunch
• The Harajuku Lovers Gumball hobo bag in Raver Girls print, a great alternative to this Raver Girls bag.
• Searching for more Harajuku Lovers bags on eBay

Thursday Friday doesn’t seem nervous about law suits. Fresh from a private settlement with Hermes over its Together Totes, Thursday Friday has launched a brand new edition featuring the Chanel 2.55 Flap Bag. The launch seems to dare Chanel to start legal proceedings!

There are three different versions this time around: the small Pouch bags, the mid-sized Together totes, and the large Super Together tote. The Pouch costs $35, the Together is $65, and the Super Together tops the range at $90.

At first glance it seems a bit silly to release another range that courts a copyright infringement suit. This really is the Birkin decorated Together tote all over again.

But maybe there’s method to the madness. After all, we were all talking about the first Together tote. All that free advertising must have helped Thursday Friday net enough coin to settle with Hermes and still stay in business. Perhaps it hopes that the latest release will generate the same kind of buzz, law suits be damned! Is this a case of insanity or simply a canny marketing ploy?

If you want to grab one of the new Together bags before the Chanel lawyers inevitably start knocking you can find it at the Thursday Friday website.

[Source: The Purse Blog]

Chanel 2.55 Flap Bags on eBay

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Halston Heritage brings some polish to your wardrobe with this Carla bag.

The shiny patent leather is the real star here. Used in the wrong way this glossy skin can appear tacky, but I think Halston’s diffusion label gets it just right here. Keeping things simple seems to be the secret. The patent leather shines because little is competing with it. The Carla’s box shape is conservative, and its only accent a gleaming golden logo.

This discreet logo is a great foil for the Carla’s rich looking shoulder straps. They are more substantial than your average chain, although they stop short of being chunky. I also love the choice Halston Heritage offers. The pictured chain is perfect for slinging over our arm, while the longer one sees the Carla becoming a cross-body bag. Alternatively we could remove the chains completely and carry this purse like a clutch. Personally I think it’s a little large to do that easily on most accasions, but if you’re traveling light I can see it working well.

The Carla’s generous dimensions mean there’s enough space for a zippered pocket inside and another on the back. This helps the Carla stay more organized than your average slim-line purse, which will really help us work it from day to night.

At $295 the Carla represents a substantial investment for evening wear, but if you can work it into your daytime wardrobe I think you’ll see value for your money.

More Features of This Halston Heritage Patent Leather Convertible Bag

• Magnetic flap closure
• Cotton lined interior
• A short handle with a 7 inch drop
• A long handle with a 21 inch drop
• Measures 8.5 x 13 x 2 inches
• Made in China

Get this Halston Heritage Carla Handbag:

• Available to buy at Endless
• Check the Anauthentic eBay store to see if this Halston Heritage bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Halston bags on BagBunch
• The Miu Miu Patent Leather Bow Clutch bag, a great alternative to this patent leather bag.
• Searching for more Halston bags on eBay
• Other black patent leather bags on eBay:

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Elaine Turner has looked to pixie-faced actress Audrey Hepburn to inspire her fall 2011 collection. Just like the late actress, the line has a feminine nostalgia that transcends time.

The essence of Miss Hepburn informs every new Elaine Turner purse and shoe. The modern ballet flats and pumps wouldn’t have looked out of place on her delicate feet, and the retro top handles and tweed accents decorating the handbags are also very Hepburnesque.

Elaine Turner has admired the actress since she saw Sabrina as a girl. After that initial screening she devoured Hepburn’s films including Charade, Roman Holiday, Funny Face, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. So it’s only natural that after creating collections inspired by Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Turner turned to her timeless Hollywood muse.

“The Elaine Turner brand is embedded in the classics, so I think of new ways to bring them into contemporary life,” Turner explained. “Nothing about Audrey is defined by just one decade.“

And we see a similar timelessness in this collection, which effortlessly blends vintage details with a modern aesthetic.

The new fall Elaine Turner collection, including the Audrey Ostrich Kelly bag pictured, is currently available at Elaine Turner boutiques and the designer’s website.

[Source: Culture Map Houston]

Elaine Turner Bags on eBay

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Gustto brings some youthful flair to the traditional satchel with this Bonnie bag from its diffusion Miss Gustto line.

The Bonnie isn’t a bad bag, but it’s got a bit too much going on. I don’t mind the diamond quilting which decorates the sage green faux leather, but I’m not such a fan of everything on top of it. The chain accents work well as alternative shoulder straps, but when not in use they look messy, especially that discordant lime green one. Personally I’d remove them for a much cleaner look. The long zipper pulls also make the design feel cluttered.

While the Bonnie’s looks are overcomplicated, its design is quite smart. I love all those exterior pockets and the leatherette trim around the interior pouches. The bright red poly lining is also a bit of fun, and the range of carrying options are a blessing for busy days.

The range of colors isn’t bad, but it’s a little sedate for a youth line. This sage green one is really the pick off them I think. The light pink is a bit dusty to appeal to young girls, and the black and camel alternatives too safe.

I suppose Miss Gustto is giving us value for our $122, but I’d prefer a more minimalist approach with a smaller price tag.

More Features of This Miss Gustto Quilted Satchel

• Gunmetal hardware
• Zip top closure
• Dual 15 inch handles with a 6 inch drop
• Removable woven straps with a 14 inch drop
• Measures 20 x 14 x 8 inches
• Made in China

Get this Miss Gustto Bonnie Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the Bluefly eBay store to see if this Miss Gustto bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Gustto bags on BagBunch
• The Gustto Bonnie bow bag, a great alternative to this plain bag.
• Searching for more Gustto bags on eBay
• Other quilted satchels on eBay:

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Indego Africa is bringing the handicrafts of the woman of Cocoki in Rwanda to the masses with its collection of yoga bags.

Each one of the label’s yoga carriers is crafted from traditional Dutch wax cloth, using nothing more than foot-powered sewing machines and a little ingenuity. The women receive fair wages and work under fair trade conditions, ensuring they can lift their families and their wider community out of poverty. All of the profits from Indego Africa sales are used to fund artisan training programs in the African communities the label operates.

Indego Africa accessories aren’t just admired by fashionistas the world over. The label’s pieces are also fixtures in the gift stores of The National Textile and US Holocaust Memorial Museums. These institutions recognize the importance of Dutch wax cloth to the people of Africa.

Their fair trade credentials are important, but we probably wouldn’t use the Indego Africa yoga bags if they weren’t cleverly designed. Happily they deliver on this score too, with a long zip for easy packing and unpacking of your mat and an additional pocket for stashing keys, wallets, and other small essentials. That’s not bad for $45! You’ll find the Indego Africa yoga bags at selected retailers and the Indego Africa website.

[Source: Magnifeco]

Fair Trade Yoga Bags on eBay

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