British actress Thandie Newton is the latest subject of Louis Vuitton’s Double Exposure film project.

The initiative offers two “portraits” of the subject. One is a literal portrait made using the collodion wet plate processed used for photography in the 19th century. The second version reveals the subject’s inner self on film. He or she speaks about their favorite items and the stories behind these treasured possessions. The project kicked off earlier this year with an expose on artist Sam Taylor Wood.

Newton’s prized possessions include an artifact handcrafted by her daughter Ripley, a painting from her childhood, and her passport. She said she feels the images used for the project “take you into the heart of history itself. To parallel that, we’re getting into the history of me through the items I’ve chosen. One of the things about these photographs is the layers of meaning. Each picture is so unique so it just creates this desire to be my most essential self.“

Thandie looks lovely in this old-timey photo with her vintage inspired dress and elegant embossed Louis Vuitton handbag. If I didn’t know better I’d have sworn it came from another time. We’ll have to wait a little while to see the film, but impatient folks can click here to see footage from behind-the-scenes of the Double Exposure shoot.

[Source: Vogue UK]

Louis Vuitton Handbags on eBay

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No one does baroque like Versace, at least not since the Middle Ages. This leather trimmed felt bag is a real asset to the line’s opulent offerings.

The material on this bag is what really makes it work. It has everything: leopard print, gilding, felt, leather, you name it. It sounds like a design that could very easily look overdone. But, in fact, it looks just right. The odd combination of prints and textures results in a fabulous look that is mysteriously coherent.

Versace has kept the shape of the bag simple to allow the beauty of the material show through. Honestly, it had no other choice. A complicated design would have rendered the complicated patterning totally overboard. As it is, though, the well-chosen details only accent the opulent aesthetic. The delicate chain strap may not be the most practical, but it looks damn good, and the Versace medallion is as cool a logo addition as I’ve ever seen.

The $995 price tag on this bag is a bit daunting, but let’s be honest. It looks expensive because it is expensive.

More Features Of This Versace Baroque Print Trimmed Felt Bag

• 150″ x 7″ size
• 8″ strap drop
• Fully lined in satin

Get this Versace Baroque Felt Bag:

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

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• Other Versace bags on BagBunch
• The Mulberry Mitzy Hobo, a larger,  more minimal alternative to this bag.
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Francesco Biasia’s created a bag for the Barbie girls with this very cute, and very pink, Mylene bag.

Goodness this bag is pink. I’ve been staring at it for about five minutes, and I still haven’t completely recovered from that shock of pink. However, having sat with it for a bit I think Francesco Biasia might just have gotten away with such a lurid shade.

It does so by keeping the rest of the bag very simple. Its domed shape is distinctive, but it’s not very showy. The white stitching gives the design some definition but it’s also not overbearing. In fact, the only thing that is overbearing is that color!

Wearing such a lurid shade requires some commitment. You need to be prepared for it to take over, whether you’re pairing it with neutrals, or heaven forbid, more pink. The Mylene is impossible to ignore, which for the right girl would make it a tempting proposition at $290. Happily they’ll also enjoy practical perks like a long shoulder strap, an assortment of interior pockets, and the quality of real leather.

Do you have the confidence to carry the Mylene?

More Features of This Francesco Biasia Pink Shoulder Bag

• A single shoulder strap with a 9.5 inch drop
• Measures 12.5 x 9 x 7 inches

Get this Francesco Biasia Mylene Handbag:

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

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• The Tommy Hilfiger Dip Dye tote bag, a great alternative to this pink bag.
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In a world where models rarely smile, let alone show they’ve got a sense of humor, Lanvin’s playful new fall/winter 2011 advertising campaign is like a breath of fresh air. The still ads capture the models mid-boogie, while the video version shows the beauties really letting loose.

There are no smooth moves for Karen Elson, Raquel Zimmermann, Lowell Tautchin, and Milo Spijker. The quartet busts out the kind of “so bad they’re good” dance steps that your dad might try after a few drinks. The Pitbull soundtrack of “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” only adds to the sense of fun.

Oh, and did I mention that there are handbags? I wouldn’t blame you for overlooking the sexy clutch purses and shoulder bags while watching this spectacle, but the video does give us a sneak peek at the new season collection.

I suppose there’s an argument to be made that if you barely notice the clothes or accessories, than the video has failed as a piece of advertising. However when a clip is so clever I’d disagree. Word of this unexpected video has spread like wildfire since it hit the net, and you just can’t buy that sort of publicity!

Make sure you watch right through to the end to see a fun cameo from Lanvin’s creative director Alber Elbaz!

[Source: Stylist]

Lanvin Purses on eBay

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When it comes to Fossil, you never really know what you’re going to get. One moment it may be creating classic leather accessories, the next it could be experimenting with colored patchwork or whimsical animal accents. While I can find some of its designs a bit gimmicky, this straight-shooting Grayson is impressive.

The combination of olive green leather and bold brassy studs gives the Grayson a modern military feel. Fossil allows these exterior details to stand alone, pausing only to break them with practical pockets. The functional features continue inside where we see a large zippered pocket and pair of gadget slips. The lining feels a bit cheap, and the pockets aren’t trimmed with leather as we might find on a more high class bag, but I wouldn’t expect a lot of pampering at this price point.

The canvas cross-body strap is a bit disappointing though. It’s built to last, but it also looks a bit cheap against the bag’s buttery leather body. If it were in the same olive color perhaps it would have been camouflaged, but in pale beige it stands out like a sore thumb.

The strap is the only misstep for me though, and that’s only on an aesthetic level. Fossil still delivers a bag that’s worth its $138 here.

More Features of This Fossil Leather Cross-Body

• Zip top closure
• An adjustable strap with a 21.5 inch drop
• Measures 11 x 3.5 x 10 inches

Get this Fossil Grayson Handbag:

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

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• Check the Hillbillyboutique36 eBay store to see if this Fossil bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• More Fossil bags on BagBunch
• The Fossil Grayson Flap bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
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Forzieri embraces the quirky charm of the swinging sixties with this Capaf White Stitched Squares Handbag.

I’ve seen so many designers tackling retro style recently that it’s almost the new modern. However I’ve never seen a label interpret it quite like this. White squares stitched onto the black leather give it a playful sense of style. I really appreciate the way these shapes work with this handbag’s ultra long design, which has its own degree of quirk. It’s undeniably retro, but it also feels much fresher than so many bags which channel the 60s.

On unzipping the top of the bag, I was tickled to see the hot pink suede lining. This soft material always makes a bag feel a little more luxurious, and the vivid shade is such fun. But Forzieri really hasn’t done a lot with the interior. I think it needs more than a pair of pockets to keep this unusually sized space organized.

The short handles are another disappointment for me. They bring the right amount of retro cred to the design, but they won’t make carrying such an awkwardly shaped purse any easier. I really wish we had the option of a longer strap for busy days.

It’s got some flaws, but $495.60 doesn’t seem like a lot to pay for a bag with so much personality, particularly when it’s made from such luxurious materials.

More Features of This Forzieri Black Leather Handbag

• Made of embossed calf leather
• Silver metal hardware
• Zip top closure
• Measures 14.17 x 5.91 x 6.69 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Forzieri Stitched Squares Handbag:

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

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• More Forzieri bags on BagBunch
• The Spiegel Button Trim Canvas bag, an affordable alternative to this black bag.
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• Other black retro bags on eBay:

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Louis Vuitton will unveil an exhibition paying tribute to its artistic director of 14 years, Marc Jacobs, during Milan Fashion Week.

Louis Vuitton stylist and editor Katie Grand, who has collaborated many times with Jacobs, will curate the retrospective exhibition. She’s certainly got the chops for it, after heading up a similar Marc Jacobs exhibition for the launch of Louis Vuitton’s London flagship store last year.

Some people may suggest the Italian exhibition has a similar tone, as it too coincides with the expansion of the label’s Milan store. However the timing seems coincidental consider all those rumors about Jacobs filling John Galliano’s shoes at Dior. The Italian exhibition would be a lovely way to say goodbye to the designer who’s served the company so well for almost a decade and a half.

Regardless of the reasoning behind it, whether the exhibition is a final hurrah or merely a tribute to the work that’s come before, it should be something spectacular. You can see the Marc Jacobs retrospective at the Triennale between September 22 and October 9.

Do you think the exhibition’s timing suggests that Marc Jacobs’ exit from Louis Vuitton is imminent? Or is it all merely a coincidence?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Ed Kavishe/Wikipedia Commons]

Louis Vuitton Handbags on eBay

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I must admit, taupe has never been one of my favorite fashion colors. While this neutral has been embraced on the catwalk, it always seems a little drab to me. Perhaps Fontanelli feels the same way, as it’s livened up the shade with this striped hobo bag.

At its root this really is a fairly simple suede hobo bag. But by wrapping colored leather strips around it, Fontanelli’s made it feel much more fun. I’m not sure I’m completely sold on the way the murky neutral works with vivid orange, blue, yellow, and aqua, but I admire Fontanelli for attempting to shake things up.

The interior is luxuriously spacious, with plenty of room for everything you need on an average day and a few things you probably don’t. A purse like this really deserves more than just two organizational pockets though. You’ll find it difficult to keep your items in order if you take advantage of all that space. At least the soft strap is up to the task!

The price is just right though at $588. That’s not small change, but perfectly reasonable for a bag of such quality with an Italian pedigree.

More Features of This Fontanelli Suede Hobo

• Gold-toned hardware
• Synthetic lined interior
• Zip top closure
• A single handle with a 13 inch drop
• Measures 13.78 x 10.24 x 5.51 inches
• Made in Italy
• Comes with a signature dust bag

Get this Fontanelli Striped Handbag:

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

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• The Fontanelli Striped Bucket bag, a great alternative to this hobo bag.
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London based designer Orla Kiely has joined forces with People Tree for a new sustainable collection.

The limited edition fall line features a handful of printed purses alongside preppy cardigans and sweaters, shift dresses, and trench coats. Artisans in India and Nepal work under fair trade conditions to create the collection’s retro inspired pieces. They use green materials including hand-knitted merino wool and certified organic cotton cloth.

This is Kiely’s first collection with People Tree, but her enthusiasm hints that it may not be her last. She says the fair trade organization is doing “amazing” work, adding that it’s important for people know “products come from a sustainable and socially responsible source.”

The collection is also Kiely’s first step into the world of sustainable fashion, although she’s been conscious of living green for some time now. She enjoys walking to work with her labradoodle Olive, and attempts to limit her air travel. She also shuns excess packaging in her personal life, and endeavors to package Orla Kiely goods in reusable materials. Kiely also advocates using locally sourced items wherever possible to reduce her carbon footprint.

The Orla Kiely collection is available from the People Tree website now. The small Lattice Flower satchels pictured cost £35 while the larger Lattice Flower tote is £65.

[Source: Ecouterre]

Orla Kiely Satchels on eBay

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I’ve often accused Foley + Corinna of resting on its laurels. Many of its handbags seem interchangeable, so I was thrilled to see the label branching out with this Bitty Biker Bag.

This very cute moniker very aptly describes what we get here. This is an itty bitty bag with a healthy dose of biker edge. And I appreciate that Foley + Corinna hasn’t relied on clichés on achieve that rebellious attitude. The Bitty Biker’s body is blissfully bare of studs and other heavy metal, yet it still oozes cool. Instead zippered pockets run vertically down the voluminous leather, and there’s a liberal smattering of silver rings around the drawstring. Frankly these rings remind me of the ones that hold a shower curtain in place when viewed from above. Thankfully we lose that illusion when it’s viewed front on!

Foley + Corinna offers us a range of colors and finishes, but I’ve been bowled over by the blue snake. It’s so deep that it almost looks like black, which of course makes it very versatile. That scaly snake finish makes this Bitty Biker look much richer than its $345 price tag suggests. That’s still a lot of money to spend on a small bag, but this one has enough charm to tempt.

More Features of This Foley + Corinna Small Bucket Bag

• Twill lining
• Dual handles with an 11.5 inch drop
• Measures 7 x 8 x 8 inches
• Made in China

Get this Foley + Corinna Bitty Biker Handbag:

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

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• Check the Prime Design Featuring Jewelry Jodi eBay store to see if this Foley + Corinna bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Foley + Corinna bags on BagBunch
• The Tylie Malibu Gypsy Samantha bag, a great alternative to this drawstring bag.
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