Colorado Bag’n Baggage looks to ease travel woes this summer by offering its customers a $50 rebate for checked luggage fees.

Starting next Monday July 18, customers that purchase a suitcase that’s 24-inches or larger, and costing $250 or more, will be eligible for the rebate. They’ll receive two $25 certificates which can be redeemed through any American airline.

It seems only fair considering that US airlines reportedly collected around $5.7 billion in baggage and reservation change fees last year. That’s a whole lot of money pocketed for a few suitcase inches and a little paperwork!

As someone who’s been on the receiving end of one of those hefty fees, I’m a big fan of this promotion. It’s unfortunate that we have to buy new luggage to suffer less at the airports, but if that’s what we’ve got to do that’s what we’ve got to do. Don’t the airlines know that girls need to take a certain number of shoes on vacation?

Colorado Bag’n Baggage stores include Colorado Baggage, Houston Trunk Factory, and Bag’n Baggage outlets in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and of course, Colorado. The stores sell luggage from some of the most well known travel brands in the business including Eagle Creek, Antler, Victorinox, and TUMI. The promotion will run at these retailers until the end of August, or until the rebate vouchers run out.

[Source: PR Web]

I’ve noticed an unusual trend on the red carpets lately. More and more stars seem to be trading in their box clutches for quirky egg shaped purses. If you don’t have an A-List bank account you can still indulge in the trend with this affordable Francesco clutch from Paco Mena.

Paco Mena keeps its Francesco at a budget-friendly $79 by opting for less luxurious materials. Its black body is made from lustrous satin and its clasp is adorned with rhinestones rather than diamonds.

The craftsmanship also isn’t on a par with the work from the high-end designers. I love the pleats around the border of the purse, but the fabric puckers awkwardly at the clutch’s edges. The two halves of the egg don’t meet neatly either, which is another disappointment.

The Francesco also isn’t the most practical purse, but that’s not really Paco Mena’s fault. The egg shape doesn’t offer as much storage room as a box purse would, so what we can carry is really restricted. Paco Mena should have made the shoulder strap detachable, so it doesn’t eat into that already limited space, but at least we have that hands-free carrying option.

The Francesco isn’t perfect, but for its price it doesn’t really need to be. If you don’t mind those niggles this purse is a great budget way to indulge in the latest evening trend.

More Features of This Paco Mena Egg-Shaped Clutch

• Clasp closure
• Satin lined interior
• A chain strap with a 17.5 inch drop
• Measures 3.75 x 5.75 x 1.75 inches
• Made in China

Get this Paco Mena Francesco Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Paco Mena bags on BagBunch
• The Timmy Woods Laura bag, a great alternative to this egg bag.
• The Paco Mena website
• Other egg clutch bags on eBay:

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All too often it seems that vegan leather is too shiny, too thin, and too hard to ever really impress fashion fans. Jill Frazer and her partner Milan Lazich buck the trend with their label Jill Milan, an accessories company offering bags that are cruelty free and luxurious.

Jill Milan’s leatherette is buttery soft, and a beautiful complement to the cotton and linen the label’s so fond of. Selected bags are then embellished with custom made Murano beads. Each purse is hand crafted in Florence, Italy, to ensure its quality.

Frazer is a vegan and equestrian enthusiast. Her love of horses was the inspiration behind the label’s signature handbag, the Thoroughbred. The overnight bag gets its name from the horse head and brass horse shoes that adorn its body. The large handbag comes in all faux leather or canvas with leather trim versions. A portion of sales from each Thoroughbred Bag benefits organizations which rescue and retrain racehorses past their prime. Rather than heading to the glue factory, these animals enjoy new lives as pleasure horses or careers in other horse-focused sports like equestrian or polo.

These are beautiful bags, but it’s unfortunate that we’re still paying leather prices for them. While the Jill Milan bags start from $295, the Thoroughbred Bag pictured costs a whopping $1295. The entire Jill Milan collection is available from the Jill Milan website.

[Source: Handbago]

Vegan Leather Bags on eBay

[phpbay]vegan leather, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

We’re spoilt for choice with Zara Terez’ Nolita clutch purse.

This whimsical bow covered purse is just one of 26 different Nolitas. So often designers only offer us color options, but here we get real choice with a variety of prints and fabrics. If the bows don’t woo you, perhaps tie dye is more your speed, or a rainbow colored Aztec print, or even some snake embossed leather? With so many options there’s bound to be at least one that speaks to you!

Zara Terez gets away with using such radically different patterns and finishes by keeping the Nolita’s base very simple. We’ve seen so many purses like it, with a scooped flap and softly pleated body, before. But chances are we haven’t found it in the perfect fabric.

The long chain strap also helps set the Nolita apart. It’s always appreciated to have a hands-free option, and when it’s long enough to suit cross-body wear it’s so much the better.

I really like this bow covered fabric clutch, but I’m a bit disappointed by its price. Just like its leather sisters, this Nolita costs $225. Surely we deserve a discount for choosing the less expensive material!

More Features of This Zara Terez Bow Clutch

• Magnetic closure
• An interior zip pocket
• Fabric lined interior
• A single cross-body strap with a 19.5 inch drop
• Measures 7 x 11.25 x 3 inches
• Made in the United States of America

Get this Zara Terez Nolita Handbag:

• Available to buy at Endless (limited stock in some variations)
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]Zara Terez Nolita, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Bluefly eBay store to see if this Zara Terez bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Zara Terez bags on BagBunch
• The Zara Terez Mediano bag, a great alternative to this clutch bag.
• Searching for more Zara Terez bags on eBay

Carla Mancini takes the hobo back to its bohemian roots with this Amelia bag.

The casual slouch and long tassel accent give the Amelia its new age feel, but it’s not as rustic as many hobo bags tend to be. The cobalt blue leather is very elegant, and the trapezoidal shape gives the Amelia a bit more structure than the average. That makes the Amelia very versatile, the kind of bag that could easily take you from brunch with the girls through to an evening dinner date.

It’s got some familiar elements, but the Amelia isn’t just another hobo bag. The whipstitching across the top is stunning, and the ultra soft leather strap just begs to be held.

The Amelia is useful too, with zippered and open pockets inside and out, and the right amount of storage space. But I feel we’re missing out on those little extras I expect at this price point. The pockets aren’t leather trimmed, so they will likely show signs of wear quickly. And Carla Mancini puts the leather at risk by failing to include metal feet on the base.

Those omissions mean the Amelia is probably priced at bit high at $375, but it’s so lovely looking that I’m still tempted!

More Features of This Carla Mancini Leather Hobo

• Magnetic snap closure
• Faille lined interior
• A single shoulder strap with a 10 inch drop
• Measures 11.5 x 12.5 x 4.5 inches
• Made in the United States
• Also available in black, ivory, orange, turquoise, and yellow

Get this Carla Mancini Amelia Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Carla Mancini bags on BagBunch
• The Botkier Ava hobo bag, a great alternative to this classic hobo bag.
• Searching for more Carla Mancini bags on eBay
• Other blue leather hobo bags on eBay:

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Payless ShoeSource is making a play for the teen market with the August launch of its sister brand, Brash.

Brash will feature youthful and on-trend handbags, jewelry, shoes, beauty products, and hair accessories. The label continues Payless’ commitment to affordable prices, with pieces ranging from $3 to $45. With most items hovering around the $20 mark, teens should be able to afford them with their pocket money.

LuAnn Via, Payless’ chief executive officer, says Brash is made for “the spontaneous and playful teen shopper who wants to stand out from the crowd and experiment and invent her own independent style.“

The Brash name leaves a bit to be desired, but at least Payless has recruited a face with cred. Sierra Kusterbeck, the lead singer of indie rock act VersaEmerge, will help promote the teen line. Via says Payless chose the singer because her rebellious, yet feminine style is the embodiment of the brand.

Brash products will be available at Payless Shoesource stores and the new Brashgirl website from August. This site will allow teens to shop exclusively for the Brash products without seeing the more adult Payless accessories. Currently it directs to the Payless Shoesource website, which features a select number of Brash items ahead of the collection’s official release. Do you like what you see?

[Source: Examiner]
[Image Source: Payless]

Payless Purses on eBay

[phpbay]payless, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Kensie Girl is one of those youth lines that makes me long for younger days. I’m not sure my adult self could get away with carrying a purse as girly as the Barby Hobo, but I’d love to try!

The secret to Kensie Girl’s appeal is that it uses its materials really well. It needs to use synthetic to keep the prices kid friendly, but this slightly too stiff man made fabric gives the Barby’s ruffles an appealing structure.

These ruffles are dramatic, like the folds of a flamenco dancer’s skirt, and beautifully complemented by a light smattering of on trend studs. The bright yellow color won’t suit everyone, particularly those teens who’ve been hit by a bout of angst, but it is lots of fun. The bow on the cross-body strap is the cherry on top of this pretty purse.

The colorful floral lined interior is spacious but a little narrow, so you might struggle to fit your copy of War and Peace inside. This space is packed with pockets though, and their synthetic trim should help them last.

As we’d expect at this price, shortcuts have been taken. The back is almost devoid of decoration, so it looks boring compared to that over-embellished front. There’s also no protective feet on the base, so you’ll need to be careful where you set the Barby down. But for less than $70 we don’t expect perfection. In fact, I didn’t expect something as cute as this!

More Features of This Kensie Girl Ruffled Hobo

• Magnetic snap closure
• Measures 4 x 14 x 12 inches

Get this Kensie Girl Barby Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the MyJourneys4U eBay store to see if this Kensie Girl bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kensie Girl bags on BagBunch
• The Kensie Girl Sweet Petal bag, a great alternative to this ruffled bag.
• Searching for more Kensie Girl bags on eBay
• Other Kensie Girl hobos on eBay:

[phpbay]Kensie Girl hobo, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Kiwi designer Sharon Paris is creating accessories that are quite literally statement pieces for her fashion brand Paris House.

It might surprise you to know that Paris House has been around since 1934, but it’s a very different label today than it was back then. Paris’ grandfather Cohus conceived the company as a jewelry firm. Her father, a watchmaker, continued this tradition until his death in 2002. Now Sharon Paris is taking the family business in a much more modern direction.

The playful Paris House wallets and bags feature cheeky slogans like “Shut up and get on with it,” “Fishing for compliments,” and “Things will never be the same.” The accessories are simply styled, but the messages, which look like they’ve been scrawled onto the purses with paint pens, make them much more unique.

That originality has made some major retailers take notice. The New Zealander’s bags are now available in high-end fashion stores around the world including Harvey Nichols, Liberty, and Urban Outfitters.

The regular leather purses start from $75, but you can pay up to $820 for the Swarovski crystal studded minaudieres. Personally I think Paris’ brash messages work best on the more everyday accessories, but I’m sure a creative star like Katy Perry or Pink could pull off the crystal encrusted purses on a red carpet. Have the Paris House accessories stolen your heart?

[Source: Fashion for Lunch]
[Image Source: Paris House website]