Paco Mena first showed us what it could do with some cleverly arranged satin when it made the Dickseea clutch. Now it’s proving this was no fluke with the Tavi.

When so many clutch purses are covered in bows, sequins, and other frippery, it’s refreshing to see a design which is cleaner but just as striking. Ribbony swatches of satin criss-cross over one another to create a very modern accent for this simply shaped clutch. This detail is complemented beautifully by that vivid poppy red hue, although you can also find it in black or fuchsia if you prefer.

The Tavi is a little larger than your average evening purse, so I’m glad to see Paco Mena has added a dainty chain strap. It’s long enough to suit over-the-shoulder or cross-body carrying, so you can use it however you feel most comfortable. With all that interior space I find myself wishing for more than the single pouch pocket provided, but I probably shouldn’t be too critical for this price.

At a mere $37, the Tavi is a so cheap that I’m tempted to get one in each color!

More Features of This Paco Mena Satin Clutch

• Satiny lining
• Magnetic closure
• A chain strap with a 16 inch drop
• Measures 4.5 x 9.75 x 1.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Paco Mena Tavi Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Paco Mena bags on BagBunch
• The Paco Mena Dickseea bag, a great alternative to this satin bag.
• The Paco Mena website
• Other satin clutch bags on eBay:

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Marni is a line that I really love because of its hip modern perspective on style. Unfortunately, this tote is the worst possible combination of loud and unattractive. I’m terribly disappointed in Marni.

The print on this tote is horrendous. I guess I should say that the prints (plural) are horrendous, actually, because the worst thing about the bag is that there’s not just one bad print, there are several. I respect Marni’s inclination to patch so many differing contrasting patterns and colors, but unfortunately, it just didn’t come together very well.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the actual shape of the bag, although the straps are way too skinny for its size. The material, unfortunately, isn’t very attractive either. It’s really the combination of the material and prints that kills it. The glossed canvas just makes the whole thing look really cheap. On the plus size, the material is really durable.

I really can’t see paying $295 for this thing. Honestly, I can’t even see paying ten percent of the price.

More Features Of The Marni Printed Glossed Canvas Tote

• 19″ x 16″ x 7″ size
• 8″ strap drop
• Leather handles

Get this Marni Glossed Canvas Tote:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Marni bags on BagBunch
• The Marni Slouchy Shoulder Bag, a great alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Marni bags on eBay
• Other printed canvas totes  on eBay:
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Jimmy Choo has impeccably high taste, and although it sometimes takes its designs on a little bit of a wild ride, it still knows how to do urban sophistication better than almost everyone else. This Gaia tote is a glamorous and classy handbag.

Choo has wisely chosen to use several different textures of black leather on the Gaia. The largest portion has a large grain, and all the trim is smooth leather. This creates a beautiful dimensionality, which the back setting of the front panel accentuates elegantly.

The Gaia has a classic, but contemporary shape. As far as totes go, it’s one of the best I’ve seen. The silver hardware perfectly accents the sleek design of the bag. I really can’t find any faults in the impeccable design of the Gaia. It’s well balanced, elegant, and the quality of the craftsmanship shines through in every detail.

The only problem I can find with the Gaia is the $1,695 price tag. It’s not bad for a high end designer find, but it’s still a bit pricey for most of us working types.

More Features Of The Jimmy Choo Gaia Leather Tote

• 15″ x 11″ x 4″ size
• 7″ handle drop
• Fully lined in tan suede

Get this Jimmy Choo Gaia Tote:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Jimmy Choo bags on BagBunch
• The Jimmy Choo Simone hobo, a stylish alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Jimmy Choo bags on eBay
• Other designer black leather totes on eBay:

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You’ll never fail to find your suitcase on the baggage carousel if it’s one of the quirky limited edition travel bags and trunks designed by British designer Sarah Jane Williams. A graduate of the London College of Fashion and former intern at a leather goods company, she’s clearly learned a thing or two about pushing boundaries!

Williams’ unusually shaped travel bags, released under the label Williams British Handmade, are handcrafted from high quality bridle leather strung over brass metal frames. They are a curious mix of classic craftsmanship and modern design vision. But at their heart they’re really old fashioned girls, made using traditional saddle stitching techniques.

The craftsmanship is amazing and the looks are incredible. They’re more like works of art than any travel cases I’ve ever seen. But I can’t imagine they’d be very easy to pack, especially that U-shaped one. And can you just imagine how crumpled your clothes would be once you reached your destination?

They have their functional limitations, but I’m still smitten with these suitcases. If you are too, and want a Sarah Jane Williams trunk for your next vacation, you can order it using the contact details provided on her Williams British Handmade website.

[Source: Williams British Handmade]

Hilary Radley combines mod fashion with some contemporary flair with this Jude satchel.

Grommets are right on trend, but when they’re made as large as this they get a fun sixties feel. I love the clean way the belt accent threads through the metal hardware, and the look of the oversized zipper pulls adorning the side pockets. There’s a lot going on here, but it’s done so crisply that the Jude doesn’t seem cluttered. The gentle taupe color helps its cause.

Yes, I said taupe. Hilary Radley calls it gray, but as one Endless customer pointed out it’s just as taupe as the photo suggests. The color is warmer than gray, a shade that skirts closer to brown than steel. That’s no matter really, but girls should know what they’re paying for.

The Jude has some nice modern touches, but at its heart it’s an old fashioned bag made to serve. The interior is a great size for everyday use, and there are more pockets inside to complement the ones we saw up front. The shoulder straps are long and flat, so they won’t slide off your shoulder as rolled ones tend to do.

And since Hilary Radley’s used synthetic rather than a real leather alternative, we get the package for just $90. Fashion snobs may turn their nose up at the slightly too shiny surface, but for the money I think we’re getting a great deal.

More Features of This Hilary Radley Belted Satchel

• Twill lined interior
• Zip top closure
• Dual handles with a 12.5 inch drop
• Measures 10.5 x 16.5 x 4.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Hilary Radley Jude Handbag:

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

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• Check the No1OneBrandNameLiquidatorStore eBay store to see if this Hilary Radley bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Hilary Radley bags on BagBunch
• The Hilary Radley Jude hobo bag, a great alternative to this satchel bag.
• Searching for more Hilary Radley bags on eBay

It seems Lady Gaga might not be the only one who loves to carry fashion made from food. In the tradition of the pop princess’ infamous meat purse, award-winning Italian photographer Fulvio Bonavia created an entire range of edible accessories for his book A Matter of Taste.

Bonavia’s created purses made from raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, and parmesan cheese! And to complete your delicious outfit, there are also court shoes crafted from hollowed out eggplants, a belt made from hundreds of tiny sardines, and boots crafted from rice with garlic bulb pom-poms. It’s all very creative, and delightfully unhinged!

Of course I can’t imagine that carrying a bag made from food would be very functional. It’s only a matter of time before those fruits turn, leaving our purse as a soggy rotten mess. But while it lasts, wouldn’t it be a great for those busy days of running errands? You’d have snacks on hand, and a great conversation starter at the same time! Would you like to sling one of these sumptuous bags over your shoulder, or wear cuisine clothes?

You can see more of these beautiful and delectable food accessories in the book A Matter of Taste, which is available for $76.46 from Amazon.

[Source: Fulvio Bonavia website]

A Matter of Taste Books on eBay

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I’ve recently been bowled over by the sumptuous and affordable leather purses from Alla Leather Art. However while its Rondo hobo is right on trend, it’s sadly left me a bit cold.

I worry that Alla Leather Art has tried too hard to please contemporary fashion fans this time around. Perforated leather is right on trend. In white leather it looks fresh and sporty. But all those holes make it difficult to appreciate the quality of the leather, which has always been one of Alla Leather Art’s strengths. It might be fashionable now, but once our taste for perforated leather fades I wonder whether the Rondo will get as much of a workout.

For now though we’ll enjoy all the interior space provided, and the convenient array of inner pockets. These are trimmed in more of that white leather to help them last, although I wonder whether the shiny lining will be as durable.

At $279 this is another relatively affordable bag from Alla Leather Art, but I don’t think it’s one of the label’s best. If you want to indulge in the current trends though you could certainly do worse.

More Features of This Alla Leather Art Perforated Leather Hobo

• Top zip closure
• Bronze toned hardware
• Measures 6 x 12 x 15 inches

Get this Alla Leather Art Rondo Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Alla Leather Art bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Alla Leather Art bags on BagBunch
• The small Alla Leather Art Rondo hobo bag, a great alternative to this large bag.
• Searching for more Alla Leather Art bags on eBay
• Other Alla Leather Art Rondo bags on eBay:

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Zara Terez offers an affordable alternative to a crocodile skin clutch with this embossed 54th Street purse.

No discerning fashionista would ever mistake this simple purse for a real crocodile one. Its green hue is a bit surreal, and its scales are a little too structured to ever pass as the real deal. But I don’t think that matters too much. Even if it doesn’t seem authentic, the 54th Street clutch has an interesting surface which helps to punch up its fairly simple envelope design.

That simple approach continues inside, where we see just a zippered pocket. This is a real improvement on the small open pouches we typically find inside clutches, but it’s the only practical perk we’ll find. You can give up looking for that attachable strap, because Zara Terez doesn’t think we need it. I don’t agree with her, as the 54th Street clutch is quite large, although its ergonomic shape shouldn’t make hand-held clutching too much of a trial.

I hesitate to spend $195 on such a simple a clutch, but if you can manage to get use from it during the day it might be worth the splurge.

More Features of This Zara Terez Croc Embossed Clutch

• Fully lined interior
• Measures 12 x 6 inches
• Made in the United States

Get this Zara Terez 54th Street Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the Diamond Dresser 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 108th Street bag, a great alternative to this croc-embossed bag.
• Searching for more Zara Terez bags on eBay
• Other croc-embossed clutch bags on eBay:

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With three boys already and another baby on the way, no one would blame Victoria Beckham if she let her fashion career rest for a little while. But the former Spice Girl is actually hard at work on her next line, due to hit stores in spring 2012.

But it seems her ever-expanding family hasn’t been far from her thoughts. As she anticipates becoming mom to her first daughter, Beckham says she’s created her “most girly collection” to date.

There are bows and whimsical cat and cloud prints, but we shouldn’t expect anything too saccharine. Beckham says she’s also been inspired by the moody cartoon character Emily the Strange. So we can look forward to designs that are feminine, with a bit of edge to them. All the pieces will be made in Portugal, although Indian artisans will work to give selected items a few finishing touches.

Some of the purses in Victoria Beckham’s first collection with prohibitively expensive, so it’s refreshing to see her pledging that no item in the new range will cost more than a thousand dollars. That’s still not small change, but it’s a bit more attainable than that £8,950 hexagonal chain crocodile bag we all wanted! As the last collection generated $7 million, seven times more than was expected, perhaps she can afford to be a bit more generous!

[Source: Handbago]
[Image Source: LGEPR/Wikipedia Commons]

Victoria Beckham Handbags on eBay

[phpbay]Victoria Beckham, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

We all know Zac Posen would never lend his name to just any bag. So when I spotted this Zac Sac from the designer’s Z Spoke diffusion line, I knew it had to be something special.

What struck me at first was the quality of its materials. All too often designers sacrifice fabrics to keep their costs in these diffusion lines down, but I see no evidence of compromise here. Perhaps Posen might have chosen real reptile over embossed lambskin, but this material is so soft that it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice.

The Zac Sac is a much flirtier satchel than those we typically see. The soft knotted bows at each side are carefree and feminine, a great complement to the cute scalloped flap. And when we see that this bag is practical too, it’s so much the better.

We lift the flap to find a smart triple-compartment interior, which should be a breeze to organize. The space is lined in hardy faille and well appointed with leather trimmed pockets.

The only niggle is the short handle. This wrapped handle really matches the Zac Sac’s vintage vibe, but it’s not as practical as a shoulder strap would have been. This is a case where fashion has triumphed over function, which isn’t altogether a bad thing.

I’m not quite sure how Zac Posen’s shaved off the dollars, but he’s managed to see this satchel priced at just $525. That’s not exactly chump change, but it’s more than reasonable for such a stylish and substantial bag.

More Features of This Z Spoke Lambskin Satchel

• A kiss-lock closure
• A single handle with a 4 inch drop
• Measures 9 x 12.5 x 4.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Zac Posen Zac Sac Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Zac Posen bags on BagBunch
• The yellow and caramel Zac Sac bag, a great alternative to this blush pink bag.
• Searching for more Zac Posen bags on eBay
• Other vintage satchel bags on eBay:

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