It’s been five years since Ghurka Luxury Leather Goods released a women’s handbag line, and it seems the wait was worth it. The launch of the label’s new Heritage collection has become the most successful in ShopNBC’s history.

The Heritage collection debuted last Saturday with two one-hour programs on ShopNBC. Its handbags were inspired by the most successful from the Ghurka stable, and feature classic elements including pebbled leather, brass hardware, and Ghurka’s signature checked lining.

It line featured the Cavalier, a leather satchel designed exclusively for the network. This satchel sold out, as did the Grace, Collette, and Jessica satchels, and the Barbara cross-body bag. Ghurka’s new travel cases and shoulder bags were also well received.

Charles Chehebar, the head of Ghurka, said he was thrilled his company had partnered with ShopNBC for the Heritage line’s launch. He praised the network for highlighting the luxurious details of his brand and its products, and said he plans to work with the company again on future launches.

Shop NBC’s president Bob Ayd said the launch exceeded his network’s expectations, despite his confidence that Ghurka’s prestigious bags would appeal to the “refined taste and desire for high quality” his viewers possess.

Following their NBC launch, the Ghurka Heritage collection bags are now available from the label’s online store and the Shop NBC website.

[Source: Market Watch]
[Image Source: Shop NBC website]

Ghurka Bags on eBay

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Yves Saint Laurent has reinvented its iconic Rive Gauche Tote, and I think it’s a change for the better.

I’ve always thought the Rive Gauche was a bit pedestrian, but the new model’s box quilted surface helps it really stand out. A gentle diagonal pleat running from corner to corner of each box only makes the surface look more luxurious. And well it should for the money Yves Saint Laurent is charging us!

The fashion house does give us all of those lovely little extras we expect when we’re paying top dollar. Metal feet help to protect its base and it’s lined completely with leather. There’s more leather trimming the pockets, to ensure they survive daily use, and there’s a matching key chain to keep us further organized.

We know Yves Saint Laurent will never give its bags away, so the New Rive Gauche’s $2819 price tag probably isn’t any great surprise. It stings a little, but this bag is so versatile and timeless I predict that hip pocket pain will fade quickly!

More Features of This Yves Saint Laurent Quilted Leather Tote

• Gold toned hardware
• Two slot pockets and a zippered pouch inside
• Hook closure
• Dual top handles with a 7 inch drop
• Measures 16 x 16 x 8 inches

Get this Yves Saint Laurent New Rive Gauche Handbag:

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

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• Check the Bluefly eBay store to see if this Yves Saint Laurent bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Yves Saint Laurent bags on BagBunch
• The Luba J Chloe tote bag, a great alternative to this quilted bag.
• Searching for more Yves Saint Laurent bags on eBay

I haven’t really been interested in backpacks since I left high school, but the wild optical dot print on this Yak Pack variety has made me pause.

The trippy print with its patterned pink, white, and gray spots is enough to liven up this backpack’s traditional shape. That silhouette might be a bit tired, but it’s a classic for a reason. You’ll have plenty of room for stashing school books and packed lunches inside this clever accessory.

And as is always the way with Yak Pak, the eye-catching pattern only tells half the story. The label is known for its practicality, and it doesn’t skimp at all here. Its material might not be luxurious, but it’s water resistant. That’s a blessing for any student who’s come home with soggy books after an unexpected shower!

The generously sized main compartment is complemented by a large zippered pocket up front. The reinforced soft straps and padded back panel make it very comfortable to carry.

And its bottom line should please any parent. Kids are notoriously hard on their school bags, so it’s great to see this one costs just $19.99.

More Features of This Yak Pak Dot Print Bag

• Reinforced seams
• Measures 12 x 6 x 15 inches

Get this Yak Pak Backpack:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Yak Pak bags on BagBunch
• The Yak Pak zebra backpack, a great alternative to this dot bag.
• Searching for more Yak Pak bags on eBay
• Other dot backpacks on eBay:

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Missoni has designed a limited edition shoulder bag to celebrate the opening of its latest London store.

Fashion houses typically release limited edition accessories while opening stores to line their own pockets, so it’s refreshing to see Missoni moving in a more altruistic direction. Proceeds from sales of its purse will help the Hoping Foundation, a charity which helps to fund grassroots projects in Palestinian refugee communities, particularly those which care for the country’s needy children.

The square shoulder bag features a pale blue pattern, a more muted design than the ones we see on most Missoni accessories. A message on its shoulder strap is a reminder that the handbag was made by Missoni for the Hoping Foundation.

The New Bond Street boutique is Missoni’s second outlet in the United Kingdom. The 3506-square-foot store features womenswear and accessories on the ground and first floors, menswear on the lower ground level, and homewares scattered throughout the space.

Missoni celebrated the store opening with a lavish launch party. The Missoni family and key company personnel partied with fashion industry’s elite including photographer Mario Testino and model Jodie Kidd. The guests were treated to appetizers and cocktails and a live performance from British DJ and singer-songwriter Yasmin.

The limited edition Missoni shoulder bag is available for £100 from the New Bond Street and Sloane Street Missoni stores, and the Hoping Foundation website.

[Source: Racked]
[Image Source: Examiner]

Missoni Shoulder Bags on eBay

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Bold is just one word that comes to mind when looking at XOXO’s Bold Catch Pleated Purse. Beautiful certainly isn’t the other though!

This is one over-embellished accessory. XOXO’s tween target audience might love all those bows and the edgy decorate chain, but when paired with the pleated pewter vinyl it simply looks messy. Metallic materials need to be treated delicately lest they seem tacky, but there’s no restraint shown here.

The vinyl material is also a predictable letdown. XOXO never uses luxurious materials, but when it attempts to mimic leather it’s always a dismal failure. The vinyl is shiny and thin, with that plastic like finish that never appeals.

I could perhaps forgive all that if XOXO had made the Bold Catch functional, but it’s really not. It’s small, perhaps blessedly so. I don’t think any of us really wants to see a bag this unattractive on a larger scale! But it won’t hold much of anything, which should be the handbag’s whole point!

Bags like this one really release the fashion snob in me. I don’t suggest that mini fashionistas should follow Suri Cruise’s lead and carry around handbags worth thousands, but there are many cheap and cheerful purses that look much more elegant than this ugly XOXO one.

More Features of This XOXO Pleated Pewter Purse

• Top zip closure
• Two patch pockets and an interior zip pocket
• Polyester lined interior
• An adjustable shoulder strap
• Measures 6 x 8.5 x 3.25 inches

Get this XOXO Bold Catch Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More XOXO bags on BagBunch
• The gunmetal XOXO Bold Catch bag, a great alternative to this pewter bag.
• Searching for more XOXO bags on eBay
• Other bow shoulder bags on eBay:

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Kelly Osbourne has begun marketing duties as the face of Material Girl’s fall collection. The fashion line, which was developed by Madonna and her teen daughter Lourdes “Lola” Ciccone Leon, features handbags, shoes, jewelry, and apparel items.

Osbourne, who replaced Taylor Momsen as the face of the line, says she’s really enjoying her new role.

“I love being part of a brand for girls and having the opportunity to work with Lola who has an amazing fashion instinct,” she said. “Added to that is the fact that Madonna has been a big influence on my style over the years.“

The new fall line interprets the trends seen on catwalks in Milan, Paris, New York, and London, but does so in a very economic way. The accessories range features fashionable cross-body purses, hobo bags, and shoulder bags with flap closures.

They’re made using leatherette and other budget conscious materials, which see them costing between $16 and $40. These affordable price tags make them perfect for tweens and teens saving their pocket money, or parents wanting to treat their daughters before school starts.

The Material Girl fall collection is currently available in Macy’s stores across America and the retailer’s website. Are you excited about the latest Material Girl range?

[Source: Examiner]
[Image Source: Glenn Francis/Wikipedia Commons]

Material Girl Bags on eBay

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Whiting & Davis puts a glam twist on an old favorite with this Mini Twisted hobo.

Hobos are typically bohemian, casual bags but not this shiny beauty. Its metal mesh body makes it much more evening appropriate. Can’t you just imagine how dazzling it’ll look when those small metal panels catch the moonlight? I’m swooning over this simply styled handbag, particularly in this vivid poppy turquoise. Whiting & Davis offers more traditional metallics including pewter and pearl, but I think this more playful color is the pick of them.

This hobo gets its name from the handle, which features metal mesh tubes loosely twisted together. All too often the handle seems like an afterthought, so it’s refreshing to see one taking center stage. I’m not sure how all that lumpy metal will feel on your shoulder, but it looks stunning. And if you don’t like it as a shoulder strap, with some minor adjustments it can become a wrist loop, or you can remove it completely and carry the purse as a clutch!

This hobo is bigger than your average evening bag, but that’s still not saying much. You’ll likely enjoy the space if you’re only taking it to dinner or a movie, but it’s not going to make the day to night transition without some careful packing.

It looks like a real glamourpuss, but this Twisted Hobo is actually pretty approachable at $145. We don’t get a whole lot of purse for that price, but we do get a whole lot of style.

More Features of This Whiting & Davis Metal Mesh Hobo

• Zip top closure
• A single interior zip pocket
• A removable strap with a 9 inch drop
• Measures 3 x 8 x 6.5 inches

Get this Whiting & Davis Mini Twisted Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Whiting Davis twisted hobo small, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Whiting & Davis bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Whiting & Davis bags on BagBunch
• The Whiting & Davis Twisted bag, a great alternative to this mini bag.
• Searching for more Whiting & Davis bags on eBay

When I think of cheap and cheerful accessories, I think of Vitalio Vera. This fashion label is far from a household name, but it consistently interprets the trends and adds its own unique flair to the bargain fashion landscape. The Rossana bag is a great example of what makes this company so appealing.

I typically associate hobo bags with bohemian fashionistas like Sienna Miller and the Olsen twins. But the Rossana reinvents the style with a unique military twist. This goes beyond the olive green leatherette, although that is lovely. You’ll never mistake it for the authentic article, but it doesn’t have that cheap plasticky shine that so many synthetics do.

The brass metal tips on the triangular stitched panels remind me of the chevron badges worn on the sleeves of our soldiers. Foley + Corinna seems to be another influence here; that braided handle is right out of the more well-known designer’s playbook, and the shape is also reminiscent of the Mid City tote. It’s a gentle tribute though, as Vitalio Vera definitely adds enough of its own style to the mix.

It might be cheap, but Vitalio Vera certainly hasn’t held back on the functional features. There’s a zippered pocket on the back of the purse, and another large one inside to separate the interior into three. The Rossana would probably have been easy enough to manage if Vitalio Vera had stopped there, but it’s also added another four pockets for keeping smaller items in order.

That distinctive handle isn’t very practical, but it’s not our only carrying option. Vitalio Vera injects a little extra value with a much longer, removable cross-body strap.

It might not be the most luxurious bag on the market, but you couldn’t accuse Vitalio Vera of skimping for the bargain price of just $49.95.

More Features of This Vitalio Vera Military Hobo

• Top zip closure
• Cotton nylon blend lining
• An attachable strap with an 18 inch drop
• Measures 10 x 15 x 4.5 inches

Get this Vitalio Vera Rossana Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check The Purses Boutique store to see if this Vitalio Vera bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Vitalio Vera bags on BagBunch
• The Foley + Corinna Mid City tote bag, a great alternative to this leatherette bag.
• Searching for more Vitalio Vera bags on eBay
• Other military hobo bags on eBay:

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Chloe is one of those lines that is somehow able to take contemporary designs and inject them with a giant dose of feminine charm. Its styles never look too trendy or saccharine, which is a major feat. This new take on the June Bow bag is absolutely picture perfect.

Denim and brown leather are an amazing combination. The June Bow bag takes it up a notch by using leather instead of denim, but it does so without sacrificing the color scheme. I’m not a girly girl and I love this bag, so I think this feminine purse will appeal to a much wider audience than the usual bows and frills set.

The shape is classic Chloe. It’s clean and simple and it lets the giant bow detail take over the design. The small studding on the sides of the bow adds a little edge to the June and keeps it from looking too sweet.  The skinny chain strap is a great addition and it is totally in keeping with the denim-y look of the bag.

At $825, the June Bow isn’t exactly a steal, but it’s not bad for something so cute and quirky.

More Features Of The Chloe June Bow Embellished Leather Shoulder Bag

• 13″ x 7″ x 4″ size
• 16″ handle drop
• Internal pouch pocket
• Fully lined

Get this Chloé June Bow Clutch:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Chloe bags on BagBunch
• The Botkier Jaden Hobo, a larger alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Chloe bags on eBay
• Other blue leather clutches on eBay:
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When most of us think of laptop bags we think of functional masculine looking accessories that do their job without turning any heads. But South Carolina’s Alesya Opelt is hoping to change our minds with the launch of her practical and pretty Alesya Bag.

During her years working in the technology industry, Opelt saw the outfits of many fashionable entrepreneurs ruined by bulky, boring laptop bags. And so she set about designing an alternative, an all leather accessory which combines functionality and fashion. She hopes that her efforts might inspire other women to launch their own businesses. I’m not sure whether it’ll do that, but it should create change in the wardrobes of many women.

The Alesya Bag is available in exquisite eggplant, equestrian tan, and Kelly girl green. Each one can hold a 15-inch laptop or tablet, along with files and folders, and other smaller everyday items. The interiors are all fully lined, and the single shoulder straps are long enough to comfortably fit on your shoulder.

Considering their quality materials and versatility, I think the Alesya Bags are very affordably priced at $265, plus shipping and taxes. After all, these are business bags that aren’t stuffy or androgynous. I can imagine them becoming wardrobe staples, taking women from their day job through to after work cocktails and the weekend.

[Source: PR Newswire]
[Image Source: Alesya Bag website]

Leather Laptop Bags on eBay

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