Reed Krakoff wouldn’t have been one of my picks for top accessory designer a few months ago, but I’m really warming up to his low key brand of elegance. This leather and python clutch is seriously cool.

I’m usually a strictly black clad monochrome sort of girl, but I’m a sucker for white leather accessories. I’m also a sucker for snakeskin, so this clutch is basically custom made to appeal to me. I don’t think it’s just me, though. The way the python stands out against the white leather is really striking.

The simple design of the clutch allows the complexity of the materials to shine through, and the effect is truly beautiful. The elongated shape is the perfect backdrop for the multicolored python panels. But this bag isn’t just beautiful. It also has practical elements, like the zippered front pocket, that make it really usable. Plus, the arrow design of the silver zipper pulls is a beautifully subtle touch.

The $690 price is well deserved, even if it is a bit of investment for such a small bag

More Features Of The Reed Krakoff Python Detailed Leather Clutch

• 13″ x 7″ x 1″ size
• Fully lined in satin

Get This Reed Krakoff Python And Leather Clutch:

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

You may also be interested in:

• Other Reed Krakoff bags on BagBunch
• The Joe’s Jeans Tess Tote, an edgy, inexpensive alternative to this bag
• Searching for more Reed Krakoff items on eBay
• Searching for python clutches on eBay:

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Vieta gets girly with this Laurie Shoulder bag.

I hope you like bows, because Vieta gives us plenty of them. The four small accents are removable and able to be positioned wherever you like. This is a fun little gimmick, and one I can imagine tweens and teens enjoying. As a fully grown fashionista I’m tempted to do away with them completely, but without them the Laurie would really lack personality.

Perhaps the bows wouldn’t be so distasteful if they weren’t competing with the studs for attention. The metal discs decorate the straps and trim, giving it a bit of attitude which seems at odds with those bows.

This pale sky blue purse is the pick of the Lauries for me. The contrast of the white trim is much more subtler than it is on the darker blue bags, so the look seems a little more cohesive.

I’m still far from in love with this purse though, but perhaps Vieta hasn’t made it for me. At $92 it’s cheap enough to suit mini fashionistas, so long as they have the discipline to save their pocket money!

More Features of This Vieta Bow Decorated Shoulder Bag

• Made of denim
• Two front zippered pockets
• Silver-toned hardware
• Vieta signature print lining
• Measures 9 x 20 x 13 inches

Get this Vieta Laurie Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Vieta Laurie, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Vieta bags on BagBunch
• The Marc by Marc Jacobs Lila denim bag, a great alternative to this denim bag.
• Searching for more Vieta bags on eBay

Never underestimate the importance of carrying the right handbag. New research details the way brand names influence our accessories decisions.

The Harris Poll compared the percentage of shoppers who base their handbag purchases on designer names around the world. In China the figure is a whopping 75%, while in the United States only 20% base their purchase on brand. It seems fashion lovers in Asia are swayed by those brand names, as 66% of Indians and 49% of shoppers in Singapore are influenced by the designer name. It’s less relevant in Europe, where 32% of Italians, 25% of Brits, 22% of the French and 17% of Germans base their decision on the brand name.

The study also concluded that many shoppers believe designer handbags have superior quality compared to the average tote. But that doesn’t mean they don’t love a bargain. Shoppers prefer to look for sales, and share news of their savings with their friends. In the US and China 89% of shoppers would tell their friends about a bargain.

That doesn’t mean that most fashionistas are happy to wait a season or two to enjoy the discounts though. Many consumers love being the first of their friends to own the latest It bag.

So what about you BagBunch readers? What influences you to lay down cash for a shiny new handbag?

[Source: Examiner]
[Image Source: Josep Altarriba/Stock.xchng]

A four-figure price tag makes me expect certain things from a handbag. I expect those little touches that make using it feel luxurious, and I expect heads to turn as I pass by. While this Linea Fashion 2 Charlize shoulder bag lives up to its practical promise, it’s just not as stylish as it should have been.

That’s not to say that this is a bad looking bag. It’s not. I admire the way that Versace has dressed up raffia, using the casual fiber for textural panels and teaming it with classic pebbled leather. The structured frame gives this shoulder bag a vintage vibe, which is contrasted with rows of edgy studs. Versace’s tried hard here, but all those design elements never look cohesive. They don’t clash as badly as they might, but they also don’t excite me either.

It’s very practical though, with a trio of large compartments making organization simple. Each one is lined in poppy turquoise satin, and equipped with even more pockets. If you can’t stay organized carrying this baby then you’re not trying hard enough!

But no one bought a designer handbag because it was smart. Those looks are all important, and the Linea Fashion 2 Charlize’s fail to charm us. It might be practical, but I can’t see many girls willing to fork over $1875 for that convenience.

More Features of This Versace Leather & Raffia Shoulder Bag

• Snap top closure
• A zip pocket and two slip pockets inside
• An exterior snap pocket
• Dual handles with a 6 inch drop
• Measures 10.5 x 12 x 3 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Versace Linea Fashion 2 Charlize Handbag:

• Available to buy at Saks Fifth Avenue
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Versace bags on BagBunch
• The Versace Large Leather Trimmed Raffia bag, a great alternative to this raffia bag.
• Searching for more Versace bags on eBay
• Other Versace black leather bags on eBay:

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Vera Bradley’s embraced its whimsical side with this adorable Hannah bag.

For too long it seems Vera Bradley has relied on diamond quilting and classic designs to stamp its mark on its accessories. But in recent seasons we’ve seen Vera Bradley move in a slightly different direction, and I think the line is better for it. The Night Owl patterned cotton is a throwback to the past, but without quilting running along it we can better appreciate its design.

The tiny owls peek out from sweet vertical pleats, which give the Hannah some movement and volume. The V-shaped yoke completes a design which is adorable, if not very fashion forward.

The Hannah is on the small side though, so it might not suit the needs of many modern girls. It’s a great size for the days you want to travel light, but it’s probably not going to become anyone’s go-to accessory.

But for $39.95, it doesn’t really need to be. That price is affordable for any bag, especially one as cute as this!

More Features of This Vera Bradley Night Owl Purse

• Zip top closure
• Two slip pockets inside
• A single strap with a 6.5 inch drop
• Measures 6.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 inches

Get this Vera Bradley Hannah Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Vera Bradley Hannah, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Re-Questz eBay store to see if this Vera Bradley bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Vera Bradley bags on BagBunch
• The Vera Bradley Hannah bag in Mediterranean Blue, a great alternative to this owl bag.
• Searching for more Vera Bradley bags on eBay

The collaborations between Lauren Bush’s FEED Projects and big name companies are coming thick and fast. It’s only been a couple of weeks since the charity label’s Disney, It’s a Small World by FEED Feed Our Small World Tote hit stores, and already there’s another FEED bag on the horizon. The latest addition to the line comes courtesy of a collaboration with French cosmetics label Clarins.

It’s called the FEED 15 Clarins pouch, as each one pays for school meals for 15 children. The companies hope to feed one million children through sales of the purses over the next two years.

The FEED 15 Clarins pouch would make a perfect cosmetics case, and Clarins is giving you some of the things you need to get started. Each purse comes complete with three of Clarins’ most popular lines: Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, and Instant Lip Perfector.

This is just the first collaboration we can expect to see between the famed make-up brand and Ms Bush. She’s currently developing a bag with the Courtin-Clarins daughters which she promises “will be much hipper than anything we’ve done at FEED.”

Look for the FEED 15 Clarins pouch exclusively at Nordstrom stores this July.

[Source: StyleList]

FEED Projects Bags on eBay

[phpbay]FEED Projects, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Gucci is one of those lines that’s been around the trend block more than a couple times. I’ve seen it go glam, equestrian, even goth. All of those phases have been fine, but honestly, I like it best when it sticks to its classic, preppy style. This Boston duffel is a great example of what Gucci does best.

If you’ve been paying attention to Gucci for more than five minutes, the beige and black diamante pattern of the fabric on the Boston will be nothing new to you. Add to that its trademark center stripe and leather trim and the Boston becomes super classic.

The center stripe is done here in tan and black instead of Gucci’s signature green and red, but it’s recognizable all the same, so there’s no need for an obvious logo. I love the perfectly scaled size of the Boston. I’m not always a fan of duffels, as they can be an awkward shape to carry, but the restrained size of this one makes it practical. Plus, the cylindrical shape of the bag provides the perfect counterpoint to the straight lines of the patterns.

The $960 price tag is, actually, not bad. Of course the Boston isn’t leather, but it’s plenty durable, and will definitely carry you through several seasons, if not decades.

More Features Of The Gucci Diamante Print Canvas Duffel Bag

• 11″ x 8″ x 6″ size
• 4″ strap drop
• Adjustable, removable shoulder strap
• Fully lined

Get this Gucci Boston Duffel:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Gucci bags on BagBunch
• The Anya Hindmarch Jackson Shoulder Bag, a larger, daytime alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Gucci bags on eBay
• Other canvas duffels on eBay:

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Yves Saint Laurent is one of those perennially chic lines that always seems on target. Sure, it’s had its off years, but for the most part, YSL is one of those design houses that can stand the test of time. This new leather version of the Belle de Jour clutch is even more iconic than the original tweed version.

The purple leather on the Belle is extremely well chosen. It’s been gently weathered for a softer, more casual look. But, honestly, the bag still falls pretty short of casual. It’s still really sophisticated, but not at all uptight or prissy.

The elongated rectangular shape is sleek and refined. The only embellishment is the embossed YSL logo at the center, and it’s so low key that it’s almost unnoticeable. This is the kind of accessory that will never go out of style, and the rich color is versatile, but still interesting enough to add a shot of color to your favorite LBD.

I’m really impressed by the Belle’s $445 price tag. Sure, it’s not exactly pocket change, but it’s really reasonable considering the timelessness of the design.

More Features of the Yves Saint Laurent Belle de Jour Patent Leather Clutch

• 10″ x 5″ x 2″ size
• Internal pouch pocket
• Fully lined in satin

Get this Belle de Jour Clutch by Yves Saint Laurent:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Yves Saint Laurent bags on BagBunch
• The Halston Foxy Pochette, an edgy alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Yves Saint Laurent bags on eBay
• Other purple leather clutches on eBay:

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VBH lets its luxury materials do all the talking with this Pellicano Python Tote.

VBH does its best work when it’s playing with exotic materials like this. It respects the skin and allows it to shine without any unnecessary complications. In a peachy beige tone the Pellicano is right on trend, although it’s not going to ever date. This is the kind of hue that can work its way into any seasonal wardrobe in any year and for any occasion, and well it should for the money!

It’s not an entirely practical choice though. The Pellicano is luxuriously large, but with only a single technology pocket and a zippered pouch it’s going to become difficult to manage. A zippered central compartment, or even a few more wall pockets, would have made it much more user friendly. It’s also criminal that VBH hasn’t added metal feet to protect that fragile python base!

It’s those functional flaws that really let the Pellicano tote down. On looks alone I could almost part with the whopping $4650 that VBH charges, but I think we deserve perfection for that price.

More Features of This VBH Python Tote

• Golden hardware
• An interior plaque with bag’s name and limited-edition number
• Suede lined interior
• A zippered shoulder strap with a 10.25 inch drop
• Measures 15.5 x 19 x 5 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this VBH Pellicano Handbag:

• Available to buy at Bergdorf Goodman
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More VBH bags on BagBunch
• The Nancy Gonzalez Python and Croc satchel bag, a great alternative to this python bag.
• Searching for more VBH bags on eBay
• Other python tote bags on eBay:

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A black Asprey handbag once owned by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher fetched £25,000 at a charity auction yesterday. The Iron Lady owned the purse for more than 30 years, and was even photographed carrying it while visiting the United States and meeting then president Ronald Reagan in 1985.

The purse was amongst several high profile items auctioned off by Thatcher’s good personal friend, author and former politician Sir Jeffrey Archer. They included Lawrence Dallaglio’s match ball from England’s 2003 rugby World Cup victory, Lord Archer’s stopwatch which timed Roger Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile, Eric Clapton’s Fender Telecaster guitar, and an Andy Warhol drawing of the dearly departed Princess Diana.

The lucky new owner is a Cypriot man who studied in Britain during Thatcher’s prime ministerial term. He was quoted as being a “great admirer” of the former British leader, as I suppose you’d have to be to part with that kind of cash. However it might have been a bargain, as auctioneers expected it to fetch four times that amount!

Lady Thatcher’s daughter Carol was amongst the excited bidders in the Christie’s showroom in central London. She said her mother was keen to learn how much the bag raised for her favorite charities. These included the British Forces Foundation, Combat Stress, and Debra, a group dedicated to helping sufferers of the debilitating skin disease epidermolysis bullosa.

[Source: The Guardian]
[Image Source: Wikipedia Commons]

Asprey Bags on eBay

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