Pacsafe offers an unusual alternative to a regular coin purse with its Wristsafe 150 Wrist Wallet.

This quirky wallet puts an end to scrounging around inside your tote for loose change, as it wraps around your wrist. A concealed buckle keeps the adjustable wrist band securely in place. Breathable backing ensures it’s comfortable to wear too, even on a sweltering summer’s day.

The Wristsafe is far from the height of fashion, but you should be able to tuck it under coats and sweaters once cold weather hits. And in the meantime, you’ll just need to rock a retro wrist band look!

The Wristsafe is called a wallet, but to be fair you can’t use it as a substitute for a traditional wallet. No one wants to bend their credit cards around their wrist and risk damaging them. It’ll happily hold coins and paper money, but you may want to leave the plastic behind. Pacsafe also claims its elastic mesh pocket is meant for a phone, but I can’t imagine this wallet will feel comfortable to wear once you stuff a cell inside. That goes double for the zippered key pocket!

This Wristsafe Wrist Wallet is a bit of a gimmick, but at $29.99 it’s an affordable one. I can’t imagine you’ll ever trade in your traditional wallet for this model, but you should find it useful while traveling.

More Features of This Pacsafe Wrist Wallet

• Measures 1 x 5 x 2.8 inches
• Also available in gray

Get this Pacsafe WristSafe 150 Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Pacsafe Wristsafe 150, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Pacsafe bags on BagBunch
• The Pacsafe Wristsafe 50 sweat bands, a great alternative to this wrist wallet.
• Searching for more Pacsafe bags on eBay

We’ve been longtime admirers of Paco Mena’s original and affordable evening accessories. But it looks like the label was running short on inspiration when it created the Quemya Clutch.

The Quemya is nice enough, but it lacks that innovation we associate with the brand. We’ve seen its soft satiny base and kiss-lock closure so many times before, and the geometric motif on the frame does little to jazz things up. Even that dull gray color is uninspired, and sadly our only option. I suppose it’ll be easy to incorporate into an evening wardrobe, but it’s not likely to inspire envious stares.

The rest of the Quemya is just as we’d expect. It’s long but quite narrow, so it won’t hold much more than your average evening purse. It has an open pouch, but this teeny tiny patch seems more like a token gesture than an organizational aid. There’s also the prerequisite chain strap, a handy addition but not really anything more than what most modern clutch’s offer.

At $67 the Quemya is really affordable, but that’s not enough to convince me to part with my cash.

More Features of This Paco Mena Satin Clutch

• Satiny lining
• A chains trap with a 17 inch drop
• Measures 5 x 11.5 x 2.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Paco Mena Quemya Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Paco Mena bags on BagBunch
• The Lulu Guinness Rainy Day Fund clutch bag, a great alternative to this kiss-lock closure bag.
• Searching for more Paco Mena bags on eBay
• Other gray satin clutch bags on eBay:

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Bottega Veneta attempts to dress up polyvinyl chloride with its new PVC-Weave Cabat bags.

These Cabats are similar to the leather and exotic ones that we’re all familiar with, but instead of luxury materials Bottega Veneta’s played with a synthetic skin. Why? Well why not?

I didn’t think even a high class label like Bottega Veneta could make PVC look sophisticated, but I’m happy to be proven wrong. The woven finish looks just as luxurious as any of the label’s more opulent materials. Bottega Veneta’s utilized the synthetic’s unique qualities well. What other material comes in a transparent variety? We can choose an all-clear version, or one blended with leather.

I’m just disappointed that Bottega Veneta has passed on little discount to its loyal customers. I understand that Bottega Veneta’s put a lot of work into these intricately woven handbags, but PVC is as cheap as chips. Not so the bags though, which cost $4800 for the PVC version, $6350 for the mid-sized leather and PVC one, and a whopping $7,800 for the large alternative!

That’s a whole lot of money to spend on a bag made of plastic! What do you think of Bottega Veneta’s latest offerings? And can PVC ever be truly luxurious?

[Source: Bag Snob]

Bottega Veneta Cabat Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Bottega Veneta Cabat, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Punchy yellow pebbled leather helps this small Lark Duffel Bag from Phillip Lim make a big impression.

I’m in love with that cheerful retro color that Phillip Lim calls limon. It’s a bit paler than a neon, but it’s still got that same citrusy appeal. By muting the hue Phillip Lim makes it really wearable, although it still won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you prefer something more traditional you’ll happily note the Lark is also available in a neutral beige shade.

Phillip Lim calls this Lark a small duffel, but I think it’s large enough to hold everything you need with some careful packing. I’d ordinarily prefer more than the single zippered interior pocket, but the Lark’s been so cleverly designed that I’m satisfied. Zippered pockets are discretely built into the top and side of the exterior for better organization. I also appreciate the removable cross-body strap, which is likely to prove much more useful than those short tubular handles.

At $875 we can’t call the Lark a bargain, but it’s not unreasonably priced for such a high quality leather bag.

More Features of This 3.1 Phillip Lim Pebbled Leather Duffel Bag

• Made from cow leather
• Zip top closure
• Measures 7 x 6.5 x 13 inches

Get this 3.1 Phillip Lim Lark Handbag:

• Available to buy at Cusp by Neiman Marcus
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Phillip Lim bags on BagBunch
• The Phillip Lim Kanvas leather tote bag, a great alternative to this yellow bag.
• Searching for more Phillip Lim bags on eBay
• Other yellow duffel bags on eBay:

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Handbag hook firm Purse Tails is doing its bit for breast cancer research with the release of two new products. A portion of proceeds from the sales of the Clipa for a Cure purse hook and Pink Ribbon Keyfinder will be distributed between America’s Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the United Kingdom’s Breast Cancer Campaign.

Ten percent of the sales from the Clipa for a Cure purse hook and twenty percent of sales from the Pink Ribbon Keyfinder will benefit the charities. Customers can give a little more by purchasing another item with the keyfinder. That extra purchase will boost the donation up to half the keyfinder’s price. American sales will reach the American organization, while sales in the United Kingdom will hit the British non-profit.

Purse Tails has also launched a Twitter-based competition to coincide with its current breast cancer charity initiative. To enter you’ll just need to spread the word, using text listed on the Purse Tails blog, to qualify. The winning entry will win a free Clipa for a Cure purse hook. It’s not the most expensive prize around, but it’s better than nothing I suppose!

What do you think of Purse Tails work to raise breast cancer awareness and research funding?

[Source: PR Web]

Handbag Hooks on eBay

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Marc by Marc Jacobs is one of the most innovative and affordable lines around. Its sometimes preppy, sometimes punk take on Americana always looks clean and cool. This summery Katie clutch isn’t the best the line has to offer, but it isn’t the worst either.

I guess I’ve already insinuated that I have sort of a conflicting view of this clutch. On the one hand, I really like the minimal design paired with the bright neon leather. One the other, that gold chain detail isn’t really doing anything for me, or for the bag, in general. In fact, it sort of cheapens the purse’s clean lines and the super hot color. But 90s inspired details are all the rage these days, so it does play into some major trends.

If you can get past the slight clunkiness of the closure then the Katie could be the perfect summer accessory for you. The brightness ensures that it will work for both day and night and the simple design will complement many styles. Uptown to downtown, the Katie could add a posh pop of color to your summer wardrobe. Its small size makes it perfect for carrying gloss and your wallet and not much else.

The regular retail price of the Katie is $360, which I might have said was a little high, but lucky us, it’s on sale all over the internet for around $216, which is considerably more reasonable.

More Features Of The Marc By Marc Jacobs Katie Leather Clutch

• 11″ x 6″ size
• Interior zippered pocket

Get this Marc By Marc Jacobs Katie Neon Orange Clutch:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Marc Jacobs bags on BagBunch
• The Marc by Marc Jacobs Moto Proto Hobo Bag, an edgy alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Marc Jacobs handbags on eBay
• Other neon leather clutches on eBay:[phpbay]neon leather clutch purse,2,””, “”[/phpbay]

It’s got a prissy name, but the Penelope Satchel from Oryany Handbags is a casual number that’s big on practicality.

The Penelope is literally covered in pockets. There’s one on the front, and one on each side, and that’s all before we even unzip it! Once we do we’re treated to even more of the secured zippered compartments. You can’t say Oryany hasn’t been generous! I appreciate their convenience, but I feel their execution lets the Penelope down. While the oversized zipper pulls add some personality to the design they also make the bag seem a bit cluttered.

The interior is a good size for everyday use, especially with all those pockets on hand. I wouldn’t say the configuration exceeds our expectations, but it certainly meets them. And this price point, that’s definitely sufficient. The top handles look cute but they’ll become difficult to use once the Penelope’s full. Oryany Handbags gets us out of trouble though by providing a detachable cross-body strap.

The Penelope’s not quite the height of sophistication or style, but it is well made and practical. Those strong selling points ensure we see value for our $450.

More Features of This Oryany Handbags Leather Satchel

• Zip top closure
• Printed twill lining
• Dual handles with a 5 inch drop
• A detachable strap with a 19 inch drop
• Measures 11.5 x 14.5 x 5.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Oryany Handbags Penelope Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the Name Brand Outlet 4320 eBay store to see if this Oryany Handbags bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Oryany Handbags bags on BagBunch
• The Oryany Handbags Wendy hobo bag, a great alternative to this black bag.
• Searching for more Oryany Handbags bags on eBay
• Other Oryany Handbags satchels on eBay (see listings below):

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Oroton serves up classic design without the luxury price tag with this Entourage tote.

This Entourage’s bold pink color won’t suit everyone, but I love its retro appeal. The Entourage is such a simple bag that I believe it needs a vibrant hue to spice things up. If you disagree though don’t worry; Oroton also offers the tote in more sedate harvest orange and brown lantern shades.

The Entourage is a pretty basic bag but Oroton’s shown characteristic attention to detail. Its pebbled leather is luxuriously plush and the eyelets are engraved with Oroton logos. This kind of discreet branding shows Oroton’s a label keeping pace with the trends, even when it’s celebrating classic design.

Its interior is roomy but it doesn’t have enough pockets to keep such a lavish space organized. There’s also no closure, so security becomes a concern. At least the platform base should ensure your cargo stays put once you set the Entourage down. Just make sure when you do rest it, it’s away from sticky fingers!

The Entourage may not be one of Oroton’s most exciting styles, but at $295 it represents real value for money.

More Features of This Oroton Leather Tote

• Dual handles
• Measures 14.4 x 9.6 x 4.7 inches

Get this Oroton Entourage Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Oroton Entourage, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Tracey’s Emporium eBay store to see if this Oroton bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Oroton bags on BagBunch
• The Prada Saffiano Lux tote bag, a great alternative to this classic bag.
• Searching for more Oroton bags on eBay

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely suggests women that carry fake designer handbags are big trouble. In his new book The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone – Including Ourselves, Ariely claims imitation brand name purse lovers are more likely to lie, steal, and cheat than women than buy genuine designer goods.

The idea that spending loose change on a bag which really costs thousands somehow signifies a serious moral flaw initially seems like a stretch. After all, doesn’t everyone behave a little dishonestly now and again? However Ariely says people who display their lies, as women do when they carry a designer fake, are especially deceitful.

As you look more closely at the practice of buying designer handbags and the number of lies involved in each transaction, Ariely’s theory makes some sense. In the first instance, these women are cheating the genuine designer out of money they’re due by supporting the violation of their intellectual property. These women lie again to anyone who catches a glimpse of their handbag and believes it to be the real thing. They’re pretending to have the sense of style and means to own a genuine designer accessory when they don’t. And finally they lie to themselves when they pretend that buying imitation handbags is OK.

Suddenly indulging in that faux Prada purse doesn’t sound so innocuous, does it?

[Source: Fox News]
[Image Source: Naza Hamed/Flickr]