Surf brand O’Neill gets us ready for the beach with this fun Nahua tote.

The Nahua is made from tightly woven seagrass, a flowering plant which grows in salty coastal waters. This material resembles rattan, and has a lovely beach flavour. However don’t think that just because it’s natural it’s an eco-conscious alternative. Seagrass plays a vital role in its environment, serving as food and shelter for marine animals and stabilizing the ocean floor. By ripping it out of its habitat we’re taking it away from the creatures that need it. That seems a little selfish for the sake of fashion, doesn’t it?

While I don’t really approve of the material, I like the rustic charm of the Nahua’s design. It’s trimmed with sweater knit embellished with a playful Aztec inspired print. More of that yarn is wrapped around the straps to make them softer in our hands.

That yarn applique isn’t the Nahua’s only practical perk though. The interior has a handy zippered pocket for safely stashing valuables. That’s a good thing too, because without any kind of closure, security is a concern. The open top design allows us to overstuff it, but it also compromises safety.

The Nahua is cheap and cheerful though at $48. For that price you won’t mind packing it away once the weather cools!

More Features of This O’Neill Seagrass Tote

• Fully lined interior
• Measures 13 x 17.5 x 7.75 inches

Get this O’Neill Nahua Handbag:

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

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• Check the Altrec Outdoors eBay store to see if this O’Neill bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More O’Neill bags on BagBunch
• The O’Neill Karma tote bag, a great alternative to this woven bag.
• Searching for more O’Neill bags on eBay

Reed Krakoff was named accessory designer of the year at the 2012 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards. The Coach creative director, who also heads his own signature line, received the title at a star-studded ceremony held at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall last night. This year’s event was particularly poignant as it marked the council’s 50th year of operation.

To even be invited to join the CFDA is considered a great honor. So for Reed Krakoff to receive a nomination, let alone win his category, is a great achievement. Krakoff took out the title over other nominees Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler masterminds Hernandez and McCollough. It was Krakoff’s second nomination, and as the other nominees had already received the title in past years it seems the nod was due!

The CFDA said Reed Krakoff took out the award for his outstanding contributions to the fashion world and influence over the accessories marketplace. There’s no doubt that other designers have emulated some of Krakoff’s most iconic styles including the Atlantique and Boxer bags. Krakoff joined other big winners on the night including the Olsen twins, Philip Lim, Billy Reid, and Rei Kawakubo.

Do you think that Reed Krakoff is a worthy winner?

[Source: Purse Blog]
[Image Source: Christoper Macsurak/Flickr]

Reed Krakoff Bags on eBay

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You don’t need a rock star budget to enjoy the classic good looks of this Rockaway Satchel.

The Rockaway doesn’t scream as loudly as many modern musicians, but it’s got the same effortless cool as singers that stand the test of time. Its black finish is timeless and its slouchy silhouette gives it a devil may care charm. A rock star never wants to appear as if he’s trying too hard, does he?

The Rockaway is luxuriously large, so you’ll have no problems fitting everything you need and plenty of things you don’t inside it. There’s a single zippered pocket and a couple of pouches, but those compartment have a lot of work to do. I still expect items to get jumbled. The medium gray poplin lining makes it easy to see what’s inside though. This little detail really saves the satchel from becoming a black hole!

Of course for just $55 the Rockaway is made from leatherette rather than real leather. However, unexpectedly this manmade skin is really soft. It might flake a little after a few season’s wear, but by that time we’ll certainly have received our money’s worth.

More Features of This Nixon Leatherette Satchel

• Gunmetal hardware
• Zip top closure
• A single strap with a 10.5 inch drop
• Measures 18 x 5.25 x 15 inches

Get this Nixon Rockaway Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the Pacific Wave Surf Shop eBay store to see if this Nixon bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Nixon bags on BagBunch
• The gray Nixon Rockaway bag, a great alternative to this black bag.
• Searching for more Nixon bags on eBay
• Other Nixon satchels on eBay:

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If the tote fits your lifestyle, you’re bound to carry it! But does this If the Tote Fits handbag from Nine West fit you?

At its heart the If the Tote Fits is a very traditional tote. We’ve seen its boxy shape so many times before. The colorblocked finish helps make it feel a bit more modern, although the effect isn’t done with any real panache. There’s such a glut of colorblocked bags on the market that designers really need to execute the style well to turn our heads. The red panels against the brown vinyl look nice enough, but they’re ultimately uninspired. I might be more receptive to the color combination come fall, but in summer it’s just so-so.

The If the Tote Fits is quite a practical bag though, with an ample main compartment and array of internal pockets. There’s also a handy zippered one on the front for stashing the items you need on hand. A sunken zip runs along the top, providing security without muddying the design.

Its vinyl material looks a bit cheap, but that’s to be expected at this price point. Girls on a budget will likely accept the compromise to have this on-trend tote on their arm.

More Features of This Nine West Colorblocked Tote

• Flat base
• Printed fabric lining
• Dual handles with a 9 inch drop
• Measures 16.5 x 5 x 11 inches

Get this Nine West If the Tote Fits Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Nine West bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Nine West bags on BagBunch
• The Nine West If the Tote Fits tall tote bag, a great alternative to this medium bag.
• Searching for more Nine West bags on eBay
• Other Nine West If the Tote Fits bags on eBay:

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Portugese pals Sandra Paulo and Bruno Barbosa are giving bottle caps a new lease on life with their quirky accessories label HadeHaver.

The former architects use the plastic lids to handcraft everything from clutch purses to shoulder bags and laptop totes. It’s an important initiative as the lids’ unique plastic is not accepted by many of Portugal’s kerbside recycling programs. HadeHaver’s vital work saves these tiny scraps from a life in landfill.

Originally Paulo and Barbosa received the plastic lids from their friends and family members. However as their business grew and demand for the unusual bags increased, the twosome knew they couldn’t simply rely on the charity of loved ones. Thankfully along the way the company’s also picked up a hoard of admirers who are only too happy to donate their own plastic waste.

The HadeHaver accessories collection pays tribute to Portugal’s most influential queens with bags called the Dona Adelaide de L.W.K. and Dona Leonor Teles de Menezes.

Paulo and Barbosa have considered turning the bottle caps into other items including lamps, but for now the designers are focusing on their accessories collection.

If you’ve fallen for Hadehaver’s quirky sustainable handbags you can order one via the contact form on the company’s website or via its Facebook page.

[Source: Earth911]

Top-handled satchels are flooding the marketplace, but Nina Ricci attempts to convince us we need to snap its up quickly. Why else would it call it the ASAP?

Its name might suggest urgency, but its looks are far from frazzled. This is the kind of bag that appears like the designer’s taken its time. It’s well thought out and refined, the result of careful planning rather than a rush job.

Its flap over design is tried and true, but its wrapped top handle gives it some individuality. The white leather looks pristine, although it might not seem so luxurious after a couple of season’s wear. Perhaps you should just enjoy the way this bright skin contrasts with the gleaming golden hardware while it lasts!

Even once the white leather starts to appear second-hand, the ASAP’s design will continue to serve. It’s a spacious bag, and its folded sides can expand to hold a few sneaky extras. Its dual-compartment interior is user-friendly and well-appointed, with a spacious zippered pocket and pair of gadget pouches. The top handle will become awkward once the ASAP is full, so I’m glad to see Nina Ricci’s added a longer strap with a comfy leather insert. This attachment doesn’t have quite the same retro appeal, but it’s very convenient.

At $1450 the ASAP is certainly expensive, but if you handle it with kid gloves and keep it away from mess you’ll see value for your dollar.

More Features of This Nina Ricci Top Handled Satchel

• Push-lock closure
• Pink fabric lined interior
• A top handle with a 2-inch drop
• Measures 7.5 x 11 x 5 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Nina Ricci ASAP Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Nina Ricci bags on BagBunch
• The Salvatore Ferragamo Top Handle bag, a great alternative to this top handle bag.
• Searching for more Nina Ricci bags on eBay
• Other white leather satchel bags on eBay:

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New York label The Sway challenges the notion that leather handbags aren’t green with its upcycled leather accessories.

The fashion house is the brainchild of Australian born, New York based designer Belinda Pasqua. After studying fashion design in Sydney and Florence, Pasqua commenced her career with tenures at Italy’s leading couture fashion houses. She learned the tricks of the trade before making her way to New York City. She worked as the design director for Li&Fung for a while, but quickly became disillusioned with the waste she saw.

And so she launched The Sway, a fashion house which utilizes leather remnants from a motorcycle factory powered using natural alternative energy sources. These scraps are hand-cut into new shapes to minimize wastage, and then used to create handbags and chic biker jackets.

The Sway’s sustainable approach doesn’t stop with its accessories and garments. It uses recycled cotton fabrics for its linings, and recycled paper and cotton for the hangtags and packaging. The Sway also gives back to the planet’s people by investing in the micro economies of developing nations.

The Sway has recently attracted the attention of Nylon, Six Magazine, and Elle. It also took out the Best Green Handbag title at the 2011 Independent Handbag Designer Awards. It sounds like this is definitely a label on the up!

[Source: The Sway website]

The Sway Bags on eBay

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Nicole Miller gives the classic box clutch a healthy dose of bling with the Lexi.

In fact, perhaps Nicole Miller’s overdosed on the sparkles. She’s used chunky faceted rhinestones here to create an artful art deco design. The motif takes up much of the Lexi’s front, so there’s certainly no ignoring it. The white gems look more elegant than colored stones would have, but their size is likely to turn many girls off. I’m all for bold style statements, but delicate jewels would have appeared much more elegant.

Box clutches always present a practical challenge, as their structure design limits storage space. They’re already small, and they definitely can’t be overstuffed. But I appreciate the little conveniences Nicole Miller’s added, including a small cosmetics mirror, a zippered pocket, and a chain strap. I’d have preferred a detachable chain, as the interior quickly becomes cluttered once its tucked away, but I can’t fault all those little additions.

At $209.95 the Lexi isn’t cheap, but it’s also not unreasonably priced for a designer purse with such rich looks. You’ll need to consult your social calendar to decide whether you’ll see value for money!

More Features of This Nicole Miller Box Clutch

• Clasp closure
• Canvas fabric lining
• Measures 4.25 x 7.25 x 1.75 inches

Get this Nicole Miller Lexi Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Nicole Miller bags on BagBunch
• The Nicole Miller Charlize clutch bag, a great alternative to this box clutch.
• Searching for more Nicole Miller bags on eBay
• Other Nicole Miller Lexi bags on eBay:

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Alexander Wang surprised us a couple of seasons ago when he released the Bianca bag, a handbag which doubled as a vest. Now French accessories label Tintamar has revisited the concept with its Easy Travel Vest Bag.

The Easy Travel Vest Bag has a bit more mystery about it than the Bianca. Wang’s creation always looked like a vest, but Tintamar’s starts out as a zippered pouch. It then folds out to become a tote, and unzips to become a practical sleeveless jacket.

The Easy Travel Vest isn’t as luxurious as Wang’s leather creation, but its nylon twill material should stack up to some serious punishment. Four large pockets are built into the front, and there’s another enormous one on the back for holding a magazine, tablet, or notebook computer. Personally I’m not sure I’d trust such precious technology to pockets in the back, but at least they have zippers to keep items secure. A drawstring allows us to cinch in the Easy Travel Vest at the waist.

The Easy Travel Vest isn’t the height of fashion in vest mode, but it’s lightweight and comfortable to wear. I imagine it’d be a great accessory for a day of sightseeing or a shopping spree. And if you’re really worried about style, it’s worth remembering that it doesn’t look half bad in tote mode.

The Easy Travel Vest is available in black and taupe colors and sizes small to extra large. It’ll hit the usual travel retailers soon.

[Source: The Moodie Report]

Nicole Lee brings us more haphazard design with her patchworked Lorelli Shopping Bag.

The uninitiated might be surprised by the Lorelli’s slapdash appearance, but we’ve come to expect such quirky, over embellishment from the designer. I haven’t always embraced the creative vision, but there’s something about the Lorelli that’s gotten underneath my skin. Patchwork’s always been a bit rustic, so why not take it to the nth degree? The combination of green and yellow hues looks fresh, and the exaggerated stitches are very cute.

While it’s charmed me I don’t expect the Lorelli’s quirkiness to appeal to everyone. It’s far from refined, and that’s bound to put off girls who shop on the High Street. But even they can’t deny that this shopping tote represents excellent value. Underneath that whimsical exterior is a workhorse with plenty of space and pockets too. Its dual handles are long and flat, so that they won’t slide from your shoulders while you’re hitting the mall. It could use some kind of security closure, but really that’s the only thing it’s lacking. It’s not a small oversight by any means, but it’s just one thing.

And the Lorelli costs just $89.99. That price doesn’t buy us luxury materials, but it buys us priceless originality.

More Features of This Nicole Lee Patchwork Shopping Bag

• An interior wall pocket and cell pocket
• Measures 16.5 x 14 x 4.5 inches

Get this Nicole Lee Lorelli Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Nicole Lee bags on BagBunch
• The Nicole Lee Lorelli tote bag, a great alternative to this shopping bag.
• Searching for more Nicole Lee bags on eBay
• Other Nicole Lee Lorelli bags on eBay:

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