It’s been a long time coming, but Helmut Lang is finally releasing a range of handbags. It’s Helmut Lang’s first collection of purses since designers and real-life husband and wife Michael and Nicole Colovos took the reins in 2006.

“We developed all new hardware and looked at bones and bird claws for inspiration and used hints of military finishes,” Michael Covolos explained.

The new Helmut Lang collection features a diverse range of bags, from large duffels and messengers to smaller clutches and pouchettes.

I particularly like the Syn, pictured, a kind of meeting of shoulder bag and clutch made from genuine perch skins. Designers have been slow to embrace fish leather, but it always looks stunning. With prices starting at $350 the Syn isn’t cheap, but it’s so quirky that I’m tempted to splurge.

“We wanted to create something sculptural, in an interesting fabrication, yet keep it functional,” Nicole Covolos said of the Syn.

Look for the new Helmut Lang bags at Barneys New York later this month.

[Source: The New York Times]

It might be a new season purse, but with the Jasper Paul Smith revisits the designs we know and love.

You might remember me complaining about the very dull Trixie bag a couple of months ago. I longed for the color Paul Smith is famous for, and perhaps he listened. The Jasper is covered with the colorful swirl pattern that made Paul Smith a legend. Yes it looks a little like a rainbow vomited all over it, but there’s an appealing whimsy to the design.

The print is impossible to ignore, so Paul Smith allows it to take center stage by keeping the rest of the purse simple. The vintage frame design is classic, with its push top closure and golden chain. That chain offers us the best of both worlds; the metal links give it real class while the leather insert protects our shoulder. This mid-sized but slender purse won’t hold a lot, but it also shouldn’t overwhelm your outfit.

At a little more than $500 the Jasper is probably priced too high, but it’s not exorbitant enough to deter Paul Smith’s faithful fans.

More Features of This Paul Smith Swirl Cross-Body Bag

• Cream swirl printed interior
• An inner zip pocket
• Measures 7.9 x 9.1 x 3.5 inches

Get this Paul Smith Jasper Handbag:

• Available to buy at My Wardrobe
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Paul Smith bags on BagBunch
• The Paul Smith Swirl City mini briefcase bag, a large alternative to this cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Paul Smith bags on eBay
• Other rainbow cross-body bags on eBay:

[phpbay]rainbow cross-body bag, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Presenters and performers at this year’s Grammy Awards will receive Brandina handbags, as part of the Italian label’s official launch in the United States.

I’m sure that confirmed presenters Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, and Katy Perry can’t wait to get their hands on these casual purses, which were inspired by the relaxed style of the Italian Riviera. The bags are actually crafted from the same fabric used for 1950s sun loungers and beach chairs, so they sound perfect for summer!

“We are very excited to have been able to team up with such a prestigious and high profile event to launch our brand in the US market,” explained Bob Stec, the chief executive offers of Passport Brands, the company bringing Brandina to America. “It is a dream come true to be able to present our brand one on one with such an amazing array of influential talent in world of music and fashion.“

The stars will get their mitts on these purses at the February 13 ceremony, but we’ll need to wait until April to snap them up. While Bottega Brandina boutique locations haven’t been finalized, it’s expected we’ll see them in Miami, Las Vegas, and Laguna Beach.

[Source: PR Log]
[Image Source: Brandina Facebook page]

City streets can be dangerous places, but you needn’t worry about the dangers when you’re carrying the anti-theft MetroSafe 200 shoulder bag.

Pacsafe has released several Metrosafe bags, but I think this 200 model may be the pick of them. It’s not so small that you’ll struggle to fit the items you need inside, but it’s not large enough to weigh you down when you’re on the go.

As with all MetroSafe bags, this 200 purse is packed with clever features to make it super safe. It’s made from tough 840D ballistic nylon, with tamperproof zips and eXomesh slashguard panels. High tensile stainless steel wire reinforces the strap, ensuring folks can’t cut it from your shoulder.

It’s not the largest shoulder bag on the market, but the well organized design gives you a place for everything. There are several pockets inside and out, a key clip and a pen holder, and even a headphone port for your iPod!

The nylon material isn’t luxurious, but it is strong and easy to clean with a little warm water and detergent. While the MetroSafe isn’t very flashy, I think this deep green shade is very fashionable. However if that color doesn’t rev you, don’t worry; there are five more to choose from.

More Features of This Pacsafe Anti-Theft Shoulder Bag

• Measures 13 x 9 x 4 inches
• Made in China

Get this Pacsafe MetroSafe 200 Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Pacsafe Metrosafe 200, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check The Service Pavilion 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 MetroSafe 250 bag, a great alternative to this shoulder bag.
• Searching for more Pacsafe bags on eBay

It is always strange to see a Timmy Woods bags that isn’t a novelty, and even more so to see one that is affordable too!

Priced at just $65, the Garbo clutch is definitely at the affordable end of the handbag market. However, this doesn’t mean that it is dull. In fact, almost as if to make up for the lack of novelty wooden animals, this purse is rather dramatically decorated.

First there is the pattern, tribal and eye catching from the moment it enters the room. Then comes the beading, adding a touch of luxury and making an otherwise casual purse evening appropriate. Finally when you look at it closely you realise that the unbeaded sections of this bag are actually little curls of straw, making a pleasurably tactile texture as well as a stylish look.

Of course, all this decoration may make this Timmy Woods clutch far too much for many outfits. Still, at least the multiple colors in the design allow you many tones to pick out and coordinate with!

With a cute beaded handle and asymmetric flap, the Garbo evening bag is a try-hard in every sense. I suppose the main question is does it try too hard, or does it get the balance of features just right?

More Features of this Timmy Woods Beaded Clutch

• Straw and bead extetior
• Optional short beaded strap
• Satin lining
• Interior zip pocket

Get this Garbo Straw Purse:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Timmy Woods bags on BagBunch
• The Serpui Marie clutch, a great alternative to this straw bag.
• Searching for more beaded straw bags on eBay
• Other Timmy Woods bags on eBay:

[phpbay]timmy woods handbag, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Add a little glitz to your everyday with this Gwen convertible tote bag from Oryany.

Notice that I said a little glitz though. While sequined material is never shy or retiring, in basic black it doesn’t appear ostentatious. There’s a brown version as well, but this one doesn’t rev me. The dark leather trim contrasts too much for my tastes, although girls who love the color-blocked look may disagree with me. I admire Oryany for delivering two such distinct styles.

This isn’t the largest tote on the market, but I think it’s still too big for the handles to be user-friendly. Once it’s loaded up you’ll likely struggle to use these carriers.

Thankfully the Gwen is convertible though, so it isn’t our only option. I expect I’d keep the adjustable cross-body strap attached for easy everyday carrying.

The sequined fabric gives the Gwen some real pizazz, but that sparkle hasn’t put the price sky high. At $395, this is a relatively affordable tote to take you from the office to the cocktail bar!

More Features of This Oryany Sequined Tote

• Magnetic closure
• Printed twill lining
• An adjustable strap with a 17 to 23 inch drop
• Dual handles with a 4.5 inch drop
• Measures 14 x 13 x 5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Oryany Gwen Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Oryany Gwen convertible tote, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Pink Pistol Boutique eBay store to see if this Oryany bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Oryany bags on BagBunch
• The Oryany Gwen vintage satchel bag, a great alternative to this tote bag.
• Searching for more Oryany bags on eBay

Aussie brand Sir Tom has harnessed the eco-friendly powers of hemp for its green accessories line

There are pure hemp and hemp blend clutches in the range, that designer Anne Waters named after a street in her Bondi Beach neighborhood. Each one is free from THC, so you need not worry about those nasty chemicals.

Anne Waters was inspired to create the range to showcase hemp’s durability and small carbon footprint. It’s refreshing to see this crop in a new light, and one that has nothing to do with hippies and slacker kids!

I love the pretty patterns that adorn these clutches, and am thrilled to learn their presence doesn’t harm the environment either. These designs are screen printed onto the woven purses using water-based inks.

The Sir Tom clutches cost $60 and $70 USD from the label’s Etsy store. You’ll need to pay a bit more for shipping, but those rates are quite reasonable considering how far they’ll need to travel. The planet will also pay, so just remember to offset your shipping costs if you want to be really green!

[Source: Ecouterre]

Hemp Clutches on eBay

[phpbay]hemp clutch, 3, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Vintage art deco meets high tech fashion with this unique Chevron mini bag from Australian luxury label Oroton.

I’ve never seen anything quite like this purse, and when you look at as many bags as I do that’s saying something. The metal details have an art deco flair to them, but they also feel a bit like a circuit board, or the high-tech suit from Tron! It’s an interesting melding of vintage and cutting-edge art influences, and one that works well for the brand.

This is a very small purse, which may deter packrats. But I think the Chevron’s eye-catching design may have been too much on a larger scale. Here is has punch without overwhelming an outfit. Having said that though, you’ll need to pack it carefully and probably leave a few items behind.

But this bag is awfully cute, and at $295 I think it’d be worth downsizing to step out with this baby on your arm.

More Features of This Oroton Mini Bag

• Zip top closure
• Made of suede
• A woven leather chain strap
• Measures 6.5 x 6.5 x 2.6 inches

Get this Oroton Chevron Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Oroton bags on BagBunch
• The brown Oroton Chevron mini bag, a great alternative to this black bag.
• Searching for more Oroton bags on eBay
• Other suede mini bags on eBay:

[phpbay]suede mini, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Actress Emmy Rossum has designed a leather bucket bag for stylish fashion house Elie Tahari.

The collaboration may seem like it’s come out of the blue, but Tahari has styled Rossum for years. She told him how difficult it was to find the ideal handbag, so he told her to create one!

The result is a large textured leather bag lined in practical canvas. There are so many pockets in the generously sized interior that the hardest part is remembering where you put your cell phone!

It must be a bit scary to hand creative control to an actress, but Tahari seems thrilled with the results.

“I think that she created a very beautiful bag,” Elie Tahari said. “It’s very exciting and interesting.“

The Emmy bags are a little pricey, but not unreasonable for designer accessories. They start at $398 and range up to $798. Look for them in stores this March.

[Source: NBC New York]

Elie Tahari Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Elie Tahari, 3, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Once upon a time O’Neill delivered beach bag after beach bag. These days though the surf brand delivers accessories that are wearable all year round. This Nocturnal shoulder bag is a great example of the label’s dressed up new aesthetic.

Drawstring bags are typically relaxed affairs, but this one is dressed up a little with the edgy chainmail detail near the base. This golden metal really pops against the Nocturnal’s black faux suede body. The striking combination of soft slouch and polished hardware gives the Nocturnal a real versatility. The name tells you it’ll work at night, but with the right outfit and attitude you needn’t wait until the sun goes down.

There’s enough space inside to hold everything you need during the day and night. There are pockets in the side walls for gadgets and sunglasses, and ample room for a bulky wallet, small cosmetics purse, and other necessities. The drawstring coupled with the magnetic snap makes it a bit fiddly to access these essentials, but at least our items are doubly protected.

Some people might be disappointed with O’Neill’s use of manmade suede, rather than the real thing, but I think it makes sense. While it’s not as luxurious, this soft alternative is likely to last longer than its cowhide counterpart. For less than $50, I’m certainly willing to take my chances.

More Features of This O’Neill Chain Mail Shoulder Bag

• A single chain strap
• Measures 12.5 x 12 x 8 inches

Get this O’Neill Nocturnal Handbag:

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

[phpbay]O’Neill Nocturnal, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Route 25 Powersports 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 Cleobella Nevaeh bag, a great alternative to this drawstring bag.
• Searching for more O’Neill bags on eBay