Maison Martin Margiela is one of those designers that inspires awe from both the art and fashion worlds. There’s just something special about his signature blend of edginess and minimalism. This metallic leather clutch is a great example of why his designs appeal to so many people.

The metallic rose leather on this clutch is really unique. It utilizes the on-trend blushy-nude color palette without looking played out. The metallic wash and almost mesh-like texture make it one of a kind. The texture reminds me of all that gold mesh disco jewelry, but it’s got so much more class and character.

The shape is perfectly simple and refined. There’s just nothing overdone about this bag, but the fabulous materials ensure that it’s far far from boring. I can imagine it working equally well with an evening gown or jeans. The silver frame provides a beautiful contrast to the warm tones of the leather, and the tiny geometric clasp continues the elegant streamlined look.

$710 is a bit high for a tiny evening bag, but the artful design makes it seem worthwhile.

More Features Of The Maison Martin Margiela Metallic Textured Leather Clutch

• 9″ x 4″ x 1″  size
• Fully lined in leather
• Signature white stitching on back
• Interior zipper pocket and card slots

Get this Maison Martin Margiela Metallic Textured Leather Clutch:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Maison Martin Margiela bags on BagBunch
• The Bulga Regis Messenger Bag, a great alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Maison Martin Margiela items on eBay
• Other metallic pink clutches on eBay:
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American West adds a thoroughly fashionable twist to its traditional tooled leather handbags, by building leopard print into this sexy crossbody.

Before I wax lyrical about the looks, let me go over the practical elements of this zip top bag. Firstly the leather will be durable and strong, although obviously the inclusion of a printed hair-on cow hide may make it fall victim to a certain amount of wear and tear. The long strap too is useful, but this is nothing in comparison to the number of pockets you get. Not just the one obvious front pocket, but a back slip pocket, an interior zip pocket, and two pouches. This is seriously organized, taking this American West purse into satchel domains. Impressive!

As for the looks, well I love them. Leopard print can be overpowering (and, granted, some people will never wear it), but the limited amount means that is isn’t totally over-the-top. My only hesitation, therefore, is in the unusual tooling of the leather. I just can’t make my mind up about whether the multiple textures clash or coordinate.

What do you think? Is this a thumbs up for design and function?

More Features of this American West Leopard Print Crossbody

• Leather and printed hair-on cowhide
• Multiple interior and exterior pockets and pouches
• Long functional crossbody strap
• Comes with a lifetime guarantee

Get this Luxury Leather & Cowhide Satchel:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More American West bags on BagBunch
• The American West Sedona Sunsets satchel, a great alternative to this leather bag.
• Searching for more leopard print bags on eBay
• Other American West bags on eBay:

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Kooba show us there’s life in the studded trend yet with this Maggie satchel.

The key here is that studs are used to add interest, rather than rock and roll edge. They’re such delicate creatures that really enhance those tight pleats around the satchel’s top. We see another row of them around the base, and a couple more on the buckled handles. Rather than appearing too much, this amount of metal simply unifies the very elegant design.

This satchel is every bit as practical as it looks. The flat base helps it sit up when you set it down, and the pair of straps is adjustable for comfortable carrying. The interior is indulgently large, and kitted out with the right amount of pockets for easy organization.

The color palette may be a little conservative for some tastes, but those black, brown, and red tones are timeless. This bag is too, despite the presence of those trendy studs. That promise of longevity makes the Maggie’s $575 price tag seem very reasonable indeed.

More Features of This Kooba Studded Satchel

• Zip top closure
• Twill lined interior
• Dual shoulder straps with a 7 inch drop
• Measures 12 x 16 x 6 inches
• Made in China

Get this Kooba Maggie Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Kooba Maggie satchel, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Brands Palace eBay store to see if this Kooba bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kooba bags on BagBunch
• The Kooba Audrey bag, a great alternative to this satchel bag.
• Searching for more Kooba bags on eBay

As the release of the Kardashian sisters’ fashion line nears, more details of their range has come to hand. The collection will be available exclusively through Sears stores from August 2011.

We knew we’d see apparel, handbags, jewelry, and shoes, but the line’s look has been kept a closely guarded secret until now. It seems that just as Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney embrace an array of fashion trends so will their line for Sears. Think a little rocker chic, a little boho, and even chic red carpet.

It’s easy to criticize that eclectic approach as lacking decisive creative vision. But Khloe says the sisters are simply attempting to appeal to all kinds of fashion fans, and the variety of situations those women will inevitably find themselves in.

“Because Kim, Kourt and I have such different tastes, it was really important to us to design looks for girls everywhere, no matter their signature style,” she explained. “We wanted to make sure the Kardashian Kollection offered must-have items for everyone across the country from the girly girls to the rocker chicks.“

To celebrate the launch of this exclusive collection, the Kardashian sisters are planning to tour Sears stores around America. Would you turn out to see these socialites, and the fashions they’ve created?

[Source: Examiner]
[Image Source: David Shankbone/Wikipedia Commons]

A pretty lady bug and shiny patent leather bow make this Kenneth Jay Lane clutch something special.

Without those accents, this clutch would be exceedingly ordinary. But they save it from that fate; the enameled finish on the lady bug is gorgeous and the large bow fun and flirty. On a colored purse it could easily have appeared too much, but in basic black we get away with this dash of whimsy.

I never expect much from a clutch purse, so when a designer goes above and beyond as Kenneth Jay Lane does I’m pleasantly surprised. We get extra security with the zip top and magnetic closure hidden underneath the flap. The interior feels luxurious with its black satin lining, and the removable mirror is another handy touch. The size is also larger than the average too. In fact, all we’re missing is a shoulder strap!

Whether that’s a deal-breaker or not depends on how often you go hands free. Personally I think that even without it, this clutch’s quirky style and versatility is well worth the $135 Kenneth Jay Lane is asking.

More Features of This Kenneth Jay Lane Black Leather Clutch

• Measures 10.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Comes with a black silk dust bag

Get this Kenneth Jay Lane Lady Bug Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Kenneth Jay Lane bags on BagBunch
• The Fontanelli Ladybug bag, a large alternative to this clutch bag.
• Searching for more Kenneth Jay Lane bags on eBay
• Other ladybird bags on eBay:

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Marchesa is the latest designer to team up with shopping website Beauty.com for a limited edition cosmetics purse. The Marchesa clutch, which comes stocked up with beauty essentials, is your free gift with every $150 purchase from Beauty.com.

This Marchesa clutch could easily double as an evening bag, with its ruffled black exterior and dramatic bow. This dark and brooding exterior is a delightful contrast to the silky, pale pink lining inside.

“This season we wanted to create a beauty bag that could double as a chic day or night clutch. The draped bow detail and ruffles are Marchesa signatures and the classic noir finish will go with any outfit.  We also made it roomy enough for even the most extensive beauty collection, so you can carry everything or nothing at all and still look chic regardless of where you go,” explained Marchesa designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig.

The Marchesa for Beauty.com purse features 17 sample-sized beauty products, including lip gloss, shampoo, face wash, wrinkle repair serum, and a $10 discount card for your next Beauty.com splurge.

[Source: PR Newswire]

Bow Clutch Bags on eBay

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Kenneth Cole uses soft, buttery black leather to great effect on this Smart Draw hobo bag.

Supple leathers always feel luxurious, but they can often make a bag unstructured and impractical. Not so here, where the gentle finish slouches in just the right way. It’s slouchy but its seams ensure it doesn’t become a puddle of leather when you set it down. I love the way that skin is scrunched up around the pockets, and those knotted drawstrings add a finishing flourish of boho style.

Those side pockets give us space for the essentials we need on hand, while the generous interior can take care of the rest. The design isn’t revolutionary, but the reinforced leather trim on all the pockets is a nice touch. I also love that plush handle, which should feel heavenly on your shoulder even when the hobo is full.

The silvery shade called Mica is far too glitzy for my taste, but with this basic black Smart Draw I think Kenneth Cole has got it right.

More Features of This Kenneth Cole New York Large Hobo

• Made of leather
• Zip top closure
• Measures 15 x 2 x 12 inches

Get this Kenneth Cole Smart Draw Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the My Favorite Online Store eBay store to see if this Kenneth Cole bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kenneth Cole bags on BagBunch
• The Kenneth Cole New York Smart Draw cross-body bag, a great alternative to this hobo bag.
• Searching for more Kenneth Cole bags on eBay
• Other Kenneth Cole hobos on eBay:

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Valentino’s accessory designers, who took over the line after his death, have demonstrated some questionable taste the past few seasons. Sometimes their work has been amazing, and sometimes a total lackluster disappointment. Unfortunately, I think that this raffia and lace tote falls into the latter category.

I guess I should just admit that I’m not that big a fan of raffia to begin with. I think it should be reserved for baskets, but that’s a personal opinion. I do, however, usually love the combination of nude and black lace. But here the color is just off, and it makes the whole endeavor look cheap and mass-produced.

Plus, even if I were a fan of raffia, I’m not sure it works combined with lace. The textures compete in a way that just isn’t successful. The shape of the bag is fine, if a little boring, but the details are really not well though out. The patent leather handles, for example, are just too shiny for the rest of the bag. They jump out at you in a way that handles just shouldn’t unless they are truly spectacular. The little bow is the last nail in the coffin for me. It takes what could have been a simply sweet bag into the toothache category.

At $1,395, this tote is a total ripoff. Poor Valentino, what have they done to your line?

More Features Of The Valentino Raffia And Lace Tote

• 15″ x 11″ x 6″ size
• 7″ strap drop
• Fully lined in black satin

Get this Valentino Raffia And Lace Tote:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Valentino bags on BagBunch
• The Bebe Metallic Mesh Clutch, an edgy evening alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Valentino handbags on eBay
• Other black lace totes on eBay:
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I used to think of Mulberry as sort of the less interesting little sister to Burberry, even though the two lines are totally unrelated except by dint of being British. Lately, though, I’ve been really intrigued by its pared down, high quality designs. This Gracie shoulder bag is the perfect petite accessory for a city girl who doesn’t want to be weighed down.

The light brown leather on the Gracie is totally versatile. Even black loving monochromes like myself might be a little tempted to venture into the neutral zone for this bag. Especially since the pebbled texture looks so classic and classy.

The tiny design of the Gracie is really winning me over. I’m so tired of carrying a giant bag around, and frankly, I just don’t need that much room. But if you’re not a minimalist, you might find it hard to shove all your stuff in this little bag. If you’re willing to downsize, it has a lot of organizational features, like the front pocket and internal card slots, that make it super easy to stay organized.

At $550, the Gracie is a bit pricey for a bag of its stature, but it’s just so perfect that who could resist?

More Features Of The Mulberry Gracie Small Leather Shoulder Bag

• 17″ x 6″ x 4″ size
• 23″ strap drop
• Fully lined in designer stamped twill

Get this Mulberry Gracie Shoulder Bag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Mulberry bags on BagBunch
• The Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Patent Leather Tote, a large, sleek alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Mulberry bags on eBay
• Other brown leather shoulder bags on eBay:
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Just when I’ve totally given up on Miu Miu, it goes and makes something fabulous like this. It just goes to show that even lines that have been around for decades can surprise you. This sequin embellished bag is a hundred kinds of sparkly perfection.

Can we talk about this great material? Cool blue leather covered in glittery metallic sequins? What a way to win a woman over, and I don’t even really like sequins. I think it’s the color that brings the whole look together. It’s almost a confederate blue, except metallic. The brass hardware and blue leather trim provide the perfect tasteful complements to the overall glamour.

The shape is nothing to write home about, but if it was any more interesting, this bag would be way too much for one woman to handle. I love the way the strap details turn this disco ready bag into something that you could totally pull off in the daytime. Usually, I think that Miu Miu’s bags are totally overpriced, but I’d happily shell out $1,350 for this baby.

More Features Of The Miu Miu Sequin Embellished Leather Bag

• 12″ x 9″ x 8″ size
• 20″ strap drop
• Fully lined

Get this Miu Miu Sequin Embellished Bag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Miu Miu bags on BagBunch
• The Miu Miu Bugatti Glazed Leather Tote, a great alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Miu Miu handbags on eBay
• Other blue sequined bags on eBay:
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