After eight years in the business, Sandast is finally opening its first flagship store.

The boutique at 1205 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, is the perfect space for housing the vintage-inspired leather goods and accessories Sandast is famous for as it was once an auto garage. The reconverted space screams vintage cool, so it’s the ideal backdrop for the company’s American Rugged range of everyday bags.

The American Rugged factory and flagship store are located in the same building, so shoppers will be able to indulge in goods made on the same premises. What a great way for the company to reduce its carbon footprint! The factory is equipped with traditional Italian machinery which gives the bags the kind of quality we don’t often find at less than a $1000.

These casual accessories don’t tell the company’s full story though, as it also creates its share of more refined leather goods under its Italian Vintage line. While the more relaxed silhouettes are great for playtime, these sophisticated European made purses are perfect for the office.

To coincide with its flagship store opening today, Sandast will also launch a brand new line, dubbed its Artisan Collection. A distinctive leather burnishing treatment gives these homegrown accessories their unique personality.

Will you visit Sandast’s new bricks and mortar store?

[Source: Accessories Magazine]

Kathy Van Zeeland shows uncharacteristic restraint with its Flapper Chic hobo.

The name doesn’t refer to the flapper style of the 1920s, but the hobo’s classic flap closure. This curved element mimics the Flapper Chic’s soft, voluminous shape. Pleats near the base give the Flapper Chic the relaxed profile that hobos are famous for. However this hobo is no slouch. Its seams add structure and sophistication.

I’d be remiss not to talk about the mottled snakeskin print emblazoned across the synthetic. In some ways this bold animal print is typical of Kathy Van Zeeland’s designs. Yet the color choice ensures the pattern is much subtler than the usual as well. The green, black, and brown color palettes are much more timeless than the brighter hues the designer typically employs.

While Kathy Van Zeeland’s aesthetic isn’t always to my taste, I can rarely criticize her bags’ functionality. The Flapper Chic is no exception. It has all the pockets we could wish for, including two handy zippered ones at the sides. I like the idea of the key fob but it looks a little messy. Thankfully it’s easily removed.

Kathy Van Zeeland hasn’t created the perfect purse here. The patent like trim looks a bit cheap, and the synthetic is thin and a little tacky. However for a mere $109 I can definitely see value. This is one of those rare Kathy Van Zeeland bags that can withstand fads.

More Features of This Kathy Van Zeeland Snakeskin Hobo

• Copper colored metal hardware
• Turn-lock closure
• Purple signature lining
• A single shoulder strap with a 12 inch drop
• Measures 12 x 17 inches
• Made in China

Get this Kathy van Zeeland Flapper Chic Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the Treasures Changing Places by Janis eBay store to see if this Kathy van Zeeland bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kathy van Zeeland bags on BagBunch
• The Kathy van Zeeland Flapper Chic shoulder bag, a great alternative to this hobo bag.
• Searching for more Kathy van Zeeland bags on eBay
• Other Kathy Van Zeeland Flapper Chic bags on eBay:

[phpbay]Kathy Van Zeeland Flapper Chic, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Kathrine Baumann’s marking the recent 100-year anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking with this faithfully recreated minaudiere. Her fans might note she premiered the same purse when James Cameron’s epic historical romance swept the Oscars in 1998. With the milestone celebrations in full swing, it seemed the perfect time to bring the ship back.

Some 15, 000 Swarovski crystals have been painstakingly applied to this ship-shaped purse to ensure it looks like the world’s most famous cruise liner. Its glittering smokestakes are encrusted with 24-karat gold aurum stones coated in real gold. Its tuckaway shoulder chain its also dipped in more of that real gold. How indulgent!

This purse should also prove much sturdier than that ship! I can’t imagine it’ll encounter any icebergs, but Kathrine Baumann offers some extra crystals should any flake from the purse’s surface.

The price of this Titanic purse is truly staggering, a whopping $100, 000. No, I didn’t accidentally add an extra zero when transcribing the price. This purse costs an astronomical one hundred, thousand smackeroos. Can any fashion accessory, no matter how luxurious, ever warrant such an exorbitant bottom line?

More Features of This Kathrine Baumann Ship Minaudiere

• Measures 7.75 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches

Get this Kathrine Baumann Titanic Handbag:

• Available to buy at Kathrine Baumann
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kathrine Baumann bags on BagBunch
• The Kathrine Baumann Buzz Aldrin Millenium bag, a great alternative to this limited edition bag.
• Searching for more Kathrine Baumann bags on eBay
• Other Titanic bags on eBay:

[phpbay]Titanic, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Vintage fashion fans have a reason to rejoice with the news that Tod’s Spa chairman Diego Della Valle is finally ready to relaunch the Schiaparelli brand.

Della Valle acquired the trademarks and archives of the heritage fashion house way back in 2006, but he’s been waiting patiently for the right time for its return. With Schiaparelli currently sharing the spotlight with Prada in a Metropolitan Museum of Art retrospective, it seems the right time is now!

A press release suggests the new Schiaparelli products will pay tribute to its Italian fashion designer namesake. Accessories will star in the first new Schiaparelli collection since the 1950s, along with fragrances, cosmetics, and apparel. It’s all scheduled to hit stores in February next year.

It’s interesting that with a store launch looming, Della Valle still hasn’t announced who’ll helm the revamped line. Industry insiders suggest an announcement will come in September, so I suppose we’ll all play the guessing game until then.

Strangely despite being slow to name a creative director, Della Valle’s already settled on a spokesperson. French socialite Farida Khelfa will serve as the label’s ambassador.

Who would you like to see appointed creative director for the new look Schiaparelli?

[Source: Accessories Magazine]
[Image Source: Mabalu/Wikipedia Commons]

Schiaparelli Purses on eBay

[phpbay]Schiaparelli, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Kate Spade embraces her silly side with this Armadillo shoulder bag.

The designer cleverly weaves wicker to create a three-dimensional model of the quirky South American animal. Why? Goodness knows! But the attention to detail is impressive nevertheless!

Two tan leather straps allow us to take this fun animal with us everywhere. A trapdoor-style flap at the armadillo’s top allows us up open him up to fill him with our worldy goods.

I can’t imagine this armadillo shoulder bag will be easy to manage though. Its structured design won’t hug our body like a leather bag would, and our essentials are a bit inaccessible under that flap. The top also doesn’t open as widely as I’d like. I expect items to get stuck in the corners.

I also wonder exactly when you’d wear a bag like this. Katy Perry or Nicki Minaj might be able to pull off such a novelty purse on the red carpet, but it’d never work for our business meetings or sophisticated luncheons, would it?

But this Armadillo Shoulder Bag makes a real style statement, which is more than we can say for many bags on the market. It’s probably a shade too expensive at $328, but that price does buy us a real original.

More Features of This Kate Spade Wicker Shoulder Bag

• Golden hardware
• A removable logo keychain
• An interior zip and slip pocket
• Measures 8.25 x 15.5 x 7.5 inches

Get this Kate Spade Armadillo Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Kate Spade bags on BagBunch
• The Kate Spade With a Twist tote bag, a great alternative to this novelty bag.
• Searching for more Kate Spade bags on eBay
• Other novelty bags on eBay:

[phpbay] novelty, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Jessica Marati, the American mastermind of Tout Le Monde, is celebrating World Fair Trade Day with the release of her Cambodia Collection.

The line came about during Marati’s recent trip to the Asian nation. During her sabbatical she discovered several innovative, ethical, fair trade artisans who’ve lent their skills to the project.

Through them we see a small but varied range of products, which includes laptop and iPad cases crafted from recycled mosquito nets, silver utensil jewelry crafted from old cutlery, and screen printed T-shirts made from recycled jersey cloth. Marati also did her part by creating silk ikat scrap and naturally dyed Goel cotton clutch purses.

After witnessing the effects of fair trade projects in the developing nation, Marati is convinced of their power.

“The artisan social enterprises that I collaborated with on the Tout Le Monde Cambodia Collection have done incredible work: people are being trained, women are becoming empowered, children are being educated, and Cambodians are regaining their pride after decades of genocide and oppression,” she explained.

Through the Tout Le Monde Cambodia Collection, Marati looks to bring the work of Asian artisans to new western markets. New Yorkers can find it at the Hester Street Fair on May 19, while the rest of us can shop for the line through its online store.

[Source: Magnifeco]
[Image Source: Tout Le Monde website]

Fair Trade Clutches on eBay

[phpbay]fair trade clutch, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Delicious berry hues help this Rex clutch from Kara Ross stand out from the pack.

Traditionalists may not approve of the sugary hues, as we’d never see them on a real snake. But my inner girly girl loves the way Kara Ross has treated this exotic skin. The feminine colors are a great complement to the Rex’s softly pleated body and gleaming 18-karat gold plated hardware. In fact, with such womanly good looks it’s surprising this purse has such a butch name!

We all know what to expect from clutches like this. They’re stunners, but not very practical. The suede lining helps make the small main compartment feel a bit more luxurious. Kara Ross also treats us with an elegant removable chain strap. I really appreciate this, as it doesn’t make the tiny interior feel smaller when it’s not in use.

We all expect to pay a premium for genuine snakeskin, so the Rex’s $1355 price tag isn’t unreasonable. Out of the question for most of us with mortgages or rent to pay, but not unreasonable!

More Features of This Kara Ross Snakeskin Clutch

• A framed top with hematite embellished kiss-lock closure
• Measures 7 x 13.5 x 2 inches
• Made in the United States

Get this Kara Ross Rex Handbag:

• Available to buy at Bergdorf Goodman
• Check the cdn619mpn924 eBay store to see if this Kara Ross bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kara Ross bags on BagBunch
• The Kara Ross Claro bag, a great alternative to this python bag.
• Searching for more Kara Ross bags on eBay
• Other python clutch bags on eBay:

[phpbay]python clutch, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

In recent seasons we’ve seen Juicy Couture toning down its former feminine aesthetic. It’s been refreshing to see its bags less embellished, and less pink. However it may have taken its new image a few steps too far with the Mimi tote.

In stripping away such distinctive elements, it seems Juicy Couture’s lost its personality. The Mimi is a very simple tote, with a traditional boxy shape and no superfluous frills. At best it’s clean and minimalist. At worst it’s boring. It’s always helpful to have a bag like this in the closet when you’re wearing a complicated ensemble that doesn’t want upstaging, but it’ll never inspire handbag envy.

Don’t dismiss the Mimi out of hand though, because it really is a well put together tote. Its spacious interior has all the pockets we’d expect, while the outside has a handy slip pocket and detachable key chain. I also appreciate the turn-lock closure, which makes the Mimi appear refined while offering vital security.

Some more inspiring color options could have made the Mimi much more. A simple tote like this really lends itself to saturated jewel hues. While the pale almond color has a splash of metallic the effect is so subtle it’s easily missed.

I know I wished for Juicy Couture to show more restraint a few years ago, but this tote makes me long for the label of old!

More Features of This Juicy Couture Cowhide Tote

• Lined with polyester
• Dual handles with a 10 inch drop
• Measures 14 x 15 x 3 inches

Get this Juicy Couture Mimi Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the eValueville eBay store to see if this Juicy Couture bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Juicy Couture bags on BagBunch
• The silver Juicy Couture Mimi tote bag, a great alternative to this almond bag.
• Searching for more Juicy Couture bags on eBay
• Other Juicy Couture leather tote bags on eBay:

[phpbay]Juicy Couture leather tote, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Tila March has looked to the geometrical prints of the late British interior designer David Hicks for its new resort collection.

Tila March designer Tamara Taichman says she’s long appreciated the freedom of the 60s and 70s design aesthetic. She spent a long time in London poring through David Hicks’ scrapbooks and came away with a deep affinity for “his geometrical designs and his ability to weave modernity into the history of decoration.“

The comprehensive collection features five models in its ZELIG range and four in the AVA line. Totes, shoulder bags, clutches, iPad holders, wallets, and camera purses are amongst the accessories emblazoned with Taichman’s Hicks inspired patterns. She’s played with the proportions and used color schemes to make the retro prints seem really fresh. Those vivid saturated hues are also perfect for the warm weather ahead, don’t you think?

The Tila March + David Hicks resort line will hit a very select number of stores between June and August. In fact, the collection will only be available in one sales outlet per country! Look for these bright retro accessories at Colette in Paris, Barneys in New York, Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, Tila March’s Singapore boutique, and Net-a-Porter.com.

[Source: Retro to Go]

Tila March Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Tila March, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

I might not always find Judith Leiber’s distinctive accessories wearable, but her sparkling purses usually wow me. They’re typically colourful creations that seem more like works of arts than simple accessories. However, strangely her Zodiac Minaudere purse has left me underwhelmed.

The Zodiac has all the ingredients that drew me to Judith Leiber, but none of the flair. Champagne colored Austrian crystals illuminate the image of Leo the lion against the jet gemstone background. The rounded corners contemporize the classic square hard-shell case, yet I’m still not feeling it.

I ordinarily expect a rainbow of colors from Judith Leiber, but their absence isn’t what’s turning me off. I’ve seen her work well with the classic black and white combination before on bags like the Nancy and this crystal embellished satin clutch. But those purses seemed so much more opulent. The lion graphic seems crudely done and very basic, something we don’t expect from the Judith Leiber stable.

The price is the final insult for me. If I had the money I’d love to drop $2195 on a Judith Leiber original, but it’d be one that looks much richer than this.

More Features of This Judith Leiber Rounded Square Minaudiere

• Push lock closure
• A tuck-away shoulder strap
• Measures 4 x 5.1 x 1.5 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Judith Leiber Zodiac Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Judith Leiber bags on BagBunch
• The LJGrove Leo Zodiac Tote bag, a great alternative to this luxury bag.
• Searching for more Judith Leiber bags on eBay
• Other zodiac bags on eBay:

[phpbay]zodiac, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]