Don’t you hate it when one of your favorite designers makes choices you just can’t understand? Well, that’s how I feel about this Cosmo quilted shoulder bag. I love Marc Jacobs, but I just don’t know where he’s going with this style.

I guess it’s the color more than the actual design of the bag that’s bothering me. I’m never a fan of yellow bags, but especially not in December. Seriously, I live in the Deep South, a part of the country known for its temperate climate, but it’s freezing here, and the last color I’m adding to my wardrobe right now is this sunny yellow.

The design of the Cosmo is pretty straightforward. The simple square shape looks great in quilted leather. The quilting itself is also pretty interesting. It’s got a unique triangular pattern that I would like in another color, but the yellow combined with the white overstitching just looks cheap.

The Cosmo is a good example of a great bag ruined by a poor choice of materials. $300 is a good price for a Marc Jacobs bag, just not this one.

More Features Of The Marc By Marc Jacobs Cosmo Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag

• 9″ x 7″ x 2″ size
• 21″ strap drop
• Fully lined

Get this Marc By Marc Jacobs Cosmo Shoulder Bag:

• 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 yellow shoulder bags on eBay:

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Bebe brings us glamour without the high class prices with this Bebe Ruffle Romance bag.

Bebe is a little obvious with its design choices here. Exotic skins always bring a touch of luxury, so it dapples the red PVC with black serpentine scales. Ruffles are the perfect thing for a party purse, so it adds those too. In some ways it seems a little design by numbers, which is disappointing. The combination is a bit busy, and it means we can’t fully appreciate either the print or the frills.

But there are some signs of ingenuity here. The long chain strap has a braided center to help it sit comfortably on your shoulder. The braiding makes another appearance on the zipper pull. It doesn’t just allow us to easily open the purse; it pulls the whole design together.

Like so many cross-body bags the Ruffle Romance is small to ensure it doesn’t weigh you down, but it does come with a zippered pocket on the back to eke out some extra storage space.

It has its little flaws, but for a mere $58 I can overlook them. Can you?

More Features of This Bebe Python Print Cross-Body Bag

• A detachable heart charm
• Polyester lined interior
• An interior zip pocket
• Measures 2.5 x 5.5 x 8 inches

Get this Bebe Ruffle Romance Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Bebe Ruffle Romance cross*, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the That’s Nice That’s Nice eBay store to see if this Bebe bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Bebe bags on BagBunch
• The Bebe Ruffle Romance hobo bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Bebe bags on eBay
• Other python cross-body bags on eBay:

Considering its name, I expected something rebellious and free-spirited from Be & D’s Woodstock hobo. Sadly though, this purse is pretty lackluster.

Taken on their own merits, the elements are great. I really like the wrinkled texture of the distressed leather. The spiky studs are a playful alternative to the traditional flat version. The whipstitching across the handle also adds some interest to this functional strap. But this bag is not as great as the sum of its parts; all together these elements fail to inspire me.

This gray hobo just seems like a great mass of boring. The belt and studs across the top don’t seem to gel, but they’re more exciting than the ho-hum shape and mass of gray leather underneath it. This color can look wonderfully on trend, but on this bag is simply appears insipid.

Not that this hobo is without its charms. It’s luxuriously large, and equipped with everything we could hope for, from zip and slip pockets to a hook for keys. It closes with a magnetic snap which offers security without disrupting the hobo’s looks, although perhaps their intrusion would have been welcome!

For almost one thousand dollars I expect to be wowed by a bag, both inside and out. And sadly, Be & D hasn’t wowed me here.

More Features of This Be & D Studded Belt Hobo

• A single handle with an 8 inch drop
• Measures 17 x 16 x 8 inches
• Made in the United States

Get this Be & D Woodstock Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Be & D bags on BagBunch
• The Kathy Van Zeeland Love Glove tote bag, a great alternative to this belted bag.
• Searching for more Be & D bags on eBay
• Other gray studded bags on eBay:

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Louis Vuitton will launch its first ever travel store in Korea’s Incheon International Airport next year.

The iconic brand has reportedly been approached many times to open an airport retail outlet, but only now has the label made the move. It’s a considered one which came after LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault reportedly visited the Korean airport. After scoping out the airport’s Airstar Avenue duty-free mall, he clearly knew he wanted his brand to be a part of it.

It probably doesn’t hurt that Louis Vuitton is one of the leading luxury brand in South Korea. It outsells competitors like Gucci and Coach, and the new airport store should only solidify its position.

The airport is regularly frequented by travelers from Japan, Singapore, mainland China, and Hong Kong, who will no doubt enjoy getting their Louis Vuitton fix duty free. They’ll be able to do just that in the second half of 2011.

[Source: Luxist]
[Image Source: Justin Wong/Flickr]

Louis Vuitton Travel Bags on eBay

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A bow has never looked quite edgy as BCBG Max Azria imagined with its Indie Rock clutch.

The ordinarily feminine shape is given a rock and roll makeover with a heavy duty dose of studs. Our love affair with studs is fading, but by choosing complementary tones I don’t mind them so much here. The rock attitude is tempered, but it doesn’t quite lose its rebellious nature.

The metal has a little more contrast on the pewter toned Misty Morning bag, but if you want the traditional hardware pop look to the brown cognac purse. These ones aren’t really to my tastes, but I appreciate that BCBG Max Azria has done its best to cater to everybody.

That commitment happily extends beyond the aesthetics. I worried about how comfortable the ample size and those studs would make hand-held clutching, so I’m glad there’s also a drop-in strap. Of course these chains never feel great either, especially if you’re wearing a strapless gown, but if you travel light it shouldn’t be so bad. This chain is also removable for a clean look if you prefer the old-fashioned clutching technique.

At $278 this BCBG Max Azria clutch is a relatively affordable way to add a hint of rock and roll to your wardrobe.

More Features of This BCBG Max Azria Studded Bow Clutch

• A turn key closure
• Measures 6 x 10 x 2.5 inches
• Comes with a dust bag

Get this BCBG Max Azria Indie Rock Handbag:

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

[phpbay]BCBG Max Azria studded bow clutch, 2, “”, quilt[/phpbay]

• Check the Jewel’s Merchandise eBay store to see if this BCBG Max Azria bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More BCBG Max Azria bags on BagBunch
• The BCBG Max Azria Indie Rock wristlet, a great alternative to this clutch bag.
• Searching for more BCBG Max Azria bags on eBay

OK, so Kate Spade may not be great at giving her handbag designs short names, but she certainly is talented at coming up with the designs themselves!

There isn’t as much of a retro vibe to the Peacock Lane clutch as there is to the other designs in Kate Spade’s range, but that isn’t a negative. In fact, it is refreshing to see something that is both creative and modern! The Kenessa features that unusual embossed peacock pattern, the feature it gets its name from, in a stunning fan shape. To add to the glamor, this all happens on a pale gold leather, real riches and luxury!

Of course, though this evening bag is pretty, it perhaps isn’t all that practical. The cream polka dot lining will stain easily, and the clamshell shape means you may not have the biggest amount of room. There is no handle either, so that makes the $395 price tag a whole lot of moolah for something slightly inconvenient.

It’s impractical, sure, but darn pretty with it!

More Features of this Gold Kate Spade Clutch

• Gold leather exterior
• Single interior slip pocket
• Polka dot gold and cream lining

Get this Peacock Lane Kenessa Evening Bag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Kate Spade bags on BagBunch
• The J. Renee Gretel clutch, a great alternative to this peacock bag.
• Searching for more gold bags on eBay
• Other Kate Spade bags on eBay:

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Fisher-Price has been a trusted brand for parents for decades, so it makes sense that the iconic label is releasing a new range of diaper bags. These innovative FastFinder purses do their best to help new moms suffering from baby brain, as they feature labeled exterior pockets specifically designed for parenting essentials.

Parents can choose from five different styles: the Deluxe Everyday Organizer, Deluxe Fashion Diaper Tote, Deluxe Wide Opening Diaper Bag, Deluxe Convertible Diaper Backpack, and Deluxe On-The-Go Diaper Backpack. Each design contains easy-to-access compartments made for bottles, pacifiers, diapers, and baby wipes.

It sounds like Fisher-Price has the functional aspects down, but I wonder what the styles will look like. No images have been released, so I’m crossing fingers that these bags will be just as good looking as they are practical. However Fisher-Price isn’t a fashion house, so I won’t hold my breath!

Fisher-Price knows new parents are hurting at the hip pocket, so it’s pricing its FastFinder diaper bags at an affordable $39. Look for them in department stores in January 2011.

[Source: The Celebrity Cafe]
[Image Source: Wikipedia Commons]

Diaper Bags on eBay

[phpbay]diaper bag, 3, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Bally reinvents the typically bohemian hobo as a sleek, sophisticated creature with the Lyla.

The deerskin leather is what first drew my eye. I tend to find most brown bags boring, but this isn’t most brown bags. The graduated colors give it a lovely aged feel which I’m sure will only improve as the years pass. The brushed antique turnlock clasp and handle rings only add to the Lyla’s vintage appeal.

There’s just a whisper of slouch to the leather, but it’s much more structured than this handbag style tends to be. While it might be too dressed up to wear to your next music festival, I think the structured leather makes this hobo very elegant. You’ll get plenty of wear out of it, from days at the office to dinners after quitting time. That more structured design also makes it easy to access your precious cargo.

And you can fit plenty of it inside this baby, as it’s almost as high as it is wide. The interior is just as luxurious as the rest of the bag, with a leather trimmed pocket and open pouch for gadgets.

My only criticism is that handle, which is really too short for over-the-shoulder carrying. I suppose that suits the hobo’s vintage styling, but it’s not going to be practical once the Lyla is loaded up. I long for a detachable shoulder strap, which we could add when we don’t care so much about keeping up appearances!

I might be able to get past that impractical strap if this were a cheaper purse, but at $1495 I think we deserve perfection. Don’t you?

More Features of This Bally Deerskin Hobo

• Plainweave lined interior
• A handle with a 5 inch drop
• Measures 12.5 x 13 x 5 inches
• Made in Switzerland

Get this Bally Lyla Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Bally bags on BagBunch
• The Bally Milip bag, a great alternative to this hobo bag.
• Searching for more Bally bags on eBay
• Other Bally hobo bags on eBay:

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The latest MICHAEL by Michael Kors faux snakeskin designs have been absolutely spot on. No one does a more realistic faux snake for such a reasonable price in such sleek designs. Unfortunately, this clutch is not one of my favorites in the line.

The design of this clutch is picture perfect. The sharp rectangular shape is beautifully offset by the silver-rimmed curvy cut-out handle. It’s both mod and elegant at the same time, and so versatile. So, what’s the problem? Well, it’s not in the shape; it’s in its execution.

The fabric on this faux snakeskin bag is almost as good as the rest of the MICHAEL line, but it’s just a tiny bit too shiny to look authentic. That, and the material is really too thin for a design like this. The edges of the handle pull at the fabric, and make its fakeness obvious.

All that being said, it’s not a bad bag at $205, but it’s not a great one either.

More Features Of The MICHAEL Michael Kors Python Effect Leather Clutch

• 13″ x 8″ x 3″ size
• Fully lined in designer-stamped black satin
• Concealed magnetic fastenings

Get this Michael Kors Python Effect Leather Clutch:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Micahel Kors bags on BagBunch
• The Marc by Marc Jacobs Moto Proto Hobo Bag, a very cool alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Michael Kors handbags on eBay
• Other snakeskin clutches on eBay:

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Tory Burch has become a much more interesting designer to me in the past few seasons. She’s managed to simultaneously maintain her posh uptown demographic, but has also made a few forays into edgier, more street savvy designs. This Crescent straw tote, however, leaves me feeling a little confused about her intentions.

I know that Ms. Burch has a strong Palm Beach following, but even snowbirds change their wardrobes with the seasons. The black and tan pattern on this bag is eye-catching and interesting, but, let’s be honest, it’s really summery.

The crescent shape is perfect for the beach. The wide opening allows easy access, and the large size will hold more than a day’s worth of necessities, and the sturdy double handles make it practical and comfy. This is a great bag for a woman who’s going on vacation to a fabulous beach this holiday and doesn’t mind spending $395 to impress the natives.

More Features Of The Tory Burch Crescent Large Straw Tote

• 23″ x 12″ x 5″
• 8″ strap drop
• Fully lined in off-white twill

Get this Tory Burch Crescent Large Straw Tote:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Tory Burch bags on BagBunch
• The Tory Burch studded leather bag, a great alternative to this bag.
• Searching for more Tory Burch bags  on eBay
• Other straw woven totes on eBay:
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