Reed Krakoff has enlisted blogger on the rise Garance Dore to photograph his popular Boxer Bag.

The Frenchwoman snapped images of the handbag as she traveled around the globe. The series of photographs puts the purse in exotic locations like Milan, Paris, London, New York, and Marrakech.

The jetsetting images make sense as Dore says the Boxer is “the kind of bag you get so attached to that you end up taking it everywhere you go. The pictures came naturally as I was living my life. Montauk on the beach, New York for Fashion Week, Paris with my love [Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist] … so many great memories.“

The complete collection of photographs, dubbed Nomad Chic, is now available to view on the Reed Krakoff website. Browsing through them is making me envious. This lucky bag has seen parts of the world I’ve only dreamed of!

Reed Krakoff’s digital presentation, complete with audio, seems like an interesting alternative to a traditional print advertising campaign. I’m not sure it’ll have the same reach, but it’s great to see a fashion house trying something new.

Do you think Garance Dore’s work for Reed Krakoff will boost sales of the Boxer Bag?

[Source: Fashion etc.]

Reed Krakoff Boxer Bags on eBay

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Joy Gryson helps us add a little retro pop to our everyday with this Le Ti Shoulder Bag from her Olivia Harris line.

The classic flap design and warm beige color give the Le Ti a playful, retro feel. However Joy Gryson modernizes the accessory by softening its edges and adding a practical cross-body strap, rather than the traditional top handle.

This more relaxed silhouette maximizes our storage space and ensures the Le Ti doesn’t feel too stuffy. But I’m in two minds about the strap. I appreciate its practicality, but it seems a bit chunky for the rest of the purse. I think if Joy Gryson had scrapped the metal it’d look much cleaner.

The Le Ti is also more practical than most authentic retro designs. It’s generously sized and well organized, with plenty of pockets inside and out. Its clever triple compartment design makes staying organized a breeze!

The Le Ti functional design and high quality materials ensure it should become a great everyday accessory. And at an affordable $315.99, it won’t break the bank either!

More Features of This Joy Gryson Leather Shoulder Bag

• Hidden magnetic closures
• Fully lined interior
• A chain and leather strap with a 22.5 inch drop
• Measures 10.75 x 1.75 x 8 inches

Get this Joy Gryson Le Ti Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Joy Gryson bags on BagBunch
• The blue Olivia Harris by Joy Gryson Le Ti bag, a great alternative to this beige bag.
• Searching for more Joy Gryson bags on eBay
• Other retro leather shoulder bags on eBay:

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Jessica McClintock channels old world glamour with this Fashion Minaudiere. However despite a promising start, the design falls a bit flat for me.

I really like this clutch purse’s base. The gently curved corners of the structured box are very chic, and the tightly pleated black satin is lovely. But in my opinion the rhinestone covered flower spoils the design. It’s so gaudy that it makes an otherwise modern purse feel dated. Perhaps Jessica McClintock should have made the flower a removable brooch, rather than a permanent fixture. I have a sneaking suspicion this minaudiere would have looked much more sophisticated without it.

As with so many purses of this ilk, there’s not a lot of space to carry anything at all. You could probably squeeze your credit card, a slender cell phone, and your house key inside, but anything more may be pushing it. While the shoulder strap will come in handy as the evening wears on, it’s also disappointing that it’s not removable. The last thing we need is the chain cluttering the already tiny compartment!

It’s hard to be too critical of an after five purse that costs just $61.99 though. That’s not a lot to spend on a clutch that will work with everything in your evening wardrobe!

More Features of This Jessica McClintock Satin Minaudiere

• Snap lock closure
• An interior slide pocket
• Measures 5 x 4 x 2 inches

Get this Jessica McClintock Fashion Handbag:

• Available to buy at eBags
• Check the Fashionupscale eBay store to see if this Jessica McClintock bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Jessica McClintock bags on BagBunch
• The Jessica McClintock Lace Minaudiere bag, a great alternative to this minaudiere bag.
• Searching for more Jessica McClintock bags on eBay
• Other satin minaudieres on eBay

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English Retreads has just added an iPad sleeve to its collection of sustainable accessories. The tablet case joins English Retreads’ totes, wallets, belts, and computer bags.

Just like the rest of the English Retreads range, the label’s iPad sleeve is carefully crafted from reclaimed truck and tractor inner tubes. These hardy materials help protect all iPad models from impact damage, while the soft recycled PET fabric lining prevents scratches. All the while the materials keep waste from landfill and have a low impact on the planet.

English Retreads’ founder and designer, Heather English, says the iPad sleeve’s release builds on her company’s commitment to integrating fashion and environmental consciousness.

“With the release of the iPad Sleeve we are excited to lead the market in innovative, repurposed material use, while simultaneously delivering on functionality with a fashion forward style all our own,” she said.

Since its inception in 2002, English Retreads has paved the way for other sustainable fashion labels, proving that accessories can be both chic and sustainable. The launch of its iPad Sleeve shows the Boulder-based company is committed to keeping pace with the accessory needs of modern women.

English Retreads’ new iPad sleeve is available at more than 75 boutiques across the United States and the English Retreads website.

[Source: PRWeb]
[Image Source: English Retreads website]

English Retreads Bags on eBay

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Joe’s Jeans offers us an eighties style throwback with this Studded Mini Backpack.

While studs were big a few seasons ago, their current application tends to be a bit more restrained than Joe’s Jeans treatment. It’s really gone for a heavy metal approach here, throwing a variety of different colored spikes at the top flap and pockets. The finish is fun but really dated.

The beige lambskin is an interesting style decision. Biker black leather would have been an obvious choice, but Joe’s Jeans has gone for a much mellower option. You could never call a purse with such a lot of metal subtle, but the pale leather ensures it doesn’t look like a complete cliché.

While its looks don’t quite gel, I can’t fault this backpack’s practicality. Its two front pockets are perfect for stashing the items you need on hand, while the trio of interior pouches keeps other small essentials in order. Its interior is fully lined, and its dual straps adjustable for the most comfortable fit.

This is far from Joe’s Jeans best design or its most modern. But at just $268 it’s also reasonably priced for a bag made from such quality materials.

More Features of This Joe’s Jeans Lambskin Backpack

• Drawstring and magnetic snap closures
• Antique hardware
• Measures 10.1 x 4.25 x 11 inches

Get this Joe’s Jeans Studded Mini Handbag:

• Available to buy at Urban Outfitters
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Joe’s Jeans bags on BagBunch
• The Blue Elegance Crystal Studded Backpack bag, a great alternative to this studded bag.
• Searching for more Joe’s Jeans bags on eBay
• Other studded backpack bags on eBay

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Ashley Olsen proved she’s the kind of gal pal we’d all enjoy having around, when she gave Jessica Biel one of the luxury backpacks from her The Row label.

Clearly thrilled with the gift, Biel shared the photo at right of herself wearing it with her Twitter followers recently, along with the message “In love with my new #therow backpack. Thanks, Ashley!“

Now admittedly Ashley is only generous to a point. Some handbag lovers thought the image showed the crocodile skin backpack, which retails for $39, 000. However both Barneys New York and a spokesperson for The Row say Biel’s backpack is the regular leather version rather than the exotic one. It’s still an expensive backpack at $3,900, but that amount seems like small change compared to The Row’s opulent high-end knapsack!

Whatever the cost, I don’t think we could ever accuse anyone who gives away a designer accessory of being cheap, even if they do happen to run the company behind it. I’m impressed with Ashley Olsen’s generosity, aren’t you?

Perhaps this show of friendship will put an end to that persistent rumor that Olsen hooked up with Biel’s fiancé Justin Timberlake while the couple were on a break last year. Or perhaps the budding designer was making an apology for past behavior! Either way it seems that now the celebs are fast friends!

[Source: NYDailyNews]

JJ Winters pares down its usual trend conscious aesthetic for this minimalist Boa clutch.

I really appreciate JJ Winters’ commitment to classic design here. Without all the fringing and studs that usually cover its accessories we can focus on the ultra-soft melon hued leather and its pretty boa snakeskin embossed finished. The traditional envelope style appears a little fresher with a gently scooped flap.

Just like the snake that inspired its name, the Boa is bigger than the average. That’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand it has space for everything we want to carry. However if we utilize that room it may become difficult to manage as there’s no shoulder strap. Don’t say that you weren’t warned! Its black lining also makes it difficult to see exactly where our items are situated.

The Boa’s minimalist style makes it perfect for daytime or evening wear. However it’s a shame that its features don’t make carrying it easier. With a tweak or two it could have easily become the kind of clutch that would take us from lunch with the girls to a hot dinner date. At $305 it’s not expensive, but with a few adjustments it could have been a better buy.

More Features of This JJ Winters Snake Embossed Clutch

• Satin lined interior
• A single magnetic snap closure
• An inner zip pocket
• Measures 10 x 6 x 2 inches

Get this JJ Winters Boa Handbag:

• Available to buy at Boutique to You
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More JJ Winters bags on BagBunch
• The JJ Winters envelope clutch bag, a great alternative to this snake embossed bag.
• Searching for more JJ Winters bags on eBay
• Other snake embossed clutch bags on eBay

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Tougher penalties for counterfeiters and increasing disposable income in major retail centers are driving sales of knock-off accessories down.

Gone are the days when tourists would trip over market stalls selling imitation Louis Vuitton bags and Rolex watches. A global crackdown on the sale of counterfeit goods hasn’t completely stamped out the trade, but it’s driven it underground. Nowadays word of the mouth is the best way to track down imitation luxury goods, and you’ll score them in inconspicuous looking buildings which are the fronts to counterfeiting rackets.

It’s not just the difficulty in finding knock-off goods that’s driving their sales down, but evolving consumer tastes, particularly in the booming Chinese market. A 2008 McKinsey study found 31% of consumers on the Chinese mainland wanted imitation designer goods. The research was recently repeated to see the number’s fallen to just 15%.

It seems Chinese tastes have matured, and so too has their spending capacity. Despite financial uncertainty in Europe, the United States, and even Japan the global luxury market grew 14% last year to around $254 billion. China led the charge, although emerging economies including Russia and Brazil also did their fair share of spending. In fact, sales in China account for around a third of all sales for leading luxury labels including Gucci and Prada.

I’m not sure we’ll ever see a world without counterfeiters, but it’s encouraging to see the planet’s becoming less enamored with the fakes. What do you think of the trend?

[Source: The Australian]
[Image Source: Zizzle Fizz/Flickr]

Jimmy Choo turns up the glitz with this Caro Glitter Clutch.

This purse’s looks are definitely over the top. Its glittery bold body is already bold, but when paired with the padded crackled bronze tab and gleaming golden name plate the look goes a step too far. I don’t expect that to turn off people that love this Caro though. Its flamboyance is all part of the fun! I can just imagine how it’d look paired with some strappy golden sandals and a cute party dress!

Jimmy Choo gets away with some ostentation because the Caro is so tiny. Any larger and it’d dominant an ensemble, but on such a small scale it simply adds a vibrant pop. Of course though those petite dimensions aren’t simply good news. Storage space is very limited, so be prepared to leave some of those items you generally call essentials behind.

Jimmy Choo isn’t offering a lot of bag for our dollar here. $525 seems a lot to spend on such a small purse with such a novelty look, no matter what designer name’s attached.

More Features of This Jimmy Choo Glitter Clutch

• Bronze fabric lining
• Top zip closure
• An interior slot pocket
• A removable gold-toned chain strap
• Measures 4 x 5 x 2 inches

Get this Jimmy Choo Caro Handbag:

• Available to buy at Mytheresa
• Check the Sale Forever Boutique eBay store to see if this Jimmy Choo bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Jimmy Choo bags on BagBunch
• The Jimmy Choo Candy Glitter clutch bag, a great alternative to this glitter clutch bag.
• Searching for more Jimmy Choo bags on eBay
• Other glitter clutch bags on eBay:

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Spanish apparel and accessories firm Desigual has world domination on its mind. The label will present its fall/winter 2012 collection at the upcoming Tax Free World Association Asia Pacific in Singapore later this month as part of its plans to increase its global retail network.

Desigual currently has retail stores in international airports in Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris, Munich, Rome, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. It hopes to increase its airport arms to 60 points of sale in the 35 top airports around the globe by the end of the year.

The label will also increase its presence in Asia and South America, ensuring it’s becoming a true global brand. It currently has six stores in Asia: four in Singapore and two in Japan. It’s also available at leading Asian department stores including Tangs, Parkson, Takashimaya, and Isetan. It plans to open its first store in Shaghai and an outlet in Singapore’s Changi Terminal 3 next month.

Since its inception in 1984 Desigual has carved out a reputation for providing distinctive, vibrant designs which celebrate the color of its Spanish homeland. The company aims to offer “something different, positive and fun: the Desigual experience.”

Are you excited to see Desigual expanding its operations?

[Source: The Moodie Report]

Desigual Handbags on eBay

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