We can usually count on Vitalio Vera to deliver affordable and stylish alternatives to the high end designer handbags, but I fear it may have missed the mark with this Bedazzled satchel.

It’s almost as if they let a college intern loose with a red handbag, glue gun and a packet of studs. Studs are becoming a bit outdated anyway, and this treatment brings us nothing new. I don’t mind them around the base, as they give a kind of Alexander Wang vibe to the satchel. But by adding more studs around the handles, I think Vitalio Vera has taken a step too far.

It’s a shame, because this is really a very practical handbag. A large zippered envelope divides the interior down the center, creating three separate and easy-to-use compartments. There are more small pockets in the side walls, a secure zippered pocket in one and a pair of technology pouches in the other, so those vital essentials are easy to find in a hurry.

Really that clever design probably does enough to justify the $39.95 price tag, especially if you love your studs!

More Features of This Vitalio Vera Studded Satchel

• Lined with nylon-cotton blend fabric
• Top zip closure
• Zip pocket on the back
• An attachable shoulder strap with an 11 inch drop
• Measures 11 x 16.5 x 5.5 inches

Get this Vitalio Vera Bedazzled Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Vitalio Vera bags on BagBunch
• The Treesje London Boston bag, a great alternative to this studded bag.
• Searching for more Vitalio Vera bags on eBay
• Other studded satchel bags on eBay:

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LVMH, the company behind Louis Vuitton, has reportedly bought a 14.2% stake in Hermes International worth some $2 billion.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, LVMH will make an announcement about the business dealings on Monday. It’s believed the company will say it intends to “be a long-term shareholder of Hermes and to contribute to the preservation of the family and French attributes which are at the heart of the global success of this iconic brand.“

While it seems unlikely that LVMH will make a play for a larger share of the company at this point, this current stake should make the company pretty untouchable. While Louis Vuitton does well in its own right, Hermes is the undeniable jewel of the luxury world. Even in the face of the global recession, the label stayed strong with a jump in stock of more than 88% over the last year.

I’m most interested in what this means for the future. Will Hermes continue to be a family brand, or will we eventually see it given over to the larger corporation? What do you think?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Bernard Goldbach/Flickr]

Hermes Handbags on eBay

[phpbay]Hermes, 3, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

I’m not sure whether it thrills me the way old school Michael Jackson music does, but there’s certainly no ignoring this Versace Thriller Bucket Bag!

This is one quirky handbag, which is of course both a good and a bad thing. It’s not going to appeal to everyone, but then again it will make a real impact. No extravagance is spared. Only a designer like Versace would dare to pair a gathered perforated leather top with an art deco floral print and domed silver studs. The disparate elements shouldn’t work, and some would suggest that they don’t, but they do make a very unique style statement.

The very unusual looks are thankfully backed up by a practical design. The structured barrel shape should make it very easy to get our items in and out, and with a zip pocket and pair of patch pouches it should be very easy to stay organized. The striking woven strap is long enough to allow for comfortable over the shoulder carrying, and the task of keeping that lovely white leather clean is made easier with protective feet on the base.

But while I can’t completely warm to those unusual looks, I just can’t justify the Thriller’s whopping $3250 price tag. Can you?

More Features of This Versace Floral Leather Bucket Bag

• Drawstring closure
• Satin lined interior
• A 24-inch woven shoulder strap with a 12 inch drop
• Measures 12 x 14 x 8 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Versace Thriller Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Versace Thriller, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the PZ Diva Luxury and Collectibles eBay store to see if this Versace bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Versace bags on BagBunch
• The Alexander Wang Diego bag, a great alternative to this bucket bag.
• Searching for more Versace bags on eBay

Roberto Cavalli’s flashy Italian style has never really been to my liking. His aesthetic is shiny, elaborate, and opulent, which is basically the complete opposite of what I’m into. Despite that, there’s something very intriguing about this bag that compels me. I can’t, however, decide whether I find it compelling in a positive or negative way.

The heavy brocaded fabric material on this bag is like something from a medieval tapestry. The black fabric sets off the gold embroidery and beading in a magnificent way. The squirrel fur trim greatly enhances the look, but honestly, I feel a little conflicted about it. This is a $3,650 bag and it’s trimmed with squirrel? It just seems a little domestic for this decadent item.

The shape of this bag is simple, which is great, because nothing else about the bag is. The gold braided strap is almost as elaborate as the embroidery on the bag. It’s less yellow than the gold on the bag, though, so it helps the brown-y tones of the squirrel fur blend in better.

Overall, I think this bag is very cool, but it kind of looks like something a Mongolian sheepherder would wear. But, hey, maybe that’s a look this season.

More Features Of The Roberto Cavalli Squirrel Trimmed Brocade Shoulder Bag

• 12″x 8″ x 4″ size
• 24″ handle drop
• Magnetic fastening on the front flap
• Lined in red leather

Get this Roberto Cavalli Squirrel Trimmed Brocade Bag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Roberto Cavalli bags on BagBunch
• The Tory Burch Studded Leather Bag, a great alternative to this bag
• Searching for more Roberto Cavalli bags on eBay
• Other brocade bags on eBay:

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Fashion rental website Rent the Runway now has everything you need to complete your glamorous evening look; it’s expanded its range and added handbags to the dresses and jewelry currently available for hire.

The site is starting small with a selection of 13 Judith Leiber purses available for four and eight-day rentals. They start at $100, much cheaper than the recommended retail prices of between $995 and $2895. Hopefully it won’t be too long though before we see other designers added.

“We’re thrilled to expand our business with the launch of Judith Leiber handbags,” stated Jennifer Hyman, CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway. “We’ve seen that women love adding jewelry to their dress rental – or even renting jewelry alone – so we’re eager to give her an even bigger assortment of accessories that includes handbags to complete her evening out.“

To sweeten the deal, Rent the Runway will place a “diamond ticket” inside three handbags. The lucky winners will be luckier than one of Willy Wonka’s chocolate-loving kids; they’ll each receive Everlon Diamond Knot Bracelets from Helzber Diamonds.

Winners in October and November will receive a one-carat bracelet worth $2500, while the lucky December winner will get a two-carat bracelet worth $4300. That’s some Christmas present! And I’m sure those bracelets will look stunning with those rented Judith Leiber purses!

[Source: PR Newswire]
[Image Source: Rent the Runway Facebook page]

Judith Leiber Handbags on eBay

[phpbay]Judith Leiber, 3, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

I thought I knew exactly what to expect from a Vera Bradley purse: patterned materials embellished with diamond quilting that look just a little bit old fashioned. But it seems I was wrong. This Meet Me in Paris wallet is much more sophisticated than anything I’ve seen from the brand.

Gone are the tired patterns, replaced instead with this striking matte turquoise material. The quilting has been given a bit of an overhaul too, with a surprising cobblestone pattern replacing the classic diamond look. I love the makeover, which lets us see a different, more elegant side of the iconic American label.

We could always rely on Vera Bradley for practicality and I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed here. The interior has nine slots for cards and a clear window for your driver’s license or photo of a loved one. There’s also a small pocket for change, and three open pockets for notes and receipts. And if that’s not enough for you, you’ll find another zippered pocket on the back.

This new sophisticated side of Vera Bradley thankfully doesn’t come with a hoity-toity new price. You’ll find this café wallet at a very affordable $35.

More Features of This Vera Bradley Quilted Café Wallet

• Paris cityscape lined interior
• Patent trim
• Snap closure
• Measures 7 x 3 inches

Get this Vera Bradley Meet Me in Paris Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Vera Bradley Meet Me In Paris Cafe Wallet, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check The Bargain Chick eBay store to see if this Vera Bradley bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Vera Bradley bags on BagBunch
• The Vera Bradley Meet Me in Paris bistro clutch bag, a great alternative to this café wallet.
• Searching for more Vera Bradley bags on eBay

Purse Tails is taking its pretty handbag hangers to American bagistas with the launch of its new US website.

Purse Tails has earned a large following in its native United Kingdom, so a move into the American market seemed like the next logical step.

“There has been a great deal of interest in our products from women in the USA. We realized it was time to bring our customer service and great products to America,” said Kat Hughes, the director of Purse Tails.

There are more than 60 different Purse Tails in all, including ones with foldable designs, different colors, gem and jewel embellishments, and bracelet hooks. Each one tucks away in a handbag, ready to attach to a bar or table to keep your purse away from germs, dirt, and spills.

Most of us will choose one Purse Tail that speaks to us, but Hughes says that many fans like to gather a collection.

“We have a large number of products because some women like purse hooks to match every outfit and we like to have them to suit all tastes and styles,” she explained.

That might be overkill, but with sticky bar floors and restaurant carpets generally teeming with bacteria, a Purse Tail sounds like a great idea. You can get one, or many more, from the new Purse Tails website.

[Source: PR Web]

Handbag Hangers on eBay

[phpbay]handbag hanger, 3, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Just when I thought I’d seen the season’s last studded handbag, another one pops up. The trend might be becoming a bit passé, but I don’t mind the treatment Vanessa Bruno has given the hardware in this Grand Cabas Rivet Tote.

Rather than using the tired rock inspired combination of silver studs against a black bag, Vanessa Bruno has given her tote a Western feel with golden studs against lush brown suede. She’s also shown remarkable restraint, restricting the hardware to narrow bands around the straps and base.

Aesthetically the look really works, but I’m not so sure about it on a practical level. The handles are really too short to easily carry over the shoulder, and those studs won’t make them very comfortable to carry by hand. That means our only choice is to throw the bag over our arm, which probably won’t be very comfortable either when the tote is full.

Vanessa Bruno forgets functionality again inside. This is an enormous tote, so I was surprised to see just a single zippered pocket to help us out. For the average girl, this won’t be enough to keep the clutter at bay.

At $497 this isn’t the most expensive tote, but I still think I could find a more practical accessory for that money.

More Features of This Vanessa Bruno Studded Tote

• A detachable mirror charm
• Dual straps with a 5 inch drop
• Measures 14 x 21 x 7.5 inches

Get this Vanessa Bruno Grand Cabas Rivet Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Vanessa Bruno bags on BagBunch
• The Michael Kors Uptown Astor bag, a great alternative to this tote bag.
• Searching for more Vanessa Bruno bags on eBay
• Other studded tote bags on eBay:

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Miu Miu used to be one of my favorite lines, but lately I just don’t get where it’s coming from. The pieces have gotten considerably less chic and considerably more carnivalesque in the past few seasons, which is only a compliment if you have to be a clown. This ridiculous leopard print shearling bag is a good example of what I mean.

Shearling isn’t exactly one of my favorite fabrics, but this version is particularly unattractive. It’s just because, in this case, the shearling just looks like any other faux fur, only it doesn’t even have the benefit of being animal-friendly.

The pouch shaped bag is kind of a nice design. In fact, if this were a vintage fur bag at a reasonable price, I might love it. In that case, the sweet pom pom clasp would seem quirky and cute. But at $850, it’s completely absurd.

More Features Of The Miu Miu Leopard Print Shearling Clutch

• 10″ x 7″ x 4″ size
• Fully lined in black leather
• Zip fastening

Get this Miu Miu Leopard Print Shearling Clutch:

• 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 leopard print clutches on eBay:
  [phpbay]leopard clutch,2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Valentino’s fanciful, feminine classics are runway and celebrity favorites. Unfortunately, since the designer’s retirement, the line has produced inconsistently. But this gorgeously embellished crystal and feather evening bag is an extraordinary breath of fresh air.

The black and pink feathers that make up this clutch are traditionally beautiful, but they also utilize fashion’s current obsession with soft, nude-y pinks. They are arranged artfully, in a deliberately messy sort of way that gives this very elegant evening bag an extremely rakish charm.

The crystal-encrusted bird figurines that perch atop this clutch are such a bizarre, beautiful choice. They add a touch of quirky, surreal glamour to the bag. This is definitely an unforgettable piece, and one that will become the centerpiece of a simple evening wear ensemble.

Ordinarily, I would balk at any bag with a $4,170 price tag, but this bag is more than just an accessory. It’s a piece of art.

More Features Of The Valentino Crystal Embellished Feather Clutch

• 8″ x 6″ x 2″ size
• 8″ strap drop
• Lined in pink satin

Get this Valentino Crystal Embellished Feather Clutch:

• 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 feather clutches on eBay:
  [phpbay]feather clutch, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]