Rag & Bone Plans Handbags | First Leather Accessories Released in September

Posted on: Apr 19

Rag &  Bone Runways

Rag & Bone is adding handbags to its contemporary fashion range.

The label says purses will join its Newbury boots and androgynous apparel items next season. It’s acting quite coy about the details at the moment, although the leather accessories it sent down the fall runways should give us some indication of what’s in store.

Those boxy bags were made of leather in neutral brown hues, so it makes sense that the Rag & Bone accessories released to the public will have some of these characteristics. Although as it hasn’t leaked early photos like so many labels do, we’re really left to speculate. What are you expecting from Rag & Bone?

This isn’t Rag & Bone’s first foray into the accessories market. The label’s released the occasional casual tote, duffel, wallet, and cosmetics case over the past few years. However this will be the first time we’ve seen the fashion house release a comprehensive handbag line. Early indications also seem to suggest that these handbags will be more luxurious than Rag & Bone’s previous accessories offerings, which are typically made from canvas and other fabrics rather than real leather.

Look for Rag & Bone’s handbags at Barneys New York stores and its signature boutiques, including its new Madison Avenue digs, this September.

[Source: Racked]

Cole Haan Village Eden Tote | Practical Black Leather East-West Handbag

Posted on: Apr 19

Cole Haan Village Eden ToteCole Haan infuses the style of the satchel with the smart soul of a tote with its Village Eden bag.

Cole Haan calls is a tote, but the familiar east-west styling seems much more in keeping with satchel bags. The classic satchel silhouette, with its smooth curves and long rolled handles, is embellished with deep stitching and a gentle pebbled finish.

The Village Eden’s well designed interior lives up to its tote tag though. The full length slip pocket is perfect for stowing the items you need on hand, while the generously sized main compartment can keep other items securely stashed. The Village Eden looks best carried by the rolled handles, but on a busy day it’s worth sacrificing a bit of style and attaching the cross-body strap. The Village Eden doesn’t appear quite as poised in this mode, but the hands-free convenience makes up for any fashion shortcomings.

Cole Haan offers a few color choices, but in my opinion none look quite as smart as this basic black version. The gold one is a bit gaudy, while the sandlewood shade is so unusual that I’m not sure what it would work with. No matter what color you pick you’ll enjoy its low $378 price tag. That’s not a lot to spend on a bag destined to become a wardrobe staple.

More Features of This Cole Haan Leather Tote

  • Dual handles with an 8 inch drop
  • An attachable, adjustable strap with a 15-17.5 inch drop
  • Measures 4 x 16.5 x 11.5 inches

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Burberry Joins Billion Dollar Club | British Firm Posts Record Sales

Posted on: Apr 19

Burberry Summer Ad

Burberry has joined the ranks of Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton by posting record sales of ₤1 billion over the last six months.

Industry experts say that in joining the billion dollar club, Burberry has completed one of the most impressive transformations in fashion. Once a niche heritage brand, it’s now become a global fashion force. Sales increases of around 18 per cent in the last six months have helped elevate Burberry’s status. Its enjoyed its biggest growth in its homeland, France, and China.

Burberry is certainly riding the way of this recent success. It will open a massive 25, 000 square foot flagship store in London’s prestigious Regent Street this summer. It’s also firmed up as a star favorite. Its London and Milan runway shows were wildly popular amongst celebrities, and hot young things Eddie Redmayne and Cara Delevinge modeled its recent summer collection. Emma Watson and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were also Burberry ambassadors.

Burberry’s finance director Stacey Cartwright feels her label’s thrived by taking the road less traveled.

We are the only global luxury goods brand from Britain. We are unique,” she explained, “and we are balanced across clothing and leather goods. Our other difference is our focus on digital. Shoppers can buy straight from the catwalk with iPads in stores and we now have more than 12 million Facebook fans.

It’s impressive to see Burberry continuing its winning run in a world still smarting from the global recession. What do you think are the keys to its success?

[Source: London Evening Standard]

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Christian Louboutin Artemis Spiked Watersnake Shoulder Bag | Dangerously Chic Exotic Handbag

Posted on: Apr 19

christianlouboutinartmeis spiked watersnake shoulder bagChristian Louboutin is the undisputed king of French fashion accessories. His red-soled shoes have graced the feet of princesses and fashion royalty the world over for decades. Still, his momentum shows no sign of slowing down. Year after year, he brings street chic to the boutique set. This Artemis shoulder bag is the perfect example of his ability to make cutting edge styles posh and wearable.

The watersnake material of the bag is over-the-top exotic. Seriously, how many times in your life will you come this close to a watersnake? The texture is supple and the light gloss shows off the natural details of the snakeskin.

The shape of the bag is a classic  rectangle. The pared down design lets all the gorgeous subtleties of the pattern take center stage. The flap front cover will keep your valuables secure on an evening out, and the roomy, red-lined interior will accommodate all your evening niceties in unimpeachable style.

The devil is always in the details with Louboutin, and this Artemis bag is no exception. The silver chain strap features a scary cool collection of multiple-sized spikes (which are conveniently placed not to destroy your clothing).

The Artemis is a dangerous threat to all you fashion victims out there, and has the ability to take you from downtown cool days to uptown nightclubs without flagging. The only drawback is the hefty $2,495 price tag, which makes it unreachable for most of us.

More Features Of The Christian Louboutin Artemis Spiked Watersnake Shoulder Bag

  • Detachable shoulder strap
  • Lined in signature red twill

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Coccinelle Shibuya Shoulder Bag | Boxy Black Nappa Leather Purse

Posted on: Apr 19

Coccinelle Shibuya Shoulder BagCoccinelle takes a leap forward in contemporary design with this Shibuya shoulder bag.

I’ve always appreciated the label’s high quality leathers, but I’ve never seen it putting the skin to such good use. The Shibuya looks ultra modern with its streamlined box shape and deep geometric seams. However as it doesn’t bow to trends, it should continue to appear cutting edge for several seasons.

I’m smitten by the timeless appeal of this black bag, but it’s not our only option. Coccinelle also offers the Shibuya in a rich chocolate brown and a paler cream. I worry that the cream version will get grubby, but any of the variations should easily work its way into your wardrobe.

The Shibuya isn’t just a looker either. It’s fairly slender but well organized, with a main compartment and zippered pocket built in to the flap. Its single strap is also long and wide for easy and comfortable carrying.

The Shibuya calls to mind the head turning designs of Alexander Wang and Jil Sander. However it’s much more attainable than anything these esteemed designers put their names to. At $512 the Shibuya offers sophisticated good looks for style conscious bargain hunters.

More Features of This Coccinelle Geometric Stitched Shoulder Bag

  • Gold-toned hardware
  • Zip closure
  • Signature fabric lining
  • A single strap with a 9.4 inch drop
  • Measures 13.39 x 5.91 x 6.3 inches
  • Comes with a dust bag

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Coach Classics City Bag | Traditional Red Leather Everyday Shoulder Purse

Posted on: Apr 18

Coach Classics City BagCoach shows traditional looks never go out of style with this City Bag from its Classics collection.

While some fashionistas may accuse Coach of playing it safe here, I love the City Bag’s clean, uncluttered design. The rich orange-red leather is an eye-catching alternative to the signature prints of old. The striking color lifts the City silhouette which has been a Coach staple since 1987. Shy retiring types may prefer something more sedate, but I think Coach really needed a bold hue to modernize the style.

The colors have changed and the leather has become lighter, but it’s nice to know that some of our favorite City features remain. I’m thrilled to see Coach retain the original hardware, including that iconic turnlock clasp.

The Classics City Bag is petite by modern standards but it’s roomier than you might expect. The well designed interior has space for everything you really need inside, and its interior and exterior pockets should see that those items stay organized.

Coach serves up the best of both worlds here, a style that dates from fashion’s heyday with a few contemporary innovations. This new City Bag is a bit more expensive than the original incarnation, but at $278 it’s still affordable by modern standards.

More Features of This Coach Classics Shoulder Bag

  • A single strap with a 20 inch drop
  • Measures 11 x 8 x 3.75 inches

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ITC Rules for Louis Vuitton | US Government Supports Fashion Label in Counterfeiting Case

Posted on: Apr 18

Fake Louis Vuitton BagA new ruling by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) may see counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags becoming a thing of the past.

This week the ITC ruled in Louis Vuitton’s favor in an unfair trade case which pitted the fashion house against a “large-scale international counterfeiting and infringing enterprise.” The ring profited from bags and other accessories bearing Louis Vuitton’s famous toile monogram.

The new ruling affords Louis Vuitton extra protection from counterfeiters. When you’ve got the American government on your side, it’s much harder for crims to touch you. It comes after a 15-month investigation of American and Chinese groups importing and selling fake designer bags through the counterfeiting operation.

It’s important to note though that while the ITC ruled that the violations took place, it hasn’t issued any remedy at this point. Louis Vuitton hopes a cease and desist order will be issued, along with an exclusion order which should stop the knockoffs arriving on American soil, but right now it’s a bit of a waiting game.

However the support of the ITC is a step in the right direction which may have ramifications for other high end designers waging war on counterfeiters. What do you think of this latest turn of events?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Autoreverse Tiramisu/Flickr]

Louis Vuitton Bags on eBay

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Cleobella Adanna Cross-Body Bag | Bohemian Styled Black Leather Handbag

Posted on: Apr 18

Cleobella Adanna Cross-Body BagCleobella makes a strong style statement with its Adanna Cross-Body Bag.

Like the rest of the Cleobella collection, the Adanna has a cool bohemian feel. However unlike many of its accessories, Cleobella’s thought outside the box on this one. This isn’t merely boho by numbers. Without tassels, feathers, and the usual hippie accents to rely on Cleobella’s had to be a bit more creative. I really like the stitched geometric design which circles the bucket shaped body, and the soft silhouette the drawstring creates.

Something tells me the Adanna won’t be as endearing once we’re using it though. While the toggle closure offers some extra security, the drawstring is still fiddly to use. The Adanna is also very deep so finding the items you need may prove challenging, even with the pale printed fabric lining.

However when a bag costs an affordable $335, these limitations become small annoyances rather than major flaws. As its price is so low we hardly expect perfection. I think the classic black Adanna is the most versatile of the bunch, but it’s also available in on trend nude and glitzy warm silver if you prefer.

More Features of This Cleobella Black Cross-Body Bag

  • Exterior studded pockets with magnetic closures
  • Interior zip and slip pockets
  • A single strap with a 17 inch drop
  • Measures 11 x 12 x 6 inches

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Innovative Naoron Wood Pulp Accessories Collection | Naota Fukasawa & Onao Collaborate on Limited Edition SIWA Paper Bags

Posted on: Apr 18

SIWA Briefcase

Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa has teamed up with paper firm Onao for a sustainable limited edition accessories collection. The SIWA range features eco-friendly purses crafted from an innovative new fabric dubbed naoron.

The versatile material comes from wood pulp combined with either the polymer polyolefin or recycled polyester. Onao has pioneered the material, which is crafted using traditional Japanese washi-suki paper making practices. The resulting material has a soft leathery suppleness that should impress fashionistas. It’s also resistant to tearing and water damage. And perhaps most pleasing for the planet, it’s also very eco-friendly. It won’t even release harmful chemicals if it’s incinerated!

The SIWA name is derived from the washi-suki process which gives the bags their unique crinkled finish. The SIWA range features a diverse selection of accessories, from the small case and string and button envelope to the larger totes and briefcase. The prices are very reasonable for any accessories made using new technology. The small purses cost just $48, while the briefcase pictured is the most expensive item at $150.

The idea of paper bags becoming everyday accessories might take some time to get used to, but I’m sure eco-warriors will quickly embrace the new technology.

[Source: Ecouterre]

Clara Kasavina Fabby Clutch | Swarovski Crystal Decorated Evening Purse

Posted on: Apr 18

Clara Kasavina Fabby ClutchClara Kasavina uses the sparkling power of crystals to dramatic effect with this Fabby clutch.

Its name is a bit silly, but if you love glitz you’ll probably concur that this purse is fabulous. It’s not at all shy, with large faceted crystals complemented by artfully arranged smaller ones. Personally these are my favorites; they’re delicate and much classier. However if your goal is to turn heads, carrying something covered with large jewels should do the trick!

While the Fabby is a bit ostentatious I suppose it’s not as garish as it might have been. Colored jewels would have appeared much tackier, and a purse featuring them would never be as versatile. The clear stones ensure this purse will work with any outfit you dare pair it with!

And it’s a good thing too, because at $1120 you’ll want to get as much wear from the Fabby as you can. That will prove challenging though, because such a small purse with such a big personality will never become your go to bag. My calendar is too bare to justify spending so much on a special occasion handbag, but social butterflies might see value here.

More Features of This Clara Kasavina Crystal Clutch

  • Magnetic closure
  • Protective metal feet
  • Measures 7.25 x 3.5 x 1 inches
  • Made in the United States

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