Calvin Klein serves up a laidback take on summer fashion with this Laguna satchel. But is the American label sleeping on the job?

This gentle design is different to the colorful bags many labels release during summer. It doesn’t scream nearly so loudly, which should make it very versatile. I imagine it’ll work with most apparel in your daytime warm weather wardrobe, although I can’t imagine the casual purse will make the transition to the evening or the cooler months.

I just feel like I’ve seen it all before. Natural toned woven straw is a summer staple, and it always looks good paired with white leather accents. However because it feels so familiar it’s easy to overlook. I appreciate that Calvin Klein has attempted to give us options with a gold-trimmed version and another zebra one, but these don’t quite resonate either. Would you rather a daring but ultimately unsatisfying color scheme, or a boring one?

To be fair the Laguna’s interior offers more than I expected. This is no simple beach tote. Its main compartment features a pair of slide pockets, a duo of zippered ones, and a credit card organizer which allows us to leave our wallet behind.

Those functional features might just get the Laguna over the line. This satchel hasn’t wowed me, but for an affordable $168 Calvin Klein ensures we see value.

More Features of This Calvin Klein Straw Satchel

• Magnetic snap closure
• Fully lined interior
• Dual handles with an 8 inch drop
• Measures 4.5 x 13 x 11 inches

Get this Calvin Klein Laguna Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the Buy’s Internet Superstore eBay store to see if this Calvin Klein bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• The Calvin Klein Laguna tote bag, a great alternative to this straw bag.
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• Other straw satchel bags on eBay:

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After more than two decades in the business, Hobo International has launched its first bricks and mortar store. The leathergoods firm is keeping operations close to home with the boutique based near its headquarters in Annapolis, Maryland.

The striking store is located inside a revamped red and white townhouse which dates back to the 19th century. The two-storey space creates an intimate shopping environment for Hobo International’s handbags, wallets, and other leather goods.

The company’s chief executive officer David Brewer says it was important to keep Hobo International’s operations local.

“When we decided to open the store, our hometown was the clear choice for us. Hobo’s corporate office is here, as well as our family,” he explained. “We really feel that Hobo’s first flagship belongs in the heart of the Annapolis community.“

Family is key for Hobo International, which is currently owned and operated by Koren Ray, the daughter of company founder Toni Ray, and her husband David Brewer. It seems that family is embraced by the Anapolis community. It even hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the store’s grand opening!

Hobo International bags are currently available in more than 3000 stores across the United States, but the shift to its own boutiques represents a giant step forward for the brand.

Will you shop for Hobo handbags in Maryland?

[Source: Accessories Magazine]
[Image Source: Hobo International website]

Hobo International Handbags on eBay

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Burberry tones down its usual aesthetic with this Pasmore shoulder bag. In fact if I hadn’t spotted the discreet engraving on its buckles, I wouldn’t know it was a Burberry bag at all!

Of course the nova check pattern we’ve come to associate with the British brand is gone, but it’s more than that. The Pasmore also seems to lack the oomph of many other Burberry bags. Its two-toned design is a very gentle interpretation of the current colorblocking trend, and instead of the fashion conscious accents we’re used to the finish is very clean. On one hand I appreciate the lack of clutter, but I also wonder where Burberry’s personality has gone.

I can’t fault its functionality though. The design is very practical, with its well-appointed and spacious main compartment and wide, adjustable shoulder strap. The checkered fabric which lines the interior even gives us a glimpse of the Burberry of old.

The Pasmore is made from high quality materials, and its subtlety should make it very versatile. However I feel Burberry’s identity has been lost, and without it I’m not sure the Pasmore will inspire the passion we’ll need to spend $1125.

More Features of This Burberry Colorblocked Shoulder Bag

• Made of lambskin
• Zip top closure
• A 43-inch shoulder strap
• Measures 10.25 x 14 x 3.25 inches

Get this Burberry Pasmore Handbag:

• Available to buy at My Theresa
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Burberry bags on BagBunch
• The Burberry Slouchy Oversized bag, a great alternative to this brown leather bag.
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• Other two-toned shoulder bags on eBay:

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Ordinarily we expect to pay a significant sum for any real leather accessory that meets our everyday needs. However Brynn Capella shows us we can keep our costs down without skimping with her Lauren bag.

While the Lauren doesn’t make a particularly strong style statement, it’s quite a lovely looking bag. I feel a slight sense of déjà vu as I look at it, but I can help admiring the way its supple leather slouches gently around the top. That red color is also really striking, although I think I like the Lauren just as much in navy and white. Traditionalists may be disappointed there’s no black or brown option, but I’m glad to see a label being less predictable.

The Lauren looks modern and youthful, but its appeal goes beyond its surface. We can wear this bag in a variety of ways. The short strap makes it a shoulder bag, while the longer strap converts it into a cross-body. Both are removable so we can enjoy a clean look no matter what mode it’s in.

Similar purses can easily fetch more than $1000, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the Lauren costs just $298. That’s a steal for any bag that offers such luxury and street smarts.

More Features of This Brynn Capella Convertible Tote

• Lined with non-fray bengaline fabric
• Top zip closure
• Back zippered pocket
• Dogclip closures on the straps
• A short strap with an 8 inch drop
• An adjustable long strap with a 12 to 24 inch drop
• Measures 0.5 x 16 x 16 inches
• Handcrafted in the United States

Get this Brynn Capella Lauren Handbag:

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

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• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Brynn Capella bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

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• More Brynn Capella bags on BagBunch
• The Brynn Capella Zee satchel bag, a great alternative to this large leather bag.
• Searching for more Brynn Capella bags on eBay

It seems a designing career may be next for model, socialite, and former reality television starlet Olivia Palermo. She’s indicated an interest in design in past interviews, and recently filed a trademark for release several goods including handbags and travel goods, jewelry organizers and rolls, and pet apparel and accessories under her name.

Some of these choices seem a little left of center, especially the pet products. However the strategy of creating a comprehensive apparel and accessories range is something we’ve seen from several other stars, including Jessica Simpson and Snooki. Few designers do pet products really well, so perhaps Palermo’s hoping to tap into the void in the market.

Details are very thin on the ground. In fact, Palermo’s people would only state the obvious and comment that “Olivia does not have a line of accessories at the moment.” However in past interviews Palermo indicated an interest in evening wear as she believes the market is saturated with ready to wear items, so perhaps the line will be skewed towards after five wear.

And so we’re left to speculate and wait until Olivia Palermo’s business moves from a theoretical paper idea to yet another celebrity label. There’s no doubt that she’s launching herself into an already cluttered marketplace. Do you think she’s got the style knowhow to make an impression?

[Source: Fashionista]
[Image Source: Nick Stepowyj]

Bourne embraces its feminine side with this ultra girly Heather clutch.

This is an evening purse destined to divide opinion. There are so many bows plastered onto the front that it’s easy to lose count! All those fussy accents will be too much for anyone with minimalist tastes, but I admire Bourne’s commitment to cute. There may be such a thing as too many bows, but I don’t think the label’s crossed the line yet! If it had opted for pink or purple satin perhaps the Heather would seem ostentatious, but in classic black it stays on the right side of adorable.

The Heather isn’t especially luxurious, but Bourne delivers everything we really expect from a clutch purse. The interior has a small pocket for storing receipts, and a drop-in chain. I’d prefer this was detachable so we could leave it behind, but on the plus side it seems far less flimsy than most on comparable purses.

At $172.50 this is one of Bourne’s more expensive clutches and I’m not sure it’s worth the extra dollars. However I wouldn’t hesitate to indulge if I found it on sale!

More Features of This Bourne Bow Clutch

• Made of satin
• Clasp closure
• Printed signature lining
• A chain strap with an 8.5 inch drop
• Measures 3.75 x 10.75 x 1.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Bourne Heather Handbag:

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

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• More Bourne bags on BagBunch
• The Bourne Pru bag, a great alternative to this bow bag.
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• Other bow clutch bags on eBay:

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London’s Basso & Brooke is the latest fashion house to put its stamp on Cambridge Satchel Company’s signature bag. The British brand follows other interpretations of the Cambridge Satchel from ASOS, Commes des Garcons, and Doc Marten.

Basso & Brooke applied digitized prints, similar to the ones we see on the label’s apparel items, do the classic satchel. I love the way the label’s melding of British and Brazilian livens up what’s otherwise a fairly traditional accessory.

It’s unusual to see the same bag reinterpreted by so many different labels, but if it’s going to happen to any accessory I suppose it makes sense that it’s the Cambridge satchel. After all, its styling is so clean and classic that it can easily become a blank canvas. And as most Cambridge Satchels cost around $150, which is relatively affordable in designer circles, the companies involved know their products are likely to fly from shelves.

The Basso & Brooke for Cambridge Satchel Company bags made their debut during London Fashion Week, but we’ve got some time to save for our own version, and to decide what we’ll wear them with. They’re expected to hit stores in the fall.

Is there a space for such a bold satchel in your wardrobe?

[Source: She Finds]

Cambridge Satchels on eBay

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Bottega Veneta refuses to get into a style rut with its Plonge tote.

The luxury fashion house is famous for its iconic handbags featuring an all over weave, but here it serves up something different. Rather than making woven leather the base, Bottega Veneta uses the technique to accent its design. Woven lines criss-cross this way and that against the esspresso colored leather to create a contemporary take on plaid. It’s very striking, although I’m not sure it’s as successful as those all-over woven purses we all know and love.

Bottega Veneta bags are always well made, and this one’s no different. The attention to detail is superb. We love the thick interior lining and the leather trim that reinforces the pocket.

What’s done is done well, but I don’t think Bottega Veneta’s done enough to engage anyone but the elite. Such an enormous main compartment really needs more than a single pocket to be functional. I appreciate the woven detail on the handles, but they’re too short to carry over our shoulder. Carrying any large bag by hand is awkward, and it’s disappointing Bottega Veneta hasn’t recognized that. I’d prefer a few extra inches over those pretty details any day.

The Plonge is lovely but its $3950 price tag says it all really. This tote shows Bottega Veneta is a fashion house capable of producing some gorgeous accessories. It’s just a shame they’re so out of touch with what most of us really need.

More Features of This Bottega Veneta Woven Tote

• Matte hardware
• Dual flat top handles with a 5 inch drop
• Measures 11.5 x 23 x 8 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Bottega Veneta Plonge Handbag:

• Available to buy at Barney’s New York
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Bottega Veneta bags on BagBunch
• The Bottega Veneta Shopping Intrecciato leather tote bag, a great alternative to this woven detail tote bag.
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• Other woven leather tote bags on eBay:

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Look smart when you step out carrying this slim Misha shoulder bag from Botkier.

The Misha’s flap-over design is very traditional, but the devil’s in the detail. I love the way the snake style treatment makes the lambskin finish appear even richer. The scales are drawn with pretty coral pink, which is a glorious complement to the more subdued purple gray hue. We see more of this feminine shade along the flap’s silver metal border.

The Misha’s slender dimensions make it feel very sophisticated, but that design comes at a practical price. The triple compartment design helps us stay organized, but you may need to leave some of those items you call essentials behind. Botkier makes amends for that though with clever little extras including a pen tab, a key clip, and pocket aplenty. In an ideal world the strap would be wider to make sure it doesn’t pull on our shoulder, but this is a minor quibble.

Not all Misha’s are made equally though. I love this look, but the matte black lambskin version is a bit boring and the platinum one really garish.

More Features of This Botkier Snake Embossed Shoulder Bag

• Magnetic snap closure
• Measures 3.5 x 12 x 8.5 inches

Get this Botkier Misha Handbag:

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

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• Check the Anauthentic eBay store to see if this Botkier bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Botkier bags on BagBunch
• The Botkier Misha clutch bag, a great alternative to this shoulder bag.
• Searching for more Botkier bags on eBay

Christian Dior has released images of its new fall/winter 2012 advertising campaign starring Mila Kunis.

The advertising campaign is the actress’ second for the fashion firm, following the spring/summer 2011 commercials.

It’s unusual to see all the color in this campaign. While the spring/summer ads saw Kunis smoldering in a black cocktail dress in a smoky looking room, the fall/winter images are much brighter. The 29-year-old starlet glows in a low-cut pink dress and minimalist makeup. The rustic raffia clutch purse also seems more suited to warm weather than the chilly conditions ahead.

Perhaps it’s unsurprising that this commercial doesn’t look quite right for the season, as Kunis herself admits she’s a novice at the fashion game.

“I’m honestly just learning about fashion,” she told Women’s Wear Daily. “In my daily life, I don’t wear the most feminine pieces. But I love to feel feminine when I’m on the red carpet.” She added that she finds Christian Dior “an incredibly grounded house” that produces “sophisticated, feminine, and beautiful” accessories and garments.

With that sort of flattery, it seems Kunis is a shoe-in for the fashion house’s next advertising campaign! What do you think of her latest modelling work?

[Source: Daily Mail]

Christian Dior Clutches on eBay

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