Style and sophistication are just what we’ve come to expect from luxury label Tod’s. With the Shade Shopping Media Bag, the brand doesn’t let us down.

This isn’t the kind of shopper you want to take to the local farmers markets or grocery store. It’s much too classy for that. But it could happily make the day-to-night transition, getting you through the daily grind before dinner with your main squeeze or a night out with the girls.

The styling is simple yet impressive, with clean lines and smooth luxury leather. I love the seasonal pop of color this orange bag offers, but if you’re after a more traditional look then consider the Shade Shopping Media bag in vachetta leather.

The craftsmanship is first class, but there are a few niggling problems. That generous interior will never stay organized with only a single zip pocket inside. And the purse is far too bulky to warrant such short handles. You’ll be restricted to hand-held carrying, which will be difficult once the Shade Shopping Media bag is loaded up.

These are reasons to resist the charms of the Shade Shopping Media bag, but I must admit: that’s easier said than done when a handbag looks this good!

More Features of This Tod’s Orange Leather Bag

• Snap closure
• Metal feet on the base
• Cotton canvas lining
• Dual handles with a 5.5 inch drop
• Measures 15.5 x 12 x 6.5 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Tod’s Shade Shopping Media Handbag:

• Available to buy at Neiman Marcus
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Tod’s bags on BagBunch
• The Tod’s Helmut Zip Tote Media bag, a great alternative to this media bag.
• Searching for more Tod’s bags on eBay
• Other Tod’s media bags on eBay:

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British handbag lovers may want to take a peek at Bags and Baggage, a new exhibition at the Liverpool Academy of Arts.

Show organizer June Lornie invited fellow artists and members of the public to donate their purses to the event. The result is a unique collection, which features everything from George Harrison’s suitcase to a hand-painted Victorian beauty.

“Bags are everywhere in our society and everyone has a story to tell, whether that’s the memories they represent or the contents they hold,” said Ms Lornie, a former theatrical costumer who created a dress from carrier bags especially for the exhibition.

There are other celebrities represented, including accessories from Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips and The Scaffold’s John Gorman. But Ms Lornie insists she didn’t want the display to be about stars, adding that “Quite often it’s ordinary people who have the best stories, so I’d advise anyone coming to bring their reading glasses along!”

Bags and Baggage will be at the Liverpool Academy of Arts until February 18.

[Source: Liverpool Echo]
[Image Source: Ronnie/Wikipedia Commons]

Victorian Bags on eBay

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You can always count on Timmy Woods to create a head-turning purse. The designer might sometimes miss the mark, but her accessories are never boring.

I’m in two minds about this Mariposa purse. It’s made of the same smooth acacia wood that we saw in the Faith and the Charming clutch. But that butterfly shape makes it a little kitschy. We’ve seen Timmy Woods create purses in the shape of everything from Kris Kringle to a champagne bottle before, so such an unusual design isn’t entirely unexpected. But it will polarize audiences: some may love the fashion risk while others will long for a less obvious design.

I can’t fault the execution though. The wood has been hand carved and painted with black and golden ink to create the butterfly’s wings. It’s a beautiful thing, more a work of art than a handbag. So it’s a shame Timmy Woods pairs her butterfly with a black rope strap. It looks cheap frankly, and the Mariposa deserves better. I’d rather carry this purse in my hand clutch-style than sling that over my shoulder! What a shame we can’t remove it, at least not without scissors!

Another disappointment is the storage space on offer, although this isn’t entirely unexpected. That winged shape was never going to give us a large interior, but that doesn’t make packing it any easier. I do love the silk lining though. What a shame to keep that luxury inside when the tacky rope strap is always in plain view!

If you’ve fallen for it though, the Mariposa’s shortcomings aren’t likely to faze you. At $338 it’s hardly cheap, but such an original purse rarely is!

More Features of This Timmy Woods Butterfly Bag

• Matte gold-tone hardware
• Molded sides with interior elasticized gore
• Hinged flat bottom
• Logo-embossed, snap-lock closure
• An elasticized patch pocket inside
• A rope strap with a 23 inch drop
• Measures 5 x 2 x 6.5 inches
• Comes with a drawstring dust bag

Get this Timmy Woods Mariposa Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the Gifts to Adore eBay store to see if this Timmy Woods bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Timmy Woods bags on BagBunch
• The Bottega Veneta Butterfly Tote bag, a great alternative to this clutch bag.
• Searching for more Timmy Woods bags on eBay
• Other Timmy Woods butterfly bags on eBay:

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London’s East End has a long history of inspiring creative types from Oscar Wilde to Iron Maiden. And now the buzzing British district has become the latest muse of handbag designer Lulu Guinness.

Ms Guinness’ spring/summer 2010 collection pays tribute to Bethnal Green’s iconic Columbia Road and its Sunday flower market. The designer reportedly approached stores last year that she hoped to include in the fun new collection.

While details are scant, one bag will feature a fictional florist, known as Lulu’s Flower Shop, sandwiched between real life stores, Ryantown and Café Columbia. The café’s owner, Beverley Willsher, is said to be thrilled by her eatery’s inclusion, and it seems the feelings are mutual. Lulu Guinness gifted Ms Willshire with one of the new bags, which she plans to display in her window filled with baked goods.

Lulu Guinness’ spring/summer collection will be available at the designer’s Chelsea boutique soon.

[Source: East London Advertiser]
[Image Source: Butttongrrrl/Flickr]

Lulu Guinness Bags on eBay

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In calling this cross-body bag Pocket Perfection, Tignanello prepares us for a practical purse. On that score at least, the brand delivers.

Perfection is a big claim, but I can’t fault the functional appeal of the plethora of pockets. There are a couple of zippered pockets up front, and another zippered pouch in back. As it’s pressed against your body, this is the ideal place for stashing those items that are most valuable. The dome-shaped pocket doesn’t look so unusual from the outside, but unzip it and prepare to be wowed. It’s actually got a secure change compartment, a couple of slip pockets, and six slots for credit cards. Putting that pocket up front ensures we won’t need to fumble for cards or cash at the check-out.

The slender interior won’t suit girls who want to carry a lot, but those who can travel light will enjoy its organizational features. A zip and slip pocket is probably more than we need for a bag of this size, but no one will complain about extra pockets!

The shoulder strap is another practical feature, with its long drop giving us cross-body versatility. It’s adjustable too, although a few more belt holes would have allowed us to really find that ideal fit.

Design is the only area that Tignanello doesn’t achieve perfection. The Pocket Perfection isn’t a bad looking purse, but it’s a little too safe to really impress. Still, there’s always a place in a girl’s wardrobe for a reliable, classic cross-body. And in that regard, the Pocket Perfection fits the bill.

More Features of This Tignanello Leather Organizer Bag

• Made of 100% leather
• Silver-tone hardware
• Top zip closure
• Satiny logo printed interior
• Measures 9 x 9 x 2 inches

Get this Tignanello Pocket Perfection Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Tignanello Pocket Perfection, 2, “”, satchel shopper[/phpbay]

• Check the Closet Helper eBay store to see if this Tignanello bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Tignanello bags on BagBunch
• The Tignanello Pocket Perfection Swagger Satchel bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Tignanello bags on eBay

Robin Wright is returning to her modeling roots as the new face of Gerard Darel handbags.

Famed photographer Peter Lindbergh captured this affectingly intimate portrait of the Hollywood actress in a New York photo shoot last year. It’s hard to look at this shot without imagining the pain she must feel as her divorce to husband of 13 years Sean Penn is finalized.

It certainly makes a change from the glossy and somewhat superficial ads we generally see from fashion houses. It’s definitely a photo I take notice of, but I’m not sure how effectively it works as a marketing campaign. After all, we can barely see the Gerard Darel handbag laying down beside her.

Effective marketing ploy or not, it’s one of those ads which is sure to attract media attention and conversation. And for that reason alone, perhaps it’s the right move for this underrated French fashion house.

[Source: Purse Page]

Gerard Darel Handbags on eBay

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This little frame clutch from Hobo International brings a spring vibe to smart patent evening bags.

The Belinda uses an interesting selection of decorative features. Rather that just choosing one focal point, this purse combines a patent sheen, over-sized floral print, and an unusual snakeskin pattern. I am a little hesitant about the use of print and pattern together, but if you have a reasonably subtle or muted outfit then this could work.

As for the purse itself, you don’t get much room. This slender clutch will look elegant and streamlined, but at the same time you wont be able to fit much in. That said, at least it is pretty and secure, and you should still be able to pack in your phone! You also get the added organizational clout that the wallet section and slip pockets afford you.

For such a small little purse this ain’t cheap, but I think it is worth it. From the flashy silver hardware to the soft gingham lining, this is cute and unusual.

More Features of this Tropical Belinda Purse

• Also available in pink, lime and turquoise
• Wallet section, plus coin section
• Flexible patent leather exterior
• Snakeskin pattern

Get this Hobo International Clutch:

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

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• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Hobo International bags on BagBunch
• The Pink Studio Shiala clutch, a great alternative to this patent bag.
• Searching for more snakeskin bags on eBay

I am in love with yellow at the moment: vintage mustard shades, spring daffodil tones, and bright neon tints. To find a lovely yellow in a bag as individual and unusual as this is just brilliant!

The shape of this leather satchel is quite unusual; twice the height that you would expect from a normal bag and thinner too. I actually like this design, however; it makes things easy to organize and makes it more comfortable to carry as well. The two front mounted pockets work really well to flatter the handbag shape and contrast against the canary yellow shade.

Those pockets are a real selling point; fashionable yet functional at the same time. The cute toggle and drawstring closure isn’t as secure as a zip would be, but does mean the bag looks even cuter and more retro. There is a distinctly vintage 1970s vibe to this piece, which is perhaps why these pockets work so well.

Fly London are never cheap, and many people may feel that $264.95 is just too much to spend on a casual bag. The Ella satchel is real leather, however, and its cute floral lining may win a few people over!

More Features of this Vintage Style Ella Purse

• Also available in gray, petrol and red
• Features two spacious front pockets
• Leather and suede exterior
• Funky vintage style floral lining

Get this Pocketed Fly London Satchel:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More yellow bags on BagBunch
• The Xhileration Folded Cross body purse, a great alternative to this bright bag.
• Searching for more leather and suede bags on eBay
• Other yellow bags on eBay:

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Combining casual cool with just a hint of boho chic, The SAK has created a great everyday bag in the Fernwood tote.

The slightly bohemian vibe comes the slouchy leather-polyurethane blend and the wooden tassel. Stone accents jazz up this unexpected detail, which helps to add interest to this fairly simple design.

Of course, it’s that back-to-basics approach which gives the Fernwood its versatile appeal. While it’d look perfect with a flowing hippie skirt, it’d be equally at home paired with jeans or even a smart office ensemble. It’s rare to find a bag so ready to make the nine-to-five transition, but this could do the trick. While it won’t suit an exclusive soiree, you could easily carry it to the movies or after work drinks.

It’s got the space to match its versatile good looks, but it’s not so large that it’ll overwhelm you. It’s hard to strike that balance, and I appreciate the effort. The interior is simply designed, with a zippered pocket and two open slips just enough to keep your gadgets and smaller items in order.

By using a leather blend, rather than a pure skin, The SAK has managed to keep the price down to an affordable $129. For a sophisticated bag that’s 90% leather, that sounds like a good deal to me.

More Features of This The SAK Leather Blend Tote

• 100% cotton lining
• Zip top closure
• Dual handles
• Measures 11 x 5 x 13 inches
• Available in saffron, lime, bisque, and black

Get This The SAK Fernwood Handbag:

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

[phpbay]The SAK Fernwood tote, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Victorias Secret Fashions 4 U eBay store to see if this The SAK bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More The SAK bags on BagBunch
• The Fernwood hobo bag, a great alternative to this tote bag.
• Searching for more The SAK bags on eBay

Punxsutawney Phil tells us that six more weeks of winter are in store, so we might as well embrace the chilly weather with a snuggly purse. This Macintosh Mini Tote from The Jesse B. Collection is the ideal candidate.

At $95, you won’t mind stashing it in the closet once the season changes. But for now you can enjoy the traditional styling and classic herringbone patterned fabric. Or you won’t. I must admit, the finish does resemble some cushions at my grandma’s house. But if you don’t mind that old-fashioned look, or rather safe execution, this is a cute number for gloomy, gray days.

The wintery theme continues inside with lush navy blue wool lining. The lack of pockets is disappointing though, although the tote isn’t so big that you’d need many. A single zippered pouch would have done the trick for stashing loose change and other small valuables.

It will never set the fashion world alight, but this Macintosh Mini Tote would look lovely paired with a smart blazer or stylish trench.

More Features of This Jesse B. Collection Herringbone Tote

• Magnetic snap entry
• Gold-toned feet on base
• Leather shoulder straps with a 6 inch drop
• Measures 14 x 2.5 x 7.5 inches

Get this Jesse B. Collection Macintosh Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Jesse B. Collection bags on BagBunch
• The Jesse B. Collection Sugarplum clutch, a great alternative to this winter bag.
• The Jesse B. Collection website
• Other herringbone bags on eBay:

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