Financial crisis? What financial crisis? That’s the attitude of Harvey Nichols customers, who are still happy to fork out the big bucks for luxury handbags.
A representative from the retail chain’s Knightsbridge store said one customer recently parted with £15, 000 for a hand-made alligator leather purse from American designer Lana Marks. The sale of the multicolored Positano handbag shows some shoppers are still prepared to splash their cash around.
But Hillary Vallieres, a spokeswoman for the store, says luxury lovers are rejecting signature prints and other heavily branded bags for more subtle designs. She explains that Lana Marks is “in the category of discreet luxury; it doesn’t have a screaming label as other big brands do. A lot of customers are considering having less ostentatious labels, especially given the current recession.”
Many of the store’s high-end customers are wealthy jetsetters, adds personal shopping manager Rebecca Saville. She explained that the weaker pound has enticed shoppers from Asia and the rest of Europe.
The handbag market exceeded £500 million in the United Kingdom for the first time last year, but market researcher Mintel still predicts a slump due to the recession.
[Source: UTV News]
[Image Source: Lana Marks]
Lana Marks Handbags on eBay
[phpbay]Lana Marks, 3, 63852, “”[/phpbay]
Chloe is usually one of my tip-top favorite lines. But, lately, I just haven’t been blown away from what it has to offer. Maybe I’m missing something, but personally, I think its fall line of accessories is, well, missing something.
Fendi is one of those lines that creates an “It” bag almost every single season. Its style is characterized by a strongly traditional Italian aesthetic with a little extra bling.
Net-A-Porter has its newest edition of 
Though not traditionally seen as a winter fashion color, white has slowly made its way into the range of cool weather accessories. According to trendsetters and fashion magazines, the days of post-Labor Day storage of white shoes and handbags are gone. I, for one, am glad to include white as an established fall and winter color.
Ashley M is one of those rare fashion labels which doesn’t take itself too seriously. Its accessories are unashamedly cheap and cheerful, flights of fancy that favor fun over chic styling.
The recent 
Burberry is a label that, honestly, I sort of thought of as a one-trick pony until a few years ago. Its one trick being the trench, of course. In the past couple years, though, the line has really stepped up its fashion game. And Prorsum has taken it one step further with its own take on edgy, hip classics.
Big Buddha is always a brand that comes to mind when I’m looking for an affordable but trendy handbag. There are, of course, many other fashion labels that serve one or both of those needs, but I know I can count on Big Buddha for a cute purse that costs less than $100.
Facebook
Twitter
Buzz
RSS
