Dooney & Bourke leaves little to the imagination with this Large Carryall Tote.

This tote is crafted from a clear and flexible acrylic fabric, so there’s no mystery about what you’re carrying. The logo print obscures your possessions somewhat, but they’re not really hidden. It should help you get through concert baggage checks faster, but it’s bound to be embarrassing at that time of the month.

This tote is available with trim in a range of colors, but I prefer this cognac hue. It’s very similar to the logo print, so it gives the tote a more unified design. The pink, blue, and yellow versions have a bit more pop, but personally I think the accents are a bit loud for the tote’s look. One more color just makes things seem too busy.

I’m sure some girls will love the clear plastic’s look, but I’m not sure anyone will warm to this tote’s styling. It’s enormous, but it doesn’t have the features to support such bulk. There are no interior pockets, so our possessions will end up in a jumbled mess. The cut-out pockets are cute but also a bit difficult to manage on a purse of this size.

At $60 this tote is cheap, especially for a bag with a designer name attached, but I can still think of better ways to spend that kind of cash.

More Features of This Dooney & Bourke Acrylic Tote

• Open top design
• Measures 20 x 10 x 18 inches

Get this Dooney & Bourke Large Clear Handbag:

• Available to buy at Dooney & Bourke
• Check the Budget Brands for Less eBay store to see if this Dooney & Bourke bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Dooney & Bourke bags on BagBunch
• The Ralph Lauren Black & Clear Pony tote bag, a great alternative to this logo bag.
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• Other Dooney & Bourke clear bags on eBay:

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Canadian fashion photographer and blogger Tommy Ton has flexed his creative muscles to create two handbags in collaboration with Club Monaco.

Since Ton spends so much time writing about fashion and capturing it on film, it makes sense that he’d try his hand at design. His low key backpack and messenger bag won’t revolutionize the fashion industry, but they’re bound to become go-to bags for guys and girls everywhere. I particularly like the way the rich blue bonded cotton twill works with the brushed nickel hardware and leather trim.

For Ton the decision to work with Club Monaco was an easy one. He’s a long-time fan who’s worn the label’s apparel and accessories since his teenage years.

“They’ve always emphasized basics with the greatest quality and functionality for both a man and woman’s wardrobe,” he explained. “If any brand could understand my own personal style and aesthetic, it is Club Monaco.“

The pair of purses will be available from March 20 in Club Monaco stores in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. With prices ranging from $198 to $225, they’re affordable enough for even frugal bag lovers to indulge in.

Are you impressed by Tommy Ton’s foray into accessories design?

[Source: The Huffington Post]

Club Monaco Bags on eBay

[phpbay]Club Monaco, 2, 63852, “”[/phpbay]

Has Gucci created a bag that’s casually cool with the Jungle Hobo, or is it simply not trying? Honestly I’m not quite sure.

Making up my mind gives me a chance to take in the Jungle’s lush caramel colored leather and distinctive hobo slouch. The long tassel gives it a great bohemian flourish, while the bamboo accents give it the Gucci stamp.

But the bamboo ring that gathers the leather at the side makes the Jungle’s shape awkward. The asymmetrical handle also comes off seeming ungainly rather than imaginative, although I’m sure it’d feel heavenly in your hand. I’m all for a designer attempting to stamp their personality on a time honoured style, but the risks aren’t always successful here.

The dimensions are also all wrong. The handle is too short to sling over our shoulder, but the bag is so large that carrying it any other way would be awkward. We could manage it if we didn’t fill it, but what’s the point in all space if we can’t make use of it?

The Jungle doesn’t appear anywhere near as wild as its name, and while it’s got a few interesting features I’m not sure they’re enough to attract fashion fans. They’re certainly not enough to encourage me to spend $1312. What do you think?

More Features of This Gucci Caramel Leather Hobo

• Zip fastening
• Inside zip closure
• A single handle with a 4.7 inch drop
• Measures 16.5 x 11.8 x 3.1 inches

Get this Gucci Jungle Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Gucci Jungle hobo, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Authentic Handbags eBay store to see if this Gucci bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Gucci bags on BagBunch
• The Gucci Greenwich hobo bag, a great alternative to this asymmetrical bag.
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Kenneth Cole wants his company back. The New York designer is reportedly willing to spend some $148.5 million to buy out Kenneth Cole Productions Inc.’s investors.

It’s not like Kenneth Cole has been entirely squeezed out. He serves as his company’s chairman and chief creative officer, he has around 89% of the voting power, and owns about 47% of the company’s stocks.

But he’s set to make selling up very lucrative for financiers. Cole will reportedly offer its investors $15 per share in cash, around 15% more than the price the shares closed at last Thursday.

Of course that generosity doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. The shareholders must agree along with a special committee of independent directors.

Cole hopes that his business will thrive as a private company. In a letter to his board members Cole said market challenges have made his industry even more competitive, and that a more entrepreneurial point of view is vital to the company’s growth.

“I believe it is increasingly difficult to develop this type of culture in a public company context, where the public markets are increasingly focused on short-term results. I am convinced that private ownership is in the best interests of the business and the organization and that this proposal is in the best interests of the shareholders,” he said.

What do you think of Kenneth Cole’s new business strategy?

[Source: The Huffington Post]
[Image Source: Manfred Werner-Tsui/Wikipedia Commons]

Kenneth Cole Bags on eBay

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When she isn’t lighting up the big screen, Kristen Bell is playing designer for fashion label Erica Anenberg. The Madison shows her abilities extend beyond acting.

I never have high hopes for celebrity designed collections. Generally they seem like high profile hobbies for the rich and famous. But the Madison is quite a lovely leather accessory. Kristen Bell calls it a messenger, although it seems more like a tote to me. It’s missing that distinctive flap and relaxed sensibility. However I think the Madison is a better bag for it, more sophisticated and able to adapt to any situation.

While it looks the part the Madison is also very smart. The array of exterior pockets in the front and back hints at the organizational compartments we see inside the ample interior. There’s also an Invisible Children charity bracelet tucked away inside, a trinket handcrafted in Uganda to help one of the causes closest to Bell’s heart.

The choice of straps is another real perk. The rolled handles are long enough to sling over our shoulder, but when we’re on the go the adjustable cross-body strap may be more practical.

The Madison is the kind of handbag that can work for us and look good while it’s doing it. And it does it for just $395, which is very affordable for a leather handbag of this quality.

More Features of This Kristen Bell for Erica Anenberg Leather Messenger

• Made of genuine cowhide leather
• 14 karat gold plated hardware
• Measures 10 x 15 x 5 inches

Get this Erica Anenberg Madison Handbag:

• Available to buy at Couture Candy
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More messenger bags on BagBunch
• The Forzieri Convertible Tote Messenger bag, a great alternative to this chic bag.
• Searching for more Erica Anenberg bags on eBay
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Virginia Dooley and Nicole Jones are doing their bit to help women out of poverty with their fashion label Rising Tide Fair Trade. The company launched in 2004 with a view to help the planet and its people.

Rising Tide Fair Trade sources materials from local marketplaces or creates its own textiles from upcycled materials. Some handbags are finished in leather, but these skins are taken from naturally deceased animals so they’re entirely cruelty free. That practice may divide some animal activists, but I see no problem with making use of creatures that have led full lives and didn’t die in the name of fashion. In fact, it might even be a good way to honor their legacies.

I really like the way that Rising Tide Fair Trade blends the leathers with traditionally crafted fabrics including batiks, wax printed materials, and shwe-shwe cloths. The blend of high end fashion and traditional craftsmanship give these bags a true global feel.

The label shuns the mass production methods of its peers, and instead employs women in need working in a cooperative. These women earn fair trade wages for their labor, which creates far fewer carbon emissions than any factory. As each bag is handcrafted they’re also better quality than the ones which simply fall from the end of a production line.

These sustainable and socially conscious bags are available from the Rising Tide Fair Trade website.

[Source: Magnifeco]

As we get older colored ribbons start to look a bit silly in our hair. But we can still enjoy the pop of color they provide with this Rianna Clutch.

Warm burgundy, orange, red, and gold ribbons criss-cross this way and that across the front of this sophisticated evening purse, creating a kind of chevron finish. It’s so stunning that I can’t help feeling deflated looking at the bare red back. That lack of continuity is common in affordable purses, but that doesn’t make it easier to swallow. I’d rather pay twice the $71 that Menbur charges than see a purse that’s half done.

Thankfully Menbur hasn’t forgotten anything inside, except perhaps a few more inches. While it’s small it should hold everything we really need on an evening out with some careful packing. The chain strap isn’t detachable, so it will clutter the interior when it’s not in use, but you’ll be thankful for its inclusion by the end of the night.

I love the warm pop of this vibrant Rianna but I know many girls may hesitate to add that much color to their wardrobe. Happily there’s also a monochromatic version for anyone seeking a clutch that’s more subdued.

More Features of This Menbur Ribbon Clutch

• Satiny lining
• Clasp closure
• A chain strap with a 21.75 inch drop
• Measures 4 x 7 x 2 inches
• Made in China

Get this Menbur Rianna Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Menbur bags on BagBunch
• The Menbur Checkerboard Satin bag, a great alternative to this layered bag.
• Searching for more Menbur bags on eBay
• Other Menbur clutch bags on eBay:

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Eco-conscious Californian lifestyle brand Morris Terry has released an eco-friendly gym bag for charity.

The MTX Gym bag is made entirely from sustainable cotton canvas and printed with information about its creation. Each bag costs $40 on its own, but it can also be bundled with a pullover for $75, or a pullover and pair a pair of gym pants for $100.

Morris Terry isn’t one of those labels skimming money from the top of its charity endeavor either. The entire purchase price of each bag or bundle will benefit HELPS, a foster agency operating in Morris Terry’s hometown of Sacramento. The donation will help fund extracurricular activities for underprivileged children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate in the arts and theater programs.

Every year Morris Terry designs a collection of items to help foster youth. Company founders Terry Buccat and Marisa “Morris” Minasian both have a deep personal connection to the cause. Adopted Minasian was raised by a social worker who placed numerous foster children into loving homes. Buccat saw his own parents providing such a home when they began to accept foster children seven years ago.

The MTX Gym Bag and its bundles are available now from the Morris Terry website.

[Source: Feelgood Style]

What a difference a few years makes. When once O’Neill created nothing more than casual canvas beach bags, today it’s making wallets as pretty as any clutch purses! The Missi is an excellent example of the development of this surf brand.

The thin faux leather might leave a little bit to be desired, but this wallet’s design is sound. The soft ruching is feminine without being too frilly, especially in this classic tan color. The hourglass style panel which breaks up the pleats adds another dimension to the style. The metal frame and flip lock closure bring some extra sophistication to the purse.

The interior is likely to disappoint anyone who relies on their fantastic plastic. There are only a few card slots, so you’ll probably need to stash the bulk of yours in the open pockets. The closure should ensure they stay put, but I’d worry about metallic strips rubbing when they’re stored together. This is really a wallet made for people who prefer to carry cash.

While O’Neill’s approach to design has evolved in recent years, happily its pricing policy hasn’t. By using leatherette rather than the real deal it’s managed to keep the Missi priced at a paltry $28.

More Features of This O’Neill Ruched Wallet

• Measures 7.5 x 1 x 4.25 inches

Get this O’Neill Missi Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the Altrec Outdoors eBay store to see if this O’Neill bag is in stock
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You may also be interested in:

• More O’Neill bags on BagBunch
• The black O’Neill Missi bag, a great alternative to this brown bag.
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• Other O’Neill wallets on eBay:

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Studs have never looked quite as feminine as the ones gracing the Tilda clutch from Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 label.

We can ordinarily count on the accents to bring a rebellious rock star attitude to any accessory, but these ones set a very different tone. The odd assortment of studs seem like they’ve been collected from thrift stores, or perhaps a grandmother’s sewing box. The unusual pewter accents work with grommets to create a finish that’s quirky yet chic, a little like designer Nicole Richie herself!

I’m not usually a fan of bronze leather accessories, or indeed any metallic leathers. All too often they appear gaudy and garish. But the studs seem to temper the material, ensuring it shines just enough without overdoing it.

The Tilda’s structured shape and small stature makes it ergonomic and oh so chic, but it limits storage space. When you buy a purse like this, you know it’ll never hold the kitchen sink, or even most of the items you want to take out with you. House of Harlow appeases us a little by adding a detachable chain strap. I love that it’s removable, so it doesn’t clutter the already small interior when it’s not in use.

At $225 you’ll probably pause unless you’re a social butterfly, but the Tilda’s far from exorbitant for a clutch with such distinctive style.

More Features of This House of Harlow 1960 Studded Clutch

• Clasp closure
• A detachable shoulder strap with a 24.5 inch drop
• Measures 6.5 x 4 x 2.25 inches

Get this House of Harlow 1960 Tilda Handbag:

• Available to buy at Singer 22
• Check the DesignerStoreNY eBay store to see if this House of Harlow 1960 bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More clutch bags on BagBunch
• The Whiting & Davis Paris minaudiere bag, a great alternative to this evening bag.
• Searching for more House of Harlow 1960 bags on eBay
• Other studded clutch bags on eBay:

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