Leading fashion designers have banded together to create Runway to Win, an e-commerce site which supports reigning American president Barack Obama’s bid for a second term.

The online store will feature limited edition T-shirts, scarves, tote bags, and bracelets from some of fashion’s biggest names, including Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Jason Wu, and Alexander Wang.

The project is modeled on Runway to Change which helped fund Obama’s 2008 bid for the top job. This new spinoff site is raising funds for the Obama Victory Fund.

As with anything political, the site’s launch isn’t without controversy though. The fashion industry is abuzz with talk that many designers opted out of the project as they were afraid of upsetting their Republican supporting customers. Personally I can’t imagine anyone deciding to boycott a favorite fashion label because of their political affiliations, but I suppose some staunch Republicans might.

As an Australian I can happily leave any allegiances out of it and observe that the project seems like a novel way to raise funds to assist the current leader’s campaign. Perhaps the Republican Party simply needs to round up its own interested designers and launch an alternative site. I’m all for a little healthy competition!

Runway to Win launches tomorrow.

[Source: Lucky]
[Image Source: Wikipedia Commons]

Obama Bags on eBay

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When I think of Lanvin I think of big beautiful bows, bold colors, and a healthy dose of whimsy. But the European label shows it can rein in its natural flamboyance and still get results with this Gypsie Tote.

This is one of those special black handbags that manages to turn heads, despite its conservative color. Its flared shape has a real vintage appeal that’s much more enticing than the modern box silhouette. The snakeskin pouch on the front subtly adds another texture to the mix. I love its look, so I was happy to note that it’s detachable. Leave it on for some extra storage space, or remove it and use it as an evening clutch.

The interior doesn’t exceed our expectations, but it gets the job done well. Its dimensions are perfect for everyday use, large enough for everything we need but not so large that we’ll feel weighed down. The zippered pocket and pair of organizational slips is a great complement to that exotic pouch on the front. The rolled handles might slide off your shoulder, but they help the Gypsie maintain its vintage sense of style.

With the removable pouch included I almost feel like we’re getting two bags in one. And well we should for the money, because at $2288 it costs much more than I’d contemplate spending on just one handbag. On two though, I can consider it!

More Features of This Lanvin Black Leather Tote

• Signature turnlock closure
• Brass-toned hardware
• Signature jacquard lining
• Dual handles with a 6.25 inch drop
• Pouch measures 7 x 11 x 1.75 inches
• Measures 12 x 14 x 6 inches

Get this Lanvin Gypsie Handbag:

• Available to buy at Barneys New York
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Lanvin bags on BagBunch
• The Lanvin Amalia tote bag, a great alternative to this black leather bag.
• Searching for more Lanvin bags on eBay
• Other black leather tote bags on eBay:

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I love leopard print, but I’m never sure how to wear it without appearing like a cougar. However I think I might have found my answer in this Mesh Hard Body Clutch from La Regale.

This structured box clutch is crafted from golden metal mesh. The classic surface is made much more enticing with the addition of leopard print spots. The finish is fierce but not too flamboyant, but I wouldn’t pair it with everything. It’d appear too busy with a printed gown, but look perfect with a favorite little black dress or even a dark pair of denim jeans.

While it’d look the part during the day, its small stature does limit its application. This clutch is a really dainty creature, so you’ll be lucky to fit even your essentials inside it. Thank goodness the cross-body strap is detachable. The last thing we need is more clutter inside that small main compartment!

At least this metal mesh clutch doesn’t cost too much. At $105 we can afford to indulge without any thought to the mundane practicalities!

More Features of This La Regale Leopard Print Clutch

• Pushlock closure
• A chain strap with a 22 inch drop
• Measures 5.25 x 4 x 2 inches

Get this La Regale Mesh Hard Body Handbag:

• Available to buy at Bloomingdale’s
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More La Regale bags on BagBunch
• The La Regale Mesh Clutch, a great alternative to this animal print bag.
• Searching for more La Regale bags on eBay
• Other leopard print mesh bags on eBay:

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HEX is preparing to release a protective new line of tech accessories known as the Fleet Collection. The label will launch the range at the upcoming Style at CES event.

The Fleet Collection, Hex’s third line, features 12 practical pieces including messenger bags, backpacks, totes, and laptop sleeves for MacBooks, iPads, and PC laptops. Each accessory is crafted from stylish gray and white striped canvas, which has been treated with a water-resistant coating and trimmed with leatherette. The synthetic fabric isn’t as strong as real leather, so it’s refreshing to see HEX using authentic leather on the zipper pulls. That’ll ensure these functional components last for several seasons. Surplus grade web carry handles and convenient pocket organizers help finish the unisex designs.

But the practical perks don’t stop there. The accessories have padded compartments to cushion laptops, tablets, and other popular devices. The cross-body and messenger bags also feature HEX’s PadPort to help you easily access your technology on the run.

HEX’s vice president Dan Maravilla says the tech-savvy consumers and industry influencers that frequent the CES event make it the “perfect venue” for launching the new Fleet line.

The Fleet Collection tech bags are available for pre-order through the HEX website ahead of their February release.

[Source: PR Newswire]
[Image Source: HEX website]

Laptop Tote Bags on eBay

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Gwen Stefani’s taken an uncharacteristically conservative approach to fashion with this Marlene satchel.

Ordinarily L.A.M.B.’s accessories feature loud Rasta inspired color schemes, neon colors, or checkerboards, but there’s none of that flamboyance here. Instead the soft tumbled leather finish is classically rendered with diamond quilting. The black color is another traditional choice.

The Marlene’s also perfectly serviceable, with just the right amount of space and plenty of functional features. The interior is generous but not overwhelming, with a collection of interior pockets to complement the zippered one we see on the front. Its shoulder straps are long but not too long, and flat so they’ll stay on your shoulder while you’re out and about.

In the Marlene, Gwen Stefani’s probably created her most accessible purse. You really can’t say anything bad about it. But in creating something so crowd-pleasing I also feel her L.A.M.B.’s label’s lost its spark. It’s nice enough, but you’ll probably find something comparable for less than the $368 price tag we see here.

More Features of This L.A.M.B. Quilted Satchel

• Zip top closure
• Signature black fabric lining
• Dual handles with an 8.5 inch drop
• Measures 15 x 10 x 5 inches
• Comes with a dust bag

Get this L.A.M.B Marlene Handbag:

• Available to buy at Last Call by Neiman Marcus
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]L.A.M.B> Marlene satchel, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Womensworldfashion eBay store to see if this L.A.M.B. bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More L.A.M.B. bags on BagBunch
• The Calvin Klein St Moritz bag, a great alternative to this quilted bag.
• Searching for more L.A.M.B. bags on eBay

I can really sympathize with models Magdela Fracowiaka and Jamie Bochert, the stars of Jimmy Choo’s spring 2012. If anyone tried to take that colorblocked satchel from my clutches, I’d probably fight them for it too!

Acclaimed photographer Terry Richardson captured the squabbling beauties for this technicolor advertising campaign. The label says it was inspired by the glamour of the Mediterranean and its cinematic screen sirens of the 1970s. Think Gina Lollabrigida, Claudia Cardinale, and Sophia Loren. The commercial is obviously designed to sell clothes and that argument-inspiring satchel, but it also explores the passion of the female psyche and women’s propensity for rivalry. There’s no solidarity here; it’s every girl for herself!

Given the advertisement’s concept, I wish we saw a bit more fire from Fracowiaka and Bochert. I’m sure I’d be able to snatch the handbag away from either of them without too much of a struggle. It’s almost as if they’re worried about losing their looks if they really commit to the conflict. I imagine the juxtaposition of the perfectly proper continental country estate and the quarreling models would have been even more dramatic if they’d really let loose.

This is a really interesting advertising campaign from Jimmy Choo, but it also feels a little half-baked, don’t you think?

[Source: La Moda]

Jimmy Choo Handbags on eBay

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There’s something to be said for the classics. The market is flooded with sequin covered clutch purses, yet somehow this Espey clutch from Kotur manages to make a big impression.

Part of the secret must be the cleverly selected metallic sequins. The tiny polished discs move from a pale gold to a deep bronze in a sort of ombre effect. This graduated colored look is most often seen on leather bags, but it’s every bit as eye-catching here, if not quite as seamless.

The sequins are the show stoppers but they’re ably supported by the classic box shape and crystal-decorated push-lock clasp. The chain strap is also a lovely complement, although I think the purse looks its best when this is tucked away. However I’m sure I’d drag it out once the champagne trays are circulating!

At $495 the Espey’s price is about right. It’s certainly not small change, but it’s also not going to put the average girl in a financial hole. This Kotur clutch is a real treat that will continue to delight for several seasons.

More Features of This Kotur Sequin Covered Clutch

• Cotton lined interior
• A slip pocket inside
• A 24 inch chain strap
• Measures 4 x 6 inches

Get this Kotur Espey Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Kotur bags on BagBunch
• The KC Malhan Grecian bag, a great alternative to this sequin bag.
• Searching for more Kotur bags on eBay
• Other sequin covered clutch bags on eBay:

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For some time now I’ve been coveting the oh-so-cute purses from Kensie Girl. But every fashion house has a bad day, and it seems Kensie Girl had its when it created the Bow It Up cross-body.

I really like what Kensie Girl was going for here. The discreet metal bow is a lovely way to add femininity without too much flamboyance. But it’s what’s around it that really lets the Bow It Up down. The leatherette’s finish seems like it was intended to appear weathered, but it doesn’t quite come off. In fact the treatment only emphasizes the material’s poor quality. We don’t expect real luxury for $68, but we probably want a finish that seems more sophisticated than this.

At least Kensie Girl hasn’t let us down when it comes to the important things. The mid-sized interior has a trio of pockets to make staying organized that much easier. And if we’re still searching for space, there’s a slip pocket on the back. I also appreciate the selection of carry straps.

But at the end of the day, all the functional features in the world can’t convince me to carry a purse that looks so cheap. We’ve seen Kensie Girl do a lot better than this.

More Features of This Kensie Girl Plum Leatherette Cross-Body Bag

• Magnetic snap closure
• A single adjustable shoulder strap
• Measures 10 x 11 inches

Get this Kensie Girl Bow it Up Handbag:

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

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• Check the One Bad Girl’s Closet eBay store to see if this Kensie Girl bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kensie Girl bags on BagBunch
• The Kensie Girl Bow It Up duffle bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Kensie Girl bags on eBay

We know Leonardo da Vinci as an artist, a scientist, a writer, an engineer, an inventor, and even a musician. So perhaps it’s not surprising that historians have just discovered he was also a handbag designer.

Academics have put together fragments of drawings which make up a purse da Vinci designed in around 1497.

Alessandro Vezzosi, the director of the Museo Ideale in da Vinci’s hometown of Vinci, explained that the pioneer created several fashion accessories, but the purse dubbed the Pretiosa, is something special.

“It blends beauty and functionality in a very harmonious way,” he told Discovery News.

Its shape mimics the lectern in his painting The Annunciation, and it’s decorated with swirling spirals, flowers, and decorative scrolls. It’s believed other drawings of the Pretiosa existed, but sadly they’ve been lost over time.

Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches have been brought to life by Italian fashion house Gherardini. The label crafted a leather version which Lorenzo Braccialini, the marketing director of Gherardini’s holding company Braccialini, says is “very modern in its vintage concept.” He also praised the purse’s practicality.

He might have lived centuries ago, but it seems that da Vinci’s designs could easily fit in to the modern fashion landscape. Historian Paolo Giovio explained that the innovator “strongly disapproved conformism and condemned redundancy and excess of ornamentation.” It seems a few contemporary designers good learn a few lessons from him!

Gherardini’s representation of da Vinci’s sketches will be presented at the Pitti fashion show in Florence next Tuesday. It will then appear at an Academy of the Arts of Drawing exhibition alongside other da Vinci designs including a mechanical drum, a Medicean ring, a lens spectacle, and a clock.

[Source: Discovery News]

Gherardini Purses on eBay

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The earthiness of brown leather tends to take me back to the swinging sixties or the wild wild west. But Kooba proves it can scream city chic with this Halle shoulder bag.

Rather than using a common shade of brown, Kooba’s opted for a hue with elegant gray undertones. This works with the silver zip which angles along the front flap to create a look that’s modern, yet sophisticated. Diagonal stitching runs in the opposite direction to add texture and even more desirability. And that oblique flap is the icing on a very delectable piece of arm candy cake.

The Halle turned my head, but it’s what’s inside that’s made me really fall in love. Admittedly it doesn’t exceed my expectations but it makes me feel pampered with its leather trimmed pockets and just right dimensions. The strap is also long and flat, so it’ll comfortably sit on your shoulder and stay there. Really the only thing I miss is metal feet on the base, but at this price point I don’t feel too hard done by.

At $495 the Halle is well priced for a handbag so covetable. It’s not perfect, but it comes so very close.

More Features of This Kooba Brown Leather Shoulder Bag

• Antiqued gold-toned hardware
• Biased zip front pocket
• Magnetic snap closure
• Snap adjustable inner front pocket with top zip closure
• Fabric lined main compartment
• A flat shoulder strap with a 10 inch drop
• Measures 15 x 10.5 x 3 inches

Get this Kooba Halle Handbag:

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

[phpbay]Kooba Halle, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Ruffles Upon Truffles eBay store to see if this Kooba bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kooba bags on BagBunch
• The Kooba Billie Hobo bag, a great alternative to this zip pocket bag.
• Searching for more Kooba bags on eBay