Happy Labor Day to all of our US readers! Labor day does not only mean a three-day-weekend but also the last holiday weekend of summer and an old stipulation that we must all put away our whites. We have all been drilled with the old custom that after Labor Day we should not wear white. Where did this tradition come from?

There are many explanations for this tradition, ranging from weather to status symbol. Some say that white clothes do not help protect against cold weather. Light summer clothing was advised to be put away after Labor Day to prepare for heavier clothing for winter. Originally, the garments that were restricted were white dress shoes and pumps. Over time, the rule began to include white clothing in general.

Another theory is that older society families were much more concerned with fashion etiquette than recent generations. They wanted to educate the new rich with rules about fashion which was intended to guide the high society. Since the 1950’s and 60’s, the steadfast rule has slipped away, as many find it outdated and refuse to follow it.

Cream and ivory has always been accepted as a winter white option and continues to be seen for fall/winter fashion lines from many major labels. Over time, the rule forbidding white clothing after Labor Day has transitioned to being an old adage, as many disregard the no white after Labor Day rule and are even applauded for wearing white after Labor Day.

For us, the rule is to be bring white into your winter wardrobe in moderation. Be aware of the materials you are wearing (for example linen is a best for tropical climates and better for summer). Overall, remember to bring in the fall/winter clothing as the seasons transition. Most importantly, wear what you want and feel comfortable wearing! Of course, there are rules of what to wear and when to wear it, but there is seemingly always exceptions to the rules.

Are you putting your whites away?

I am trying to be as open minded as possible but truly having a hard time. I came across this video and had to share with you all as I saw it being a very interesting blog debate. Pet groomer, Danelle German, found many of her clients bringing in their Persian cats and asking for their hair to be shaved off. Danelle German thought it was a waste to let the Persian hair go into the garbage can, so she decided to turn the cat hair into a handbag. After borrowing a spinning wheel from a friend, she began spinning the hair into yarn and then knitted the cat hair yarn into a handbag.

So… Where do I begin? This is so odd. For starters, Vlad and I are both highly allergic to cats and though her website says the bags are hypoallergenic, I wouldn’t chance our throats not swelling up on that. I just could not imagine having a bag made out of my childhood dogs hair and not finding it creepy. On the flip side I have a closet full of bags made from an array of animals including; lamb, cow, python, lizard, alligator, and crocodile. Does that make me a hypocrite? But it feels so different to have a leather bag versus a pet hair handbag. On a positive note, getting the hair does not harm the cat at all and she is simply using what would eventually be throw in the trash.

Danelle German says they have the “Eww people” and the “Aww people”. I am definitely in the eww category when it comes to these bags. One commenter did say that her pet hair handbag would make a good keepsake once her cat passed away, and that did make sense to me. On that note though, why would anyone go buy a cat hair bag from a pet that is not theirs? I have so many questions, but I feel you all will take this debate to the next level nicely in the comment section. Danelle German’s Catty Shack Creations website

Let’s have a blog debate: What do you think of pet hair handbags?

Barneys New York took a major leap in a recent window display. But the chances they took on this window display may have cost them more than they thought. The mannequins in the Barneys window were dressed to kill, with a blood splattered window display and mannequins being attacked while wearing Helmut Lang and A.L.C..

The display did not stay up long. Once Racked.com covered the display, news stations were calling Barneys to ask about it. Though Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys, was out of town as the display went up, he said this crossed the line and compared it to “someone seeing a bad Hitchcock movie.” Be assured heads will be rolling from creative display team after this incident. [More via NY Daily News]

Prada versus Chloe. Which of these two bags would you choose? Vlad and I need to make a decision for a gift for a friend of ours, Pam from ThatPamChick. Fairly new into the world of luxury handbags, Pam wants to find a bag she can use everyday. We narrowed it down to two and now it is time for you all to tell us what you think!

Prada: This Prada bag is an instant classic. A simple hobo shape with buttery calfskin leather and slight pleating detail, this is truly a bag that will last for seasons. Prada does calfskin like no other, so worst case Pam can use this as a pillow in a time of need. There is an 8″ shoulder drop and dimensions are 13½”W X 11″H X 6″D. $1550 via Saks.

Chloe: I adore this Chloe bag. It mixes a bit of a work feel with a totally timeless touch. This is the Chloe Victoria Tote which also is sporting beautiful Italian leather with a metallic bow hardware. There are double handles and the dimensions are 16½”W X 12″H X 3″D. $1295 via Saks.

The issue of counterfeiting is rife with the problems of legality, intellectual property, socioeconomics, and conspicuous consumption. Great thinkers like Jean Baudrillard have struggled mightily over the value of authenticity, the role of the replica, and what said role says about the society which embraces it. Handbags are obviously only a part of the overall authenticity question, but when Louis Vuitton can increase earnings even in a global recession, they might be a part worth considering with increased seriousness.

And that’s exactly what Duke and MIT researcher Dan Ariely did.

For all the chatter and hand-ringing over black-market handbags, there’s been very little, you know, SCIENCE conducted. And most of what has been done has been research concerning how this black market (just like every other black market on the planet, duh) contributes to more intense kinds of crime, like drug and human trafficking. As with most things, though, fake handbags probably tell you more about how someone views themselves than how they view white slavery (consumers of all sorts of goods tend to put global issues out of their minds when it comes to buying useless crap that they just HAVE to have). So, sure, buying fakes is indicative of certain attitudes. But once someone is in possession of a counterfeit bag (or sunglasses, or whatever), can it change the way they view themselves and, therefore, how they act in other morally dubious situations?

That’s what Ariely set out to test. After receiving his first designer item, a Prada messenger bag as a thank-you for speaking at a conference, he was surprised at how different he felt when carrying it, even though he kept the logo turned in so no one would notice it. He hadn’t considered himself a clotheshorse in any way, and he found the power that his real Prada bag had over him kind of disconcerting. So, he decided to do a series of studies to find out if the possession of real or counterfeit designer goods would make test subjects act differently.

And his findings were pretty conclusive. In the first study, he gave over 200 test subjects a pair of designer glasses to wear – half were told that they were real, the other half that they were counterfeit. The subjects were then given a number of tasks to do to mask the fact that they were really being tested on whether or not they would cheat on a particular one of them – a math test, seemingly unconnected to the glasses. Of the subjects told that they were wearing real glasses, 20% cheated on the test. The ones who were told that they were in possession of fake glasses? A whopping 60% cheated on the same math test.

That particular study has its flaws – no control group to be found, for example – so it’s hard to say whether the the designer goods made the real group play up or the fakes made the replica group play down. With such a huge difference, though, you’ve got to think that it was a bit of both.

Another of Ariely’s studies asked participants to rank how “authentic” having 1, 2, 3, and 4 counterfeit items made them feel, and the result was equally interesting; there was a huge difference between having no counterfeit items and having one, but when additional counterfeit items were given to the participants, the law of diminishing returns seemed to be in effect. Participants reported little difference in feeling after the counterfeit ball had begun rolling.

Both of these studies seem to indicate the same end result, and it’s a result that’s been replicated across human behavioral studies that otherwise would have nothing to do with the counterfeit industry. The first time a person violates his or her own moral code is the hardest; subsequent violations are much easier. In both of these situations, that initial violation was the possession of an illegal replica item. Whether the second or third violations were cheating on a test or possessing more illegal items, it appears that the first move to dubious ethical ground makes those later actions much easier for many test subjects.

What I think is most interesting, however, is that this study seems to confirm a lot of people’s criticisms of those that buy fakes: that they’re essentially comfortable with deception and unconcerned with the ethical ramifications of their choices, as long as they like the end result. Perhaps a bit of harsh criticism for something as simple as a handbag, but far too often people forget that every choice made says something about the person making it.

Image via Flickr
Article via NYBlog

Are you cutting back spending? How has the economy affected you?

Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) — Even Serena Williams, with $22 million in career prize money, is spending less because of a recession that’s left tennis scouting for sponsors.

“I really cut back,” said Williams, carrying a $12 American Apparel Inc. bag in Melbourne, where the No. 2-ranked player is bidding for a fourth Australian Open title. “I don’t know if it’s because it’s everywhere in the media, but I am.”

Tennis is feeling the financial crisis beyond Williams’s thrift. Four men’s ATP Tour events are without sponsors in 2009; the women’s warm-up event for the French Open was canceled after losing its backer; the ATP has shed its principal sponsor; and reserves at ruling bodies have been sliced by tumbling markets.

Read full article via Bloomberg

Who is right? Who would you side with; Saks or the customer?

Saks Fifth Avenue is suing a customer, over thousands of dollars worth of mis-priced jewelry.

Emily Pickering is being sued by the retail store after two clerks sold her diamond earrings and a diamond broach as a set for $28,000.

Turns out, the earrings and the broach weren’t a set — and should have been sold for $76,000.

The store’s General Manager called Pickering, told her of the mistake, and asked her to either return the jewelry or pay up at a discounted price.

Court documents show Pickering refused.

Now Saks is suing her for the price of the broach and its lawyers’ fees.

Story via

I was finishing off 7th grade and spent hours every day dreaming about designer handbags. Please mom. Please dad. I will do x, y, and z. And finally, right before 8th grade, my parents got me my first designer handbag, a Coach bag. From that day on I was practically the most annoying child a parent could have. Telling my parents I needed an allowance, hoping to go to the mall every week to oogle handbags. It was where the obsession started. I did not start to get more designer handbags until college, where I practically calculated every penny I could save to buy more handbags. The obsession continued, and now I have a very sizable collection that continues to grow that I buy myself.

What about you? How did your handbag obsession begin?

I know you have all seen it at one time or another; opened up Saks or Neimans or Shop Bop, browsed some new bags, said to yourself, ‘Oh there is a Prada/Gucci/Chloe” but no, you were mistaken. It was, in fact, a totally different designer with a very familiar look. How can this be? Is it pure coincidence or theft?

Let’s have a debate. When is the last time you saw one designer take from another? Does it perturb you or do you believe it is simply flattery?

The handbag on my holy grail list is a 30 cm Hermes Crocodile Birkin. I don’t need it to be diamond encrusted, I don’t need 100 of these, just one would be amazing. And with a price tag getting in the realm of a brand new car, this bag will remain on my holy grail list as of now.

There are some that put all handbag money aside into a jar for one specific bag. Waiting for the money to build up so they can buy that one holy grail. And there are others that simply buy a few new bags every year, wanting more bags rather than one super pricey bag.

Where do you fall? Do you save for one or buy many?

So don’t take a lead from me on bargain shopping, because I am admittedly horrible at it. And coupons? Don’t ask me either. But there is someone who I would love to shop behind for one day. To follow and see how it is that she does what she does. A woman who once had a bill at Target for over $380 and paid a mere two cents. TWO CENTS!!! I will tell you what, I am doing something wrong for sure.

You must read the article to see precisely how amazing using coupons and codes can be. My jaw dropped reading what savings are to be had! Doesn’t mean I will get my act together and do it myself, but worth a look and read.

Read the full article at 11Alive

When we started this website, Purse Blog seemed like a perfectly fitting name. But over time I realized that I tend to use the word handbag more than purses. And then, of course, for short I use the term bag. Both terms mean the same thing, but I still find myself gravitating toward saying designer handbags rather than designer purses. Some people have told me that men use the word more often than women, not sure if this is true.

As I discuss our website and business with outsiders, the terms purses and handbags are thrown around. Most recently I was asked which term we prefer. And I immediately said handbags. Then realized that our site and forum are named Purse Blog and Purse Forum. Of course both terms can be used interchangeably, and denote the same meaning, but I prefer one over the other.

In about one hour masses of people will be sitting down to watch the most highly talked about movie of the summer, Sex and the City. But is this movie worth the hype? To be honest, I would not want to be in their place, nor the producers place, nor the wardrobes place, nor anyone affiliated with the movie’s place. When something is chalked up to be something so incredible, the expectations are set high (many times unattainably high). Don’t get me wrong, I am of course going to see the movie and of course incredibly excited. But I feel like some early reviews have only been mediocre, and even if the movie is great, it is going to be hard to fill the shoes that have been built for it. I will probably go see the movie Monday, which will still be crazy, but not as crazy as tonight at midnight. Really, I am excited for a fun plot and great outfits (and of course the glorious bags!!). Which of you are already in the long line waiting to get in? Which of you are so excited you can hardly stand it? And which of you think it is over-hyped?

My monumental purchase was my Hermes Blue Jean Birkin that I got last October. The first feeling that came over me was immense joy. I had yearned for this bag since high school and never thought it would be in my closet. I left the Hermes store with a smile from ear to ear. But when I got to the hotel room a feeling of extreme worry came over me. How could I spend so much on a handbag? Leather? Am I sane? This is ridiculous I thought. It took me 3 days to then take the bag out of the box and love it. Kid you not. Ok begin to laugh. But it got me thinking; everyone must have his or her stopping point. I have not *quite* found mine yet, but I did realize that one Birkin purchase had my heart palpitating like I just ran a marathon. Let’s have a debate, how much is too much for you?

Diamond studded platinum handbag designed by jewelery maker Ginza Tanaka cost $1.63 million. [More]

Chanel Diamond Forever Classic Bag for $261,000. [More]

Hermes Diamond Crocodile Birkin up to $140,000. [More]

Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag sold for $45,000. [More]

Plenser drew an image of a young Darfur child holding a Tinkerbell-like dog and sporting a designer bag, made to resemble the famous Louis Vuitton’s Murakami Multicolore canvas pattern. Her goal was to imitate the constant media coverage that celebrities like Paris Hilton were getting and giving it to those who really deserved and needed it. Her image has been selling on t-shirts and posters, raising money for the good cause.

Problem is, LV is not exactly fond of the campaign, despite 100% of Plenser’s profits are being donated straight to Divest for Dafur. Vuitton sent her a C&D letter in February, which was followed by a lawsuit on April 15th:

Louis Vuitton now demands $7,500 (5,000 Euro) for each day she continues to sell Simple Life products, $7,500 for each day their letter is published on the website and $7,500 a day for using the name ‘Louis Vuitton’ on her website. In addition they want her to pay their lawyer costs and $15,000 to cover other expenses they have incurred in protecting their ‘intellectual property’.

How do you feel about this lawsuit? Property rights infringement and defending of LV’s trademark or artist’s freedom of expression and frivolous lawsuit?

Read the full story on TorrentFreak.

Recently an exorbitant amount of ‘celebrities’ have turned into designers. First we had Lauren Condrad for Linea Pelle Handbags, and then we have Lauren Conrad’s debut line, followed by Heidi Montag’s Heidiwood, now we hear of Whitney Port (another girl from The Hills) designing, along with Rachel Bilson and Lindsay Lohan.

While Lindsay Lohan will be sticking to what she knows, leggings, Rachel Bilson will be designing with DKNY jeans. Whitney and Heidi will be debuting small lines of clothing. But what gives? The gals from The Hills are merely ‘reality’ tv stars. Sure Whitney and Lauren interned at Teen Vogue, but would that be enough background to teach them the skills needed to be designers. And Heidi? The blond who is enamored with her boyfriend and seems to have no background in design is debuting a line called ‘Heidiwood’? Have we turned into a society so obsessed with stars that we now allow anyone to design our clothing?

Let’s have a Tuesday debate: Will you look into the lines from these gals, would you ever buy, and what do you think?