One of the main things I had to get used to after moving to NYC was missing out on my bi-weekly Target shopping trips (and Chick-fil-A, but that is an entirely different story). I grew accustomed to shopping for all of my household needs and then browsing the designer collaborations Target had to offer on every visit. After all, Target has collaborated with many huge designer brands for their Target on the Go! International line. One of these designers is Proenza Schouler, which released a collection with Target in the mid-2000′s. The collection was so sought after that Target just reissued several of the dresses a couple of weeks ago alongside other popular past designer collaborations.

That is why seeing this Mossimo Messenger in Cognac on the Target website is particularly interesting since the bag clearly looks similar to the famed Proenza Schouler PS1. While we know Target has many bags that are modeled after well-known designer bags, this bag hits a little too close to home because of the business relationship Proenza has with Target.

Blog debate: Did Target take a step too far by carrying this PS1 look-a-like?

[More on this via NY Times]

But when John Galliano, Dior’s top creative mind and one of the richest designers in the world, was hauled to jail for an anti-Semitic attack on a couple at a Paris café, the fashion world was too shocked to let it slide. When a video of a second verbal attack emerged, in the grand French tradition, it was off with Galliano’s head. With Galliano’s Spring 2011 Dior collection just hitting stores and Fall 2011 to come later in the year, that puts fashion lovers in an odd spot: If you love the work but disapprove of the man behind it, do you still buy the bags?

It’s impossible to know what the exact stipulations of John Galliano’s PPR contract were, but most high-dollar employment agreements in any industry include some sort of clause that relieves the employer of having to pay any sort of contract buyout or separation fee if the employee acts in a way that seriously jeopardizes the company’s public image or reputation. Galliano’s actions are almost certainly an example of something that would fall into that category. So if we’re working under the assumption that Galliano has received his last paycheck for his work at Dior and further purchases from the brand will not benefit him financially in any way, does that affect your opinion?

Or perhaps the problem is more of a moral one. Does the support of a man’s work indicate support of the man himself when everyone knows what kind of man he is, even if there’s no direct financial correlation? I find myself vacillating between the two options. Dior Spring 2011 and bags like the Dior Lady Dior Tie-Dye Tote are some of the brand’s best accessories work since the heyday of the Dior Saddle Bag, and Dior’s corporate team did the right thing by immediately terminating Galliano upon release of the damning video evidence. And in the fashion industry, head designers of huge labels aren’t usually the people who design and develop the accessories.

But still, whenever I see a Dior piece these days, I feel a little twinge. That gut reaction may not be fair, but gut-level responses are never predicated on a fair and nuanced evaluation of the situation at hand. It might just be enough to keep my from buying one of Dior’s bags until a new creative director’s work debuts, though. Will it stop you? If not, you can buy this Lady Dior through Neiman Marcus for $3100.

Do any of you think that in 2011 there will be a “reality star” demise? Will it be at all possible that we all are not so consumed by what lollipop Kim Kardashian is snacking on or what Sketcher shoe she is wearing? I’d like to think so, but we are a society obsessed with these “stars”. Hey, what exactly are the Kardashians famous for again?

2010 was the year of this self-promoting family. Their name was placed on everything and they marketed themselves brilliantly. One thing they assigned their names to was a collaboration line with bebe. And you know what was included in that line… handbags. Of course they were.

Right now on the bebe website only one bag is floating around that was designed by the Kardashian sisters. It is the Leather and Haircalf Leopard Envelope Bag. The design looks cheap and the materials look even worse. I really dislike the snap front pouch and the oversized whip-stitching. There is simply too much going on and the overall design appears forced. But there may be many people out there that love this bag. Price is $129.99 via bebe.

So tell me: what do you think of the Kardashians by bebe handbag line?

What I found most interesting, though, was Tom Ford’s declaration concerning the inherent it-ness of the anti-it bag trend. We’ve talked about the sea change in bag trends in these parts before, but It Bag fatigue has created It Bags of its own, whose it-ness isn’t negated by the fact that they aren’t logo-covered or overwrought. Maier’s handmade Bottega Veneta Cabat totes are credited by the magazine with pulling the anti-trend into mainstream favor, and they certainly had a hand in it, but I’m of the personal belief that Phoebe Philo’s sleek, minimal bags for Celine are what broke the trend to its current, wide audience. And that entire thought just proves that Ford is right, as he so often is – people who love It Bags and those who hate them have far more in common than either group would probably like to admit. Where do you sit on this debate, which is clearly the most important issue of our times? I mean, it’s getting coverage in the New Yorker, y’all.

So I did a little research and reached out to the contact info on their website. And I got a response.

They had seen the article and wanted to set the record straight. What I was told is that the bag in the picture on Style.com was not a bedazzled fake Birkin, but rather a Birkin-inspired bag. I was told there are differences in the design of this bag versus a real Hermes Birkin (to quote: “many many differences“). The concept of this bag is to be young and playful and to resemble the wearing of large, chunky jewelry.

This bag is officially coined the Leah and Bliss Glamazon and is made of hand-sewn Italian leather and then covered in gems for the playful touch. Mostly, the concept creator wanted to make it clear to me, and you, that this bag is not a counterfeit handbag and is manufactured in their factories with quality materials. Price for the larger version starts at $495 and smaller $295, but personal orders can range up to $1,000.

I have not seen this bag in person, but in the provided photos I still see an Hermes Birkin, to the detail. And when it comes down to something being so close to the original, especially with an iconic look like the Birkin, I still would feel uneasy buying the item. All I see is a wanna-be. Of course, we have seen fashion brands design bags very similar to other designs, but emulating a Birkin will always trigger our Spidey senses to high alert. While the concept may not appeal to my taste, I can understand someone else looking at it and finding it fun.

I am very interested in your thoughts on this purse now that we shared more information on it. When do you think inspired is taken too far? Your thoughts on the “Glamazon” bag?

During NYC Fashion Week Tommy Ton, of Jak and Jill Blog, snapped photos for Style.com. His focus was on street style and what was being worn outside of the tents. There was one photo that caught my eye. A bedazzled Hermes Birkin.

The first thought that came to mind is ‘Why would anyone glue gems onto their Birkin?’. The immediate next thought that followed after looking at the bag was ‘This doesn’t appear to be an authentic Hermes bag‘. Both of these thoughts left me wondering, for the sake of catching attention, would you take the time to buy a counterfeit handbag and update it to stand out?

As you all know, on both PurseBlog and PurseForum we do not advocate fake items. Does it then change if you buy a bag off Canal Street in order to have fun with it, or is it still something you would never do? And could you ever imagine buying an authentic Birkin for near $10,000 and pasting jewels on it?

Let’s have a weekend debate: Would you bedazzle a bag, real or fake?

In just one short hour Super Bowl XLIV will officially commence. While NFL football is not my favorite past time, it is hard to disregard the enormity of the game. For Vlad and I, the weeks and months leading up to the Super Bowl has been following us around. This year’s game is being held at the Miami Dolphins Stadium, a mere 25 minute drive from our house. With Fort Lauderdale as the official host, we have been able to see the excitement over the Super Bowl just minutes from our house.

One of our favorite displays is the large XLIV sign in the heart of Fort Lauderdale beach right off of the famous A1A strip (photograph by Vlad pictured above).

Tonight the New Orleans Saints are taking on the Indianapolis Colts in a game that is sure to have a great match up along with hilarious commercials. We have already asked you all if you coordinate your bag to your team colors when it comes to college football, what about NFL football?

What colors are your outfit consisting of and who are you rooting for tonight?

Back in September when the first sighting of Alexa Chung with her namesake bag, the Mulberry Alexa, surfaced, Purse Forum members began discussing the similarity between it and the Proenza Schouler PS1. It makes sense that they did, because there are definite similarities in the design. In fact, once the Mulberry Alexa started to show up online, the main buzz surrounded the likeness between the two.

Let’s take a closer look to see what the two bags have in common and what is different, shall we?

The Proenza Schouler PS1 hit the scene in the fall of 2008. Known for their clothing line, Proenza Schouler bags were an unexpected but widely well-received venture. The bag that continues to garner attention to Schouler is the PS1. The bag was quickly seen on the likes of Mary Kate Olsen and Leighton Meester.

The PS1 integrats a casual chic vibe into a messenger bag, transforming the way many of us view messenger bags today. I, for one, fell head over heels for the PS1 when it came onto the scene. The bag is made to be utilized, with a zip fastening pocket across the back, two pockets on the front, and a zipper pocket for storage. The overall aesthetic is somewhat rugged yet refined, which has made this bag a hit. It is the strap detailing at the front with top flap that is what composes the different eye-catching design.

Interested? Buy the PS1 in brown via Net-A-Porter for $1,595.

Now let’s get to the Mulberry Alexa. Amanda covered the Alexa the other day and also commented that the front straps shared traits with the PS1. Sure, the bag is of similar shape, similar concept, and messenger style, but I would not call it a copy.

Mulberry is a British luxury leather goods company founded in 1971. They have been in the handbag business for almost forty years and in that time have secured a steady place in the handbag market. One of their most iconic bags, the Bayswater, is also one of the most recognized bags to handbag enthusiasts. The Alexa Satchel may have been named after British rising star Alexa Chung, but its design is clearly a young and hip take on the Bayswater. No copycat here, chaps.

The Alexa also has a top handle, detachable shoulder strap, a fold-over flap, and press stud fastening buckled tabs. Similar enough to the PS1, but for me, still entirely different. Like other Mulberry bags, the Alexa also features ample pockets, with internal pouch and zipper pockets. The bag is slouchier than most PS1 bags, gives a more vintage vibe, but does use thicker and heartier leather than the PS1.

Overall, there are certainly similarities, but I can point out many essential differences as well. Buy the Mulberry Alexa in blue via Luisa via Roma for $1,731 and yellow at NAP for $1,150.

Ultimately the decision is yours, as it comes down to personal preference.

Which bag do you like best and why?

It seems as though we had a bit of a kerfuffle on our hands over the weekend.

On Friday night, Megs posted pictures of two bags as the last in our 12 Days of Bottega Veneta series. The bags were made of crocodile and depicted with Wally the Stunt Alligator, a resident of the Everglades Holiday Park in South Florida. Note: Wally was not harmed in the making of this (or any other) post.

Despite that, reactions to the photos were decidedly mixed. Some people found them beautiful and thought provoking, while other commenters left messages on the blog and Facebook that ranged from “unacceptable” to “perverted.” With reactions that disparate and opinionated, we couldn’t help but have an official Blog Debate.

One commenter brought up that Wally might think that the bags were his mom and dad, so let’s dispatch with that issue right away – alligators and crocodiles don’t have the cognitive ability to recognize a handbag as being made of an animal that’s similar to themselves. Even if they did, gators aren’t exactly cuddly family creatures; when in the wild, they very often bite, maim and kill each other. That’s why it’s so hard to find good alligator and crocodile skins for bags – even in captivity, it’s difficult to stop them from attacking each other in ways that create serious wounds (and later, serious scars).

Taking those things into consideration, I don’t think we managed to hurt Wally’s feelings. Indeed, it could be argued that anthropomorphizing Wally into a creature that’s capable of human emotions serves him a greater disadvantage than recognizing his innate alligator-ness. Ascribing to him complex emotions of which he is not capable is not advantageous to him in any way and merely makes those that do it feel more satisfied with their own sensitivity. I’m sure that Wally is perfectly satisfied with his own alligator thoughts.

An issue that was brought up more often is that of respect. Is it inherently disrespectful to depict an animal with objects made from similar animals? I don’t think so, but certainly many commenters disagreed with me.

In my estimation, it would be far more disrespectful to completely divorce the idea of animal products from the animals that died to make them. Removing any reminder of the crocodile from the depiction of a crocodile bag only makes the animal’s life less significant, and it only makes it easier for consumers to forget that something died in order to make the products that they wish to consume. Certainly some people do wish to forget entirely that living things died for their bags, but it’s not our job to facilitate it. People that find the thought so ghastly may want to reconsider the role that animal products play in their lives.

So what is our job? Well, Vlad’s job as a photographer (philosophically, at least) is to capture images that elicit some sort of reaction when people view them. Whether those reactions come because the photos are beautiful or because they stir up some other kind of emotion in the viewer is not entirely relevant to his goals – the reaction itself is the goal, and if the photos provoke thoughts and emotions, then it has been accomplished. Art’s success is not necessarily predicated on its positivity.

As for the rest of us, our job is to create a context within which we can all think about bags, fashion and accessories. The fashion industry is a behemoth, and it affects the lives and livelihood of not just animals, but humans at every level of society and in every corner of the globe. Losing that perspective on the things we consume would be irresponsible and short-sighted, but retaining it is not always pleasant and pretty. If Wally’s afternoon in the presence of a few crocodile bags can remind us all of those issues, then I think he has managed to make himself a very important alligator.

But this is, after all, a blog debate. Let us know how you feel about the issue in the comments.

The Origins of Black Friday

The term Black Friday officially dates back to 1966, though it had been used prior. It originated in Philadelphia and referred to the heavy shopping traffic on the day following Thanksgiving. It was not until 2000 that the term Black Friday really took hold, becoming part of our autumn vocabulary and gaining much media exposure.

The day always falls on the Friday following Thanksgiving, which ranges between the 22nd and the 29th of November every year. While the Friday after Thanksgiving is not an official holiday, it is a day that many US employees take off of work. With less employees in the workplace and the holidays around the corner, Black Friday is a haven for potential shoppers and a great opportunity for retailers to spike their sales numbers.

Realizing this increase, retailers began offering incentives, which are usually not outrageous, but are enough to spark a large hype. At times one may get lucky to score among limited quantities of high-price ticket items with their price tags being slashed by good margins.

Tips for shopping on Black Friday

With the rise of popularity, shopping on Black Friday has not only become hectic but also dangerous. Last year a Walmart employee was trampled to death when a large number of shoppers stormed the store at the opening. You should have a solid strategy for shopping on Black Friday planned out in order to make the most of it.

DO: Have a plan. Know what you are looking for, research deals, and know where the item is being held in the store. Also make sure to plan ahead. The lines are unbearably long at many locations, you may need to camp out to get that great deal. Check deal sites online, like Deals & Steals on Purse Forum, prior to see if you can buy the same items online or at other stores. If you are shopping with friends and family, break up to cover more ground quicker.

DON’T: Wait until last minute. Many deals will be leaked online prior to Black Friday. Do not get into an unsafe situation, it is not worth it. Safety always comes first.

Black Friday is upon us again. Do you plan to shop the sales or do you steer clear?