Handbags

Just because it feels so good, and I’m feeling my writer’s block like a constipated monk on cabbage diet, here’s a few more Fall handbag highlights (besides, pictures do tell more than a thousand words anyway):

Burberry Prorsum Patchwork Eelskin Bag & Astrakhan and Leather Weekend Bag

Tod’s Calfskin Bag with Braided Strap & Lizard Handbag

Emilio Pucci Leather and Stud-trimmed Tote & Flap-top Handbag with Embroidery

Bottega Veneta Alligator Bag & Quilted python bag with braided handle

Fendi Chain-strap Evening Bag & Studded Bag with Velvet Bow

Gucci Embossed Velvet and Alligator Bag & Alligator Square Bag

Prada Floral-print Top-handle Bag & Plain Top-handle Bag

Spanks to style.com for the mindblowing pics!

Dark noir galore, but also plenty o’studs, grommets and chains. The fall collections, as presented recently in Paris, have a lot to offer. Here’s a first roundup of some of this year’s decadently delicous treasures.

Balenciaga Green Croc Leather Work Bag & Chanel Square Bag

Chloe Paddington & Christian Dior Calfskin and Shearling Bag

Christian Louboutin Metallic Brocade Bag with Handcrafted Pompoms & Mulberry Metallic Leather Bag

Hermes Shearling Kelly Bag & Louis Vuitton Monogram White Mink Bag

V.B.H. Leather Bag & YSL Rive Gauche Shoulder Bag

The new Valextra bags brilliantly exhibit sophisticated shapes with clean lines and excellent luxe materials. Minimalism at its finest. New for fall of 05.

Longchamp de Paris appear to be very creative this season. Flippin’ through the German Vogue, an ad with a redhead lady and a gorgeous shoulder bag caught my eye. Amazing when an advertizement actually does it job well, isn’t it? I hit their site and discovered their new Ile aux Trésors line for this spring. The pictured zip bag is very unique in the sense that no bag produced will exactly match another. The final canvas depends fully on the random cut of the fabric. Nifty! No word on the price tag on the pretty bag, I will try and figure it out for you today.

Following the footsteps of innovation, Longchamp invites the masses to their version of a BYOB party. BYOB in this case does not denote the unavoidable standard beer binge at a cheap-ass college frat party, but Build Your Own Bag. While this certainly isn’t a groundbreaking innovation, I do like the way the concept is executed in their E-Boutique in 4 easy steps.

You enter the store, select the country of delivery. First step in creating your perfect Le Pliage bag requires you to pick a size. A purse, a clutch and four bag sizes are offered as choices. All bags have a nylon canvas and are enhanced with russian leather. Secondly, you choose whether you want a handbag (4″) or a shoulder bag with longer 10″ straps. In the third step, you pick the colors for both the main canvas and center stripe colors, as well as pick between three available metal accessories finishing. In the last step, you can choose between more options, including a custom embroidery, your embossed initials on the flap and gift wrapping. The prices range from $30-some bucks up to $130 for the largest bag size.

If you want to make a perfect gift for a special someone, or treat yourself — you will hardly get past this fantastic opportunity. Play around with the options at the Longchamp E-Boutique.

Lately we’ve been so indulged by the Might of the Pink that we didn’t even notice that the sheer majority of handbags and stuff posted about was… pink. Time to kick it in a different gear and go for the raw, primal and enticing sex appeal.

At least that is what the Rebecca Minkoff Chocolate Canvas Bag does to me. The chocolate canvas sports bronze faux-croc detailing and gold hardware zippers, buckles, and studs. It has gold-on-turquoise canvas zippers, both on top and on the side. The straps are wide enough to slip over shoulder and are also ideal for toting it around in hand. The bottom of the bag is flat and protected by gold metal studs. Approximately 18 inches wide and 8 inches high, the sexy bag changes owners for $350 at Satine Boutique.

Jana Feifer’s fusion of color and texture have won her rave reviews since the collection’s debut, and she’s been continuing to blaze a fresh trail through the accessories market with her signature bold color combinations and “relaxed chic” handbags.

Today’s pick out of her colorful collection is the Round Handle Leather Bag. The bag enjoys its must-have status to an extent that it’s been recently shown in InStyle magazine’s “Instant Style”. The exterior is held in a gorgeous leather, with two O-shaped shoulder straps that promise a comfy fit. A top strap features a lobster claw clasp closure for quick closing. The interior is fully lined in contrast polyester, with a backwall zipper pocket. As a cherry on top, the 11″ x 12″ x 4.5″, $195 handbag comes with a Jana Feifer key chain. Available directly through Jana Feifer’s online store.

Not only did Gerard Darel hire Charlotte Gainsbourg as his new campaign model, he also created this fantastic handbag named “Drape” for her, which also happens to be the hottest must-have in France these days. Prices range from 196-220 Euro for the standard leather version, and bump up to an extraordinary 756 Euro for the python skin bag.

Hermes’ new designer Jean Paul Gaultier on the helm has redesigned the infamous ‘Birkin’ bag for spring/summer ‘05. This is no small innovation, given that the original is in such demand that there is a wait to get on the waiting list. But JPG’s changes work — now you can actually get the bag over your shoulder.

Due to its shortened height, the bag seems as long as an eighteen wheeler semi! Like Luella with her Baby Gisele, the logic step to an already successful handbag was to adding a shoulder design and appeal to a wider audience. Among the large variety of carry-alls that we’ve seen, this new shoulder Birkin sure is in contention for the throne. So damned appealing!
As shown on the right in the new “pumpkin orange” shade, the bag will go for £4,000 (~$7,500). Stores around the globe hesitated with the large orders for the bag, unsure about how the new low profile would appeal to the customer base. In addition, a limited production is running on these treasures as well. Hence, the new Hermes Shoulder Birkins are even more scarce than the legendary regular Birkins.

However, since Jean Paul’s line had been intro’ed last fall, US sales for Hermes went through the roof. Coincidence? Me thinks not.

Hanoi-based Ipa-Nima is Vietnam’s premier designer label of handmade bags and fashion accessories. Care to know the most sizzzzzzling hot handbags on the market, as toted by Hollywood starletts like Toni Braxton, Sarah Michelle-Gellar and Cate Blanchett? Founded in 1997 by a lawyer, Hong Kong-born Christina Yu, the Vietnamese capitol’s Ipa-Nima boutique has grand ambitions from the outset, exporting colorful, individually patterned handbags to stores around the world.

“I took along a small Ipa-Nima bag to go travelling in Laos and met an American journalist, who had packed two for her foray into the same unlikely region. The beginning of a cult cannot be far off.”

Some of the prestigious retailers include Barney’s of Manhattan and Nordstrom in the USA, or Harvey Nichols and Harrod’s in London. Within a few years, Ipa-Nima has single-handedly developed a strong national export market that has both celebrated Vietnamese workmanship and created opportunities for all Vietnamese craftsmen and manufacturers. The circle of their loyal supporters welcomed “Friends” stylist Debra McGuire, who liked to sprinkle a good dose of Ipa-Nima into the cast’s wardrobe whilst the show aired on TV.

While the list of Ipa-Nima-wearing stars and big names in the public eye grows by the minute, and the success of the boutique continues to flourish, there are no plans to quit Vietnam for the bright lights of the world’s fashion capitols.

It is no secret that we love de luxe, we love the glam, we love the pomptuous, fancy and expensive here at our precious blog. Although many of the featured handbags are out of many people’s league and least of you loyal readers would actually really ever pay, not to mention being able to afford many of our listed bags, it is always a real pleasure to present just those bags to you. I like to draw the parallels to high-end sports cars. Why is it that popular mainstream media channels love to feature vehicles that only selected few souls will ever be able to drive? Because it attracts, it makes one dream about the seemingly unreachable, it may even motivate some to shoot for something extraordinary. If you consider yourself one of those just mentioned and you happen to love bags as much as we do, I got just the right bag to fuel your eager compassion.

Following up on my previous post on Tod’s Venghe Pochette, I wanted to take the time to point out another extraordinary bag that stuck out among the many on our trip to Paris. The Tod’s Charlotte Piccola was a shoulder bag that almost went unnoticed. Hidden in a corner near the store’s entrance, this treasure was hanging innocently, and nearly fell subject to our ignorance. However, fortunately we did spot out this futuristic piece of nobility.

What a fine bag that is. Sumptuous textured leather exterior infused with an elegant saddle-style topstitching. 13″ x 7″ x 6″ inches of raging elegance and delicate sportiness. The hemispherical exterior zip pockets on each side add a very unique touch that insure that the hangbag will never turn into an antiquity on you. Available in either acqua alce or plain black alce for a hefty $925.00 at our beloved ELuxury online store.