In The News

In response to some tough economic circumstances, Henri Bendel’s parent-company CEO Leslie Wexner has opted to eschew the luxury apparel market in favor of focusing their stores only on accessories, beauty products, and gifts. Bendel’s is one of the first major luxury retailers to make such a drastic move to improve their business models in the country’s current economic climate, and one has to wonder – will the risk pay off?

Read on!

There has been an interesting discussion taking part on Purse Forum on a news clip. ABC popped into Hermes on Madison Avenue in NYC and spoke with the Hermes-god-placed-on-Earth himself, Claude Gandrille. I was shocked to see Claude on ABC speaking about Hermes, as the brand is so secretive and keeps mum about their happenings. Furthermore Claude is rather quiet himself, typically found diligently working in his back right corner of the shop. But they got an interview with Claude. Somehow a slew of video cameras came into Hermes as well, when a simple movement of your camera phone on any other day will send the security upon you in less than 10 seconds. Read our full review...

We have been following the news of Lambertson Truex filing for bankruptcy since it was announced early March. And on Friday it was announced that Tiffany & Co. bought bankrupt Lambertson Truex and hired the designers, Richard Lambertson and John Truex. Tiffany plans to expand their leather goods department and feels Lambertson Truex and the design duo will be a good fit.

We have been fans of Lambertson Truex for years. We were sad to hear that the economy affected them, but are looking forward to see what is to come in the future. We will keep you posted on any updates in the weeks and months to come.

[Story via Business Week]

The subjects of what kind of person buys counterfeit bags and what buying counterfeit says about a person have, admittedly, been discussed to death. On our forum and in other places, both the fake haters and the fake lovers have very, very strong opinions. People in this debate seem to get offended quickly and take the choices of the other side personally. Fake buyers think that real buyers are fashion-industry dupes; real buyers think that fake buyers are cheapskates that want everyone to think they’re rich.

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.

Click to find out his results...

Valentine’s Day is all about love. Whether you are spending it with the love of your life, a new significant other or with friends it is a day where we can all celebrate loving others as well as ourselves. Speaking of love and matters of the heart, it is important to be aware of that heart of yours – both when dealing with love and your health. For the second year in a row, Jimmy Choo is working with the American Heart Association to increase awareness and raise money. Today, Thursday February 12th every Jimmy Choo purchase you make will help support the American Heart Association. Whether you are looking for a fabulous handbag or some killer shoes, head to your nearest Jimmy Choo store and do your part to help.

Love or hate Lipstick Jungle, if you have seen the wardrobe of the three Manhattan friends you would want to stop in their closet and take some items. But my wanting to take some of their items would stop at wanting, because stealing their items and then trying to sell them on eBay would be a scandal. And this is the very scandal a stage manager on production facilities for NBC’s “Lipstick Jungle” is accused of.

The stage manager, Arthur Moreira, has been charged with stealing almost $30,000 in designer fashion items from the show. Wonder what that would include. Surely fabulous handbags of Lipstick Jungle, like an Oscar de la Renta snakeskin handbag. Some items ended up on eBay and others were found in his apartment. And the reason he was caught is after French designer Sylvia Toledano found several items that the fashion house had lent to the show on eBay, according to the district attorney’s office. [via CNN]

Did he really think he would not get caught?

This will come as a shock to most of you. Online LVMH-owned e-tailer eLuxury.com will be closing its retail operation. eLuxury, known for high end designer handbags, including Louis Vuitton, will be transitioning its site into an online magazine focusing on luxury markets. The doors to the retail operation will close and a spokeswoman from LVMH claimed this transition is because many of the brands eLuxury sells have developed their own online presences.

This news is unexpected for many, including us at Purse Blog. We have enjoyed working with eLuxury over the past four years and shared a great relationship with them. My first LV Bag, the infamous Wapity, was an eLuxury purchase. We will share more information with you as we hear it. Thank you eLuxury for all of the amazing years you provided us with luxury goods!

Read the story and tell us what you think about eLuxury closing their retail operation.

Story after the jump...

We have some news from Adriana Castro that we would love to share with you all! As of today, Henri Bendel NY is carrying the Adriana Castro collection. Also, Adriana Castro is doing a Trunk Show and PA today at Henri Bendel. We would love to be there, but are not going to make it today. Hopefully some of you in NYC can stop by and say hello, meet the fabulous Adriana Castro, and see her bags in person!

What? Adriana Castro Trunk Show and PA
Where? Henri Bendel – 712 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor. New York City
When? Friday, December 5th 10am – 7pm

Don’t forget to sign up for the last days of our Adriana Castro giveaway! SIGN UP HERE

A little less than a month ago, I posted about Handbag Amnesty. This is a great event where Handbag.com and Cancer Research UK have partnered to launch the first ever Handbag Amnesty. Ending in October, this cause will offer the opportunity to bid on one of the many designer handbags donated by a celebrity in order to raise money to help beat cancer. Some of our favorite celebrities are donating some gorgeous handbags to the cause. Want inside information as to how the biding is going? Well, Sharon Osbourne’s Louis Vuitton handbag currently has the most bids and is going for £340. Keira Knightley’s Prada is following at £300 (a bag that retails for £1000). And of course, in typical Hills fashion, the rivalry continues; Lauren Conrad’s handbag is at £200 and Heidi Montag’s at £66. Please visit Handbag.com for complete details and show your support.