Introducing...

Here at Purse Blog, we love to shop. I speak for all of us when I say we love shopping both in stores and online.

Another great gem is when we come across smaller boutiques or design houses that might even be a bit more regional than national or international. Now, for those of you who frequent the Purse Forum you may have read about Malibu, California store Tylie Malibu.

This is the kind of store that doesn’t bring in outside designs, instead they house their own. Every item in the store captures the essence of LA. The combination of casual and glamour is noticeable and welcome. Gorgeous materials and great attention to detail can be noticed as you peruse the collection.

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Last week I had the opportunity to attend the West Coast Launch Party for Zara Terez Handbags. In fact, this was my first official event since I myself have moved to the West Coast. As I pulled up to the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Blvd I was beyond excited. Representing Purse Blog, I was invited up to the Penthouse for a private pre-party where I got to meet the talented and gorgeous Zara.

Keep reading and take a look at some of the celebs who love Zara!

We receive countless emails everyday about new and emerging designers that want us to take a look at their line. I wish we had enough time in the day to be able to cover all of them, but we do not. What helps a designer stand out to us is their bags possessing a unique quality. Uniqueness catches my eye first, one of those ‘Ah, haven’t seen anything like that before‘ moments. That is precisely what I feel about LaLucca Handbags. The head designer of LaLucca, Laura Pimentel, was born in the Dominican Republic and trained in both Europe and the USA. Her design aesthetic jumps out and grabs you instantaneously, especially with the LaLucca Art Bag collection.

Discover LaLucca...

Though we love our bags and our style-mindedness, it’s always good to give back to the community. And what’s better than finding brands to support that seek to do just that? Enter Tagbag, a company that makes bags from recycled license plates and inner tubes from South Africa. And if you know your way around a car, you know that that means a pretty durable bag. So here’s the Sparknotes version of the background: on a trip to Cape Town to do relief work, South Africa, Meeshee Scherrei picked up a bag made of license plates. Pretty unique, right?

That’s what Scherrei thought, and she also realized that by employing people in South Africa to make the bags, she could improve the well being of many people. Voila, the idea for Tagbags was born. Now, all Tagbags are made in South Africa by the people of the Kayamandi township, which has been particularly hard-struck by poverty and AIDS. The lives of the Kayamandi people depend on Tagbags, because ultimately, the more Tagbags are sold, the more people the company can employ. And that will lead to Scherrei’s goal of changing the village for the better.

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It is a small world. I have been in all ends of the world and run into people that somehow know someone I know. It happened again recently and tied one of my best friend’s family friend’s daughter to an internship with a handbag designer in New York. That was a long line of knowing, but it is closer than it seems. So thank you Kathleen for the introduction to Danielle Nicole Handbags!

Danielle Nicole DiFerdinando’s passion for fashion started young, like many of us. She went to the Fashion Institute of Technology and later studied in Europe, where her love for the design and manufacturing that goes into major design houses begun. Since then Danielle Nicole launched her handbag line which are composed of luscious Italian lamb leather, crushed patent leather, and French embroidery fabric.

Read more about Danielle Nicole Handbags...

Gustto handbags are not new to us here at Purse Blog. In fact, we like these handbags so much that they are without a doubt one of our favorite Savvy Brands over at Purse Blog Savvy.

Recently I had a chance to speak with Founder and Creative Director of Gustto, Agathe Planchon. As she splits her time between San Diego and NYC it was no shock that I picked up on her easy going and approachable San Diego vibe.

Her story is not only amazing, but also a breath of fresh air. Of course we are all aware of the current state of the economy, but Agathe’s outlook is inspiring and uplifting. More than anything else, it was wonderful to hear that people still dream and believe in success. And it is no wonder so many celebrities have been spotted carrying these bags. They are unique, well made and a great accessory to so many outfits. We’ve had a chance to photograph some of these bags in person for our Bag Art and they were certainly hard to give back. We hope you enjoy the interview and make sure to stay tuned, there is much more Gustto to come!

Shop Gustto

Shoes and handbags seem to go hand in hand. Just as this is the case, there is no way we can leave out other essential accessories, like jewelery! Whether you love rings, bracelets, necklaces, ear-rings, most girls can’t shy away from jewelery of some sort. So just as I love to check out Jimmy Choo handbags and shoes, I love that there is a designer out there who designs two of my favorite things – handbags and jewelery.

Read more about Darby Scott!

Breaking into the designer handbag market is not easy. It takes skill, longevity, the right look, the right name, the right people. Two weeks ago we met the designers behind Hunting Season, a relatively fledgling handbag company which burst into the handbag market and is already sitting comfortably on the main floor at Barneys New York. Danielle Corona, previously with Valentino, and Jason Salstein, formerly with VBH, may be young, but their drive, knowledge, and passion shines through both their personalities and work. Their focus is quality. And with every detail that is taken into account, each handbag proves it is a seasonless masterpiece. These high school friends, who happened to grow up down the road from me, are a dynamite design duo; truly, a force to be reckoned with.

  

We chatted for hours over a delectable Italian meal in the Miami Fashion District, in which we learned Danielle and Jason will eat just about any type of eccentric cuisine (octopus was their appetizer). More importantly we talked about the Hunting Season collection. Their story is jam-packed with stints in Italy to fashion consulting in NYC. They have spent years learning the ropes and being go-to’s for the best of fashion industry. And while the purpose of our lunch was to go over their line, we hit it off with them from the beginning. They are truly a down-to-Earth duo who just so happen to have a brilliant handbag company. Our lunch concluded with an array of Hunting Season bags being shown to us so we could truly see what their brand entailed.

Read the interview and find more info below...

Where does inspiration come from? When it comes to fashion, when it comes to designers, we all know that inspiration can be drawn from just about anywhere. I am always intrigued by where inspiration comes from; it seems so unique and provides such a profound insight into the designer. A little while back I spoke with Rebecca Robinson, the designer and founder of psnob. The idea behind her amazing clutches is turning fine art into a functional purse. As I spoke with Rebecca, I could hear her passion, her love, and her dedication to these handbags. With a background in photography, fine art, printmaking and graphic design, it is no real shock that these handbags show amazing attention to detail.

When using acrylics on cotton canvas to make the clutches, Rebecca went through a lot of trial and error. She said that she has spent much time perfecting her technique in order to make sure the color doesn’t bleed, crack, or fade. Yet, all the hours that went into creating these pieces of art made into handbags was worth it. The end result isn’t just a clutch. It is a piece of art. Imagine carrying one of these as you head out. I imagine countless people stopping and inquiring about what I was carrying. The clutches are fabulous and we are more than extactic that we get to share them with you. Make sure to take a look at other options by clicking here.

Proenza Schouler Bags

Proenza Schouler has been in the industry since 2002 and was founded by Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. The brand, which designs a high-end line of women’s apparel, recently delved into the world of handbags and shoes. Their handbag line is so extraordinary that we know you will love it. The reason I am raving is because these styles cater to my exact style, want, and need, when I am looking for a handbag. Proenza Schouler Bags have started to make a name for themselves as the fashion world has been going nuts over their designs. It started with Mary Kate Olsen carrying the famed Proenza Schouler PS1.

Read on and watch a video of the men behind Proenza Schouler Bags below...