Blog Debates

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. (more…)

In a year struck with economic hardship, retailers across the country are hoping for more than 130 million shoppers to come out and thin their wallets. This year, retail relies on Black Friday more than in previous years in order to post solid overall revenue numbers for 2009.

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. (more…)

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? (more…)

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. (more…)

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]

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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.

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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. (more…)

There is no ignoring the state of the economy worldwide right now. People are cutting back spending, trying to save, and many are simply trying to get by. While Serena Williams has garnered over $22 million in career prize money, the court queen is cutting back as well, opting for a $12 American Apparel Handbag rather than opting for the latest designer handbag. It is not just the average Joe that needs to watch his spending, most of the world is doing just that. Her bag of choice is probably the American Apparel Bull Denim Woven Cotton Tote [$12].

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

I ran across a story that should prove to be a very interesting debate. A lawsuit was filed November 10th between Saks Fifth Avenue and a customer, who bought a pair of diamond earrings and a brooch as a set for $28,000. Only problem is that the Saks sales associate priced them as a set, when they were not. The $48,000 price tag had fallen off the brooch. The proper price should have been $76,000. Saks asked the customer to pay the difference and wrote in a letter following several phone calls, it would charge her credit card for the full amount. The customer stood her ground and said she should not have to pay the difference and Saks wants the difference. So here we are, in a lawsuit.

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

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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But is it really? Why is it that we have no problem saying that to one another but when we are the person being taken from we do not feel flattered in the least bit? So I wonder how designers feel about this very issue. I am not speaking of the counterfeit market, rather the bags that look eerily similar to the others.

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?

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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?