Friday, October 3, 2008
BAGS OF FREEDOM OR A HEAVY BURDEN?
From The Times
HANDBAGS WERE ONCE A SIGN OF EMANCIPATION. OUR CORRESPONDENT FEARS THEY’RE NOW SYMBOLS OF OUR WEIGHTY LIVES
See the hefty handbags.
“The first thing Adam purchased for Eve was a handbag,” bemoaned Anita Daniels, the New York fashion writer, in 1945. “It was his sweet revenge for the apple.” Hitting news-stands at the peak of war, this tirade over women’s most trusted accessory is a testament to the handbag’s oppressive reign, weighing heavily on both the shoulders and minds of women, even at a time of mortal peril.
Sixty years on, the liberated 21st-century woman lives in a material haven in which handbags spell unbridled luxury. Crafted out of the finest leathers — suede, croc-skin or even ostrich — encrusted with Swarovski crystals, jingling with silver accessories or perhaps a limited-edition designer piece with a two-year waiting list, the bag has replaced the shoe as the most coveted item in a woman’s wardrobe. Costing up to £15,000, the handbag has become a status symbol, a major investment and the ultimate fashion statement. It is far too important an item to be entrusted to men to buy for us.
Christian Dior humoured post-war fashionistas with delicate clutches at a time when anything practical smacked of darned stockings and ration books. But by the 1950s the determined housewife was enlarging her bag to extend her domestic efficiency, making room for cheque books, car keys, laundry-slips and diaries. When working women in the Eighties discovered that they couldn’t fit their bulging cosmetics cases into a flat briefcase, they incorporated office papers into their handbags. Now handbags are more like pieces of operative luggage. Strength, resilience, ample space and multiple pockets are all crucial.
The average weight of handbags in the UK has reached a back-breaking 3½lbs (1.6kg). Beside the basics — diary, phone, cosmetics, sanitary products, haircare, “handbag-sized” magazines, book, road map, iPod, car stereo, nipple pads, Mace or rape alarm, packed lunch, flask of coffee, water — recent additions include Bibles, crystals, self-help books and embroidery or tapestry sets, which are making a comeback as working women look for something non-electronic to help them to pass time while in transit. Yet, despite the odd vibrator, set of lacy underwear or knife, it is not the individual items that attract attention, it is the sheer number of them.
“You would be amazed at how many women carry an entire change of clothes and an overnight kit, even though they’re not staying overnight anywhere,” explains one guard at an office in Central London. “Or they’ll have a full-size bottle of hairspray, hair straighteners and an electric toothbrush. A bottle opener and tin opener are also popular.” Most items crammed into bags in the UK are simply things to make the long days more bearable. Heels to change into for work, trainers and a sweater for the train; energy bars for women who have no time for a lunch break; cigarettes and even miniature bottles of spirits are panacea for an otherwise dull day at the office. Then there are the pills. At Burberry, the security guard’s eyes glaze over when I mention medication. “Pain-killers, antidepressants, back creams, bandages for knees, plasters for rubbing shoes,” he confides. No wonder it takes more than six days to replace the contents of a handbag if it is lost or stolen.
Although the average worth of a handbag and its contents lies at £550, home insurance companies are advising that many exceed their claims limit, reaching a value of more than £1,000. Feeding off the terror of women all over Britain, Sheilas’ Wheels and Diamond car insurers both have policies specifically for handbag insurance, and NatWest has added handbag cover to its Advantage Premiere insurance benefits.
“Just in case” seems to be a theme. It’s what has given rise to the oversized hobo handbag currently inspiring top designers — complemented by copper hardware, zips, chains and padlocks. Are Marc Jacobs’s Stam, Chloé’s Paddington and Fendi’s Spy bag answering our prayers or are they simply feeding off our neuroses?
It is difficult to believe that the handbag was originally a sign of emancipation. In the 1920s, flappers deciding to go out without a chaperone first started carrying a small bag. Inside would be a few select, Art Decoinspired pieces; a pillbox, a mirror, a purse, a watch, a cigarette case.
Margaret Thatcher managed to turn her handbag into an international symbol of authority. So is the handbag an icon of power and emancipation, or a fashion item gone too far? “It’s both,” laughs the feminist critic Lillian Robinson.
“The handbag shows that our lives have moved on, that we have more opportunities. Yet our responsibilities have not been equally shared. It’s called the Wonder Woman complex. We need to do everything — have kids, a career, look after the parents, deal with finances and housekeeping. We need to be on call all the time.” And because of the handbag, we have to do it one-handed.Robinson, principal at the Simone de Beauvoir Institute in Montreal, Canada, challenges me to count the pockets on a professional male wearing a coat and a suit. There are up to 20, compared to six on the female equivalent — and even they don’t pass Robinson’ s test.
“Serious pockets — the type that can actually contain anything — get in the way of tailoring,” she explains. “Women are expected to have clothes that show off their bodies. Because of this, we are lumbered with the handbag.” In the name of research, I approach a statuesque young man stepping out of Vogue House, wearing skin-tight jeans and a simple T-shirt seemingly free of any functional pockets. “Where, if you don’t mind me asking, do you keep your wallet and phone?” He points to a demure blonde in his shadows, straining under the weight of one familiar Fendi Spy. “My girlfriend has them in her handbag.”
HANDBAGS WERE ONCE A SIGN OF EMANCIPATION. OUR CORRESPONDENT FEARS THEY’RE NOW SYMBOLS OF OUR WEIGHTY LIVES
See the hefty handbags. “The first thing Adam purchased for Eve was a handbag,” bemoaned Anita Daniels, the New York fashion writer, in 1945. “It was his sweet revenge for the apple.” Hitting news-stands at the peak of war, this tirade over women’s most trusted accessory is a testament to the handbag’s oppressive reign, weighing heavily on both the shoulders and minds of women, even at a time of mortal peril.
Sixty years on, the liberated 21st-century woman lives in a material haven in which handbags spell unbridled luxury. Crafted out of the finest leathers — suede, croc-skin or even ostrich — encrusted with Swarovski crystals, jingling with silver accessories or perhaps a limited-edition designer piece with a two-year waiting list, the bag has replaced the shoe as the most coveted item in a woman’s wardrobe. Costing up to £15,000, the handbag has become a status symbol, a major investment and the ultimate fashion statement. It is far too important an item to be entrusted to men to buy for us.
Christian Dior humoured post-war fashionistas with delicate clutches at a time when anything practical smacked of darned stockings and ration books. But by the 1950s the determined housewife was enlarging her bag to extend her domestic efficiency, making room for cheque books, car keys, laundry-slips and diaries. When working women in the Eighties discovered that they couldn’t fit their bulging cosmetics cases into a flat briefcase, they incorporated office papers into their handbags. Now handbags are more like pieces of operative luggage. Strength, resilience, ample space and multiple pockets are all crucial.
The average weight of handbags in the UK has reached a back-breaking 3½lbs (1.6kg). Beside the basics — diary, phone, cosmetics, sanitary products, haircare, “handbag-sized” magazines, book, road map, iPod, car stereo, nipple pads, Mace or rape alarm, packed lunch, flask of coffee, water — recent additions include Bibles, crystals, self-help books and embroidery or tapestry sets, which are making a comeback as working women look for something non-electronic to help them to pass time while in transit. Yet, despite the odd vibrator, set of lacy underwear or knife, it is not the individual items that attract attention, it is the sheer number of them.
“You would be amazed at how many women carry an entire change of clothes and an overnight kit, even though they’re not staying overnight anywhere,” explains one guard at an office in Central London. “Or they’ll have a full-size bottle of hairspray, hair straighteners and an electric toothbrush. A bottle opener and tin opener are also popular.” Most items crammed into bags in the UK are simply things to make the long days more bearable. Heels to change into for work, trainers and a sweater for the train; energy bars for women who have no time for a lunch break; cigarettes and even miniature bottles of spirits are panacea for an otherwise dull day at the office. Then there are the pills. At Burberry, the security guard’s eyes glaze over when I mention medication. “Pain-killers, antidepressants, back creams, bandages for knees, plasters for rubbing shoes,” he confides. No wonder it takes more than six days to replace the contents of a handbag if it is lost or stolen.
Although the average worth of a handbag and its contents lies at £550, home insurance companies are advising that many exceed their claims limit, reaching a value of more than £1,000. Feeding off the terror of women all over Britain, Sheilas’ Wheels and Diamond car insurers both have policies specifically for handbag insurance, and NatWest has added handbag cover to its Advantage Premiere insurance benefits.
“Just in case” seems to be a theme. It’s what has given rise to the oversized hobo handbag currently inspiring top designers — complemented by copper hardware, zips, chains and padlocks. Are Marc Jacobs’s Stam, Chloé’s Paddington and Fendi’s Spy bag answering our prayers or are they simply feeding off our neuroses?
It is difficult to believe that the handbag was originally a sign of emancipation. In the 1920s, flappers deciding to go out without a chaperone first started carrying a small bag. Inside would be a few select, Art Decoinspired pieces; a pillbox, a mirror, a purse, a watch, a cigarette case.
Margaret Thatcher managed to turn her handbag into an international symbol of authority. So is the handbag an icon of power and emancipation, or a fashion item gone too far? “It’s both,” laughs the feminist critic Lillian Robinson.
“The handbag shows that our lives have moved on, that we have more opportunities. Yet our responsibilities have not been equally shared. It’s called the Wonder Woman complex. We need to do everything — have kids, a career, look after the parents, deal with finances and housekeeping. We need to be on call all the time.” And because of the handbag, we have to do it one-handed.Robinson, principal at the Simone de Beauvoir Institute in Montreal, Canada, challenges me to count the pockets on a professional male wearing a coat and a suit. There are up to 20, compared to six on the female equivalent — and even they don’t pass Robinson’ s test.
“Serious pockets — the type that can actually contain anything — get in the way of tailoring,” she explains. “Women are expected to have clothes that show off their bodies. Because of this, we are lumbered with the handbag.” In the name of research, I approach a statuesque young man stepping out of Vogue House, wearing skin-tight jeans and a simple T-shirt seemingly free of any functional pockets. “Where, if you don’t mind me asking, do you keep your wallet and phone?” He points to a demure blonde in his shadows, straining under the weight of one familiar Fendi Spy. “My girlfriend has them in her handbag.”
Labels: brands boutique, designer fashion brands, designer handbags, luxury brands
# posted by handbag junkie @ 3:22 AM
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Fade to Hot
Fashion has been given a trendy transfusion.
Ombre, an effect where one color bleeds into another, has flowed onto some of the most eye-catching pieces of the season.
The term, which means shadow in French, is also called dip-dyed and degraded. Sometimes ombre goes from the darkest to the lightest shade of a hue. Also, the print can seamlessly combine different colors for a rainbow take. Colors can be of-the-moment citrus brights or laid back neutrals, such as black to gray or brown to tan.
Some people confuse ombre with its close cousin, tie-dye. In general, ombre is more subtle, more sophisticated than tie-dye, and less kaleidoscopic.
However, both prints are popular right now, thanks to the tribal beat that has a band of designers playing ethnic, global music. Players include Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander McQueen, Badgley, Mischka, Chloe, Giles and Adam & Eve.
Many fashion pundits say this ombre homage began with the fall 2007 collection by Miuccia Prada, which included degraded handbags and other accessories.
This time around, dresses seem to be the preferred canvas for the latest ombre works of art. Some of the most beautiful are in a long Grecian goddess silhouette and done in a luxurious fabric, such as silk chiffon, which gives the frocks movement, creating billows of color. Talk about a statement piece. Ombre becomes more youthful when seen on a minidress, and it has a more casual feeling in a cotton sundress.
Ombre also works on separates. Look for a variety of tops from simple tees to figure-friendly tunics; great with a pair of jeans. The print paints skirts, too. It translates well on popular pleated full skirts.
Following Prada's lead, designers have created some fun ombre handbags, which go from chic clutches and sassy satchels to Titanic totes.
Another natural for ombre is the shoe. Kicks done in patent really shine.
Ombre options
* Make sure the darkest part of the fade is on the largest body part. For example, busty girls should go for an ombre dress that's darker on top.
* Only wear one ombre piece at a time. Wearing a dress, handbag and shoes done in the pattern can look cartoonish.
* Pair an ombre piece with neutral clothing and accessories in shades of brown and off-white for a safari flavor.
* Complement subtle gradations with metallic accessories.
* Incorporate jewelry in shades of the fading colors into the outfit.
Source: About.com and DivaVillage.com
Ombre, an effect where one color bleeds into another, has flowed onto some of the most eye-catching pieces of the season.
The term, which means shadow in French, is also called dip-dyed and degraded. Sometimes ombre goes from the darkest to the lightest shade of a hue. Also, the print can seamlessly combine different colors for a rainbow take. Colors can be of-the-moment citrus brights or laid back neutrals, such as black to gray or brown to tan.
Some people confuse ombre with its close cousin, tie-dye. In general, ombre is more subtle, more sophisticated than tie-dye, and less kaleidoscopic.
However, both prints are popular right now, thanks to the tribal beat that has a band of designers playing ethnic, global music. Players include Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander McQueen, Badgley, Mischka, Chloe, Giles and Adam & Eve.
Many fashion pundits say this ombre homage began with the fall 2007 collection by Miuccia Prada, which included degraded handbags and other accessories.
This time around, dresses seem to be the preferred canvas for the latest ombre works of art. Some of the most beautiful are in a long Grecian goddess silhouette and done in a luxurious fabric, such as silk chiffon, which gives the frocks movement, creating billows of color. Talk about a statement piece. Ombre becomes more youthful when seen on a minidress, and it has a more casual feeling in a cotton sundress.
Ombre also works on separates. Look for a variety of tops from simple tees to figure-friendly tunics; great with a pair of jeans. The print paints skirts, too. It translates well on popular pleated full skirts.
Following Prada's lead, designers have created some fun ombre handbags, which go from chic clutches and sassy satchels to Titanic totes.
Another natural for ombre is the shoe. Kicks done in patent really shine.
Ombre options
* Make sure the darkest part of the fade is on the largest body part. For example, busty girls should go for an ombre dress that's darker on top.
* Only wear one ombre piece at a time. Wearing a dress, handbag and shoes done in the pattern can look cartoonish.
* Pair an ombre piece with neutral clothing and accessories in shades of brown and off-white for a safari flavor.
* Complement subtle gradations with metallic accessories.
* Incorporate jewelry in shades of the fading colors into the outfit.
Source: About.com and DivaVillage.com
Labels: brands boutique, designer brands, designer fashion brands, designer handbags
# posted by handbag junkie @ 5:13 AM
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
What's in a name? The Brand Snobbery Syndrome
Designer Fashion Brands - Click Here
Priya Tuli
"So how come don't you have one of those handbags with the little monograms marching all over them that everyone seems to favor these days?" Nothing escapes my mother's right eye. She lost peripheral vision in the left eye many years ago, so one would think she might miss catching at least some of life's smaller details. Not a chance! She's talking about the branded `designer' handbags that with-it women have been slinging nonchalantly over their shoulders for years. You know the ones, with the C(hanel), D(ior), P(rada), D&G or LV initials on them.
"Nope, I've never aspired to own one, for two compelling reasons: one, why would I want to use a bag with somebody else's initials on it? And two, why would I want to pay some ridiculously inflated amount for their initials?" But my mother's not satisfied with my response; she's in bear-baiting mode, and would like to hear me growl. "A branded product is a branded product, right? You're so finicky about your brand of coffee, how is that any different from people being finicky about their brand of handbag?" she prods.
This is a trick question. I pause for a long moment before I respond, thinking, ohhh no, you don't want to start me off, Mum! "Ohhh yes, I do!" she shoots back, reading my mind like a pro. Okay, then, here we go. Yes, I'm a brand-snob too, particularly about consumables like the coffee I prefer or the shower gel I use or the mineral/fire water I drink, that sort of thing. But the whole `brand-name accessory' concept? Defeats me!
"You choose a brand, any brand, because you identify with it, you like what it stands for. The taste, smell, cut, values, standards, whatever. My local brand of coffee is top quality. It's locally produced, roasted and packaged; I buy my freshly ground weekly supply, sniff it all the way home, and store it in the fridge so it retains its aroma. (Yes, I'm a borderline fanatic about my coffee.) "I refuse to pay outlandish sums of money for some trumped-up global brand that buys beans on the cheap from subsistence-level coffee farmers in Africa and Latin America -- and then charges a premium for "value added" (snob-value added?) lattes and cappuccinos, in throw-away containers with a fancy logo, that everybody wants to be seen drinking from.
I mean hello, people, Java is famous the world over for its coffee! When in Java, drink Java! "As for handbags, if it were just quality that people were after, they wouldn't give two hoots who else saw the initials. Branded accessories are designed so everyone can see exactly how much you paid for them. "Besides, how about you? Why don't you have one of those fancy branded bags yourself? You've been using that grotty old hand-woven jute bag since the year dot, and you won't even let me replace it for you. It's so full of holes your keys are going to drop out one of these days!"
My long-winded monologue is going to take her a while to counter, so I wander off in search of a caffeine hit while she gathers her thoughts for another assault. I jump out of my skin, nearly smashing my favorite Bodum coffee plunger; she has stealthily followed me into the kitchen and is waggling her index finger at me, an old habit that triggers my Pavlovian "garrrh" reflex even now.
"I'll have you know I bought that jute bag six years ago, from the artisan's bazaar, so the money went to the person who made it, and not some sticky-fingered middleman. It might look a bit shabby, but those holes are the weave pattern and it still has some good years left in it, just like I do!" My mother has finally lost it. She is now comparing herself to an old jute bag full of holes? I refrain from following that train of thought through to its logical conclusion, for obvious reasons.
"Here, I bought you one as well. They're useful when you go supermarketing, so you can tell them you don't want those infernal plastic bags," she says. "Oh, nice! So why didn't you junk yours and buy yourself a new one, too?" "I gave them all away, this is the last one and it's for you."
"You drew my initials on it?!"
"With permanent marker. You like them?"
"Yes, particularly the wonky twisted ones!"
"I thought you would."
I look at her. I look at the bag. "Don't you start!" she warns, waggling her index finger at me again. "Ha!", I said, "your old bag just gave me a brand new bag!" And we're both hooting with laughter. As I've just shared an inside joke, I might have to pay the price in blood later. Anybody out there Group B+, in case I run short?
Priya Tuli
"So how come don't you have one of those handbags with the little monograms marching all over them that everyone seems to favor these days?" Nothing escapes my mother's right eye. She lost peripheral vision in the left eye many years ago, so one would think she might miss catching at least some of life's smaller details. Not a chance! She's talking about the branded `designer' handbags that with-it women have been slinging nonchalantly over their shoulders for years. You know the ones, with the C(hanel), D(ior), P(rada), D&G or LV initials on them.
"Nope, I've never aspired to own one, for two compelling reasons: one, why would I want to use a bag with somebody else's initials on it? And two, why would I want to pay some ridiculously inflated amount for their initials?" But my mother's not satisfied with my response; she's in bear-baiting mode, and would like to hear me growl. "A branded product is a branded product, right? You're so finicky about your brand of coffee, how is that any different from people being finicky about their brand of handbag?" she prods.
This is a trick question. I pause for a long moment before I respond, thinking, ohhh no, you don't want to start me off, Mum! "Ohhh yes, I do!" she shoots back, reading my mind like a pro. Okay, then, here we go. Yes, I'm a brand-snob too, particularly about consumables like the coffee I prefer or the shower gel I use or the mineral/fire water I drink, that sort of thing. But the whole `brand-name accessory' concept? Defeats me!
"You choose a brand, any brand, because you identify with it, you like what it stands for. The taste, smell, cut, values, standards, whatever. My local brand of coffee is top quality. It's locally produced, roasted and packaged; I buy my freshly ground weekly supply, sniff it all the way home, and store it in the fridge so it retains its aroma. (Yes, I'm a borderline fanatic about my coffee.) "I refuse to pay outlandish sums of money for some trumped-up global brand that buys beans on the cheap from subsistence-level coffee farmers in Africa and Latin America -- and then charges a premium for "value added" (snob-value added?) lattes and cappuccinos, in throw-away containers with a fancy logo, that everybody wants to be seen drinking from.
I mean hello, people, Java is famous the world over for its coffee! When in Java, drink Java! "As for handbags, if it were just quality that people were after, they wouldn't give two hoots who else saw the initials. Branded accessories are designed so everyone can see exactly how much you paid for them. "Besides, how about you? Why don't you have one of those fancy branded bags yourself? You've been using that grotty old hand-woven jute bag since the year dot, and you won't even let me replace it for you. It's so full of holes your keys are going to drop out one of these days!"
My long-winded monologue is going to take her a while to counter, so I wander off in search of a caffeine hit while she gathers her thoughts for another assault. I jump out of my skin, nearly smashing my favorite Bodum coffee plunger; she has stealthily followed me into the kitchen and is waggling her index finger at me, an old habit that triggers my Pavlovian "garrrh" reflex even now.
"I'll have you know I bought that jute bag six years ago, from the artisan's bazaar, so the money went to the person who made it, and not some sticky-fingered middleman. It might look a bit shabby, but those holes are the weave pattern and it still has some good years left in it, just like I do!" My mother has finally lost it. She is now comparing herself to an old jute bag full of holes? I refrain from following that train of thought through to its logical conclusion, for obvious reasons.
"Here, I bought you one as well. They're useful when you go supermarketing, so you can tell them you don't want those infernal plastic bags," she says. "Oh, nice! So why didn't you junk yours and buy yourself a new one, too?" "I gave them all away, this is the last one and it's for you."
"You drew my initials on it?!"
"With permanent marker. You like them?"
"Yes, particularly the wonky twisted ones!"
"I thought you would."
I look at her. I look at the bag. "Don't you start!" she warns, waggling her index finger at me again. "Ha!", I said, "your old bag just gave me a brand new bag!" And we're both hooting with laughter. As I've just shared an inside joke, I might have to pay the price in blood later. Anybody out there Group B+, in case I run short?
Labels: brands boutique, brandsboutique, designer fashion brands, fashion brands, luxury brands
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 7:29 PM
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Could Designer Handbag Sales Limits Hurt Luxury ETF?
by Tom Lydon
The luxury exchange traded fund (ETF) could take a hit after retailers announced that they'd limit sales of luxury handbags.
That means you're out of luck if you were planning to run out this afternoon and buy a dozen Louis Vuitton bags. But really, the limits aren't because people just can't have enough luxury bags, reports Eric Wilson of the New York Times. The real reason is our falling dollar.
Because the dollar has slid in value relative to currencies such as the euro and pound, many foreign buyers are treating the United States as one giant outlet mall. They can get handbags here for (relatively) dirt-cheap, then re-sell them in Asia and Europe at a premium. Companies such as Prada and Gucci want to discourage that, as they've been trying to reach customers in those other countries by opening new shops.
How will this affect the Claymore/Robb Report Global Luxury ETF (ROB)? After the dismal holiday sales report issued today, might retailers want to take their sales where they can get them?
Among the holdings in the fund are LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (5.7%), Hermes (2.81%), Coach (COH, 2.5%), Burberry (BRBY; 0.97%) and Macy's (SKS, 0.60%).
That means you're out of luck if you were planning to run out this afternoon and buy a dozen Louis Vuitton bags. But really, the limits aren't because people just can't have enough luxury bags, reports Eric Wilson of the New York Times. The real reason is our falling dollar.
Because the dollar has slid in value relative to currencies such as the euro and pound, many foreign buyers are treating the United States as one giant outlet mall. They can get handbags here for (relatively) dirt-cheap, then re-sell them in Asia and Europe at a premium. Companies such as Prada and Gucci want to discourage that, as they've been trying to reach customers in those other countries by opening new shops.
How will this affect the Claymore/Robb Report Global Luxury ETF (ROB)? After the dismal holiday sales report issued today, might retailers want to take their sales where they can get them?
Among the holdings in the fund are LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (5.7%), Hermes (2.81%), Coach (COH, 2.5%), Burberry (BRBY; 0.97%) and Macy's (SKS, 0.60%).
Labels: authentic gucci handbags, authentic hermes handbags, authentic prada handbag, brands boutique, burberry, discount luxury, louis vuitton handbags, luxury handbags and accessories, luxury vintage
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 9:58 AM
Monday, November 26, 2007
I'm not obsessed with collecting shoes and bags
from Style Eyes
I have been thinking to myself lately, about the seemingly obsessive behaviour many exhibit when it comes to shoes and handbags. Ok we all need handbags and shoes and yes I have lots, but my collection is tiny and relatively low value in comparison to many who have thousands of pounds worth of shoes. Yes I agree that I can't help lusting after the latest Louboutin heels or Hermes Hadbag, but I would never spend this amount of money on a pair of shoes or a handbag, not unless I won the lottery. I like to buy a pair or two of reasonable quality shoes each season and would never buy cheap non leather shoes or handbags but it just isn't worth getting into debt for the latest fashion. In our consumer driven culture, fashion and particularly shoes and handbags have almost become a new currency for measuring social standing and class.Perhaps the desire most women feel for shoes and handbags is something to do with the fact that they are solid and longlasting, valuable and recognisable as an expensive fashion item. They are therefore an investment aswell as a status symbol. Perhaps it is just the ability of a lovely pair of shoes or a beautiful handbag to transform an otherwise plain outfit or the beautiful workmanship that is almost always found in an expensive pair of shoes or a handbag.For me the importance of shoes and handbags is that without a quality handbag and pair of shoes, I feel a bit of a mess. The shoes need to be comfortable otherwise, I end up hobbling about or stumbling in them- this just ruins my day and completely zaps my confidence. My handbag is almost like an extension of my arm, it never leaves my side when I am out of the house and contains some of my most important possessions without which I couldn't possibly survive.I don't really partake in the whole labels and brand thing for shoes and handbags but prefer just to get fairly well made leather shoes and handbags which are comfortable, practical, look great and will serve me for many seasons to come.
Labels: bradesigner brands, brands boutique, efashionhouse, handbags
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 3:25 PM
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Designer Brands - Online Shopping Bargain
CHRISTIAN DIOR designer handbag lady dior micro ld tan designer purse. Measures approximately 7 inch length by 6 inch tall with a 3 inch depth. Pearlized leather handles measure about 10 inches. Detachable strap measures about 40 inches and is about .25 inches wide. Polished gold hardware with the CD logo embossed on strap holders. DIOR letter charms attached to strap ring. Inside flap closure. Interior is fully lined in matching color with one zippered pocket. Base has 4 gold feet. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with sleeper bag. Limited Supply. SAMPLE SALE ITEM - SKU : B07CD05B97TNF
Online Shopping Bargain for Sale & Final Clearance:
- Use coupon code OFF20 for an extra 20% off FINAL CLEARANCE items.
- Use coupon code OFF10 for an extra 10% off all SALE items.
- Plus, Free Fedex to Lower 48 States $200 orders & NO Sales Tax World Wide!
Labels: brands boutique, designer brands, designer handbags, discount designer handbags, discount designer purses, efashionhouse, handbags
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 1:47 PM
Latest Hottest Brands in Designer Handbags
By William Brister The popularity, accessibility and the increasing incomes of the people have led to a new surge of trendsetters widening greatly the horizons of the fashion world. They have given rise to ostentatious and designer clothing, designer accessories and designer handbags that serve to perfectly complement the fashion conscious generation. Gucci, Christian Dior, D&G, Louis Vuitton, Chanel are only some of the preferred designers world over that create exquisitely crafted purses and handbags.
For the greatest pleasure of their clients, those original brands are always coming up with new purses and handbags, with newer models always more desirable that the previous ones. No matter how much you desired the previous designer handbag you bought, their next designer handbag promises to be more even more desirable!
Designer handbags by Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton are specially designed for people, both men and women who want to accessorize their wardrobe with something more than just everyday, normal traditional handbags. Whether it is a formal or an informal event, casual or business, trendy designer handbags remain distinctively a class apart. The exclusivity and value, brands like D&G, Chanel and Gucci offer, are outstanding; not only are they made of materials of the highest quality they represent the sophistication and richness of high-end designer wear.
Popular designer handbag brand names include Gucci, Coach, DKNY, Chanel, Chritian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada, and Armani.
The latest and stylish selections of some of the designer handbags from Gucci, Chanel, D&G are exclusive and include jewelled purses, rhinestone studs, western looks, patchwork and leather. Exhibiting an enticing and unique amalgamation of the tradition and contemporary, each product offered by these designers is created to add a new dimension to your personality! Evening bags, fine leather purses, stylish recycled handbags, slings and totes and even traditional weaves are all a part of the designer handbag collection offered by Gucci, Chanel and the likes.
Of course, when thinking about authentic designer handbags, the first idea that comes to mind is certainly the price tag they all come along with!
In a world that is highly fashion conscious and where people are swooning over glitterati, looking to emulate whatever the rich and the famous do, the problem of imitations is one to beware of. Several South East and Far East Asian countries have a large and thriving business of manufacturing replica designer wear, especially designer handbags. They use the same star quality in their replica designer handbags and sell them at the most economical prices. They ensure that all the replica designer handbags have the correct identical markings as the original purses. Like any Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Chanel designer handbags, they have the same heat embossed stamps, designer emblems, engraved hardware and beautiful interior linings.
With such opportunities available in the market today, the priceless designer handbag from Chanel or Gucci that you could only once dream of is now not only affordable and available to you but also the envy of your neighbour.
If you are a demanding and fastidious fashion conscious customer only looking for the real designer handbag, please visit authorized dealers or exclusive designer showrooms. For the rest there are several online sites offering original replica designer handbags!
Labels: brands boutique, brandsboutique, designer brands, designer handbags, discount designer handbags, discount designer purses, efashionhouse, fashion brands, handbags, purses
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 1:38 PM
Welcome to the Brands Boutique Blog
Brands Boutique is an online Designer Fashion Accessory store offering its shoppers deep discounts on authentic designer handbags, purses and accessories. Brands Boutique has an online presence for over twelve years. The BrandsBoutique online store sells the most popular styles of designer purses from current or pre season collections. All the merchandise found at BrandsBoutique is guaranteed to be authentic designer products.
Everything sold at BrandsBoutique is new and unused. There are a variety of designer handbags made of leather, monogram canvas and other quality fabrications. The designer fashion accessories found at the website location can also be found at famous department stores throughout the world at higher prices.
BrandsBoutique was created to offer people on a budget an opportunity to own an expensive designer handbag without paying full retail price. Since its conception in the early 1990's Brands Boutique has been able to maintain its promise. The website offers its customers very deep discounts on famous designer brands. There's also a layaway plan for people who want to make purchases over a period of time.
BrandsBoutique is part of a group of online fashion accessory stores at eFashionHouse.com. There's also a Yahoo! Store which directs most of its traffic to the updated BrandsBoutique online shop.
BrandsBoutique is part of a group of online fashion accessory stores at eFashionHouse.com. There's also a Yahoo! Store which directs most of its traffic to the updated BrandsBoutique online shop.
Most women carry handbags, and some men do, too. Designer handbags have become very popular over the past decade because as an accessory, a handbag adds style to any outfit. Handbags are functional and serve a purpose, too. People are on the go from dawn to dusk and need to tote essentials. Make the tote exciting, stylish and fashionable without paying full price.
Some of the media reports a decline in the handbags business. Seems as though the prediction is totally unpredictable seeing as women are the major customer for handbags. And, you know as well as I trying to predict a woman is almost impossible to do!
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Labels: brands boutique, brandsboutique, designer brands, designer handbags, discount designer handbags, discount designer purses, efashionhouse, fashion brands, handbags, purses, tano handbags
# posted by Give Me Something to Blog About @ 10:09 AM
