Handbags Online

Discount on Marc Jacobs Handbags - SAVE HUGE 31.60% OFF

2009-03-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

MARC JACOBS Collection Mix Quilted Classic Rosen in Lavender Leather

Retail Price: $1,095.00

Our Price: $749.00

You Save: 31.60%

MARC JACOBS Collection Mix Quilted Classic Rosen in Lavender Leather with matching lavender and double layered link silvertone chain handles. These handles are secured with contrasting lavender leather and silvertone studs that have MARC JACOBS engraved into them. This designer handbag has a flap closure that is secured with a concealed magnetic snap. There is contrasting gray stitching on this bag with diamond stitching in the bottom corners of this purse. Read More..

Handbag Demand

2009-03-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

By: Kenneth Elliott

Without a doubt the one accessory that most women cannot go without is a ladies handbag. And why not, the ladies handbag is a sanctuary, a place to store makeup, their cell phones, and many other wares that are essential to the on the go women. To this end ladies handbag demand has increased in the market place. As a result, so has the selection. And no doubt the top handbag distributors have taken notice.

Coach Bags at Unbelievable prices at Efashionhouse

Take for instance Coach; known for their coach handbags, wallets and other accessories, coach handbags are manufactured to be soft glove tanned leather, which has evolved with new shapes, styles, and material. Coach handbags have always been one of the top handbags to have. But many people cannot afford an authentic coach handbag. This is where replicas step in. No, I can't say that a replica is a good choice, but if you want the coach look but you don't have the coach pocket book, well a coach handbag replica is a good choice.

One of the most popular types of ladies handbags is a handbag crafted from leather. Leather handbags are available in several different color, sizes and shades. Many women prefer a neutral shade such as brown or black when purchasing a handbag.

Tommy Hilfiger Purse in nylon canvas at Valuebags

If you don't like leather, handbags also come in other materials like vinyl-coated canvas. Or even nylon. If you can imagine it, is probably for sale.

Handbags come in various sizes and shapes and there is sure to be one to please you. From totes, compacts to shoulder designs, small clutches to sakes there is a handbag out their made just for your style.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

The craze for Gucci handbags and designers one

2009-01-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

By: Jason Goldman

The Best Authentic Handbags Online - eFashionhouse.com

A perfectly white or a black and white designer handbag is a must for all fashion lovers to have is what some of the famous fashion designer believe. This is also supported by the fact that many international brand names such as the Italian designer Gucci's new collection displays lots of white and black and white handbags. However, is tough to select one handbag from all the other available, as the collection is wonderful. A standout handbag among the latest collection is the white CG fabric handbag with black and white colored flower as embroidery along with metal appliqués and black crocodile trim with black colored double handles. This is really an attention seeking Gucci handbag and suits more to the young and trendy part of public but worth with a simple woman is in no way diminished. Yet another mind-grabbing handbag is the Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag, the craze for which is beyond limits. Earlier brand Gucci was considered as one of the best-recognized luxury houses around the globe but it was felt that the bags lag behind due to lack of something extra. However, the hysteria line has ahs brought in the required extra bit. The Gucci Hysteria line drops the usual GG mark and makes way for family crest that adds the required touch that is appreciated. There are brilliant ostrich bags, and bags made of crocodile skin. A $300,000 priced Gucci Crocodile Trunk is capable of turning each eyeball passing by. Not letting the crocodile craze go down, Gucci introduced yet another such bag and probably the best of the season and covered it up in yellow crocodile. Thus, the Gucci crocodile hysteria bag was in. This is different from any other Gucci bag. The crocodile is very soft since it is made from the belly of the crocodile. The softness will allure you so much that if they provide you pillow of the same material you would not hesitate to take it at any price.

Now, we all love designer handbags, and buy the one we like at even very high prices. However, what if the designer handbag we have bought does not worth it? Yes, many experts believe that most of the designer handbags that are sold are fakes. Yet another discouraging fact is that in most cases we cannot spot a fake designer handbag. However, you can save your money by directly buying the designer handbags directly from the store of the particular brand or through the authorized website. Most of us believe that fakes are generally sold at lower prices and thus opt for the higher priced handbags but the sad part of it is that sellers also know this. Therefore, we need to be little more vigilant about the authenticity of the product we buy.

Therefore what you should rather do is log on to the website suppose Gucci.com and look at all the authorized official websites and then you would be served better. This is how you can suffice your need of a brilliant, original designer handbag with complete value for your money.

Article Source: http://www.articleclick.com/

Shopping For Trendy and Stylish Handbags

2008-12-23T00:17:00.000-08:00

By Janet Verra

Handbag is an attraction for many women. It is irresistible, beautiful charm that we often seen carried by women anywhere. Evey woman can have this beautiful accessory to add with her fashion statement, completing a desired look. Like any custom-made products, a great choice of handbag can turn an ordinary look into an extraordinary appearance. As a result, many stylish people especially women are becoming lucrative in collecting handbags to match with different outfits. In fact, basic outfits like a simple linen slip dress or even sweaters and jeans looks great with a great choice of handbag.

Affordable Handbags

Because of unstoppable growth of our population, the demand of handbags are also increasing everywhere. However due to increasing prices of products today, many people are considering handbags that are budget-friendly. While many people opt for inexpensive choices, others still prefer original brands. You can find variety of affordable handbags everywhere, mostly in discount stores and markets. They sell designer inspired purses, clutches, tote bags, etc. If you have enough money, you can always go for customized bags, these are quite expensive but not as much as branded ones. Customized handbags are great when it comes to gift-giving. In customization, you'll be able to create your own design. Why not make it personalized gift? Create a personalized handbags by monogramming your receiver's initials, name or even short scriptures. Having this idea is a sure hit during Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Holidays and others.

Choices of Handbags

This accessory have become a vital part of women's fashion statement. However, the real challenge here is on how to choose and use a particular handbag to match a certain outfit. Choosing handbags can be very tricky, though. Many of us assumed that this is as easy as picking jewelry in our jewelry box, but it is not. With the help of new technology, shopping for this accessory become less frustrating. Just few clicking and you'll see wide assortment of handbags that you can match with your outfits. Searching online can give you easy and convenient shopping option and you get to compare handbags' prices.

The choices of this accessory varies in color, shape, size and material. You can find a choice of handbag that matches your personality with matching color, size and shape you need. They also come in several styles like practical, theatrical, fanciful and bold. You can get a cute purse or clutch to for evening parties, while a tote bag for working days and travels.

Nowadays, you can even find different assortment of beautiful personalized handbags, even plastic bags with decorated designs and styles. Also, other containers like personalized canvas bags, sports bags and even customized cosmetic bags and toiletry bags. This means not a fancy party accessory alone can be customized, but also functional large bags that we often use in our other activities. When you think of giving gifts, these large accessories can be perfect also. For instance, a personalized sports bag can make a great gift to a lady who's interest is sports. Or perhaps, a cosmetic bag for a woman who's always on the go for business trips. With this accessory, they'll be able to finish their another day of activity with a lot of convenience. Just make sure you'll buy one for yourself also.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Designer Handbags Are More Affordable Through Online Shopping

2008-12-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

By: Nicole Ross

Of all the handbags available to the handbag consumer, designer seems to be the best of them all. Designer handbags leave people green with envy when they see others carrying them. If you are not currently sporting one of these magnificent handbags, then you need to stop what you are doing and find the nearest retailer.

An even easier way to find the latest and newest styles is just a click away. That's correct, all you have to do is point and click on the Internet, and within a few days you too will have others admiring your fine taste.

Some find that the only set back that they have about purchasing an authentic designer handbag is the price. Not everyone has $200-$500, or sometimes thousands, just sitting around to splurge on a handbag. Therefore, finding these handbags for discount prices is a great asset for the consumer to have.

The best option for these individuals is to shop at online discount stores. eBay is a great store that offers many different styles of handbags. Just be sure to use common sense when online shopping. Always check for authenticity. Brands such as Coach and Louis Vuitton have a serial number printed inside each authentic handbag. Pictures are shown to verify the authenticity.

Amazon.com is another place to go to get great deals on handbags and other products. There are many online stores that cater to the needs of individuals who enjoy searching for the best prices and who love to bargain hunt. Some stores will even drop their prices to match up with their competitors. That is really cool!

Shopping online is a great way to save lots of money and also allows you to find other bargains without ever having to leave your home. The best thing about online shopping is the luxury of not having to fight face to face with other consumers who are after the same item that you are interested in. I just recently had to fuss with a sales associate in a store for giving away a scarf that she knew I just told her I wanted. Luckily, I told on her and got my scarf back. But, who wants to go through that? That is such a huge hassle especially around the holidays.

Online shopping is extremely helpful for men who are shopping for loved ones and do not like the hustle and bustle of crowds. I live with a man who will not do any holiday shopping outside of his office. Thank goodness for online shopping!

So, when you decide that you are ready to get that fabulous designer handbag, or anything else you need, remember that shopping in the stores can be fun, but when wanting to save money, what better fun is there than saving lots of money. Online shopping for your new purchase is a better way to go.

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

Hot Trend in Handbags – Hobo Purses

2008-11-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

By: Tatyana Turner

Isn’t it great, when what is currently in fashion is also comfortable and practical? Totes and hobo purses are this year’s favorites. Find out how to select the best one for you.

A tote is an open-top bag that has straps or handles; you can wear it over your shoulder or carry in your hand. A hobo bag is a crescent-shaped bag that hangs from your shoulder. Both are large, so you can fit a lot of stuff in them.

You can get totes and hobo bags in just about any color. Bright-colored handbags are hot this year, but bear in mind that, if you have a large, brightly colored bag, it will attract attention. What I mean is that you don’t want your bag to overpower your outfit or face. However, if you wear a plain outfit in a classic color, like black, grey or white, you can brighten it up with a green or orange purse.

The most popular materials are luxurious leather, leatherette, canvas, linen, tapestry and straw. Combinations of leather and fabric also look very stylish, but are more affordable than leather.

Hobo bags and totes also come with beautiful prints on them; totes that feature celebrities are particularly popular, just now. Animal lovers can get totes that have adorable pictures of pups or kittens on them. You can even order a custom made tote with a photo of your own pet - all you need is to provide a photo of reasonable quality.

Most of us think of a tote as a casual bag for shopping, but you can also get elegant, stylish varieties. If it is leather, suede, or a leather-fabric combination, a tote can be a good companion for a work outfit.

Most hobo bags are not expensive. If you do a little bit of comparison shopping online, you will find fabric and leather-like bags for under 50 dollars, and quality leather for under a hundred. That is, of course, for non-designer bags - but they are of good quality, all the same. If you are after Gucci, Fendi or Prada totes and hobo purses, though, expect to pay a few hundred dollars.

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

All About Gucci Handbags - the Classic Collection

2008-11-13T03:26:00.000-08:00

By: Donte Sesston

Get Designer Handbags, Purses & Other Fashion Accessories: BrandsBoutique.com

Gucci Classic collection has wide range of handbags. Ladies looking for classy style mainly choose these bags. Ranging from wide bottom large handbags to small clutches, everything is collected under classic collection. Style, fashion, elegance and designs according to needs of a woman are blended together in the classic collection. The Gucci classic collection comprises of handbags in variety of colors and material. These handbags are chosen according to the occasion and outfit.

The ‘Indy’ handbags are the real classic Gucci bags. These bags have a narrowing top with single handle. The shoulder strap is detachable. Front side of the bag is studded with bamboo details with tassels. Inside the bags, small zipped pockets are provided for cell phone and other stuff. The ‘Indy’ handbags are available in chocolate, silver and black leather with silver objects.

Instead of plain leather bags one can choose the printed ‘Peggy’ bags. These are similar to the Indy bags but have single handle in bamboo material. The shoulder strap is removable. Inside the bag, pockets for cell phone and zip pockets are provided. These classy Peggy bags are available in beige fabric. The beige or e-bony fabric is accompanied with leather in dark brown or white color. The bag is studded with light gold objects.

For trendier look, small “Pelham” shoulder bags can be chosen. These handbags are provided with braided double straps, horsebits and snap tab closure. Handbags are decorated with light gold and silver studs and objects. Interior comprises of small zipped pocket for cell phone. These Gucci classic handbags are available in ebony GG or beige fabric with trim in white, dark brown or chocolate leather.

The classic Gucci handbags comprise of separate section for small handbags. The wristlet bags are provided with top zip closure. The material is Guccissima white leather, ebony GG or beige fabric. The trim is made up of white or brown leather. The front of the handbag is decorated with red, green web or green bow and light gold objects.

So make your occasion special with the Classic collection of Gucci handbags.
Source: Articlesbase.com

Legitimate Wholesalers of Authentic Designer Handbags

2008-10-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

By: surajlc

Get Designer Handbags Collection - EFASHIONHOUSE

Get Rich Quick Scams Revealed
Read this article before you consider paying for a "get rich quick" program.
From: Authentic Designer Handbags
Everybody would love to make lots of money quickly, working from home, and only doing a few hours of work per week. I've spent the past two years trying to find a great way of doing this. Only over the course of the past few months have I found any "get rich quick" programs worth buying. I've been trying to make money online for a long time. I had a few small websites, but they never made much more than a few hundred per month. It was easy money and didn't require much work on my part, but I knew there were people out there doing better than I was and I knew I could do as well as them.
Now, I've seen a lot of "get rich quick" programs. Most of these people make claims about earning $2000/day with Google or something similarly insane. Almost all of these people are complete liars. Even if they were making $2000/day with Google AdSense, it'd be because they had high- traffic websites with a lot of quality content. I'd know, because in one whole month, I never even made half of what they promised I'd make daily with their programs. Maybe you've already been scammed by one of these fraudsters. Anyway, I finally got sick of what was being offered.
I decided I'd look through the all of the "get rich quick" programs I could find and see if there were any that were actually legitimate. I found that there were owners selling their programs for well over $100, but the information in them could be found almost anywhere online for free. Additionally, they all contained out-of-date information, had no e-mail support, no money back guarantees, and broken links in the downloads section.
In conclusion, almost all of the programs I found were completely useless. The owners knew it, but they couldn't care less about their customers since they didn't offer refund policies! Amazingly, while looking through all of the programs, I actually did find a few legitimate programs. They were run by ordinary people like you and me, and they had found some great methods of making money from their home by doing very little work.
I spent some time working with those programs, and my income is now ten times what it used to be. These programs provided a large amount of great information on how to make extra money on your computer doing very little work. Numerous customers had provided great feedback and reviews for their products. Many of them have started to make money just days after buying!
Their programs have excellent prices, and the authors have a group of paid staff who are dedicating to helping you or providing assistance if you need any. I must say I was amazed! If you do decide to purchase any of the programs listed below, I recommend you join quickly. Most of the owners tell me they are getting an overwhelming number of sales and plan on raising prices in the near future, so order while prices are still low!
To Your Online Success,
Authentic Designer Handbags

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

Guide in Choosing the Best Handbag for You

2008-10-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

By: lhancel

Since most women always keep their eyes on hot styles and designs of handbags, they became more focused on following these latest fashion trends without considering if the handbags will suit their figure. Perhaps, this is one of the most common mistakes that they make. Instead of buying the right handbag that matches their body type, they go after with its brand, styles and designs just to be in step with the hottest trend in fashion.

Gucci Designer Handbags - eFashionHouse

We all know that trendy styles of handbags, most especially if these are designer handbags are very tempting to buy even though they don't suit your figure. But this attitude is not an ideal way to make your outfit looks stand out. Keeping up on the latest fashion is not just enough to make you shine. Always remember that anything you wear must have some coordination and balance with your body. For some women who are fashion enthusiasts, choosing and matching handbags are just simple but for others who are not, it's not just as easy.

Here are some basic guide lines to help you out in choosing the best handbag for you:

1. Select the Right Size of Handbag

Knowing the right size of a handbag for your body type should be the first thing to consider before buying it. This will help you find the most appropriate handbag that would look best for you. Just keep in mind that no matter how stylish and elegant a handbag that you carry, it will be unfashionable if it doesn't set off with your figure.

Most fashion experts suggest that if you're short and petite, it's best to choose small handbags to work well with your outfit. This is because selecting big handbags will make you look smaller. On the other hand, if you're tall and slim, you must avoid these small bags. You can rely to use for some mid size, bulky and large handbags because these sizes will be best suit for your stature.

2. Pick out the suitable shape of Handbag

Choosing the best shape of handbag for your figure is another preference before purchasing it. Always bear in mind that carrying a handbag that is proportioned with your body shape is the best way to look stylish and fashionable because it really helps to change and enhance your overall look.

The best tip to achieve this is to make sure that your choice of handbag shape is the opposite of your body type. So if you're slim and tall, you should choose rounded bag to best match your look. However, if you have a shorter physique, tall and rectangular bag is suitable for you to make you look elevated.

3. Choose Color that Complements most of your Outfit

After you have selected the right size and shape of a handbag that best suit to you, it's now time to choose for its color. Matching up the color of handbag to your outfit and shoes is an ideal way to have a fashionable style. Try to buy a colorful handbag that has dominant colors that will match most of your clothes. But to be more practical, you can also go for a plain handbag with just one color. It's most recommended to take neutral color handbags since they are popular choice. Black is a neutral color so you can never go wrong in selecting it because it always comes in style and fashion. You can also harmonize it with any color of your outfit. Brown and white colors are also advisable to use because you can also match them with most of your clothes.

4. Set off Handbag According to Occasion

And finally, it's really important that you know what will be the purpose of a handbag. To be practical, you must put some considerations on its functions because every occasion, place and season calls for different styles and designs of handbags. Just be sure that you're chosen handbag complements to a specific place or occasion and there's no doubt that you'll achieve the stylish outfit you most desire.

Now that you're familiar with some basic tips in choosing a handbag that looks well with your figure, you can now enjoy your shopping in some handbag stores and boutiques. But if you're a time savvy customer who doesn't have enough time in going out to mall, you can find some online shopping sites for your convenience and visit their designer handbag section for your wider selections of different sizes, shapes and styles of handbags that will make you shine above the rest.

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF HANDBAGS THERE ARE?

2008-09-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

By Gregg Hall
A ROBERTO CAVALLI BAGUETTE, A MARC JACOBS POUCHETTE, A PRADA BACK PACK, AN ELAINE TURNER BUCKET BAG ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLE OF WHAT EFASHIONHOUSE HAS ON OFFER

All handbags are not created equal, not even close! Just like automobiles and cowboy boots, some are classic, some are trendy, some are practical, and some are just simply arm candy. Check out this overview of handbags. Some of the most popular include:

Accordion: Made of two or three pouches side by side, fastened together by stitching, snaps or fasteners to allow expansion or contraction of the bag, according to its capacity.

Baguette: Long, small, narrow bag with a shoulder strap, carried under the arm.

Balantine: Made of leather, fabric or metal, suspended from a long cord. The Balantine swings back and forth at knee height as you walk. These are very popular at present.

Pompadour: Small velvet or lace pouches worn hanging from a cord used to carry small items, a notebook or money.

Pouchette: Also called a clutch, this is a small lady's bag without a handle or shoulder strap.

Reticule: Comprised of string, net or mesh. This bag once used for provisions or tools.

Rucksack/Backpack: Worn on the back, held in place by two buckled straps and closed by a drawstring sometimes concealed under a flap.

Bucket Bag: Usually known as the "carryall" bag. Sometimes closed by a flap with a loop to protect against prying eyes but usually open.

Purses are basically a large pouch, and have been used by man (and women, of course) for as long as we can remember. African priests carried beaded bags, which were used for carrying bones considered to be tokens of seduction. Peasants early on used bags to carry seeds.

In fashion, it's the little things that mean a lot. It is significant to you what goes into your bag. Which in turn become very personal, because it conceals a secret that gives you a sense of personal power? For a woman, the bag holds not only the things you need for your day but it is also your personal glamour shop, which is very important to your identity.

While the inside of a woman's bag is hypothetically personal and intimate, the outside is a commercial, selling one's place in the world. The handbag remains a desirable item, with must-have status.

The Handbag will continue to be invented and re-invented at the turn of every season. They will be done in terry cloth, tweed, with sequins on it, fabric appliqués, jewels, clasps, leather, fur and other most recognizable elements. To many women, a bag is the entry-level item to the luxury market.

The handbag has become even more significant over the past two decades due to the fact that women do not wear as much fashion. In the 1940's you wore the total fashion look, now clothes are mixed and matched and handbags are part of the new freedom of fashion. It is a lot cheaper to pay for a small bag than an entire outfit.

How to Find a Discount Designer Handbag

2008-09-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

By Mimi Uei

Pietro Alessandro at eFashionHouse

How do you buy designer handbags? It is difficult to buy discount designer handbags, because so often, handbags are almost always very expensive. Louis Vuitton, for example, never owns any outlet shops, or has any sales. There is a certain prestige in owning a designer handbag, but the price tag often puts people off.

Of course, there are always discount handbags. How do you find them?

There are many ways to find them. One thing you can do, is look for seasonal handbag designs. You are sometimes able to buy a discount designer handbag, because it was last season's pattern. For example, I managed to buy a beautiful, well-made Coach wristlet once for only $30 (at a department store, so it was authentic), because it was a seasonal style. How do you find designer handbags that are seasonal? They are often sold during seasonal sales at department stores and boutiques. If you do not find any, you can always ask the stores about off-season discounts.

Another way to find designer handbags, is to look online. Obviously, there are lots of online sellers that can give you a good price for a handbag. Just make sure that what you buy online is an authentic designer handbag. Online, you can easily buy off-season handbags at a good price. Or, you can probably find a designer handbag that is a classic style, but is still below common retail value.

Of course, please keep in mind that some people may think that off-season handbags are out of style. Certainly, the shelf life of seasonal discount designer handbags is probably shorter than classic designer handbag styles. However, if you have a good sense of fashion and style, and like being unique, there is nothing wrong with having a good off-season handbag.

There are two main ways to find discount designer handbags: one way is during seasonable sales for off season designs. Another way is to go online and search for the deals available.

Discount Designer handbag online shop.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

EVERYONE LOVES COACH HANDBAGS, HERE'S HOW TO FIND THEM

2008-08-18T06:47:00.001-07:00

COACH LARGE HAMPTON BUS TOTE

What woman doesn't love buying a new handbag? Each woman is different, since each need is different with different types of features. The modern woman needs a compartment for her cell phone, while the older generation may just want a compartment for change. Whichever type of purse a woman prefers, getting a named brand one at a discounted price is simply heaven. There are outlets that cater to these types of handbag shoppers and even those with a fat wallet will still go there to get a good bargain.

Coach Handbag outlets are a place to go to get the most sought after handbags. Celebrities want them, the elite want them, and even teenage girls want them. This is because Coach is one of the most recognized names in the fashion world.

The founder was inspired to make the handbags from looking at the material of the baseball glove. He figured that the material would be perfect for a versatile, yet stylish product. Since its conception, this handbag as been made in a variety of designs, colors, and materials that have caught the eyes and hearts of women all over the world.

Coach Outlets were first opened over 50 years ago and were family owned workshops. Since then, the outlets have risen from a few shops and 6 workmen, to 300 stores in the US alone. The outlets use multi-channel distribution methods and plan to open more stores internationally in the coming years. You can also find Coach merchandise in finer department stores and boutiques.

Currently, the headquarters are situated in NY and is a publicly traded company (stock exchange symbol COH). They also have offices in Japan, and nineteen other countries.

Coach Handbag Outlets now feature women's accessories (wallets, cosmetic cases, shoes, bracelets, scarves, belts, hats, sunglasses, key rings, charms, and watches), and travel items (luggage, totes, briefcases, and planners).

Not only does the company offer women's collections, they also cater to men and babies as well. But just for fun, let’s talk about the handbags available from Coach.

Signature Stripe Style
The Reversible Travel Tote features an interior pocket, tag for luggage, leather trim, and jacquard fabric. It comes in brass and khaki colors, and either deep red or deep blue hues. This tote sells for $400.

Soho Style
The Metallic Hobo features a cell phone pocket, dusted suede with leather trim, and more. This hobo comes in brass and gold hues, and retails for $500.

Hampton Weekend Style
The Scarf Print Demi features an exterior pocket, zip top fastener, signature scarf fabric with suede and leather trim. This demi goes for $200.

There are far more gorgeous handbags available online or in the outlet. So stop by, or point and click, you'll find something you like!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Are you a bag lady?

2008-08-04T03:40:00.000-07:00

Pursuits | Vir Sanghvi

Show off your Hermes Birkin in Shanghai, Singapore or Sharjah and it will always look right

Diamond necklace or designer bag? (Illustration by: Jayachandran / Mint)

Anybody who follows the fashion business will tell you that, these days, the real money is not in the clothes; it is in the accessories. Take the house of Versace. It floundered after the murder of its founder. But it is now back in the black, thanks largely to the success of its handbags, a product that the house was rarely associated with when Gianni was alive. Or take Louis Vuitton. In theory, it’s just one part of the massive LVMH conglomerate but it accounts for the majority of the group’s profits (quite an achievement because LVMH includes Givenchy, Christian Dior, Celine, DKNY, Kenzo as well as Moët et Chandon and Krug Champagne). And Louis Vuitton is all about handbags. It makes some clothes but I doubt if anyone buys them. At the Gucci Group, the jewel in the crown is not the eponymous label (which is a bag company, in essence) but Bottega Veneta whose high quality handbags generate huge profits. A few labels do thrive without accessories (Armani, for instance) but even Chanel has predicated its overseas expansion on make-up and bags.

It’s not difficult to see why the bag market is so attractive to fashion houses. There’s no problem with sizing. They don’t have to decide how much of each product to make in which size—when it comes to handbags, one size fits all. The margins are spectacularly high. At Louis Vuitton, a bag sells in the shops for something like 14 times its manufacturing cost. With lesser labels, prices tend to be 12 times cost.

Then, there’s the international aspect. In the not too distant future, the principal markets for fashion labels will be in Asia (West Asia, Japan, China, the Asian Tiger economies and, eventually, India). Western fashion appeals to White people: to European and American sensibilities. Asians rarely like the clothes and nor do they look good in them. A Japanese woman in Ralph Lauren looks like a shop assistant; an Indian woman in Roberto Cavalli looks like an upmarket call girl and an Arab woman in Valentino looks like…well, she looks like an Arab in Valentino.

Bags get around that problem. Carry a Chanel 2.55 on the streets of Bangkok, Mumbai or Bahrain and the message will be clear: You are rich and have taste. Show off your Hermes Birkin in Shanghai, Singapore or Sharjah and it will always look right. Bags are the ultimate international fashion product. You can sell them anywhere.

But if the accessories boom makes sense for fashion companies, why does it make sense for the consumer? There was a time when even the rich carried expensive but discreet bags. The famous label handbags were few and their cost was related to quality. It takes a craftsman 17 hours to make a Kelly or a Birkin by hand. In the old days, every craftsman who made a Gucci bag had to slip a card with his number into one of the packets. If there was something wrong with the bag, Gucci would send it back to the man who had made it.

Now, Gucci bags are designed on computer and mass-produced (and even when the company was family-run, the decline had begun with the introduction of cheap canvas merchandise). The luxury bags (Hermes mainly) are still made the traditional way and cost as much as a car. But there’s a new range of very, very expensive handbags that are essentially industrial products. Even these bags go for upwards of a lakh. And such is the demand that it is the Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh bags that have the longest waiting lists

Plus, there is the phenomenon of the It bag. Each season, fashion editors breathlessly announce what the new “must-have” bags are. Not to possess these bags means you are hopelessly out of date. Worse still, to carry last year’s It bag is a fashion faux pas. Even if you spent a fortune on the Mombasa or the Dior Saddle because the fashion editors told you to, they now moulder on your arm like decaying corpses.

I’ve always tried to work out why women will spend so much on a bag when they could buy a piece of jewellery with the money instead. At the lower end of the fashion pyramid, it is easy to explain: People like the thrill of carrying an instantly recognizable designer product such as a Louis Vuitton monogrammed bag. But why do rich women, who have nothing to prove, splash out, year after year, for one of Marc Jacob’s limited edition Louis Vuitton bags?

I have some theories. To wear a designer garment, you need a certain kind of figure. No matter how much money you spend on a Prada outfit, nothing will help if you have a fat ass or if rolls of lard line your navel. With a bag, there’s no problem. You can be old, fat, ugly, short, misshapen or whatever but the bag will stand out on its own.

The corollary to this theory is that almost everybody who can afford designer clothes in India is too fat or big-hipped to carry them off. Go to the Louis Vuitton store in Delhi’s Oberoi hotel and watch the fat Punjabi ladies peel off notes from wads of cash. Can you really see them wearing high fashion? Or go to the elegant Chanel store at The Imperial. How many Indian women could wear those clothes? Is it any wonder that they all buy bags and glasses?

The second theory has to do with gifting. Assume you want to spend a little money on a friend or a lover. What can you buy her? Clothes require fittings as do shoes: You buy them blind, at your peril. Jewellery is intimate; it makes a statement. Far easier, therefore, to buy an expensive handbag. If it’s from a trendy label and one of the season’s It bags, then it is a safe choice and it’s hard to go wrong. Show me a vaguely fashionable woman who says she does not appreciate the gift of an expensive bag and I’ll show you a liar.

It is these two factors, I suspect, that keep the fashion companies in business. From 2001 to 2004, the luxury goods market increased by 1.2% per year. But sales of leather goods increased by 7.5% each year in the same period.

Since then, the trend has gathered more steam. The big labels may make clothes but the profits will come from bags—as long as there are enough rich old bags around to buy them!

Zarah Garde-Wilson's man under pressure, court told

2008-06-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

Emily Power and Antonia Magee

THE father of gangland solicitor Zarah Garde-Wilson's unborn baby has been freed on bail after allegedly vandalising $28,000 worth of designer handbags.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard Lansley "Lance" Simon, 24, was under pressure because of his relationship with the high-profile lawyer. A magistrate accepted Mr Simon believed he had to fulfil the perceived expectations of his pregnant girlfriend. The court was told Mr Simon and Ms Garde-Wilson are expecting a baby together, but as a condition of bail he must live with his mother in Rosanna.

Mr Simon is accused of spraying nine expensive handbags with paint at the exclusive Versace boutique at Crown casino last Friday, while on bail for other unrelated matters. He faces a criminal damage charge. Lawyer Glenn Thexton told the court his client was not a risk of re-offending, and his arrest had been a wake-up call.

"The defendant has committed this offence while under significant pressure as a consequence of this relationship he's in," Mr Thexton said. Mr Simon's mother, Daniella Perry, gave evidence Ms Garde-Wilson was a "nice girl but heavily in the media".

Ms Perry said her son was afraid of not living up to Ms Garde-Wilson's expectations and was buying expensive gifts for her. "She's gotten pregnant and the crunch time to get a house and move in together has just overwhelmed him," Ms Perry said. "He's reached a crisis point." Ms Perry said the media had hounded the couple because Ms Garde-Wilson had previously wanted a child with her dead lover.

"This offending I see is a cry for help . . . it was over the interview with the girlfriend," she told the court. "They are trying to enjoy their own baby but it has kind have been overshadowed." Magistrate Amanda Chambers agreed with Ms Perry that her son reacted with immaturity to his problems. Ms Chambers said Mr Simon had a history of not turning up to court when he was younger, but she did not believe he was an unacceptable risk of re-offending.

His bail conditions include reporting to police, attending counselling and not going to the Versace boutique. Ms Garde-Wilson, 30, revealed her pregnancy in an interview on Channel Seven on Monday night. Today Tonight host Anna Coren introduced part two of the interview last night by saying that Ms Garde-Wilson had walked away from the father of her child.

Mr Simon will appear again in court at a later date.

The French pipedream come true

2008-06-23T10:14:00.001-07:00

Designer handbags - Designer purses - Designer accessories

by Emily Dunn
Exclusive French accessories brand, Longchamp, is celebrating its 60th year of styling the jetset.
Kate Moss could have ended up as the face of a range of French tobacco accessories. Instead, in the latest catalogue from French leathergoods brand Longchamp, the supermodel drapes herself across a patent-leather handbag, staring out across a New York skyline. The images, shot by celebrity fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti, are a long way from the company's beginnings 60 years ago, designing and manufacturing leather-clad smoking pipes.

With tobacco now decidedly out of fashion, Longchamp's chief executive, Jean Cassegrain, is pleased to have traded smoking accessories for arm candy. "I am grateful we evolved from pipes because I am not sure we would still be in business," Cassegrain says from the design showroom above Longchamp's flagship store on Paris's famed fashion strip, Rue St-Honore.

"To start, Longchamp was a very masculine-orientated company but then we made the transition to luggage and now, to fashion."

One of the few French luxury brands still privately owned and in family hands, Longchamp celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

At the head is Philippe Cassegrain, who inherited the company mantle from his father and founder, Jean Cassegrain. Now 70, Cassegrain continues to design for the company but leaves the business to eldest son Jean.

Daughter Sophie de la Fontaine designs the brand's evolving fashion range, while younger son Olivier is based in New York.

It was Philippe who first guided the brand to leather luggage and then, in the 1970s and '80s, to what has now become the company's signature product, the nylon bag.

Made from the same fabric used in the tents of the French armed forces, it was the catalyst for a revolution in luggage dominated by hard cases and leather. Nylon is now de rigueur for luggage.

"Philippe was the first to have the idea to use nylon to make luggage," Jean says of his father. "Using nylon gave us a strong identity. The nylon used to make luggage in the 1970s is the grandfather of today's Pliage handbag."

Longchamp's Le Pliage handbags constitute 70 per cent of the business, selling more than 2 million a year and becoming the brand's most recognisable "ambassador". Its other ambassador is Moss, the first "face" of the company.

Jean Cassegrain hired Moss at the height of the "cocaine Kate" scandal. When the supermodel was caught on camera taking drugs at a London recording studio, she lost contracts with brands such as Burberry. She had been in talks with Longchamp for several months. Three days after the scandal broke, Moss signed with Longchamp.

"If we had been a publicly owned company, it wouldn't have happened," Cassegrain says. "A board would have said it was too high a risk ... we were able to take that risk."

The decision to hire Moss paid off. Twelve months later the supermodel's portfolio had expanded with contracts from cosmetics companies and fashion houses such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Burberry.

For Cassegrain, Moss has been instrumental in the company's evolution from luggage brand to fashion label. "Kate Moss was the best person to help us do that job," he says. "Not only because she is a fashion icon but because she is recognised around the world. We needed an ambassador with worldwide recognition and appeal.

"Now, the market for ladies' leathergoods is so much bigger, and for most customers the quality of the product is a given.

"It is a necessity but it is not what can help you make them choose your handbag over another - you need to have fashion appeal."

Moss may be the brand's most publicised collaborator but she is not the first. In the past decade the company has forged alliances with artists such as Tracey Emin, who in 2003 designed a range of Pliage handbags to celebrate the product's 10th anniversary, launched at the Colette concept store in Paris and championed by Elizabeth Hurley.

Last year the company enlisted kooky US fashion designer Jeremy Scott for a range of limited-edition Pliage bags and French DJ Michel Gaubert designed a range of technology-friendly luggage.

At the opening party for the company's Manhattan store, Gaubert performed for guests and "friends" of the brand, including Susan Sarandon, Uma Thurman and Isabella Rossellini. In London, Kate Middleton, girlfriend of Prince William, is regularly spotted toting the bags.

Olivier Cassegrain - responsible for the two New York stores, as well as stores in Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami - says the brand's French heritage has been central in marketing Longchamp in the US.

When he first moved to New York in 1998, knowledge of the brand was non-existent.

"Now the customers come in and they know more about it than some of the staff."

He also resists the suggestion that the new catalogue, the first to be shot with a foreign city as a backdrop, heralds the arrival of Longchamp as an international player.

"It can seem like it is a step but it is just part of a process, when a company is changing it takes four or five years for the changes to be noticed."

In Paris, his sister, Sophie de la Fontaine, is leading the fashion charge, overseeing the introduction of the do-it-yourself Pliage and the evolving fashion lines.

When Sophie first joined the family business in 1995, from French children's wear label Bonpoint, Longchamp's ladies handbags were "functional and conventional".

Last year she collaborated with Moss on the Legende, a new line of handbags and totes inspired by the visiting bags of Victorian-era doctors. Moss was also granted the first Legende off the production line.

"We wanted to give a face to the Longchamp woman. Someone romantic but someone a bit rock'n'roll," de la Fontaine says. The current springsummer collection includes white and camel Legende bags and patent leather versions of The Rival line, a more relaxed shape, de la Fontaine explains, inspired by the "modern maiden".

Silk scarves, part of the company's collection since the 1970s, continue, alongside fashion accessories such as wide patent leather belts in fuchsia and turquoise and slip-on canvas shoes in floral patterns. Metallic clutches sit alongside more sensible shoulder bags in tan and chocolate.

The new season also includes a small range of ready-to-wear, including colourful knits, loose-fitting shirt dresses and trench coats. Winter 2007 also featured some ready-to-wear, such as pull-on patent leather boots and leather jackets.

Sophie de la Fontaine denies the company's next push will be into runway fashion, however.

"We are not a couture house. We are coming from a handbag-first perspective and this is what sets us apart. Many of the other luxury brands are coming from ready-to-wear first but for us the clothes are only to complement the handbags."

Jean Cassegrain agrees the current obsession with statement handbags will work to Longchamp's advantage.

"Handbags used to be utilitarian ... of secondary importance to ready-to-wear; women would have a black bag and a brown bag," he says.

"Now handbags are more important than ready-to-wear. Women now wear jeans but will carry a designer handbag - it is the handbag that has become the fashion statement."

A history of Longchamp
1948 Jean Cassegrain starts Longchamp, designing leatherclad pipes.

1957 Opens first factory at Segre in the Loire Valley.

1960s and '70s New products are developed, including lambskin travel bags, a line of lightweight bags in nylon and leather and the Xtra foldable travel bag.

1979 Longchamp opens boutiques in Hong Kong and Japan.

1980 Current president Philippe Cassegrain inherits the company leadership.

1988 Longchamp opens its first Paris boutique, on Rue St-Honore.

1993 Longchamp introduces its Le Pliage line.

1998 Celebrates 50th anniversary under the glass pyramid of the Louvre.

2004 Company celebrates 10th anniversary of the Pliage with a collection designed by prominent "Brit artist" Tracey Emin; company signs Emin's close friend, Kate Moss, as its first official "face".

2006 Opens 100th boutique worldwide in New York's SoHo, La Maison Unique Longchamp, designed by Thomas Heatherwick.

2007 Collaborates on a Le Pliage range with New York fashion designer Jeremy Scott and a range of travel bags with Parisian DJ Michel Gaubert.

September 2008 Longchamp will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Happy birthday to you, too.
Salvatore Ferragamo, 80 The late Italian shoe master's birthday celebrations were held recently in China with an exhibition, Salvatore Ferragamo: Evolving Legend 1928-2008, opening at the Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai.

Lacoste, 75 French tennis ace Rene Lacoste started making the now-iconic polo shirt in 1933 for himself and other tennis players who wanted an alternative to the long-sleeved, starched white shirts and jumpers common on centre court during that era. The first "crocodile" logo was drawn in 1927, after a journalist nicknamed Lacoste "the alligator" for his tenacity.

Emanuel Ungaro, 40 It was in 1968 that Ungaro founded his ready-to-wear line. Four decades later, the fashion house will celebrate with new designer Esteban Cortazar

Calvin Klein, 35 It's 25 years of CK underwear and 35 years since the American designer launched his sportswear line. Francisco Costa, creative director of Calvin Klein, recently won the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2008 Womenswear Designer of the Year award.

Women’s Bag Fashion Trends 2008 - What the Best Dressed Women are Carrying This Year

2008-06-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Never pay full price. Shop online eFashionHouse.com.

From Women's Accesories by Gill Hart

2008 sees a trend for stronger, larger, designer bags that can cope with women who carry the equivalent of 2.5 kilos over their shoulders.

It’s official: women now carry everything in their handbag but the kitchen sink. British newspaper The Daily Mail claims in its Femail section that the average British woman’s handbag “weighs the same as five bags of sugar” (Nick McDermott, 12/13/07). That’s 5 pounds or nearly 2.5 kilos of stuff, “equivalent to a hod carrier on a building site.”

According to The Daily Mail, "the burden on a woman's shoulder has increased by 38% in the past five years." With this in mind, handbags and purses for 2008 are bigger and stronger. Sue Braddick, assistant handbag buyer at John Lewis, a British department store chain says, “We’re seeing a trend for bigger bags.”

Not surprising, when our love of all things electronic means that today’s best dressed women are also shouldering their laptops, mobile phone chargers, ipods and other gadgetry; which are just as important as cosmetics and purses.

The weight carried in our handbags has grown to such an extent that UK major retailers like Asda are requesting their suppliers toughen straps and stitching to make bags more durable. Consequently we need to make sure that any bag we purchase will last.

Big Bags and Back Pain
However, this is not good news for Britain’s chiropractors who state, “We are considering issuing a warning”. Carrying around five pounds of bag regularly is not conducive to good health. Whilst such a heavy weight may not have instant repercussions, it can have a cumulative effect on body posture and may cause back strain.

Says Daily Mail reader Judith from Paris, France: “In Paris you often see women carrying two big bags. One has their personal stuff and the other has work stuff. Or college/uni stuff if they're a student. It's true we have more junk to carry round and you have to wonder what all of this is doing to our backs. We'll all be bent over double in old age.”

Bag Fashion Trends 2008
Along with the reinvention of the maxi dress, 2008 sees a trend for larger tote-style or shoulder bags. Increased weight and bulk means that the humble clutch purse is relegated to evening wear, as the majority of bags are now carried over the shoulder rather than in the hand.

Designer compartment-style bags are a "must have" for the modern woman, with pockets in different shapes and sizes to help organize the clutter inside. Modern women need lots of tailor-made spaces to house their new toys.

Natasha Shamdasani, Handbagdesigner101.com, refers to the current trend as Homes for Hi Tech, stating that “there is a big trend for men’s bags …..with specialized pockets for gadgets and electronics such as ipods, laptops, blackberrys, flash keys and more.”

So what does this mean for fashionistas in 2008? Tote bags (open-top with straps or handles) are selling well, along with the Messenger, a large soft, long-strapped shoulder bag worn across the body, dispersing the weight. These cross-body straps are reminiscent of '80s fashion trends. Many bags for Spring 2008 follow the floral spring-like color trend, with golden olive, diaquiri green, and pinkish reds.

In particular Radley Tote bags are proving popular, and according to Sue Braddick, John Lewis, “sales of Mulberry bags are up by 10%”

For those who prefer hand-held bags or balancing them in the crook of the elbow, the antique doctor-style is proving popular, in particular Dolce & Gabbana’s Large Leather Framed bag, a snip at around $1300.

If you want the real thing, be wary of fake designer bags. Counterfeit bags are getting harder to spot these days. If your bargain sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Match Your Bag With Your Body Shape
As bags are bigger and bolder this year, it is important to find one that flatters your body shape.

With shoulder bags making a come back, consider their length in relation to your height and frame. Remember that wherever the bag ends, it will draw attention to that particular part of your body. For those conscious of a spare tire, then go for a bag which ends at the hips and not at the waist.

If you are short and curvy, juxtapose your assets by choosing a long and sleek, rectangular or square style. In a soft fabric and good quality leather, this can knock off the pounds. If you are tall and slim then a slouchy, rounded hobo-style will compliment your frame. Elfin British model, Kate Moss is rarely seen separated from her oversized Chloe Betty and Cameron Diaz regularly totes her Burberry Knight Studded Bag

Overweight and Oversized Bags Command Respect
This season men will need to beware. With the average woman sporting a five-pound handbag, she can cause some serious damage should she choose to aim one their way! As one Daily Mail reader, Bob, from Nottingham, puts it “Time to show more respect or risk getting clobbered seriously.”

With the weight of women's handbags expected to increase a further 20% within the next decade, it gives a new meaning to the phrase "it' s in the bag!"

Graduation Gifts Most Likely to Succeed

2008-05-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a tip.... She wants a REAL designer purse for graduation!

Whether she's into Yoga or an obvious Fashionista, decide the award your girly grad deserves and say "congrats" with an authentic designer handbag for the Class of 2008. You know she really wants a designer purse this year! And, she's all grown up and wants something special.

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All the girls are carrying a new purse to their new job. Your little graduate dreams about a new designer handbag. There are many styles and designs to select in price ranges from under $100 to more than $500. It's up to you. Whatever you pick will be a hit. Some of our favorites are Tano bags, Melie Bianco handbags, Elaine Turner handbags, Pietro Alessandro handbags, Gucci Bags, Prada bags, Fendi bags and many more. And, they are all on Sale! See the coupon codes below and start saving on your graduation gifts for that special gal in your life.

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Graduation is here! She wants a REAL Designer Handbag! Have fun shopping! Here's a series of Graduation Tid-Bits we found amusing and thought you might, too!

Bad Graduation Gift Ideas
by Andy

A Briefcase: Oh, thanks Uncle Frank. You getting me this briefcase ensures that I’m supposed to work the same 9-5 office job that you've worked for that last 25 years while complaining about it and cheating on my wife with my secretary. (Sorry Aunt Jane)

“Planet Earth” on DVD: Am I that hard to shop for? How long did it take you to pick this out at Wal-Mart? Do you think that all I do is get high and watch the Discovery Channel? Well guess what, I DO!

“Planet Earth” on VHS: What? There’s like 20 tapes. Get out of my sight Grandma.

Money: What am I supposed to do with this? It's only four dollars.

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All Sorts of Graduation Ideas
from My Expression

Graduation Party Ideas
The Traditions of Graduation Party -Traditions are the lifeblood of every college. Traditions connect the students to the past of the college while at the same time preparing them for the future. From the historic to the contemporary, traditions can express a spirit of unity and create a sense of community while providing for loads of fun.

Graduation Planning Checklist - Its Graduation time! You’re planning on hosting a graduation party and you want it to be unique and exciting. Planning any party can be overwhelming and many things can go wrong. So, to be on the safer side, you need to come up with a graduation planning checklist to keep things from bouncing out of control.

The Do’s and Don’ts in the Graduation Party - So, you’re graduating from high school or college and what better excuse to throw a party! Spring is that time of the year for graduation invitations, announcements and gifts. Etiquettes and manners form a very important part of our being social animals.

What To Wear on Your Graduation Day - For 12 (in some cases more) seemingly never-ending years, you obediently went through the schoolyard quarrels, your first boy-girl party, your first date, the Prom, and now finally what you’ve always been waiting for – your Graduation day! This time you’re going to be wearing an outfit that your parents will finally approve of – a gown and a cap ...

Decorating your Graduation Party - So, its graduation day and you’re all set to host a special theme party. Yes, theme parties are fun and a whole lot easier to decorate! Half the fun of hosting a graduation party is decorating the party. You can decorate your room, your lawn, you table, and even your guests! You can turn graduation caps upside down and fill them with balloons or flowers ...

Graduation Speeches Etiquette - The graduation ceremony confirms each student’s quest for knowledge. Traditionally, the ceremony will include a graduation speech that seeks to put each and every students hard work (in some cases, not so hard work) into the perspective of their future. Yes, most of us have heard one or more graduation speeches either as spectators or as graduates ourselves ...

Graduation Gift Ideas - The date is fixed, and the invitations and announcements have already been given out. So, the day has finally come for you students to cry and to cheer and to leave your school or college halls forever. Yes, graduation day is indeed one of the biggest days in everyone’s life. After years and years of hard work, your efforts have finally paid off. You’re happy but ...

Chance to Promote Your Business with Graduation Open House Invitations - Do you plan to host a graduation open house for yourself or one of your children? It may not seem like it could work, but you can actually promote your business when you have an open house. You can start the promotion with something as simple as mention that the open house is being hosted by your business. This will definitely ...

Graduation Announcement Tips, Wording, and Special Poems
Graduation Announcement Wording Tips - Graduation is an important time in life, and should be announced properly. Stationary with crayons and graduation caps on it is an appropriate means of announcing a child graduating from kindergarten. A photo announcement is a nice keepsake for loved ones who are being invited to the graduation ...

Graduation Announcements Wording Ideas - So, you’re graduating from high school or college and you’re busier than ever! Your last year of college is filled with thousands of events and activities that you have never even tried to attempt during your college years. From sending out resumes and applications to asking for letter of recommendation, you have loads ...

Do it yourself Graduation Announcements - A great substitute to printed graduation announcements are announcements that you print by yourself on your personal computer. Not only are these ‘Do-it-yourself’ graduation announcements a lot more economical, but they can also be equally colorful and creative. Start of by using plain white card stock or even plain white paper ...

Sending Graduation Announcements - So, its graduation day and its time to let everyone know that you are a proud graduate. Now that all those seemingly endless years of toil and hard work have finally paid off, it’s finally time to celebrate. First things first, start by sending out graduation invitations and announcements to all your near and dear ones. Most colleges and high schools ...

Graduation Invitations in General and the Etiquette
Graduation Party Invitations - Planning the Party - Everyone who has played a role in the life of the graduate should be sent an invitation to the graduation party. It is understood by most that tickets to commencement are limited, however an open house allows for everyone to congratulate the graduate. - Invitations - You can choose informal themes, such as a backyard ...

Graduation Invitations Etiquette - There is a very good reason why people call graduation ceremonies ‘commencement ceremonies’. This is because graduation does not mark the end; it marks the beginning. Graduation is the achievement of all goals, and rewarding the graduate for his or her hard work is a must. Graduation time is the time to invite friends and family together for an exclusive ...

Choosing Graduation Invitations Theme - Whether for you or a friend, Graduation day is one of the most joyous and welcomed occasions in any student’s life. It marks the end of your educational journey that can sometimes seem to be an endless and intolerable journey. Graduation is a once in a lifetime event, so give this event the honor and prestige that it truly deserves. The very first ...

The Traditions of Graduation Cap & Black Color in Your Invitations - When it comes to graduation invitations or stationary there are some traditions that are still observed by most people. In the majority of samples that you look at while shopping you will find that there are graduation caps in the majority of them. This is simply an obvious choice of décor since it is an invitation for a graduation ...

Graduation Invitations Theme
Casual Graduation Party Ideas - If you want to throw a wonderful party for that special high school or college graduate in your life, don’t assume you have to spend a fortune and put together some very elegant get together. After all, your graduate has already worked very hard to achieve this accomplishment and now just needs some time to relax and unwind. That’s why sometimes a more casual ...

Throwing a Cocktail Theme Graduation Party - Graduating from college is a major accomplishment and is definitely one of the best reasons to have a celebration. However, too many graduation parties are all the same. If you want to throw an amazing party, then you’ll want to take a creative approach with your graduation celebration. One idea is to celebrate with a cocktail theme ...

Throwing a Party for Valedictorians and Summa Cum Laude Graduates - Graduating from high school or college is a huge achievement, but if your student is graduating with honors then that achievement is even more deserving of a special celebration. No ordinary graduation is going to be sufficient. Background on Graduation Honors - If you’re not familiar with all of the “honors” terminology, then ...

Black, Red, and Green for Graduation Invitations - Graduations are one of those major milestones in life that deserve not only to be recognized but also to be celebrated. Whether the student in your life has just earned a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, or an even higher degree, you’ll want to find a way to show him or her just how proud you are of their hard work ...
Ideas for a Formal Graduation Party - When we think of graduation parties, sometimes we have the impression that all of them are just full of young people drinking too much and playing loud music. And sure some graduation parties would fit that description pretty well, but that isn’t your only option if you’re planning a celebration for a special student in your life ...

Feng Shui Graduation Party Ideas - Celebrating a graduation is a big deal. The family wants to show their pride at how well their student has succeeded. The student wants to know that he or she has done a good job by achieving this important life goal. When you’re planning something this special, then it only makes sense that you should take into consideration every possible way of ...

Creating Tassel as Embellishments For Your Invitations - If you want to create a graduation invitation that is sure to get the attention of those you invite you can do a lot of it yourself. It can be fun to add your own personal touch to it, even if you order the actual stationary and then create a tassel as an embellishment. Everyone associates a tassel with graduation, so this can be a fun addition! If you ...

Clip-Arts for Graduation Invitations - Do you want to add some fun and uniqueness to your graduation invitation but you aren’t sure what may or may not be appropriate? If so, you aren’t alone. The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of fun or original things that you can do; you simply need to infuse your own style into it and get creative. Anything that you can imagine can generally be created ...

Personalize Your Graduation Invitations with Special Inspirations - A graduation invitation can be just a graduation invite, but there are some great things that you can do to add your personal touch and make it interesting and even inspirational to those that you send them to. There is nothing better than sending out invites that have been infused with your own personal style, whatever that may be ...

Differentiating Masculine & Feminine Invitations Theme - Because both men and women graduate from high school as well as college there needs to be a way to differentiate between invitations that are more appropriate for men and those that are more appropriate for women. This is not to say that there aren’t invitations that are appropriate for both genders, but if you want something that ...

Seasonal Graduation Invitations
Show Your Patriotism with Patriotic Graduation Invitations Theme - Over the last couple years the patriotism in our country seems to have been renewed and this includes the young, the old, and everyone in between. If you are graduating from high school or college why not share your patriotism with others with a patriotic invitation theme? Why go drab when you can serve to inspire those that ...

Graduation Photo Christmas Cards - Are you graduating early? Many students that graduate early, graduate in the winter months, which is a great opportunity to do something different with your graduation invitation. You can not only send an invite to all those that you would like to attend your graduation ceremonies; you can send a Christmas greeting at the same time by enclosing a Christmas card with a photo ...

After The Graduation
Sending Graduation Thank You Cards - So, your graduation day has come and gone, the ceremonies were amazing, the graduation party was brilliant, and above all, the graduation gifts were super cool! The graduate is happy, the graduate’s guests are happy, everyone is happy. But, after the ceremony, party and gifts comes the most daunting part – sending out ...

Graduation Photo and your Scrapbooking Project - Honoring the graduate is one of the most important parts of the graduation ceremony. If you’ve organized your photo albums over the years, then everything should be up to date. But, if you are like most of us, then you’re family photos are probably piled up in boxes in the attic. Since you are going to be graduating pretty soon, now ...

Career Guide After Graduation - Transitioning out of college can be both, an exciting as well as a scary experience. There are newer and tougher challenges to face, unwritten laws to be followed, unexplored opportunities for progress – and humiliation – in every nook and cranny. While recent graduates and most other college students are preparing themselves to become experts ...

Reunion Graduate Party Planning - Once you graduate, you only get to see you friends every ten years at each reunion! So you want to have a fun reunion party this time and not a boring formal one? Planning for your reunion would mean coming up with a special plan or an idea for the party. From the decorations to the food and particularly the entertainment, your graduate reunion party ...

Celebrate Memorial Day with American Fashion Designers

2008-05-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Use coupon code MDS08 for an extra 20% off. Click Here!

Celebrate Memorial Day in style and take an extra 20% off all the American Designers at eFashionHouse.com. We owe a lot to the European influence when it comes to fashion. Yet, the American Designers produce an image we call, "Home." People like Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, Melie Bianco and Elaine Turner pave the way for upcoming American fashion influence.

Designers like Tano Bags, BCBG, Coach, Dooney & Bourke and Brighton bring a sense of American style and unique image to their collections. We honor all the American Designers this season and celebrate with them for Memorial Day 2008.

Whether you are looking for a new handbag, wallet, tote or leather shoulder bag, you can find a perfect American Designer Handbag for an unbeatable price. But don't lose sight of the true meaning of Memorial Day. We celebrate in honor of many people who have died in military service protecting our country. It's really about honoring our heros.

Yes, we are addicted to fashion, and we admire the creative design process. We are always seeking a bargain, and we shop online for the best deals we can find. So, get ready for Memorial Day with a celebration of American Designers at an additional 20% off, and remember our heros who lived their lives to make America our home.

MORE ABOUT Memorial Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer by many, for many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day.

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. US Eastern time. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers place a U.S. flag upon each gravesite located in a National Cemetery.

Many politicians and community leaders give speeches at community gatherings on Memorial Day.In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events. Some Americans also view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of the season. The national Click it or ticket campaign ramps up beginning Memorial Day weekend, noting the beginning of the most dangerous season for auto accidents and other safety related incidents. The USAF "101 Critical days of summer" begin on this day as well. Some Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.

Flags flying at Fort Logan National Cemetery during Memorial Day 2006.Memorial Day formerly occurred on May 30, and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), advocate returning to this fixed date, although the significance of the date is tenuous. The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

Following the end of the Civil War, many communities set aside a day to mark the end of the war or as a memorial to those who had died. Some of the places creating an early memorial day include Charleston, South Carolina; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Carbondale, Illinois; Columbus, Mississippi; many communities in Vermont; and some two dozen other cities and towns. These observances eventually coalesced around Decoration Day, honoring the Union dead, and the several Confederate Memorial Days.

Decoration Day, c. 1900. "You bet I'm goin' to be a soldier, too, like my Uncle David, when I grow up."According to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.

The official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The village was credited with being the birthplace because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter, and because it is likely that the friendship of General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo, and General John A. Logan, who led the call for the day to be observed each year and helped spread the event nationwide, was a key factor in its growth.

General Logan had been impressed by the way the South honored their dead with a special day and decided the Union needed a similar day. Reportedly, Logan said that it was most fitting; that the ancients, especially the Greeks, had honored their dead, particularly their heroes, by chaplets of laurel and flowers, and that he intended to issue an order designating a day for decorating the grave of every soldier in the land, and if he could he would have made it a holiday.

Logan had been the principal speaker in a citywide memorial observation on April 29, 1866, at a cemetery in Carbondale, Illinois, an event that likely gave him the idea to make it a national holiday. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The tombs of fallen Union soldiers were decorated in remembrance of this day.

Many of the states of the U.S. South refused to celebrate Decoration Day, due to lingering hostility towards the Union Army and also because there were very few veterans of the Union Army who lived in the South. A notable exception was Columbus, Mississippi, which on April 25, 1866 at its Decoration Day commemorated both the Union and Confederate casualties buried in its cemetery.

The alternative name of "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967 . On June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend and for the first time recognized Columbus Day as a federal holiday. The holidays included Washington's Birthday (which evolved into Presidents' Day), Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971 . After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply at the state level, all fifty states adopted the measure within a few years, although Veterans Day was eventually changed back to its traditional date. Ironically, most corporate businesses no longer close on Columbus Day or Veterans Day, and an increasing number are staying open on President's Day as well. The holiday has endured as one where most businesses stay closed because it marks the beginning of the "summer vacation season" (similar to neighboring Canada's Victoria Day, which occurs on the prior Monday).

Meet the bag ladies

2008-05-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

from Daily Mail

When it comes to must-have accessories, nothing quite tops the female fantasy list like a handbag. So obsessed are we with each season's essential piece of arm candy, we no longer flinch at the idea of paying a month's earnings for the latest It-bag.

But the price of instantly recognisable designer bags keeps on rising. Just a few years ago, it was all about the £595 Mulberry Roxanne - as carried by Scarlett Johansson and Julia Roberts. Now the standard Fendi Spy or McQueen Novak doesn't leave much change from £2,000.

Yet isn't it cooler to have something more unusual? While we continue to justify our whims with the bank manager, there are those who have been smart enough to make a business out of their obsessions. KAREN CLARKSON speaks to five women who have turned bags into business:

TOP RIGHT: Pontine Paus, 33, lives and works from her Notting Hill townhouse. Her bags are popular with Kylie and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Pontine says:

When I embarked upon my master's degree in industrial design at Domus Academy in Milan, I never imagined that I would end up as a handbag designer - I thought I'd go into furniture or architecture. However, as part of this course I experimented with materials and chemicals. I covered some silk in plastic and decided to make a handbag out of it.

One day in Milan a woman, who owned a boutique, asked me where my bag was from. When I told her I had made it myself she asked me immediately to make a collection for her to sell.

My bags took off. I sold them through shops in Italy and created a range for the designer Louisa Beccaria. My father encouraged me to learn some business skills, so I stopped making the bags while I took a business course.

In 2002 I started making bags again. They became popular straightaway. Now we're stocked all over the world - Scandinavia, Italy, France, the Middle East and Japan.

Not everyone wants to make a major fashion statement with their clothes - most women feel more comfortable experimenting with accessories instead.

The beauty of handbags is that they can suit you whatever your age, figure or looks. They're also not as intrusive as clothing, as you can put them down when you want. I grew up surrounded by bags as my mother loves them and has a huge collection of Hermes ones. Now she only wears mine!

I own about 70 bags. I used to have a lot of vintage ones but I moved house recently and had to get rid of loads as I didn't have enough space. Now I only wear my own - if I need one for an occasion I just design it. I carry one bag for maybe six months and wear it to death before moving on.

I love big bags for the day. But for evenings I vary them depending on my outfit - my favourite is a clutch bag called The Night Owl. Every season I'm inspired by something different. I want to make beautifully-crafted bags with character. My Hunter bags for next season are all about war and hope - symbolised by star and camouflage prints. My Bandit bags were inspired by cowboys. I like having a story behind each one - that's where my art background comes in. www.pontinepaus.com

Swedish-born Charlott Vasberg, 31, lives in Chelsea. She says:

I studied womenswear design at London College of Fashion, followed by an MA in womenswear at St Martins. I graduated in 2003.

I didn't want to work for someone else, and making bags enabled me to be creative with patterncutting which is quite stimulating for me. My first collection consisted of five bags. They were soft leather bags with lots of zips. I called them 'transformation bags' - by opening and closing zips you could change their shape and look. In 2004, I sent some pictures to a few shops and got a call immediately from Selfridges. They placed an order on my first collection.

I own at least 40 bags. For day I like big bags which I can throw everything into. I have a large Twist Bag which I've been carrying almost every day for two years. For evening I like small totes and clutches. At home, my bags are hanging on the sides of my wardrobes. I also have a huge basket full of them. Most of these I've made myself, but if I was to wear one by another designer it would probably be Fendi. www.charlottvasberg.com

Susannah Hunter, 35, lives in Kilburn, London, and has been designing bags for five years. Elle Macpherson, Nicole Kidman and Uma Thurman are fans. She says:

I studied fashion design at St Martins, graduating in 1993. While working in retail at Margaret Howell, I began making handbags in my spare time for myself and for friends. The first one was olivegreen leather with irises appliquÈd all over. I carried it everywhere.
One evening at a party I met a model called Angela Dunn. She loved my bags and promoted my work within the fashion industry. She was best friends with Patsy Kensit who immediately bought four bags from me. Soon I had an order from the fashionable Holland Park boutique The Cross.

Now we're stocked in Harvey Nichols, The West Village, Paul & Joe, and Barneys and Saks in America. We're also about to open our first shop in London. Initially, I made the bags in my bedroom. Now I have a workshop with a full-time team of six people.

With the appliqued flowers, my bags look distinctive, but I change the colours and shapes each season.

Growing up in Scotland where my mother is a painter, I was always surrounded by colour and images of nature. I take pictures of flowers whenever I travel and this is the inspiration for my bags. My drawings get turned into leather flowers, which are layered onto the bag.

Everything is made by hand - it takes about a day to make each bag. I find it amazing how much women are willing to spend on bags. Mine retail between £295 and £770. Designer bags in big department stores are even more. I only own about 15 bags. Most of them are my own, apart from a few vintage bags and one from Issey Miyake. My favourite is still the first one I ever made, which I still carry to this day. www.susannahhunter.com

Canadian-born Victoria Sleeper, 35, lives and works in London and Paris. She is a bag consultant to fashion houses from YSL, Chanel and LVMH, and sells her vintage bags in Liberty, Urban Outfitters and Portobello market. Vicky says:

Growing up in Mid-West Canada, I learned how to do needlework, metal work and woodwork because if you wanted something personal you had to make it yourself.
I never studied fashion - everything I know about bags I've taught myself. I'm not very interested in fashion, but bags encompass so much - they hold our money, our lipstick and all the things that are important to us, while being tactile, sculptural and interesting to look at. I'm constantly researching things about bags.

I probably have a collection of about 20,000 bags, dating from 1600 to 1980. They come from all over the world. One of my favourites is a gentleman's hobo bag from the 1920s and I love my pre-1970s Hermes bags, the stitching is amazing. I'm also a big fan of beaded bags, probably because of my Canadian roots.

I love to change the bags I carry around with me. Sometimes I'll carry five bags in one day - I hate the thought of them being locked up in a cupboard, they need to live!

I sell a lot of bags to fashion designers but in Portobello I have all sorts of customers. Teri Hatcher bought some recently when she was in London; this morning I sold one to Helen Mirren; and I even sold a bag to the Queen.

The bags I make appeal to men and women. They're lightweight, multi-functional and in primal colours. I've just finished creating my first collection of Vicky Sleeper bags. My daughter describes them as avant-garde; my friends say they are art; and someone else has called them 21st-century urban camouflage. www.vickysleeper.com

Tabitha Somerset-Webb, 31, lives and works in Battersea, London. Customers include Cat Deeley, Denise Van Outen and Dannii Minogue. Tabitha says:

I'm probably the least likely handbag designer you can imagine. I never studied fashion or art, and I can't draw. Bags weren't even something I particularly liked. The problem was I could never find the right one for me, so in the end I thought I should just design one.
After working hard as a producer in advertising and TV, I wanted to get out and start my own business. I came up with an idea to make one bag, and ended up going around the East End begging manufacturers to make up my designs. One agreed to make some samples.

The scenario was haphazard. I took a stand at the Top Drawer trade fair in Olympia to try to start selling my bags to retailers. After three days no one had placed an order, and I was about to give up when House of Fraser placed an order for £20,000 worth of bags.

Our first orders arrived late and half the bags fell apart. But despite the hiccups, the orders grew, so I went to China to find a decent factory to make the bags. We've become well-known for our modernlooking metallic leather bags, and we're now stocked in Fenwick, Harrods, Graham & Green and The Conran Shop, and Macy's and Bloomingdale's in the U.S. We're just about to open our first shop on the King's Road. My own collection is around 40 - they are stored under my bed. I have a few vintage ones, but they are mostly my own creations.

Handbags Online Sale - See coupons below

2008-05-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Online Shopping - HUGE designer fashion sale! Biggest Tano Bag Sale "Only" Online! Addicted to handbags? Here's a sale you don't want to miss! Purses to Blog for at big online price cuts - Budgets that work for you! Budget Shopping Online - Huge Designer Handbag Sale at eFashionHouse! In today's tight budgets, there's always hope for online bargain hunters. Click here to enjoy a huge Sale on all your favorite Designers like Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Coach, Tano bags, Murval, Melie Bianco, Elaine Turner handbags, Pietro Alessandro and many, many more! For more information. Whether you love leather or just want a new purse to tote around town, you must see the sale currently in progress. The Sale Section is marked down plus use coupon code OFF10 for an extra 10% off. The Clearance Section is as low as possible plus use coupon code OFF20 for an extra 20% off.Enjoy designer handbags and accessories at unbeatable prices. Plus, guaranteed lowest prices for Tano, Elaine Turner, Murval and Melie Bianco. Click here for details.

Online Shopping Brokers: "Hello, Summer! - Isabella Fiore Puff Enough Celine Satchel"

2008-05-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

Online Shopping Brokers: "Hello, Summer! - Isabella Fiore Puff Enough Celine Satchel"

Rising Star - Elaine Turner Maya Shoulder Bag

2008-05-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard of ELAINE TURNER than you are definitely missing out. This Texas-based handbag designer is quickly becoming the latest handbag darling because of the use of contemporary designs and luxury materials that are actually affordable. One of our favorite Elaine Turner handbags this season is the Maya shoulder bag because sometimes simple is divine. Elaine Turner handbag measures about 15 x 14.5 x 2 inches with double adjustable shoulder straps. Shop for discount Elaine Turner handbags now.

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Discount Designer Purses - Tips on Finding a Christian Dior Handbag

2008-05-06T18:00:00.001-07:00

CHRISTIAN DIOR designer handbag lady dior micro ld tan designer purse.

from Myriad Resources - Shopping Channel Library

How can I Find a Christian Dior Handbag?

There are many locations available today at which you can find a Christian Dior handbag, such as at eLuxury, which is an online store that is incredibly popular. In regards to a Christian Dior handbag, you have an incredible selection here, and some of the other designers that they feature are Louis Vuitton, Dior, Baccarat, Blumarine, Botkier, Calvin Klein, Carlos Falchi, Carolina Amato, Dolce and Gabbana, DKNY, Emilio Pucci, Etro, Fendi, jean Paul Gaultier, Juicy Couture, Just Cavalli, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, Roberto Cavalli, Tods, Tom Ford, Versace, Kooba, Gerard Yosca, and Celine.

In regards to their Christian Dior handbag selection, their most popular selling items are cannage large shopper, cannage drawstring medium shoulder bag, Dior gaucho washed metallic leather medium saddle bag, vintage voyage large boston bag, rebelle aged leather and suede messenger hobo, diorissimo hobo, logo charms tote, and the logo saddle pouch.

Pure Moda is another incredibly popular store, also at which you can find a Christian Dior handbag. Their most popular selling items at the present time are authentic Christian Dior handbag black saddle purse, authentic Christian Dior handbag tan leather double saddle purse, authentic Christian Dior handbag, Christian Dior satin/leather tan single saddle purse, and the authentic Christian Dior wallet.

Regardless of where you actually decide to purchase your handbag or other accessories from, the most important thing to remember here is that you should always take at least a little bit of time and consideration in order to compare prices, read reviews, and consider all of your options, in order to make sure that in the end you will have made the best possible decision, and that you will be getting the best quality and best worth for your money that you possibly can. All of this can only be done if you take some time and do not rush the process.

We love cheap Marc Jacobs designer purses!

2008-05-02T15:16:00.000-07:00

It's called the Marc Jacobs satin quilted evening bag! But it's a lot more than that! It's a convertible clutch with a detachable shoulder strap. It's really cute and the price won't break your budget! Read more details about this bag here.....

MARC JACOBS designer handbags satin evening bag designer purses gold.Marc by Marc Jacobs satin evening bag brand new this season. Fully lined. Inside pocket. Monogram details. Satin quilted body. Polyurethane trim. Long chain srap. Secure flap front closure. Guaranteed authentic. Comes with a sleeper bag for storage. The Marc Jacobs handbag measures about 7.5 x 5 x 1.5 inches with a detachable chain strap measuring about 32 inches long with about a 16 inch drop. The interior of the evening bag style Marc Jacobs handbag has 6 credit card or card slots and 3 open slit pocket. Magnetic snap closure front. The Marc Jacobs evening bag is a convertible clutch or shoulder bag style.

It's shown in gold, but it's available in black, silver, brown and dark gray, too. Click here for more details.

Lanvin Designer Handbags

2008-04-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

LANVIN Kentucky Tote click here.

the designers
Madame Jeanne Lanvin's active fashion career spanned 50 years from the 1890's up to the New Look just after World War II. In 1867 Jeanne Lanvin was born in Brittany, France. She was the eldest of 10 children of a pair of Breton concierges. She first trained as a dressmaker at a house called Talbot and then as a milliner. In 1890 she opened a millinery shop in the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. While making hats, she also made dresses for a younger sister and her daughter. Lanvin's clothes came to the attention of other mothers with daughters, who asked her to make dresses for them, so in 1909 Jeanne began making dresses for sale and her reputation grew. As can be seen from the pictures of the clothes she made, she made no distinction between women's and children's wear, the youthfulness of both being an important aspect of 20th century fashion. Demand by young women for her clothes, persuaded Jeanne Lanvin to open a couture house selling mother-daughter garments. Paul Iribe, the famous illustrator, created the Logo for the house of Lanvin, from a drawing by Jeanne of the bond between mother and daughter. Her daughter became the Comtesse de Polignac, and continued to wear her mother's beautiful gowns. In 1913 Lanvin created her famous "robes de style" based on 18th century designs. These small waisted, full skirted dresses remained popular for many years and were fore-runners of the New Look which Dior brought out just after World War II. In 1914 influenced by orientalism, she turned to exotic evening wear in Eastern-style velvets and satins. During the 20's Lanvin made a simple Chemise dress which later became the basic outline for the twenties. Over the following years, she introduced several interesting developments. In 1921 a Riviera collection introduced Aztec embroidery. In 1922 a Breton suit appeared in the Lanvin collection. This comprised a gently gathered skirt, a short braided jacket with lots of small buttons and a big white organdie collar turning down over a red satin bow. A sailor hat topped the outfit. In 1926 a menswear division was opened by Lanvin, and so she became the first couturier to dress whole families. Her branches were opened in Nice, Cannes and Biarritz. Jeanne Lanvin dressed film actresses like Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich and Yvonne Printemps in the 20's and 30's. She also had clients like the Queens of Italy and Roumania, and English princesses. The house of Lanvin, like all other houses, suffered throughout the 2nd World War, although she kept designing. In 1946, Jeanne Lanvin died at the age of 79. Her daughter Marie-Blanche took over the running of the house, till she herself died in 1958.

the label
Antonio del Castillo, a Spanish designer, joined Lanvin as designer in 1950 and returned the house to great success. He remained until 1962. In 1963 Jules-Francois Crahay, a Belgian designer, took over the reins of the house, and remained till 1984. In 1982 Maryll Lanvin, the third generation of the Lanvin family, started designing for the house. The Cosmetic giant L'Oreal acquired the house of Lanvin in 1990 and has appointed several designers thereafter. During the 90's in addition to presenting his own collections, Claude Montana has also been designing for Lanvin. Giorgio Armani also designed for a while. From 1997 to 2001 Christina Ortiz was the chief designer for haute couture. From 1997 to 2001 Lanvin's ready-to-wear collections were being designed by ex-Versace, ex-Herve Leger designer Ocimar Versolato. In August 2001 an investor group led by Shaw Lan Wang, a Taiwanese media baroness, took over the house of Lanvin. They appointed Israeli-born designer Elber Albaz as the new creative director of Lanvin. His first collection was Fall 2002. In October 2001, the house of Lanvin announced the appointment of Alber Elbaz as the new creative director. His first collection was Fall 2002. Alber has become much beloved by Lanvin clientele. He uses not only black, or the white he chose when Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons asked him to participate in her London store, but also vivid satins in parakeet green or fuchsia, or a bright red trench coat. He says that his boss offers him freedom and respect so that he can mix sportswear with couture grace, comfort with elegance.

the look
Her work was easily recognizable by her skilful use of embroidery, and her fine craftsmanship. She used a particular shade of blue so often, that it came to be called "Lanvin Blue". For Jeanne Lanvin, women were meant to wear clothes of unabashed feminity, in colours that were pretty, and whose shapes had a "young girl" look. She set the mood with narrow empire-wasted dresses and long trailing sleeves. The fabrics that she used were silk, taffeta, velvet, silk chiffon, organza, lace, tulle, etc. She used a lot of free-flowing ribbons, ruffles, flowers, lace, mirrors, etc., and liked ornamentation like applique, couching, quilting, parallel stitching.