Designer Handbags

Granted I have not stepped foot in the gym in a while, but when I decide to go back (after my indefinite hiatus) I would love to carry a retro athletic bag. The Lacoste Sailing Boston Satchel embarks on an athletic journey with a retro chocolate and burnt orange color pattern and large body. Granted this bag is touted as a satchel, but I would inevitably use it as my athletic bag to have all my friends laugh at me and my choice of work out bag. Mostly a cotton body but trimmed in leather, the bag features a top zip closure, internal zip pocket, and polyester lining. Dimensions are 12″W x 8″H x 7″D which makes it the perfect athletic bag or carry on if this workout hiatus continues. Buy it through Nordstrom for $220.

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

One simple word: unimpressed. Chloe Dao was Project Runway Season 2’s winner. While on the show her designs were elegant and fit in all the right places for the women that modeled them. Granted The Chloe Bag by Chloe Dao is meant to be used as an overnight bag or carry on, the color and saying looks overly simple and grade-schoolish. The phrase “Carry On” is stitched on the blue canvas bag which was inspired by one of Tim Gunn’s popular sayings from the show. Measurements are 17″ wide, 10″ height, 7″ diameter, yet either way I would expect more from Chloe. Via NBC Universal Store for $95.

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

We have a new category called “Introducing…”. This category is where I can post all new designers that I have heard of and are trying to break into the world of handbags. I recently received an email from Oovoo who create handbags that have a unique blend of Asian and Western influences which makes them handcrafted works of art. The name of the company is so much fun and the bag of my choice is the Oovoo Bella Handbag which is ‘flirty, feminine and fun!’ This bag is a clamshell zipper bag with black leather pleats and handles. The hand-embroidered accents add the Asian and Western feel Oovoo focuses on and gives the bag something extra. Measurements are 14″W X 14″H X 2″D and this bag is available via Oovoo for $175.

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

For the love of me I can not golf. And believe me I have tried. I come from a family of golfers. My dad would golf everyday if he could (I assume once he retires he will). My brothers both golf. My dad’s brothers golf. My dad’s dad golfs. I enjoy driving the cart and going to the clubhouse. Go figure. On a serious note, you all should know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For this month, I will continue to show you all products that go toward Breast Cancer research, foundations, awareness, etc. My pick for today is the Tumi Bernadette Slim Golf Bag. If you can actually play golf, play for a purpose and for a cure. This pink athletic bag is made of waterproof nylon with leather trim and features 6-way dividers, numerous pockets and a removable rain hood. And like I mentioned, this golf bag supports a good cause; part of the proceeds from the sale of this bag goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. While I may not be a golf pro, I am sure many of you ladies out there are (and men that happen to see this, what better gift for your wife?

) Check out this stylin’ pink golf bag which will be available the month of October via Tumi for $450.

{thanks SimpleCase}

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

Just thought some of you might be interested in this news. I know I’d love to visit the museum when it is done (gives me an excuse to make it back to Paris)!!!

PARIS (Reuters) - France’s biggest fashion group presented plans on Monday for a futuristic museum built out of glass to promote the heritage of its brands, promising the new Paris landmark would be a celebration of creativity.

French tycoon Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury goods group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, said the 100 million euro ($127 million) museum would show the art that has influenced its designers from Christian Dior to Marc Jacobs.

The “Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation” will be housed in a glass-clad building soaring over the trees in the Bois de Boulogne park on the city’s western edge that Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry said was intended to resemble a cloud.

Critics immediately drew parallels between Arnault’s project and the museum plans of his arch rival in business, Francois Pinault, owner of the luxury Gucci Group.

Pinault, who also owns Christie’s auction house, unveiled his modern art collection earlier this year in Venice after attempts to build a museum on an island in the river Seine in Paris were thwarted by bureaucracy.

“It won’t be a purely contemporary art foundation,” said Arnault, knocking down comparisons with Pinault’s collection.

“Comparisons with other initiatives are not pertinent.”

Gehry, who designed the titanium-clad Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain, said the commission for the Louis Vuitton building was like a dream.

“As I experienced the world, Paris became my favorite city,” said Gehry, 77. “So when a man who leads in fashion, who collects art that I love, invited me to Paris to do a building it was a heavenly assignment.”

Gehry said when he saw the site he thought of the writings of Marcel Proust and “wanted to cry with happiness.”

Arnault said the cost of the building to LVMH, which spends billions each year on advertising, would be spread over five years. He hoped construction could start next year and end before 2009.

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe said: “This is an enormous present for Paris, and for France’s image in the world.”

French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres promised the foundation would get favorable tax treatment.

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

When Megs discovered this particular piece at Zappos, I got really excited. Living in Germany and Germany happening to host the Soccer World Cup this year, this athletic little number brightened up my day! I’m not going to come here and pretend like I am a true soccer fanatic. Nothing like that really, but I have been following the WCs very closely in recent years and get just as excited as the common soccer nut when it comes to the playoffs. Brasil is my favorite team. Actually though, to me it’s more about seeing amazing soccer. Like all the other 1.5 billion people who watch it, I guess.

The Gilli Handbags Happy Stadium is a rectangular shaped shoulder bag made of suede with leather trim. It’s got the dual rounded shoulder straps and is finished with silver tone hardware. The dimensions measure 13″ wide x 7 1/8″ deep x 8″ high. For a price of $516, you may consider it to be a little rich for the Athletic bags section, I couldn’t make up my mind on where else to place it.

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

Remember the infamous boom boxes? Oh yes, those were cool. I’m a little late on announcing this bag, but it is too cool to pass up. A few weeks ago at the MacWorld Expo, Lifepod of New York introduced the world a golden metallic bag containing stereo speakers and a subwoofer if it all wasn’t enough. If you see the shine and hear the boom, it is coming from the Lifepod Rock Steady Stereo Beat Bag. This bag takes 4 AA batteries and is compatible with any mp3 player but also works with the beloved and chic iPod. As much as this bag sounds so cool (literally), the sound will not be as loud as many of you would love and the life may not last all that long. Oh well, still seems like am awesome idea to me. I wouldn’t even rock out any new music; I’d go old school with some MC Hammer or Vanilla Ice and rock this bad boy out. As for now there is no pricing info- which makes the bag even more appealing because we can pretend it is a mere $30 and we can all afford it and jam with it whenever and wherever we see fit. [via I4U News]

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

While we continue to think about that frightful weight loss resolution, let’s think about a yoga bag. I am somewhat forced into low impact exercise after my shoulder surgery, so I figure I better get into yoga a little more. Any of you yoga people? I always had a hard time imagining that something like yoga could keep me in shape, but my mom is a new-found firm believer in yoga. She used to run about 3 miles a day (I know amazing woman!), but hurt her knee and needed some low impact exercise. Poof! Yoga made it’s first appearance into my family. So if downward facing dog is also your thing (get your minds out of the gutter people!!

), then you may like the Modern Union Yoga Bag. These bags are messenger style bags which are styled from codura fabric but with a stylish outer flap with a printed design. This bag wouldn’t be a yoga bag without the straps that neatly hang from the bottom which will carry your yoga mat. Just make sure you don’t turn side to side too quickly and knock people around. For all of your work out musts, this bag does its job. On the outside of the bag there are both water bottle and cell phone holders (come on those two things are necessities nowadays), there are also pockets to hold CDs inside the bag (this bag must have hit before the iPod revolution), and many other compartments for your doodads. Sizing up at 13″ x 17″ and available in 4 different patterns, this yoga bag can help get you or keep you in shape for $68 through Modern Union.

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

As the new year approaches, it is inevitable that so many people’s resolutions for 2006 will be losing weight. If you don’t believe me, listen to what Women’s Health has to say:

An estimated 40 percent of Americans promise to lose weight in the New Year; however, almost 90 percent of those who responded to a nationwide survey reported either occasional or no success losing weight. In fact, nearly half of the respondents reported losing very little weight or, unfortunately, gaining weight instead.

Ok all of you, if you are part of the 40% why not actually follow through with that resolution this year. What better way to do it than in style? I have been an athlete my whole life and I still remember wearing my Juicy pants with a tank top on my way to competitions. Shh don’t tell anyone because I know that is pretty stupid! Vlad and I are both quite the work out gurus (seriously that man has been working out 3 hours a day lately!!) And while I am back on a lighter work out regime after my shoulder surgery, I have decided to take up some low key work outs. Since we are all fashionable we better look good on our way to the gym because chances are that we won’t look so cute on the way out. For you ladies that want to look super cute, check out the vintage looking Nike Ridgeline Sport Bag. This bag comes with a bit of history; it is inspired by the bags that Olympians in the ‘72 games carried. The bag looks sleek and chic but has practical use for the lady on a mission to a slimmer more toned frame. There are top handles and a zip top closure for easy access to your Volvic bottled water and iPod shuffle

. This beauty is made of premium leather and shows off intricate laser etched designs. Measuring 5.5″ H x 13.5″ W x 2.75″ D, this Nike bag doesn’t look too sporty for even the most fashionable of us all. Buy it via Nike’s online store for $220 and break that nasty not following through with New Year’s Resolution deal!

Discuss this post in the Purse Forum

Long time no action in the athletic department here at the Purse Blog. What a shame, since there is so many sporty & chic, yet tough and indestructible bags for all sorts of exercising. Whether it’d be the daily (or occasional) trip to the gym, or rock climbing on the weekends with the lady friends, hanging off 100 ft drops with one hand on a 1 inch ledge, there is plenty of bags to carry your gear or just look good with your athletic clothes.

Personally, I’ve always had a thing for Oakley gear. I’ve owned quite a few of their sunglasses before, and although some of them had gone through significant beating in the past, they still look sharp for the most part. Recently I discovered that Oakley had bags for the ladies in stock (actually I had never looked for them before). The one I decided to show you today is the Oakley Netting Bag. The netting is actually laser cut on the outside and comes with a tough gal internal camo print bag. An adjustable leather strap with custom buckle close, external pocket with custom Oakley zipper pull, and decorative D-ring round the bag off. Now, I am not sure that laser cutting on the netting will make the bag any more durable as it already was to begin with, I just call it a marketing punch line that will make the 15 year olds go “kewl dewd”… nonetheless, I like the netting on the dark bag, in my opinion it’s a great companion if you’re into outdoor sports and don’t hold back from getting dirty in the mud at times.