Designer Handbags

Perforated handbags made a big hit with the Louis Vuitton Perforated Handbag Line and now the genius and sometimes off-his-rocker designer, Jean Paul Gaultier, is introducing a line of perforated handbags for Spring/Summer 2007. With a touch of poker, the Jean Paul Gaultier Perforated Handbags will not hide any unmentionables and looks oddly done, bordering on the line of cheaply done, from afar. I tried to like this perforated number, but the spade, diamond, heart, and club cutouts look cheap and only if the bag were within 3 feet of you would you be able to see the shaped perforations. Of the two, I would pick the Jean Paul Gaultier Perforated Shopper over the Jean Paul Gaultier Perforated Cabas Bag because at least the shape is decent. The shopper looks like pleather, skimpy, and hole-y. This line does nothing more than make me shrug. Via eLuxury. ($855 for the Cabas and $815 for the Shopper)

Off the wall is part of Alexander McQueen’s middle name. This can also lead to extreme and complete odd ball handbag creations. I may have it out for shearling handbags, but come on, the Alexander McQueen Shearling East West Handbag has an angel staring at me. I am not sure the purpose of the angel; I was nice this year and Santa said so, I think I have a guardian angel or two, and really, what is going on? Check out the shearling angel, placed meticulously on this tan leather bag with over sized stitching (background for the angel) and shearling seams (just odd). Even worse, this bag is big, I mean 17.5 x 12 x 7 big. This takes me back to the days of Catholic School, plaid skirts, penny loafers, and oxford shirts, because I would feel very obligated to act proper if I were to carry a bag with a vision. Personally, I am not looking to find an angel in my grilled cheese nor on my handbag. Via Net-a-Porter for $2275.

Some people wonder if simple can be ugly; and the answer is yes. Can you really do a little black dress or a little black handbag wrong? Again, the answer is yes. I am going out on a limb to say it is actually harder to make something as simple as a plain black bag go horribly awry, but many designers have done it time and time again. I am sluggishly nodding my head in disappointment at the Be & D Benatar Tube Handbag because of its downright tawdry design. Be & D made a huge splash with their large shoulder bags and then delved into exotic skins, but have gone back a few steps with this seemingly cheap looking leather tube-shaped bag. This bag looks more fit to be a dachshund dog carrier than anything else in my opinion (and don’t get me wrong, I love wiener dogs!

) Double zip pockets on either end of the bag make the odd shape on this small bag only that much more noticeable. At least the woven shoulder strap could stand alone and be decent, yet paired together with this small simple mess it just does not sit right with me. For my holiday evening bag, I will be venturing somewhere other than towards this bag at Net-A-Porter for $890.

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Brown and simple the Salvatore Ferragamo Sami Kidskin Hobo can be toted for everyday wear and no fuss. This rich leather bag sports a few quilted accents and ruched detailing on the side of the bag. Silvertone hardware is sleek and simple. This hobo bag also has double shoulder straps, a top zip closure, canvas lining and inside pockets. Measuring 8″H X 14″L X 6″W, this bag is as simple as it seems via Saks for $1190.

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It’s our favorite time of the year again! End-of-summer sales events.

Time to blow more of that hard earned cash on new bags, clothes and other fashionable accessories.

eLuxury has marked down heaps of their items by 40%, don’t hesitate and check out the deals & steals before they’re gone!

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While some say different strokes for different folks, with this bag I could not agree at all. Yes my opinion is merely my opinion, but this bag is beyond hideous to me. The Day Birger et Mikkelsen Embellished Shoulder Bag just hurts my eyes to look at. While the sequin embellishment is alright, the color scheme makes me dizzy enough to fall over. The tassel and bead detailing which hang from the bottom are so up and over any kind of tasteful tassels. What I can say is that this bag will never hang from my arm. What about you? Via Net-A-Porter for $184.66.

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Say hello to MacGyver’s bag he wishes he always had. I can guarantee MacGyver could use this bag to make a trap, fix a bridge, make an airplane, and a tight rope that would take from the USA to Europe. The Binetti Hammock Bag is a brown woven crochet bag with loads of fringe at the base (for all of MacGyver’s goodies). There are shoulder straps with hanging charms, two inside pockets (like MacGyver would need those) and the bag measures 13″H x 19″W x 8 1/2″D. Dear Mr. MacGyver this bag can be yours for $450 via Neiman Marcus.

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While braids are such a trademark of young girls, I never quite liked them. One reason may be because I hated letting my mom do my hair and I couldn’t figure it out myself or even just that I was not good at making braids. As much as I am not a fan of hair braids for myself, I am not a fan of huge braids on a bag. The Kooba Large Carla Bag with Braid is a chestnut polished leather that is cinched at the top with a huge braided leather belt. No thanks. While the bag is described as bohemian chic, I really just see a big awkward and stiff braid. Maybe the antiqued brass hardware accents the bag nicely; then again maybe the hardware is not enough. The shoulder strap is also braided, but it is the braid that brings the top of the bag together that I can not get over. It is so overpowering, especially since it ties in the front and finishes with tassels that are way too long. This bag measures 13″ x 12″ x 6.5″ and maybe one of you likes it, who knows! Buy it via eLuxury for $650.

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So far I think animal print day has gone well. But there is always the bad. Let me introduce you to the ugly duckling cousin of the Zebra. The Salvatore Ferragamo Fur Trim Haircalf Bag is way too much for my liking. This bag is designed from Zebra-print haircalf along with rabbit fur patch pockets. I bet the rabbit fur will automatically turn some of you away from the bag, that is, if you haven’t already decided this bag is a no go thanks to its first impression. The bag has a zip top closure and double shoulder straps. On the inside you won’t find more fur, thank god, but you will find zipper and open pockets along with cotton canvas lining in soft pink. I even think the ’soft’ pink would still be too much to handle with the busy outside. This bag sizes up at 8″H X 16 ВЅ”L X 6″W and costs an over priced $1650 via Saks. I guess each animal has its own odd man out.

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Your name distinguishes you from everyone else around you. This doesn’t mean that someone else does not have your exact name, because I am pretty sure most of us have duplicate named people out there- but it still makes you unique. While I am trying to not bash individuality, I just can’t ever imagine myself carrying a bag with “M”’s all over it. It would just seem silly to me. So, I am sorry Miss Feifer, but I don’t think these ‘personalized’ bags were a good idea (this may possibly be why they are marked down 80% now!). The Jana Feifer Leather Personalized “Monogram” Hobo is derived from lambskin leather with initials coming in the color combination of white with pink, yellow and orange initials; or chocolate with camel initials. I realize that Jana Feifer specializes in personalized bags, but I actually don’t ever see myself wanting one. I am totally not into just sporting my initial just because it starts off my beautiful name. Finished off with camel suede interior with large zipper compartment and goldtone hardware, this hobo is sooo not for me. Buy your letter for $77.99 via Adasa.

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