Finally, a true IT Bag competitor from Coach (without too much price gouging). The Coach Daphne Large Satchel is sophisticated and sized (15″ l) for serious business, and we mean it. Its lightweight leather comes in rich hues and even playful lilac (available 11 / 05). The details are subtle and refined, its most notable accent being a dogleash clip closing a slim flap over the top. We’re even happy Coach has added its addition to the braided strap trend.

Unfortunately, at $698, it’s beyond mosts’ budgets. For those fabulistas who “have”, the quality is worth the price, especially considering comparable designs.

I’ve made the call, now let’s see how this bag is received, for there is this elusive math to the acclaim of such bags. The bag alone might not add up to the buzz of certain names, or even the ridiculousness of pricetags. It might settle somewhere in between usual popularity, no matter what it, alone, deserves.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Considering the seasons amidst and ahead, we ladies should be able to treat ourselves, but for a lighter bill. This Anthropologie “Estelle” Bow Purse is elegantly refined and richly designed, but at a mere $78 for this medium 10.5″ length handbag. Adding a little practicality is the full “espresso” leather back, yet keeping with the charm, there is also a bow on this side. Adorable, with vintage appeal, it’s priced right for an “occasion” bag, especially for the young lady.

Popularity: 3% [?]

A few days ago, I posted the Best Western Boots this season, on Kiss Me, Stace. And I actually was able to find the Best Western bag! among the horrid trendy attempts at style.

The only winner, by far, is the Isabella Fiore “Sheer Delight” Hobo. With rustic burnt-orange leather, a genuine braided handle, and a tassel zipper pull that looms large over the sizable 13″ width, it’s unique, alright. Then add the deep ruched leather that accentuates its hobo shape, yet adds sophistication. Lastly, take the grommet and studded scallop-look bands, to finalize its feminine appeal on would-be rugged details and even entire bag. Its a mouthful of a rich Fall treat!

Popularity: 2% [?]

There’s just something about it. The first moment when your eyes catch a glimpse at that new bag you just have to have—the one that’s sitting there on the counter begging you to buy it and even though you know it will take several days of working to pay it off, you know it’s yours. Your mind begins to imagine all the outfits you can wear it with, all the places you can take it and all the people to whom you can show it off. When you finally purchase it and carry it out of the store, you’re in pure bliss—purse bliss! A moment of happiness—that’s exactly why my favorite bag always tends to be my most recent purchase.

My newest bag, the Arianna Mini Satchel by Elliott Lucca, is no exception. Made of black woven leather, it’s a classic. It’s also the perfect size, at 11″ x 6.5″. Being so sizable, in fact not-so-mini, and of genuine leather, it’s a great deal at $148. Thank you, Elliot Lucca; always remember to seek out lesser known designers, for partly that reason! The “little” name doesn’t cause a sacrifice in our wish lists: take my love for short handles. The straps are sized just right to wear the bag on my shoulder tucked under my arm or I can carry it by my hand and look very ladylike. The quality is also a dream. No detail is left untouched, down to the metal embellishments with the Elliott Lucca name engraved on them, the delicate skip-stitching, creamy lining with interior pockets and my favorite, the leather tassel on the zipper—a fun, extra touch.

Oh, by the way, I’ve never formally introduced myself. My name’s Mallory and even though I work at a publishing company, I don’t get to write as much as I would like, especially about one of my very favorite topics—handbags! This blog provides me the perfect opportunity to indulge my passions for bags and writing, while helping keep you informed of all the latest going-ons in the handbag industry. The good, the bad, the what were they thinking, the newsworthy, along with occasional tips and pointers. As every handbag lover knows, just as we can never tire of buying handbags, we can also never tire of talking about them!

Popularity: 2% [?]

I introduce to you our first co-blogger here at Pursed Lips! Mallory Road is a handbag lover, great writer, and her fashion sense will be a delicious compliment to my own. She will also boost the amount of posts we have (for I have become a very busy lady) but give her time to get situated! She has prepared a fantastic first post for you. That’s enough from me! (Oh, I just mean in this entry.)

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Marc Jacobs Smooth Calf Tote is, to me, the best creation since the zipper. Approximately 15″ x 8″ x 7″, including full-length pockets for each the front and rear, completed by a zippered compartment dividing the open interior; this baby’s unbelievably roomy. Two color options, Chocolate and Cream, are both delicious in supple calfskin. Top-stitched bottom corners and subtle brass hardware perfect the understated, yet boldly professional design. This bag is the meaning of sacrifice for luxury’s sake. Thank capitalism’s cogs in motion for its, comparatively “worth it”, pricetag of $1,300. I’ve never seen a bag that incites such spirited gut-deep desires to afford such a grand splurge!

Popularity: 4% [?]

After another day of classes, I was reminded again, as I am constantly, that girls in college often don’t carry large book bags. No, they forsake function for style. They in fact carry small purses, generally logo Coach or other designers’ handbags—and many fakes. I do admire the designer purses and stylish bags, they catch this little obsessive’s eye.

I must really state, though, that we often have multiple classes in a day, and we are supposed to carry books (many an offender holds her books and her bag, some just sport the look without bringing the requisite materials). These books are bulky and heavy.

It means a lot coming from moi, that this purse lust has gone too far.

Yet I do appreciate them, and I started this post about handbags, between classes. A break makes my school day! Perhaps, (coming from a victim of lugging a tote and her new Signature Coach, last semester … so proud, so proud), that little thing of beauty puts the smiles on over-homeworked, under-slept, time-lacking fashionistas. My bags make me happy and I crave showing them off … but with a full load, I hardly get to go out for pleasure! Maybe I am less sick and less deep into the shallow, but strong handbag desire.

I say a solution to this issue is high quality brand sizable pocket totes. We need much more of a selection, with a sylish one, it would take off big, and we’d have prepared studious fabulistas!

Popularity: 4% [?]

I’ve been eyeing Louis Vuitton handbags for months, and while artistic director Marc Jacobs does a fine job on his clothing lines and even some of his own brands’ handbags, his work for LV (since starting with the Monogram Vernis [nice, original line] in 1998) has been both sadistically nutty and boringly plain, sometimes at once.

The craftsmanship is indeed fine, but the design is often lacking.

º The bags can be so dull, missing the logo grommets, snaps, and specializing lines that often make other brands popular. I find the little details to be all-important, practically—they make or break. Without them, I feel the bags are not even complete. º The Papillon gives me horrible twitchies when I see it crumple and bend, as it so easily does. º With the help of insane artist Tashaki Murakami, Jacobs helped Vuitton produce the ugliest bags ever created, the crazy, smiling Cherry Blossoms and, currently, Cerises. º The art of attractive and flattering shapes is often lost on the brand, such as the case with the Bucket and Sac Plat (more creepy Cerises). º I don’t even understand the widespread appeal (especially to celebrities) of the Louis Vuitton Speedy (except that it has been around since 1933, designed by legendary Georges Vuitton the man who made LV iconic [especially from designing the Monogram], a few short years before he died).

Still the line is idolized. After reading from those in-the-know that 90% of eBay LV bags are fake (how ugly is that), and that there is no bargain, even my appreciated bags (that always have their own style-drawbacks) will not go on official buy-lists. I can contentedly admit that I will probably never own an LV bag, perhaps even if achieving my monetary dreams, the prices can just reach unreasonable levels. Small style, grand prices? Trés uncool.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Do you hate brand logos smattered across your apparel and accessories? Who can blame a self-commanded Fabulista for not aspiring to appear as a billboard for Guess. And who can wear anything Tommy who’s not a die-hard American patriot (with our current societal ambiguity on the term)?

But I, Designerella, ask you to ponder the high designers’ signatures. If you place no value in steep prices, labels that remind of high quality manufacturing, or the status that comes with recognizing a designer; having the refined sense of taste for the well-made, the precisely-designed—then forget this argument. Buy yourself a genuine leather satchel of sizable girth with fine-enough details. Perhaps one standard purse will suit you year-round, to match all outfits, for all occasions. (And please search & think hard—and open your wallet wide—for such a bag!)

Dior is an example of handbags with a subtle, elegant logo and other bags that are bold, instantly recognizable and boast slight branding.

But my argument is hidden in the message to the opposition. A sightly signature print from a design label you covet—a company you admire—a bag with a long pricetag is quite attractive to many. If you love it, go for it.

And if you still can’t bring yourself to give props to J. Lo, don’t. Even if you love a designer brand, but want to go for something subtle (Ella can’t take a jaunt around the city — even poor-college-student-campus — without spotting a signature Coach or Louis Vuitton every 5 yards [many many of them fakes!]), houses like Coach offer stunning assortments in both varieties, and so many more designers stray away from logos, altogether. (And a good mix is Burberry Novacheck!)

In your decision process, be true to yourself. Be uniquely you, and make the right choice.

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This post is not about whether or not to buy designer handbags on eBay, or how to decipher fakes. No, this post is about how to WIN your auction!

A popular school of thought is to wait until the final minutes to bid. But that is incredibly difficult and in most cases, you’ll lose out on your dream item.

Another question in people’s minds is about the truth of another thought; “Bids attract bids.”

I really don’t think this is true. Continue to read more bag love »

Popularity: 2% [?]