You missed it but that was my best carnival booth man. Bluefly has another giveaway going on with a tease of a game, in which we always lose miserably trying to score an IT bag. I know websites can’t give things away based on actual talent or merit, but at least make the game fun. Every time I throw that dart, it just *ploops* to the ground. Jeez, I know I used to do pretty well in the real thing as a child! Ugh, it’s so disheartening that it’s honestly more enjoyable to save for, work for or sell bags to fund the real life Stam I plan to finally get. (Now that’s excitement.) At least I get to choose my colour!

But you know you have to give it a shot. It’s like the lottery, and yet somehow still less fun than throwing your dollars away—oh no that goes to fund necessary state things like road repair. See, the lottery, now that’s a game. Sure it’s depressing sometimes, but it does good in the end. Now if they just made taxes (coming up!) fun like a lottery. There’s an idea!

P.S. Is there a chance the designer bag you win could be fake? Voice in here or at our Know Authentics forum!

Popularity: 58% [?]

Iiiii’m siiiiick! I come home from vacation for this to set in on me. I never get sick, and this is sick like I’ve never been (not the worst though, but certainly different). What a good day to start this feature up again, because I’m not sure how much original brain power I have in me. Oiiii.

Pictured is the “Get Your Own Bag” message canvas tote. It’s simple, filled with attitude and I also see loads of irony in it. A shapeless cartooned tote bag conveying envy and pride over a bag—what bag?—even the mini bag pictured is not “cute”. I believe it must be made with rightful intention, making fun of bag lovers. Still, it’s notable. Find purchase info (for the uncensored version too) at The Purse Blog.

Introduce yourselves to Eco-Bag, an online shop for bags designed by indies that are all recycled materials. The once soda bottle, once seat belt buckle, and once … boat sail? Yep, all hand made and all environmentally friendly. Shop via In My Bag.

Love that luxury trash bag style of the Coco Cabas, but for a well, still more expensive than trash pricetag? The Chapman Large Slouch Hobo by Charles David is a brandy copycat of Chanel’s bag. For less the money, but it’s not like you like the Chanel aside from its logo anyway! Via Señora Cartera (Mrs. Handbag).

Model Lily Cole designed a line of bags for Monsoon Accessories, EBelle5 featured a rainbow striped small purse.

Ooh, an umbrella case! What a nice change of pace. In cute rainbowed stars, the umbrella with case from Top Shop costs 12 pounds, and is only available in stores in the UK. Boo hoo, this sick girl is crying! Via The Bag Lady.

And finally, this doesn’t have to do with bags, but when I saw this billboard last week, I thought it would be perfect about for Counterfeit Chic to write. It’s Coke’s new billboards for Coca Cola Zero, like, “tastes so much like Coke, we should sue ourselves”. Funny?

Visit these great blogs, and we’ll see you around.

Popularity: 66% [?]

The Dior Gaucho bag just keeps getting better. When it first came out, ehh not so good. But with style re-inventions there have been improvements, like interesting texture and different straps.

Now they have the classic in a shimmering gold metallic washed calfskin. My BFF’s mother picked that out as her dream bag, and I say “good choice!”

But here’s how the conversation went with my BFF, introduced here for the first time (who otherwise will be known as the Evil Fashionisto! dun dun dunnn).

Ella: “And that’s an It Bag!”

TEF: “A **it bag?”

Ella, ignoring: “I found the price! It’s about the same as my dream quilted Bay; $1760.”

TEF: “**** ****.”

Ella: “It’s less expensive than the Gaucho she liked last trip to Neimans. Over $2,000.”

TEF: “****. Ma, you should get a fake.”

Ma: “I don’t want a fake.”

TEF “No, don’t they have inspireds?”

Ella: “Yeah, I can find one for you, without metallic leather though, probably on ASOS.”

TEF: “What’s that, pesos? It’s for pesos? That’s a perfect price!”

Ella, laughing: “That’s priceless. Ooh, get it?!”

Popularity: 41% [?]

The girls on The View today dissed Louis Vuitton’s Tribute Patchwork bag, and rightly so. But then Rosie O’Donnell said she would “craft” an equal bag at home for $10. The girls even said they would give out the “knockoffs” to the audience. What do you think about this?

I’m sorry, but there is genuine fur on the bag, monogram, and logoed hardware - I don’t think Ro can come close.

Popularity: 31% [?]

Burberry has a new & interesting line out called “sliced check”, which is basically their plaid pvc interrupted with stripes of silver and silver leather trim. It’s a glitzy collection, for sure. You can see the effect best on their classic hobo shape. Sized 16″ x 11″ x 2.5″, The Sliced Check Hobo costs $895, which is totally an already slashed price for such a luxe looking bag. Go Burberry!

Also in the collection are the Manor and the new Beaton.

Popularity: 28% [?]

A tisket, a tasket, a gingham plaid picnic … duffle? Kind of cute is Dooney & Bourke’s new print for a Spring range of bags; Picnic. Featured here on the large new “duffle” shape, the fabric comes in Dooney’s usual array of colours.

The Large Duffle is truly large enough to use as a picnic basket alternative itself, at 19.5″ x 11″ x 9″. Think it’s silly to waste a handbag for that purpose? You won’t when you read the duffle’s price: $195! Oh yes.

The rest of the picnic shapes start at $125. Pick your colour, pick your shape. Then pick your friends up for lunch!

Popularity: 25% [?]

I was on the hunt for a camera case for … oh probably years. Especially with my camera turning on and wasting battery if I take it anywhere with the batt left in. Ugh. Just recently, I also decided I needed a new digital camera, a small one with a “macro” setting. Now not only does my new camera do away with my cam problems, is on beat with modern technology & fun other settings in addition to macro, and it comes in pink(!) but it doesn’t even turn on randomly due to its optical lens features.

Still, when I found the cam, things just *clicked* into place and I found the perfect little case! It’s pink as well, is small enough to secure the camera, but with extra room to fit small accessories, in genuine leather and its darn cute to bag! Clearly meant for a camera, with padded sides to protect your gadget and a multi-colored dangling fob including a camera charm, it could even be a small clutch with its fashionable look and wristlet strap. The buckle + charms combo remind me of COACH meets Luella. Love it!

The price is darn right a dream, too: $24.99 and your order might come with free standard shipping. Oh yeah, here are the cameras, as well. Aren’t we just the picture of stylish perfection?

Popularity: 21% [?]

Okay, so the bag that tops off the list of Budget Handbags is a tad more expensive, and considerably smaller, but it really does pack a lot of style, quality and luxe detail into a small punch - er - pouch.

#1 Coach Signature-Leather Pouch

The small purse or travel case is embossed, then finely stitched with their signature C pattern. And the new versions have a longer strap drop, but I can’t say for certain whether it’ll fit on your shoulder. It’s perfect for the younger, just-budding fashionista. The thing that really seals the appeal of this bag is that Signature Leather was not made in anything larger!

The price? $138. Not so bad.

Popularity: 41% [?]

This is getting exciting … maybe? Number 2 of our Top 5 Budget bags is

Liz Claiborne Leather Link-Strap Embossed Hobo

Print-embossed leather on sale for … $72.99?? No! Not only does this brand name hobo have richly textured genuine leather, and those nice decorated rings, and is roomy, but it was only $98 to start with!

How do they do it?

Popularity: 15% [?]

Today for budget bags, we have a special purse very similar to ones we mentioned before. It’s close to one of Mallory’s favorite owned bags, which was in her first post.

#3 Elliott Lucca Arianna Satchel

Today it’s the large version, now off to $62, in gold woven leather. Great for holiday shopping (if you order now!), great for Spring, and a great deal. It’s especially such a good deal because of the large size at 15″ wide and its luxe woven genuine leather. This bag won’t last for long, so make up your mind now.

Popularity: 9% [?]