Today is “Garbage Bag” day and I think I’ve found one that certainly classifies. Check out the Diesel “Baroque” Flap Bag ($375).

Sometimes, even when I think a bag isn’t so nice, I can find something I like about it, but I just can’t pick anything about this one I enjoy. It’s made from leather, but it looks like a very stiff leather—certainly not something I want to carry on my shoulder.

I know the studs and circular turnlock closure are supposed to give the bag an “edgy” look but to me, the combination just comes off looking harsh and cold. What do you think?

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Noo!!!

Neiman Marcus claims that cross-body bags are trendy for Fall. Garbage! True fashionistas know better. Right??!

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Special!: Ugly, “Garbage” Bag today!

Yes, this Veruka Nylon Shopper is a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag and he is one of my favorite designers, but I don’t have a desire to carry this one, and unfortunately at $148, I could actually afford this design.

With a total measurement of 18.5″ l x 13.5″ h x 4″ d, this berry-colored nylon bag features the whimsical “Miss Marc” illustration on the front—a cute drawing, but not something I want to carry around on my purse.

Plus, the shape of the bag seems to lack something for me—many times I like simplicity in design, but this, it seems a bit plain. Oh well, there are many, many other Marc Jacobs handbags that I adore, but alas, they’re much more expensive!

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Here is the first of my two stories from my trip for this blog. It’s late, yes.

My friend took me to a sort of flea mall, called “Festival Flea Market.” It’s supposed to be somewhat nicer than a usual flea market.

I wanted to look at the handbags. And it was an adventure. There was only one original brand shop for handbags, but every few feet, there was another shop filled with knockoffs. Really good looking, but not feeling, Fendi. Really, really bad Coach. Mixtures of two designers. And lots of the same replica Marc Jacobs Stam and similar bags that one even sees at cheap stores at any mall in Massachusetts (we don’t get the fakes abounding like in Florida).

There was no talk (other than from my mouth informing my friends) of what designer these bags were molded after. An Asian woman came up to me (looking at a “Spy”) and told me “$35.” I fear for the unsuspecting public. Most women in the mall carried bags that were far from designer, whether they be fake or not. (I had my teal Coach satchel the whole trip.)

I really wanted to take pictures of the sea of fakes. I also would like to take shots of a few individual bags for education. But I didn’t feel it would be polite.

Have you seen such a thing? What is the level of “inspired” bags in your area? Do you have booths in the middle of your mall aisles?

And what do you think of this?

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As a special treat this week, I thought I’d feature great purse-posts (or pursts) from around the bagosphere. I’m a little bit wiped from purses, but there were great bags and/or commentary abounding this week. I can find inspiration from an opinion or another blogger’s (bagger’s) find, even if I’m having trouble starting from scratch.

Starting with an Important IT bag from Fendi that I missed in my recent scouting, due to different stock at different e-stores: The Fendi Large Leather Selleria Tote, via Luxist, sold at Saks Fifth Avenue. I posted the line’s hobo on High Fashion High, last week, but this bag is better! I love the shape, stitching and horizontal strap. And sure, the horse is an interesting feature, but I don’t understand its buckle design embossed onto the leather. That doesn’t seem too luxe, just odd.

– Purseuing’s DKNY Reversible Bag in red paisley is lovely for summer, but I wish the block pattern on the opposite side were a contrast color, like navy. I’d buy it for sure, then.

– I disagree about Coach’s Signature in general (I think it has an artistic and well-designed aesthetic of the butterfly pattern) but EBelle5 points out more to dislike about their patchwork signature. Still, as a commenter stated, the “counterfeiters dream” aspect is more about higher difficulty in recognizing a fake, and less about amateur sewers replicating it.

– Finally, get a different perspective from Mallory’s on Luella’s Charm Satchel on The Bag Snob, with “Not Charmed by Luella” (best title this series). Although, The Bag Snob is quite mouthy about her distaste, indeed. Gosh, she is a Bag Snob! Whoa.

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Following in the much-overdone trend, is Louis Vuitton with these new styles that feature little padlocks (with no purpose and without key). Le Sigh.

Find these two bags, and hundreds more, for sale at eLUXURY.

*Update* While of course Louis Vuitton started as a luggage company and used locks on handbags long before these trendy It companies, this bag is different for using the lock as decoration only with no purpose. Also, LV is largely classic, and this is obviously trendy. Le sigh, anyone?

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DenverPost Blog House: Reading Janse’s book (The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu : Guerrilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work and in the World) allowed me to come out of the germ closet with built-in support. Alison, along with co-author Charles Gerba, showed 20/20 how dirty bathrooms really are.

Not surprisingly, the floors were by far the dirtiest, with 200 million bacteria per square inch. This is 200 times higher than a sanitary surface.

Well, if you’ve ever had to put your purse or bags on the floor it affects you. The dynamic germ duo found fecal matter on the bottom of a woman’s purse. Makes you think twice before you lay your purse on the kitchen table, doesn’t it?

Many people don’t wash their hands, either. I witnessed this last week, at school. (After leaving the ladies room, having washed, myself, I used my antibacterial lotion.)

But the purse on the floor thing made this to be my issue. Bathroom floors actually have fecal matter and traces of urine. I won’t go into pondering how they get there.

I’m shocked and appalled when/that people put their handbags on any floor, but the bathroom!!!! I have never done that. I have always only used stalls with a hook on the door. Now I’m afraid to go in at all, touching myself or my things to any surface. I was told that sink counters are infected with bacteria. Now going to the ladies room is a horrifying ordeal, with juggling my coat and large school tote, and getting too wet at the sink.

Oh, the humanity!

And, people, never rest your handbag on the floor! Use a chair or even one of those special hangers!

For chic’s sake!!!

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In recent news, contrary to what seems to be eBay’s policies as in writing, eBay has spoken out in refusal to remove counterfeit auctions and denied responsibility to monitor authenticity of sellers’ items.

New York Times News Service — SAN FRANCISCO - EBay refused to remove hundreds of listings for [knockoff butterfly brooches]. It said it had no responsibility for fakes, because it was nothing more than a marketplace that links buyers and sellers.

EBay, based in San Jose, Calif., argues that it has no obligation to investigate counterfeiting claims, unless the claim comes from a ‘rights owner,’ a party holding trademark or copyright. A mere buyer who believes an item is a fake has almost no recourse.

Experienced eBay users say that the fraud goes well beyond eBay’s official numbers, and that counterfeiters easily pass off fakes in hundreds of categories.

This means jeans, jewelry, handbags, almost anything, can be fake. Buyer beware; only buy from a seller who offers to give refund if an item is counterfeit, and get everything authenticated by an official retailer (not department stores).

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I admit, I’m not a fan of purses made entirely from beads. Beads can be gorgeous as embellishments and sparkly details, but I always fear that a purse made from beads will snag on something or get too much inside it and the purse will fall apart. So, it’s only natural that I’m not a fan of the new Samoa Hobo by The Sak, especially in the bright colors. I know beads are a big part of the popular bohemian look, but this one just isn’t for me. One pull at the handle and I picture myself chasing beads as they roll across the floor!

As a side note, I have to mention that I love The Sak’s new ad campaign featuring the little chick!

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Brighton is an upscale, high-quality, handbag brand. But they have kept themselves out of the big league “designer” category from the very beginning: their brand marketing, their logo. It’s one thing to have a danging heart charm, as they do. But everything is hearts. They make some nice designs of bags, a couple of which could suit my wishes perfectly, except that I don’t like the childish hearts emblazoned over everything. Labels do matter, somewhat, but the appearance of those labels matter more. I love Antik Denim’s pockets more than their distressed jeans, more than any designer denim design, so they are my favorite. Coach has quality workmanship, to some extent, and a pretty logo, but their lack of focus on aesthetically laying the signature across their bags leaves a huge distaste for Coach in my mouth. I like Brighton, I carry one of their bags as my school tote. But I can never really go for Brighton with their heart-obsession, and I’m thinking many people feel that way, and we always will.

Is it too late for Brighton? Well, they could certainly tone it down, and that could be wonderful. They could also send me a straw tote with navy leather trim, that I know I’ll “need” come the summer vacation months.

What does this mean for Valentine’s Day? Yes! There is significance! The whole greeting card, candy, present stuff is too much, too tacky. It’s sickening, in every way. The hearts help that. So, while you are free to enjoy these bags on any normal day, isn’t it all too centralized on the theme, in the early weeks of February, to take? Sorry if I’ve made that worse for you. But if you disliked the holiday before, now you know there is a media effort (me) backing up that (friendly) emotion.

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