This Floral Box Clutch by Fendi just screams 'city chic with a softer side' and 'sophisticated summer romance.' Pretty shades of pink on white with silver hardware make for a feminine, flirty appeal while a contrasting black back and black leather lining add an unexpectedly hard contemporary edge. The flower detailing is done in cotton and is hand-stiched and painted over a satin bag front, before being topped off with a logo-embossed cube-clip fastening (and of course the chain strap is detachable). Wow, what an eclectic mix of colors, materials, and styles. $1,498

Your Memorial Day weekend may include a bicycle but likely it's nothing like this. The new Fendi Abici Amante Donna bicycle is designed for luxury cruising. There are two versions, a $5,900 iteration with Fendi's Selleria leather accessories and a detachable Fendi case and the deluxe bicycle for $9,500 that also has removable fur saddlebags. WWD reports that at a celebration event at Fendi's Fifth Avenue flagship four bikes, two of each style were sold. I love a good classic bike but this one just goes too far for me if only for the impracticality of the fur saddlebags. It seems to be a bike you could never leave unattended unless you wanted to take the accountrements with you.

[via NY Mag's The Cut]

Sad but true: the recession has hit the upcoming Cannes Film Festival in the South of France next month, an international symbol of glamorous excess. Cutbacks are being made everywhere, from ritzy parties to the type of food being served, the AFP tells us. For starters, Vanity Fair has canceled its annual star-studded party, the social highlight of the festival, while the VIP nightclub Jimmy'z lost two key sponsors, Fendi and Swarovski, and Louis Vuitton said it would skip AmFar's big-ticket AIDS charity fundraiser.

"We're experiencing an unprecedented world crisis and it's also affecting the Riviera and Cannes," says Michel Chevillon, head of Cannes' hotel association. "Companies are sending fewer people, for shorter periods." 70% of the area's hotels have frozen their room rates compared to last year, and many are taking bookings for less than the full 12-day period, something normally unheard of at festival time, Chevillon tells the AFP.

Overall attendance at the festival is expected to be down for the first time in decades. "People are afraid it will hurt their image to be seen in a place associated with wealth," Cannes deputy mayor David Lissnard tells the AFP. Yacht charters are also suffering, as brokers struggle to find clients in Cannes' port, where all 60 berths for megayachts were booked up in anticipation. "There's a lot less demand this year for yacht rentals and a lot of pressure on prices," says broker Valerie Ruiz, who rents out yachts up to 200-ft. for the festival.

This Fendi bag immediately caught my eye because of its tranquil color and unusual texture. It would certainly dress up any simple outfit, and would look especially great with black. The 8BR568, available in the blue shown here and the silver shown below, has a metallic laminated look with leather overlays. It has geometric perforations throughout, a zip-top closure, large metallic leather pull, logo fabric lining with two patch pockets and one snap closure patch pocket. Measurements: 15.75" x 12.5" x 5.5" with 22.5" double handles and a 10" drop. Made in Italy, comes with a Fendi pouch. Regular price, $2,530, but on sale now at Bagsbuy for $1,644.95.

The lone Fendi fragrance, Palazzo, has been scrapped by LVMH. The company has said that it will stop producing the Fendi Palazzo women's scent. Fendi Palazzo was introduced in summer 2007 and was meant to be the start of the relaunch of the Fendi fragrance division. According to Baseneotes, LVMH acquired the license to create the Fendi fragrances from YSL Beaute in 2005. It then discontinued existing Fendi scents, clearing the way for Fendi Palazzo. The new scent with its depiction of a store on the bottle and a scent of Bulgarian rose, orange blossoms, tangerine, bergamot, lemon, pink pepper, and jasmine meant to convey a sophisticated yet feminine air. In 2007 it was given a lavish launch that included an artsy black and white commercial (embedded after the jump).

WWD quotes Gabriella Scarpa, Country General Manager for LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics in Italy who said that sales had been "encouraging, but didn't meet expectations." The scent was a beloved by many perfume fans who will be heartened to know that LVMH haven't ruled out a return to the fragrance market for Fendi at a later date.

Add a little shimmer to your day by carrying this silver-with-a-pinkish-hue Ombre Zucca Jacquard Chef bag by Fendi. Iridescent zucca jacquard leather with ombre effect paired with a pouchy shape make this bag what it is, along with accents like gold hardware, rolled leather handles, and an oversized metal pull etched with the Fendi logo. It also has a fabric-lined interior with a zip pocket and a nameplate. It's a great way to carry a pretty much neutral bag without feeling dull or dreary. $1,810

Gallery: Fendi Ombre Zucca Jacquard Chef Bag

This Ombre Logo Basket Tote's versatile coloring means it can pass nicely through the winter as an icy blue, and then through the spring also if dressed up as a sky or pastel blue. It's shimmery, it's simple, and although it's not totally outrageous it's definitely an acquired taste. Fendi makes this bag out of coated vinyl with textured white leather trim, plus it has a smooth vinyl lining, an open top, a flat base, and 3 interior pockets. It's available at eLuxury for $1,030, plus they have also have a version in red.

I'm not usually one to go for handbag designs that plaster the brand's logo in a big way but somehow this Fendi bag is an exception for me. It's the Sweet Box Clutch and the multi-colored acrylic that makes up the hard sides glows with color and depth. The Fendi logo is done in vinyl-coated leather and is large enough to take up most of the bag's surface, and grained leather is found on the interior. Other features include a magnetic closure, a gusseted interior pocket, and an antiqued silver link chain strap that can be tucked inside if it's in the way. $1,490

This delicious little shoulder bag by Fendi, the Pouchette Shoulder Bag is new and only available for pre-order.

The bag is small, just 8.5" by 5", and the "pouched" effect is meticulously crafted to give it dimension and style.

The strap itself is jewelry; a 7" drop with heart charm accents. This season it's all right to wear contrasting metals, so don't worry if you don't have anything to match the exact shade of yellow gold; try copper or white gold to complement it.

The bag is made exclusively in a dark blue, one of this season's hottest accessory colors. Dark blue may seem like a difficult color to manage as an accessory; it can clash with denim and look sloppy with a little black dress. Not to worry, this season, you'll find printed dresses with this color in the pattern and you can always pair it with gray.

Available from Saks Fifth Avenue, $410.

For Vogue India's latest issue, editors decided to shoot some of the country's poorest citizens modeling such luxury goods as a Hermes Birkin bag and a Burberry umbrella. An older woman -- missing her upper teeth -- held a baby wearing a Fendi bib which cost as much as she might earn over a several month period. (Remember most of India still lives on little more than a dollar a day.) The juxtaposition has a number of Vogue readers (and non-readers) astir.

In a place polarized by caste and an exceptionally apparent disparity of wealth, one would think Vogue might have been a little more discreet. Perhaps most infuriating about the photo spread is that Vogue didn't even get the names of the men, women and children posing. They are simply referred to as "lady" or "man" while the cutline goes into great detail about the various objects they model -- people as props, handbags as the main story.

The real shame? That somehow poverty never quite goes out of fashion.

$80 billion private equity firm The Carlyle Group just announced plans to acquire a 48% stake in Moncler, the French luxury sport label founded in 1952 famed for its stylish down jackets. In fact, Moncler claims credit for inventing the down-filled ski jacket, which it has supplied to French Olympic teams for the winter games since the 1960s. The jackets have become extremely fashionable and can be seen on the slopes from Aspen to Gstaad. The company has collaborated with the likes of Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto and Fendi. It's high-end Gamme Rouge line is designed by Italian fashionista Giambattista Valli. "Moncler is a historic sport luxury garment brand that has returned to play a relevant and prestigious role in the market," Carlyle Group managing director Marco De Benedetti said in a statement, noting plans for expanding the company globally.

This is one crazy looking handbag! Featuring three of the most difficult looks to pull off (fringe, zebra print, and rainbow colors) it's the very daring Fringed Zebra Baguette by Fendi. Just looking at it you're sure to have a smile on your face (whether you love it or are laughing at it!), and I suppose with all those colors it's probably pretty versatile when it comes to matching it up with outfits. Features include the multi-colored leather fringe, a removable leather shoulder strap, removable buckles, magnetic closure, and a suede lining. $5,420

I'm a sucker for a handbag with a good name, and the fact that this bag by Fendi is called a "spy bag" makes me feel suddenly cool and like it's something Jennifer Garner might have carried in an episode of that old show "Alias." The spy bag has been with Fendi for awhile (see this flowered fall version from 2006) and now it's been updated with textured leather and a bronzed metallic that's a nice neutral other than the usual white, black, or beige. Woven leather handles, flap closure, and a canvas lining with logo print and an interior gold logo plaque. $2,740

I love beads and beading on almost anything, and in black and white especially it's one of those fashion elements that's in style season after season without fail. The Fendi Beaded Baguette Limited Edition features beautiful beading over the entire bag's exterior, with only the handle and front logo/closure detail being exempt. Open the bag and you get a bright dose of color in the form of a deep ruby red satin lining with an interior zip pocket and the bag's individual limited edition serial number embroidered. $6,670

While researching something for Luxist, I came across Styledrops, a fashion site for men, women and children that sells upscale Italian designer goods. For women, select from shoes, handbags, clothing and accessories. Same for men, minus the handbags. Kids get shoes and clothing. The site boasts "the best price you have ever seen on the Internet!"

A sampling of brands: Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Tod's, Hogan, Dior, Fratelli Rossetti, Ferragamo, Cesare Paciotti, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Frankie Morello. Check here for the whole list for women, men and kids. Choose by type of item, designer or price.

I haven't purchased from the site so I can't vouch for service or quality, but the site itself is easy to navigate and has some very high-end items.