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Cobra Collection Luxury Tech Bags From Booq

Filed under: Gadgets, Handbags, Men's Style

I am a big fan of Booq products. The company makes some of the best laptop bags and backpacks that I know of. At the same time, the design of their products is usually pretty "techie." You'll often find bright splashes of orange and futuristic surface designs. What is the low-key design lover to do when they want a quality, ergonomically designed bag for your laptop computer and gadget accessories? Well Booq has a new collection of high-end more sophisticated looking laptop bags made with the durability and core philosophy that people have come to expect from the brand. I previously reviewed their Boa Flow M Backpack here.

The new Cobra collection is comprised of a few products of different sizes. Each are shoulder or messenger style bags made from 1680 denier ballistic nylon in black. The metal hardware is done in a gunmetal finish. While the ballistic nylon is coated with a water-resistant material on the outside, the inside of the bags are lined with Nappa leather. The bags are design to look good, be durable for whatever you put them through, hold all your gear, and be comfortable in the process.

Booq will initially offer several Cobra products including the Cobra Case L. Cobra Brief L, Cobra Brief L, Cobra Slim L, and Cobra Courier XS. Prices are between $145 - $345. I am waiting eagerly in the hopes that they release a Cobra backpack soon. You can view and buy the full Cobra collection at Booq here.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

G.J. Cleverley Offers Bags Made with Leather from a Sunken Ship

Filed under: Shoes, Men's Style


G.J. Cleverley, the famed London-based bespoke shoemaker whose famous customers have included Winston Churchill, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart, has come out with a limited edition line of bags made from rare Russian reindeer leather salvaged from a ship sunk over 200 years ago. The precious perfectly preserved hides were recovered by divers from the Danish brigantine Metta Catharina von Flensburg which sank during a storm in England's Plymouth Sound in 1786, according to Robb Report. Tanned using a painstaking 18th century willow bark and birch oil process, the skins have been turned into a limited collection of handmade men's accessories including belts, wallets, a wine carrier, shoe kit, and Gladstone bag (above), priced at about $7,200, a modern interpretation of a satchel once used by well-heeled British hunters. The pieces are available by special order only.

Louis Vuitton's Animania Collection

Filed under: Handbags

Louis Viutton Animania Collection
This cute little clutch was inspired by a story that started almost a hundred years ago when the Vuitton family made little wooden toys. Reneé Vuitton, Gaston Louis Vuitton's wife, loved to collect the wooden toys and years later (in 1954) Gaston honored her hobby by dedicating an entire floor of the newly opened Louis Vuitton Avenue Marceau store to the vast collection.

Now Louis Vuitton is celebrating both the collection and the sweet story behind it with the Animania collection of darling little clutches, coin purses, scarf squares, and bag charms. Above is a little rooster clutch in logo-imprinted patent leather, and there's also a songbird in a pretty shade of earthy teal.

The collection uses mostly patent leather, canvas, and karung snakeskin. See the coin purses and the rest of the collection in the gallery below. $220 - $500

FabSugar's Birkin Bag Giveaway

Filed under: Handbags

There are a lot of great giveaways going on this season. Here on this blog we are running plenty of them including our ten-day Four Seasons giveaway but we have to give a nod to FabSugar which, along with PurseBlog, is giving away a black Hermes Birkin bag compliments of Portero Luxury. The bag is pre-owned and never worn (valued at $8,350). Registration for the giveaway is now open on www.fabsugar.com and will continue until midnight on December 31, 2009.

To enter to win you have to sign up for the PopSugar Network, PopSugar Daily, Portero.com and ThePurseBlog's emails but you can skirt that by filling out a 3" x 5" index card with your name, complete address, city, state, zip code, telephone number (including area code), and date of birth and mailing it via first class mail to: : "FabSugar Win A Hermès Birkin Bag Giveaway", Sugar Publishing, Inc., 111 Sutter Street, 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.

What Your Handbag Says About You

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags

Some women meticulously choose an outfit-coordinated handbag every morning, while others carry the same bag for months (or even years) until it finally wears out and falls apart. Because they're such a daily necessity and an ingrained part of our everyday lives, handbags say a lot more about their owners than just announcing their taste in fashion. Big, small, hobo, clutch, flashy or plain -- what is your handbag saying about you?

Shoulder Bag Shoulder bags denote a thoughtful, practical nature and careful decision-making.

Designer Label
Women that carry expensive, designer handbags enjoy the finer things in life (and want others to know it).

Knock-Off Carrying a knock-off bag can say that you're putting a fake front to the world and not always being true to yourself. But at least you have good taste.

Clutch Those who carry a clutch or very small handbag on a daily basis don't need to have their entire life with them at all times and give off an "I am a jet-setter" vibe.

Over-sized
Large hobos and tote bags say that you don't want to ever have to go without. They say "I am prepared" and "I can take care of myself."

Flashy Bright, bejeweled, sequined, or otherwise very flashy bags denote confidence and a desire to be noticed.

Neutral Soothing, comfortable, neutral bags often belong to women with open, personable, friendly demeanors.

Do agree or disagree? What do you want your handbag to say?

Bottega Veneta NYCabat Bag, Limited Edition, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Bottega Veneta NYCabat Bag, Limited Edition, Handbag of the Day
With a limited run of just 50, today's Handbag of the Day will go fast -- if you're willing to spend $7,100. Bottega Veneta creative director Tomas Maier has taken on the classic BV woven bag and added a taxi twist, creating the NYCabat bag. It's woven in the signature BV hand-crafted leather and then hand-dyed yellow and black. Big enough to be a commuter bag and carry your purse essentials plus extras, like office shoes, a newspaper, gym clothes, and so on. The bag is only available through the company's Fifth Avenue NYC store (699 Fifth Ave., 212-371-5511). Scheduled to arrive in November, so you can, and should, preorder now.

Coats N Totes "Bella" Dog Carrying Bag

Filed under: Handbags, Pets

Coats N Totes Have you ever been walking along, noticed a lovely, large-ish purse, and then, upon closer inspection, saw a little dog in it? Seems the days of utilitarian Sherpa Bags are over, at least for on-the-go, sophisticated dogs and their owners (unless you're flying, then they're the best). Anyway ... Here's a high-end, attractive dog-carrying bag, if you're into Swarovski crystals. And if you've ever read Luxist, you know we love our Swarovski crystals. The "Bella" dog carrying bag by Coats N Totes is made of the finest Italian leather, is trimmed in large Swarovski crystals in the front and back, and has two large pockets on either side. It includes a soft padded floor and collar snap. Available in black, pink, or tan, made in the USA. $800


Meet HENK, the $20,000 Suitcase

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Meet HENK, the $20,000 Suitcase
All I know about luggage is Samsonite and American Tourister (and Louis V., of course), so I admit I am experiencing a wee bit of sticker shock from HENK, the $20,000 suitcase. But I'm sure you, Luxist readers, are much more sophisticated than I, at least in the travel arena, so you may be interested in meeting HENK. Let's see what you get for this price ... But first, a disclaimer. The HENK site is one of those that no matter where you click, you don't get a new/unique URL. So I apologize for not being able to take you to all the sections directly. This is a DIY post.

First, the story behind the bag -- click on "Go to the story" on the main site, or read this detailed Forbes article. As with many success stories, HENK was borne out of dissatisfaction with a current product. A Dutch businessman named Henk van de Meene wanted to create a better piece of luggage after struggling with his bag one busy day in LaGuardia.

Then, the workmanship -- each HENK is handmade in The Netherlands to your specifications. Here's an example: "The choice is yours: from glossy carbon fibre and smooth calf leather for the exterior to high-tech fibre, horsehair or even cow hide with a zebra print for the interior." There are a slew of colors, and the HENK site promised to do its best to meet your customization requests.

Then, two styles from which to choose -- Travelfriend (shown above) and Attaché Case (see gallery).

HENK promises to feel practically weightless and to be sturdy, easy to maneuver with its large wheels, easy to unpack with its dual door design, easy to wheel with its telescoping handle, hard to lose with its retractable "leash," and really luxurious due to its high-end materials -- and the knowledge that it was made just for you. (But if you're not as particular about color or materials or in more of a time crunch, select from the ready-to-ship collection and the limited edition collection.)

[Thanks, Norman]

Loopbag Vanguard Laptop Computer Backpack Review

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style


I used to wonder why my older laptop backpack was so large. All I had in it was a computer, some cables, and an accessory or two - I looked like a trail hiker walking around with it. I was recently presented with the Loopbag Vanguard laptop backpack and I realized I can finally carry around my computer essentials without looking silly - In fact the backpack looks pretty good. Aside from this backpack in several colors, Loopbag makes a range of bags, packs, and other portable computer essentials in a fun range of colors that will remind you of Timbuk2 and Crumpler.

The namesake of the backpack makes sense when looking at it head on as you see two zippered areas that form two loops. It makes for a hip, modern look, and one that is simple enough to have broad appeal. I get the impression that the backpack was designed based upon a functional concept as opposed to just a look, and the system is pretty clever. It gives you multiple access points so things inside are easier to find, which is good because you don't have to unload everything to get to things buried inside, as you can access the main compartment from the front or rear on both sides. Inside the back is a whole range of little pouches - mostly zippered - for any manner of small or large items. I enjoy frequently finding new areas to store little items on the Loopbag such as a small pouch for cash or keys located on one of the shoulder straps.



Moonsus Gallery Laptop Tote, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Moonsus Gallery Laptop Tote, Handbag of the Day
Ages ago, a co-worker told me pointedly that it was OK to carry two bags, say, a purse and a commuter bag. But venture into three, and you've crossed over into "bag lady" territory. So when I saw this laptop tote that also is big enough to carry other essentials and not too expensive, I was excited. Moonsus's Gallery Laptop Tote measures 14.5"L x 11"H x 6.75"W and has a main compartment with a built-in, padded, adjustable divider for files or most 14" notebook screens; fits a laptop up to 13.5"L x 9"H x 2"W; has a full leather exterior, two-tone gold striped satin lining, an inner zip pocket, a front zip pocket, interior pockets for cell phone or PDA, pen holders, and a key ring; metal feet; and an 11" shoulder strap drop. It comes with a drawstring bag for storage. Available in red, black and a yellowy gold; $318.

Fendi Floral Box Clutch, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags


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

G-Bag Bauletto Piccolo, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Nothing like a big dose of bright red to catch some eyes and make a statement! Tod's G-Bag Bauletto Piccolo Satchel looks like red patent leather in these photos but it's really coated canvas -- which makes it lighter on both you and your wallet. There is leather in the form of contrasting brown trim and double handles that are adjustable via buckles. Other details include zip-top closure and a wide opening, little metal feet on the bottom, and a dark brown nylon lining. $850

Costume National Leather Hobo, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

I don't know that the term "slouchy" has ever applied to a bag as much as it applies to this one. It's Costume National's Leather Hobo and in addition to the ultra-relaxed shape and roomy shoulder handle there's some ruching detail along each side for an extra dose of style. Available in brown or black, it has zip and cell phone pockets inside, a silk lining (a little unexpected glam!), and an inside hook closure. It's certainly a casual bag that would look great with a t-shirt and jeans. $1,125

Lucy Leather Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags


Brown leather is so classic and appealing -- I think almost all of us have owned a brown leather bag at some point in our lives! Jimmy Choo understands the appeal as well as anyone, shaping it this time into a richly-colored brown leather printed shoulder bag called "Lucy." It features a simple foldover front with a clip fastening. All the hardware is goldtone, which includes more clip fastenings on the shoulder strap and zipper closure along the bag's top. Plus several pockets and a tan suede lining can be found inside. $1,495

Chiffon Rose Clutch, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

Mary Norton's Chiffon Rose Clutch is not a bag that can probably go with you through all four seasons, but it's so darling it seems worthy as a late spring, summer, and perhaps early fall investment. It's flouncy, feminine energy would go perfectly with everything from jeans to summer evening gowns, and it seems especially appropriate for weddings. Made of "frothy silk chiffon" the bag features a clip closure, 7" chain strap, a single pocket on the inside and a silk lining. And it's probably smaller than you think, measuring only 7" x 6" x 2". $995

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