Nordstrom has a bit of this and that -- uptown to downtown, and great shoes. But did you know that it also has a "Designer Collections" shop on its site? I just discovered its handbag shop. As I write, there are 195 designer handbags offered, in brands that include Burberry, D&G, Kooba, Roberto Cavalli, Versace and a select few others. Fall styles are out -- get shopping! And/or see the gallery * for a few styles I picked at random.
* Note: Gallery pictures open to full size once you click on them.
Balenciaga is well known for creating avant-garde bags, their designs are always on the cutting edge of fashion and as far as quality, their extraordinary craftsmanship is unsurpassed. This chic new Balenciaga shoulder bag is so refreshing and different. I love the interesting combination of both black and tan leather. The straps are comprised of buckles, a creative twist on the usual use of hardware. Available online exclusively from matchesfashion.com for $2,400.
The perfect addition to your summer/spring handbag collection has arrived! The Chloe Python Bay Bag is the bag du jour, in demand and stylish it features thick quilted ivory leather giving it a sturdy look and feel. Accents include visible stitching, a plaque on the front, feet on the bottom and over sized zipper pulls all done in gold. I love all the pockets on this bag, and the fact that everything zips tightly shut. Overall a very usable and chic purse that won't go out of style with the rest of the white hand bags. Available on net-a-porter.com, $4,000.
Diane von Fürstenberg designed this hip green shopping bag for retail chain Intermix. It's made of certified organic cotton and features small ivory hearts and long beige cotton handles. The tote has a gold Intermix logo on one corner, and Diane's signature on the other. A hand scrawled message from Diane on the inner seam reads "Save and Love the Planet". I keep seeing similar reusable shopping totes but this one is by far the cutest! Available exclusively at Intermix for $65.
Pauric Sweeney is considered by many fashion critics as the best purse designer to come out of the last decade. After launching his purse line a few years ago, Sweeney moved his atelier to Italy to work with some of the best craftsmen in the world. And it shows! Fans of his innovative designs include Lindsey Lohan and Madonna! This exquisite python shoulder bag looks sleek and is plenty roomy inside. Features include silver hardware, brown leather detailing and an inside that's lined with soft beige suede. I am a HUGE fan of Pauric purses...this purse exemplifies why. Available online for $2,860.
Some may say that the "IT Bag" phase is gone, but I think Marc Jacobs and Richard Prince may disagree with that sentiment. The Fashion Shows are over, yet I still can't help to be completely taken by Richard Prince's colorful and expressive interpretation of Louis Vuitton's Spring 2008 Handbag Line. With a rainbow of colors, snakeskin accents, LG logo silk screened on canvas, ultra feminine frame purses, and oversized totes each bag feels like a piece of art perfectly transformed into a handbag. I haven't always been impressed with the collaborations in the past but it seems that ever since Takahashi Murakami has entered the accessories world, my loyalty to LV has only strengthened. Learn more about Richard Prince and his art work here and here.
England's The Daily Mail has a fun piece on just how much some top celebs are spending on handbags. There aren't any Americans on the list but one recent transplant to the U.S., our favorite free-spending Spice Girl tops the list. According to the piece Victoria Beckham has been spotted this year toting around an astounding £23,625 in purses. And that's just seven bags, I am pretty certain Posh Spice has a lot more bags than that in her closet. The number shown at right, a little purple Hermes clutch to match the purple and silver dress she wore to the Marc Jacobs show in September cost a cool £3,000.
By comparison, Kate Moss came in with just £11,390 in pricey bags. I'd love to see a list of American celebs with a bag addiction. Who would top the list? Now that Lindsay Lohan is reportedly broke I would guess that either Paris Hilton or perhaps one of the Olsen twins with their endless parade of giant Balenciega bags might top that list.
It's been a while since I checked out the Prada tricks and they have definitely evolved. Last time I looked at the popular baubles which clip on to purses and cell phones they were rudimentary leather pieces. Now the latest lines include miniature teddy bears (which remind me of the little animals we used to clip on our tote bags back in the 1980s) and the Travel tricks which are reproductions of magnets for the dashboards of gentlemen's cars from the Prada archives. The Prada tricks are priced between $130 and $225.
Here at Luxist I'm hardly the handbag expert (that's Sandy and Marsha's department) but when I saw this article I couldn't help but chime in. I love a cute purse just as much as the next girl, but some of these are priced upwards of $100,000 and $200,000! Are they really worth that much? Maybe I don't love purses as much as the next girl...
Personal feelings of value aside, several of the creations on this list of the world's most extravagant handbags are truly gorgeous, and many have so many diamonds and so much gold that justifying the price tag definitely gets easier -- it's an investment! My favorite? The Nancy Gonzalez Porousus Bag, which is actually one of the more reasonable bags on the list coming in at number 9 and costing only $30,000. And here are winners 1-5:
Is red ever out of style? I say no. It gives your outfit a punch of color and if you choose the right bag - simple enough that it becomes timeless - it will last forever. The Celine Bittersweet Hobo fits the bill perfectly. The red is brilliant enough to make the bag pop while the subtle silver toned accents adds a touch of sparkle. The leather is soft so it will hang nicely from your shoulder and it won't feel bulky and cumbersome. This is a bag that you can wear all year long. Also available in white with gold accents. Bag dimensions: approximately 16.5" x 9" x 4.75" (at the base) Price: $875.
Sleek, simple yet stylish. Merkin's Glazed Clutch is one that will last and will surely be worth the money. While the overall design is simple, it is the subtle accents and color choice that makes the Lola Clutch stand out. Probably not the most functional for the workday, the clutch would be ideal for an evening out or a stroll around the neighborhood while you grab a late outdoor lunch with friends. Pair this with any casual outfit and look fashionable without even trying. Bag Dimensions: 10 1/2" W x 5" H. Price: $225.
Eye-catching is a term that would be a complete understatement when applied to this Metallic Mirror Leather Tote from Alessandro Dell'Acqua. In the wrong lighting, or if it is extremely sunny, the bag might even be blinding. The golden, reflective leather completely covers the bag and all the hardware is gold-tone to match, including the studs on the double top handles and the small metal luggage tag. There are pockets both inside and out and it includes a detachable shoulder strap, which makes carrying easier when traveling. It measures 14 x 14 x 6 inches. Price: $1,500.
While not ever one might be stricken with handbag lust, after long runs of popular, fashion forward shows like Sex in the City, it is certainly a well known affliction. Most of us are content to settle for bags in our price range, but for those who have no price range, a five-figure handbag is the ultimate in luxury and style. Forbes' put together a list of the top ten most expensive handbags, all of which seem to be in crocodile. The list includes the $27,700 black crocodile Fendi B bag, the $18,990 YSL Muse bag in white crocodile, $15,000 Zac Posen Alexia in blue croc and the $12,880 chocolate croc Chloe Paddington bag. Set aside your lust and be content with handbag envy: view the full slide show here.
I just
discovered Los Angeles-based designer Tracey Tanner--and her fabulous
wallets. The wallets, which come in leather or cork, measure about 7'' by 4'', so they're small enough to fit
in the back pocket of your jeans, but large enough to hold credit cards and cash. Inside, the wallets are
lined with interesting materials (prints with skulls or flowers, for instance), while Tanner also makes bags,
wristbands and t-shirts. You can find a list of stores that
sell Tanner's stuff on her web site; Sirens & Sailors in Los Angeles and Cog & Pearl in Brooklyn both stock her goods. The shimmery gold wallet pictured here is $65.
Designers love eggs. Eggs have beautiful, clean lines and a great shape. The egg shape is perfectly symmetrical when
cut vertically, but has a soft slope that draws the eye along its curves when viewed as a whole. Egg shapes can and do
appear just about anywhere anwhere, in both small and large sizes. We've noticed this, as egg-shapes have come up repeatedly on
Luxist, but we still have our favorites. Let's face it: some egg designs work better than others. These are
some of the good ones:
Vivian Alexander Egg
Purses - These novel purses are made out of real Rhea egg shells. They are enameled and decorated to
perfection by hand with a variety of precious and semi-precious stones. The interior of the purses are lined with silk
and they retail from $1000-7000. The Chanticleer Purse,
pictured, costs $2,875.
Nordstrom has a bit of this and that -- uptown to downtown, and great shoes. But did you know that it also has a "Designer Collections" shop on its site? I just discovered its handbag shop. As I write, there are 195 designer handbags offered, in brands that include Burberry, D&G, Kooba, Roberto Cavalli, Versace and a select few others. Fall styles are out -- get shopping! And/or see the gallery * for a few styles I picked at random.
Pauric Sweeney
While not ever one might be stricken with 
Designers love eggs. Eggs have beautiful, clean lines and a great shape. The egg shape is perfectly symmetrical when
cut vertically, but has a soft slope that draws the eye along its curves when viewed as a whole. Egg shapes can and do
appear just about anywhere anwhere, in both small and 
