Forget the flowers! Mom wants a new designer handbag for Mother’s Day

What mom really wants for Mother’s Day is a new designer handbag so eFashionHouse.com is making shopping for mom easy with free shipping.

Sky Valley, CA (PRWEB), April 24, 2008: Gone are the days where shopping for mom meant a pretty floral arrangement or a box of her favorite chocolate. Today’s moms are more interested in trendy or classic designer handbags, so eFashionHouse.com is making shopping for mom a little easier with free shipping for Mother’s Day (May 11).

Named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch for below retail priced designer handbags and recognized by About.com as the top of three online retailers of off-priced Chanel, eFashionHouse.com has all the designers and styles moms want. From handbag darling Elaine Turner, to couture legend Chanel, to American staple Coach, eFashionHouse.com offers the latest in designer handbags for all budgets.

"It’s not only fashionistas that want the latest designer handbag all the time, today’s mom is very hip and wants to carry a nice leather handbag as well" said Anna Miller, eFashionHouse Owner. "To meet the needs of our clients, we now carry handbags that are age-friendly…meaning most of the designers we carry cater to women of all ages who simply love fashion."

Not only does eFashionHouse.com, and its five fashion ecommerce stores (BrandsBoutique, LuxuryVintage, DesignersLA, ItalysOutlet and ValueBags), offer a wide variety of authentic designer handbags but they guarantee the lowest prices online for Tano, Melie Bianco, Murval, Elaine Turner and Pietro Alessandro. Plus the site offers a layaway plan that allows its clients to pay over time and still get the bag of their dreams.

If you still don’t know what to get mom, here’s a couple of hot selling bags that are sure to make her smile (and maybe even giggle with glee):

• COACH Hamptons Cream Large Tote – 26% off
• ELAINE TURNER Andie Platinum Distressed Leather Satchel – 24% off
• Tano Bauhaus Leather Tote – 21% off
• Gucci Brit Medium Tote in Brown – 26% off
• Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Tote in Cream – 21% off
• Vintage Chanel Quilted Lambskin Shoulder Bag – only $499

In addition to huge savings on brand new, 100% authentic designer handbags, shoppers will receive free ground shipping from April 24th thru May 2nd on purchase over $100 with coupon code MD08. Plus there is no sales tax on all purchases worldwide.

About eFashionHouse.com
Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She operates the website http://www.efashionhouse.com/ and sells high-end authentic designer handbags and accessories at off-retail prices. EFashionHouse.com was named Best of the Web by People Magazine StyleWatch for Discount Designer Handbags and Purses. eFashionHouse.com should not be confused with any other website selling a similar product or using a similar name. EfashionHouse.com is the home of five fashion ecommerce stores: BrandsBoutique, LuxuryVintage, DesignersLA, ItalysOutlet, and ValueBags. Anna is considered an Internet Pioneer & Ecommerce Entrepreneur. She’s been reselling Designer Merchandise online since the early 90s. eFashionHouse.com has an extensive Press Page and a Fashion Blog Network. Visit the site for more details.

Myth Buster Designer Handbags in the News

Myth Buster Designer Handbags in the News

It was a fleeting thought, but nonetheless, we were thinking about renting a purse the other day. Poof! The thought was gone.

We did some Google browsing and stumbled across all the news media quotes listed below. So, we decided to consult some handbag experts to bust some of the myths floating around. We also did our own research and came up with some surprising data. Bottom line, it's not cheaper to rent a designer handbag. In the long term, you are better off owning the purse of your dreams. The media has taken hold as usual, it is all hype and drama. The proof is in the numbers. Rental fees can be as high as $300 per month or more for a famous high-end designer handbag (12 x $300 = $3600).

No wonder all the advertising is being pushed like none other. People are being blind-sighted by one of the worst investments a woman can make with her hard earned cash! Too bad there aren't laws to protect financial rape. Women, wise up. If you can't afford to buy yourself a new purse a few times a year, you certainly shouldn't be worried about impressing people with designer fashion accessories.

Here are a list of quotes made by prominent publications. They are myths, and we just busted them!

MYTH #1 -
“Because hot handbags have such a short shelf life, why not rent one instead of buying? That’s the logic behind…” — The Washington Times

Not true. A classic designer handbags does NOT have a short shelf life. Let's take the Fendi Baguette as an example. It started the entire "it" bag movement about twelve years ago and it's still going strong. As a matter of fact, Fendi introduced a "rebirth" of the detailed ornate baguette this past season. It's still alive and doing well. And, for all you Fendi baguette lovers out there, those designer handbags you purchased over the years are now becoming collector's items are reselling for a ton of cash. So, don't cash in yet. Hang onto, or still hang it over your shoulder and look fabulously current carrying a Fendit baguette. The Fendi Baguette is available in a small version about 9 x 6 inches in size or the larger MaMa Baguette style. Whichever, you picked a winner.

Not only has the Fendi Baguette survived over a decade of shelf life, it has been copied by all the major handbag brands. The word "baguette" is not synonomous to any small shoulder bag that fits neatly tucked under the arm when carried over the shoulder. Coach has one, so does Prada, Gucci and all the big handbag designers.

MYTH #2 -
“Fashion handbags are now a $5 billion industry, and a growing number of women are renting bags instead of buying them. For the price of a single designer bag, women can rent a year’s worth.” — NPR

Not true. Wait. Maybe true if you are willing to settle for less than the high end designer handbag style. You can rent at a low rate, but the designer bag is a low-rate, too. You get what you pay for in rentals and in retail.

A year's worth of high-end designer rentals like Chanel would cost much more than the price you'd pay for owning a classic Chanel handbag of your own. Chanel maintains its value, too. So, look at a Chanel purchase as an investment. The classic black quilted lamb leather chain shoulder bag rents for more than $300 per month. HUH! You can purchase one for about $1500. That's 5 months of rental fees, not including insurance and other hidden fees for renting Chanel.

Classic Chanel bags last a lifetime and are passed down through generations. Rentals are like booze, here today and gone tomorrow.

MYTH #3 -
“Do you want to look like Uma Thurman, the new face for Louis Vuitton, but just can’t afford those accessories? No problem. Now the middle class is scrambling for brand-name luxuries, borrowing has become the next-best way to look rich.” — Time

Think Keith Richards. Can't resist the Time Magazine quote we stumbled upon online. The new face of Louis Vuitton is Keith Richards! LOL. Now, re-read the quote above. Replace Uma Thurman with the name Keith Richards. Think Twice about what you wish for!


MYTH #4v-
“Ten years ago in the US the trend was towards cappuccinos and lattes – the sort of small luxury indulgence that was affordable to everyone. It’s the same idea with handbags you can rent.” — The Times

What? handbags have been around since the beginning of time. Check out Wikipedia. There's some great information online about the history of the handbag. Man-bags transformed into women's purses, and they've continually evolved throughout the ages. As a matter of fact, the best thing about a fabulous handbag is it can be carried to make your raggiest pair of jeans, a pair of flip-flops and cotton T-shirt look like Vogue. All you need is a fabulous bag and your entire ensemble is pulled together to make a fashion statement.

Yet, renting a designer purse is not a good comparison to the cost of a cup of coffee, even if it's $5 from Starbucks. Let's see, McDonald's just introduced the "designer" flavored ice coffee drink on tap for $1.89. Hmmmm....am I dreaming? The Times is a bit off in their price comparisons here. To rent a high-end designer handbag you'll be putting out more than $300 per month. Let's see. Big decision here. Should I rent a purse or make my car payment?


MYTH #5 -
“In the age of new luxury where some people would forgo a month’s rent for a the new Chloe Paddington bag, retail analysts say there is a burgeoning group of middle-class Americans who are indulging a yen for high-end fashion. Companies ...are catering to fashionistas who lack the disposable income to satisfy their cravings for Coach satchels and Chanel clutches, but for whom carrying a cheaper knockoff is blasphemy.” — The Boston Globe

Sorry, Boston Globe, the Coach handbag is so very moderately priced that renting one is not a very good investment of a person's money at all. To encourage people to rent Coach is not a good financial strategy. Buy Coach. Actually, renting Chanel is not a good investment either. The rental fees for Chanel begin at about $270, and that's not including membership fees, insurance fees, and other hidden fees none of the news media discloses in all the free advertising they do to promote designer rental companies.

Rent a luxury car? Rent a luxury airplane? Rent a luxury suite? These make financial sense for the occassion at hand. Renting a purse? Well, think twice about your cost and pay-off. Do your homework first before jumping into something you can't get out of later.

Nobody should ever carry a fake counterfeit handbag. However, designers like Melie Bianco and Murval make fabulous similar looking eco friendly handbags for a fraction of what you'd pay for a good counterfeit. And, if we are working toward a youthful "new earth" movement, then doesn't the inauthenticity of "renting" a purse to look good actually make a person look bad? Renting a designer handbag in order to "look good" is like living a lie. Authenticity rocks!

MYTH #6 -
“Cash-strapped fashionistas rejoice. The authentic $850 Gucci pink clutch you’ve been eyeing … can be yours for $72.90.” — National Post

You'll have to show us this to prove it. All the handbag rental stores we scoured had much higher prices than $73. Maybe $73 per day, with a minimum rental membership fee, plus other fees like shipping, insurance and etc., etc. Do you really think paying $73 to carry a Gucci bag for one day is going to transform your life? your appearance? your stature? Hello?

MYTH #7 -
“You can pretty much look like a million bucks, without breaking the bank.” — KCNC-TV CBS, Denver

I wonder what Susie Ormand would say about that! Let's ask her. Susie, if you are reading this post, please send us an email with your comments. Is renting a designer handbag a good use of a person's budget? Email KarrBernadette at hotmail.com. Thanks Susie!

Now, refer to the comments made about Myth #4 and living your life authentically. Thank you.

MYTH #8 -
“If you’re a handbag junkie, there is hope online – a service that rents out designer handbags and prevents you from breaking the bank.” — CBS Market Watch Weekend

See Myth #6.


MYTH #9 -
loan[s] out ‘it’ bags that cost more than your rent – and that are guaranteed to be out of style in three months – plus a host of classic styles from designers such as Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Donney & Bourke.” — Time Out New York

See Myths #1, #6 and #7.


MYTH #10 -
“Wake up and smell the Chloe. The Chloe Paddington bag, that is…it’s now possible for you (or that hard-to-please fashionista on your holiday gift list) to carry the $500 or $2000 bag of your dreams – and to swap it out for a brand spanking new model every month – for a fraction of what it would cost to buy all the latest must-have bags outright.” — FWD

Swapping bags out can only be achieved if the bag is available! But your monthly dues is automatically charged to your credit card. Just like that gym membership. It's not any good to your budget unless your are using it and getting the results you want.

But, if you save your money and make a personal invnestment in a designer handbag, it's yours for a lifetime. When the bag is yours all it takes is a walk to your closet when you are in the mood to change handbags . And, you never have to worry about who carried the bag before you. Can you imagine using a purse someone you don't know used for possibly carrying their puppy?

MYTH #11 -
‘I love it. I would never – and could never – afford to buy one of the bags, but I can rent one for three weeks for about $50.’ — SLTtoday.com

Not true. A three week designer handbag rental is about $210 at one of the lowest membership fee schedules for a really nice bag. Anything less than that, you may as well not even consider.

MYTH #12 -
“It says that you’ve arrived. That you’re part of an exclusive club. That you are a fashion insider.. And an affluent one. Your purse packs a punch.” — The Denver Post

Do you see the humor in this quote? Who are you trying to fool? The people around you know whether you can afford the purse you are carrying. What do you think people would really be saying if they see you carrying a designer handbag they know you can't afford to own?

MYTH #13 -
"…thousands of women have signed up to lease the latest luxury brand bags on market, many of them coming back for more week after week, month after month, or every time a new event or outfit calls for the perfect handbag.” — Baltimore Sun

Pure media hype. There's no proof in the quote by the Baltimore Sun. As a matter of fact, there's so much hype in the media it makes the regular person ask, "What's all this hype about?" Think about it. Paying rent sucks. We do it for a place to live or a car to drive. When it comes to a purse, let's get real. Now, we have to worry about making enough money to pay our purse fees?

MYTH #14 -
“A key feature of the business is that women can rent several different handbags over a year for the same price or less than it would take to buy a new purse.” — Pioneer Press

Agreed, a person can rent several purses over the course of one year. But, the cost would be much higher than making an investment in the purchase of one classic high end designer handbag. See Myth #2.

MYTH #15 -
“Business is booming…and retail experts say consumers don’t attach a stigma anymore to leasing large sticker items like cars, even furniture, so it makes sense that pricey purses would fall in line.” —WXYZ-TV, Detroit

Once again comparing a handbag to a $60K Lexus is not a good comparison. Same holds true for furniture. Pricey purses carry very high rental fees.

MYTH #16 -
“Fashion conscientious women will pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars for handbags , everything from Gucci to Kate Spade, but now there is a local company that offers the exact, and we mean the exact, purses for as little as $20….” — KSTP-TV, Minneapolis

Not true, period.

MYTH #17 -
“It can cost a pretty penny…to carry a stylish handbag, and if you want a new bag each season, you’re talking some big bucks, but we’ve found away around it.” — Action News – WXYZ-TV, Detroit

For the rental price you pay, you can easily purchase a gorgeous new handbag every season.

Click here.

World's Most Desirable Luxury Brands

CHANEL accessories

photo courtesy of eFashionHouse.com

Nicola Ruiz, Forbes

Ask a friend what he would buy if he had a bigger bank account and he might rattle off a list that includes a limited-edition sports car, a round-the-world trip or a million-dollar beachfront home.

Goods by Gucci, however, top the lists of luxury brand lovers. That's according to an online survey conducted late last year by The Nielsen Company, a market research firm. It asked 25,000 consumers in 48 countries which luxury brand they would buy if money were no object. Besides Gucci, respondents chose Chanel, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior (other-otc: CHDRF - news - people ).

It's easy to see why Gucci reigns. Worldwide sales, though recently tapered, have jumped since Mark Lee became president of the company in 2004, then CEO the following year. In 2007, sales increased 11%; that's on top of a 17% increase in 2006 and a rise of 18.4% in 2005. Gucci is a part of the Gucci Group, which has a number of fashion brands in its portfolio, including Yves Saint Laurent and Sergio Rossi. PPR, a French holding company publicly traded on the Euronext exchange in Paris, owns the Gucci Group.

"Gucci manages to offer high fashion and very commercial items," says Michael Macko, fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue (nyse: SKS - news - people ). "That red and green stripe is some of the most iconic luxury branding ever created, and people want a piece of it."

Behind The Brands
Born as a leather goods company, Gucci is now most well known for its logo-ed handbags. When the company opened a new 46,000-square-foot store, the largest of its 233 worldwide, on the ground level of the Trump Tower on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue last month, they also launched a "Gucci Loves New York" handbag collection which sold out within two days of opening. Proceeds from the bags went to Playground Partners Central Park Improvement Program.

Chanel and Calvin Klein tied for second. The privately held Chanel, famous for the little black dress, tweed suit and quilted handbag, was founded by Coco Chanel in 1909 and is currently helmed by Karl Lagerfeld. It stays relevant thanks to a slew of consistently classic yet stylish products. The label's current must-haves include a quilted leather envelope clutch and a sleeveless embroidered cashmere dress with pink trim; its current pitch woman is Keira Knightley.

Calvin Klein's global retail sales surged to $4.5 billion in 2006--that's an increase of 50% since Phillips Van Heusen acquired the company in 2003. It manages such reach thanks to its three labels: Calvin Klein Collection (designer apparel and accessories), ck Calvin Klein, (bridge apparel and accessories) and Calvin Klein (better apparel and accessories). Top looks for spring include slim trousers cut on the bias for men and a high-waisted white skirt suit for women.

Shopper Stats
When looking at who actually buys designer brands today, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong come out on top. Almost one-third of survey respondents living in these areas claimed to buy the brand with the iconic interlocking-G logo. Only 7% of North American shoppers polled buy Gucci products.

While designer goods are certainly desirable in emerging markets, North America was the least interested in luxury brands, with 35% of respondents claiming they would not be tempted to buy even if money was not an issue. When quality comes into play, 34% of respondents in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America believe designer goods have the highest quality vs. non-designer; that figure falls to 20% for both Europe and North America.

What would you buy if money were no object? Weigh in. Add your thoughts in the Reader Comments section below.

"In emerging markets such as Latin America and the Asian Pacific, designer brands are probably more of a proclamation," says David Boyd, vice president of Nielsen Global Research, "a way to set themselves apart or feel that they've arrived as part of the new economy."

Regional differences also emerge over counterfeit goods peddled at market stalls globally. Over a quarter of North Americans questioned believe that fakes are just as good as the real thing, but in Asia, where most of the fakes are produced, consumers hold them in low regard, with only 8% putting them on par with the genuine article.

"People in Asia can pick out a fake bag like no one I've seen," says Boyd, "But in the U.S., people are less aware and less concerned, because in the U.S. luxury brands are considered more mainstream."

GUCCI designer handbag black tote bag monogram motif 200047 designer purse.

No. 1: Gucci
Guccio Gucci founded the House of Gucci as a saddlery shop in Florence in 1906. A century later, the company's horse bit and stirrup motif is an enduring symbol of luxury. He started out selling leather bags to horsemen in the 1920s and progressed to luxury luggage as his clients graduated from equine transportation to horseless carriages. Today, with Frida Giannini at the creative helm, handbags with the interlocking double-G logo are among the company's biggest money makers.

CHANEL designer handbag cream quilted lamb designer handbag

No. 2: Chanel (tied)
Chanel is one of today's best-known fashion brands, and has been practically since it was founded by Coco (Gabrielle) Chanel in 1909. Coco Chanel established herself as the 20th century's single most important arbiter of fashion by offering women no-nonsense, elegant, relaxed and functional clothes. Today, the tweed Chanel suit with a nipped-at-the-waist cardigan jacket remains one of the most popular--and most copied--fashion staples. In 1983, Karl Lagerfeld reinvigorated the brand with a dose of sexiness. He's been designing the collection ever since.

No. 3: Calvin Klein (tied)
In 1968, Calvin Klein and an investor started the company as Calvin Klein Limited with a small line of men and women's coats. In the '70s, Klein won two Coty Awards for his minimalist styles, and by the middle of the decade he had created a designer-jeans craze by putting his name on each pair's back pocket. Advertisements featured a 15-year-old Brooke Shields who famously said, "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins." In 2003 Phillips Van Heusen acquired the brand, and today there are three tiers within the collection ranging from high-end pieces to moderately priced casualwear.

No. 4: Louis Vuitton
The French luxury fashion and leather goods brand, now a main division of the French holding company LVMH, was founded in 1854 as a luggage retailer. The company is now known for its monogrammed leather handbags and employs designer Marc Jacobs as its creative director. Keeping up with the demand for exclusive luxury, the company is collaborating with a series of artists for limited-edition handbag collections.

Lady Dior Pink Leather Tote Bag

No. 5: Christian Dior
The designer founded the company in 1945 and quickly became famous for the "New Look," a fitted jacket with a nipped-in waist and full calf-length skirt. After the rationing of fabric during the World War II, Dior's lavish use of material was bold and shocking. Since 1996, chief designer John Galliano has been at the creative helm of the French fashion house, owned by the LVMH luxury goods group.

Versace Unisex Croc Leather Clutch Bag

No. 6: Versace
Gianni Versace founded the Milan-based company in 1978. After his 1997 death, his sister Donatella Versace, formerly vice president, stepped in as creative director and his older brother Santo Versace became CEO. Today, despite talks of going public, the company is still entirely owned by the Versace family. While the collection is known for its flashy, embellished style, this spring the looks that came down the runway put more emphasis on cut and volume than shimmer and bling.

No. 7: Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani, 74, is the sole shareholder, president and chief executive of the designer brand. The fashion and luxury goods group manufactures, distributes and sells everything from apparel to cosmetics to home interiors under a range of seven brand names, but it is best known for its menswear.

No. 8: Ralph Lauren
After a stint as a Brooks Brothers tie salesman, Ralph Lauren, 69, started his powerhouse brand 42 years ago with a collection of ties. Today there are over 35 boutiques in the United States. The company offers three collections: Polo is the fast-fashion-fix line for the young metropolitan male; Black Label is a more upscale, edgier version of city dressing; and Purple Label is the ultimate deluxe line. The designer has a personal fortune of $4.2 billion.

Prada Monogram signature shoulder hobo handbag BR3350

No. 9: Prada
Milan-based Prada was founded as a leather goods company in 1913 by Mario Prada. His granddaughter Miuccia inherited the company in 1978 and grew the business into a fashion apparel company. Her claim to fame was the signature Prada nylon handbag, which helped turn the family company into a billion-dollar business.

The YSL Downtown Bag

No. 10: Yves Saint Laurent
Founded in 1961, Yves Saint Laurent was the first fashion house to launch women's ready-to-wear. He opened Rive Gauche boutiques for women in 1966 and added men's ready-to-wear in 1974, which helped make designer luxury labels more accessible to the wider public. The Gucci Group acquired Yves Saint Laurent in 1999.

Art in the bag

Kellie Hush

High-end fashion brands are joining forces with artists to boost their image. Luxury fashion houses have excelled for decades at creating beautiful emporiums in the hope of driving consumers through boutique doors to buy into the dream. These fashion stores can also remind consumers how powerful a brand is with no-expense-spared fit-outs. But as the bar rises and competition stiffens within the luxury industry, so too have the projects commissioned beyond the fashion realm. And it is all in the name of selling more bags, watches, pens, shoes and clothing.

Last week in Hong Kong, French fashion house Chanel officially launched its latest global power project, the ambitious Mobile Art. Commissioned by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld, the futuristic mobile art gallery was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. Created from fibreglass panels, the 700-square-metre multimillion-dollar pavilion took six months to build and will be dismantled seven times to travel the world. For now its home will be Hong Kong's Star Ferry Car Park before it is packed into 65 containers and shipped to six more cities, ending its tour in Paris in 2010.

"The cost is not important. Chanel is about the dream," says Bruno Pavlovsky, director of Chanel's fashion division. "The project is more about building the Chanel image and what you see today is consistent with our vision for the next 10 years." The 20 commissioned artists had free reign to use any creative medium but all works had to be strictly inspired by the 2.55 quilted handbag designed by Coco Chanel in 1955.

Chanel's contemporary artists include Yoko Ono, Sophie Calle, Stephen Shaw, Wim Delvoye and Fabrice Hyber. Mobile Art curator and the editor-in-chief of the magazine Beaux-Arts Fabrice Bousteau says the initial list was "artists that I like - that's what a curator does. And all said yes, so we now have an exhibition with work by artists who have a strong personality and voice in their work."

The most controversial submission is Wim Delvoye's pigskin 2.55 bags (actually made in the Chanel workshop) and two stuffed tattooed pigs, named Jamie and Slobodan. "We decided not to reject any project," Pavlovsky says. "Chanel herself was controversial, so to have pieces that evoke controversy is OK." After the French artist Sophie Calle had accepted Chanel's commission, a work conflict led her to advertise in a Japanese magazine seeking an artist to carry out her project. Her vision was to stop passers-by, tell them to empty their bags and offer to buy both contents and the bag they were carrying. Soju Tao won the job with a bag budget of EUR11,000 ($17,794). Tao convinced several Chanel-toting strangers to hand over their bags with one 2.55 in the exhibition containing cash, house keys, a camera, mobile phone, an address book and Shirley MacLaine's book Out On A Limb.

Chanel is not the only luxury brand in recent times to collaborate with artists. Cartier's exhibition space in Paris is at its Foundation Cartier and features the work of contemporary artists and photographers. In 2004, Cartier gave the space to designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who filled the room with intricate designer dresses made using bread. Hermes has exhibition spaces in its Ginza and Singapore boutiques, and currently has its Hbox mobile video theatre screening work by leading video artists at Paris's Pompidou Centre.

In 2006, Louis Vuitton opened its permanent Espace Louis Vuitton gallery on the top floor of the luxury brand's Paris flagship store on the Champs-Elysees. The gallery opened with an exhibition called Alphabet Concept, by New York performance artist and photographer Vanessa Beecroft. Her 13 pictures portrayed nude women wearing clown wigs and with their bodies entwined to shape "LV". Also in 2006, nine artists, designers and architects, including Hadid, were commissioned to create bags for the exhibition space. The seventh and current exhibition, Orients Sans Frontiers, is inspired by the adventures of the automobile from Beirut to Beijing.

Currently running in Melbourne is High Art, a multi-venue exhibition which is part of L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. Taking place on shopping strip High Street, Armadale, Australian designers Scanlan & Theodore, Kirrily Johnston, Lisa Ho, Arabella Ramsay, ksubi, Lee Matthews and Herringbone have collaborated with artists to create installations inside their stores.

Next week Montblanc will take over Sydney's Martin Place with its own "art" installation. Famous for its pens, Montblanc commissioned six contemporary artists and photographers, including David LaChapelle, Jean-Marc Bustamante, Sam Taylor-Wood, Sylvie Fleury, Gary Hume, and Anne and Patrick Poirier to create six shopping bag sculptures. Standing three metres high, the bags have been exhibited on the Champs-Elysees and the Rockefeller Centre.

Designer exhibition spaces have been criticised by the art world, which claims there can be no creative independence when artists are commissioned by a commercial patron.

Yves Carcelle, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier, told the BBC at the opening of Espace: "The artists were free in their work. The main difference between art and creativity in fashion is that in fashion you need to sell the product. Art works only if you give it total freedom." When asked if Espace was designed to sell more handbags to tourists, especially the Japanese, who flock to the store to worship the logo-decorated luggage, the answer was: "Sell more handbags? Yes, that's my dream."

Chanel's Pavlovsky is also honest in what Mobile Art hopes to achieve: to sell more bags. "We hope the exhibition will create a strong image for the 2.55. Chanel No. 5 and the fashion already have its own iconic status."

Kellie Hush travelled to Hong Kong as a guest of Chanel.

Chanel is not the only luxury brand in recent times to collaborate with artists. Cartier's exhibition space in Paris is at its Foundation Cartier and features the work of contemporary artists and photographers. In 2004, Cartier gave the space to designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who filled the room with intricate designer dresses made using bread. Hermes has exhibition spaces in its Ginza and Singapore boutiques, and currently has its Hbox mobile video theatre screening work by leading video artists at Paris's Pompidou Centre.

In 2006, Louis Vuitton opened its permanent Espace Louis Vuitton gallery on the top floor of the luxury brand's Paris flagship store on the Champs-Elysees. The gallery opened with an exhibition called Alphabet Concept, by New York performance artist and photographer Vanessa Beecroft. Her 13 pictures portrayed nude women wearing clown wigs and with their bodies entwined to shape "LV". Also in 2006, nine artists, designers and architects, including Hadid, were commissioned to create bags for the exhibition space. The seventh and current exhibition, Orients Sans Frontiers, is inspired by the adventures of the automobile from Beirut to Beijing.

Currently running in Melbourne is High Art, a multi-venue exhibition which is part of L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival. Taking place on shopping strip High Street, Armadale, Australian designers Scanlan & Theodore, Kirrily Johnston, Lisa Ho, Arabella Ramsay, ksubi, Lee Matthews and Herringbone have collaborated with artists to create installations inside their stores.

Next week Montblanc will take over Sydney's Martin Place with its own "art" installation. Famous for its pens, Montblanc commissioned six contemporary artists and photographers, including David LaChapelle, Jean-Marc Bustamante, Sam Taylor-Wood, Sylvie Fleury, Gary Hume, and Anne and Patrick Poirier to create six shopping bag sculptures. Standing three metres high, the bags have been exhibited on the Champs-Elysees and the Rockefeller Centre.

Designer exhibition spaces have been criticised by the art world, which claims there can be no creative independence when artists are commissioned by a commercial patron.

Yves Carcelle, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton Malletier, told the BBC at the opening of Espace: "The artists were free in their work. The main difference between art and creativity in fashion is that in fashion you need to sell the product. Art works only if you give it total freedom." When asked if Espace was designed to sell more handbags to tourists, especially the Japanese, who flock to the store to worship the logo-decorated luggage, the answer was: "Sell more handbags? Yes, that's my dream."

Chanel's Pavlovsky is also honest in what Mobile Art hopes to achieve: to sell more bags. "We hope the exhibition will create a strong image for the 2.55. Chanel No. 5 and the fashion already have its own iconic status."

Kellie Hush travelled to Hong Kong as a guest of Chanel.

LA loves CHANEL: Contemporary classic Chanel handbags

Browsing and surfing led to a page with Chanel handbag rental fees online. Why in the world would anyone rent a Chanel handbag? Or any purse at all? The fee to rent a Chanel handbag for a member is $45.00/week or $131.00/month. A guest rents the same bag for $69.00/week or $174.00/month. Is that crazy? Or, what? How about this deal. Purchase your own Chanel handbag for 30% to 60% off retail. Click any of the pictures above or throughout this editorial blog post. Then, smile! : )

Renting a handbag spreads germs, virus and bacteria. Yuck. There's no way for you to know who handled the rental bag, what was carried in it, or what's lurking on its surface. Save the $200 fee each month for a rental and buy your own. Here's a link to see all the latest styles and prices 30% to 60% off retail everyday prices no coupon needed.

Or....put any handbag you desire on LAYAWAY. Within a few months, the bag of your "rental" dreams is yours to keep! Consider your money a well-spent investment. Here's a link to a LAYAWAY plan. Do it! or, at least take a peak and read about it.

CHANEL NAKED BAG designer handbags clear Chanel classic designer purse black. An authentic Chanel Naked Bag priced just right. Comes with all the trimmings. Cards, sleeper bag and box. Ideal size for everyday or evening. Perfect bag for all year wear. Dress it up or carry it wearing your favorite jeans and a T-shirt. Clear body with black leather trim. Silver hardware and chain strap woven with black leather. It's a classic, it's CHANEL.

The Chanel Press release about this bag reads:
How many secrets can a woman’s bag hold? Having passed through the x-ray machine, CHANEL’s new Naked Bag will answer this enigma when travelling by plane or train. To travel with transparency, Karl Lagerfeld came up with a mini-collection of plastic and truly bare bags. Simultaneously elegant and practical, all have black, gray, golden or white piping, or are purposely left bare. Stylish and aesthetic, they come in three models in a range of four colors. Nothing to hide? Dare to bare it. Shimmery gold leather trims this clear Chanel classic bag, topped by a signature chain-wrapped leather strap and logo. Features a single inside pocket drop handle.

The Chanel Naked Bag in classic flap front design with a CC turn lock closure measures about 11"L x 7"W x 3"H and has a long chain strap which can be carried over the shoulder doubled or made longer into a single shoulder strap. See photos for more details.

eFashionHouse.com is recognized as the top online retailer of off-priced authentic CHANEL handbags & accessories by About.com. For more information, please visit the eFashionHouse.com Press Page - Click Here.

CHANEL items are priced as marked at 30% to 60% off retail. Everyday prices no coupon needed.

eFashionHouse.com 2008 New Year Event: Designer Handbag Store Liquidation

eFashionHouse.com 2008 New Year Event: Designer Handbag Store Liquidation

Year-End Clearance - FINAL MARKDOWNS - Everyting Must Go!

Be the first to know.

January 2 - January 11, 2008

Use coupon code 25EFH08 for an extra 25% off Site Wide!

Our everday prices are 30% - 60% off retail. Beginning January 2 through January 11 take an extra 25% off the lowest marked price.

Click here to shop Final Markdowns

http://www.efashionhouse.com/productlist_saleefh.html/clearance/4

This offer is for a limited time only. All items will return to their original prices after January 11, 2008. This offer can't be combined with any other coupon or discount code, on layaway plans or prior purchases. Some restrictions apply. Write to CustomerCare@eFashionHouse.com with questions. Thank you for shopping with us. Happy New Year!

________________________________________

eFashionHouse named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch for Off-Retail Priced Designer Handbags. About.com named eFashionHouse Top Chanel Online Retailer. Online since 1996 offers FREE SHIPPING $200 orders and NO SALES TAX worldwide. Questions? Write CustomerCare@eFashionHouse.com - 24-hour message center 310.828.1281.

Shop FIVE Online Fashion Stores - http://www.eFashionHouse.com
BrandsBoutique - LuxuryVintage - ValueBags - ItalysOutlet - DesignersLA

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If you don't get the designer handbag . . .

With every passing season comes the desire for a new designer handbag! Don't know why, it's just because. We lust for Chanel and Hermes. We settle for practical and durability. Some of the best choices we make don't necessarily involve refinancing the house for a new purse.

Although it's easy to spend a fortune on a new designer handbag, it really doesn't make much sense. It all depends upon personal wants and needs. So, if you asked for a new designer purse for the holidays, and you're not sure it's going to arrive, think positive. There's always the New Year Sales to get the purse of your dreams.

Some of the best bargains online will be after the holidays. Here's a tip, click here and start shopping before anyone else finds this coupon. Use coupon code NY08 and take an additional 20% off your total purchase. Although some exceptions may apply, at least 99% of the site's designer fashion accessories, designer handbags, designer purses and everything else designer are on sale. Plus, pay NO sales tax and get free ground shipping on $200 orders.

Visit the Chanel section. All the Chanel items are priced as marked, but they are very deeply discounted and selling fast.

Happy New Year 2008!

Purse Christmas Shopping Online: Authentic Designer Handbag Gift Giving

It’s that time of the year again to start surfing the Net for the best authentic designer handbags and purses. Christmas is a perfect time to give the extra-special women in your life a gift with a special logo, label and price tag. Be careful not to fall prey to all the new websites popping up just-in-time for the Christmas rush. Make sure to make your purchase from a reputable ecommerce site you trust which responds to emails quickly.

Women of all ages enjoy receiving a new purse any time of the year, and Christmas is as good a time as any! So, if you are wondering what to give this Christmas to the women in your life, give a new authentic designer handbag or purse. The designers are creating some of the most fabulous styles you’ve ever seen. This year, you can select from a variety of bright colors, patterns, fabrications, prices and sizes. There are hand-held, shoulder strap and backpack styles. The inside is important, too. Are there extra pockets for a cell phone? Is the bag lined? There are a number of handbag characteristics you’ll be thinking about in your search for the right handbag gift.

Please don’t buy from the websites showing you the same designer handbag in every color under the sun. Designers don’t manufacture those bags. They are made by factory owners in third-world countries who produce them fast and cheap. Then, they turn-around and unload them by the truck load to street vendors and jobbers in the USA. One of the hottest counterfeit styles this year is the Celine Boogie Bag. Another hot counterfeit is the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag. Just be careful! Ask questions, and purchase from a website who replies to your questions and emails.

Some women like a big slouchy leather bag, and others like a small rigid constructed purse to carry. So, there are many questions you should answer before making the purchase. Because of the wide selection of purses available online and the same or more available styles of the way women dress, be certain to select a designer handbag you know she’ll like and keep for a very long time.

It’s important to select the right purse because you want her to smile when she opens your gift. However, you may be making a very big investment financially, too. Designer handbags are not a cheap item. Handbags have become the staple in most fashionable women’s closets. So, the investment you make may as well be for something she’ll adore for many years to come.
The most difficult part of giving a new purse for a gift is making the purchase decision based on what you think the receiver will like, and not buying something just because you would like it for yourself. Here’s some information to use whenever selecting a purse as a gift. First, visualize the woman in her everyday clothing. Is she a jeans and T-shirt person? Does she wear a suit to work everyday? Does she dress conservatively or funky? If you can, look inside her closet. What are her favorite colors? What style shoe does she wear? What style of purse does she carry now? Is it a shoulder bag, a satchel, a tote or a backpack?

Shop around, and then visualize the woman carrying the bag you want to purchase. How does she look? If you start laughing, then it’s time to keep looking. But, if you can actually see her carrying that bag, then grab it because online, what you see today may be gone tomorrow! Don’t pass up the perfect gift. Online merchants do not stock pile inventory. They obtain enough stock to get them through each season and move the stock as quickly as possible. So, when you find the right item, buy it quickly. Most of the time online shoppers find the item they had been eyeing is regretfully sold. It’s happened to me, and it can happen to you as well. Don’t let it happen this Christmas!

Once you have a good idea of the color, size, style and price-point, you can purchase the purse of her dreams! Look for something stylish and yet something basic enough with a classic flare. Don’t invest too much money in a fly-by-night fad. Funky styles are better selected by the woman herself. Most women buy the funky styles based on their mood or style of the moment. So, if you want to make a lasting impression, select a classic style in a basic color. My favorite recommendations include the basic colors in shades of brown or black leather or cloth bags by Ferragamo, Prada, Tods and Chanel. You can’t go wrong with these Designers. Classic Ferragamo have enough style to sail into the next millinium. Yet, they are fashioned for everyday and transition easily into evening wear. You can’t go wrong with a classic Ferragamo.
The Prada handbags are phenomenal and come in every size, shape, color and fabrication. Women of all sizes, ages, and styles adore the thought of owning an authentic Prada purse. The important thing to look for in a Prada is the triangle logo positioned on the exterior of the handbag. It can be strategically placed front center, back center or either side of the handbag. Just make sure the triangle logo is there! Fashion-conscious women of all ages want to see the Prada Logo, and they want everyone else to see them carrying it, too!

As stated earlier, be careful not to fall prey to a website selling fake or counterfeit handbags. I can’t mention names of websites here because it’s just not proper, but believe me, they are out there, and their prices are not cheap! The sites selling fakes keep their prices right up there comparable to the authentic bags. And, many of the bags look real in the photos and may not be when you receive them at home. I’m certainly not trying to instill fear about online shopping. My intention is to educate consumers so they learn to make the right choices. I own and operate an ecommerce website. I want people to feel safe and comfortable doing any type of shopping online.

Merry Christmas and happy handbag hunting! I find the best prices online and do almost all my shopping online nowadays. Don’t be afraid to buy online, just be smart. Your email can be your best friend when you shop online. Write, ask questions, and make your purchase from someone who replies with the right answers. You’ll be happy you did, and so will she.
About the author.

Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She has been buying and selling Designer Handbags and purses of all price ranges online for over ten years. She’s been around the handbag block, and she’s heard and seen it all! Anna operates an ecommerce site at http://www.efashionhouse.com/designerhandbag.html Guaranteed authentic or your money back Designer Handbags and Accessories.

http://www.efashionhouse.com/ should not be confused with any other website selling purses. This site is the home of five stores: BrandsBoutique, ValueBags, ItalysOutlet, DesignersLA and LuxuryVintage. The prices found at eFashionHouse.com are the best online for authentic designer purses and accessories. EfashionHouse.com keeps their operating overhead low so they can pass the savings onto their customers.

Designer Handbags Reach Record High Average $2,000 Fall 2005

Shopping in Beverly Hills last week I strolled Wilshire Boulevard popping in and out of fancy stores sizing up all the new designer handbags. There are a number of new looks for Fall 2005, and prices have a new look, too. Did you know designer handbags have become the staple in most wardrobes? It doesn't take a genius to buy a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, but to purchase the correct designer handbag to pull it all together has become quite an art.

In conversations with many handbag salespeople, it was obvious the upcoming season will offer a variety of wild colors, exotic leathers, and metallic finished leathers. They will appear in shoulder styles, clutches, slings and large totes. Most designer bags remain consistent in size and function. The variations from season to season come to color, hardware, texture and price.
Prices are a difficult topic for handbag lovers to discuss, it became the purpose of the Beverly Hills shopping trip. Which designers will rise to the top? Which handbags will have the highest price tags? These thoughts offered astonishing observations wondering through the high-end boutiques and department stores.

Doing a bit of mental gymnastics with a few designer handbag price tags, it became obvious a calculator was needed! Prices are competing with Los Angeles mortgage payments! One designer bag, constructed of scratch resistant, pebble grain calf leather, had a hefty $3500.00 price tag. Durability to last a life time is a major characteristic of a quality handbag, but let's get real here, women change handbags as often as they change their nail polish. Paying hefty prices for a designer handbag a few times each month is fashionable, but not healthy or wise.
Not mentioning any names, a lengthy conversation with a handbag specialist in a very well-known department store shed light on the day's mission. We strolled the designer handbag department with calculator in hand. Punching in numbers of our favorite high-end designer, we came up with a hefty five-figure total for 10 handbags. Then, with jaws dropped open, the average price was uncovered! As expected, little was left to shock and surprise. Based on a sampling of the designer handbag prices, the price for a brand new, high-end designer handbag this season averages an all-time high of $2000.00 USD.

Oh my! What a price we pay to pull it all together with that pair of denim jeans and T-shirt! We have become the hunters in search of the best designer handbag we can find. And, when we know it will coordinate with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, then we know we've selected the best bag. We want to look good, and we want to feel good, too. It would be nice to know we can purchase a bag from a new designer and still make a mortgage payment this same month.
Here's a solution. For those of us who know style and don't want to compromise quality, find a designer handbag expert to coach and guide your investments. Lacking modesty, I'll volunteer recommendations on a variety of designer handbags available at a fraction of what you'd expect to pay in a retail store.

You can actually purchase several handbags for the average cost of one designer handbag if you shop wisely. If you are a true designer handbag addict, and you purchase a new handbag whenever you get the urge, then you need a reliable source. Shop carefully at sites specializing in designer handbags, and you'll find your favorite designers at as much as 50% less than the average cost on Rodeo Drive!

Copyright © September, 2005 http://eFashionHouse.com

Check out all the authentic, new designer handbags today at http://www.eFashionHouse.com. You can purchase all three, a Marc Jacobs, a Fendi and a Prada bag for about $1000.00. Yes, three new, authentic, designer handbags for about half the price of one in a retail store. Shop eFashionHouse.com for your next designer handbag, two designer handbags, three designer handbags or more! You?ll be very glad you did, and so will your favorite jeans and T-shirt.

Designer Handbags Authentic or Counterfeit? Designer Purses Should ALWAYS Have Money Back Guarantee

Don’t waste your hard earned money on a fake counterfeit designer handbag or purse! That hefty investment you make $200-$800 in a fake designer handbag or purse can end up being worthless. If you are going to buy a new purse, invest in something of value, not cheap imitations. ALWAYS insist on a money back guarantee!

Why in the world would anyone want to buy a fake designer handbag or poor quality? I just can’t comprehend spending good money purchasing a fake designer purse. It doesn't even begin to make sense to me, even if the purse looks like the real thing. When you know it’s not authentic - why bother?

Above all else, be aware that buying a counterfeit item is illegal, period.

Counterfeit designer merchandise has a sub-culture all its own. I’m not sure if people enjoy the fact they are getting something resembling the real thing at lower cost, or if they just don’t understand the quality, durability and value of authentic designer handbags in the first place.
I find humor in it now, but pre-internet, the counterfeit handbag purchasing process seemed mysterious and intriguing. It felt as though you were somehow privileged to know how to buy these uncommon goods. Pre-internet, the only way to locate a fake bag was through word of mouth. Wholesalers of counterfeit bags still make sales by appointment only. There are signs throughout the store reminding you “ALL SALES FINAL.”

It involved a sort of cloak and dagger approach when walking into wholesale stores, asking to talk to the manager and introducing yourself as a friend of a friend. Introductions were all made through word of mouth referrals. There’s no advertising at all. Unlike online purchases, where everyone boldly claims their goods are authentic.

The counterfeit shopping experience is intriguing. You can almost feel the illicit connection made with the handbag underground. All you want is a new purse, a designer copycat, something that looks like the real thing without the hefty price tag. The irony in all of this is the reality of the experience. They are NOT inexpensive.

In reality, you pay a lot of money for junk. Maybe the leather is good, and maybe it is not. How would you know? Have you seen the real thing to compare? If you did, you certainly wouldn’t be investing in a fake after handling the real thing! Solid metal hardware, rich sumptuous leather and finely crafted details trump the plastic & vinyl attachments, poorly stitched linings and knock-off logo's cheaply glued to counterfeit designer purses and handbags.

We know the best designer handbags and leather goods are made in Italy and France. No need to drop names here, we all know the top sellers. Fakes might be made in Italy or France, and they may not. You never know. Most of the people you are dealing with are hustling you to make a big profit on something of little worth and definitely of no real value.

The evolution of designer handbags has made its mark world wide. Every woman with fashion sense wants to carry a new, hot, high-end designer handbag, and the price is not cheap. On an average, the retail boutique price for a new designer purse starts at about $1000. That’s a hefty price to pay to feel good when you leave the house. I know some women who carry bags costing more than their cars! The Hermes handbag collection of some of my clients' totals more than the initial cost of my first home!

The Internet has opened a flood gate of ecommerce sites for handbags. There are more than enough websites selling purses these days. And, the best stores sell authentic designer merchandise, not fakes. The difficulty comes in trying to determine the real from the fake and make the distinction clear.

Here are a few tips for identifying a website selling fake counterfeit designer handbags and purses:

A new store comes online just in time for holiday shopping.
The new website’s contact information is missing or obscure.
The new website’s registration information (Whois.com) is “private.”
You can’t locate the owners.
The same style or design of a bag is available in many colors.
The website sells only three or four designer brands.
The handbags look like items you’ve seen on many other websites,
Prices are too good to be true less than half of retail.
There are page after page of similar items.

There’s one page of authentic-looking bags, but the rest of the website contains the same bag in every color under the sun!I’ve seen websites come and go over the past ten years online. First, the sites selling fakes offered Gucci, Fendi and Prada. Then, there were the ones selling strictly Louis Vuitton and Chanel. The Hermes Birkin and Kelly bag are still prolific in the counterfeit world, but they are not as commonly seen online as the other Designers.

The most commonly counterfeited handbags today are: BALENCIAGA, TODS, CELINE, and CHLOE. Plus, the old-time favorites are still hotter than ever in the counterfeit market: GUCCI, LOUIS VUITTON, HERMES, FENDI and PRADA. I recently saw even LAMBERTSON TRUEX smooth calf leather fake bags, too.

With all the choices out there, how can you tell if you are buying a genuine product? Well, in reality you just don’t know unless you really know the product well. I am a purse expert, but sometimes I've been fooled, too. Most of the time, I know what I’m doing, and I buy the right thing.

Three rules I use to make a handbag purchases online:
Ask before you buy.
Talk with the owner of the site ONLY!
Obtain a full money-back guarantee for authenticity.

I asked a wholesaler if his bags were guaranteed authentic, and I was told, “Yes, they are gauranteed to be 100% made in Italy.” Another wholesaler told me, “Our bags are the best quality.” Yes, but are they authentic designer goods? I’ve also heard, “The man who made this bag worked for the Design House for over 20 years. Of course, it’s authentic!” Wrong. If you don’t get a straight answer, pass on the purchase.

Please don't blindly believe everything you see and especially not what you are told. I arranged a meeting with a wholesaler at a well-known annual conference. The bags I pre-ordered were authentic items, yet when the order arrived, they were obviously not exactly like those styles shown at the pre-order sale. Be careful. Buy from a website or seller who has been online for a very long time. Over the past ten years selling online, I can honestly say that the best lessons I’ve learned were from customers who did their homework. Talk to people, share your insights, and please ... let’s all stamp out fakes online!

About the Author.
Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. She has been buying and selling Designer Handbags and purses of all price ranges online for over ten years. She’s been around the handbag block, and she’s heard and seen it all! Anna operates an ecommerce site at http://www.efashionhouse.com/designerhandbag.html Guaranteed authentic or your money back Designer Handbags and Accessories.

http://www.efashionhouse.com/%20Designer_Handbags.html should not be confused with any other website selling purses. This site is the home of five stores: BrandsBoutique, ValueBags, ItalysOutlet, DesignersLA and LuxuryVintage. The prices found at eFashionHouse.com are the best online for authentic designer purses and accessories. EfashionHouse.com keeps their operating overhead low so they can pass the savings onto their customers.

Decked Out in a New Designer Purse for the Holidays: New Designer Handbag is Good for Your Health

Want to make a difference in this year’s gift-giving? Make a smart investment. Use the information in this article to begin Google research for all your 2006 discount designer handbags and purses gift-giving needs. The search terms found in “ITALICS” will locate the perfect resources to fulfill all your shopping requirements without leaving the comfort of home. Copy and past the italicized search terms into the Google search box and voila! Let your fingers do the shopping to save wear and tear on your feet!

Here are some trusted tips, research, and websites for your holiday discount designer handbags purchase. Whenever in doubt, go to Google.com, copy & paste the italicized words in the search box, and hit the Enter key.

Nowadays, we pay a few hundred dollars for a new pair of designer jeans, and our designer jacket or designer cashmere sweater costs a bit more. Our Manolo stilettos top the charts at several hundred dollars. Then we explode with a fabulous designer purse or handbag with a much higher price tag. Why? Why not!

If it feels good, do it. Carry a designer handbag to make the designer outfit you painstakingly put together look great! And, pick a classic. Select a designer purse you’ll want to keep around for awhile. Don’t be boring. Pick your new purse with style, pizazz, texture, pattern, embossed leather and color. This season’s designer purses are adorned with logos, chains, charms, colorful trims and bold large sizes.

The list of hot designers seems endless. To name a few, some of the top handbag designers include: Juicy Couture, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Burberry and Coach. Don’t be surprised when you go handbag shopping. The prices range from hundreds of dollars to several thousand each.

Remember George Karlin’s stand-up routine about “stuff?” Well, now we have surrendered our stuff to be contained in fabulously designed expensive purses and handbags! Plus, remember the famous Loreal` cosmetics TV commercial proclaiming “I’m worth it.” Owning a new expensive designer bag is now part of the psychology of fashion. We are worth it. We work hard for our look, and it feels great to carry a famous designer bag! Our stuff is carried in style because we are worth it.

When you find yourself people watching at the airport or shopping mall, focus on the purses women (and men) are carrying these days. The designer handbag craze is not isolated to one sex. There are almost as many fancy manbags for the guys as there are fabulous styles for the women. So, if you are thinking about upgrading your man’s appearance, pick a standard basic to begin his new adventure. A suggestion is a LATICO designer handbags black leather messenger bag. It’s a standard, basic, clean style for any man on your list.

Famous designer labels are the standard -- the norm today vs. days gone by. For the most part, you’ll see Gucci designer handbags recognizable by their traditional stripe or horsebit motif in leather, GG monogram canvas and/or mixed with leather and canvas designs. Gucci designer purses are for all age groups. Personally, I’d save the Gucci gifts for Mom, Auntie and the more mature women on your holiday shopping list.

Juicy Couture offers metallic leathers and adorns the bags with pom-poms, chains, charms and the signature “J” logo on zipper pulls and hang-tags. Juicy leather bags are made of soft and supple Italian napa. The bags are comfortable to carry and cater to all age groups. A Juicy Couture designer purse is the perfect gift for any female aged 13 or older. Most of the purses are lined in a signature Juicy Couture lining. If you want to see the teen on your holiday shopping list grin ear-to-ear hand her a Juicy Couture designer handbag. Any size, shape, style or color will do the trick!

Marc Jacobs designer handbag styles are timeless and seasonless. They can be carried all year long and never go out of style. The signature push locks and pockets decorate Marc Jacobs purses. They use durable, scratch resistant leather in smooth, pebble grain or quilted styles. Engraved hardware on zipper pulls is standard. The bags are usually quite roomy and come in a variety of colors. Marc Jacobs is a little pricier than the Juicy bags and will make her not only smile, but probably give you a big smooch! If you are looking for stocking stuffers fill ‘em to the brim with MARC JACOBS designer accessories monogram animal shape pencil sharpeners. Anything with the MJ monogram will bring a smile to the face of your young fashionista’s face!
Coach designer purses are an all-time favorite. Every closet should have at least a few to pull out when all else fails. Coach accessories are great for everyday use and available in a variety of styles, colors, sizes and designs. Coach makes a signature CC logo pattern in monogram canvas. There’s also smooth and pebble grain Italian leather styles. Colors range from patchwork to solid basics. You can’t go wrong with a Coach purchase for the holidays. One of our favorites is the COACH designer handbag 3574 signature duffle monogram shoulder bag. Coach also has small leather goods in wristlet styles, wallets, key cases and picture keepsakes. Small evening bag styles are also available for the person who does not like carrying a large bag. The COACH designer purses white canvas bronze leather is ideal for gift-giving.

Louis Vuitton designer purses are seen everywhere. The LV monogram canvas when purchased brand new is very expensive. Yet, often found at resale shops when a woman wants to upgrade to a new bag. Resellers like LuxuryVintage.com offer a deep discount on pre-owned Louis Vuitton designer handbags. Be careful when shopping online for Louis Vuitton. There are tons of knockoffs being sold as authentic items. When making an online purchase, it’s always smart to confirm the authenticity with the site owner prior to submitting an order.

Prada is easy to spot. The Prada triangle logo is an icon in the fashion industry. Prada designer handbags are made of leather or durable vela nylon trimmed in leather. With the release of this year’s box-office hit “The Devil Wears Prada” sales have increased for this famous designer label. Please remember, angels wear prada too – especially your little angel! There are several styles to choose with large embossed leather PRADA logos and embroidered PRADA enscribed on the font of many 2006 designs. One of our favorites is the PRADA designer purses BR3464.
Fendi designer purses are adorned with the famous FF logo pattern. The F’s are available in a large FF pattern or a smaller ff motif. Both jacquard prints are fashion icons and available in a variety of colors with matching small accessories available, too. A classic Fendi is always a good choice for a gift, especially for someone special. The classic FENDI designer handbag baguette designer purse - 8BR000 is at our top of the shopping list for all ages. Yet, if you are looking for a monogram key case under $100, select a FENDI accessories 8AP002.

The Burberry Check pattern is very easy to recognize when you find yourself spotting designer handbags. The traditional tan is also available in a lighter color called Nova Check. Most are constructed of a vinyl treated canvas with leather trim. The moderately priced BURBERRY handbag sling pochette or the BURBERRY nova check flower pot shopper are favorite Burberry check picks.

Chanel is famous for its quitled lamb leather and chain straps. The CC logo is what women go for the most. The CC logo is found on Chanel designer handbags, Chanel designer jewelry and Chanel designer sunglasses. If you want to make a hit with a lady, give a Chanel gift. It’s a classic item and literally never goes out of style. A favorite in line with the holidays is the CHANEL designer purse shades of red leather monogram hobo bag. You may even find it at more than 20% off retail online!

Hermes probably tops the charts for prices, and there aren’t enough words to express the respect for Hermes designer handbags. The Hermes leather items are hand made and each are given its own serial number to identify the artisan’s hand work. Hermes shops are only found in major cities. But, now with Internet Shopping available, a few reputable sites offer Hermes. Again, be careful not to make a purchase for a fake Hermes. They are horrible imitations and an insult to the House of Hermes. Select a reputable online store and don’t be sorry later. Auction sites are a risk for making a Hermes purchase. So, unless you know the seller, you may want to stay away from auction sites like eBay for Hermes. Hermes.com offers small accessories, but their shipping and tax is outrageous. Bluefly also sells Hermes but again, the discount is not that great. There’s also BrandBoutique.com for new deeply discounted Hermes, and if you don’t mind pre-owned, LuxuryVintage offers even deeper discounts plus shipping discounts and not sales tax. Whenever there’s a question, send an email to the site and don’t purchase until you get all your questions answered.

Designer purses top the charts ranging from the mid-hundreds to thousands of dollars each. Most women plan to purchase several each year. I truly believe the designer handbag has become as popular to the fashion addict as buying a new pair of shoes. Don’t let the high cost scare you off. These bags last a long time when cared for properly. Store them in a sleeper bag neatly in your closet. Take your favorite leather goods to a good shoe cobbler for cleaning and repairs. An expensive designer handbag will last a long time, even longer than your favorite pair of boots or stilettos when cared for properly.

With the onset of the holidays, thoughts of giving and receiving can pose a dilemna. Skip the chocolates and flowers this year. Give something that lasts forever! There are certain folks (ourselves included) who are very difficult to buy for. So, what do we do? We ponder and wait until the last minute to make our selection. Think twice about this year’s purchases. Almost all women carry a purse. So, it’s a no-brainer any woman would love a new designer handbag. Most men use a wallet, some use manbags, and many use a briefcase or messenger style laptop bag. Make your shopping easy, memorable and practical. Invest your gift-giving dollars in an item the receiver will love and adore.

Here’s a tip to the wise, and why you should own vs. rent a designer handbag. The following excerpt from an article was found posted on Snopes.com titled Bag-Teria. In summary the article states, “Bacteria on Purses. A study was performed on women's purses. A health team went to a local mall and took samples from the bottom of 50 women's purses. The purses were swabbed with cotton swabs along the entire bottom of the purses and placed into special containers. The swabs were then processed at a local laboratory. The Health Report also showed where women place their purses: public rest-rooms (on the floor beside the toilet), kitchen counters & kitchen tables, on tables & chairs in restaurants, etc. The results of the laboratory tests contained the following most serious result: 1 out of 4 purses — E COLI. Other extremely serious bacteria also were listed, including Hepatitis.”

Just the thought of using a purse previously borrowed by a stranger is revolting. Many women carry their puppy in their tote. Should you risk using that same handbag for the market? Not a good idea - even if it gives you a sense of status. You certainly don’t want to spread an unwanted illness from a rented purse!

All decked out in a new designer purse for the holidays and beyond is the goal. The investment made for a new leather or monogram tote bag must become a lasting treasure. So, do your homework, and shop online for discount designer handbags and purses at a reputable ecommerce fashion site. And, whenever in doubt, send an email to the website’s owner for help, guidance and assistance. Many websites offer personal shopping tips to put a smile on both the gift-giver and receiver for high-end designer purchases.

Anna Miller is the President of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. (IGM) and has been selling authentic designer fashion online for over ten years. IGM’s main website is http://www.eFashionHouse.com EFashionHouse.com was named BEST OF THE WEB by People Magazine Fall 2006 StyleWatch for discount designer handbags and accessories. Questions can be sent to Anna at eFashionHouse dot com.