Trendsetting Handbag Designers

The popularity of designer handbags is at an all-time high. Everywhere we look, from the high street to the nightclub, everyone is carrying a trendy new purse. It seems that we are often so preoccupied with our new handbags that we tend to forget about the people behind the designs. I started trying to develop a shortlist of my favorite designers, but I realized that I am in love with the work of far too many to list. The following are just a few of my favorites.


Chloe is, by far, one the greatest design houses in the world. I absolutely love their work! At times, I feel that some of the French designers are a little over the top…but where would true fashion be without their sense of creativity and innovation. Chloe has been a leader in the world of fashion, especially since the Stella McCartney assumed the helm. Her star power and understanding of classic design reinvigorated a company that was often lacking the cohesive aesthetic that truly binds a collection together. Make no mistake about it…Chloe is the new Gucci!

Vivienne Westwood has done more for British design that any other designer in modern times. In many ways, the entire punk genre owes her a debt of allegiance. Vivienne was just a young girl during the heyday of punk, when she met a fellow named Malcolm McLaren. For those of you not particularly well versed in your punk rock history, Malcolm was the manager of the consummate British punk band – The Sex Pistols. After dressing the Pistols for a number of years, she opened her own shop in London called Sex Boutique. Punks worldwide have adopted her design aesthetic, and the rest is history.

Monica Botkier is yet another brilliant designer. Her designs are held in high esteem by women all around the world. After spending the early part of her career as a fashion photographer, Monica Botkier has certainly spent enough time in the fashion world to know what constitutes a great handbag. She is able to strike the perfect balance between function and form, and her designs are some of the most sought after with fashionistas everywhere. Monica Botkier's designs are famous for their detailing, hardware, and innate sophistication.

Tips When Buying Ladies Handbags

Aside from shoes, bags are definitely the Achilles’ heel of every female homo sapien. Women go gaga over any kind of bag, and they even take pains in matching their bags with their shoes.

Buying a bag can be a major decision for every woman even though she may already have a dozen or more in her closet. Women can never have enough of bags.


Those who have money to spend are lucky because they can splurge their money on bags of all shapes, colors and sizes. However, for the budget conscious who are nevertheless smitten with bags, it is wise to decide which bag would fit an already existing wardrobe.

When buying bags, consider where it is going to be used so that you will not be easily swayed into buying any bag that catches your fancy. Ask yourself whether the bag will fit into your existing wardrobe. A wise dressed will always know how to mix and match her wardrobe with her bags, shoes and accessories to make her wardrobe more cost effective. Bags and shoes, when mixed and matched with different dressed, will give a new set of wardrobe to the wise dresser.

Be able to put a ceiling or a price range for your target bag so you will not be tempted into buying anything that costs more than you budget. Except of if the price is already a bargain and it can be mixed and matched to several clothing wear. This characteristic will of course make the price of the bag more cost effective in the long term.

Fashion victims would always look at magazines and follow the newest craze in bag designs and colors. Wise and elegant dressers will always go for the classic look. Going with a classic look will mean your bag will outlast the newest craze and it can be worn anywhere and anytime, for any occasion.

There are however a few rules that would have to be followed by a woman before buying a bag. A petite woman should avoid very big bags as this will tend to make her look more petite than she already is. Bags can also hide body imperfections so be sure to know which body parts you want understated before choosing a bag. If you want to avoid getting attention on your big hips then choose a shoulder bag. If you have big breasts or broad shoulders then a waste bag is for you.

Bags can come in all types like pouch bags, shoulder bags, tote bags, flap bags, evening bags and many others. It can also come in various materials like leather, satin, velvet, denim or nylon. There are as many bag designs and materials depending on the creativity of bag makers.

Bags are welcome gifts for every female. However, being able to buy the right bag for the right person can be difficult considering that each person has different tastes in bags. When doing this, it would be better to ask the person about her preferences in bags. If the person is close to you, then you would have more knowledge about her fashion style and occupation. This way, your gift would not end up at the bottom of her closet.

Purses

Women around the world consider a purse as a necessity. A purse has a lot more significance and importance than its function, which is carrying money and other items around in it. It is used as a fashion accessory and speaks volumes about the personality of the person carrying it.

In simple terms, a purse is a small and fashionably designed bag, used to hold money, keys, makeup and other items of daily use. Purses are also popularly known as handbags, although some argue that a handbag is larger in size. Purses evolved several centuries ago, and ever since, have been an essential fashion accessory. The first purses can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, who used small pouches during religious ceremonies. Later, in the 14th century, purses were fastened to the waist with the help of girdles. During those days, purses were used as status symbols and were adorned with jewels and elaborate embroidery.

Through the 16th and 17th century, purses became more practical in design and were made of materials such as leather and cotton. Several purses had drawstring fasteners on the top to keep the contents safe. Embroidery, which became a craze in the 17th century, was used to decorate purses, which resulted in beautiful and unique pieces.

Probably the greatest achievement in the development of purses was the reticule, used in the 18th century. These were miniature purses that had no handles and were carried around in the hand. The reticules further developed into today’s chic purses, more popularly known as ‘clutch’ purses.

With several top companies producing purses in a dazzling array of designs and styles, the purse industry has become a multi-million dollar business. Today, purses vary not only based on their design, but also on the material used in their manufacture. From myriad colors and embroidery to sequins and diamonds, purses have come a long way and have added a substantial style quotient to our lives.

Rent-a-bag…the hottest new trend

I was surfing the net the other day, and came across an article that left me flabbergasted. As you all likely know by now, I am a designer handbag fanatic. There have been months where I have seriously considered bouncing my rent check in order to buy a purse I simply could not do without. Who am I kidding? I have bounced my rent to buy a new handbag! And I would likely do it again.

Well, it appears that my dilemma has come to an end. I was surfing the net the other day, and came across an interesting article. It was about the burgeoning industry of designer handbag rentals! Now I have heard of luxury car rentals and even designer wedding dress rentals, but I never imagined a day when I could rent the latest Chanel purse. Can you picture yourself going into Blockbuster Handbags and renting the purse you have been saving your money for? I know I can!

There is a company called Bag Borrow or Steal that, as far as I can tell, is the first of a kind. They have a wonderful website, and a business model like no other. It is very similar to Netflix or something to that effect, but you rent handbags instead of the latest DVD. Somewhat similar to renting videos, you pay annual subscription fee and you are given access to a collection of beautiful handbags to use on a temporary basis. The type of bag you are allowed to borrow is determined by your membership level. Memberships range from $19.95 to $174.95 per year. You can keep the bag for as long as you like, but it must remain in the condition you received it in. I wonder if they have an insurance plan.

After doing some research, I discovered another company that is offering something similar. They are called From Bags to Riches, and their service are slight different from the company mentioned above. Instead of charging an annual membership fee, this company allows you to rent on a weekly or monthly basis. The price of the rental is determined by the duration and type of bag you want to rent. This site organizes their collections by brand name, and monthly rentals range from $$19.90 to $79.80. They also offer their customers the option to purchase their rented purse, if they cannot bring themselves to return it. They know me so well, don’t they?

That's my bag, baby!

Greetings and salutations, my loyal readers! Let me tell you a little story. I was out shopping with some friends last week (surprise, surprise) and I had the strangest altercation. My friends and I were at Sak's 5th Ave. to check out the latest designer handbags, and we are all raving over this incredible new purse from Coach. If you have read any of my previous work, you would know that I am Coach's biggest fan!

It was a beautiful purse! It had incredible vintage styling, and was constructed from the finest, most supple caramel-colored leather. I was literally drooling over this purse, as were my fellow shoppers. As I was inspecting the bag and admiring the awesome multi-colored liner, I could sense that somebody was peering over my shoulder. I turned around to discover another woman lusting after the very handbag I had in my hands.

At this point, I was both annoyed and afraid. I was annoyed by having a stranger invade my personal space, and scared by the crazed and maniacal look in her eyes. This woman looked like a junkie waiting for her next fix! In the past, I have written about my struggle with being a designer handbag junkie. It was, however, all in good humor and I did employ a certain amount of creative embellishment.

This woman, on the other hand, looked like she was about to attack me! I couldn't believe it. Fortunately, I had some friends with me. Otherwise, I suspect we may have had a catfight on our hands. Needless to say, I made a hasty escape with my new coach handbag. Later that evening, I sat down at my computer to write some new copy for the site and I had a really hard time forgetting about this woman. It got me thinking about the bigger picture, with regards to high end consumer items like designer fashion accessories.

Why are people so strangely obsessed with trivial items? Why do we place such value on inanimate objects? I am generally not one to consider designer handbags and fashion accessories trivial, because I am absolutely in love with them. But in the bigger picture that is reality, these are not important matters. Handbags are simply something I am interested in, and write about for my website. Sure, I have more bags than I could ever possibly put to use. But I am far from being fanatical about them! Well…most of the time.

Macrobiotic Diet Helps Balance Your Diet and Your Life

Macrobiotics devotees believe that food, and food quality, affects our lives more than is commonly thought. It is thought to affect our health, well being and happiness. They focus on moving away from processed foods, and moving toward more natural and more traditional methods of food preparation. They claim it is better to choose food that is less processed, more natural, use more traditional methods of food preparation for themselves and their family.

Macrobiotics emphasize locally-grown, organically-grown whole grain cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruit, seaweed and fermented soy products, combined into meals according to the principle of balance between Yin and Yang properties, rather than scientific dietary guidelines. Macrobiotic diets follow the idea of Yin and Yang. Cereals, fruit, beans, nuts and vegetables, and rice make up the main part of the diet and are considered neutral and are naturally balanced in terms of Yin and Yang. Foods which are either extremely Yin in nature or extremely Yang in nature are eaten very rarely if at all. Very Yin products include coffee, tropical fruit, sugar, soft dairy products, vegetables, alcohol and honey. Very Yang products include poultry, meat, firm dairy products like hard cheeses, and eggs.

The macrobiotic diet is high in natural, unprocessed foods, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables. It is low in saturated fats, whilst providing the essential fats. Food should be organically grown and eaten fresh. The Macrobiotic lifestyle also governs how food should be prepared. No microwave should be used - rice must be cooked in a pressure cooker. Food should be eaten and chewed slowly, in a relaxed manner.

Low-fat high-fiber diets are also believed to play a role in preventing some types of cancer. And the macrobiotic emphasis on fresh, non-processed foods may be beneficial to those dealing with certain food allergies and chemical sensitivities. Followers assert that the balance and harmony of the macrobiotic diet and lifestyle create the best possible conditions for health. They claim that the diet yields many positive health effects, including a general sense of well-being, and some studies actually show that people on the diet have a decreased risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Peace of Mind towards Beauty Enhancement

Beauty is closely related to physical appearance. The shape of your body, the color of your skin, the shine of your hair, the clothes and jewelry that you wears are all factors used by the modern world to define the beauty of a person.

Many people have forgotten that beauty is composed of inner and outer beauty. What is inside a person’s heart and mind is manifested in the outside world. Beauty is the total impact of your views about a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual attributes.

Inner peace is a key component for achieving true beauty and health.

Peace
Having peace of mind is another key factor in achieving beauty inside and out. Peace of mind gives a person much needed space to enable them to see the beauty of everything around them. The way a person views the world depends on their inner peace.

Meditation
Meditating helps in achieving peace of mind, tranquility, and serenity. Anyone can engage in meditation. You don’t need to be an expert in yoga to be able to meditate. You can sit on a chair, close your eyes and free your mind of the thoughts of the past and the future. Focusing on the present is what yoga is all about. You should feel the air passing through the nose, entering and exiting the lungs. Meditation takes practice, which should be done regularly.

Other than knowing than art of meditation, there are ways of achieving peace of mind. Listed below are some of them:

-Forgive those who have wronged you

It may sound like a cliché but this is one of the basic lessons that people often take for granted. Holding no grudges against people will be very helpful in achieving peace of mind. Unloading all of your hard feelings and accepting past events is a major key toward inner peace.

-Say “I’m sorry”

Saying “I’m sorry” for the mishaps and mistakes that we make is necessary when trying to achieve inner peace. Inner peace is not achieved through pride; it is achieved by respecting the people around you.

-Pray

Praying for wisdom and courage instead of material things is a fulfilling experience. Peace of mind speaks of the soul and not of the material world.

Achieving peace of mind is a way of improving one’s overall image. Beauty is a two-sided coin; both inner and outer beauty should be improved and neither should be taken for granted.