Handbags : Beauty and Fashion Tech

Benefit Cosmetics Powderflage Sweepstake, Win a Louis Vuitton Handbag!

Now who doesn’t want to win a Louis Vuitton handbag? See below for more:

Benefit Cosmetics Powderflage Sweepstakes! Enter to win a Louis Vuitton Monogramoflage Speedy 35 filled with $200 in Benefit goodies! Contest ends 11.10.08.

Popularity: 15% [?]

The Miche Handbag, One Bag With Multiple Personalities

This is one of the more fun items that I have gotten to try. The Miche handbag is a good quality bag that can be transformed in to a multitude of looks. The bag comes with a removable shell, so you can switch out shells to change the appearance of the bag.

The bag itself is good quality. It has a full zipper that snaps at one end so that the bag can fully open and expand. The shape is reminiscent of the older Kate Spade bags. The shells come in a variety of materials and have metal feet, giving the bag a high end look and feel.

Switching shells only takes a few seconds. Each shell is held on with credit card safe magnets, and changing just requires pulling the old one off and sticking the new one on. The shells stay in place very well and the look is attractive.

The site sells base bags in black and brown and a selection of shells. There are also some add on handle choice. I’m pretty hooked on my Miche bag and plan to pick up some more shells for it!

Popularity: 32% [?]

Three Bright Bags That Look More Expensive Than They Are

In my denial that it is the end of summer, I have a post on bright colored bags! Everyone loves a bargain, especially if it looks much more expensive than it really is. These handbags fit the bill! Now is also the time to buy these colors. They will go on sale in order to make room for the reds, browns, and blacks of fall.

Running into September, bags by Monica Botkier will be available at Target. This is your chance to own a designer bag for $50 or less. I have seen them start to go on sale at a few stores too!

Purple is also really hot this fall, so this bag can carry you through the summer like days of September into fall, and through the winter.

Available in multiple colors for $78, this faux patent leather bag from Yah at Yesstyle has features lending to an expensive appearance, such as metal feet and a metal zippers. Plus, it is from Korea, so you are less apt to run into other people carrying it. When I carry this bag, I get compliments on it right and left. I just ordered up two bags for fall from the same place. One word of warning though, YesStyle is a bit slow on shipping. But they are such a great shopping source, that I find it worth the wait!

For around $50 or $60, you can get a bag like this sunshine yellow and white bag at Baghaus. With metal hardware and a magnetic snap closure, it seems expensive, but the faux leather keeps the price down. Baghaus is full of bags like this.

Still looking for the perfect bag that is cheap, yet looks expensive? Here is a quick list of some items to look for:

Metal zippers
felt or leather feet
magnetic closures.
A leather look (even if fake)
A nice liner
Interesting design features for a unique look.

To avoid your bag appearing cheap, avoid: Plastic zippers and closures, fabric, nylon, plain or overly neutral colors, lack of pockets or decoration.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Star 50 Handbags Are Historical, Unique, and Fun

Star 50 Handbags center on a fun and unique design concept. Each bag is based on a state specific theme. Browsing through the bags reveals quite a selection of various styles, each with unique features that draw from the representative state.

There is not yet a bag for each state. The designer has several releases each year, with around 5 states in each release. So I get to wait a bit for my childhood state of Nebraska and current home of Illinois. I am curious to see what they are like!

Regardless of whether your state is represented yet, there very well might be a bag for you already in the collection because the handbags cross a number of different styles and colors. For example, I have no specific connection to Wisconsin (well OK, I really love their cheese), but I don’t need a connection to the state to like the look of the Wisconsin Porter bag.

As another example, I recently sampled the Mississippi Brunch Bag and found it to be a great little handbag, coupled with some fun packaging. The bag arrived with a View Master Viewer (remember those?) and some slides of the other bags in the collection, which I thought was a very fun touch!

The bag itself is well made and has a nice vintage look and feel to it. I was particularly impressed with some of the design features, such as a patent leather flower on the front, patterned stitching on the outside, a thick fabric handle with a nice woven fabric liner underneath, and a cute inside liner based on state flowers. The clasp is sturdy and everything is well put together.

This is a quality bag for the price and has the bonus of being interesting and unique. Instead of always carrying the same bag or style as everyone else, check out the 50 state bags for something that will stand out in the crowd!

Popularity: 8% [?]

A Look at Bag Borrow or Steal Outlet Store

As part of joining Bag Borrow or Steal as an affiliate, I looked over their site before deciding whether to place an ad for them on my blog. They interested me enough to not just put up an ad, but to write a post.

Bag Borrow or Steal has been around for awhile as a place to rent handbags at weekly or monthly prices. What I was not aware of was their outlet store. The outlet sells some of those bags “gently used” at 25-70 percent off of the retail price. Considering that bags on eBay, even used ones, will sometimes go for more than retail, and knowing that finding a truly good deal at the premium outlet mall is hit or miss, I looked through their selection.

Assuming that these bags are in good shape, there are some nice deals. For example, when I looked, the pink DaVon clutch pictured, with detachable handles, was listed at $79.90

A couple of others that caught my eye when I took at look:

Francesca Biasia Large Woven tote for $ 174.90

Rafe New York Jullianne Shoulder Bag at $229.90 (70% off retail)

The company also has jewelry. They obviously are the place to look for renting a handbag, but they can be worth a look for purchases as well.

Through April 20, they are also running 15% off on the first borrow with coupon code ASP151B or free shipping on the first borrow with coupon code ASPFS1B.