Designers Handbags

Louis Vuitton collaborated with Richard Prince for a spring line of handbags, and now they’ve taken it a step further and created a special limited edition version to celebrate Prince’s first solo exhibition (called “Continuation”) that will take place at the Serpentine Gallery (in the UK) from June 26 - Sept 7.

There will be 50 of the ostrich and canvas Jamais bags available (numbered and signed of course) at Vuitton’s Sloane Street store in London and each will be priced at about $17,800.

Very springy and cute, I love ‘em!

Calling handbag lovers everywhere. Take note. Accessories brand, Botkier has joined the never ending list of labels clamouring to partner with Target.

Currently stocked in Barneys, Harvey Nichols, Fred Segal, and Neiman Marcus, Botkier is a favourite among the celebrities, with Angelina Jolie, Kate Bosworth and Heidi Klum being loyal fans.

The Botkier for Target collection is the fifth handbag line to be launched and will be available at select Target stores nationwide and at Target.com from July 21. How excited are we?

When it comes to the race for the most expensive handbag in the world, the top two competitors can not just blindly rely on handmade craftsmanship, exotic materials and an established name. To achieve maximum hyper-inflation, Lana Marks bumps her Cleopatra clutch up in the ranks by adding 1,500 small black & white diamonds to an 18 carat gold clasp. That should definitely do for a 6-figure price tag, yet short of the most expensive bag in the world. Try harder Lana!

Image via Forbes

On with the realm of the world’s most extravagant handbags comes a bag by a little known designer to the masses. Hilde Palladino, the Norwegian designer, created the Gadino Bag which is made with white crocodile and 39 diamonds which are placed on the clasps. Personally, I’d like my diamonds around my neck or on my ears. How about a trip around the world, a shopping spree, and traveling first class? Take that or the bag for $38,470.

The Fendi Spy Handbag has been arm candy hit since it’s arrival, being seen on A-list celebs, fashionistas world wide, and me of course . Recently Fendi paired with super luxe French skiwear company Moncler to create a new Spy bag. The Fendi & Moncler Spy Handbag has been labeled the ’ski jacket bag’ and is available in fire-engine red, emerald green and black. Designed from water-resistant nylon and filled with top-quality down, this bag looks more like plastic to me than a hit design. But as supply and demand goes, with only 500 of these bags being produced, you may hope for a Holiday miracle to track one of these high demand low supply bags down at Fendi stores, Barneys and Sak’s Fifth Avenue’s two licensed Fendi boutiques, in Manhattan and Troy, Michigan. Buy it via Barney’s online for $2,100 while supplies last.

Metallic bags are the bags to carry this holiday season and the IT bag to be seen with is the new Louis Vuitton Miroir Line. Janet Jackson has been photographed carrying this new IT bag, even though the new Miroir line does not officially launch until December 1. The frenzy surrounding this launch is comparable to the 2003 launch of the Cherry Blossom line, with stores only receiving limited numbers of each bag and the wait lists being extremely long.

The full Miroir line includes bags representing Louis Vuitton’s most iconic and recognizable shapes: Speedy, Papillon, Keepall, Alma, and Pochette. The line comes in two different colors: Silver and Gold. I must admit that I am not a huge fan of this new line, in fact the silver seems oddly reminiscent of aluminum foil and if you have trouble finding a mirror to touch up your makeup you can always use your bag! In addition, if you’re one of those people who doesn’t like to draw attention to yourself with your bag then this is definitely not for you. Another major problem that is holding me back from loving this line is that the Speedy comes with a price tag of $1330 USD and is made of PVC, therefore causing me to question the durability of such a pricey bag. That said, the frenzy surrounding the Miroir line is unlikely to die down anytime soon and if you are contemplating buying one you should call Louis Vuitton immediately to place yourself on the waiting list, so that you can be one of the first to be carrying this season’s IT bag!

Note: Prices on the above picture were listed prices before recent price increase. Prices on this line have increased approximately 10%. For more information on wait lists and prices call: 1-866-VUITTON or visit your local Louis Vuitton boutique.

Written by guest blogger: Twiggers. Image courtesy of eBoutique.

For those who will do some Louis Vuitton shopping during the upcoming holiday season, you are in for a pleasant treat! My favorite French fashion designer commissioned the renowned artist Olafur Eliasson to create Eye See You, an art project that will be shown throughout the Christmas holiday period 2006 in more than 350 Vuitton stores worldwide. All commission fees and money from the sale of a special edition of Eye See You go solely to 121Ethiopia.org.

I think I am going to have to take Megs to the 5th Ave flagship store to check out the display myself.

Right when you arrive at a hotel, you expect the bellhop to be at your service. As a child I remember thinking it was really neat to have the bellhop take our bags to our room. If the bellhop was really nice, he would let me ride on the bag carrier. Louis Vuitton had an ad in 1921 that inspired their new Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Collection. After all LV has been a provider of luxury travel gear from the start. At the top left we have the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Pochette Cles. The groom screen print is placed on top of a two-color yellow and white stripe. The golden chain and hook can be used as a key holder or bag charm. The cles is available via eLuxury for $200. Top left is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Agenda PM which sizes up at 4″ x 6″ and has a golden snap closure at the center. The interior has three credit card slots, a leather pen holder (which of course fits an LV agenda pen), and holds the small ring agenda refill. The agenda PM can be bought for $300 via eLuxury. Bottom left is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Compact Zipped Wallet which brings a cute vibe to your money holder of choice. There is blue colored grained calf lining along with a zip change purse, three credit card slots, two slot pockets, and a bill pocket. The wallet is available via eLuxury for $540. Lastly, we have the Louis Vuitton Monogram Groom Porte Monnaie Rond which pairs its circular shape with a golden zip closure and golden chain and hook. The rond is ready for you to snatch via eLuxury for $245.

So there you have the LV Groom Collection for now, what are your thoughts?

Sometimes I wonder where the high-end fashion designers take their inspirations from. For this Fendi “Tokyo Squirrel” Crystal and Embroidery on Denim Spy, it is quite obvious where the idea for this version came from. It makes me chuckle to imagine a designer strolling through a park in suburban Tokyo, seeing two squirrels doing their thing and turning it into a limited edition handbag. Whatever works, I guess. This doesn’t rank among my favorites, but I still wanted to give it an honorable mention, since it’s Fendi Weekend and all…

This limited edition Fendi Matisse Spy is new for S/S 06. Personally, I never had much of a special regard for arts. But when it came down to it, I’ve always had favorites that I loved to look at. Monet, Picasso and Matisse always managed to impress me the most. I truely believe that Henry would have loved to see his impressionistic works on these exclusive bags; I think the Spy looks gorgeous in this version. A wonderful symbiosis of fashion and art, like I haven’t seen it in a while. Each piece is hand painted, which makes each bag in the limited series completely unique.