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OK, so it'll be too sweet to be wholesome as far as some of you are concerned, but hey, it's January: the days are dark and gloomy, summer is still a long way away, and if you're looking for something whimsical to brighten your days, well, how about this straight-out-of-a-fairtytale golden apple handbag by Temperley London ?
Of course, with the economy in its current state, maybe a £495 bag isn't the best idea? What do you think?
We've had a couple of expensive picks for Handbag of the Week, recently, so we thought it was time for a budget selection. We're still sticking to the "bright and cheerful" theme, though, and think these corsage tote bags from Next fit the bill perfectly, and for only £30 each, too!
We'd have trouble deciding which colour we liked best, but we love the corsage which gives these their name. If you don't, of course, you can simply take it off and be left with a simple, but still striking tote bag,
It's always at this time of year that The Fashion Police start to crave a bit of colour in our accessories, and the brighter the better. Jimmy Choo's Monna tote bag definitely supplies that, and while we're pretty sure we could live without a few less zippers, the neon pink has cheered us up enough to make us overlook them. Sadly, at $1,735, this is always going to be a fantasy buy for the likes of us, but if you want one in your life for real, you can buy it at Saks.
We just can't help it - any time we see fashion items made from fur of a colour that doesn't occur naturally, our thoughts turn to the cast of Sesame Street and we wonder which dastardly fashion criminal skinned them?
This Marni handbag isn't quite the colour of poor old Grover, mind you, but we'd still probably think of him every time we looked at it, and we reckon that's what's putting us off this bag. That and the fact that we'd have to groom it to keep it looking good, and that just sounds like way too much effort for us. Oh, and that's saying nothing of the price tag, either: £1,215.
What do you think of this bag, folks? Would you buy it?
Something about the combination of cream and black (the website describes this as "rose" and black, but it looks pretty creamy to us) just does it for us every time. OK, almost every time - we're willing to bet there are plenty of cream and black combos out there that we'd happily throw into Fashion Police jail, but this isn't one of them. It's by Alice McCall, is £380 is available to buy at BunnyHug, and we love those round, black handles, which give it a bit of a retro feel.
This bag is actually bigger than this image suggests, and may in fact be a little too big for some tastes, but it's a case of "the bigger, the better" for us, which is one of the reasons we decided to make it our Handbag of the Week!
We think "fun" was probably the word Marc Jacobs had in mind when he created this 'Party Girl' fringed shoulder bag. Unfortunately, "made by a child" are the words running through our minds when we look at it, because it's the kind of thing we'd have brought home from school as a craft project when we were about eight years old.
Who's right, though? Is Marc Jacobs correct in thinking that this is a fun, colourful handbag, such as a "party girl" might wear, or do you agree with The Fashion Police? This bag is On Trial, readers: will you convict or acquit?
The Mulberry 'Maggie' is one of those 'It' bags that's frequently seen on the arms of celebrities, but we though this green patent version was particularly festive looking. That's why it's Handbag of the Week, of course. NOT just because The Fashion Police really like the colour, obviously. Hey, would we do a thing like that? Totally.
It's £695 at My-Wardrobe.
The Fashion Police have just realised that it's been a shockingly long time since we last mentioned young Hayden Panettiere. Luckily, though, it's that time of year when Hayden designs a handbag for Dooney & Bourke and, well, this is it. Nice, innit?
The clutch is apparently inspired by Hayden's star sign, Leo, and will be available from mid-December for $295 at Dooney & Bourke stores nationwide. What do you think of it, though, fashion fans? Would you buy it?
Sick of the old "paper or plastic?" question? Don't particularly want to use either? Keep forgetting to take a reusable tote bag with you when you hit the shops. Don't worry, the 'Greenaid' shopping tote is the answer to your dilemma!
Shaped like a grenade (do you see what they did there?) this is designed to clip onto your keyring (or anywhere else you want to clip it) so you'll always have it with you for those shopping emergencies which, let's face it, will crop up from time to time. When you need to use it, it simply unzips into a tote.
It costs $16, and you can buy it from Charles & Marie. Be prepared for some funny looks if you take it through airport security...
Miu Miu, it's good to have you back. There were moments back at the start of this year when we really thought you were losing your way, but you have slowly but surely fought your way out of the forest of fug, to arrive back at your simple best. And this handbag? Is gorgeous. Really. So simple, but so lovely, and even although the mint green wouldn't make it the most versatile handbag we've ever owned, it would be one of the prettier ones.
Miu Miu, we salute you. (£620 from Net-a-Porter, if you want to buy it)
The Fashion Police will be spending part of December lying on the beach getting some much-needed sunshine, so while most of our friends stock up on cosy sweaters and thick socks, we've been buying up flip flops and bikinis. And beach bags.
We haven't been buying this one by Jimmy Choo, though, and that's because this rather cheap looking see-through bag costs £495, and our actual holiday is costing less than that. Bargain. (The holiday, that is, not the bag). Oh, and also because we're pretty sure that if we can hold out until next summer, most of the glossy magazines will be giving away bags that look just like this for nothing.
Would you pay almost £500 for this bag? If you would, you can get it at Net-a-Porter
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It's almost time to start breaking out the sparkly little clutch bags as the party season gets into full swing, but before we do, we wanted to just quickly indulge our love for quality leather day bags, like Marks & Spencer's tan 'Fifi' bag, which is part of the Autograph collection, and retails for £120.
Needless to say, it was the distinctive handle that caught our attention here, and which sets this bag apart from all the other tan handbags out there right now. If you prefer not to have to hold your bag in your hand all the time, though, there's also a detachable shoulder strap to let you sling it over your shoulder.
While many of the clothes and accessories seen on Gossip Girl are in the "out of our price range" category, here's one that definitely isn't. This canvas tote bag is by Boy Meets Girl, and is just £12.,50 at Spoiled Brat. It was shown with a black print on last week's episode of Gossip Girl, but we like this green version, which you can fold up and keep in your handbag so you don't have to resort to nasty old plastic bags (or soggy old paper ones, come to that) next time you find yourself making an emergency purchase.
We've put the word "sport" in inverted commas in this headline, because... well, do we really need to explain this one? It's a handbag shaped like a football, and we think that's pretty much all you need to know, really.
The Fashion Police aren't big sports fans at the best of times, so we're probably safe from this, but if you do happen to enjoy both football and fashion, you may just be finding one of these babies under your Christmas tree this year. Don't say we didn't warn you!
If you want to buy it for yourself, meanwhile, it's $49.95 from here.
[Thanks to Fashion Police reader Joyce for the report!]
Oh, that Lie Down I Think I Love You! How well they know us, and how well they know that all they have to do to guarantee their spot as handbag of the week, all they have to do is stick a pretty scarf on a bag, and they're done. Making the bag in question this lovely bright pink colour helps, too, obviously, as does making it just the right size to carry all of our day-to-day necessities, while still looking stylish.
This is £130 at ASOS, and is also available in a chocolate brown if you don't like the pink.
We would have called this 'Daylight Robbery', but given that this Eden & Eden "carrier" bag is made from leather, we don't think it quite qualifies. Still, the fact that you'd essentially be paying $310 to look like you were carrying a cheap carrier bag is something that boggles our minds just a little bit, especially when you could just use a real one for a fraction of the price.
Of course, with real carrier bags the subject of some controversy thanks to the damage they do to the environment, maybe you'll think this is a far better option for days when you have a lot to carry. What do you think, readers?
[Source]
Talk about flashing the cash...
Those aren't real coins decorating this Paul Smith holdall, but it's a pretty convincing print all the same, don't you think? The website describes it as a "man's bag", but meh, if you like it and we're female we don't think anyone will tell you off for it.
Do you like it, though? If you do, it's $475 direct from Paul Smith.
The Fashion Police are feeling blue. Not literally, you understand, we're just really enjoying the colour right now, especially now that the clocks have changed at Fashion Police HQ and we're now languishing in the darkness much of the time. This bright blue shoulder bag by Marc Jacobs has definitely helped cheer us up, though, and even although we wouldn't dream of paying £515 for a bag that wouldn't work with every single colour in our wardrobe, if we did have the money burning a hole in our pockets, it would be a pretty nice little pick-me-up, no?
Get it at Net-a-Porter.
This poodle handbag is sold in a section of the designer's website called "Unusual and Bizarre". We think those are both fair assessments, don't you?
Of course, bags shaped like pooches are nothing new, but the realisism of this one (which is also available in black, by the way) makes us think of taxidermy, and consequently freaks us out. If you like to be the centre of attention, though, we reckon walking down a busy street with what appears to be a dead dog slung over your shoulder is a sure-fire way to do it, no?
[Source]
It's all gone a bit 1920s over at Miss Selfridge recently, but we're not complaining. We've already featured their flapper-style dress as a Dress of the Day, and now we're getting all gushy over this pretty little deco clutch bag, which is just the thing to add a pretty, unusual touch to your standard party outfit. (That's assuming that not everyone buys one, of course, or you can forget the "unusual" bit).
We love the vintage look of this bag, and we particularly love the £22 price tag. Get it at Miss Selfridge.
Which celebrity was spotted carrying this sparkly little Union Jack handbag today?
UPDATE: The answer has now been posted under the jump!!
As lovely as they are, we've featured a lot of black and brown handbags in recent weeks, so we thought the grey and tan colours of this Botiker bag made a nice change, while still being versatile enough to work with most things. This is $645 at Revolve Clothing, and we think it's cute but functional. It's also available in black, if you prefer.
Every so often in the world of fashion, some designer will wake up in the morning thinking, "Hey! You know what would make a really great print on my fantastic items? Graffiti, that's what!" This season, that designer is Marc Jacobs, whose Graffiti Tote is part of the current Marc by Marc Jacobs line, and available at Saks for $148. But what do we all think of it?
The Fashion Police have to put their hands up here and say we see more than enough graffiti in the area around the HQ (those fashion criminals can be messy) to want to see even more of it on our clothes and accessories, and out slight OCD tendencies would make us want to scrub this bag clean every time we used it. But that's just us. What say you to this one, Fashion Jurors? Will you convict or acquit it of crimes of fashion?
Love it. Want it. Can't afford it. That's all, really...
Oh yeah: it's by Betsey Johnson, and it's $245 of cute.
Just because it's cute, and it's Friday (oh, praise be, it's Friday!) and because it can't be all big, slouchy bags all the time, now can it?
This is Roberto Cavalli's silk bracelet clutch bag, and if we just try to pretend for a moment that it doesn't cost £600, we can just sit back and enjoy looking at the little cutie, which is available to buy from Net-a-Porter.
And then we can come back to reality with a bump and get back to fighting them there crimes of fashion. Which is what we're off to do...
We know it's the first of October, but is it still too early to be talking about Halloween, we wonder? Probably, but Topshop don't care - they've had this "bat bag" in stock for a couple of weeks now, and we guess if you are going to carry something like this, October would be the time to do it, no? If you think it is, this is £20 and you can buy it here.
Sometimes handbags are at their best when they're all pristine and new, but other times they look better when they've been worn in a little - a bit like your favourite, softest old pair of jeans. This one by Kooba is, of course, brand new, but it has that "will get better with age" look about it that really appeals to us. We're also fans of the studs which you can see on the trim, here: it helps give the bag a bit of a rock-star vibe to it, which will look great with jeans and other casual looks. As for the price, well, it ain't cheap at $695, but if you like it, you can buy it at Nordstrom.
Another big, slouchy leather tote wins the Handbag of the Week award this week. We're sure we'll get over liking this style sooner or later, just not yet. This is lovely and roomy, and we're currently obsessed with the search for a bag big enough to handle a lot of stuff, but if you don't like carrying something of this size in your hand, there's also a detachable shoulder strap. It's £75 at ASOS, which we think seems like a reasonable price for a leather bag of this size. Now, if only they had it in tan...
We were getting bored with black and tan bags, so we decided to go for something a little more interesting for Handbag of Week today.
That "something" is Eric Javits' 'Lil Circles' satchel, and the lilac colur and disc pattern will put some people off, at the same time that it draws some of you in. For those in the latter group, the bag is $415 at Nordstrom, and is also available in cream and a colour described as "antique" which we'd probably call "brown".
We think we just died a little inside.
Stiletto boot bags, as seen on market stalls up and down the country, have been on The Fashion Police Hit List for a long time now, obviously. We thought we'd rounded them all up, but nope, it seems there are a few rogue cells still in operation, and it was during a raid on one of these that we turned up these culprits. They're headed straight to the cells without bail: if you see any more of them, do not approach them - and call The Fashion Police immediately...
The 70s may forever be dubbed as "the decade that fashion forgot" (although personally we think the 80s has a strong claim to that title too), but it did produce some rather nice leather goods, which was presumably what Urban Outfitters had in mind when they created this 'Sabina' shoulderbag.
With two pockets on the front, plus a roomy main compartment, this will fit on your shoulder but still be large enough to carry what you need to. It's $178, which reflects the fact that it's all-leather, but isn't off-puttingly expensive either.
We love tan leather bags, so this was always going to check at least one of our boxes, but if you like it too, you can pick it up at Urban Outfitters.
Oh, deer. Sorry, we couldn't resist...
Actually these deer rucksacks by Stella McCartney for LeSportsac aren't the worst thing The Fashion Police have seen all year - not by a long shot. And we daresay there are people out there with gaping holes in their wardrobes - holes which can only be filled by rucksacks in the shape of giant deer heads. Those people will no doubt be thrilled to know that they can buy these for $85 each. Those of you who have never dreamed of having the disembodied head of a ruminant mammal attached to your backs, meanwhile, can perhaps check out some of Ms McCartney's other designs for the brand, none of which have antlers.
Which group are you in, readers? The antlers or the no-antlers?
Slouchy and slightly structured - now there's a handbag that could win us over!
We love the aforementioned satisfying slouchiness of this Marni handbag, but we also like that cute little oval handle, which adds an extra dollop of style. If you don't like to carry your handbag in your actual hands, however, this also comes with a detachable shoulder strap, so you can sling it over your shoulder when you need to.
What we don't like is the price: this is £935 at Browns
Valentino: we've loved the label longtime, but lately something's been ... not quite right. First came the lavishly bow-bedecked shoes, and now there's this flower-encrusted tote bag, which we feel like we should like, but somehow just don't. This is the same story as with the bow shoes: we like bows, we like flowers, but we also like to over-use the phrase "everything in moderation", so we think this bag is taking the floral thing too far, and straying dangerously close to "little old lady" territory. And, sure, the little old lady who carried this bag would probably be one kick-ass pensioner (and a rich one, too - it's $1,950), but it's just not for us, we're afraid.
What about you, though? Do you find this bag delightfully eccentric, or is it just a little crazy? Is it guilty or innocent of committing crimes of fashion?
Warehouse continue to impress us with their handbag collection, which includes this black suede bow shoulderbag. This is serious and stylish enough to use as a work bag, but the bow adds a touch of fun, and that soft suede will make it very touchable. (Which is important to us). It also looks to us like this bag will be roomy enough to carry all our stuff without making us break our backs, and that's always a good thing. It's £60, which we think is a fairly reasonable price for an all-suede handbag, and you can get it here.
After the horror of the hairy Chloe bag earlier today, we thought this week's Handbag of the Week should be something simple, elegant, and absolutely without fur. Michael Kors' 'Berkley' bag seemed to fit the bill: we're still loving oversized clutch bags, and the patent leather and gold handle detail on this one help dress it up nicely.
We think it's something of a sight for sore eyes after the Chloe horror, and if you think so too, it's $202 at Zappos.
We know what you're thinking: which one of the muppets did Chloe have to kill to create this handbag? Well, you can relax. The received wisdom is that no muppets were harmed in the making of the Boudoir Chain Bag - it just looks like they were.
As scary as the bag itself is, though, it's not quite as frightening as the price, which is £1,815. Yes. We know.
This looks a little better from the front (although not much), so in the interests of fairness, there's another picture under the jump. Remember and tell us what you think!
We've spoken a lot about ruffles on dresses lately and, well, let's just say that hasn't been our favourite look of recent years. But what about ruffles on handbags, we ask ourselves? What do we think of them?
Well, if the ruffles in question are on Prada's Pizzi S Satchel, we're just not sure. We think it may be the lace that's giving us pause, here. Now, lace is going to be a big look this winter. This news didn't go down at all well here at Fashion Police HQ, because we don't have a whole lotta love for lace. It always looks scratchy and uncomfortable to us, but hey, this is an accessory, not a dress, so that's not really an issue. And yet still we go back and forth between love and hate with this bag, leading us to finally throw our hands up in despair and put it up On Trial, asking you, the jury: what do you think of it?
The word "puffer" is guaranteed to strike fear into the Fashion Police's hearts. When attached to the word "jacket", it's bad enough: sure, we know puffer jackets are warm and practical for very cold weather, but they're also one of the most unflattering items of clothing ever, and there was a time during the 90s when they were worn purely as fashion statements - we're sure you can understand our concern here.
Puffer jackets get off the hook, though, purely because, in some climates, they really are one of the only options if you don't want to freeze to death on the way to work.
On bags, though, there's just no excuse. We can't think of a single reason why you'd need your bag, or its contents, to be kept toasty at all times (although maybe you carry very different things inside your handbags than we do), which is why we had no hesitation in identifying this puffer bag by Moncler as a crime of fashion. And it has to be said that the $950 price tag didn't help it plead its case.
What do you think of this bag? Do you like it? Would you pay $950 for it? If so, you can get it at Intermix.
It's simple. It's stylish. It has that lovely, slightly slouchy look we like so much. It's more or less everything we think a handbag should be... except for "cheap", obviously.
Oh well, you can't have everything. If you happen to have a spare $1,195 lying around, however, you can have Burberry's belted leather tote. Lucky you!
He's not just a pretty face shoe designer, you know. No, Christian Louboutin is a bit of a dab hand at designing handbags, too, and we think he's proved it with this pleated shoulder bag which is on just the right side of "quirky", making it unusual enough to attract a few admiring glances, but still very usable. Sadly, it's not on the right side of "affordable" for your Chief of Police, who'll have to arrest quite a few more fashion criminals before she can afford the $1,845 price tag.
If you can afford it right now, though, you can pick this up in red or black at Bergdorf Goodman.
The last thing The Fashion Police need in their lives (or, indeed, their bulging wardrobes) is yet another cutesy handbag, but when Faith insist on placing ones like this right in front of our eyes when we log onto their website, well, it's hard to resist, isn't it?
This is their Bdusty bag, it's £30, it's also available in black, and we'd put money on it not being available for very long, such is its general adorableness. We're going to try and look away now, lest we be led into temptation...
That Mischa Barton is often described as a fashion "icon" has long been a source of surprise to The Fashion Police. This is, after all, a woman who has seen the inside of the Fashion Jail more often than most, although, to be fair, she's had her share of stylish moments too.
If you're amongst those who think Mischa's style is to be admired, then, you may be interested to hear that the actress has just designed a line of handbags for ASOS.com. The Coco Shoulder Bag (above left) and embossed leather bag (right) are shown above, and you'll find more images from the line under the jump. What do you think of Mischa's prowess as a handbag designer? Will you be buying?
As Fashion Police HQ is based in Scotland, we're always thrilled to see designers choosing to sell their wares north of the border. The latest to set up shop in the frozen north is handbag label Belen Echandia, which is now available at COVET, the designer handbag and accessories boutique on Thistle St, Edinburgh.
Pictured is the label's 'Hug Me' mini, which retails for £450 and, true to its name, has a slouchy style that makes you want to pick it up and hug it. This is also available in black, but we love our metallics, so we like this soft, shiny purple...
This week's Handbag of the Week isn't actually a handbag at all: it's a wallet, but we figured that if you're going to spend £220 on a wallet, you probably wouldn't want to hide it away in your bag, so would press it into use as a kind of very tiny clutch bag or something. A very tiny clutch bag.
This is by Maison Martin Margiela, and it's a companion to the gift bow ring we showed you a few weeks ago. You can buy it at Browns, if you think the price tag is justified.
This year, Louis Vuitton celebrates 30 years in Japan with the opening of a small concession inside Tokyo's Comme des Garçons. Comme des Garçons foudner Rei Kawakubo has not only re-designed the entire store to incorporate the famous LV monogram (don't worry, it's not permanent), she's also created a limited edition collection of her own version of some of the bags, including the multi-handled Speedy shown above.
If you want to buy this, you're going to have to take a trip to Tokyo - they're not accepting telephone or Internet orders, and according to the press release, it'll be "several months" before the bag is shipped to the Vuitton store of your choice for collection.
Rei Kawakubo says: "These are party bags to celebrate the 30 years of Louis Vuitton in Japan. In designing them, I have kept Louis Vuitton's traditional concept as it is, but sometimes two handles become one, sometimes two handles become eight... "
What do you think?
[Via Bag Snob]
A flag on a bag. It's not a look we love, to be honest. This may have something to do with the fact that Fashion Police HQ is based in a part of the world where the sight of the Union Jack on a shirt or bag doesn't say "Cool Britannia" so much as "Football hooligans on tour" or "Tacky tourist tat straight from the bargain bin".
Needless to say, though, you won't find this particular bag in the bargain bin. It's Chanel, is a limited edition, costs £835, and, as well as being something of a novelty purchase, is clearly designed to appeal to those who like their accessories to come with a bit of a punk rock vibe about them. So it'll come as no surprise to you to hear that it's been spotted on the arm of Agyness Deyn, then...
What's the verdict, Fashion Jurors? We wouldn't call this a "Crime of Fashion", and we actually quite like it as a one-off piece, but we probably wouldn't carry it either: would you?
Last week's Handbag of the Week (the Mulberry Roxanne) was a designer indulgence, so just to even things up, we thought we'd come down the price scale with this week's selection, which is Ollie and Nic's 'Mario' grab bag. This is just £40, and also comes in yellow, black and white, but we particularly liked this soft bronze, which gives the bag an expensive look, even although it isn't. We're also keen on the moc-tortoiseshell handles, which are responsible for that vintage look, and think this would be a chic and slightly unusual addition to our wardrobes. Get it at the Ollie & Nic website....
We've gone all classic (not to mention expensive!) with this week's Handbag of the Week, which is the Mulberry Roxanne. Some have said this bag is too heavy and clunky looking, but we rather like the "sensible satchel" look of it, and this is a bag that will only get better with age. It'll also probably last forever, which is a good thing considering the price: it retails for £695, and it's also available in black and chocolate.
Buy: Mulberry Roxanne
The good news: Chloe's 'Ada' handbag is currently on sale at Browns. Whoo! Sale! We love it when the words "Chloe" and "sale" appear in the same sentence!
The bad news: It's still £750. Oh. Ouch. No Chloe 'Adas' for The Fashion Police, then. Looks like we'll just have to stick to our regular, police-issue handbags for the time being.
If we did have a spare £750 in the police coffers, though, this could be a rather satisfying way to blow it. The yellow leather is sunshiney and bright, but not too bright, and the bag itself is satisfyingly roomy, so you could attempt to justify the expense by carrying it every day. There's also a detachable shoulder strap, and you can pick one up here.
If we were going to spend $2,290 on a handbag, it probably wouldn't be purple. And it probably wouldn't have the word "small" in its name either. It would be big enough to use every single day in life, and a colour that would work with absolutely everything: that would be the sensible thing to do, you see.
Then again, if we were going to spend $2,290 on a handbag, we probably wouldn't have to worry about money, therefore "sensible" wouldn't necessarily be our watchword. In that case, Dior's small 'Babe' shopping tote might do nicely for those days when we don't have too much to carry, and fancy a little purple something on our arms. Yes indeedy.
Yeah, yeah, we know - we're late to bat with this one, but we could hardly just ignore what has to be one of the finest Anya Hindarch 'I'm Not a Plastic Bag' parody yet, now, could we?
If you're not a douche bag OR a fashion victim, you cana get yours at Cafe Press.
£55 is rather a lot to pay for a clutch bag, especially on the high street, but we think this 'Margot' clutch from Oasis could just be pretty enough to explain the price. This is a cute n' classy looking clutch which would work for smart day occasions (although clearly not for work, unless you really do like to travel light) or evenings out. It's available in 'clotted cream' and 'shadow grey' and has a bit of old-style glamour to it, which we think is no bad thing in a handbag.
Jimmy Choo's pilar box clutch bag is apparently supposed to look like a rolled up magazine - which kinda begs the question, "Why not just, you know, roll up a magazine and walk around with it, rather than spending $595 on a bag?"
It is, of course, a totally superfluous question, though, because for one, a rolled up magazine wouldn't carry any of your stuff, and for two, it's art, dahlinks! Art!
The art in question is the portrait 'Nuclear', by Richard Phillips, and the woman he's painted looks a little shocked to us. Maybe she just saw a pair of Crocs, who knows.... The important thing is: would you buy it?
