Cheap designer handbags

So after a long time off I have another post for you guys. What better way to come back than with a review of a cool new DKNY handbag that I just spotted on houseoffraser for £155. It’s called the Scarf tote bag and it should be obvious why from the picture.

I think it’s great that designers like DKNY are starting to try new things with their totes and the accessory route they seem to be going down is a neat little departure. One Idea they don’t mention though is that you could potentially add your own scarf to the bag (if it’s the right size) which opens up a whole world of colour options.

I also have to mention that the price is quite reasonable for a genuine DKNY as I have noticed that the trend in recent years for totes has be the £300+ range which for me is way too much. Still you do always get a certain level of quality from Donna Karan which you don’t get from some of the smaller bespoke designers.

I really love the look of the cream pattern on the front and the brown leather strap on the top. Although part of me wonders what the whole bag would have looked like in brown as the texture of the leather on in the inside of the bag is amazing. If you’re looking for a DKNY bag to add to your collection this autumn then you could do a lot worse than this beautifully accessorised bag.

So it’s been quite some time since my last post and I suppose I don’t really have an excuse as “because I’m lazy” isn’t really an excuse is it? Still I didn’t want to let February pass us by without at least one post about a cheap designer handbag that you have to own right now.

I was looking the other day at some of my categories and the DKNY handbags section is looking a little light so I thought I would let you know about this lovely new Python print from Donna Karan which caught my eye. Now I have to admit that £240 is quite a lot to be paying for a “print” but I still really love the overall look of this tote and how the oblong shape almost makes it into a slouch bag which is quite neat. The two handles mean you could legitimately call this a shoulder bag but I think they are determined to market it as a tote for reasons unknown. I know there are quite a few examples of zebra print around these days but I do feel this DKNY is a great example of out to get it right, also at this price I have to say it’s one of the cheaper handbags I’ve reviewed in a while which is a nice trend to be seeing.

So as you can tell this is a short but sweet post from me. If curious the main reason for my absence is the extended holiday I’m having around Northern Ireland at the moment in places like Newry etc. BTW if anyone can recommend any good Newry hotels let me know as its quite hard to find any reliable information (blog is friend of mine sorry J). Anyway until next time, stay shoppin!

So somehow this seems to be the first time I’ve had a coach handbag here on the blog. I’m not sure why as they’ve really grown in reputation over the last few years but at the same time they are not to everyone’s tastes. For example I just noticed this Floral Audrey tote which is definitely allot to take in at first glance as the floral design does anything but fade into the background.

I suppose it also has to be mentioned this isn’t really the season for flowery prints so it could be just me looking at it with wintery eyes. I do like the top clasp and gold handles which remind me of wristbands from the 80s though as somehow they still fit into this outrageous colour scheme. I suppose it’s one of those bags you either love or you hate, though usually they are the best ones. There seems to be so many designers playing it safe these days so it’s great coach are out there creating something memorable. One plus is it does look quite cheap for a Coach as its around the £200 mark on the official site although I could only find the standard Audrey bag.

So it’s getting to be that time of year again when everyone goes a little crazy shopping for new wares and also looking for great designer deals. I’m also getting the feeling that many of you are thinking about a Christmas handbag for the holidays. As I’ve mentioned before I’m not totally convinced on the idea of a “seasonal handbag” as I mentioned before at Halloween. I mean sure it’s going to look great at the time and will get lots of envious looks but what about the rest of the year? Also I’m not really sure what a Christmas handbag would look like, fairy lights and tinsel?

With that rant over I really love this Lanvin Jeweled Shoulder Bag which has just come up on the radar and looks amazing from all angles. The reason I’m calling this a Christmas bag is because of the red jewels patterned on the sides and also the gold strap the whole thing just seems to sparkle (would go great with snow lol). I was a little disappointed the jewels didn’t go all around the bag, the black gaps don’t look completely natural to me but still your eye isn’t going to be drawn to that part.

It’s impressive that Lavin have made a bag that looks amazing with all this decoration and “stuff” without looking tacky as it’s a very thin line to tread. Hopefully I’ll find you guys another few seasonal bags before it’s all over!

Valentino isn’t well known for their cheap handbags and this floral tote really is no different as its well over the £2,000 mark. Still it is cheaper than his last few offerings so maybe this is progress after all?

Obviously the first thing I or anyone else is going to notice is the petal ruffles that seem to have just landed on the bag from a nearby tree in autumn (ok I don’t know many trees with pink leaves but you get the idea). I suppose the main selling point is it makes a difference from tall the faux animal skins we get in the designer handbag world month in month out, there is a limit to how much leather any one girl needs (i think). Also its very season appropriate which is a rarity for a tote and since autumn is my favourite season by a mile it wins on both on counts for me.

Only thing that does scare me just a tiny little bit is how hard will this handbag be to keep clean? I mean it just looks like it will be a magnet for spilt coffee and chocolate? Maybe I need to be a little bit more optimistic, it is my favourite time of year after all! Check out the official site for more…

So Fendi is one of those designers that can slip by quite unnoticed a lot of the time and I suppose when you’re in the business of fashion that’s not generally a good thing. Maybe it’s the down to earth style or the grown up tones but they rarely seem to ripple the handbag world pond with anything even slightly weird, then again there’s plenty of designers doing that already so why crowd the market?

Still I wouldn’t call this Fendi Peekaboo Tote that I just spotted conservative as the pink/violet leather really jumps out at you from a distance, yet it does seem dark enough to fit with a good range of trousers and belts. At the Fendi site it actually says the bag is made from goat and calf skin which is strange as it looks more like lizard or python to me, though at the same time all that really matters is that it looks great right? I also have to note another worrying pattern in the form of this tractor beam attracting me to handbags over £2,000 of which this is one (price will vary a lot though). Sometimes it’s hard to remember that this blog is supposed to be about cheap handbags lol, though as I keep saying what’s expensive to some is cheap to others. The thing is everyone’s range seems to be different these days (apparently there’s a recession on) so for some anything over £200 in the bag market is going to be out of reach. Still I do think there are lots of great bags in the “discount” range (apart from this one) eg DKNY and also Breadcrumb at only £15.

With all that being said if you do have a spare grand lying around doing nothing and also a passion for deep pink then check out the latest Fendi collection for some grown up bags!

So it’s about time I got around to a seasonal handbag here and its getting very close to Halloween so I think the time is about right. First thing I have to admit about this Corto Moltedo clutch is that you can’t actually buy it yet which is slightly annoying. I’m told it’s going to be available online within the next month and hopefully in retailers for Christmas. Main reason I like it though is just how well this scary little spider fits the proportions of the clutch, even the metal web that has hold of the purse looks great.

I suppose the main reason I’ve held off from seasonal handbags here is because most of them look really naff off season, I mean do you know anyone with a Christmas purse that cost more than £5 and didn’t come in a cracker? However this cool little clutch does have the look of something that’s going to fit in any goth wannabes wardrobe, I can totally see people wearing this year round. Another point is it rare to see a great accessory on a modern bag these days but the intricate black widow spider on this Halloween bag really does stand out but still fits in with the overall look. I suppose that’s not an easy thing to pull off and it’s probably easier to design a great colour scheme or use great materials in your bag. Still it is something I would like to see more of, how about you guys? Before I forget the official site doesn’t have any prices or any real details yet but hopefully they will update it soon.

So I’ve decided to come over all sensible with this latest handbag review and it doesn’t get more sensible than a bag called the “shopper” which should facilitate more shopping in general! The bag in question is the Nylon Large Shopper from DKNY which is just new out this autumn. I suppose the first thing that people may be put off about is the Nylon material which I know is often thought of as kryptonite in the fashion world as its just one of those things you either love or hate. If there is a good point about Nylon is that it’s so easy to keep clean and looking like new. And I can tell you that it’s a pet peeve of mine that so many of today’s designer handbags look like designer floor mats after a few months of use, some materials just don’t wear well once out to the boutique.

I also have to mention how practical this bag is as its immediately obvious how much you can fit into this bag when out shopping. It’s so deep buts it’s also wide which is unusual for a shoulder bag, but also important if practicality is needed. I think this is probably the cheapest DKNY bag I’ve featured here as its £140 on the official site. However you have to remember this doesn’t include import tax if you’re getting it sent here to the UK (can anyone explain how that works?). I have yet to see a supplier here in the UK so importing may be the only option if you’re serious about this handbag.

So another bag for you practical readers here, is this your thing? Or do you wanna stand out a bit more? Until next time…

So I have to admit I can’t remember the last time I’ve reviewed a Mulberry bag here on my blog. I think it was probably that cowboy leather Daria quite a few months ago which was more than a little amazing. This Alexa quilted shoulder bag really does have a colour scheme that stops you in your tracks, it kind of reminds me of something I painted when in primary school as its a collection of hot shades gone crazy! Not too crazy I have to say as on many levels it works but we all know this isn’t going to be a handbag for the shy and retiring type.

I also have to admit it’s been quite a while since we’ve had some cool denim here on designerbag and I suppose it’s my obsession with all things leather that can be hard to pull myself away from at times. Denim does have a reputation as something that can be v hard to keep clean (compared to leather) and I suppose it doesn’t have the special feel of some animal skins that we love, however there are some effects like the colour print on this Alexa that you just don’t get on leather.

It’s quite reasonably priced for a Mulberry at £795 from netaporter, although one problem I see is this isn’t a handbag that’s going to go with a lot of different outfits. Yes dark shades and obviously denim jeans are going to work but everything evening-ware or even daily office outfits are going to be off the menu. So what do you guys think about denim? Has it seen its day or do you think Mulberry can bring it back to the accessories world?

So I’ve been wondering lately what the deal is with my obsession for DKNY handbags and just where it all started at. I have to question it as DKNY are less than prolific when it comes to bringing out new bags. As an example I just visited their official site and found 3 bags for sale which I found quite funny if a little astounding. I suppose there’s also a case for doing just a few bags really well rather than 100s of bags that hoping that there is something for everyone, which is better?

With all this in mind I thought I would show you guys this cute Hobo that I found on the site which both looks a little strange but also very intriguing. It does look quite small for a HOBO despite the name but it could be the idea bag to bridge the gap between clutch and shoulder bag which is always a good market to be in.

The leather looks really great and I’ve been a fan of the Burnished effect for a while as it just stands out so much more than your average treated leather bag. I know some won’t really like the shape as it seems a bit like an American football, however with DKNY you can almost always be sure you are buying quality. I suppose that also raises the question if you are buying a designer handbag from a big brand name like this are you always guaranteed a quality long lasting product?

Im not too sure about the gold chains on the front of the bag as they do seem just a little out of place here but again that’s a question of personal taste. The colour also is a little boring but that’s the price you pay for a bag that’s going to go with so many different outfits. The price is around £245 on the official site but this isn’t going to include any import tax so you may have to filter that in, any of you guys know what this costs on the high street here? Until next time…