09 Mar

So i was thinking today about what or who decides whether a particular handbag or purse is cool or not. Im not sure why i was thinking about this but its probably because i see so much divided opinion throughout different bag blogs and review sites over whether a particular designer has hit the mark or not. Now i know when it comes to fashion people rarely agree but i think its been a while since we have seen a really landmark product launch in the designer handbag world. I mean there are big launches but it usually arrives with a wave of equally positive and negative reviews no matter how much work the designer has put into the bag. Still i suppose this is the nature of the fashion world and anyway will it ever be possible to create the perfect purse,clutch,tote or even shoulder bag?
So with this in mind i just found the new range of clutch handbags by Colette for the spring season and i have to say they look pretty good (if a little conservative for my tastes). As you would expect from a leading French designer though these clutches are very chic and also understated to a point. The good points though are the many different designs for these bags as you have everything from cream to zebra print to fit your personal style. Another plus is the price as they are only going to set you back around £115 witch in the clutch bag world is a real bargain (i will not say budget). Anyway i know a lot of people on the blog may not be familiar with Colette but if you’re looking for something elegant, French and somewhat cheap then you really cant go wrong with this designer.
08 Mar

So i think this is the first time we have featured a bag by Diane Von Furstenberg here on cheapdesignerhandbag but theres no time like the present. One thing i really like that this designer has done is the overlapping folds in the leather that give a really unique look to the handbag. One thing i may not be sure about though and i think some of you ladies may feel the same is the random metal studs and discs scattered around, im just not sure if it works properly.
Still its always great to see something different and ive always been a fan of this designer (even though ive never featured them here). One cool thing though is the adjustable strap that goes around the outside of the bag that allows you to really change the shape of the handbag. I know this bag may not be for everyone and i suppose you could say that’s its an acquired taste. One good point though that as far as the top designers go Diane tote bags are actually quite reasonably priced (when compared to DKNY anyway) as this one is about £600 in most stores, which given the quality of the finish and the materials used you could say its a steal (depending on your budget).
06 Mar

I know alot of people have been complaining recently that its alot of the best designer bags are coming out in America first. However i still think its possible to find great cheap handbags in the UK at good retailers. Of course there are some big shops and online stores over here too link Asos and Netaporter but on the whole i think there is an argument to be made that the best handbags can take a lifetime to reach our shores (if at all).
Anyway on a lighter note one of my favourite designers “Donna Karan” who almost always gets her wares to the UK at the same time as the rest of the world has just introduced one of my favourite bags of the year. Its called the Leather Crossbody and as you can see its has an distinctive and really different look. The most amazing thing is the dying technique they have used on the leather to create this really weird and cool zebra effect. Since it is Donna Karan you can expect to pay at least £600 in most retailers, now weather you view this as a “cheap deal” or not will be up to you but i for one think its a truly stunning bag.
03 Mar

Theres always been something about shinny surfaces that has repelled me in the fashion world. I don’t want to sound over dramatic but ive often thought that these mirrored bags can look just a bit too cheap when you wear them. Still even though this Christian Louboutin may look cheap from some angles if definitely isn’t from the point of view of your bank balance as its over £600 on net a porter.
Still its always nice to see a different styles on bags now and again as i do get tired sometimes with the predictable leather handbag niche. So a little about this bag before i sign off, i has a distinctive shoe clasp frame and also red lining on the inside which i think is a theme of Christian Louboutin bags lately. Still despite my reservations about this bag im sure there will be a market for this designer and it is sure to be seen in “certain parties” this spring.
25 Feb

So im in the mood for some practicality today as we look at the new Hermes Jypsiere which is kinda square but also cute looking at the same time. One thing that will jump out at most people is how practical this bag looks and how much stuff your going to get crammed into it on a day to day basis. Still at the same time it does look pretty elegant and stylish and is bound to go with alot of different outfits and looks.
One thing that was a bit surprising to me was the price tag which is over £5000 which just shows how out of touch i seem to be with the higher end of the bag market. Still what you are paying for here is primarily the quality of the handbag and also i suppose the name. With this being said though ive seen a number of really nice (dare i say replica) messenger bags at netaporter and asos recently that may put this bag to shame. I mean sure you’re not going to be able to brag about your Hermes but does anyone still do that now anyway?
21 Feb

So as usual im in the mood for something a bit different here at cheapdesignerhandbag and i think that this handbag from Roberta Freymann should fit the bill. The most noticeable thing about this design of course is the paint spatter colour design which i think is really unique this season and will definitely help you to stand out from the crowd.
There is another first here too for this blog as this is a denim bag as opposed to the many leather bags that we have been featuring lately. The one problem ive always had with denim is how prone it is to stains and wear when you compare it to leather. Still even with that being said i think there should always be room for some variety in everyone’s wardrobe. Also the flexibility of this handbag will be great for everyday use in general.
20 Feb

So Kate Moss was spotted earlier in the week at Selfridges to promote her new range of bags at Longchamp. Ive always been sceptical about how much input these “Celebrity designers” have in the actual design of the handbag. I mean sure they do know alot about fashion but being able to pick great clothes for yourself and designing your own range are very different animals.
Still even with that being said Kate is probably still the biggest supermodel in the world and she can sell alot of clothes/handbags. Anyone remember the launch of her range at topshop? The entire oxford street mile was packed with fans and paparazzi, i don’t know to many other models or even celebs than can generate that kind of hype. Still im sure her stuff is worth a look, check out the official site at http://www.longchamp.com/gb/home-10143.html
12 Feb

So thought i would take the chance to clock in again here at cheapdesignerhandbag and give you guys a new post. Im actually on holiday at the moment so havnt really been up to date with whats going on but its nice to have a break. So here is a particularly interesting clutch from Jane de Bono Accessories which has the unique claim to fame of being completely handmade but available for under £50. Now how true this is i dont know but weather you think the the fact that it is handmade or not is important i think is a pretty cool clutch bag.
The front is a kind of grey leather with the word “Love” on the side in a kind of arty style. On the other side which you cant see in the picture is bright red. Best thing i think about this handbag is the retro rock/punk feel which you dont see too often with alot of bags these days. Things in the clutch world can be a bit formal and serious sometimes so i think this makes a welcome change. Until next time
03 Feb

Everyone even Coco Channel seems to be into this new Farmyard thing this coming spring. Seems like its a craze here to stay as i see more than one designers going for this look. So i spotted these new set of handbags from Coco the other day and i have to say they look rather nice. One real plus point i think for this type of material is it should last alot longer than your average leather handbag, although this could just be me.
Also i think its great that more and more designers are starting come out with new designs rather than just the standard materials as it can get a bit boring. One thing to note though that while this may be a “farm” bag don’t expect farmyard prices as these are going to cost you upwards of £1000, still would you expect anything less from today’s top fashion houses.
31 Jan

Ok so anyone who is looking for a cheap leather handbag needs to pay attention to this post especially as this is the first time i have decided to feature an Armani. Now this is also a first given the fact i have never had an Armani bag on this blog yet. The main reason for the absence or Armani on this blog is due to the price of your average handbag from the Italian fashion house. Its not that im against really expensive bags in principle but i do want to cater mainly for cheaper bags on this blog.
Now one thing i do have to remind myself of is that everyone’s idea of “cheap” is not the same and when i tell you that this new bag tote leather bag is going to set you back around £350 you may scream at your PC “thats not cheap!”. However prices are all relative and when you compare this to the price of your average bag from Armani then this really is a steal. As you can expect the leather is top quality and so is the finish but then again you would expect this wouldn’t you. Check them out at the official site if you want to see more from this bag or also the rest of the famous collection. http://www.emporioarmani.com