Cheap designer handbags

So this is a change for this blog as I attempt to offer some useful advice instead of my usual handbag review. The subject is one that I’m sure most of you will be familiar with and that is how to you buy a genuine designer handbag on ebay or similar auction site? It’s not an easy question to answer as often even the experts can be duped into buying counterfeit goods so what chance to us normal shoppers have? It is understandable why so many people are flocking to the auction site when it comes to designer items like handbags and perfume because of the huge price reduction. Indeed I’ve seen some of the deals myself which can be as much as 50% off the retail price you would pay in your local boutique store. Anyway with all this in mind decided to help I would list a few points to check off before you buy from an auction seller.

• Ask lots of questions. Even if the listing on ebay is quite detailed ask some questions directly to the seller about specifics of the item. Genuine sellers will always be happy to answer questions about anything they are selling however rouge traders may not.
• Check their feedback. Ebay has quite a good feedback system where you can view previous buyer’s comments about what this person is selling. It’s very important to note the seller’s history and not just the overall number of good comments. Ie if they have all their positive feedback from selling music equipment and now they are suddenly selling designer handbags then you need to question why this is. Genuine sellers of designer and haute coture items will have a supply history with this product/market area.
• Always pay by paypal. There is good reason for this payment system as it is actually owned by ebay so when you pay using it the whole transaction will be recorded and you can prove that you have sent the seller the money and also get the money back (circumstances providing) if the sale goes sour. Never send cash and i don’t recommend cheques either as it’s very hard to track.

Ok so as you can see I haven’t covered everything you are going to need to look for in order to buy that must have bag of the season on ebay. However I do hope it provides you with quick things to look/check for when you are thinking about buying. The best advice i can give is probably something you have heard before “if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is”.

So it’s been a while since my last post but sometimes a just can’t find anything truly worth writing about and it’s at these times that laziness truly takes over. Still in the spirit of providing exciting updates on cheap designer handbags that you can buy today I decided to post about this new Bottega Veneta crocodile hobo bag that has just hit the shops. It’s not the first crocodile bag I’ve ever reviewed as I did go through quite a phase a few months ago with more than a couple of reviews. I suppose my main fascination with the material comes from looking for a change as quite often it’s just leather all the time in the handbag world.

The blue of this bag as you can see from the picture is really quite striking even though it is dark it still stands out across a room. Other main point i have to make is just how soft the material is and as you know I’m a real sucker for any bag that is comfortable, especially if it’s a big handbag like this which is designed to carry a lot. If this does sound like the bag for you then you might want to check out bottegaveneta.com for release dates and boutiques where you can buy. One point i have to make that many people may not be aware of is that many of the top designers to not allow their handbags to be sold online such as Chanel. Now this doesn’t mean you can’t find them if you look hard enough but beware as most will be fakes. Indeed any retailer selling un-authorised bags online can usually expect a lawyers letter very soon as all the top designers control the brand very tightly. It’s always best to buy with someone established as you probably already know!

So this Valentino Petal Tote bag does have a really weird look i have to say. I suppose it’s in keeping with the metallic theme that i seems to be happening on cheapdesignerhandbag lately (im not sure how long this phase is going to last btw). The most noticeable thing about this bag apart from the metallic look is the massive petal design on the front which does kind of take over the whole thing i have to say. However the bag does still remain slightly understated due to the neutral brown colour so i suppose this handbag is going to fit with a lot of different party and daily occasions.

One thing to note is that the main look of this metallic bag is achieved by sequins and not the actual leather which depending on your point of view can be a bad thing. I really love leather and ive always thought that the whole point of a designer leather handbag is to show that leather off. Now i know leather can get boring sometimes and designers have to think of new ways to make it more exciting but this can often be achieved with effects on the leather itself as opposed to putting lots of “stuff” on top of it. Still if you are interested you can buy this bag online for around £2000 in the right places.

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.

So about time for another laptop bag review i think as we haven’t had one in a while and we also haven’t had one like this in a very long time. The best thing about this designer laptop bag i have to admit is that it doesn’t look like a laptop bag at all. Its made by jtotebags and and it should fit all standard “15 inch laptops and allow you to carry your work/play around with you in style.

One thing that is also worth noting about this laptop bag that i have never seen in other bags of this type is that it will be entirely possible to use it as a normal bag too. Just take out your computer and throw in all your essentials from makeup to your phone, i think its a real testament to the design that you can get away with this! The bag is made mainly from leather but also has beads and even bamboo for decoration, the design really is unique. The price is as you can expect more than you would pay for your basic notebook bag at around £120 but i think this a really a solid investment if you do carry your computer around with you alot.

So i have to admit i have not always been a fan of Stella McCartney, mainly because over the past few seasons her handbags havnt really been up to standard. I can understand this from one perceptive as she has been focusing more on her designer ware but even so. However it looks like she is starting to produce some really interesting designs again mainly in the clutch handbags arena.

So the first thing you or anyone else is going to notice about this clutch is the bright yellow leather. It really makes a bold statement and i suppose it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. One problem you may have is finding something to match this, however where there is a will there is a way and i have a feeling some designer eveningwear may fit. I have to mention this is also a very rational clutch bag as is only has a very small gold chain for the wrist and not the big DKNY straps that we have seen alot in recent years.

One thing that does go against this bag is the price as its around £350 in most high street stores which i think is alot for such as small bag. Also you have to consider how much use you are going to get out of a clutch handbag like this as its really only going to be used for special occasions. Still i think its a really great return to form for Stella so you might want to check out some of her other bags too!

So Donna Karan has been spoiling us again this fine winter with another small and really cute designer tote bag from the new collection. It comes in faux crocodile which i think is really cool and i have to admit ive had a fascination with croc leather ever since i saw crocodile dundee! Im not sure if crocodile is an endangered species of not but i don’t see many genuine designer crocodile handbags around these days, anyway i heard they they are really expensive now though?

Also with this bag as you would expect from DKNY you get lots of little pockets and compartments inside to store stuff and you can actually fit quite alot in even though this is a pretty small tote bag. I think this kind of back is going to appeal mostly to working people as your not going to be able to carry alot in it, however i do believe less is more!

www.dkny.com

So just saw this neat little clutch bag at asos and wante to let you guys know all about it. The style is very Jimmy choo and i think its a real steal at just £15. It can still be hard to find a clutch that follows the main style guidelines of comfort and lightness and still being small enough to be elegant but i think this bag might just pull it off.

On another note i think its great that more of these great designs are starting to filter down from the big fashion houses like Channel and Fendi to the highstreet. We have all wanted to see the latest designs from the Milan catwalk on the highstreet for a while but i have to admit that as far as clutch bags go it has taken a while. Still better late than never i suppose!

So the days of nerdy grey laptop bags seem to be number as i just found this new laptop bag from almost innocent which really is quite special. I suppose the best thing about this designer bag is it doesn’t look like a laptop bag at all. Even some of the official designer laptop bags that i have seem before look way to boxy to be fashionable. Despite is curves you should be able to fit a reasonable size laptop and all netbooks inside it.

Price is really good too as its a very reasonable £39 which for a designer computer bag is really good. I know that the standard nerdy bags in PC world are around that price anyway so why not pay the same and get a bag to make your friends jealous instead of feeling sorry for you!

Ok so this seems to be happening more and more lately. Designer bags that look very alike. This time it is a bag from Jimmy choo and Marc Jacobs. Now i have to say that they are not exactly the same but there are some very big similarities in them. One difference that i am sure you are going to notice is the Price as the Marc Jacobs is around £995 and the Jimmy choo only around £395. Now that is quite a difference in my opinion. Still is does make you think, are the top designers looking more and more at each others work?