As we head into the new year (and the second decade of the 21^st century), we also enter into a new era of fashion.  Before we know it, spring and summer looks will hit the runways, fashion magazines and department stores.  What will be the hot colour?  Will it be skirts, dresses or shorts?  What will stay around from last season, what will make a comeback, and what should we finally throw away?

And when we talk about clothing, it is only appropriate that we mention accessories as well.    At the top of that accessories pile?  Handbags.  The ultimate accessory in utility and style, bags, purses, clutches and backpacks are items without which any woman should ever want to live her daily life.

Want to know what’s hot in handbags in 2010?  Take some cues here.

1.  Clutches

These festive bags are the perfect accessory for a night out on the town or a special occasion.  Though they’re not necessary the most spacious bags, they are roomy enough to allow for the packing of the basic essentials such as lipstick, mobile phone and keys.  There are a variety of styles and designs available, all of which are quite stylish.  Pretty embellishments such as sparkles, pearls and embroidery are great ways to spice up a simpler outfit, while solid coloured clutches are a great way to add a pop of color.

2.  Slouch Handbags

Slouch handbags are great for those who are on the go.  Comfortable and easy to wear, they are unstructured bags ideal for everyday use.  They come in a variety of fun colors and designs and are great for weekends of shopping or travelling.

3.  Gladstone Handbags

These bags are roomier than most – great not only for daily use, but also for overnight trips (for light packers).  More structured than the slouch handbag, their form indicates a certain level of class and elegance that many will enjoy.  They come in a variety of colours, such as sleek black or clean white.

4.  Grab Handbags

These classic handbags literally stand on their own – their usual smart and sleek structure giving them strong forms and pretty shapes.  Held in the hand or slung over the arm, they are probably your best bet for a daily handbag this year.  They come in a wide variety of styles and designs.  Straps can be leather or metal, long or short, wide or thin.  These bags vary in size depending upon the taste of the user.  With lots of compartments inside and sometimes a few on the outside, they are great to help a girl to stay organized as well.  The options are really endless when it comes to these grab handbags.  A wide variety of colors are available, ranging from basic black to popping red.  Styles and designs of leather should also be checked out.

The new year promises to be a good one when it comes to fashion and accessories.  Start checking out fashion magazines and grazing the aisles at local department stores to stake out the perfect bag for you!

The country of Italy is known for a number of things – its food, its history and its culture, just to name a few.  It is also known as one of the fashion capitals of the world, with centres of style in many of its major cities including Rome and Milan.  The home of Gucci and Dolce Gabbana, the country is the centre of the highest fashion in the world.

Considering the exclusivity and elegance of the Italian world of fashion, it should come as no surprise that the materials used are of the highest quality.  This is especially true when it comes to leather.  Italian leather is known worldwide for its value and quality.  It is used for a multitude of products and items, including shoes, car upholstery, handbags and more.

What makes Italian leather so special?  There is no specific answer.  The treatment process used by Italian leather producers is tried and true, dating back hundreds of years.  The hide produced is impeccable and lacking in the flaws often found in leather produced in other parts of the world.

Producers use a variety of labour sources in the process, meaning that the hide passes through several sets of hands.  They are carefully and closely inspected before treatment, and only the best are accepted.  There are several quality checks carried out during the process to ensure that no low-quality leathers slip through.

Once the leather has been treated, it is dyed and finished so that it will be both durable and long lasting, withstanding the test of use and time.  Italian leather producers pride themselves on the consistency and value of their work.

Florence, Italy is specifically known for its leather productions, and visitors to the historic city are sure to be met with a wide array of products.  Over the years, Milan has also become an important producer of leather.  Milan-based leather is used primarily by exclusive fashion houses.  Leather goods produced in Milan go hand-in-hand with fashion and taste.

Considering all of this information, it is no wonder that Italian leather handbags are as popular, exclusive and often expensive as they are.  Purses, clutches and bags made of Italian leather are among the most sought-out products in the world.  Representing more than fashion trends or expensive accessories, they are long-term investments that will endure for years.

Italian leather handbags are timeless purchases, and many are designed as to never go out of style.  Coming in a variety of different colors with a number of embellishment options, they are sure to please any woman, anywhere in the world.

When it comes to quality, beauty and elegance, Italian leather is difficult to beat.  Centuries of practice and perfection have rendered the leather preparation process in Italy impeccable, rendering this fashion capital even more stylish and fashionable with its top-quality leather productions.

Handbags Need to be Stylish and Practical

First impressions are so important in a job interview that you must pay careful attention to every aspect of your appearance and mannerism. One thing that is often overlooked about appearance is the handbag. Even when someone is paying extra attention to their appearance, they may not even think about what handbag they should bring to their job interview.

The handbag you take with you on a job interview does help with the first impression the employer will have of you. The handbag you take should be functional as well as smart, as this is where you will likely keep your CV and contact card.

Here are some tips to help you choose a handbag to take to a job interview.

• You’ll want to choose a handbag that is large enough to fit a copy of your CV, without having to fold it up, which will cause it to appear worn and not very professional.
• A good handbag to take to a job interview will be functional; you’ll want the bag to have compartments to hold your mobile phone, pens, keys, etc.
• The best handbags will have Velcro, and zipper compartments so that your bag’s content does not get mixed up if you should accidentally jostle it around or tip it over.
• It is important that you handbag match the clothing you will be wearing to your job interview; it should especially match your shoes. A good guideline would be to choose a handbag that is black or navy blue if you will be wearing darker colors, and if you are wearing lighter, earth tone colors, tan and brown will look great.
• The handbag you bring on your interview should never be made of canvas or denim, as this is too casual. Your best choices would be a handbag made from leather or microfibre.
• Before leaving for your job interview, double-check your handbag to make sure there or no stains or loose threads that are apparent.
• The style of your handbag should be smart and elegant, but not flashy; remember you want to put forth the impression of professionalism.
• You will also want to pay attention to quality when choosing your handbag; you will want this bag to last you a long time so that you can also use it for work once you have found a job.

Paying attention to details such as your handbag can may all the difference in what type of fist impression you give a potential employer; the more professional you look the better. Choosing a professional style of handbag is just as important for events such as businesses lunches and meetings with associates, as it is for job interviews.

The benefits of purchasing a handbag online are varied; some may choose this option for its speed and efficiency, while others appreciate being able to shop in their pyjamas, at any time of the day or night.  Still others opt for online shopping for the excellent  myriad of choices that are available in the vast realm of cyberspace, with many websites permitting savvy shoppers to individually select down to every last detail, including the make, the color, the style, and the brand of handbag they desire.   Shopping in stores these days can be quite a hassle, between driving time, finding a parking space, braving the crowds of other shoppers, sifting through a hit-or-miss selection of bags, dealing with rude sales people-why bother with all that, when all these great choices (and many more!) can be found in the comfort and privacy of one’s own home at the click of a button, no less?!

Picture this; a typical Saturday morning can be spent in one of two ways.  In the first scenario, a woman gets up at the sound of her alarm, and hurriedly scoffs down breakfast so that she can drive for the next 45 minutes to the nearest mall, in order to arrive when it opens, before it becomes overrun with zealous shoppers.  Upon entering the store of her choice, she is greeted by a lacklustre sales assistant who’d rather spend her time chatting with Lisa from the shoe department than kindly assist and answer the questions of our protagonist.  She is then, consequently, left alone to sift through the already picked-over selection of last-season’s handbags.  And when a carefully selected purchase is finally made, brought home, unwrapped, and tried on with a favorite outfit or preferred wardrobe color, only to be deemed “too 80′s” or “too unstructured”; what is the heroine to do, then?  That’s right; make the same treck she just made two hours earlier back to the shopping centre where she got the handbag, and hope that Lisa and what’s-her-name from earlier are on their break and that the new salesgirl has a sunnier disposition and a favorable return policy.  In scenario two, however, the time-consuming salesperson or middleman is left out of the equation altogether-instead, the eager shopper deals directly with handbag companies and online retailers. 

Friendly customer service representatives are always on hand to lend a helpful ear on colour and size advice, but  often buyers can shop independently and at their leisure.  In this case, the protagonist can sleep in, wake up at an appropriate Saturday time of 10 or 11, enjoy the newspaper and a cup of coffee, and peruse the latest selection of top-quality handbags online.  Once a purchase is decided upon, colour comparisons are done between outfits already in the closet, and the the potential new accessory, friends are emailed the link to the website for advice, and all that’s left to be done is sit back and wait.   Credit card information is kept safe through online site encryption software, and one can choose the shipping method and speed of delivery according to her individual time specifications and schedule.  In a few short days (anywhere from 1, to perhaps, 7 more specifically) her new prized acquisition will be in her arms (and on her arm if all goes according to plan).  In the unfortunate event that the bag is not quite as it was anticipated or depicted online, many online retailers have very customer-friendly and hassle-free return policies.  In this case, the shopper has the option to print out a shipping return label, paste it on the box with the item, and send it back via courier without going any further than one’s own front door.  Yes, gone  are the days indeed when fashionistas had to worry about unfavorable return policies, shipment methods, or delays: modern online retailers have evolved to suit the needs of the modern customer, which is why more and more discerning  consumers are turning to them for their varied shopping needs. Online shopping is particularly convenient for handbag lovers because of how easily it allows for the comparison of multiple bags simultaneously.  While it used to be necessary to aimlessly run back and forth between the three or four stores which carried the various bags one was considering, with online shopping it is quick and easy to view bags from different sources at once.  The final purchase is then almost guaranteed to be a better choice because it reflects a more thorough and thoughtful decision making process. One can see two different types of leather next to one another, compare handles and detailing, and even view different styles and sizes. 

Online shopping is now the number one go-to option for women on the go.  More and more women are entering the modern workforce and at higher, more prestigious job levels, as well.  Trying to balance a stressful job and a family, friends, and hobbies does not leave much time for superfluous pastimes. One still needs to look good, though; online shopping reduces the time spent on personal maintenance, so that those few precious moments women get for themselves each day are not squandered on last-minute trips to the shop for the right outfit to wear to the next day’s business meeting.  Today’s women know what they want and typing in a few simple key words takes them there in mere seconds.

Putting all of one eggs in a particular store’s basket, so to speak, is not always the most prudent of choices.  Regardless of the myriad options available at a preferred local store, there are always more on the internet.  Entering a handful of words like “red”, “crocodile-embossed”, “leather,” and “tote” will turn up a host of options to fit your individual specifications within seconds.  So when debating about making that next shopping trip an all day affair, remember that many modern women are choosing a simple, more reliable option of ordering online, because who has the time to waste precious hours standing in line at the department store?

Remembering Fashion’s Roots

Keeping up with fashion can be pretty intimidating for those on a budget. With the bombardment of advertising that seems to shout “couture or the highway!” feeling or looking stylish can start to get a little intimidating for people who don’t have the leisure time to scour for deals.

Thankfully, most of the world’s famous designers didn’t start out with unlimited funds to dress themselves, either. Fashion has always been about style, and style and taste are two things that can’t quite be bought. In fact, the world of high fashion has been preying on the world of street fashion for decades now, with everything from punk rock haircuts to grunge-inspired sweaters finding their way to the catwalk over time. Some of the feistier designers in the fashion world started out downtown, making their mark on some of the hottest players in the underground art and music scenes, before breaking out on their own. One such luminary is Betsey Johnson, who advises that all a woman really needs is one good pair of heels and a dress that fits and that accessories can do the rest of the job for her.

Looking Hot This Season–Without Breaking the Bank

Taking that advice, the best way for those learning about fashion or those on a tight budget to keep up with the seasons is to focus more on accessories or lasting items than something obviously of a single year. Just because it’s hot now doesn’t mean it will pair well with next year’s clothes, and in these economic times with even Marc Jacobs scaling back his fashion week parties, there’s no need to feel guilty about watching a budget.

So for those ladies choosing one new item for the season that’s as chic as it is timeless, the best item to go for is actually a handbag.

Surprised? Don’t be. So often, women forget that accessorizing includes one’s bag, and that one’s bag is just as noticeable to the general population as shoes or a jacket are. And with such fervour for knockoffs, a savvy bag shopper can spot a bad facsimile a mile away. And it’s never fun to be around snooty women who are making snide remarks about faux-toure.

More important, going for one of this season’s hottest bags is actually a great move towards building a great wardrobe. For women who already have a great and timeless clutch purse to take with them to fancier dinners, consider the dire need for an excellent day-to-day bag, that seamlessly transitions from hauling personal affects to work to making a night out on the town look just as classy and stylish as ever. A great bag can go many places, and even more than shoes, women can always add one to their collection and spruce up their look.

Choosing Wisely

Even though handbags are a great investment, there’s no reason to get swept up in things and make a bad decision. Sometimes, something that looks great on the runway or in a store window is just not going to transition well into the street, and knowing when to charge it and when to avoid it is one of the biggest steps in fashion development that a woman can make to truly mature.

Thankfully, most of this season’s hottest handbags are veering more towards a traditional theme, including with colour palette. Perhaps the fashion world is scaling back, or perhaps there’s simply a return to class. Either way, the words that everyone kept using after checking out Fashion Week were “sturdy” and “classic,” with most designers realizing that, before an evening gown, women are going to add a handbag to their collection.

The Must-Have New Styles

This season’s handbags are bringing back a high-fashion take on durability. Not quite as cowboy-inspired as seasons past, nonetheless, fringe is happening in a much bigger way than it used to be, even on smaller-sized bags. Shoulder straps are definitely in, even with potential clutches, and most designers are rolling out at least one Argentina-inspired medium-sized bag where the focus is durable leather gently inspired by simple country bags used out on the range. The look is understated and great, and helps to dress up any outfit for any occasion. Thank God equestrian influence is still in, because it’s really working when designers use it.

Suede is also making inroads into handbags this year, with a number of designers showcasing smaller suede bags, especially with fringe. Thankfully, the suede handbags aren’t too age-of-Aquarius, but certainly will put a spring into anyone’s step, because they sure do manage to make even the most average outfit look a little bit edgier.

Another hugely popular trend that’s holding strong and is apparent in this season’s hottest handbags is the versatile satchel. Nothing says New York quite like one of these simple and sophisticated bags, and some of the hottest names in New York’s fashion world designed truly fabulous ones that are all the rage at both the boutiques and on the catwalk. Wrap-around buckles are frequently used to dress the bags up, making them perfect for a night out.

…and Some Things to Steer Clear Of

Even though it’s tempting to splurge on something blue, pink, yellow, or whatever is the colour of the moment, it’s important to think about making it last. A well-designed handbag in a colour that might be adventurous this season turns into something that might be hilariously out of vogue next season. Stick to the basics if you want your look to be hot now, and tomorrow.

It’s totally understandable how someone might, in a delusional moment, think that it is perfectly acceptable for a grown woman to buy a bag with any sort of pyramid studs. But before making that mistake, consider two things: the only grown women who ever looked good with studded anything were during the height of the 1980s, and buying a bag with studs is a sure-fire way to accidentally match your sulky 14 year-old niece’s faux-punk rock belt from Hot Topic. There’s just not a good way to put studs on a purse, so just say no.

So Now, So Then, So Future, Too

A wise choice from this season’s crop of handbags will be able to make it long after spring has come again. A truly great choice, and you might have your daughter begging you for the bag in 25 years or so. That’s how great fashion works, so choose wisely, and make your look last for a long time.

It is not always easy to find genuine designer handbags on Ebay, as unfortunately so many of those that are available at online auction sites are cheap imitations. There are numerous Ebay sellers that have no qualms about passing off the cheap imitations as designer handbags.

Here are some tips to help you find genuine designer handbags on Ebay.

• The first thing to look for when you are searching for a designer handbag on Ebay is how many feedbacks the buyer has, as well as what their rating is. The danger of getting a fake is much higher if the seller is new, with relatively few feedbacks from customers. If the seller does have some feedbacks, make sure that you read through the feedback to see if anyone has complained about getting a fake.

• Pay careful attention to the wording in the product description. Although it’s true that it is illegal to sell fake designer handbags, it is not illegal to sell designer inspired handbags. If the product description indicates that it is a designer inspired handbag, then it will not be genuine. Often these handbags will not have a logo or the brand name on the handbag itself, though they may slip it into the product description to catch buyers unaware.

• Before deciding to buy a genuine designer handbag on Ebay, you will want to do some research into the brand name that you are interested in. If you are familiar with the brand, you will be in a much better position to spot a fake. Another advantage to researching the brand name is that you will be acquainted with how the bags vary from season to season, though they tend to stay relatively close to their original design.

• The price of the handbag will be a major indicator of its authenticity. Genuine designer handbags are very expensive, and it is unlikely that you are going to find a £1000 handbag for £100, even on Ebay. Not that it’s impossible to get a good deal on the real thing, but you are not likely to find it at 90% off.

• Once you do find a handbag that you are interested in, ask the seller to send you pictures of the inside of the handbag; if you have done your research on the brand, you should be able to tell quite a bit by examining pictures of the interior of the bag. The stitching should be neat and tight, and similar to what you have seen in pictures from genuine designer handbags.

• The bag should have paperwork that comes with it, so this is a very important question that you should ask the Ebay seller before committing to buy the item. All genuine designer handbags comes with what is known as the chain of title; this verifies that the bag is authentic, and will also have the style number, as well as the brand name on it.

If you know what to look for before you start shopping for a genuine designer bag on Ebay, you should have no problem finding a great deal for the real thing.

Hermes is a brand well known to anyone with an eye for labels and even the more fashionably apathetic people of the world have most likely heard the name once or twice. Any fan of “Sex and the City” will remember the bitter fight between Samantha and Lucy Liu over who had rightful claim to the highly coveted red Hermes Birkin handbag. As that episode so astutely pointed out there is at least a two year waiting list for someone to get their pretty little hands on a Birkin handbag. As the episode also demonstrates, if you know the right people your name can “magically” move its way up.

The Hermes Birkin handbag can be regarded as somewhat of a mythical creature due to its rarity and difficulty to obtain. In addition to the lengthy waiting list, the price, supply, and delivery dates of these delicate beauties intentionally keep them elusive and enticing. The average price of a Birkin handbag runs at the pretty penny of $7,500. This price tag is the general going rate, not including specially ordered handbags or those constructed of more rare, fine materials. While some people might scoff at the price, there are plenty of people out there with fancy sports cars that cost a tremendous amount more and rarely make it out of the driveway.

These beautifully crafted handbags are a way of celebrating personal success as well as applauding the fine designing ability of the Hermes experts. Each handbag is hand made, with at least forty-eight actual work hours going into each purse. The typical Birkin handbag is composed of beautiful leather and is lined with goat skin that is the same color as the exterior. The metallic decorations that adore these bags come in the form of buckle hardware, lock, keys, and feet studs made of precious metals such as gold and palladium. Once a special relationship has been formed between Hermes and a particular individual they can place special orders for more rare materials and décor for their handbag.

The most expensive material to use for a Hermes Birkin handbag is saltwater crocodile skin, with the price growing larger as the scales get smaller. The handbag can be further upgraded by adding precious stones such as diamonds to the outer hardware of the purse. With totally done up, special order Birkin handbags the price range is going to be more in the tens of thousands of dollars. For a true handbag aficionado this can be considered tantamount to a fine piece of artwork.

This particular style of handbag is named after the British singer and actress Jane Birkin who served as inspiration for the creation of this elaborately stylish purse. The actress has even admitted herself that the fame of the Birkin handbag greatly exceeds her own. Maintaining the status of this kind of handbag as very difficult to attain is where a large part of its appeal resides. They are only sold in Hermes boutiques around the world and the supply of handbags in each of these little stores is very limited. The massive waiting list is a pretty good indicator to the availability of these handbags, making the owner of one a heavily envied figure.

The elusiveness and elevated status of the bag translates to the status of the individual who possesses it. The association Hermes Birkin bags carry with them is that only the wealthy and important individuals in society can possess them. This appealing aspect of the handbag has lead to numerous attempts and recreating knock off imitations of the Birkin handbag, but there are telltale qualities that distinguish a true Birkin from an imposter. The bag must be carefully examined but a true Birkin should have even stitching, an interior leather zipper tag that is parallel to the zipper hardware, the crafstman’s initials and the year it was manufactured stamped in a square located under the right of the belt, and a stamp in the front that says “Hermes Paris, Made in France”.

While these may not be the most obvious of distinguishing marks, it is important that any handbag claiming to be a Birkin has all of them. The fine leather craftsmanship is not easy to replicate and this unique, highly skilled handiwork is exactly what makes Hermes Birkin handbags such desirable and cherished items. Vintage Birkin bags are passed down in families fortunate enough to have them, going from generation to generation.

The Hermes Birkin handbag has achieved a state of permanence at the top of the fashion world that all designers hope to achieve. The timelessness of the purses make them all the more desirable because they are not simply a flash in the pan trend, they are a concrete status symbol. Owning a Hermes Birkin bad sends the clear message that an individual has money as well as taste.  A hot young starlet can sport her beautiful crocodile skin Birkin handbag well into her twilight years and while her movies might fall out of style, her purse never will.

A bit more tangible than the Loch Ness Monster, and much more attractive, the Hermes Birkin handbag has an infamy all its own that will greatly outlast the fame and fortune of many of its owners, the few that there are. The scarcity in supply, fine craftsmanship, high price tag, and long waiting list are all elements in what keeps the Birkin bag so tempting and sought after. Along with a long list of musicians, actresses, and socialites, even politicians like Argentine president Cristina Kirchner are the proud owners of multiple Hermes Birkin handbags.

While they are still very difficult to attain and are pricey, Hermes needs to be careful that the Birkin bag retains its elusive appeal if it wants to stay at the top. With imitations getting better and better and with the young and fashionable getting richer and richer it seems that Birkin bags are becoming easier and easier to spot on the skinny little arms of the world’s popular culture elite. Hopefully this is just because the paparazzi are becoming more and more of a nuisance, whatever the cause, the Birkin handbag’s place at the top appears quite secure for the time being.

Everyone likes a taste of high class living, even if it is only that, a taste. This aspiration to experience the ritzier side of life is what inspires so many people to spend beyond their means, in certain areas of life at least. The ultimate demonstration of wealth and style is purchasing name brand designer products to adorn the home, garage, and body. Designer handbags are an especially popular item. There has actually been a marked trend in the UK & US towards affordable luxury items from stores like Tiffany’s, Coach, Nordstrom, and Burberry. People are willing the skimp in other areas of their lives in order to fork over the hundreds of pounds for an easily recognisable designer handbag or raincoat.

This trend has been given names like trading up, mass luxury, and mass affluence. This movement had women of the middle class sporting handbags pictured in the pages of Vogue magazine while driving their kids to football practise in the family car. The basis of this movement in consumption was the feeling of financial security and growing wealth. With good housing prices and rising wages people felt they could extend themselves a little bit beyond their means for a little taste of the good life. The onslaught of the global economic crisis and subsequent recession has had a tremendously stifling affect on this trend.

While women still covet the eight hundred pound Coach purses, they do not feel financially secure enough to splurge on items like that. More people are worried about being able to pay their mortgage, bills, and keeping their job than what direction the “C”s on a handbag are pointing. Even people whose personal wealth is stable and has not taken a big hit are not as willing to part with their cash due to the uncertainty of the future. The rainy day fund that people set their money aside for is getting bigger and bigger as individuals want to provide themselves with as much security as possible.

Another factor that can have a negative impact on the sales of designer handbags during a recession is the staggering amount of imitation purses that are available. The look and quality of a lot of the knock off purses is quite similar to the real thing but for a fraction of the price. For women who are looking to be a bit more financially savvy but refuse to sacrifice personal style, these imitation handbags are the perfect middle ground.

For those who simply cannot hold back from purchasing those must have designer handbags, there is certainly justification for their actions. Spending is something that needs to happen in order for this financial crisis to ever be remedied and no one ever said where the money has to be spent. While it would not be wise to go out and buy a designer handbag for every month of the year, curbing the appetite to follow the seasons is a good way to tailor in the spending while still satisfying the need for designer goods.

Opting for the lower priced luxury items is another good way to fulfill the need for a designer purse but maintain a reasonable budget. The whole idea of shopping on a preset budget is another great approach to shopping in times of economic woes. While the market for designer handbags will not be booming during a recession, it will not dry up completely. Fashion does not stop just because most people have to pull their purse strings a little tighter; it just means individuals have to exercise a little more creativity and flexibility in their spending. This creativity needs to operate on both sides of the relationship in order for the market to remain viable.

While consumers need to balance their budgets a little differently in order to set aside a couple of extra pounds for a designer handbag, those designers need to recognize the financial climate and react accordingly. This means providing bags that are based more on universal use rather than what is hot for that particular season. A person is much more likely to spend a large amount of money on a handbag if they believe they will get a good amount of use out of it and the purse will be appropriate for any season and almost any occasion. Selecting certain materials is another way that designers can work with consumers to reach a happy medium. Forfeiting some of the pricier materials, designers can still make beautiful handbags but perhaps with more reasonably priced materials. This amendment works in favour of both the consumer and the designer because the financial hard times are hitting on both sides of the counter.

More streamlined, classic looks should be making up the handbag market during these dismal economic times. People are not looking for glitz and glamour as much because each additional sparkle represents another dollar lost to frivolous spending. Subtle yet stylish is a good look for designer handbags at this moment because they do not make too loud a statement but will continue to look good as the economy slowly gets better. It is important not to skimp on quality of design however. People are much more likely to purchase a handbag that they know will hold up and serve them loyally for years to come rather than one that will come apart at the seems in only a few months time.

While a recession does spell bad times for the world of fashion, it does not mean that consumption will halt completely. People will undoubtedly curb back their spending on designer handbags, but the desire will persist and they will have to give in at least sometimes. Providing more moderately priced items that are a bit more modest is the best way for designers to meet consumers part way as they both try to make it through the struggle of a financial crisis. With some clever budgeting and a sharp eye people will be able to satisfy their need for designer handbags and keep the market afloat, even if it is only barely above water for some time.

There are handbags and then there are handbags. And then there’s Chanel. The Chanel 2.55, to be more specific.  From the ever expanding brigade of young and precocious fashionista bloggers and their swelling coterie of online fans, to the more established style mavens, stylistas and your every day fashion hags, the Chanel 2.55 invokes delight on every front. It is a classic in every sense of the word. In fact, you could even say that it is the classic handbag. The 2.55 is in the covetable position of being one of the most influential fashion icons history has seen. This divine piece of work, with its oh-so-classy flap over and indispensible chain strap, was designed and conceived by Ms. Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel herself.

For those who don’t know the glorious history of this timeless fashion accessory, here’s a short run down of the life and times of the Chanel 2.55 handbag. It all started out when young Coco Chanel was growing up, a child of a travelling salesman named Albert Chanel and his wife Jeanne Devolle. Her mother took Coco out as she went shopping for clothes at various tailors around the city. This is where the young girl’s love of all things sartorial began. Unfortunately, when she was still quite young, Coco’s mother died of tuberculosis; the fateful event left Coco and her siblings in the care of their father. A few short months following the death of his wife, their father, Albert, left to work and provide for the children, leaving Coco and co. to fend for themselves in an orphanage. There, it is said that the girl withdrew into herself, drawing pictures; however, it is in the orphanage where the young Coco learned the art of sewing.

Coco’s time in the orphanage had a huge impact in her later work. The double chain shoulder strap affixed to the 2.55 is taken from the key chains that the orphanage caretakers would wear dangling around their waists. The inside lining is colored brown to represent the convent uniforms Coco had to wear while she was growing up. However, more than just Ms. Chanel’s fantastic childhood inspired the bag. The inside of the front flap contains a secret compartment where Coco surreptitiously stashed her love letters from one Hans Gunther von Dincklage, a purported Nazi spy who arranged for Coco to bed up at the Ritz Hotel during the war; she would call the Ritz her home for more than thirty years, even during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Perhaps, her war time experience swayed her to create another clandestine compartment within the 2.55. There is a secret pocket in the back of the bag, located on the outside flap; here is where Coco would hide a little bit of extra money, just in case. The quilted material from which the 2.55 is made was inspired by the coats worn by horse racing jockeys. The interlocking CC clasp on the front of the bag is called the Mademoiselle lock, as Coco never married.

While the name of the bag sounds eerily zeitgeisty, especially in these wired web 2.0 years, it is actually nothing more than a simple date. The two is for the month of February, and the 55 stands for the year 1955; what you have is the date the bag was first released. Coco designed the bag for her own use, so some of its features were avante garde for the time. Take the double chain interwoven with leather strap; up market handbags of the era weren’t so practically equipped; however, Coco wanted to keep her hands free, to be able to hold a glass of champagne, perhaps. Whatever the case, Ms. Chanel saw nothing unfeminine about being able to use one’s hands, challenging the notions of the day & pioneering shoulder handbag styles for the future.

The bag was reissued in the fall of 2005. The new version is slightly updated with fresher, more modern material; also has done away with classic version’s CC Mademoiselle clasp and replaced it with a rectangular turn lock. The bags released in 2005 are called Reissues. There are other similar 2.55 style bags labeled as Classic Flaps. Classic Flap sizes are different than the Reissues, but it is quite easy to confuse the two if you’re not an expert. The Reissues themselves are exactly like the original 2.55 design except for the clasp. Also, Reissues have an all chain strap, whereas the classic version has an interwoven leather and metal strap. Reissues, moreover, have a double inside flat. The Chanel Classic Flap bag comes in three sizes and ranges in price from about $1500 to $2000. The Reissue comes in various sizes and is pricier.

Whether its slung over a thin, gauzy black dress hugging a gamine frame, or whether hanging lightly from a thin shoulder whose owner is decked out in long, ripped jeans, an oversized boys t-shirt with the words heaven and hell etched out in thick, inky sharpie pen scrawls and a layer of silk and cotton kuffiyeh scarves wrapped biliously around the neck in premium boho style (can we say Olsen or Mischa), this bag simply works. It’s classic, it’s edgy. It is what you want it to be. The Chanel 2.55 is a girl’s best friend. The hefty price tag is well worth it. The 2.55 is eternal. It comes in a variety of different shades, from luscious red to deep, jet black.

Unsurprisingly, the bag is a favorite of many young Hollywood starlets.  The list includes Blake Lively of Gossip Girl, whose character Serena Van der Woodsen, incidentally has a few 2.55s herself, Paris Hilton and best pal Nicole Richie, Clemence Poesy and her Potter costar Emma Watson, vampire lover Kirsten Stewart, fashionista and one time OC star Mischa Barton, who has a few, La Lohan, and Kim Kardashian, among others.

The bag is more popular today than it was when it first came out, way back in ’55. And rightly so. The 2.55 is a timeless classic. It’s understated, yet elegant and refined. It’s practical yet sophisticated. A must have, if you can afford it.

For those of you who are true Chanel fans, as a treat, here is the trailer for Coco Avant Chanel released in the UK in just over a week’s time, starring the gorgeous Audrey Tautou as Coco herself.

Doesn’t time fly? Now it’s time to prepare ourselves for what we’ll be buying, wearing and craving in Autumn & Winter 2009. Here’s what to expect:

Handheld

Clutch handbags are a key item for AW, which will take you smoothly into the Christmas party season. Chain handles are still an important look, although they will be wrapped around the hand rather than over the shoulder.

Don’t worry, for the hoarders among us, the oversized slouch is still very much about, but shorter, chunkier handles have evolved it into a handy grab – think doctors’ satchel look meets Mary Poppins’ capacity.

Tactile

It’s all about the look and feel, from butter soft slouch leathers, to squidgy quilting and studded hardware – you won’t be able to keep your hands off next season’s handbags.

Exotic Leathers

Whether it’s ostrich, snake or crocodile leather, expected to go safari next season with a range of exotic materials pioneered this season by Michael Kors. However, if you ask me, I’d much rather keep it mock-croc – blegh.

Vintage

Yester-year looks are still a big part of catwalk trends, although we’ll be travelling further back from the 70s & 80s inspired looks of S/S to the most sophisticated and classy styles of the first half of the 20^th century. Lanvin showed a beautiful collection of vintage box-shapes, while Hermes kept to what they knew best with a sumptuous Kelly & Birkin inspired range.

Quirky

Lagerfield at Chanel created a wonderful range of handbags complete with must-have contents (Ipod, headphones, perfume, lipstick, mirror & sunglasses) laminated into Perspex. Although, not the most practical thing to have graced the catwalk, I can’t wait to see how the clever people at Topshop translate the look into a wearable style for the High Street.

For the one lady we can always rely on for quirkiness, LuLu Guiness has released a new range to celebrate her 20^th anniversary, but for those of us who can’t afford the price tag, Accessorize at Monsoon do this cute alternative.

Embellishments & Detailing

I am overjoyed that those feminine touches that I’ve fallen in love with this season are here to stay for the rest of the year. All of you who invested in beads, buckles, pleats and bows have chosen wisely & if not, here’s the go-ahead to treat yourself to something pretty & girly.

80s Inspired Rock Chic

In contrast to above, faded denim, aged leather, buckles, studs and metal will all be red hot in Autumn & Winter. If you want to keep bang on-trend, inject your whole outfit with a laid-back Sienne Miller inspired vintage T-shirt & baggy jeans.