spring 2014

Handbag trends 2014: the inside-out handbag

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged bucket bag / drawstring bag / fall 2014 / mansur gavriel / spring 2014 / summer 2014 / totes by

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Photo: Mansur Gavriel red and black drawstring bucket bag. Online here and here. Tote version online here.

A few seasons ago, Saint Laurent and Valentino introduced reversible tote bags. These beautiful handbags reminded us of high-quality garments which look just as amazing inside as they do on the outside.  There is nothing like looking inside of a handbag and seeing just as much beauty inside as outside.

This brings us to the current trend in handbags which is exemplified by the current “IT” bag by Mansur Gavriel. Instead of a reversible handbag, Mansur Gavriel stayed true to the fashion industry mantra of making a piece beautiful inside and out. In doing this, they created a line of tote bags and drawstring bucket bags which have fabulous colors inside, and finished seams inside, without fabric lining. The color on the inside of the handbag peeks out from the top of the bag creating additional interest in the piece from casual onlookers, while keeping the handbag owners’ interest. Love that!

Mansur Gavriel’s popularity did not go unnoticed in the fashion industry. Aside from becoming the most sought-after handbag of the decade, which is next to impossible to get your hands on, iconic designers such as Prada have followed suit and created bi-color handbags for the summer 2014 season; and into the fall 2014 season.

That’s right! Mansur Gavriel’s drawstring bucket made a quiet trend explode; a trend which goes beyond the drawstring bucket bag silhouette. This new trend offers one color on the inside and another color on the outside. They have reinvented the basic black or tan handbag; giving handbag fans everywhere something fresh to cheer about!

As we move from spring 2014, into the hot summer months, and the new fall season, be on the lookout for more designers and brands creating bi-color handbags which offer inside-out interest. This is the beginning of the trend . . .

Bi-color handbags from around the web:

Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bag and Pretty Living feature

 in Announcements / Handbags  tagged bucket bag / drawstring bag / interviews / mansur gavriel / pretty living magazine / spring 2014 by

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Photo: Mansur Gavriel handbags online here and here /  Nail Polish c/o Laura Mercier

I cannot contain my excitement; I got my hands on a Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bag! This beautiful handcrafted handbag is vegetable dyed and made from exquisite leather. The interior is carefully finished with a beautiful red hue and looks just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. I love pieces which are carefully crafted and exude pride, quality craftsmanship and timeless appeal.

Aside from being the “IT” handbag of the moment, the Mansur Gavriel drawstring bucket bag offers a classic look which I look forward to enjoying for many years to come. The leather will soften and eventually display scratches which will give the handbag character much like vintage Coach handbags with their famous patina everyone longed for back in the 1980’s and 1990’s when Coach’s baseball glove leather was in high demand.

The Mansur Gavriel handbags have a cult following, and since they are handmade in Italy, they are not mass produced in high quantity. This has made the demand for the Mansur Gavriel bag far exceed supply; resulting in a seven month wait, on average. I absolutely adore well-made handbags and I love the ease of being able to reach in and out of the top of the handbag without needing to fiddle with a zipper or unreliable clasp. I have my eye on the light tan with pale pink interior drawstring bag by Mansur Gavriel. I may need to add my name to the waitlist for it!

I would also like to thank “Pretty Living” magazine for the recent feature! You can read the article at PrettyLivingMag.com.

Where to find Mansur Gavriel online. Be prepared for a wait list!

Balenciaga handbags are about to have a price increase

 in Handbags / Shopping  tagged balenciaga / news / spring 2014 / totes by

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That’s right! On May 1, 2014 Balenciaga will be increasing their price points. The increase is rumored to be as much as 20%. This means if you have been eyeing a classic Balenciaga City Tote, you may want to act on it before April 30, 2014. Of course, which styles will experience a price increase has yet to be seen. It could be all Balenciaga handbag styles, or it could be a select few. But, do you want to risk waiting to see if the style you have been coveting will experience a price increase or not?

After May 1, 2014, the prices could go up by 20% and you may need to either continue to save up for the Balenciaga bag of your dreams, or abandon the thought of purchasing one altogether. Now no-one wants to abandon a purchase!!!

Over the past few years handbag fans everywhere have watched as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and more have rapidly increased their price points. Many of the price increases have been due to the fact that there are less suppliers in the handbag industry producing high quality materials.

A few years ago, during the economic downturn, many suppliers in Europe did not weather the storm. This meant the usual suppliers used by the top luxury design houses went out of business. When the economy recovered and the demand for luxury handbags bounced back from a small dip, designers such as Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and the like, went scrambling to fill their orders. Unfortunately there was a smaller supply of luxury leather and materials than had been available before the economic downturn. As a result, there are less materials today than there were eight years ago for luxury handbag designers to purchase. This is simple economics. Low supply +  increased demand = higher prices. Those costs end up being passed on to the consumer. 

In addition to an increase in materials, labor has gone up since the economy rebounded. As with materials, smaller manufacturers did not weather the economic downturn. These were manufacturers who had been in business for over a century. Again, less manufacturers and increased demand will result in higher manufacturing costs; which causes prices to rise.

It was only a matter of time that the supply and demand issues in Europe would reach the House of Balenciaga. As a result, on May 1, 2014, the prices of Balenciaga handbags will increase. Buy now, or empty out your wallet.

Balenciaga around the web: