Tote Couture
Handbags, purses, totes, clutches, shoulder bags ? I don't care what you call them, I love them all. I am a handbag addict. I have them in a countless array of styles and colors. Trends come and go, but "tote couture" remains. True handbag fashion is timeless.
It is not about seasonal fads, but about creating a personal style and reflecting your good taste.
A good purse will last not only for this season, but also for years to come.
This means investing in quality bags, taking care of your purses and totes, and shopping for styles that work best for you.Here are a few simple rules:The Person-To-Bag RatioDo not carry a bag that overwhelms your body size. Petite women should not be lugging around oversized bags that slap their thighs because they hang too low from the shoulder. Not only does it look bad, but can be harmful to your lower back if your bag is too big and too heavy for your frame.
Conversely, tall women look silly with a wrist purse.
Shop according with proportion in mind.Summertime is Fun Time!Enjoy your summer and be more playful with your purse selection. Invest in straw bags, brighter colors, clutch purses with retro designs or a Pucci pattern shoulder bag. Generally speaking, summertime purses are less expensive and so it is easier to experiment with a variety of styles and colors. Find bags that complement particular outfits.
Quality Is In the DetailsBefore screaming, "I love it ? it must be MINE!" and running to the cashier with credit card in hand, take a good look at the bag. Examine the lining to make sure it fits properly and isn't too loose.
Be sure the clasp or closure of the bag works properly and looks solidly made. Inspect the stitching and see if there is any fraying or other sign of poor quality. The Care and Feeding Of Your PurseJust as leather and suede shoes need a little TLC, so do leather and suede bags.
Purchase products to help keep the leather soft, supple and lustrous and apply them several times a year.
Remove any stains on fabric bags with warm water and a mild detergent.
Rub in a circular motion, and never, ever scrub at the fabric. Check the maintenance instructions that come with your new purse and follow them. Choose Your Bag According To the OccasionAre you going to an evening gala? The beach? To a little caf? to meet some friends? Is the bag for work?
All of these situations require a different purse to suit different needs.
A hobo-style bag is too unstructured for a formal event such as an evening gala. A better option is a clutch or wrist bag, with beading, a luxurious fabric, or an eye-catching color to accent your little black dress. Despite the popular trend toward casual office attire, a student-style knapsack is inappropriate corporate attire. Women should look at other options such as a Kelly bag, a supple leather school bag, a structured messenger bag or even a large leather tote.Mixing and MatchingShould you choose your everyday black handbag, or go for your new aqua Mulberry Roxy bag?
It may sound simple, but it really depends on what you are wearing and how you feel. At one time, it was de rigueur to match your handbag and your shoes.
Over the years that rule has become less important. Nowadays, handbag fashion is more about creating a look. Consider the color of your outfit, and choose a handbag that accents it. If your look is monochromatic grey, you might want to consider something that will make your outfit pop, like fashionista pink. However, if you are wearing a highly patterned dress, consider a simple cigar box purse, pulling one of the colors from your dress.Style ? It's in the BagAttention shoppers: Get out there and express your personal style and attitude through one of the most fashionable accessories on the market, the handbag.
When shopping for your new best friend consider your lifestyle, your body type, your wardrobe and the quality of the goods, but most of all have fun and look fabulous, darlings!.
A. Charlotte Riley has worked as an Internet editor, optimized content producer, marketing writer and researcher. She has a BFA from Concordia University, majoring in Photography. Contact: http://www.acriley.com.Bridal Shops
When a wedding is being planned, an animated discussion about the wedding gown to be worn by the bride is inevitable. This item is of paramount importance to the couple, their families and to friends and well-wishers. But there are many more such important things to be selected and purchased prior to a wedding. Visiting different stores to purchase all the items on the shopping list for a wedding can be overwhelming. For years, wedding planners have wished that the list of items required for a bride were available under one roof.
A bridal shop fulfills this need. As the name suggests, a bridal shop specializes in providing everything needed for a wedding. The experience of shopping for a wedding can be made simple by stepping into a one stop bridal shop.
The shopping list for a wedding includes bridal gowns, bridesmaids' gowns, flower girls dresses, flowers, headpieces, veils and many other accessories. Bridal stores handle fitting and alteration for all kinds of...
Purses > Bridal Shops
POSH Handbags
Posh? was founded by owner & designer Tori Alvarado in the Spring of 2002. Tori was a creative-child and has always had a flair for Fashion. Even as a little girl she always seemed to have a knack for handbags & the idea of creating something unique & stylish that was very much her own.
Growing up Tori was heavily influenced by both her Mother & her Grandmother.
Designing was a family trait and always highly encouraged.After working six years in Corporate America in the Computer Industry Tori resigned from her corporate job to stay home with her new baby.
While adjusting to Motherhood, she started putting her handbag designs to paper & decided to start a business that she truly loved based on her creative ideas. She had a real passion for doing something hands on and knew it was time to turn her designs into reality.
Reality for Tori is purses!More recently, Tori collaborated with artist & friend SHANO to create a line of unique limited edition bags...
Purses > POSH Handbags
San Diego County's First eBay Consignment Store to Open.
Vista, CA (ContentDesk) August 18, 2004 -- North County residents and businesses are getting on the eBay bandwagon thanks to 24/7Auctions,
a new eBay drop off location in Vista.. The eBay consignment store, located at 1037 E. Vista Way will begin serving as an e Bay
drop-off location. Now people can sell their items on eBay without doing the work themselves.The new service is ideal for people too busy to manage the logistics of selling on eBay or who don't have daily Internet access. Customers who want to sell on eBay can conveniently drop off their unpacked items at the Store.Based on experience, 24/7 Auctions has a list of accepted items which sell best on eBay.
The store accepts items with an assumed value of at least $50 in the following categories: Computers and networking equipment, electronics, cameras, jewelry, purses and shoes, musical instruments and equipment, sports and hobby equipment, and video game systems.During opening, no payment is necessary...
San Diego County's First eBay Consignment Store to Open.
Purses > San Diego County's First eBay Consignment Store to Open.
Guilt-free exotic salmon leather products mean every part of the salmon is utilized, similar to the ancient tradition of the Northwest Coast Native peoples
November 19, 2003, Seattle, WA - Salmon leather?
Yes, it's true. For more than a hundred years, the skin of the salmon has been discarded, cast off , dumped and otherwise treated badly by the salmon canning industry in an effort to extract only the choicest morsels from nature's delicacy, Oncorhynchus keta, more commonly known as Chum Salmon.
Ivory Jack's Trading Company has worked over the last several years perfecting fine quality salmon leather that stands up to current rigorous fashion standards.
The leather is fascinatingly strong and has the look and feel of snake skin.
But, due to the formerly discarded nature of the material, it is guilt-free exotic leather more widely available to mass consumption.
The Pacific Northwest Coast Indians used the salmon, skin and all, for hundreds of years as they inhabited the salmon rich coastal lands of Alaska, British Columbia (Canada) and Washington State.
They traditionally tanned the hides...
Purses > Guilt-free exotic salmon leather products mean every part of the salmon is utilized, similar to the ancient tradition of the Northwest Coast Native peoples
Handcrafted Cigar Box Purses
A cigar box purse is not just a purse; it is a piece of art. A real conversation piece, a cigar box purse has a charm and beauty all its own! Made from authentic cigar boxes, these purses can even feature photos and collages of your family and pets. Many even pay homage to a bygone era with vintage images of advertisements, ladies, dancers and animals.Most cigar box purses still display the wood burned logos on the sides to serve as a reminder of the roots of your beautiful purse. They can also be lined with luxurious fabrics. You can find them with tassels, beads and all sorts of embellishments.
The handles are also numerous in design: beads, bamboo, brass and so much more. These purses are as diverse as the artists that create them!If you would like more information about cigar box purses (http://cigar-box-purses.crazyaboutscrapbooks.com/), be sure...
Handcrafted Cigar Box Purses
Purses > Handcrafted Cigar Box Purses
The Man Purse Revisited
Honestly, I don't know what all the fuss is about.
So your man carries a purse?
What's a girl to do?
It's not such a big deal, is it?
Ever since the airing of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry starts carrying a "European Carry-all", the man bag has truly found its place in popular culture.
That particular episode is, by far, my favorite.
The man purse that Jerry was carrying was actually quite nice.
I mean, if you are going to carry a purse it ought to be a nice one.
While the episode elicited a lot of laughter, it brought up some interesting points.
For instance, why do men feel so uncomfortable calling a purse a purse?
Handbag designers take note!
One day in the not-so-distant future, the market for man purses is going to explode.
That's my prediction, for what it's worth.
I think the biggest challenge for designers to overcome when approaching this untapped market, is the...
Purses > The Man Purse Revisited
This is Not Your Grandma?s Craft Store
sarah1980.com, the world's newest independent craft supply retailer, is pleased to announce the opening of its online store. Today's DIY movement doesn't mimic trends - it starts them. So forget the cross-stitched bunnies and teddy bears in dresses, sarah1980.com retails contemporary craft and sewing supplies needed to make fabulously funky and exquisite originals.sarah1980.com specializes in handbag/purse making supplies including a wide variety of handles and magnetic closures, beautiful printed textiles, fresh handbag patterns and saucy embroidery patterns. Whether just starting out or an experienced DIY style maven, sarah1980.com offers everything required to express your own style.Leah Kramer, Owner of craftster.org says:"There are a lot of people who are trying to move away from buying clothing, or purses or accessories that it looks like everyone has the same thing and bought it from the same store. So, I think it's just becoming cool to have and make things and wear things that...
This is Not Your Grandma?s Craft Store
Purses > This is Not Your Grandma?s Craft Store
Company Offers Affordable Alternative to Expensive Health Insurance.
Health Benefits, or the lack thereof, has become a newsworthy item in the past few months. 140 Million Americans do not have any form of Dental Coverage and 45 million Americans do not have Medical Coverage! What does the average individual do when they need a root canal,or a tooth extraction? What if a skateboard accident sends their child to the hospital emergency room? With no safety net of health benefits, a medical emergency could cause tremendous financial hardship.For over 12 years, AmeriPlan?...
insurance Company Offers Affordable Alternative to Expensive Health Insurance. Tote Couture
Purses > Company Offers Affordable Alternative to Expensive Health Insurance.