The New 'It' Bags

Hey? How about a MURVAL designer handbag for under $50? Coming soon. We promise.

Nicola Ruiz, FORBES

A Chloe Paddington for $2,100? That's nothing. A Fendi Spy bag for $3,300? Pocket change.

For serious shoppers seeking the ultimate status symbol, nothing compares with the white alligator and diamond Chanel bag, which costs a disarming $260,150. Or, for the slightly more frugal, the $42,500 Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork tote. It used to be that a simple, versatile black bag would do for both day and night. So when did the designer purse phenomenon reach such epic proportions? Barbara Atkins, fashion director of Holt Renfrew Canada, says the "it" bag craze began when Hermes designed the Kelly bag for Grace Kelly, which became famous in 1956 when the princess appeared in Life magazine with it on her arm. The Kelly was followed by the Birkin bag, named after actress Jane Birkin. Today a coveted Birkin can command hundreds of thousands of dollars (following several years on a waiting list).

What's Your Office Style? Even as stocks fall, this luxury sector continues on its positive trajectory. Luxury spending on apparel and accessories in the U.S. totaled $800 million in January, according to Kamalesh Rao, director of economic research for Mastercard Advisors, a macro-economic report that tracks U.S. retail across all spending. This marks an 8% increase over luxury spending in 2007. Meanwhile, online retailer eluxury.com reported sales of luxury handbags (those over $500) increasing by 11% last year, confirming that luxury bags have maintained their must-have status.

"When it comes to these bags, customers have really stretched themselves," says Atkins. "It's not uncommon today to see people wearing outfits from H&M or Zara with a $2,000 purse on their shoulder." That's in part due to a "need" created by celebrities. "Today's customers go online constantly to follow celebrity style--they're checking out what comes down the runway before it even gets a mention in the magazines," says Atkins. "They clamor to get on waiting lists, scarcity breeds excitement and the new 'it' bag is born." The ultimate allure of a handbag, however, is that one size fits all.

"It represents something from high fashion that any woman can wear, regardless of her body type," says Jayne Mountford, vice president of trend reporting for Stylesight, a New York-based trend forecasting company. Making those bags accessible are companies like Bag Borrow or Steal, an online rental service that works like Netflix (nasdaq: NFLX - news - people ) for handbags. Customers can pay a weekly, monthly or annual fee, ranging from $9.95 to $59.95, for access to a collection of over 3,000 authentic designer handbags. Rentals go from $6 to $275, depending on the type and exclusivity of the bag. Tapping into a burgeoning sector, the company, which started in 2004, now boasts half a million members who can borrow bags for as long as they like with the option to buy the bags outright at discounted prices.

"Many of our members already have several designer bags," says Bag Borrow or Steal chief marketing officer Jodi Watson. "But they want the variety and the accessibility without the commitment of buying their own every time they see one they love." While rent-a-bag companies serve the masses, true luxury spenders want exclusivity, and design houses like Louis Vuitton and Chanel are rising to the challenge.

The Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork bag, launched in December to an already sold-out audience, was assembled from 14 different LV bags cut up and sewn together like patchwork. Only five were up for sale in North America (Beyoncé Knowles bought one) with 24 available worldwide. Chanel one-upped the designer by introducing an alligator-skin bag trimmed with white gold and studded with 3.56 carats of diamonds--only 13 were available worldwide.

While some over-the-top "it" bags get snatched up before they even hit the shelves, others are making their way into stores this month. Two extremes will score big this spring: the large, hand-held satchel or tote with multiple interior pockets, and the medium- to large-sized envelope clutch.

Purses with "it" potential for spring have a classic, ladylike vibe such as the YSL Majorelle, the champagne-hued Roger Vivier with his signature buckle flap and the metallic Gucci Queen hobo. Other, more playful contenders include the candy-colored Richard Prince for Louis Vuitton Motarde frame bags, the chic, green calfskin Kate Spade tote and the Carlos Felchi python clutch in bright orange.

With many high-end bags made in Italy and the Euro still going strong, prices for bags hitting stores this month could continue to rise, forcing the aspirational consumer to cut back. But the rich likely will not go empty-handed. "The very wealthy, the people for whom these bags were always intended, will continue to buy their 'it' bags," Atkins says. "For these women, no price is too high."

Hot Trend: Black Patent Leather Bags

from Google Search

Patent leather designer handbags are hot this season. Designers captured the trend early on and adapted accordingly. As a result, very visually appealing bags have been created, some of are priced here for you:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Patent Utility Tote ($438.00) - Michael Kors Large Patent Satchel ($1,195.00) - Tod’s Patent Restyled D-Bag Media ($1,495.00)

Alexander McQueen Elvie ($1,495.00) - Fendi Large Patent B Bag ($2,070.00) - Marni Oversized Patent Tote ($1,449.00)

Hmmmm..... sounds like a lot of cash to spill on one handbag.

Murval black patent handbags are priced about $50 each! See the photo above, and fall in love with Murval!

Save this link. Coming soon online.

Known for the quilted handbag Chanel also designed jewelry

Murval Handbags and Accessories has a new collection this Spring called "quilted." The quilted handbags are arriving soon and will be available online at DesignersLA. Save this link and stop back soon.

We can't help but notice the impact Chanel made with quilted leather handbags. We love Chanel. Chanel is avaialble online, too. Here's a link you may enjoy.

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Chanel Costume Jewelry
by Maire Loughran

In the 1930's Chanel started her jewelry line with a selection of daytime wear chains, pearls and glass gemstone jewelry. The quilted jersey fabric purse with chain strap is a signature of the Chanel style. However, Mlle. Chanel also was a highly regarded designer of costume jewelry.

In the 1930's Coco Chanel started her jewelry line with a selection of chains, pearls and glass gemstone jewelry that was meant to be worn with her daytime sportswear collection. Later, Chanel presented a design that is still in popular use in jewelry today - that of the Maltese cross. She incorporated this cross into her necklace, pin and bracelet designs.

The Maltese cross is differentiated from other cross designs in that the four arms of the cross are equal in length and they widen as they extend from the middle of the cross. The origin of this cross design was that shown on the back of the robes worn by the Knights Hospitallers - a religious and political order headquatered in Malta in the 11th century.

The original Chanel cross was designed by Verdura and was made of hand-poured glass. Mlle. Chanel's later designs were inspired by early Persian and Egyptian jewelry. As an aside - Fulco di Verdura, designer of the Maltese Cross collection for Chanel, went on to open his own design house which is still thriving today. My next series of articles will discuss the interesting topic of costume jewelry - what it is - what sets it apart and hi-light various costume jewelry artists.

The Classic Chanel Quilted Handbag

Yes, we all love CHANEL. There's no doubt. We know Chanel is very expensive and although we desire a quilted Chanel bag, we may not be able to buy one. But.... here's a great place to buy a wonderful quilted designer handbag without spending grocery money!

DesignersLA Online Store located at eFashionHouse.com is gearing up to introduce MURVAL handbags. The Murval quilted collection arrives soon. It's the Murval Spring 2008 collection. Click here and save this link for hanbags available mid-March 2008.

Just so you know, eFashionHouse also sells authentic Chanel Handbags and was recently named the top of online retailers selling Chanel by About.com. Click here to see Chanel.

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The Classic Chanel Quilted Handbag

by Christabelb

Ooh la la… The Chanel classic quilted handbag is true Parisian chic, it just oozes class and sophistication and no matter what the current trends are, has a classic timeless design that has lived through many a fashion era. There's something about that soft stitched leather and gold metal chain that has created a signature style icon for women all over the world.

So let's go back in time to when it first began…

In 1955, Chanel introduced the Classic Quilted bag with the shoulder strap, THE bag that shook the fashion world. It became so popular the first year she had to decline numerous requests due to the lack of time to painstakingly manufacture each one by her skilled artisans. The bag is known in industry shorthand as the 2.55, after the month and year it was introduced.

Chanel's signature quilted fabric has a "secret" quilting pattern sewn at the back to keep the material strong. This material is used for clothing and accessories alike. Throughout the key fashion decades, the Chanel 2.55 handbag miraculously hasn't changed much. Unlike other fashion design houses who have altered their bag styles to appeal to the temporary whimsical demands of fashion trends, the Classic Chanel 2.55 has stood it's ground. In fact, in 2005, the fashion house celebrated by re-releasing the classic just as it was. The classic Chanel bag will never die. The latest versions out this year of this classic bag are awe striking in lambskin and ostrich leather. Can you believe that this bag is over 50 years old?


About The Author: Get bags from Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, Chloe & Prada etc. Christabel is in her 20s & lives in London. She has a great passion for handbags, loves to express her idiosyncrasies about them & hopes other women share her views. She likes to indulge in designer bags like Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Chloe and other designers. She is annoyed with the vast cost of a these bags so she has decided to do something about it.

The First Quilted Handbags

Murval handbags Spring 2008 Collection is introducing an all-new Quilted group. The styles include totes, shoulder bags, clutch bags, lunch bags, diaper bags and travel bags. They are absolutely gorgeous and we can't wait to get them online for you to actually purchase. Right now, we are waiting for the new Spring 2008 Murval handbag collection to arrive, but we just had to post the pictures on the Murval Handbags Blog for all to get a sneak preview of what to expect soon. Save this link!

The First Quilted Handbags - History of Quilted Chanel Handbags

from Love to Know

We have Coco Chanel to thank for the contemporary popularity of quilted purses and wallets. Chanel began the quilting trend in 1955 with the creation of the Chanel 2.55 model, a quilted fabric handbag crafted with the utmost care and detail. Though demands for the bag immediately soared, they could not be met due to the amount of time taken to manufacture the 2.55. The inability to meet customer demand raised the exclusivity of the handbag, thereby increasing the demand even further. Chanel took quilting even further as the decades passed. This style found its way into wallets, clothing, and even the Chanel beauty lines where the compact powders would be quilted to mimic the look of the 2.55 handbag.

Later 2.55 models ditched the incredible fabric look of days past in favor of quilted exotic leathers such as ostrich and lambskin. The trend of quilted handbags will likely never die due to its distinct elegance. After all, elegance is always in style.

The Quilted Purses and Wallets of Today
Modern consumers can go to any department store where they will commonly be confronted with many quilted styles of wallets and purses. These items are not typically Chanel, but they are a testament to the high designs of fifty years ago. As mentioned previously, quilting is a subtle trend that has yet to die because of the peculiar refinement associated with the style. One cannot be sure whether it is the actual quilting that makes one feel elegant, or the fact that the quilting is associated with Chanel which emphasizes the sophistication. Regardless, many low-level designers who admired the effect of quilted Chanel merchandise have sought to create their own copies of the design. So now you can purchase quilted accessories at many department stores and boutiques instead of being placed on a waiting list for the latest season's 2.55 model.

Avoiding Replicas
Chanel is still one of the most reputable and revered designers on the runway, and the public's love for haute French couture has yet to cease. Unfortunately, the demand for Chanel products has caused this amazing brand to become prey to the replica industry. Fans of the 2.55 purse, or any of Chanel's quilted accessories, has led many people to internet auctions in hopes of purchasing a Discount Designer Handbags. However, most of the Chanel merchandise available on the internet at discount prices is rarely authentic Chanel goods. Since Chanel items never go out of style, it is very unlikely that they are ever sold at extremely reduced prices. Some internet companies such as Bluefly.com carry discounted Chanel goods, but you will still note that an 1800 US dollar handbag may only be reduced to 1200 dollars. So if you suddenly find yourself looking at a 60 dollar quilted Chanel wallet you have well-founded reasons to be suspicious of the item's authenticity.

The best way to avoid purchasing replica Chanel quilted purses and wallets is to research the designer carefully. Step into a retail Chanel store and take a look at the craftsmanship and materials used in the manufacturing of these items. There is a reason why Chanel products are so expensive, and if the handbag you purchased off the internet doesn't have a gorgeous silk lining and costly gold chain, and, instead, is sporting broken stitches and cheap hardware, you're holding a fake.

However, if your interest is just in purchasing nice looking quilted accessories, then a department store will most likely have a quilted handbag or wallet to suit your tastes.

Where to Purchase
Department stores are all good places to find quilted handbags and wallets. However, your chances of running into an original Chanel quilted handbag are pretty high. If you're a huge fan of the quilting style and can afford steep prices, then it is always best to show your appreciation for a design by purchasing the original designer product!

MURVAL large tote bags birkin style straps

source: amazon

Murval designer handbags have the look of a high end purse without the high price. The tote bag above has the detailed straps like a birkin bag. There's even a lock and key with hanging fob. This fashionable tote is made of a high quality, heavy duty vinyl, which makes the bag stain resistant and water resistant - excellent for a trip to the beach or as a carry-on bag! The roomy, zippered interior has a small, zippered pouch - great for storing keys or your ipod. No matter what the occasion, this bag will make a true fashion statement.

Murval was founded in the 1990s in Paris by 2 sisters, Muriel and Valerie. They recognized a need for Fashion handbags at accessible prices! Since then, Murval has become a successful designer, and their bags are carried by many finer retail stores around the world. Each season, Murval's goal remains the same - using fashionable materials, combine new styles with trend-setting colors, at a reasonable price-point. Measures approximately 19.5" x 13.25" x 8". Eiffel Tower charm not included.

DesignersLA Online Store at eFashionHouse.com will be featuring the new Spring 2008 Murval Handbag collection soon. Save this link to see the new designs at great low prices!

MURVAL handbags at DesignersLA

source: amazon

Murval makes fashionable totes and handbags using a variety of textures, colors, patterns and designs. They are famous for animal prints made of a high quality, heavy duty vinyl, which makes the bag stain resistant and water resistant - excellent for a trip to the beach or for shopping! Some of the larger tote bags easily fold into an 8" x 4" package that is held tight with a velcro closure - Fits easily into your suitcase or glove compartment for convenience. The giraffe design featured shown above is off-white and brown. The roomy interior has a small, zippered pouch - great for storing keys or your ipod.

Murval was founded in the 1990s in Paris by 2 sisters, Muriel and Valerie. They recognized a need for Fashion handbags at accessible prices! Since then, Murval has become a successful designer, and their bags are carried by many finer retail stores around the world. Each season, Murval's goal remains the same - using fashionable materials, combine new styles with trend-setting colors, at a reasonable price-point. Measures approximately 15.5" x 15" x 3.5" when not folded.

Murval handbags are arriving soon to eFashionHouse.com's online stores. Expected delivery mid-March '08.

MURVAL handbags coming soon!

murval is a French company founded in Paris by 2 sisters, Muriel and Valerie. They recognized a need for Fashion handbags, tabletop and home accents.....at accessible prices! Since then, murval has become a successful designer, introducing two collections each year: Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. Each season, our goal remains the same: handle fashionable materials, combine new styles with trend-setting colors, at a reasonable price-point range, in order to enable our products to always remain affordable for the final customer.

Private labeled or murval branded, our products are warehoused and shipped from our new Distribution Center. We are able to fulfill any merchandising requirements and used to handling specific logistic constraints.

Welcome to murval at DesignersLA, we are more than happy to assist you when placing your order and answer any questions you may have.

Quilted Handbags

By Seth Miller

Quilted handbags are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. These are made of layers of fabric, held together by patterned stitching. Quilting is a method of sewing or tying two layers of cloth together, with a layer of insulating 'batting' in between. Most quilted handbags are made of high quality, hand washable cotton fabrics, which are manufactured to exact specifications. Some of them are made from quilted nylon. Some quilted handbags are machine washable while many are not.

Quilted handbags are great alternatives for expensive designer handbags. The prices and availability of these handbags may vary by location. Suitable for everyday use, these handbags are affordable and stylish. Quilted handbags are unique gifts for someone special. These handbags are available online and in stores. Certain companies provide free shipping.

Characteristic features of quilted handbags are zipper top closures and outside pockets, convenient inside zip pockets, attached coin purse, cell phone pocket and matching key chain. You can choose quilted handbags with open top and button and loop closure, or drawstring top closure with magnetic snap closure flap. Some other models possess zipper top closure with large zip divider pocket. Some of them are lined with plastic and are suitable for carrying make-up and hair essentials. Certain quilted handbags have double snap closure with ID window. They can fold out to reveal 3 zipper compartments with one ring bar. Some of them have a flat base that keeps the bag upright and, also have full width top zipper. They also have PVC lining, which offers water resistance and wipe-clean convenience.

Handbags provides detailed information on Handbags, Wholesale Handbags, Designer Handbag, and more. Handbags is affiliated with Discount Designer Handbags.

MURVAL patent collection coming soon

source: Google Search

Murval Patent Handbag Collection

Coming Soon!
$22.00 - $50.00

Patent is the hottest handbag trend going, so of course our friends at Murval Paris have done a fantastic job of designing lots of great bags! We have a huge selection of patent styles that will keep you organzied and looking oh so fashionable.

Our absolute favorite: the Oversized Pearlized Patent Tote. With just enough white trim to say spring, this versatile bag will update all of your spring outfits. This bag is really OVERSIZED at 23”tall and 17” wide, for a powerful fashion statement. Double handles act as drawstrings at the top.

Quilted Patent Large Tote with camellia brooch 18” tall, 15” wide

Quilted Patent Handbag with camellia brooch in 15” wide, 8 ½” tall with double handles.

Quilted Patent Clutch with camellia brooch 12” wide, 6” tall

Quilted Patent Insulated Lunch Bag 11” tall, 8” wide, 6” deep

Save this link! Arrivals expected by mid-March 2008

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Murval Diaper Bags

Coming Soon! Save this link!

Diaper Bags can be fashionable, too! Moms have been using Murval totes as diaper bags from the very start. We’re pleased to offer two terrific diaper bag styles that come with a detachable bottle holder, plus a changing pad and have lots of pockets to keep Moms organized as well as stylish.

Quilted Patent Diaper Bag in black 14 ½” wide, 12” tall

Shiny Stripe Vinyl Diaper Bag 14 ½” wide, 12” tall

Save this link! Arrivals expected by mid-March 2008

Handbags, Purses, It Bags - History

Murval Handbags, Purses, It Bags .... You got it! Click here to get it, soon!

eFashionHouse is gearing up to introduce a new hanbag collection - MURVAL handbags!

We just can't get enough information about handbags these days. The handbag has become the main essential ingredient to any outfit. Whether we are getting dressed to go shopping or to a dance, we need a finishing touch.....a handbag, purse, the "it" bag we love. Here's what we found about handbags. We thought you'd like to read about it, too.

History of handbags

from Wikipedia
Purses, handbags, and pouches have taken on many looks over the years. The first appearance of them is on Egyptian hieroglyphics showing pouches worn around the waist. The next appearance is in 14th century Europe. In Europe they often showed social status based on the embroidery and quality of the bag. At this time the purses were for women mainly and were therefore attached to their girdle.

In the 15th century, both men and women wore purses. They were often finely embroidered or ornamented with gold. It was also customary for men to give their new brides purses embroidered with an illustration of a love story. Later in the century, women, now wearing finer dresses, preferred to wear their pouches under their skirts.

In the 16th century, handbags were made out of common materials. They were leather and fastened with drawstring on top. Large cloth bags were introduced and and worn by travelers diagonally across the body.

In the 17th century, bags became more complex and elaborate. Girls were taught skills such as embroidery, that would make them marriageable. These skills gave rise to stitched artwork on purses. Also at this time in 1670, men's breeches were made with built-in pockets which caused them to stop carrying purses. They did however carry little netted purses in their pocket to carry money.

In the 18th century, as neo-classical clothing came into fashion, women started carrying their handbags as not to ruin their outfits. They named these bags reticules. Women also had more of them and certain ones for each occasion. Contents of these bags might include rouge, face powder, a fan, a scent bottle, visiting cards, a card case, and smelling salts.

In the early 1900s people began calling their bags, handbags. This term referred to luggage that men carried. They then inspired women, who began carrying bags with complicated fasteners, internal compartments, and locks. In the 1920s, it became popular that bags no longer had to match your outfit. In the 1940s, with WWII, women's purses were made out of wood or plastic since metal was being saved for supplies. In the 1950s, popular handbag designers included Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes.

The word purse is derived from the Latin bursa, from the Greek βυρσα, meaning oxhide.[1]

Purses are usually carried by women, though men sometimes carry one as a smaller alternative to a backpack; such a purse is sometimes termed a murse or manbag (portmanteaus "man" with "purse" and "handbag" respectively). It can also be called a man-purse. Such bags are often similar or identical to messenger bags. Smaller children also use purses, but usually just for show.

Coin purses are small purses, just large enough to hold paper money, cards and coins. A medium-to-small-sized purse with a short handle, designed to be carried (clutched) in one's hand is often called a clutch. A larger purse with two handles is often called a tote. A pocketbook is similar to a purse (in the British English sense), but allows the carrying of sheets of paper as well. A security bag protects the carrier from travel theft. The purse includes an invisible stainless steel strap sewn into the fabric and a protectant on the main zipper.

Clutch: Small,yet long (rectangular), evening bag without a handle.
Satchel: large bag with small handle that is carried on the arm rather than on the shoulder.
Duffle: A large bag usually used for travel or sports.
Tote: A medium to large bag with two straps.
Messenger bag : A bag with a long strap to be worn across the body.
Sling bag : A bag with a long strap (similar to a messenger bag), yet smaller.

It Bag is a fashion handbag.

The term was coined in the 1990s with the explosive growth of the handbag market in fashion. Designers vied to produce one bag that would sell hundreds of thousands of units by becoming the bag "of the moment" -- a single handbag style that would spread like wildfire in popularity through the intertwined worlds of fashion and celebrity, aided by clever or just plain lucky marketing. Another way to define them is to say what other bags are not: "They are most definitely not it bags in the sense that they become isn't bags the next season." (Poppy Harlow)

As consumers have become more demanding, and in the face of structural changes in the handbag market, the It Bag is declining in popularity[1]. More and more fashion companies are diversifying their offers, and no longer does one style blaze through a season.

In American English, a purse is a small bag, also called a handbag or a pocketbook. In British English, a purse is a small money container similar to a wallet, but typically used by women and including a compartment for coins, with a handbag being considerably larger. A purse or handbag is often fashionably designed, and is used to hold a number of items such as a wallet, keys, tissues, makeup, a hairbrush, cellular device or personal digital assistant, feminine products, or other items.

The History of Handbags

MELIE BIANCO designer handbag S8-78GN distressed patent carry on shoulder bag designer purse.

By Seth Miller

If we were to trace the origin of handbags, women would likely be surprised to know that they were first utilized by a group of men some 2000 years ago. Although wholesale handbags were not in the scene at this time, men in biblical times did indeed carry the equivalent of what we consider to be the handbags of today.

This practice came to women’s knowledge and from then on, its handbags became completely indispensable. Handbags, purses, or any other kinds of totes will forever be a part of women’s wardrobes. Although some men continue to don handbags occasionally, women have dominated the scene in the handbag industry. No outfit can stand alone without a matching handbag. By far, handbags have encapsulated women’s fashion ever since the first modern versions appeared in France.

Nowadays, handbags were everywhere. Thousands of handbags of all imaginable styles and designs are on the market. Apparently, each kind has found its use in the wardrobe of every woman. And yet, with the overwhelming number of handbags that has emerged year after year and grabbed up by female consumers, there are still many, many more soon to invade women’s fashionable wardrobes. Moreover, handbags designers are proliferating. From a non-designer label to outrageously priced designer handbags, from a simple and plain masterpiece to shiny and elegantly embroidered handbags, the fashion industry will never cease to crank out new handbags for the market.

Who would have ever thought that men from biblical times may have been the ones to give rise to the industry of fashionable handbags?

Handbags provides detailed information on Handbags, Wholesale Handbags, Designer Handbag, Replica Handbags and more. Handbags is affiliated with Discount Designer Handbags.

The Quilted Handbag- Your Choice to Make a Distinct Fashion Statement

MURVAL quilted handbags coming soon!

By Scott Nichols

Quilted handbags allow their owners to make their own unique fashion statements. So disposed are these accessories to personal remakes that variations in style may number as many as there are individual quilted handbags! Certainly, no other kind of handbags can compare to quilted handbags in terms of variety and style available.

Retro Quilted Handbags
Retro quilted bags are popular nowadays. Styles of quilted handbags that hark back to the 1960s and 1970s are pieced together using denim, tie die T-shirt material, patches, miniature flags and the once ubiquitous peace symbol. Carrying a quilted handbag that echoes the eras of flower power and disco fever is fashionable, even if its bearer wasn’t born during those times.

Ethnic Feel to Go With Your Quilted Handbag
Ethnic touches can also easily be added to quilted handbags. Attaching beads, turquoise or sequins bestow quilted handbags a southwestern or possibly Native American look. A Union Jack patch can give a quilted handbag a British look or identify. Distinctly regional traits, such as southern state or New England idiosyncrasies, can be made to reflect in a quilted bag. Regardless of your preference or ethnicity, you can certainly customize a quilted handbag so that it reflects your style and personality.

Handcrafted Quilted Handbags
You can even make your own quilted handbags. Aside from making a rewarding hobby, quilted handbag crafting provides you with room for expression of individuality like no other style of bag can. Like quilt blankets, quilted handbags are created by piecing together quilted pieces. If you are a woman of creative inclinations, why not make a quilted handbag yourself -- one that shows your style, uniqueness and personality? By creating your own quilted handbag, you will be rewarded twice: You get to enjoy the act of creation and expression, and you get yourself a nice little quilted handbag to use and show off when you are out and about!

MURVAL handbag quilted carnelia tote bag black patent

MURVAL handbag quilted carnelia tote bag black patent

We love it. We can't wait to see it. We want it. Do you? Save this link and check back soon. Spring 2008 arrivals expect mid-March '08!

Choose the Right Bag

MURVAL handbags offer every size, shape and color imagineable.

New MURVAL Spring 2008 Collection arriving soon!

Choose the Right Bag for Your Body
From Cynthia Nellis,
Your Guide to Women's Fashion.

No More Unflattering Lengths or Sizes!
You probably don't give handbags the same scrutiny you give a pair of jeans: if a handbag is cute or fits your lifestyle then it works. But did you know that a handbag can flatter your shape almost as much as the right pair of jeans? Apply these easy steps to getting bag in proportion to your figure. It can not only knock off pounds visually (no kidding!), it'll polish up your style in a flash.

Shapes
Try to choose a shape that is the opposite of your body type. If you are tall and thin, look for a slouchy, rounded hobo bag to compliment your figure. If you're short and voluptous, play off opposites by choosing a handbag that is tall and rectangular or long and sleek (like a clutch).In general, the rounder your figure, the more structured your bag should be. That doesn't mean that you have to carry a hard box around to counterbalance your womanly shape: rectangular or square silhouettes in soft leathers or fabrics will do the trick.

Some popular shapes:

Tote - An open-top bag with straps or handles.

Hobo bag - A crescent-shaped shoulder bag.

Duffle - Tall shoulderbag, often with a wider opening on top.

Field bag - A flap-top shoulderbag with utility-type closure (buckles, snaps, etc).

Clutch - A small, handheld bag or a larger, geometric shape that is tucked under the arm.

Satchel- A large, handheld bag.

Baguette - Long and rounded shoulder bag resembling the namesake bread.

Messenger - A large, soft shoulder bag with long straps (often worn across the body).

Cigar Box - A small, boxy, hard bag.

Pouch - A soft, small bag.

Kelly bag - A classic Hermes style named after Grace Kelly; a large, structured handbag with distinctive hardware closures.

Scale
While the shape should oppose your body type for maximum flattery, the size of the bag should be in proportion to your figure.Think scale here: a woman who is 6 feet tall and a size 14 would look lost with a teensy hand-held bag. A petite size 0 would look overwhelmed by an enormous slouchy bag. A shoulder bag's length (where the bottom of the bag hits your body) will accentuate whatever part of the body it comes near.For example, a shoulder bag that ends around the hips will play up your hip width (the eye is drawn to the bag).Most women look great with a bag that hits mid-torso because it flatters the waist.

Tips
Take time just like you would apparel. Don't be tempted by trendy shapes that don't suit your figure: there are plenty of great alternatives that will work. Think lifestyle when shopping for handbags: if you're toting diapers and graham crackers, an artsy vintage bag won't hold up.

Discover MURVAL handbag charm

MURVAL's Spring 2008 Collection arriving soon.

from MURVAL
Paris, France

Discover the charm of the MURVAL collection where elegance and trend mingle in a perfect alchemy.

For the new House collection, MURVAL highlighted the themes Paris, Love and Treat. For the accessoires, vinyl is omni present and in all its forms.

For each of the two annual MURVAL collections, their goal remains the same: to anticipate and be guided by the desires of their customers while adapting them to the materials, colors, and designs of each of the MURVAL products. This pholosophy allows MURVAL to offer continuously a diverisified line composed of very fashionable, complementary and still affordable items.

Today the MURVAL products are widely distributed in France, Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan.

The 'It' bag bubble bursts

MURVAL handbag Oversized Pearl & Black Patent tote! An unbelievable price under $50! Oh yeah! Finally.... designer handbags without high price tags. MURVAL! New Spring 2008 Collection arriving soon!

BY PATRICIA MCLAUGHLIN

Finally, a morsel of good news: The "it" bag is over at last.

If you're a normal person who subscribes to no fashion magazines, has never watched a makeover show, and still thinks Marc Jacobs was that talented kid in your photography class in college, you may be drawing a blank. Lucky you: You missed out on a much-ballyhooed trend that left its many adherents thousands of dollars poorer, and with nothing to show for it but a closetful of outdated totes and shoulder bags weighed down with a lot of extraneous chains and grommets and tassels and charms and other assorted hardware.

Instantly recognizable, fiercely expensive designer handbags have been a feature of the fashion landscape at least since 1956, when Princess Grace appeared on the cover of Life magazine clutching a large crocodile satchel from the venerable Paris saddle maker Hermes, later named the Kelly bag in tribute. A Kelly or Birkin bag from Hermes, especially in alligator or crocodile, can cost more than a midsize sedan but, on the bright side, its status is eternal. Advertisement

The idea of the "it" bag, as it evolved in the late 1990s, added some curious new wrinkles to the classic status handbag paradigm: novelty, intense popular demand and engineered obsolescence. An "it" bag, besides being alarmingly expensive and having an impeccable designer pedigree, had to be visibly, strikingly new, and it had to catch on fast. It had to appear magically, almost overnight, on the arms of princesses and movie stars and celebutantes, thereby creating frenzied demand. Often so frenzied that you couldn't just walk into a store and buy one, even if you happened to have a big wad of spare cash. You had to put your name on a waiting list. And then you had to worry: How many customers were already ahead of you? And suppose Julia Roberts wanted one, too — would they leapfrog her ahead of you and everybody else on the list?

And how long would you have to wait? That mattered, because "it" bag status was fleeting. You wanted a Fendi Baguette or an Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa because it was the bag of the moment — the bag "everybody" wanted — but how long would its moment last? How long before it would be replaced in the handbag pantheon by a newer, fresher, more momentous bag from Prada or Dior or Gucci or Balenciaga?

Two more odd things about the "it" bag delusion: Customers for these handbags apparently came to view them not as optional indulgences, but as obligatory. You had to have one because "everybody else" (i.e., everybody else who mattered) had one. (So? What if everybody else who mattered were jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge?)

They also came to see their bags' stratospheric prices — prices that could sometimes be confused with ZIP codes, as Eric Wilson charmingly put it in a New York Times story — as unexceptional. "A bag for less than $1,200 is rare," a story in the September 2007 Harper's Bazaar assured its readers. A spending survey in Time magazine's spring 2006 Style and Design supplement found that 72 percent of handbag buyers had spent more than $100 on a bag, and 20 percent had spent more than $500. (But when you checked the small print, it turned out that the median household income of those surveyed was $206,300 -- almost five times the median income of all US households.)

Reality check: My newest handbag, impressively well constructed of ballistic nylon by Victorinox, the company that makes Swiss Army Knives, has lots of pockets and compartments and a nice long adjustable strap with a (somewhat excessive) ratchet mechanism that lets it work as a waist pack, a shoulder bag or an across-the-body bag. It cost $3.99 at the local Salvation Army and looks brand-new. My favorite tote is a $16.99 super-heavy-duty canvas bag from a woodworking supply store. It's indestructible. It can carry a load of hammers and chisels and power saws, though I usually use it for laundry or books and magazines.

I don't have a problem with people spending more than that. It's a free country, as they say. But I don't like it when they start acting as if they have no choice, as if everybody's doing it, as if you really can't buy a decent bag anymore for less than a couple thousand or a couple hundred — which I have heard actual people say. I don't like it because it implies the nonexistence of 99 percent of humanity, myself included -- the 99 percent of us, I mean, who manage to carry our bus fare and lipstick and keys and Kleenex around in something that costs less, sometimes much less, than $100. Don't count us out, it-baggers! It's our planet, too!

Here's the funny thing about the demise of the "it" bag. If you're a normal non-"it"-bag-owning person, you may be assuming that the "it" bag is no longer "it" because people came to their senses, or rumors of recession prompted them to cut back on spending, or something semi-reasonable-sounding like that.

But no. At least according to a Wall Street Journal story, it's not that the "it" bag customer decided "it" bags were too expensive or too swiftly obsolescent; it's that she concluded they were too common, too "attainable." Why spend a couple thou on the same bag you see on the arm of every second woman on the Fifth Avenue bus? "I wanted something that was more exclusive," as one 59-year-old New York City homemaker told the Journal's reporters. Now she's more likely to be carrying an equally expensive but more discreet bag from Bottega Veneta with no logo emblazoned on it.

Where To Get murval handbags

The MURVAL handbag collection called "Quilted" is shown above.
It's expected to arrive mid-March 2008.
Murval Quilted is available in black or white quilted designer handbags.

from About Handbags

A handbag is nearly always functional and fashionably-designed. In American English, a handbag is called a Purse (a small bag). Variations of handbags: Purses are traditionally worn as an accessory by ladies, though men sometimes find one useful to replace a backpack; such a Purse is sometimes self-consciously labelled as a "murse" or "manbag". It can also be bluntly called a "man-purse".

A medium-to-small-sized bag with a short handle, designed to be carried (clutched) in one's hand is often referred to as a Clutch. A larger Purse with two handles, is often called a Tote. A Pocketbook is similar to a Purse (in the British English sense), but allows for the carrying of sheets of paper as well. Purses are also made-up of zari, sterling silver, leather, cloth etc.

A security Purse is helpful to protect types-one from travel theft. The purse makes use of an invisible stainless steal strap inside the framework and a covering on the main zipper. Other types of handbag include : Hobo: Hobo bags are popular among Hollywood celebrities who favor the bohemian, or boho-chic, style familiarized by such celebrities as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Sienna Miller, and Joss Stone. Satchel: The Satchel type of bag has existed for centuries and outdates the backpack that is common nowadays. Many people still think a Satchel is a ladies bag, but it really is unisex and there is no one who can not use a Satchel. Other types of Handbag include: The Duffle: A large bag generally used for travel or sports, The Shopper, and The Cross body.

Murval handbags come in all different shapes, colors, patterns and sizes. You can look forward to a new Murval handbag collection at least twice per year..... just the right timing to buy yourself a new purse.

A little bit about murval handbags

from Face Candy Blog


Murval is a French company, created in the 1990's by two sisters: Muriel and Valerie. Their goal was to create bags using fashionable materials and combine new styles with trend-setting colors at a reasonable price. They introduce two collections per year- Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer.

When it comes to makeup bags, I'm a little bit picky. I'm a cosmetic whore, so it's gotta be roomy- and easy to clean. Since my makeup bag is usually a focal point in my den, (cuz that's where all the face painting happens) it's gotta be fashionable. And while I don't mind dropping a large chunk of my cash on designer purses, I refuse to do the same for my makeup bags- so it's gotta be under $60.

I found this pink and green one and had to have it. Imagine my surprise when I saw the $20 price tag. (If there had been others, I would have probably bought them too.) This is by far the greatest makeup bag I've ever had. It's strong enough to carry the pounds and pounds of product I insist I need. The inside is waterproof and so easy to clean (wet a paper towel, spray on some 409 and wipe it down.) And I love the way it looks.

Murval makes lots of other bags too- check 'em out! Click Here.

MURVAL handbags blog

Here's a great place to read about MURVAL handbags. Find all the latest styles and designs. Places to shop and discount codes, new arrivals each season, and just plain talk about one of the hottest new sister designer team to hit the USA!

We did a little surfing and tried to gather as much information online about MURVAL as possible for you to read. Here's what we found....

Murval Handbags

from Give Simple

It’s time to give up those plastic baggies (or any number of less-than-beautiful bags) you’ve been using for your cosmetics, jewelry and other necessities. Our line of handbags and travel bags designed by Murval will help you embrace the fun and glamour of being a woman on the go. The little things that are as functional as they are pretty give us the most satisfaction, and these Murval handbags, including travel bags, foldable shopping bags and more, certainly deliver!

Murval Handbags

Give Simple carries Murval bags in many unique and trendy designs and color combinations. We originally fell in love with the travel bag in a chic chocolate and blue Parisian wallpaper design, and so did many of our customers. Lucky Magazine has recommended our Murval bags in their holiday gift guide not once, but two years in a row. Those savvy editors know when they have found a great deal, and so do our customers!

These Murval handbags prove that just because you may be living life out of a suitcase doesn’t mean you have to leave your glamour gear at home. We love the timeless yet chic designs of these functional bags with their sturdy construction that help you arrive cool, calm and oh-so-organized. And the best part - they are made of nylon or patent that wipes off for easy cleaning! We offer our favorite Murval Parisian wallpaper print bag in classic black and ivory. If you're looking for a great handbag in something other than the Parisian print, we also offer stylish patent and lively animal print bags.


Murval Foldable City Totes

The Murval Foldable City tote is one of the best ideas we've ever seen. Now that we know both plastic and paper bags are bad for the environment, we try to always have a tote at hand. Murval Foldable City Totes are ideal! If you kept one in your car, one in your desk, one in the stroller, one in your suitcase, you would always be prepared to tote everything, and just say no to disposable bags. It folds up so easily to 8"x4", but expands to a roomy 15" x 15" by 4" with just a flick of the velcro. Perfect for lunch, small shopping trips, and even wet items. If you’re planning a summer vacation, and need a beach tote, this is the one. Give Simple offers the Foldable City Tote in Black and Ivory Wallpaper, Pucci inspired Insomnia print, Giraffe or Zebra. Look stylish and stay organized.

About Murval

Murval is a French company that was founded in Paris by two sisters, Muriel and Valerie. The sisters recognized a need for fashionable pieces and created Murval handbags, tabletop and home accents at accessible prices. Murval has grown into a successful design company that introduces two collections each year: a Fall/Winter collection and a Spring/Summer collection. Each season, Murval’s goal remains the same: to incorporate fashionable materials and trend-setting colors with new styles, at reasonable price-points, in order to create a final product that is stylish and affordable.

We'll be posting news worthy information about low-priced designer handbags on the MURVAL handbags blog. Save this link and check back often for all sorts of handbags in the news!