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For superb Victorian or Edwardian
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Fashion Trends 2007
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Luxury Handbags for Spring 2007Bag Inflation - Arm Candy Bags
. Handbag Inflation
The fashion accessory is a huge growth area, with handbags the prime
purchase. It is forecast that in just 3 years, by 2010 handbag
spending will be worth a billion dollars. Accessory
designers are now as driven as fashion designers to produce lots
of new styles that hit the seasonal mark.
Bag inflation means the consumer now has to spend around £800+ for a decent luxury handbag, compared to £500 just a couple of years ago. The value of any selection is also made worthless by the fickle nature of fashion. This development means a designer handbag may last just a season, if poorly selected, a bag can become outré in the space of a few months. Picture Right - this lovely navy blue perforated leather butterfly designer handbag, is by Alexander McQueen. It is a reworking of the Novak signature bag by McQueen. A good designer can play with a signature style and make it new each season. This bag is available from Browns Fashion of South Molton Street, London, UK or their online site at £1,015. It is pretty, and special in its own right, which is always a good reason to make any selection. Image courtesy of Browns. Chain Store Bag InflationBag inflation is working at every level, from low to high cost bags. The everyday customer, who a couple of years ago spent £49 on a chain store leather bag, thinking they were buying the most expensive bag on the shop floor, may now be buying one at £89. They now consider that spending £89 on a chain store leather bag, is quite reasonable, and they tout it as great value for a leather bag. The behaviour of handbag fashion is very odd when you consider how inexpensive other fashion items have become.
The key question is, 'What's driving the accessory market?' Whether the bag spend is £90 or £900, the customer sees the bag as a passing fashion, in just the same way as she once regarded last years clothing. The modern consumer sees the bag as the part of her wardrobe that can be added to, used, set aside, but also revived at some future date. The high street puts out its own versions of luxury handbags quickly. Above right the perforated leather Novak bag by designer Alexander McQueen and left Wallis Spring/Summer 2007 white leather and straw bag £23/€37, is a thriftier take on the Novak crochet versions. See the first Novak style produced here. You are reading an original fashion trends article written by Pauline Weston Thomas© at www.fashion-era.com © » Celebrity EndorsementCelebrity endorsement is what is driving the bag phenomenon. High visibility, with celebrity endorsement, is a welcome advert for the bag producer. Celebrities often get such bags as gifts. Celebrities can soon give the 'it' requirement to specific handbags. But the newest 'it' bag is the customized bag, the made to order bag that no-one else has. The only way to secure it is to part with thousands, either dollars or pounds - it doesn't matter which, when you talk 10,000+. Such customized bags have a price tag of £10,000/£12,000. It's all about luxe, luxe and more luxe. Zagliani Handbags
The luxury handbag is the
ultimate fashion statement, it is a major status symbol of today. It's a known fact that the average weight of a handbag in Britain is 31/2 lbs. Most women cram personal items into
their bags in an effort to be prepared, 'just in case I need it'.
But what makes this particular gold bag below so special, is that
the Zagliani materials are treated with resin employed silicone injection techniques. Zagliani make beautiful crocodile bags, which are as soft as silk. In this case Italian dermatologist Mauro Orietti-Carella has pioneered a technique to enable skins, such as python and crocodile, to be transformed into smooth shiny soft supple surfaces. The crocodile skin in the handbag left has been silicone treated and once softened it is hand crafted into a four figure bag. The process is similar to the use of Botox injections to keep human skin plumped. This Zagliani handbag right costs £1,280 at Harvey Nichols. Zagliani bags are available in the UK from
Harvey Nichols and also from Matches. Arm Candy BagsAs ordinary consumers flash their designer handbags, very wealthy rich consumers feel a need to show their distance, and they want even more distinction from their luxury handbag. Designer bags have become classless, and their purchase is not always dependant on income. This means bag prices are rising and the new market for top end bags is around £3,000.
The picture to the left is of the latest John Galliano designed 'Jeanne' handbag, made for Dior and available at Harrods. The chain mail detailing, takes inspiration from Joan of Arc, and the handbag is available in dark grey calfskin, sand ostrich, mint green stingray and grey crocodile (£10,160). This is a fabulous bag with an unusual futuristic, but medieval armour feel. I know I would love a Dior bag like the 'Jeanne' above. I love the proportions and the detail of the Jeanne bag. However, you may have noticed that it is the price of small car, and is pure arm candy. 'Jeanne' is also available at a lesser price (a mere couple of thousand), in nu buck and goats skin. The image is courtesy of Harrods, who are now selling a limited, but growing range of goods online. ± Made-to-Order Luxury HandbagsFerragamo are just one of the top design names that do these
top line, made-to-order handbags.
Clients select from 4
silhouette designs, in a wide range of 50 colours, and just as
wide a variety of exotic skins. Authenticity is very
important for all luxury companies, especially when a company has
a unique and covetable product. Other companies, who are
known to do custom order bags include, Marc Jacobs, Louis
Vuitton, Dior and Bottega Veneta. All of these bags are made in beautiful materials and can easily become heirlooms. Not only are the finest European and Italian leathers used, but some feature exotic skins such as python, ostrich, alligator and crocodile. These bags are couture bags and are the special super luxe products for a clientele that can truly spend. One wonders what the crocodiles and alligators think of this despite the fact they are predators! You are reading an original fashion trends article written by Pauline Weston Thomas© at www.fashion-era.com ©
The Naked Bag
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