Handbagista

Cynthia Rowley can say what a lot of designers claim, but she means it. Her designs for bags and shoes and other accessories are taking Hollywood by storm. Her bags are a fixture of the celebrity and entertainment world, after having their way with New York. Surprisingly, the allure doesn’t come from outrageous styles, but because the styles are exciting yet classic, innovative yet comfortable. These qualities are what make Cynthia Rowley handbags special not only for the jet set, but for the soccer mom set as well.

Cynthia Rowley bags made their mark in New York first, but originally, Cynthia was from far in the Midwest, from Illinois. There, she got an early start in the fashion business. At the age of seven, she designed her first dress! Then it would be in Chicago where her designs got the attention of the fashion world. At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in her senior year, Cynthia showed eight designs, her first collection, to the big New York stores. They ate them up.

Since that auspicious start, Cynthia Rowley has won awards around the world. She not only produces bags and other accessories, but she has opened up her collections to include sportswear. Her shoes have even earned the coveted Michelangelo Shoe Award, both in 1996 and in 1997.

Perhaps the key to Cynthia Rowley’s success is that dynamic combination you find in her handbags, both the simple and practical, with the imaginative and elegant. But a lot of her success also comes from her use of the finest leathers from Europe, the craftsmanship that comes from Old World patience and learning.

Then again, Cynthia Rowley bags have made the rounds on all the top magazines and television programs, as well. We’re talking such shows as Life of Luxury, E! cable channel, Entertainment Tonight, and even MTV programs. Her designs have graced the pages of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Times, Glamour, and Vogue.

This attention hasn’t hurt her popularity. But the attention paid to Cynthia Rowley bags, and the diversity of the attention, from Generation Y to the geriatric set, shows just how attractive and versatile Cynthia Rowley bags are.

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written by Gail

Cuffz might be called sick by some in the geriatric set. They might be called unreal in any set with any fashion sense. And by unreal, we mean that Cuffz are the type of incredibly unique, outrageous, hot, and, yet somehow, practical bag that only comes around when cows and Hell freezes over.

Take the Duchess Clutch from Cuffz. This tiny bag is specifically designed for the feisty feline out on the prowl for the night. It holds are the necessaries for the hunter. You know, lipstick, a slender cell phone, cash, and cards. But with this hottie strapped to your arm, and nothing much else on, you probably won’t need that cash. You’ll have guys buying you drinks all night long.

Just the sight of an instrument of bondage on your arm is enough to send men reeling. Yes, if you didn’t know already, Cuffz is a very literal name. Each bag is designed in its own unique way out of handcuffs. But don’t worry, with the Duchess Clutch from Cuffz, your integrity won’t be on the line. The bag has just enough class in it to have the men treating you like a lady, too.

The Spikez style from Cuffz is a bit more in your face. Its rich leather is offset with snake printed, metallic lambskin, to give a classy twist to the punk scene set.

If the Sex Pistols aren’t exactly your bag, baby, then tone it down a bit with a Rebel handbag from Cuffz. Sure, it’s a day bag, but when the light of day hits this piece of art you’ll be ready to party and take the town by storm. It comes with a police-quality handcuff as the bag’s closure device.

For one of the most classic of Cuffz looks, try the Barfly. With the design, the cuff actually goes around your wrist, so you never be far from your stuff, and more importantly, your Cuffz. If you ever want the bag off your wrist, don’t worry. The key is right there on the zipper. It’s both practical and simple yet eye-catching and attractive. You’ll give boys an excuse to hit on you all night long. But whichever one you choose, you’ll be sure to attached to the fun with your Cuffz bag.

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written by Gail

There is no simple solution to this dillema. So in the spirit of Paris Hilton, J-Lo, and every other sexy female with purses to burn, buy both the Balenciaga Twiggy Handbag and the Balenciaga Medium Leather Biker Bag. The Balenciaga Twiggy Handbag and the Balenciaga Medium Leather Biker Bag are just variations of the same classic Balenciaga theme. Sure, but that’s like saying that love and ardor are just variations of the same emotion! They are both equally felt, equally pleasing on their own merits.

And just as women have different moods for every moment of the day, we deserve to have different bags for each mood. The glitz and the glamour of the twentieth century, combined with the technology and the industry of the twenty first century, sure as heck provide women with the means to do just that.

Designers today have a treasure trove of materials, textiles, and designs to meld together to create artistic masterpieces in the guise of purses, clutches, and shoulder bags. For tear-filled Mondays or stormy Sundays, there’s high-quality synthetics for water proofing your valuables. There are old-fashioned straws and high-tech plastics to tote to the beach. Croc-riveted leathers and furry tassels for wild nights on the town. And buttoned down fabrics and taut animal skins for big boardroom meetings.

Then there are Balenciaga bags. The slouchy but aggressive styling of a Balenciaga Medium Leather Biker Bag is so craved by the Hiltons of the world because its silohuete suits their twiggy frames. The attitude cries out without them having to open their puckered, painted lips. A Balenciaga Twiggy Handbag or a Balenciaga Medium Leather Biker Bag is unmistakable whether or not it’s being handled by a celebrity, though. That’s because Balenciagas are celebrities themselves, born in the tradition of one of the most innovative, staunchly brilliant designers of the twentieth century: Cristobal Balenciagas.

With a Balenciaga Twiggy Handbag or a Balenciaga Medium Leather Biker Bag, you get real thick leather, black and rich with industrial looking zippered pockets. The double handle for tote carrying is leather. The handle for carrying on your shoulder is leather. Even the attached makeup mirror is framed in leather. Inside, the soul of the Balenciaga is filled with soft black cloth. These bags are classics for women who want a hard-edged style, who demand to strut their stuff in the nighttime, but who are soft and subtle on the inside.

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written by Karen

Lauren Scherr has been in the fashion business since she was a little girl. Not professionally, of course! But Scherr has been sure to express her brilliant artistic imagination and know-how whether people have been paying her creations or not. And now that her bags have become big names on the runway and the department store, Lauren Scherr will be sure to continue to apply her creativity, fashion sense, and knowledge of her customer.

She has had many years to develop all of these gifts. Back when she was a wee little girl, Lauren Scherr owned a big art box, in which were all the materials any aspiring designer could need: her mother’s old jewelry, wrapping paper, glue, scissors, glitter, rhinestones, pipe cleaners, sequins, and flower, just to name a few.

The girl became a women, and discovered that she had a real talent for fashion. She used it in the beginning to design for herself, painted t-shirts, rhinestoned handbags, creative shoes, new jewelry from old, painted and bejeweled frames and other knickknacks.

From that early start, Lauren Scherr has never relinquished her big art box. She still uses ones to inspire her to create and innovate. It was with this big art box, after all, that she fabricated what would become her signature handbag. It started out a bag covered all with pink and crème roses, which she originally threw together for herself for a big night out on the town.

The bag made Lauren Scherr feel as giddy as she had when she was a young girl with her big art box, but it also made her feel like a women, a very sexy and sophisticated women who loved the attention that her bag drew to her. At that moment, she knew her destiny. She could create handbags with real power, with real allure.

Now her “big art box” includes roses, hydrangeas, satin, silk, feathers, crystals, and all other materials, exotic and everyday, which she magically winds together to create handbags that bring that sense of happiness and sexiness to all of her customers. And from Alicia Silverstone to Eva Longoria to you, all customers seem to love that Lauren Scherr feeling.

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written by Karen

SEATTLE, July 17 /PRNewswire/ — Did you ever think your obsession with designer handbags could land you a job? Bag Borrow or Steal (bagborroworsteal.com), the “luxury on loan” online retailer that allows women to borrow designer handbags and jewelry, today launched “America’s Ultimate Bagaholic Contest,” a search for the country’s most handbag
obsessed woman.

According to a recent Style and Design Poll by TIME magazine, one-third of U.S. women own more than 10 handbags. In fact, according to TIME, the growth of handbag sales nationwide now exceeds 7 percent a year — a rate higher than any other category in the accessories business. Bag Borrow or Steal wants to celebrate this love affair with purses by asking women to submit a creative video showing their passion for handbags and explaining why they are America’s ultimate bagaholic.

All entrants’ videos will be judged based on creativity, audio/visual quality and, most importantly, expression of purse passion. All who enter will receive 20% off any luxury handbag they borrow at bagborroworsteal.com. One grand-prize winner will be selected from five finalists and receive her “Ultimate Dream Job” as Bag Borrow or Steal’s Chief Bag Officer. She will be the first to carry and critique six of the Fall’s hottest must-have bags; document her experience in her own dedicated blog on the Bag Borrow or Steal website, and receive free handbag rentals for a year.

All participants can enter the contest by logging onto http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/bagaholic and submitting the required contact information. A complete list of rules and eligibility requirements are also available on the site. The deadline to enter the “America’s Ultimate Bagaholic Contest” is August 10, 2007.

“We understand the joy of a beautiful handbag and share the obsession women have for their favorite bags,” said Lynn Ridenour, senior vice president of marketing for Bag Borrow or Steal. “Through this contest, we’re celebrating their love of luxury and giving them an opportunity to spotlight their passion for handbags. We’re constantly looking for creative ways to actively engage our members and also introduce the concept of ‘borrowed luxury’ to bagaholics everywhere. This contest allows us to do both in a fun and interactive way.”

About Bag Borrow or Steal -     Founded in 2004, Bag Borrow or Steal is the largest online “borrowed luxury” retailer. Called “Netflix for Handbags” by The New York Times, the company is focused on providing a new means for women to access and enjoy luxury accessories when they want, for as long as they want. Members simply select designer handbags and jewelry to borrow, keep them as long as they like and then purchase or exchange them for something new. With a member base of more than 250,000, Bag Borrow or Steal offers the opportunity to borrow more than 3,000 styles of luxury accessories from more than 100 designers, including Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Stephen
Dweck and Vera Wang. For more information visit http://www.BagBorroworSteal.com.

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written by Julie