Coach is in the news once again involving a patent infringement, for another brand stealing one of their designs.

Last week Coach Inc. filed the suit against Brown Shoe Co. Inc., accusing the footwear firm of mirroring one of Coach’s handbag designs, the Ergo.

WWD is reports: “In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on May 29, Coach accuses the retailer of selling what is “virtually an exact copy” of its Ergo Pleat handbag in the Naturalizer chain of stores. Coach began selling the Ergo Pleat bag in 2007 and patented it in December 2008. Brown Shoe did not return a call seeking comment. Coach is seeking an injunction, profits it would have made and any profits Brown Shoe made off the patent as well as other unspecified damages.”

When I went to the Naturalizer home site I didn’t see the bag they were referring to in the lawsuit, however I did spot a couple styles that looked incredibly familiar to other designers. (to name a few – ysl, f+c, and more)

Clothing-exchange parties certainly aren’t anything new, especially among us shopaholics. Everyone brings articles of clothing that they no longer wear to the party. The clothing is laid out for everyone to see and a system is usually established for who gets to have first pick. It’s a great way to get rid of your old clothes, score some new clothes for free, and have some fun all at the same time.

But this whole clothing-exchange party thing got me thinking. What happens if you and your friends don’t all wear the same size? After all, this isn’t a perfect world that we live in. And what if you and your friends have a severe handbag and/or accessory fetish? My idea is to host an Accessory-Exchange Party instead! Just think about it! You could save some money in these tough economic times and still satisfy your urge to acquire some new goodies! Here’s how it would work:

1. The hostess in charge of the party sets up her living room like a designer boutique. She can arrange the furniture so that there is plenty of room to walk about. Her sofas, chairs, ottomans, coffee tables, or whatever can become “display cases”. Full-length mirrors are set up near each display. Finger foods and refreshments are available to promote mingling.
2. Each person invited to the party brings handbags and accessories that they no longer use (make sure the items are still in good condition, of course). The items can get sorted into groups (handbags, wallets/small leather goods, belts, shoes, scarves, etc.) and displayed nicely within the “boutique”.
3. Everyone is allowed some time to browse and try stuff on in front of the mirrors.
4. The hostess then has everyone draw a number from a hat or bowl. The person that draws #1 gets to choose something first, the person that draws #2 gets to choose something second, and so on. Once everyone has had a turn, the numbers go back in the hat or bowl and they are drawn again. Continue until all the items have been selected or nobody has an interest in anything else.
5. Allow people to offer to trade with one another if they were really wanting something or if they are having second thoughts.
6. The hostess takes the leftovers and donates them to a local charity organization. A battered-women’s shelter is an excellent choice and they are often looking for handbags to be donated.

Additional Tips:

1. Try to invite at least ten people, preferably those that have a lot of handbags and accessories in their repertoire. You want to make sure you have plenty of items to go around!
2. If you plan on hosting such a party more than once, try inviting some different people to each one. This will help ensure some variety in the selection of items and, hopefully, prevent items featured at a previous party from returning for a second round.
3. If two people are having a dispute over an item, have the group vote on who they think it looks best on. The person with the most votes gets to keep the item.

Have fun! This is a party, after all!

The Chat: Exchange Party!

September 10, 2008
post written by Bag Bliss blogger: Jennifer

Interview with Andrea Brueckner
I recently got the chance to exchange a brief Q + A with the one and only fabulous Andrea Brueckner, plus I was also lucky enough to browse through her amazing fall / winter 2008 handbag look book – plus have images to share!

Canadian born Andrea Brueckner moved to New York in 1999 to study design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. At first, she studied not to be an accessory designer, but rather clothing design with an emphasis in tailoring. While in school she internet with fabulous designers like Jill Stuart and Carolina Herrera. Before she went on to launching her own line, Andrea apprenticed under the bespoke menswear tailor Craig Robinson where she worked to master the classic art of tailoring. There she acquired many draping and patternmaking techniques, while also learning to appreciate the importance of good fit.

Andrea fuses her love for design with her acquired technique to create unique handbags, and continues to draw inspiration from clothing design, incorporating garment details and techniques into her accessories.

Her handbag line was launched in the Spring of 2004, and is now entering its tenth season.

Continue Reading: Andrea Brueckner Interview + Look Book!
Continue Reading

July 12, 2008
post written by Bag Bliss blogger: BrS

Handbags: What Every Woman Should Know (Book Review)
So here I was casually browsing in my local bookstore the other day. I wasn’t really looking for anything in particular, just wanted to see what was new and exciting. I wandered over to where they have the books on “collectibles” and I spotted this intriguing looking book sitting on the bottom shelf. The title? Handbags: What Every Woman Should Know. It’s a book written by Stephanie Pedersen. And although this book didn’t provide me with any new information, I did have a lot of fun looking through it.

Okay, I’ll be honest. This book is not for someone who is looking for hardcore information on designer handbags. What it does offer though is a look into the history of the handbag. It also features cute little tidbits of “advice”. Here’s one that I thought was funny:

Quote:

Advice for handbag addicts: Do you have more handbags than shirts? More purses than pants? Consider reversing the formula: Buy your handbags first, then plan your outfits around them. Yes, it goes against the advice of fashion.

Of course this probably stating the obvious. Well, “the obvious” when it comes us handbag junkies that is. But I think its really fun to see it actually written on paper. I know my love for handbags can lead me to do crazy things sometimes, so it’s nice to be able to laugh at myself (and fellow bag addicts) every once in a while.

Handbags: What Every Woman Should Know, written by Stephanie Pedersen, can be found over at Amazon.com. A nice gift for any handbag lover, just don’t take it too seriously!

[ The Bag Forum: Book Review - What Every Woman Should Know ]

June 11, 2008
post written by Bag Bliss blogger: Jennifer

Special Edition Hermes Kelly Bag: Proceeds to fight Aids in Monaco
Brief History: It all began in the 1880′s, when the legendary house began as making saddles under the name of Hermes-Freres. Then by the 1920′s Hermes introduced their first line of ladies handbags.

In 1956 while pregnant with Princess Caroline, Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco was photographed in New York City by Life Magazine carrying the large black crocodile Kelly bag, which was used to cover her pregnant tummy. After this image appeared on the cover of Life Mag, the bag became a hit and was later renamed the Kelly bag.

Hermes created a limited edition Kelly bag for Artcurial’s annual Hermes vintage sale, featuring a portrait of Grace Kelly printed on canvas.

Guess how much the bag sold for… $80,906, with all proceeds from the sale of the bag going to Princess Grace’s daughter Princess Stephanie’s charity Fight Aids Monaco.

[ The Bag Forum: Hermes Kelly Bag: Proceeds to fight Aids in Monaco ]

May 27, 2008
post written by Bag Bliss blogger: Vanessa

Madonna’s $471,000 Chanel Bag
Now we all love a good Chanel bag, but do you think you could you love one enough to pay $471,000 for it? Well that is how much somebody paid for Madonna’s Chanel bag at the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit when it was auctioned off. The bag features alligator leather and a clasp studded with 334 diamonds. It was the bag that Madonna carried to the benefit and included everything she carried in the bag including, Shu Uemura blotting paper and lip gloss, lip balm, a magnifying mirror, and throat lozenges.

Now I guess this bag has a lot to offer. First off, its simply a beautiful Chanel bag….alligator leather and a diamond clasp. That is definitely a one of a kind bag that not everyone can get. Secondly, this is Madonna’s bag! Madonna! The queen of pop! I mean owning anything of hers is pretty awesome, let alone a Chanel bag with all of her belongings in it. Lastly, the money went to benefiting an AIDS charity.

Now, not many of us could pay $471,000 for a Chanel bag, but I guess overall this was a pretty good buy that benefited a great cause. Go Madonna!

[ The Bag Forum: Madonna’s $471,000 Chanel Bag ]

May 15, 2008
post written by Bag Bliss blogger: Jennifer
Kate Spade Summer Bags on SALE!
I can’t believe it’s finally summer. Today, in Emerald City it’s expected to get up to about 75*, and this weekend a heat wave is going to roll in at about an average of 86*! Hard to believe that we had a couple snow showers and rain storms all within the last month. Actually, I was talking about this in TBF. The weather has been so depressing and dark, that I had to put all my white, light colored spring bags back in hibernation. Very disappointing. White bags + rainy weather.. I just can’t do. Now with the dramatic weather change I had to drag them all out again from their resting closet. I’m hoping that the weather stays nice at least for a couple more weeks, or well until I receive my new lavender Pa-tou-tou purse from HauteLook. That bag is so summer. Speaking of summer bags, you have to check out these cute Kate Spade purses… oh they are on sale too!

Kate Spade Hugo Poppy Canvas Griffen
A spring-ago Kate Spade joined forces with British artist Hugo Guinness, known for his lovely pen and ink drawings primarily of flowers, plants, and vines, created this unique illustration of poppies to create the Kate Spade Hugo Poppy Griffen tote. The super lightweight magazine tote features the artist’s beautiful poppy illustration printed on a lightweight canvas and boarskin leather trim. These bags are so cute and perfect for summer. The clear one gets my pick for beach life, and the other canvas gets my vote for an every day’er. Measures 14.5″ height x 13″ width x 3.5″ depth. Both bags available @ ebags.

Price: $225 $169.99 (canvas)
Price: $195 $144.99 (pvc)

Kate Spade Orchard Street Jocelyn Green Clutch
What’s in the name? Once the site of a bustling outdoor market that served manhattan’s tenement population, over the last decade orchard street has attracted artists, designers, and upstart eateries to the lower east side. now at the center of the downtown artists’ scene, orchard street reflects a rich mélange of cultural influences and a cutting edge sensibility.

An unstructured handheld clutch made of patent finished calfskin with oil slick finish and topped off with 14-karat white gold plated hardware. The mouth of the bag is secure with a zipper closure that slides open to reveal the custom printed dot lining on 100% sateen lining interior. Measures 6.8″ height x 10.9″ width w/ a 3.1″ drop length. Available in green or petrol @ KateSpade.

Price: $325 $244

Kate Spade Bilbao Quintessa Vertical Tote
What’s in the name? The spanish city of bilbao became a cultural destination in its own right when it was chosen as the site for frank gehry’s spectacular titanium guggenheim museum. since then, the city has become a hub for contemporary art and design. these handbags reflect the graceful, confident design found in bilbao.

White bags in the summer are a must! This bag is created out of a smooth, soft, patent calfskin and trimmed with mirrored metallic silver cowhide, and accesssorized with nickel hardware. The mouth is a wide-open style, revealing the classic custom printed dot on 100% cotton twill lining which features an interior center zip pocket, double slide pockets and zip pocket. Measures 14.4″ height x 13.3″ width x 3.7″ depth w/ a 3.1″ drop length. Available in white @ KateSpade.

> The black patent version of this bag is on sale for $397.90 over at Nordstrom’s!

Price: $595 $446

[ The Bag Forum: Kate Spade Summer Bags on SALE! ]

February 5, 2007

Chanel Metallic Gilt Leather Bag
Ever wonder what looks best with your silver-tone or gold-tone hardware designer bag…

Gold metals:
> Beige and olive-toned complexions.
> Hair colors range widely, from dark brunettes through pale blondes, but tend toward honeyed and red tones – from rich chocolate browns to pale honey blondes.
> The eyes may be any color, but are most often darker shades and tend toward shades of brown and hazel.
> Looks best in rich, warm colors of clothing and accessories. Yellows, oranges, browns, reds, even warmer shades of purple can look good. If lighter shades of color are desired, it’s best to go with bright shades as opposed to pastels.

Silver metals:
> Ivory and cream-toned complexions.
> Hair colors tend to be cooler, ash tones, although the hair can range from dark (blue-black) to very pale blondes (platinum or bright yellow blonde).
> Eye colors can, of course, vary through the normal spectrum, but do tend toward pale blue and green.
> Look best in cooler colors of clothing and accessories. Blues, greens, soft grays, and cool violets. Light shades – pastels and muted colors – are especially flattering, although deep jewel-tones of Emerald green and Amethyst violet are great choices for festive occasions.

What looks best with Chanel’s new Metallic Gilt Leather Bag? Everything! I don’t know about you guys but I never mix gold and silver jewelry together – like a gold hardware bag and silver jewelry, I could not do. Which is why I am so in-love with this bag, it features not just silver but gold as well. Price: $2,700

January 23, 2008
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Video clip: Interview with Takashi Murakami by Jonathan Ross on Japanorama. Skip ahead to 2:10 for a good laugh. The reporter obviously doesn’t know how to tell the difference between a replica on the street (literally) and the real deal.
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Video clip: Marc Jacobs, artistic director for Louis Vuitton, discusses his collaboration with Takashi Murakami in advance of the exhibition. At the very end of the clip designer Marc Jacobs reveals the new limited edition handbag collaboration.. hmm, makes me dying to know what’s blurred out in the background behind Marc-ey Marc!!

I for one am not a camouflage fan, however this new addition will have a creative bold pop-design twist to the look – it’s will be designed by prolific contemporary Japanese pop artist, Takashi Murakami!

You know T.M., he’s the creative mastermind behind many of the limited edition Louis Vuitton designer bag lines: The smiling pink Cherry Blossom Flower line, the super adorable cartoon Panda line, the delicious red Cerise cherry line, MOCA LV, the Eye Love You line and of course the Monogram Multicolore made up of 33 different vibrant colors on a white or a black background. All of the collaborations with Takashi Murakami are all highly sought after valuable collectors pieces. So I can only imagine that the monogram camouflage bag collection will be as big as the previous limited edition bags.

Date still unknown, but rumor has it the new line is due out sometime this year.

Working on the occasional collaboration project with Louis Vuitton isn’t his only creative venture. Murakami, who attended the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, works in both fine arts media, such as painting, as well as digital and commercial media. He founded the “Kaikai Kiki,” a studio where Murakami formulates the ideas but then has his 100+ assistants produce his work. In addition to producing art works for exhibition in galleries and museums, KaiKai Kiki is responsible for the design of an enormous range of mass-produced products featuring Murakami’s signature images: figurines, plush toys, keychains, t-shirts, posters, and more. I still can’t wait until the Takashi Murakami & Dream Works animated film to be released. Disney is so out.

In the mean time, shop Louis Vuitton designer handbags & purses @ eluxury.