What began as a small workshop in the historical capital of Rome in 1925 soon grew into a fashion empire. Edoardo and Adele Fendi began by crafting exquisite quality leather handbags and fur coats, and the creativity and vision of their daughters - Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla, and Alda- continued this tradition. And with the five active and vibrant young women at the helm, Fendi began to climb the rungs of the haute couture ladder.

In 1965, Fendi’s fashion evolution took a turn with the arrival of creative genius Karl Lagerfeld, who combined the classic Fendi style with cutting edge ideas, turning tradition into innovation. It was Lagerfeld that created the inverted “double-F” logo that is still used today and is known worldwide as a status symbol. With Fendi’s success in imprinted, interwoven, dyed and tanned handbags, handbags in general went from objects of practicality to elements of high style.

With successful runway shows and couture collections, Fendi became a leader in the world of fashion. Bloomingdale’s became the first American store to sell Fendi in the U.S., and soon there were boutiques and resellers all over the globe jumping at the opportunity to house the magnificent collections.

In 1997, Fendi created fashion history with the release of the Fendi Baguette, a gem of a handbag that struck all the right chords with fashionistas everywhere, and aptly named after the way it is to be worn (tucked under the arm like a loaf of French bread). This elegant yet simple purse instantly became a collectable item and skyrocketed Fendi into the couture of handbags. With the success of the Baguette, Fendi further demonstrated creativity and strength as a fashion leader by unveiling the Ostrik bag, the stunning Diavolo, and the Biga bag.

Bringing the most exclusive and quality crafted products to their clients, Fendi’s premiere status when it comes to luxury handbags is unrivaled. A true testament to Fendi’s reign as champion of exquisite handbags is the number of sophisticated women that are renowned for their personal sense of style and grace that carry the famous Fendi bags. Sarah Jessica Parker, Julianne Moore, and Sharon Stone are all reported to be devoted Fendi fans.

Today, Maria Silvia Venturini Fendi, daughter of Anna Fendi, is head of the style department. Karl Lagerfeld continues to be the chief designer, and with the two of them running the show, The House of Fendi continues to be one step ahead of the rest, unveiling cutting-edge designs and bold accessories.

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The Brighton handbag line first appeared in 1993, and has been a hit ever since. Today, Brighton handbags come in many extraordinary styles and designs, allowing those who purchase the handbags to express their own individuality. A Brighton purse can be found in many different styles, from the casual handbag to a fabric handbag, from the more traditional handbag to a funky contemporary, from a delicate and romantic handbag to a novelty handbag that will be sure to catch attention. Brighton also offers the Brighton Memory Bag - a handbag that can be personalized to make a one-of-a-kind statement or a very special gift for someone you love.

Prices for a true original Brighton purse can cost you anywhere from $100 to $300 per handbag. However, the quality of the craftsmanship on such a handbag, paired with a two-year warranty (upon registering your handbag), more than makes up for the price you pay for it.

Brighton handbags are available in all Brighton stores from coast to coast and in nearly six thousand specialty stores nationwide. True Brighton handbags cannot be found in department stores or on the Internet. This is because the company continues to keep owner and president Jerry Kohl’s philosophy to do business only with stores that provide excellent customer service.

While Brighton is quite famous for their handbags, they also sell jewelry, belts, watches, sunglasses, fragrances and wallets. With accessories designed to fit any style, mood, and personality, you may find that if you buy a Brighton handbag, you’ll want Brighton accessories to carry inside!

The best designer replica handbags precisely copy the style, cut, and pattern of their internationally recognized designer counterparts. Designer handbags carry a level of prestige that makes them desirable status symbols, and their high price tags reflect this cachet. By contrast, replica handbags are often sold to consumers at prices as low as one-fifth of the retail cost of an original designer bag.

But do be wary, as many replica handbags come complete with illegal “brand” labels that proudly proclaim an unearned designer pedigree. Legitimate replica handbags ape the style and form of designer purses, yet have just enough small differences in the details of their styling to escape any copyright and trademark snafus. Because many imitation purses are produced and sold illegally, the manufacturing and distribution of these replica handbags can be difficult to track, but the available information on the industry suggests that the primary manufacturing hub for replica handbags is Dharavi, located in Mumbai, India. From Dharavi, purses and bags are made in the style of popular designers like Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade, and then distributed to retailers throughout the world.

The quality of replica handbags varies quite a bit from one manufacturer to the next. One of the key differences between a convincing replica handbag and an obvious fake is the quality of the materials used in the construction. Some replica handbags are made from rubberized synthetic materials meant to look like high-quality leather, but these replica handbags are easily detected by the fact that they look, feel, and even smell different than their designer counterparts. Replica handbags that are made from real cowhide are more convincing imitations, and are therefore in much greater demand.

Designer handbags and purses that are constructed from woven or knit fabrics are often much easier to imitate convincingly than their counterparts made of leather. Many fabric replica handbags look almost identical to their designer counterparts. However, the quality of textiles used to create designer bags nearly always exceeds the caliber of materials used for replica handbags. One reason for the enduring popularity of fabric-based designer handbags is the high thread count of the textiles used in their creation, which contributes to both the visual elegance and practical durability of these high-fashion purses. Replica handbags made from lower-quality fabrics rarely last as long as their designer counterparts, and the fact that they are made from inexpensive materials contributes to a visual impression that can sometimes be less than elegant.

Despite their questionable legality and lower-quality construction, replica handbags are in heavy demand around the world. Many women find that the positive value of carrying a high-fashion, designer-style purse without paying a designer-label price more than compensates for the flaws of a replica handbag. Replica handbags allow women from all walks of life to enjoy the same trendy styles as the most fashionable international jet-setters, so it is a safe bet that as long as designer handbags remain popular status symbols, designer replica handbags will be found on the arms of women around the world.

A purse organizer shapes to the sides of the container, with no bulky features, and actually opens up space inside your handbag. When you change handbags, all you need to do is grab the liner and insert it into the handbag you want to use that day, and you will never forget those essential items again!

It is simple to make your own purse organizer as well; all you need is two different types of fabric, one heavy, the other lightweight. Lay out the items you wish to put inside the pockets of the organizer, and leave about an inch between each item. For thicker items, like your cell phone, leave a half inch extra to one side. Measure the total length, and then add an extra half inch on each end. Cut out the two pieces of fabric, and sew three sides together, turning the right side out. Sew the final side together, and top stitch (optional). Fold the bottom up to form a big pocket. Sew on the ends, and then attach the individual pockets to hold your handbag items. Insert inside your handbag and fill with all your necessary everyday items and you need never forget anything ever again! You can be creative with the choice of fabric used, and can even choose colors which match or contrast with the exterior of your handbag.

Some purse organizers even contain an ultra-bright lmini ight so you can turn it on and find things fast and no longer stumble your fingers in the depths of your purse. And, as well as for handbags, organizers can also be used in baby change bags, gym bags and beach bags.

So what are you waiting for? Get or make a purse organizer, and organize your bag today!

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The House of Chanel rose up to its present height from very humble beginnings. Founder Gabrielle Chanel was born in 1883 in Saumur in the south of France to poor, working-class parents. Her early childhood was filled with hardship and misery, as she moved from relative to relative after her mother’s death and her father’s subsequent abandonment. Chanel eventually settled into an orphanage where she was educated by nuns. It was in the nuns’ convent that she first learned how to sew.

After leaving the orphanage, Chanel embarked on a brief three-year career as a cabaret singer. Although short-lived, her singing career was significant for two reasons. First, it was from these performances that Chanel acquired the nickname “Coco”, which would stick with her for the rest of her life and become synonymous with the House of Chanel’s iconoclastic fashions. Second, Chanel met some very wealthy men, two of whom supplied the necessary financial backing that allowed her to open her first boutique in Paris in 1910.

Chanel’s early designs represented a distinct departure from the prevailing women’s styles of the day. Instead of the corseted, restrictive ensembles that were then the norm, Chanel favored loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that promoted movement and activity. She also worked extensively with jersey, a cheaper fabric that had largely been ignored in French fashion. Chanel’s clothes were a hit with her upper-class clientele, and on the heels of this instant success, she was able to open several more shops throughout France.

After a string of extraordinarily successful products, including the “little black dress” and the No.5 fragrance, Chanel introduced her first handbag in 1955. Called 2.55, the bag was a simple quilted design with a gilt chain strap, and was available in either leather or jersey. The 2.55 soon became a must-have status symbol, and cemented Chanel’s place in the annals of fashion history.

The bag is still an enormously popular accessory today, thanks in large part to the current mastermind at the House of Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld. Lagerfeld was responsible for putting the interlocking C logo on the 2.55, and he frequently updates the bag’s looks to keep it uppermost in the consciousness of fashion mavens the world over.

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Kors, a native New Yorker in his mid-forties, has been a household name since 1981, when he created his own label after a successful stint designing for the boutique Lothar. The collection, a blend of chic, luxurious sportswear, launched at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, and was an immediate success. Michael Kors handbags are a new addition to the designer’s line (they started selling three years ago), but have already gained numerous fans in Hollywood, including Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Houston, and Rene Russo. These bags (and those who love them) embody the concept that fashion can be both chic and practical.

Kors handbags are available in a variety of sizes and styles, from camel suede satchels with weaved handles to the retro Athena Tiger silk hobo bags with gold metallic trim. Totes, purses, clutches, and duffel-style bags are also available. Michael Kors is a devotee of using some variation of hardware accents, chains, and large buckles in most of his designs. His latest line includes lots of bold colors, from orange to camouflage, and focuses on the details - hand-stitching and braiding included.

Stores such as Banana Republic sell the lower-priced “Michael” line, with bags averaging $225. More exclusive designs can cost up to $1,500 and are only available through specialty retailers. Both lines are also available online through a series of authorized retailers.

In a public mission statement, Kors declared that his “company’s heritage is rooted in producing polished, sleek, sophisticated American sportswear with a jet-set attitude.” Women of all walks of life seem to agree.

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The Burberry label was founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, a former draper’s apprentice who was just 21 years of age. The young design prodigy opened a shop in Basingstoke, England and cultivated a niche creating specialty outerwear for sportsmen. Even today, the Burberry label is well known for jackets and coats, including the world-renowned Burberry Trench. The company’s famous camel-colored Trench is the modern-day cousin of a coat designed by Thomas himself over a hundred years ago. The Burberry name signifies a classic, timeless aesthetic, and each Burberry product from the famous Burberry Trench coat to Burberry purses and handbags presents enduring appeal.

Much of the Burberry label’s fame comes from Burberry’s consistent success at retaining the appeal of traditional accessories and garments while adding a modern twist to every design. Burberry purses and handbags often feature classic silhouettes with subtly contemporary adjustments. In the hands of Burberry’s skillful designers, old-fashioned over the shoulder bags come alive with the addition of a few eye-catching stripes of the company’s trademark Burberry Check pattern. The trademark Burberry Check pattern, a plaid of red, white, black, and camel which adorns many Burberry purses and handbags, was first introduced in the 1920s, and retains its freshness today.

The Burberry label has been a reliable, elegant presence in the international fashion world for hundreds of years, but the popularity of Burberry purses and handbags is still on the rise. Sales of Burberry purses and handbags have skyrocketed recently, after television star and media mogul Oprah Winfrey declared the classic Burberry purse design one of her “Favorite Things” for the 2005 winter holiday season. Burberry purses and handbags have been spotted on the shoulders of celebrities Victoria Beckham and Madonna among others.

The classic Burberry label continues to grown in popularity, as Burberry handbags and purses are found on the arms of many of the most fashionable women around the world.

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Sequin purses are hardly a new accessory. Vintage purses from the 1920’s are hot sellers on eBay and other auction sites, and were massively popular in the 70’s disco era. Recently, however, big names in the film and music industries have been sporting these wonderfully whimsical handbags, and the trend had caught on like wildfire.

They come in all shapes and sizes now, from simple clutch purses to over-sized shoulder bags. Even the sequins themselves vary by design; you can get your purse covered in countless tiny sequins, or larger sequins that resemble scales. There are even geographical sequins available, that make interesting designs on handbags with their bold shapes and strong lines. Some people prefer a simple fabric bag with intricate sequined designs rather than a complete wash of the shiny little orbs. Whatever style you choose, these handbags also come in every color of the rainbow - sometimes even all on the same bag!

There are dozens of sequin purses available to consumers inspired by the celebrities that carry them. You can pick up a handbag inspired by those favored by such top names as Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria, or Nicole Richie. These wonderful purses were once carried only with elaborate outfits for special occasions, but are now carried everywhere by young women of all ages.

While top designers such as Fendi and Gucci have embraced the sequin trend with their exclusive blends of quality and sleek design, bargain minded shoppers can also get in on the action with lovely sequin bags available in most accessory outlets. Whether you spend thousands of dollars or get change from a twenty, you’ll be able to indulge in this fun and funky fashion trend.

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Baekgaard and Miller are longtime friends from Fort Wayne, Indiana. While on vacation in Arizona in 1982, they noticed that most of the luggage they saw in the airport was very masculine in appearance. Citing a need for a more feminine look, they began designing their own, made of quilted cotton and featuring bold, intricate patterns. Naming their company Vera Bradley after Barbara’s mother, they pitched in $500 and together began their incredible journey from basement seamstresses to fashion icons.

The very first Vera Bradley line included handbags and carry-alls, and were all designed and sewn by Baekgaard and Miller in their homes. They held several home parties where they displayed and sold their items, and word traveled quickly. As the orders poured in, the two ladies scrambled to find seamstresses, suppliers, and business advice to keep up with the demand for their innovative products.

Within three years, Vera Bradley Designs reached over $1 million in sales. Clearly they had tapped into a lucrative market, targeting businesswomen and the fashion-minded set who wanted pretty, clearly feminine accessories. Miller and Baekgaard have won several awards for their designs and business sense, including “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 1987, courtesy of Ernst & Young.

The current Vera Bradley line includes nearly 1000 items, ranging from purses and luggage to table settings and cases for eyeglasses and cosmetics. All are quality pieces, made from their signature quilted cotton fabric and featuring alluring, feminine prints. Their factory is still located in Fort Wayne, but you can now find their products at authorized retailers worldwide.

Vera Bradley is also instrumental in raising funds and awareness for breast cancer. A portion of all sales of their New Hope line of products goes directly to The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, and in 2004 alone they raised over $140,000 for the fund.

Now, more than twenty years after they began, Vera Bradley Designs continues to grow and thrive. Barbara Baekgaard and Patricia Miller have become idols to anyone with a dream to be a fashion designer, having taken their company from a home-based small business to a multi-million dollar accessory giant.

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Born in Kansas City Missouri, Kate Brosnahan earned a degree in journalism at Arizona State University. Kate began her career in fashion at Mademoiselle magazine in 1986. Five years later, she was a senior fashion editor specializing in accessories. Noticing a lack of practical purses available for women, she decided to take matters into her own hands and begin what would eventually become the hugely popular and trendy Kate Spade label.

Along with her husband, Andy Spade (brother of actor and comedian David Spade), Kate began designing her own handbags in 1993, striving for functionality combined with style. She started out with classic shapes in neutral colors using mostly nylon fabric, but soon realized that individual style often dictated more originality. Kate began using unique shapes, sizes, fabrics and colors, and her designs became an immediate success.

The first Kate Spade retail outlet opened in 1996, in New York City. Today there are dozens of boutiques around the world, including the international flagship store in Aoyama, Japan. She has won many awards in the fashion industry, including the prestigious “Best Accessory Designer of the Year” in 1998 from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Along with handbags, you can also find luggage, shoes, and glasses with the Kate Spade label, and even beauty and personal care items as well as paper goods such as stationary and journals. She recently launched a home collection as well, featuring such items as bedding, dinnerware, and even wallpaper. There is a children’s collection, and a line of men’s accessories called ‘Jack Spade’. All are created with the same sense of enduring style that will never go out of fashion.

Kate has even written three books on her favorite subjects, entitled Style, Occasions, and Manners. In these volumes, she speaks with authority, giving the reader seemingly endless suggestions punctuated with glossy photos and a personal touch that makes them as timeless as her other products.

Kate Spade’s fashion style is best described as timeless with a twist. Updated classics have always been the foundation of her accessories, combining a love of design with a look to the future. This same aesthetic is applied to each of her lines, creating an empire of good taste and fashion chic. Her sense of style and decor knows no bounds.

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