I just happened to be checking out the new arrivals at Linea Pelle when I came across the cutest handbag accessory… a purse light! I have gotten into the habit of strategically organizing the inside of my bag so I can easily find stuff. However, it’s always a challenge to dig down into a bottomless pit in the dark.  Linea Pelle allows you to light the way with a leather purse light! It features an on/off button, so no holding down for countless minutes while you search, and it can attach to your keychain. How nice would it be to never have to worry about finding your lip gloss in the dark again? It’s made of Italian leather and available in a variety of colors. Hint: These purse lights make the perfect gift! Price: $30.00 at www.lpcollection.com

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I am happy to announce that I was invited to contribute to the beso blog “Bag It” segment! My first article “Hello Metallic” was posted today. Check back often because I will contribute several Bag It articles each week! I am a huge fan of beso because it’s a shopping destination that allows you to browse products at thousands of stores – from big name retailers to exclusive boutiques all in one place. beso takes the term “one stop shop” seriously! Take a moment to enter beso‘s Sign Up to Cash In Sweepstakes for your chance to win $500 from your favorite store! Just sign up for a beso account by November 30th, 2009. Good luck!

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In today’s eco-obsessed world, plastic bags are just as despised as corporate jets. But are their successors – reusable totes – really that eco-friendly? In “Baggage Claims,” by Faye Penn WSJ. highlights

the key players in the reusable tote industry such as Whole Foods, Ralphs, Trader Joe’s and Dean & Deluca, and ranks the eco-cred of their tote options on variables such as style, capacity and reusable-friendliness.

I was happy to discover this article because I have noticed more retailers are creating reusable totes. As I stand in line waiting to check out, I sometimes wonder if customers actually use these bags. Visit “Baggage Claims” to find out the best and worst reusable shopping bags.

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One of the fantastic elements of Fashion’s Night Out (FNO), aside from the unique late night shopping experiences, are the designers and celebrities who are coming out to celebrate. Rebecca Minkoff has become one of my favorite designers, so I was thrilled to learn that she will be making several appearances at Bloomingdales. Have you seen the new fall collection? There are many must-have pieces that are worth investing in. If you are in NYC for FNO (the actual event is on Sept. 10), stop by and show Ms. Minkoff some love!

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Attention Handbag Enthusiasts! We are starting a monthly newsletter called The Handbag Report. It will highlight handbag trends, designers, upcoming sales, collections and events. It will include previous articles published on HandbagReport.com in case you missed it, along with exclusive features for The Handbag Report. Please send your email address to subscribe to The Handbag Report. Your email will remain private. We will only contact you with handbag news and you may unsubscribe at any time. If you have questions, suggestions or would like to contribute to The Handbag Report, please contact me at newsletter@handbagreport.com.

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Tory Burch has finally added a few baby bags to her collection! I must admit that while I like the functional design of the bag, I was expecting a bold print or bright color for that wow factor. Neutral is always good because it matches just about everything and it doesn’t scream diaper bag. It’s nylon with patent leather trim and handles, gold hardware and includes a changing pad. It has removable cross shoulder straps and plenty of pockets – two bottle pockets, three interior velcro pockets, two interior zip pockets, one magnetic pocket and four exterior zip pockets. Price: $375 at ToryBurch.com.

If you want your own Tory Burch bag to coordinate with your baby bag, there are two styles to choose from. Small Printed Nylon Jaden Tote, Price: $295 and Printed Nylon Nico Tote, Price: $350 both available at ToryBurch.com

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I am in love with the Alexander Wang Vest Bag! Alexander Wang’s line incorporates elements of street fashion and the imperfect, an aesthetic that won him the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund Award in 2008.

The design shows Mr. Wang’s innovation. I find something very sexy about this pebbled leather vest bag, which features 10 zip front pockets and a zip side pocket, zip closure at front and back, bronze hardware and adjustable shoulder straps. Price: $850 at Shopbop.com

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Launched on July 18, 2009, The Sackrider Museum of Handbags, a virtual, online museum is dedicated to collecting, interpreting, educating, preserving and presenting a unique and diverse history of handbags to the public. The mission of The Sackrider Museum of Handbags is to combine a traditional museum business model along with integrating social media and social networking to engage customer interaction and feedback on what they would like to see.

Founding Director and President Jill Brady was always drawn to old, vintage things that are unique, stylish, yet classic. ”Handbags have enticed me for a long time and I believe they tell a story that reflects our past, present and future. The handbag is an intriguing accessory with an amazing history that most women carry daily and most couldn’t live without. It’s a common denominator among us that unites us, our belongings and our world.”

The current collection dates as far back as the 1890s. I share Ms. Brady’s fascination of handbags and am excited to have a place to learn about the history of handbags and how the styles have evolved over the centuries. The goal of The Sackrider Museum is to raise $5,000,000 in the next 5 years to increase virtual presence, for the purchase or lease of bricks and mortar to display our exquisite collection to the public and build an extensive research library, create interesting exhibits and further preserve, promote and educate our next generations about handbags. Visit TheSack.org to learn more about the museum and the history of handbags.

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Handbag Designer 101, announced the winners of the third annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards which were held on June 17th, at the New York Historical Society. The Independent Handbag Designer Awards provides an opportunity for handbag designers to break into the competitive accessory industry. Designers of the most creative handbags competed against one another with 7 awards given for Handbag Design Excellence, and for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show their work among their peers in New York City, with over 400 members of the fashion industry, including press and retailers in attendance.

The award winners are:

Best Student Made Handbag – Rachel Esswood for Rachel Esswood (www.rachelesswood.com)

Best Handmade Handbag – Alexis Campagna for Antebellum

HBD101 s Audience Fan Favorite – Adriana Castro for Adriana Castro (www.adrianacastroonline.com)

Best Green Handbag -Andres Stickney for DRES (www.dresdesign.com)

Most Socially Responsible Handbag – Cherry Kwunyeun for Blumpari (www.blumpari.com)

Best Use of Swarovski Crystallized Elements – Lorna Nixon for Lorna Nixon

Best Shoe in Overall Style and Design – Raphael Young for Raphael (www.raphaelyoung.com)

Young Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design – Alice Tapajos for Zibba

Lulu Guinness received the ICONOCLAST Award in Handbag Design Lulu Guinness, who originally launched her company in 1989, and is famous for her whimsical handbags and accessories. For more information on the IHDA winners, visit http://www.hbd101.com/awards/winners_2009

In addition to the title in their respective categories, the winners received a variety of prizes such as having their line carried at Saks Fifth Avenue (Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design), create a limited edition shoe with Sam Edelman and Foot Petals (Best Shoe in Overall Style and Design), in addition to a booth at WWDMAGIC; marketing press tour and feature with Swarovski (Best Use of CRYSTALLIZED^TM – Swarovski Elements), an apprenticeship with Devi Kroell (Best Student Made Handbag); a chance to create a pattern and a feature on Singer Sewing Company’s website (Best Handmade Handbag), create a limited edition eco-bag with Korres Natural Products (Best Green Handbag), a feature on World of Good.com by eBay (Most Socially Responsible Handbag), and a feature on Handbag Designer 101 for the Audience Fan Favorite

A Judging Panel consisting of Famed Handbag Designer and 2007 IHDA Lifetime Achievement Recipient of 2007, Carlos Falchi, Lisa Smilor (Associate Director for the Council of Fashion Designers of America: CFDA), Lincoln Moore, (SVP DMM, Accessories, Saks Fifth Avenue), Sam Edelman (CEO of Sam Edelman), Stephan Toljan, (CCB Vice President Market Management of Swarovski), Devi Kroell (CEO & CCO for Devi Kroell), Taylor Tomasi (Accessories Director, Teen Vogue), Christina Polychroni, (Director of Marketing for Korres Natural Products), Katie Boertman (Trade Marketing Manager for Singer Sewing Company), Tina Aldatz (President of Foot Petals), Meghan Cleary (Miss Meghan: America’s Shoe Expert) and Julia Poteat (Assistant Professor of Fashion Methods for Parsons The New School for Design) were responsible for selecting these “Top Handbag and Shoe Design” from each respective category.

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It’s fascinating to learn what inspires designers, especially when they are an inspiration to you. Sometimes it’s something simple that we often overlook, while other designers are more complex in their way of thinking and interpreting their surroundings. At ToryBurch.com, there is a section called Tory’s Style Guide where Tory shares her inspirations of the moment. It gives insight as to how exotic locations are reflected in her collection.

In case you’re wondering, the gorgeous handbag pictured above is the Tory Burch Efram Hobo, made of glazed vegan leather in color seaport blue (also available in black). I love the resin logo detail on the side. Price: $550 at Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.

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