Pocket Book Chat

The appeal to own the hobo-bag continues to be one that never ends. The Bohemian or Hobo-Chic look has been around since as far back as the sixties. Many a die-hard hippie is still drawn to a frumpy curved bag when they see them. Currently, they are quite detailed with rivets, straps, buckles and other embellishments. However, the curves and frump hold true to their intent, which was a casual look, but could hold a ton and compliment most outfits.

Many of the Hobo Bags of the sixties and seventies were made of cloth. leather, or hemp. Patchwork was one of the favorites for some time and wore well with the peasant style blouses and bell-bottom jeans that had fabrics sewn in a side seam or applique patch. Then the hemp bags appeared and very quickly out-shined patchwork bags. They came in all sizes and worked with all outfits. The light straw brown was the most popular for many. You could really show off a lot of the peace sign pins and other hippie time emblems by attaching them to the strap or the bag. They held a ton of personal items, but if you got the right size, it doubled as a book bag.

Leather hobo-bags were more popular with those who were into the hippie clothing from head to toe. A leather vest with fringe, a peasant style blouse and a pair of wide bell-bottoms was topped off with a dark brown leather bag that hung with long fringe. They did come in various sizes, but the elongated rectangle was readily available.

As designers reinvented the bag each year, it evolved from the plain brown leather, patchwork, or hemp, to spectacular frumpy classy fun. Hemp is still popular, but now the leathers are bright colored and the embellishments outlandish. The Hobo Skull bags being one of the more popular for teens and bikers now come with buckles, applique, rivets and the skull and bones. The bigger bags the starlets love are spacious, frumpy bags that will hold a days worth of shopping, diapering and tons of other goodies.

The hobo bag will continue to be reinvented year after year to provide its end user the casual frump they have come to love, but in sizes and style befitting all ages. Sizes, materials and embellishments may change, but the hobo bag is here to stay.

Handbag Styles

A handbag is a handbag right? Wrong! There are many different styles out there. Here’s a quick look at the most popular styles right now.

The Shoulder Bags

With the exception of clutches and handheld bags (bags with handles too small or short to be worn over the shoulder), most handbags fit into this category. Every woman should have at least one shoulder bag in her wardrobe. They’re practical (but that doesn’t mean that can’t be stylish!) and come in handy on shopping trips, out running errands or for the office. They free up your hands to carry other items.

Here are examples of shoulder bags:

Hobo bags: A crescent-shaped, usually unstructured bag. But that’s not always the case. Modern variations include more structured hobo bags, drawstring hobos, skinny styles, even square hobos and bucket hobos.

Totes: Totes are roomy bags, usually rectangular with single or double straps. Totes are available in structured and unstructured styles.

Satchels: Satchel bags are typically small to medium-sized zip-top bags that usually wider than long. They can be structured or unstructured and have shoulder straps or be hand-held. Hand-held satchels are often referred to as bowler bags, like the and the

Barrel Bag: Like the name implies, a barrel bag is cylindrical and resembles a barrel turned on its side, often with a long, thin shoulder strap.

Flap-enclosure bags: Flap style shoulder bags have a flap enclosure that folds over, typically about midway down the front of the bag, with a clasp, turn-key, snap, or other fastener. Check out the Flatiron long shoulder bag.

Cinched and Drawstring bags: The cinched or drawstring bag is a fun variation of the shoulder bag. They gather at the top in place of a flap or zip top. The Bulga Brown leather ‘Krystal’ cinched bag and the Christian Dior black lambskin ‘Cannage’ quilted large tote are examples.

Quilted bags: Quilted leather bags are a popular leather handbag style that incorporates the quilted texture into fine leather, like the Balenciaga (pictured below) ivory quilted goatskin “Matelasse” small bag.

It can be mind boggling while shopping for a handbag. I hope this shoulder bag guide is helpful. Happy shopping!

Today designer purse are all the rage and are desired by many women for their chic and stylish appearance. However, the cost of many of these purses can range from several hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. Which has opened up the door for both designer inspired purses and counterfeit purses. In fact, there is an entire industry being built around both. Of course there are several major distinctions between the two industries.

Designer inspired purses are not fakes, they are simply designed around the hot trends being set by famous designer brands. These are commonly referred to as knock-off or replica purse. Whatever term you prefer, they come in some incredible styles and in many cases most people can’t tell the difference between a designer purse and a replica.

Of course there is the other side to this market. There are unscrupulous merchants who sell fake designer purses, without making it clear to the consumer that they are actually buying a purse that isn’t the genuine thing. This can be very upsetting to many women who for instance, thought they were buying a real Prada purse, when in fact it is a counterfeit one.

Purse designers have become very proactive at trying to stop these practices by filing lawsuits and creating websites to help consumers report any merchants who have sold them a fake purse. Not only do these fake purses cut into the profits of the designers, but the poor quality of the counterfeit purses reflects poorly on them as well, since many people can’t tell the difference.

Another way these designers are fighting back is by stitching their purses with authenticity codes inside each purse or including a certificate of authenticity with each purse. This helps to ensure to the consumer that the purse is in fact made by the designer and meets their high quality standards.

While the market for fake purses is booming both in North America and overseas, it will take a combined effort from both the designers and consumer. Once both parties have tired of being victimized, the backlash may help to significantly reduce the sale of counterfeit purses around the world.

I’ll be going on a 1 month cross country trip in a few weeks’ time, and one of my primary concerns is that my small stature, and relatively weak frame may not be able to effectively carry and move around a big luggage. My option was to go with a wheeled duffle bag to facilitate mobility. And my secondary concern is that I’m on a tight budget, so I have to shop around for discount luggages and wheeled duffle bags.

I did some window shopping first, and had a hard time finding one since most duffle bags on discounted prices were much too small for my purposes. After a couple of days going back and forth between stores, I found and bought a 35 inch Treeline Active Laraway Duffle bag and I am quite satisfied with how it turned out.

Like I intended, I got it with a discounted price and this wheeled duffel bag seems to have no negative aspects at all. The bag is large and quite tall (standing at 35″ x 15″ x 15″) yet very lightweight for its size. It is a very important feature since its large stature means I can put a lot of items inside while its relatively light weight will be a great boon on airplane trips, since all airlines have a very specific limit regarding the weight of baggage you can bring, and will most certainly charge a fairly expensive amount for baggage that is over the weight restriction.

Adding to its great weight versus size feature is the presence of handles across the top and center, making it very easy to grab when you’re hurrying. Many wheeled duffel bags don’t carry this feature at all. It also comes equipped with a utility cranny intended for stashing wet clothes or dirty laundry that should not touch your clean items.

There was a choice between a maroon and a black colored duffle bag and while the maroon may look more stylish, I still chose the black one because most dirt and stains will not show up on it as easy as it will on the red colored duffle.

As for mobility, this wheeled duffle bag will roll easily and consistently. An extra nifty capability is that when you fill it to its maximum capacity, the shape tends to make it stand upright instead of toppling over like most cheap discount luggage duffle bags with wheels. I tried kicking it around just to test if it will topple easily, but it’s very stable and will even bounce back up, similar to the a rubber bowling pin filled with sand at the bottom.

With the perfect discount wheeled duffle bag in my possession, I can be sure that I can focus on my trip without constantly worrying about my luggage and that I can move around easily from plane to terminal to car and back again. The extra money I saved by buying a discount duffle bags means I may even have the option of stopping by a café near the airport for a relaxing cup of coffee.

The kind of luggage you use says a lot about you. Whether it’s a beat up old suitcase or an elegantly crafted piece of art, you can be sure that people around you are making judgments about your personality based on the kind of luggage you use. Does your beat up old suitcase really put your best foot forward?

If you have to travel frequently; chances are you don’t mind investing in a great piece of luggage. The right luggage will last you a lifetime and will never need replacing! With the right kind of luggage, you need never worry about packing again. Having great luggage removes some of the stress associated with travel, and leaves you more time to get on with having a great time.

There is a lot to be said about genuine leather luggage. People have been using it for years and for many, there is just no alternative to the quality and style of a great leather duffle bag. The world’s top designers know this and you can see by the many designer leather bags and cases that leather is widely considered to be the highest caliber of luggage. Leather has always been synonymous with style, elegance and luxury. Maybe it’s time to include some of that in your travels too?

The advantages of leather include:

- Good looks: Nowadays it’s possible to have leather luggage in whatever color or style you want! Duffel bags have the remarkable ability to turn heads.
- Strength: Many duffel bags come with a lifetime guarantee. Robust, sturdy and durable.
- It ages well: Good quality leather is a bit like a fine wine, it gets better with age. Your well worn leather duffel will look just as good in a few years time!
- Timelessness: Leather bags give an impression of timeless style. They’ve been popular for decades, and show no sign of losing popularity any time soon.

Many travelers worry about the cost of genuine luggage. It doesn’t need to be an extravagant Louis Vuiton leather tote bag to experience the benefits of owning quality luggage. There are all kinds of leather bags on either end of the price scale. The superbly crafted luggage with a lifetime guarantee might come with a hefty price tag, but some of the fakes on the market are so realistic that you can’t tell it is a fake until you sniff it.

What was once reserved only for elite travelers is now accessible to anyone with an internet connection and a bit of time to spare. And the selection is endless. Leather luggage comes in every imaginable shape, size and color. Spend some time browsing the

A duffel bag is the quintessential luggage item. The kind of luggage that others admire, that is always the right size and is comfortable to carry too. Once you have one, you will understand the passion that people feel for their luggage. Tell the world you have arrived with a quality leather bag, and experience the many wonderful qualities of leather for yourself!

Yes, size does matter, very much so, especially when it comes to designer handbags! The lifestyle you lead will probably define the size of the handbag that you carry. But the real question is whether you are carrying the correct handbag size that is right for you? If you belong to the younger generation, the teenager or if you are the mother of a teenager, you must already be knowing that the teenagers know exactly what they want – in every sphere of their lives – how much ever ridiculous that may sound! So when it comes to buying a handbag for your teenage daughter, although a small sized handbag is a safe bet, it is still highly advisable that you consult your daughter before buying one. And if they have a choice, then you are lucky! Most definitely stick to their choice and you will be a winner!

Now what’s with the young ladies and extremely small purses? You see these purses everywhere – on the dance floors, in the restaurants, with an elegant evening dress and a small handbag in the size of a peanut. Does it really help? A handbag so small that it would hardly carry a lipstick let alone your wallet or other feminine essentials! Do we really need such incredibly small handbags? Aren’t these more of a fashion statement to the extent of causing probable inconvenience? Well handbags are personal accessories and are strictly of personal choice, but may be you would want to rethink those purses that can’t even hold a lipstick properly!

Next are the moms. Ladies you all are doing a great job out there! Raising your little ones, balancing family and work is never an easy task. The last thing in your mind is probably your handbag! Handbag? What handbag? I have my diaper bag – is what that’s crossing your mind right now! And even if you are thinking in terms of a handbag or a purse you are probably thinking ‘big’! Yes the purse should be big enough to hold let’s see – the diapers, the diapers, the diapers and yes may be the wallet and some more baby stuff. Yes there are some really cute diaper bags out there now, designer ones, trendy ones, but believe me you need to break out from the diaper bag syndrome. The occasional outings that you have with your husband, the family gathering or the evening parties, give off your diaper bag or huge handbag for a nice chic small handbag. Large enough to carry your feminine essentials and your wallet but small enough to go with your style and not overpower you – that’s the million dollar handbag mantra for the moms.

Womanhood is a beauty chosen by God for the lucky ones on this earth. You are a mother, a daughter and a grandmother but you will always be a woman. Celebrate womanhood the best way you can and in style. If that means that you choose the right size handbag to accentuate your beauty and grace then so be it!

Nothing is more important to a woman’s wardrobe than the style of purse she chooses. No accessory can compliment your dress or shoes better than a chic, designer purse. Whether you buy a purse for each new wardrobe, or one every season, making the right choice can seem like a daunting task. With so many styles, sizes and colors to choose from, where do you begin?

Every woman has her own unique way of picking out a purse, but in general you should always take into consideration not only your current wardrobe, but your body shape as well. Far be it from me to pass judgment, but there is just something wrong about a petite woman with a gaudy purse. But again this is a personal choice and if that is your thing, then so be it!

If you can only afford to buy one good designer purse a season, or even once a year, you will want to stick with some neutral shades such as white, black, brown and beige. This way you can ensure that the purse will match perfectly with most of your wardrobe. However, there can be so many bold colors and designs that it may be hard to resist the temptation to go away from neutral shades. In this case, you can always invest in a high quality designer purse that will match one or two of your most elegant wardrobes.

One of the best materials to look for in any designer purse is leather. These purses are almost always going to be very expensive, but not only are they the ultimate compliment to your best dress, they are extremely durable as well.

Some famous designers who make leather purses include Louis Vuitton, Coach, Givenchy and Veneta. These purses don’t come cheaply, however. If you want quality, it is going to cost between a few hundred dollars on the low end, to many thousands of dollars for a premium designer leather purse.

As any woman knows, when you look your best, you feel your best. Which is why buying a designer purse is an investment in yourself and can make any woman feel exquisite, fashionable and radiant.