Will China’s E-commerce Law Changes Make Luxury Handbags More Expensive?

There have been changes to e-commerce laws in China which mean that any Chinese buying goods on line will now face import duties. But will these changes affect the cost of luxury handbags and other items bought on line. Will these products now be subject to these duties? Since 8 April, 2016, goods that are purchased and sold online through free-trade areas will be subject to new duties. The new laws are not a ‘crackdown’ but are actually closing a loophole in existing regulations. Import duties will now be applied to goods shipped through free-trade areas such as Australia and NZ.

But, the description of the new rules as “e-commerce” laws is not quite true. First of all, they are not laws, they are regulations. Furthermore, the new regulations are essentially the application of duties that were up to that time waived or reduced for goods that went through China’s free-trade areas. These new rules are meant to make China’s tax regime more consistent, and are not aimed at increasing protection for the domestic Chinese market.

Previously, some parts of China had lower duties than other parts of China and this was unsustainable. It led to business loopholes that were taken advantage of by shrewd Chinese buyers and service providers. Hence, some type of rule change was inevitable.

The upshot of these import duties will be that Chinese consumers will have to pay additional costs for goods such as luxury handbags and other items if they purchase online from free-trade partners. The most imported products bought on line in China are luxury handbags, clothes, and shoes. But also popular products sold on line in China are food, milk powder, vitamins and drugs. In fact, the Chinese market for high-end, reliable, clean food and herbal products is huge and will continue to grow as China’s middle- and upper-class consumption spending grows.

Several Chinese e-commerce or duty-free services companies are not sure about how the regulations will be applied, so they have removed products from their symbolic online shelves, until future duties to be applied are more clear.   Yet, Murray Goulburn, a major dairy co-operative, has a pointed out that the new regulations are just the latest in a series of measures aimed at regulating China’s booming e-commerce market. They don’t think the new regulations will change its overall business, and said that they had anticipated the new rules “for some time”.

In September last year, the State Council, China’s cabinet, announced that it would be more rigorously implementing the 2010 Customs and Duties Law. This announcement made many e-commerce sites in China (or e-commerce services providers who supply Chinese customers) cautious about stocking foreign products.   

Imported products will probably always be more expensive to Chinese customers than domestic alternatives, as China’s cost of production is much lower. It is thought that there will be a 10-20% increase in the price of imported goods, as suggested in the new regulations.  It is unlikely to put off Chinese shoppers from buying a guaranteed clean and reliable product. Due to a number of deaths from tainted milk powder, Chinese consumers are not likely to trust Chinese dairy products for many years. Chinese buyer think that foreign products are cleaner and greener, and the many food safety scandals in China, makes it improbable that Chinese customers will switch to domestic alternatives, no matter the price rise.

But will the added costs of buying a luxury handbag deter Chines buyers? In a previous blog “The New Chinese Middle Class See LuxuryHandbags As A Status Symbol”, 

I reported that the Chinese people have a huge desire for luxury goods and the appeal of luxury brands is very strong. And it is not just Chinese women who are passionate. Chinese men are obsessed with luxury handbags as well. Men are in hot pursuit of luxury handbags like Gucci, Hermes, Burberry, Prada, Coach, Louis Vuitton. In fact, men are said to account for 45% of China's $1.2bn luxury handbag market.  Luxury handbags are thought of as status symbols. It is estimated that more than half of the world’s brand spending will come from Chinese shoppers this year.

The majority of these luxury handbags and other goods are not bought in China, but overseas. The main reason why Chinese buy in a foreign country is the price. China has traditionally had high import tariffs and consumption taxes, as well as higher pricing strategies which can can raise the price of luxury handbags in China by 50%. According to LVMH, a French luxury conglomerate, a Louis Vuitton handbag costs 30% more in Beijing than in Paris.

So the Chinese travel overseas to purchase their dream luxury handbags. Actually, for around 80% of Chinese travellers, shopping is a central part of their travel plans. For those who cannot travel purchasing online has been their next option.

China has, in truth, topped the U.S. to become the number one e-commerce market. Its middle class purchase a wide range of products online ranging from baby formula, health foods, vitamins, milk powder, skin care products, Purina for their dogs, as well brand items such as luxury handbags. China's shoppers have grown more savvy and are now looking to buy top quality brands. And they are not worried about the 2-3 week delivery time when they buy on-line. In fact, they prefer the wait because it offers some confirmation the products are really are from overseas and are therefore genuine.

But it is this market that the Chinese taxman has been missing out on, so it is no wonder the regulators have moved in to close the loopholes. There has also been an official clampdown on corruption and extravagant gifting which has affected the import market.

Even so the new Chinese middle classes still see branded goods such as luxury handbags as a status symbol, and brand names such as Gucci and Rolex continue to be popular search terms on Chinese blogging sites. The Chinese shopping binge looks set to last, and China's Ministry of Commerce expects that China’s profitable cross-border trade to become a US $1 trillion market this year. Whether these changes to the e-commerce rules regarding import duties will affect these estimates is yet to be demonstrated.

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Consider These 10 Tips When Choosing A Large Purse.

Celebrities are mad about a large purse. Indeed, the bigger the better. Celebrities want to be see with them and photographed with them, whether just out and about or going to the gym. In my opinion, it would make me edgy to bring a bag worth thousands of dollars to the gym and leave it out of my sight, but I am certain these elite fitness studios have luxury lockers to accommodate their patrons’ luxury items. Big bags are getting bigger and better They can be used for daytime wear, for travelling or for going to the gym. They are very versatile and can be used for several purposes.

BUY A LARGE PURSE NOW 

But then I believe that many celebrities are given designer bags for free or for publicity purposes. It is a low-cost way for fashion designers and high-brands to get informal exposure when the paparazzi takes pictures of the stars for magazines. These images usually end up on social media and quickly go viral - the large purse sported by the celeb is all of a sudden the new fashion icon of the time.

Social media is the new driving force behind exposure for brand-names, and the trend to carry a large purse is catching on and the typical consumer is now also fixated about them. Fashionista’s want to be seen carrying the same bag as their favorite celebrity. There are a few things that you should consider if you want to buy a large purse, and I thought I would share these ten tips with you.

1. Ensure the material it is made from is durable enough for carrying on a regular basis so that it will stand up to any hard knocks etc. Look out for bags with sequences or little beads or pieces that can fall off easily. 
2. Look for water resistant material which will protect your stuff from the rain, and will not watermark if the fabric gets wet. 
3. Pick a color that goes with most of your outfits. If the color is too flamboyant it could clash with all or some of your clothes.
4. Quality is a significant issue to think about when ordering a large purse to carry around. Check out the stitch work, fabric and pockets to ensure that it is durable and will not fall apart after just a few outings. Ensure it is not a fake!!
5. Check that there is room inside the bag to fit everything you need to carry. The outside of a large purse can be deceiving and not big enough inside. Some practices designers use to make the bag look bigger is pockets and pouches, the less of these attachments the better.
6. Check that the inside is well designed with dividers and pockets so that you can organize your belongings easily. 
7. Ensure that the weight of the bag is not too heavy for you. If it is too heavy, it could cause injury to your back or neck.
8.  Ensure that large purse is in proportion with your body size. Petite woman should not carry a large purse which is too big and too heavy for them. It may be tempting to get into the fashion of carrying a large purse but truly how big is too big? I for one think that over-sized purses do not look good on petite woman. They look out of proportion with the rest of your body. 
9. Make certain the bag is value for money – it is sometimes preferable to get a quality leather handbag from an up and coming new designer than to buy a low-end  bag from a luxury top brand. 
10. Select a handbag appropriate for the event. A large purse is not the best choice for every occasion. They are perfect for day wear, business, for travelling, and for the gym, but may not be right for evening wear, the races or for going to a wedding.

Fashion and style is to some degree the realm of pop-stars and celebrities. If you are a follower of celebrities you will notice that the current trend is to carry a big, a really big large purse. But do you actually need one so big? Pick wisely and do not get trapped in the fever. Resolve what you truly need to carry around with you – cell-phone, computer, extra pair of shoes, extra clothing, make-up, personal items, water bottle, snacks or even a baby!?

But be sensible. The more you carry the heavier your large purse will become and the more at risk you are of causing yourself an injury. It comes down to what you actually need to have with you at all times. Remember that not all fashion trends will work for everyone.

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Is Your Designer Handbag Genuine? Check Out These 10 Tips.

A brand new designer handbag is a delight, but to find out it's a fake is a very costly slip-up. When you want to get a new designer handbag, it is important to be able to spot fakes so that you can make certain that your expensive purchase is authentic. If you recognize the difference between a replica and a genuine bag enables you to make an informed choice about the purchase of any bag.

Click Here  To Purchase Your Authentic Designer Handbag From The Large Purse Shop

An authentic designer handbag is made by fashion houses, well-known brands and high-end designers. Nowadays many lesser-known designers and brands also produce top quality bags. However, many sham companies make imitation replicas of bags and sell them to gullible people as the genuine thing.

If you have just paid a large sum of money on that prized new designer handbag, you may want to establish the authenticity of it. This can be a little bit difficult, but if you know the essentials, you will be able to recognize an imitation immediately.

1.   Investigate The Brand

You must recognize the brand and what unique features make it special. Check to confirm the bag you want to buy is in a shape and pattern that the designer produces. Most brands have a signature style.

2.   Check The Quality Of The Material

One of the top ways to make sure your new designer handbag is genuine is to look at the bag itself.  A designer handbag cost as much as they do because they are made of high quality materials, such as Italian leather or branded canvas.

So check the material. If it is Italian leather it should look, feel and smell like leather. Be suspicious if it smells like glue, rubber or chemicals. If it is a heavy-duty canvas, it should be strong and well stitched. The material can tell you so much about the bag's quality.

Also check the lining inside of the bag. Often a genuine bag will have a distinguishing pattern inside which distinguishes it from replicas. If the interior sounds like paper rubbing together, then it's not the genuine thing. A genuine designer bag will be lined with leather or a branded high quality lining material.

Look for discrepancies in color in the material. Although some variations will be obvious, others may be very difficult to detect.

3.   Check The Quality Of Workmanship

A real designer handbag is typically handmade by skilled craftsmen. Branded bags will have quality stitching because it is part of the designer's reputation to manufacture a quality product.

So take a really good look at the stitching. Sloppy, slanted, and uneven stitching is a sign of a poorly made bag which well may be a fake. There ought to be no loose or missing stitches and the stitches should be evenly spaced. The color of the thread should match the main color of the bag.

Also check out the seams, the shape and symmetry. Seams usually do not have glue, except for perhaps on wallets. The symbols often mirror each other on right and left seams, especially on Louis Vuitton monogrammed canvas items and more recently on Gucci and Fendi.

Also check the stitching of the lining, and see if it is double stitched or not.

4.   Check The Quality Of The Hardware

The hardware on a designer handbag should be of top quality. Hardware must be heavy weight, quality pieces with no scratches or color variations, i.e., zippers, clasps and closures should all have the same color and finish. The only exception is the brand Chloe, which often makes use of mixed hardware. If it does not look like genuine top quality hardware, i.e. it feels light or has rough edges, etc., it may be a fake copy.

Zippers and clasps must open and close smoothly.

Some brand names put their logo on the hardware. For example, check the zipper manufacturer because generally the underside of the zipper will have a logo. 

Some manufacturers, including Gucci, Fendi, Prada and Christian Dior protect the hardware with a plastic cover that is removed only after it has been bought.

5.   Check The Logo Is Real

The logo should be straight and spelled correctly. Any engraving or embossing must be neat and accurate. Logos are often area where frauds slip up. The name may be spelt slightly differently, such as Carter instead of Cartier. Or the lettering may be incorrect. For example most imitation Chanel bags have interlocking "Os" instead of "Cs", which in point of fact makes it legal to sell but is, of course, still a fake.

Most designers have a unique way of using their logo. For example the brand name on an authentic Michael Kors bag will say either "MICHAEL Michael Kors" or just "Michael Kors," and have the MK logo on a hanging metal tag. The interior and exterior normally have the MK logo as part of a repeated pattern, rather than the full name.

If the designer handbag is leather, the logo will be engraved, not just printed on the leather. The brand name or logo will also be engraved, not embossed or simply printed on the hardware.

The bag's logo, charms, attachments, etc., are characteristic of the brand down to the precise positioning and number of such features. Tags, signatures or marks stating the designer's name are an integral part of the bag's overall design and authenticity.

So check the tags and labels. Check the inside tags to ensure they are stamped into leather or hand-stitched in the lining. A clear counterfeit will have no name on the inside tag. Check outside tags as well because many designers include authenticity labels on the outside of a designer handbag.

Instruction booklets should not have misspellings or be photocopied.

6.   Is An Authenticity Card Provided?

An true designer handbag will come with an authenticity which is a little card that usually has the manufactures logo embossed on the front and has some information about the product you bought. It sometimes includes a magnetic strip or bar code.

7.   Is There a Serial Number?

Not all manufacturers use serial numbers, but many do.  A serial number is a hallmark inside the bag which relates to the brand/style and other production information. Sometimes the serial number is also fake, but it will look different and be in a different font to the real product.

8.   Do Be Realistic About The Price

The price of a designer handbag is determined by what the purchaser is willing to pay for the brand. A real designer handbag costs a lot of money because it is well made from quality products by crafts men. They are a status symbol which reflects wealth and position. If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is and the bag is most probably an imitation.

An authentic designer handbag will cost anything from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars depending on the brand and its availability. For example Hermes handbags cost on average around US $8000 and there is a waiting list to purchase one.

Be guarded of unrealistic deals. If a bag typically retails for $800 or $1,200 and someone is selling it for $100 or $200, you may be getting swindled. Or if you see very luxurious bags that you can buy several copies of, be cautious.

9.   Always Ask For A Guarantee Of Authenticity

Ask the seller if the bag is genuine, a copy, or a fake. Judge for yourself from the answer; keep your emotions in check and your common sense at the forefront. Traders who evade answering questions or are shifty have something to hide. Ask if you can return the bag if it's faulty or fake. As you would expect, don't assume street vendors will agree to this!

10.  Watch For Wear and Tear

.Even though this is post purchase, how your designer handbag wears can be a sign of its authenticity. For example, the leather on the handle, after a while, should look like a good worn leather coat does. It will have an "aged look". Stitching should not begin to fray and zipper handles or other embellishments that fall off prematurely may show a fake.

A real designer handbag should last a lifetime if cared for properly.

Learn About Fakes

There are many bogus brand bags on the market, particularly in Asian countries at street markets, and on the internet so be very cautious when you purchase. High-end brands do not approve of street vendors selling their bags or purses.

Illegal, counterfeit bags are put across as being the real designer's bag, right down to the very last logo, tag, charms, etc. Replica bags copy all the features of the brand, and they are passed off as the unique brand with no effort to make a distinction as look-a-likes. The cost of fakes can vary significantly from cheap to expensive. It is illegal to make counterfeit goods, and if you knowingly buy one, you are supporting illegal action.

Nevertheless, a legal imitation can be sold as "designer-inspired" if it is not a direct copy. As long as such a bag does not claim to be the genuine designer's bag and does not try to use the trademarked symbols, logos, or features it is legal. Usually the style and colors of an authentic brand bag can be copied, but some features must be altered in some way in order to avoid copyright infringement.   Even though the bag may be very similar to the brand that it's inspired by, it won't claim to be an genuine designer handbag.

To the unperceptive eye the "designer-inspired" bag can certainly be mistaken for the genuine one and you could be tricked into spending more money than it is worth, and therefore it is important to be able to spot the differences.

If you knowingly buy legal copies, be sure you don't pay too much and double check the quality!

Realize, though, that some "designer-inspired" bags can convey the blessing of the brand owner who lets lower-end knock-offs be sold by chain retailers, etc. Commonly the store will proudly say something along the lines of "as licensed by X brand for our store".

Summary

Counterfeits are more difficult to spot now than they once were. There are two main reasons: counterfeiters have become more sophisticated and manufacturers have become a bit slack. Even though no replica is perfect, there is certainly no bag that’s too hard to copy. The differences between the two are getting harder to spot. This is facilitated by the fact that workmanship in the real goods is not as good as it used to be. They’re not finished the way they were back in the good old days.

If you have reservations about your new designer handbag, take it to an authorized store. Staff of an official brand store can easily validate your new designer handbag. There are a number of factors that need to be looked into when determining whether or not a handbag is genuine or fake, but if you focus on the list presented in this article you will be a long way to making the right decision.

Discover all you can about a designer handbag if you're buying from estate sales, thrift stores or on-line auction sites. Apply the steps listed above to any acquisition of a designer handbag made at such places.

At the Large Purse Shop, we do not work for any of the valued brands that we offer, but we do guarantee that the designer handbag you buy from us is 100% authentic and new with tags and made exclusively by the fashion house. Any use of the terms Hugo Boss, Burberry, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Coach, Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Prada and any other brand are all trademarks belonging to those companies and we do not in any way claim to be these companies or work for them. We obtain all items directly from the companies themselves..

Crown Princess Mary Takes Some of Her Favorite Designer Purses With Her On Holiday In Australia.

When I was on holiday on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia in December it was at the same time Crown Prince Frederick and his lovely Australian wife Mary and their four beautiful children were there. And I was lucky enough to see them two times as they went about having fun, once on the beach and once at the Marina Mirage shopping complex. Because of my own fascination with designer handbags I was able to get a glimpse first hand at a couple of her designer handbags. I love her natural simplicity and admire her for the way she is raising her children and allowing them to experience normal activities like any other child.

I saw Princess Mary and her two daughters, Princess Isabella and Princess Josephine, when they had a girls' day out at Marina Mirage for a bit of boutique shopping. They were accompanied by a close girlfriend of Mary's who was assisting her with the two girls. I was thrilled to see Mary holding one of her daughter's hand, whilst she was holding one of her designer handbags in the other. She looked just like any other mother and I may not have recognized her if it hadn't been for the body-guards, which were a dead give-away. She could have gone undetected, hunting for bargains in the shops just like everybody else.

It was such a delight to see them behaving like any other normal family, enjoying themselves and having fun together. They did not expect any special favors and the local newspapers were full of stories about them experiencing the holiday spirit on the Gold Coast just like any other family. They did not demand any favors and waited in line for rides at the theme parks just like the rest of us.

At the beach Princess Mary and her family appeared like any other beach goer.  When I noticed Mary on the beach, she was dressed in a bikini and rash shirt and had I not been mindful that they were in town. I almost certainly would not have recognized who they were. I saw her pounding the surf with a board under her arm and playing in the shallows with her husband and four children. All laughing and playing and having a good time. I couldn't help but notice that whilst her bikini and rash shirt were every-day beach wear, she had a beach-bag which made a statement like all her designer handbags.

Can you spot her bag?

There was one noted misadventure however that caused some concern. While at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. Prince Christian, the future king of Denmark, got into a bit of bother and had to be rescued from rough surf by a local lifeguard, Nick Malcolm. Christian, who is a reasonably good swimmer, was in between the flags in the deep part before the break when he got swept off his feet.  Thankfully he didn't panic and the life guard down played the rescue as " just a standard rescue - doesn't matter that he's a royal." Prince Frederick personally thanked Mr Malcolm for the brave rescue of his son.

The Danish royal family arrived in Perth on December 6 for a family summer holiday in Australia. They first visited Mary's Perth-based brother, John Donaldson. After road-tripping through Western Australia where they were spotted nipping into coffee shops for a caffeine hit and IGA's to pick up snacks, the relaxed royals headed to the Gold Coast. The royals then went to Byron Bay to celebrate the 50th birthday of Mary's sister Jane. They were visited there by friends, including Mary's best friend and bridesmaid at her 2004 wedding, Amber Petty.

Mary was seen lazing on the beach with her family and friends. As she continued her active holiday, she was also seen beating the pavement for a run up to Byron Bay's famous lighthouse.

And like all mum's she carried a plastic bag for the wet swimmers!

When she was at Castle and Shambhala Gardens she took with her another of her exquisite designer handbags.

And she took the same bag shopping in Byron Bay

When their fun filled holiday was over, they returned to Denmark for Queen Margrethe's official New Year's celebration, where the princess once again put on her tiara and ceremonial gown. Bikinis and sunhats now just a lovely dream of a holiday in the land of her birth. With temperatures in Denmark dropping to near freezing point most nights, it’s a far cry from the beach holiday road trip the family enjoyed in the warmth of Australia.

At the New Year event, Crown Prince Frederick dressed in military uniform and carried his ­ceremonial sabre, while his beautiful 43-year-old wife looked amazing in a midnight blue velvet floor-length gown. She wore her diamond and ruby-encrusted tiara and around her neck she wore her Knight of the Order of the Elephant collar. She did not look as if she carried one of her designer handbags to this event.

When I search on Dr Google I am fascinated by the magnificent range of designer handbags carried by Crown Princess Mary. Get your bag fit for a princess at the Large Purse Shop

Why Women Love Luxury Handbags

  

There is no doubting the fact that women love luxury handbags. If you read any purse blogs or comments on purse forums you will see that some women are actually obsessed with them. Some women own a huge variety of luxury handbags which collectively may be worth many thousands of dollars. Social media and Dr Google are full images of the well-to-do, celebrities and royals who carry a different bag with each outfit – they have luxury handbags to match each color and style of their outfits.

 Get your luxury handbags at The Large Purse Shop - Great prices!

For the rich and famous, including celebrities and royals it is easy to possess a collection of luxury handbags. But what about the typical working woman or the stay at home mum. How can she pay such excessive prices to realise her dream of owning that latest style? The reality is that most bag-loving women will go without other things in order to satisfy her need for a new bag.

What sacrifices would you have to make to meet the expense of that elegant Hermes Birkin which recently sold at auction for over $200,000?  Made of exquisite pink crocodile decorated with 18 carat gold hardware and genuine diamonds? The run-of-the-mill Hermes will set you back about $8000 and even then, you may have to be on a waiting list to get it!

These days you probably could not get luxury handbags for much under $500. Most of the more exclusive brands will be well over $1000. So the average Jo Blog has to save up for a long just to come up with the money needed for one of these expensive bags.

Luxury handbags are the ultimate 21st-century object of desire, not just for the well-to-do, celebrities and royals, but also for working women from all walks of life as well. In this day and age, women of all ages tend to spend more on a handbag than a holiday, jewelry or even a car - and they hope that everyone else will notice their new acquisition.

Clothes commonly take second place to this most looked-for accessory. For example, an ad made in 2007 featured Kate Moss starring in a Longchamp's bag campaign She lay naked on a beach with nothing on except for her Longchamp handbag. The message this ad revealed was clear: clothes are redundant - it's all about the luxury handbag.

So why do women find luxury handbags so desirable? It is to a certain extent because they have become a distinguishing fashion statement depicting a woman's wealth and status. They also indicate how fashion aware a woman is, and proves her position and earning power. It is also due to the escalating popularity of large purses, which over the past 100 years, has mimicked the growing social independence of their women.

In previous eras, a woman's role was mostly domestic and she would keep her personal items in a purse tucked into the folds of her skirt or in a small handbag she carried discretely. But as women started venturing from the home, both for leisure and work, larger purses became a convenient way of carrying their belongings and daily needs. Eleanor Roosevelt is recognised as starting the trend of carrying large purses as a customary fashion.

At the time when rail and sea travel became more accessible, there was a growing demand for fashionable luggage such as suitcases, dressing cases, hat and shoe boxes. Styles developed and the modern leather handbag was born.

It is not surprising then that many of today's luxurious handbag design houses, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Hermes, originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as travel became more accessible to everyone. As women achieved more financial independence, the handbag industry prospered out of all proportion to its humble beginnings.

The fact that the right handbag can make us feel goes far deeper than just being a vehicle to carry our possessions. Both revealing and concealing, it also represents a feeling that deeply private to its owner. This feeling arises from the fact that the handbag was first designed as a silk purse or pocket worn close to the body for safe keeping.  At that time, pockets were seen as being underwear – a secret place hidden beneath lavish material and assessable only by an intimate slit in the skirt.

These intimate undertones lingered on when the first luxury handbags were worn in the late 18th century. Called reticules, they were superbly embroidered, pouches with handles in damask, satin or velvet. Women used them to carry cosmetics, a fan for flirtation, smelling salts and carte de visite, all without compromising the slim-line fit of the Empire-line dresses which were Vat the time.

To begin with, the idea of a woman displaying her personal belongings in a visible pocket was as outrageous as if she had taken off her knickers and waved them in the air. As a result of this defiance of common decency, reticules were labelled "ridicules" by those unready for change.

Because of the intimacy associated with them, luxury handbags were seen as sexual items.  The expression "old bag" was used to describe a woman who was passed her sexual best and grumpy women who display no emotion or compassion are still called that today.

In our time, luxury handbags still have their sex appeal because they are very closely associated with all of our most intimate possessions. A large purse is our survival kit for daily life. It carries all our personal needs from a mobile phone, tampons, make-up, money and keys, to hair straighteners, laptops, I-phones, chewing gum, condoms to a change of clothes. Consequently, its curiousness remains intact. Most men find the details of what a woman has in her handbag excitingly inconceivable and would never dare to invade its privacy.

Most women feel naked without their luxury handbags. Your bag rather than your clothes makes you stand out from the crowd. Even when your outfit is drab and outdated a good-looking bag makes you look and feel good.

Because of this, the handbag industry has seen incredible growth in the past few decades. By mid-2000's sales of bags were growing at twice the rate of clothes. Now the big fashion houses make millions of dollars a year from the sale of luxury handbags alone.

So what are the features that make luxury handbags desirable? The first thing is that it must have an outstanding design. It has to be instantly recognized as a prominent brand such as Fendi, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton or from other established fashion houses. Most fashion houses have their signature designs and this too helps in appreciation of the brand itself.

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Another important feature for a luxury bag is glamour and appeal. Typically this comes from the link between a particular brand and a celebrity - such as the famous Hermes Kelly bag. Originally produced in 1935, it was not until 1956 that the bag's status shot to worldwide bestseller status. And this occurred because the newlywed, Princess Grace of Monaco, was photographed for the cover of Time magazine shielding her pregnant belly with a classic Hermes bag. The handbag in question subsequently became known as the Kelly in her honour. Fashion commentators at the time were quite adamant about the association of bag and star: Carrying a Kelly bag became synonymous with class and old money.

Another example occurred In 1994 when the Lady Dior became a sensation after Princess Diana took to wearing it around town after she separated from Prince Charles. This handbag is a seductive combination of briefcase and handbag which has distinctive gold charms. It depicted a thoughtful woman who was nonetheless glamorous and sophisticated. These days, social media can promote the status and demand for a particular bag just by been photographed on the arm of a style icon, celebrity or royal like Princess Kate Middleton.  

Shrewd marketing definitely also plays an important part in creating a must-have bag. While celebrities may always be able to get their hands on the latest luxury handbags, for the woman in the street it's much more difficult, irrespective of how much money they are ready to spend. The fact that many high-status bags are unobtainable makes it more looked-for. Some luxury handbags have waiting lists extending up to three years. The Hermes Birkin is in this category.

Women's natural competitiveness is cunningly managed by the top bag designers. For example. In 2005, Alexander McQueen inspired customer demand to a fever when he publicized the launch of his new designer bag. He specified that it was a limited edition with only 200 ever to be produced, and so it became the ultimate fashion trophy, selling out before a waiting list was even compiled. This bag was called the Novak after Kim Novak, the legendary blonde actress who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece Vertigo. Prices started at £550 and went up to a whopping £6,000 for the deluxe crocodile version.

It seems a price tag does not prevent luxury handbags from selling well. In fact, fashion houses believe that high price tags seem to add more desire to own it. There seems to be an endless willingness to splash out on designer bags.

Luxury handbags will last a lifetime if cared for properly. Some of these styles may come and go, some retain their value and some increase in value. But it is only a handful of them that have the mystic qualities to become iconic. To become iconic, a bag is not just exceptionally well designed but it also surpasses the time in which it was fashioned.

Luxury handbags which have received the right to be called iconic are the Hermes Kelly, the Fendi Baguette, the Marc Jacobs's Stam, the YSL Muse and the Mulberry Roxanne. All of these bags share a clear, clean line; nothing fussy or over-designed, with a combination of functionality and luxury. An iconic bag owes its status to the finest traditions of pedigree, quality and craftsmanship to look as good years later as it did the day it was born. And, for a true bag lover, that is worth more than price.

The Most Expensive Handbag In The World Is Worth $3.8m

The Guinness Book Of Records lists the most expensive handbag in the world for 2015, as the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse. It is worth an astounding US $3.8 million. This remarkable evening bag has held the record as the world’s most expensive handbag for the preceding five years as well.

This amazingly expensive handbag is heart-shaped. It was fashioned in 18 carat gold, but its most incredible feature are the real precious stones which decorate it. There are 4,356 colorless diamonds, 105 yellow diamonds and 56 pink diamonds which cover it. This is a total of 4571 diamonds weighing a colossal 382 carats. 

This one of a kind work of art actually took 10 skilled craftsmen 8,800 hours to make. It was designed and manufactured by Mouawad which is a privately owned multi-national company that sells exquisite jewelry, objects of art, and luxury watches. The company, which was founded in 1891 in Lebanon, now has its headquarters in Geneva, with a Middle East headquarters in Duba genevai. It was founded by David Mouawad, and is now led by 4th generation family members Fred, Alain and Pascal Mouawad.

 Alain, Fred & Pascal Mouawad Source: Wikipedia

Mouawad also holds three other Guinness World Records:

1. 1.     The Mouawad L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace featuring the world’s largest internally flawless diamond, the Incomparable diamond which is 407.48 carats. This is the most valuable necklace in the world and worth $55 million
2. 2.     The Very Sexy Fantasy Bra worth $11 million. This is the most luxurious and costly piece of lingerie ever made.
3. 3.     The Mouawad Splendor worth $12.8 million. This is most costly single pear-shaped diamond in the world.

The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse speaks wealth and luxury. While diamonds are a girls' best friend, handbags are a girls' best companion. This most expensive bag offers the best of both worlds; friendship and companionship.

But this is not a bag the normal person could ever hope to own. And quite honestly you would be a bit anxious carrying it to the pub wouldn't you? There are   several other less expensive handbag styles you can select from to make a fashion statement for yourself. Make your next companion a tiny less bit more affordable by getting it from the Large Purse Shop. 

The worth of designer handbags has remained quite steady overtime, so a quality purse is a good investment. Take the  2014 Hermes Birkin crocodile skin handbag which recently became the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction at a price of over $220,000.  It certainly kept its value. But make sure you look after it well and store it properly. 

The Purseaholic Loves Bags

A Purseaholic has more bags than shoesThere's bags of green and bags of blueThey want a bag for every giftOh yes those bags give them such a liftWhen out shopping in the mallThe large purse shop is their sole port of callTheir bags are full of interesting stuffFor in their bags there is never enoughThey cram it full with this and thatAlways a topic for an exciting chatWhen they go out they have a friendOn no-one else they need dependWhen out for coffee or a bit of cheerThey even ask for an extra chairOh this is for my bag they sayIn case it might want to run awaySo my friend just love your bagEnjoy the moment, you will never be sad

By M.B.Lalolihttp://largepurseshop.com/Prada

What To Look For In The Perfect Bag

We live in a society that is engrossed with perfection. The perfect figure, the perfect clothes, the perfect score whether it is in education or in sport, the perfect career, perfect health, the perfect house, the perfect car, perfect kids, the perfect man, the perfect hostess. The list goes on! But what makes a perfect bag?   But yet regardless of this captivation, we are inclined to accept imperfection in most things of our lives, leaving the challenge for perfection to others.  So what do you look for in the perfect bag need to makes it stand out in the crowd? A perfect bag is like the perfect man – it needs to satisfy many wants. The perfect bag needs to be the classic partner in every area of your life and be in step with all of your emotional, physical, intellectual and social longings. Ladies: Love Italian Bags  The perfect bag should look good but not over the top. Most people’s first impression of most stuff is their appearance. We all love a nice-looking bag which catches the eye but looks alone are not the only aspect in choosing the perfect bag. Many people are fanatical with brand names but then you run the risk of bumping into someone else with the identical bag. And why promote someone else’s brand by having your bag covered in their company logo.   Myself, I like something that looks a little bit different from the rest – something that makes a statement about me.  If a handbag has disproportionate good looks there are drawbacks as well.  Maybe you will be afraid to use it regularly because it may stain, tear, stretch or you may lose it. Get Your designer bag from my Amazon store  The perfect bag should be functional. Some handbags look great, but are a real challenge to actually use. They are not functional. Many designers seem to aim for style and good looks first, and function second, if at all. A common mistake in handbags is the wearer's failure to find anything with no trouble. The perfect bag should not only look great it needs to be user friendly and comfortable to carry as well. There should be easy access to the things inside and lots of pockets for your cell phone and wallet etc. so you can organise your stuff painlessly.  Men: Man Bags are in The perfect bag should be easy to keep looking good.  The perfect bag should also be easy to maintain so that you are not having to spend hours looking after it to keep it looking good. Features such as stain resistant leather and dust bags to store the bag in are important features. All bags need some degree of maintenance but don’t let it be over the top so you spend more time nurturing your bag rather than it nurturing you! The perfect bag should be adaptable The perfect bag should be adaptable and versatile enough to match with all clothing styles as well as complement your look making you look good. Handbags that can only be worn with one or two outfits are definitely out. Don’t chose a handbag with limited potential. The one exception to this rule is that you don't want a bag to be too suitable for others where everyone wants to borrow it. Sharing is generous but it doesn’t have to include your perfect bag.