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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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

Boxing Day Sales 2015 Were A Boom But Did You Score A Bargain?

All over the world this year, shoppers threw open their purses and wallets at Boxing Day sales, breaking all records for the start of the summer or winter clearance (depending on where you live) period and surpassing even the retailers' expectations. All countries are reporting positive consumer confidence, resulting in sale activity much stronger when compared to last year.

Get a bargain at the Large Purse Shop every time you buy

Historically, Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on December 26^th, the day after Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses or employers. Others say that it has origins in the Anglican tradition of collecting money in boxes during Christmas and handing it out the day after.

In many countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia and NZ, it is considered a public holiday which was traditionally spent with family and friends. Many Americans have it as a holiday because most schools and businesses are closed, and now it is also considered an official holiday for federal employees in the US. An executive order issued by President Obama in 2014 allows federal employees to now have that day off in addition to Christmas Day.

Sadly, however in many countries Boxing Day has become known as a shopping holiday, much like Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) in the US. The joy of spending the day having fun with family and friends has been taken over by greed and the compulsion to shop and score a bargain. Marketing campaigns have successfully convinced consumers to extend the Christmas cheer by enjoying huge savings by shopping on that particular day. The message sent is "be prepared and get in quick – you WILL have competition."

Boxing Day sales are common in many countries including the UK, Canada, Australia and NZ, and, in fact, in many parts of the world, Boxing Day is the biggest sale day of the year. Shopping centres, big brands, and independent retailers slash their prices to get rid of stock. While it will never come close to Black Friday in the USA, many US based retailers will also drop those price tags on the 26th. Bargain hunters flock to city malls around the world in a shopping frenzy which this year has eclipsed last year's Boxing Day sales. Records were broken as hundreds of thousands of shoppers across the globe flocked to cash in on the hefty discounts this Boxing Day.

In Australia, The Australian Retailers Association reported that Boxing Day trade had likely passed its own projection of a record-breaking $2.3 billion in sales nationwide. Indicators estimate that $2.5 billion was taken at tills around the country on December 26th.

In the UK, Boxing Day saw 22 million people hit the sales, which marks an increase on last year of 11.7 % in High Street spending, 7.8% at shopping centres and 3.2% at out-of-town retail parks.  Boxing Day 2015 has been one of the busiest days of the year, with 14 million bargain hunters hitting Britain's high shopping streets alone, spending an estimated £3.1 billion in the 24hr Boxing Day spree. Interestingly, it is estimated that about 50% of these shoppers were foreign tourists from China, the Middle East and the US who spend much more than a typical UK shopper.

According to the Daily Mail UK, Selfridges had the most successful first hour of trading in its history, taking more than £2million between 9am and 10am after 4,000 people queued outside its Oxford Street London store from as early as 1am. Shoppers began queueing at its Manchester Exchange store from 3am and more than 1,000 waited outside its Trafford Centre store in the city. The first through the doors plumped for heavily discounted luxury clothing – the first item sold in London was a Valentino Wristlet clutch bag reduced from £1,400 to £700, while the first in the Trafford Centre was a Mulberry handbag reduced from £1,350 to £944.

 Do you fancy queuing up for hours in the rain? Shop instead at the Large Purse Shop

And Canada experienced the same sort of results. Many Canadians flocked to the country's shopping malls and e-commerce sites to snatch up the bargains.

It is true that bargain hunters have become very savvy. Most eagle-eyed shoppers will have spotted the sales online at least 48 hours before the sales this year, making them more aware of the bargains to be had. And many shoppers will not leave the comfort of their lounge room with at least 11 million shoppers in Australia alone indulging in the seasonal sales spree from home - enjoying the preview sales and warehouse-wide deals straight from their sofa.

Many stores dropped their prices 48 hours earlier this year and the traditional Boxing Day specials were available on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition that has occurred for many years in Australia at least. Post-recession stores started discounting before Christmas in an attempt to win over consumers who would have otherwise waited until Boxing Day to purchase. This way retailers get a double go at the cautious buyer who is only willing to purchase a bargain.

While Boxing Day sales have traditionally been a bricks and mortar affair, there has also been growth in digital shopping this year. For example in Australia online sales were expected to reach $2.7 billion between December 26 and January 15, accounting for 16 per cent of all summer clearance spending. However, the lower Aussie dollar meant that more customers spent locally, rather than online where the exchange rate and shipping costs added significantly to the cost.

Most retailers reported strong sales online. For example, John Lewis in the UK said sales were up 17.7% since launching online on Christmas Eve, while Curry's PC World set a Boxing Day record of more than 250,000 online shoppers between 10am and 11am. In Australia, David Jones said its website broke all records for traffic and sales on December 26, clocking up over a million visitors. Retail analyst Brian Walker from the Retail Doctor Group expected 14 to 15 per cent of summer clearance sales to be from online shoppers this season on average

In fact, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Boxing Day sales are attracting more digital shoppers than ever, and the bargains are starting well before December 26th. In the future, Boxing Day shoppers will be more likely to spend the biggest retail event of the year at home, bagging bargains online in clearance sales that will increasingly start before December 26, retailers and analysts say. 

So what has caused the buying blitz in 2015? Is it low interest rates or the fact that more people have jobs?  Or is it just a one day wonder which masks what is really going on?

In the UK it was all over in a day and it appears that the Boxing Day rush to the stores was a one-day wonder. Shops in High Street had hoped that the post-Christmas boom would save them, but unfortunately sales slumped after the Boxing Day bonanza. Despite the 11.7% increase in Boxing Day spending, on December 27th which is usually one of the busiest days of the year, High Street Xmas sales were down overall by 21.3% when compared to last year. Retail parks and shopping centres also saw respective drops of 0.8 per cent and 25.2 per cent compared to last December 27. It is thought that reduced hours (Sunday trading) and flooding in the north meant an 18 per cent fall in numbers on the previous year.  Unfortunately for retailers, these poor results follow depressing figures for sales during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and on Christmas Eve.

In fact from these UK figures can you surmise that having Boxing Day sales has not increased sales overall but replaced the sales normally made on the 27^th or at least split them over the 2 days? Without trading on Boxing Day would the retailers have got the same or better results by just trading on the 27^th and letting everyone have a well-earned social day on the 26^th?

In Australia, however, post Boxing Day sales are expected to boom and predictions that around $7.2 billion will be spent between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve and $20.8 billion from Boxing Day to January 16.

Post Boxing Day sales for 2015 are still on the go, with the best deals and bargains from major retailers all over the world still on offer for the discerning buyer. Discounted designer bags, half price jewelry and bargain price clothing are the most coveted goods. But heavily reduced white goods and household items, end of year car sell-outs and even travel packages are also in demand. With prices slashed by up to 90% in some stores, 65% off designer handbags and 40% off TVs there is always a bargain to be found.  And these bargains are likely to be offered for several weeks to come.  

                                                             

Boxing Day shoppers in Australia broke all records with $2.5 billion being spent as eager shoppers hit the stores in search of a bargain.  This is due in part because in NSW this year new laws passed by the State Government allowed all shops to be opened on Boxing Day. The new laws make the Boxing Day sales available for everybody and brings retail trading laws consistent across the states. In the past only stores in the CBD and in tourists areas were allowed to be open, so the Boxing Day sales dollar has been more diluted with many people shopping at their local shopping centre rather than making that unpleasant trip into the city and having to fight other consumers for the bargain and manipulate their way through the myriads of hungry bargain hunters.

Beat the mob at the Large Purse Shop

Believe me I know what it was like. I owned a café in the QVB in Sydney for many years and Boxing Day was the worst day of the year it brought out the worst in people – pushing and shoving; abusive language and behaviour; in fact I found most shoppers on that day just plain rude! I think Boxing Day sales is a very apt terminology for this day because retail sites are turned into boxing arenas where people jostle for bargains. 

Did you bring your boxing gloves?

Boxing Day Sales 2015 were a boom but did you score a bargain? How often have you been to a sale, only to walk out of the store paying full price for what you want?  Many of the goods on sale are of poor quality or outdated or limited in size range. These Boxing Day sales are clearance sales. An opportunity for retailers to get rid of last year's stock or goods that are not selling well. When I worked at the QVB, I watched with interest as hundreds of people lined up for hours at the Coach store hoping for a bargain. But I noticed that very few of their bags were actually reduced, but in the hype people walked out with bags they paid full price for, chuffed at the fact they thought they had got a bargain. I found it quite amusing really that people could be so mislead.

You have to ask the question, do all these shoppers score a real bargain? It would be interesting to analyse how many people paid full price during these 2015 Boxing Day sales.

I have never been able to understand the mentality of the Boxing Day shoppers. Instead of staying at home and playing with their kids and new toys, or going on a picnic or to the beach, these people chose to shop amidst chaos in order to get a bargain that was probably available before Xmas day and will probably be available on the 27th, 28th and possible a week or two after that as well.

Do these Boxing Day sales bring some sort of economic advantage to the shopper or do they just bring a social cost and loss of family time for people who can think of nothing better to do with their time. I know I would rather be doing fun things with my family and friends, rather than shopping!! The thought of lining up for hours and then pushing and shoving just to maybe save a few dollars just does not make sense. To me, Boxing Day sales are all hype and no joy.

Don't get caught up in the hype! The Large Purse Shop has Boxing Days sales all year long – shop in the comfort of your own lounge whenever you want to get a quality handbag at bargain prices.

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 - Or NOT ?

  

I read recently in the Daily Mail UK that Christies Auction House in Hong Kong sold the most expensive handbag ever sold. The bag was a Hermes Birkin, in pink crocodile skin and was bought by an anonymous buyer at auction.  When the final hammer went down at 1.72 million Hong Kong dollars which is equivalent to UK £150,000, or US $228,480, it was reported to be the most expensive handbag ever sold.   However i think the Wall Street Journal has clarified the situation by reporting it is the most expensive handbag sold at auction.

The Daily Mail UK reported that the cost of this record setting Birkin bag broke the previous world record, set in 2011, for the world's most expensive handbag. The previous record holder, which was sold for £133,500 (USA $202,585) at auction, in the USA, was held by another Hermes Birkin, but in red crocodile skin. This probably also relates to the most expensive handbag sold at auction.

Because  this report conflicts with research I have completed. I believed that the world's most expensive handbag, as listed in the Guinness Book of Records, was the Mouawad’s 1001 Nights Diamond Purse which is worth an astounding US $3.8 million. I will discuss this super valuable bag in another blog. It is quite a different bag to the Birkin.

So did the Daily Mail get it wrong? It seems so. I think they meant to say the most expensive handbag sold at auction.  I will devote this blog to discussing the world's most expensive handbag as identified by the Daily Mail UK because it is a bag more appropriate for day to day wear.

But just to put it into perspective, you could buy an Aston Martin DB9 Volante with the same amount of money that this Birkin, a record making expensive handbag costs. Or even put a deposit on a house. But the Daily Mail also reported that Christies have another Birkin on their books, a sexy black leather number, which may sell for even more and beat this record price.

So what makes this expensive handbag so valued?

This astoundingly expensive handbag is a Birkin Bag designed by Hermes. It is made in bright fuchsia-pink luxury crocodile skin and features beautiful 18 karat gold detailing and is covered in genuine diamonds. The Birkin bag, which was first designed in 1984 by Hermes, a French fashion house, was named after the actress Jane Birkin, is seen as a fashion classic.

The story has it that the Birkin was created after the Hermes CEO, Jean Louis Dumas, sat next to Jane Birkin on a Paris to London flight. The actress expressed her frustration about the difficulty in finding a leather weekend bag.  She outlined what her ideal bag would be like. Soon after, the bag she described was born as the Birkin. Hermés now count many of the world's wealthiest women as fans.

The Hermes brand is famous for its extravagant leather accessories and the Birkin has become one of the most sought-after handbags of all time. The Birkin Bag is known for having a price tag in the thousands of dollars. There is a waiting list for a Birkin which can be several years long.  Hermes is eminent for its perfect finish and the best quality materials used.  Hermès never uses  assembly lines with but uses one crafts-person to make each bag at a time, hand-stitching each piece to create the immaculately finished product.

Unfortunately the high-end luggage and accessories produced by Hermés isn't really within every fashionista's price range.  A Hermes Birkin bag can have a price tag of upwards of £8,000 (USA$ 12185).  But while a Birkin bag may be worth as much as a small car, it is seen by the fashion industry as an 'investment' piece – an expensive handbag yes, but one that will remain in style for years, if not decades. And at the same time go up in value. The Birkin has proof of this - waiting lists of up to three years and the highest two sales records for the "most expensive bag" being attributed to a Hermes Birkin bag.

We don't know the identity of the new owner of this most expensive handbag, but we do recognize that both Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum are the proud owners of pink Hermes Birkin bags which are similar to the record breaking one described here. Don't they look really great and make such a bold statement? They certainly stand out.

Victoria Beckham is reported to owning as many as 100 bags, which together are estimated to be worth £1,500,000 (USA $2,284,800). Khloe Kardashian has one in just about every color of the rainbow. Recently she showed off her latest acquisition which features the Monopoly mascot on the front, holding a large bag of money, surrounded by paper bills with the sides splattered with orange, pink and dark red dots of paint. 

I am not convinced that the pink Birkin bag reported in the Daily Mail UK is the most expensive handbag in the world, but do believe that the Wall St Journal report is correct - it is the most expensive handbag sold at auction.  Check out my next blog when I disclose ten bags which may be more valuable than this record setting expensive handbag reported by the Daily Mail UK.

I you want a great new bag but simply cannot afford a very expensive bag then check out the great bags on my site at the Large Purse Shop.

Large Purses Impress

For generations the handbag has been used to demonstrate signs of wealth and many women these days crave the labelled brands as an indicator of status. Large purses first came into popularity in the early 1900's and the term handbag was initially used to refer to hand-held luggage most often carried by men. At this time it was considered lady-like to carry as little as possible and a small bag was typical. In fact, it is noted that Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the first women to start the trend of carrying large purses which was not really typical of the time. Since that time large purses have impressed.

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Women and men are advised to invest as much money as they can in a good quality leather handbag. This is because quality leather especially Italian leather,  lasts a long time and always looks good.  Well made large purses can hide the fact that maybe your clothes are not as well-made or fashionable. A good handbag has become a sign of good breeding. Designer large purses are a good way to exhibit both wealth and good taste. Large purses also reflect women's climb up the corporate ladder. In the 80's, as women began “power dressing” in shorter skirts, sharply tailored suits and killer heels, their handbags soon followed suit becoming bigger and flashier.

Today the size of the typical handbag has increased to meet the need of the modern women on the go. Nowadays our large purses carry our keys, our phones, our I-pads, our make-up, our personal items, our books, our umbrellas and much, much more.  Essentially, our large purses carry our lives.

Large purses are designed to hold all your daily necessities, so you can say so long to cramming your belongings inside. Streamline your style with plentiful pockets and card slots! Add a wallet to store your coins, notes and card. Large purses provides organization for convenient weekend getaways, overnight stays, business, college, and everyday use.  Large purses are great for both men's handbags and women's handbags alike.

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Fashion Is For Everyone, Even The Plus Size

All woman deserve to feel good and look gorgeous, irrespective of the size tag of her dress. Women sizes seem to be increasing, but the fashion industry has not yet adjusted to the changes. Although most US women are the plus size group, plus size fashion has only a minor share of the apparel market.

In 1985, the typical woman in the US wore a size 8. Today, the medium size for women is a 14. In fact 65% of US women wear size 14 or above. Regrettably 14 is the size that often marks the distinction between a standard it and a plus size fashion fit. Consequently women who are a US size 14 and above frequently experience a lack in trendy, good quality fashion, across the board, from high street stores to luxury brands.

Manufacturers and retailers need to wake up! Women’s love of fashion does not end at size 14. The plus size fashion market is developing. According to the market research firm NPD, plus-size clothing was worth $17.5 billion in the 12 months ending April 2014 and that was in the United States alone.  Although this profitable market is growing, it is still one of the most underserved parts of the fashion industry.

Plus size departments in large stores are often small spaces hidden at the back out of sight. Mature sized women do not feel good about shopping there. There seems to be some sort of stigma attached to it. The styles on offer are severely limited, less adventurous and not at all trendy. In fact I find them rather frumpy and not at all stylish or inspiring. They definitely are not designed to flatter my figure anyway.

I find a large purse can cover my bulges and make me look fabulously trendy

Plus size fashion rarely appears in advertisements or shop windows so plus size women do not get exposed to the same inspiration as standard women. There has been some move for plus size models to be featured on the covers of some fashion magazines and a few brands like Calvin Klein have used fuller figured models in their campaigns but overall there is not adequate advertising of plus size fashion. 

Luxury fashion brands are especially bad in servicing the needs of the larger woman. I have found that many designers and manufacturers only produce their products in small minute sizes. I have a friend who is so thin that a puff of wind would knock her over. I go with her frequently on shopping extravaganzas where it is nothing for her to spend a thousand dollars on a pair of jeans. The Versace and Channel brands for example look great on her and fit her like a glove. She enthuses the shop staff who keep items aside for her. But in all the time I have frequented these types of shops with her, I have not found one item which would fit me, a size 14 to 16.

So why is the fashion industry disregarding the plus size market? It is estimated that 65% of US women wear a size 14 or higher, so why are more fashion houses not grabbing the plus size opportunity?  Is it because of the additional costs incurred with designing and producing larger sizes? Do manufacturers lack the means to provide a wider range of sizing? Clearly, the major difference between plus size and straight-size fashion the is fit: larger sizes require new proportions and body shapes and, thus, creating plus size clothing can be more difficult as well as more costly. It is not just a matter of scaling up a pattern from size 8 to 16.

Or is the issue a more fundamental one than that. Do the luxury companies not want their brand names linked to larger women? Is it not kosha to be over sized? Do they consider that providing plus size fashion will have a damaging effect on their brand image? Is the fashion industry disregarding plus size consumers out of some sort of old fashioned elitism? Is the plus size fashion industry stigmatized, with a negative impact? This is a moral debate which would no doubt be disputed by these brands.

As a society we need to move away from idolizing the twiggy woman and get back to the renaissance art era where the voluptuous women was cherished, valued and admired. Manufacturers and retailers need to get their act together and change their range of sizes to suit more women. Providing for diversity in consumers must be a profitable move for both customers and brand image alike.

Addressing the needs of women of all sizes must have many business benefits. According to Susan Koger, co-founder of ModCloth, “just adding clothing in a size 16 and above has boosted her business and it is now the fastest growing category. Her sales in size 16 and above have doubled year on year. She has also found that those buying size 16 tend to buy more. If a larger person finds a brand that has trendy styles which cater for their fuller figure they are likely to spend up large and buy several items they possibly would not find anywhere else.  She also found these select customers are also much more likely to spread positive feedback about their purchases on social media.” All good for growing sales!

She advises other fashion brands should increase the size ranges as well, so as to tap into this huge market opportunity, and at the same time make women feel good “Fashion is for every body and manufacturers should produce and sell beautiful clothing for all women.”

If you are a plus size like me, you are undoubtedly discouraged at the lack of choice.  Only a small proportion of fashion products are presently available in larger sizes. In spite of the fact that the ordinary American woman is a size 14, products in this size simply do not exist in many clothes lines. Larger women want to wear the same trendy styles that their smaller sisters do.  But in one independent third party survey of over 1,500 women on the state of the clothing market, 92 percent of women sized 16 and above said that they got disappointed when they couldn’t find trendy clothes in their size. In the same survey 82% of women said that they would purchase more clothing if more trendy choices were available in their size.

And it is correct, the plus size market opportunity is there. I know how often I have seen a dress or top or pants I really like, only to be disillusioned that they do not fit. I am on the borderline of sizes – some 14's fit other don’t. Which brings me to another argument – sizes need to be better standardized within the fashion industry. An 8 should be an 8, a 16 should be a 16. Manufacturers need to make sure that clothes fit properly and that they are proportioned effectively across all sizes.

Plus size fashion needs to provide for the needs of the women with a fuller figure. It should be visible and reflect the up-to-date fashion trends. The clothes must look good, feel good, be great! Remember that fashion is for everyone, even the plus size.

  

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.

The Brief Facts of the Underwear and Lingerie Reshaping

It is a fact that like purses,  women’s underwear is getting fuller whilst men’s underwear gets briefer! Young women are finally seeing the light of day in their lingerie collections and are now opting for comfort over trends. Thank goodness because I have never quite understood how anyone  I can’t comprehend how thongs appealed to women as every-day panties anyhow. In my opinion they are very uncomfortable. I think they were designed for the bedroom and not in the board room! I find pretty full panties are far more feminine and so much sexier.

I am intrigued how suspender belts have become a sex symbol. I always thought of them as  a curse, an item to hold up my stockings. Now a days intimate lingerie  has a really sexy, pretty suspender belt as part of the set. A suspender belt together .with some unique jewelry makes an really sexy outfit for the bedroom.

Thongs became the trend in the 90’s, but now less than 10% of the knickers and briefs purchased are thongs, according to Soozie Jenkinson, head of lingerie design at Marks & Spencer. The luxury lingerie market has also experienced a change where more briefs are sold than thongs. Women, even young women now prefer to wear full coverage briefs rather than thongs, demanding comfort instead.

This demand for comfort has also crept into the bra market where women are wanting comfort up top as well. Non under-wired bras are now becoming the bra of choice. According to Nancy Szachno-Dressel, the lingerie buyer at department store John Lewis, non-wired bras now comprise 40% of bra sales. This figure is up 32 %.

But interestingly enough, as women’s underwear gets bigger, men’s underwear is getting briefer. Men’s briefs are having an effect on reshaping the underwear market overall.  Boxers, a fitted short, now make up the majority share of the men’s underwear on the market. Nearly 40% of men’s underwear sold are boxers as men become much more focused on the style of underwear they want to wear. This has led to thriving sales of men’s underwear.   

Like women men are now driven by performance and luxury. Men now demand their underwear to perform, first and foremost. Style comes second. Fit and comfort is what it is all about for both lingerie for both men and women. After comfort, style and sexiness are important.  Fit is probably a much more critical feature in underwear than with other clothing lines.

There has been a huge growth in sales of underwear and lingerie online. And it is continuing to grow with growth forecast to increase by 18.2% in the 5 years from 2014 to 2019, according to market research firm Research and Markets.

Because fit is so vital, online stores have had to offer complete size indicators, delivery and customer care services. Buying underwear and lingerie online is now seen by many as a great way to avoid the embarrassment of having to go into a retail store to shop for intimates. The overall underwear and lingerie market is worth billions of dollars each year, so I guess the online share of this lucrative market can only increase.