How? They’ve collaborated with the new creative director of Mulberry, Katie Grand, to produce a jersey fabric version of the house’s famed “Roxanne” handbag, in the name of “charity” for (Product) RED.

And I want you to turn red with outrage. Why?

(Product) RED, if you need a refresher, is a part of the AIDS awareness organization, Join (RED), and 50% of the profits from their products with Gap go toward the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. Oh - that must be why this (Product) RED Mulberry bag is marked up 50%, at £85, or $175. Except the purse is not available stateside, anyway, (only in Gap flagship stores in London and Paris) and will surely be marked up much further later on with either eBay bidding wars or profitable bid openers.

(That’s great, put out a highly exlusive handbag, so that unrelated parties can make profits without giving any proceeds to help! Ridiculous [and 150% foreseeable].)

What can we do, besides go along with this or ignore it?

First of all, Fashionistas must make being Patriotic mean we’ll support politicians who will turn our poor, laughable economy around. We also must create an uproar in response to designers catering to the fancy European cities (what about Anya Hindmarch’s original release of “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” only being available in the UK?)!

Then, when the bags start showing up on eBay, perhaps we should chastise the sellers and/or request they give 100% of their final listing value, minus fees, to the same charity. I bet they won’t do it! But we’ll hopefully leave an impression in some of their minds.

To sum up, and most importantly: Click for more (story, photos, etc.) »

I’ve thought up a feature for the blog of posting videos of blogistas inspecting authentic and fake bags to educate fellow shoppers.

The first video is not by me, but you will see me do some (thanks in part to me just joining Bag Borrow or Steal, so even though my budget restricts me from buying many bags even at the COACH level, I might be renting some occasionally!), although I have limited access to counterfeit purses to vid. This really is a practice all designer lovers should try to follow, if you can take a vid that is - post it on YouTube - just like those bad products videos that caused such a stir!

Today’s video features a fake Prada, a replica of a gorgeous Prada indeed. I hope you learn something, although it’s hard not being able to touch it (it always is), but I figure that seeing it in video-dimension will add something to the education process! (Let me know if you agree, and contact me if you make a video like this!)

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=BH406dfPhWY[/youtube]

There will be more to come, and if you’d like to see similar videos or send me one of yours, check out my new YouTube account: LippedMedia (I still need to flesh my page out [and of course make some vids!] - any tips on using YouTube? - I’m a little behind in the whole thing!). Also, we could connect as friends on there! (I didn’t know YouTube was social - geez I AM behind!)

Anyway, the real point to these posts are to help you shop smarter on places like eBay; so best of luck!

Ooooooooooooh! No, they didn’t! Chloe made a to-die key chain styled after their ‘Edith’ bags. I swear this is an IT key fob if I ever saw one! Featuring a clasp-closure (no annoying “ring” to break your nails whilst attaching keys) and a mini little pocket with Edith-style buckle.

Oh, no. Not another Chloe key chain I want to buy! I already have one. (Plus 6 bags.) *blush*

And it’s an expensive one, at $280!

But hey it comes in whiskey (dark tan) coloured leather, so it doesn’t match my Chamois large Edith (too bad, it’d be dear to hang off it, because it’s a pocketless style).

I don’t need it, I don’t need it. Tell myself that. Oh, no, if this pops up on eBay, I know I’ll cave.

*Via Purseuing*

We’ve put a little eBay ad block in our right sidebar underneath the general categories. I’ve only put in a few keywords, with none of the less “safe” designers such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Marc Jacobs or Tiffany. Still, you must verify authenticity at a message board like the one we’ve started ourselves - Know Authentic.

Basically mostly you know how to use eBay, but do you think it is safe for us to let a system display auctions based by keywords alone? I have no way of restricting any auctions, like for instance based on price.

I am here, for one reason, to serve you! So let me know what you think.

You may know of my long documented search for and love of bags with side belts, well, although the Paddington is more known for a grandiose lock, I’ve realized it is truly my perfect side belt bag. Thus began the sale hunt for one in brown (my dream satchel color).

I found the perfect one on eBay with a perfect 50% off price, and now it is mine, here in my home, in my hands (in my bed ;-)), in front of my eyes - mine, all mine-mine .. mine. Sighhhhhh.

She is a 2005 Chocolate Brown Medium Regular Paddington by Chloe. A long wait, a dream bag mine, and I’m so happy. Here she is for your viewing pleasure, although you can’t touch her ecstasy. Sorry!

Click for more (story, photos, etc.) »

This week, Pursed Lips and Kiss Me, Stace are bringing you holiday gift ideas to make your loved ones smile!

Today I have inexpensive bags from luxury brand, Coach. Namely, the demis and pouches. There are great deals on from-the-outlet bags—you can even find demis for under $100. This is perfect for younger sisters, young daughters and cousins who want to stick a toe into the designer handbag world. But be careful that you don’t let them get too deep, too young. And teach the children well how to take care of valuable belongings! Also, try a multi-look bag, like the Holiday Patchwork bag pictured, to match all outfits—and besides, it’s like a little bit of all Coach bags in one, so she’ll be sure to have her fix of bag style for a while!

Definitely many fashionable young girls would squeal getting a first designer bag as a present, and you don’t have to break the bank!

Hold back just a minute though! Keep in mind that you must know the brand yourself to be able to spot fakes, or have a way for someone else to verify authenticity—or forget it. You can still get a pouch at the outlet for a great, great deal or even a Coach boutique, as those usually start under $150 anyway. New pouches can even be carried under the arm, so they’re great handbags.

Search Signature Demis on eBay. / Search Signature Pouches on eBay. / Browse the new collection of pouches and small bags on Coach.com / Or visit your nearest outlet.

Click to view larger

Yes, on the left is a Coach bag, sort of. It doesn’t look like any Coach bag I’ve seen (hideous straps), but the tote will still be much desired, for only 100 were made for sale. Artist Kiki Smith collaborated with Coach’s head, Reed Krakoff, to create this bird, flower, butterfly and star sketched piece of art. I wouldn’t carry it—I say this is for serious collectors to display (and oh yeah, the eBay hawkers). The “unprimed” artist canvas (wow, that’s serious stuff) and snakeskin-trimmed (looks like skin-doodles to me) totes are being sold at Smith’s exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art for $1,300. The exhibit started Sunday and runs through February 11th 2007, but the bags are sure to sell fast, so get your little bag lady self to NYC, stat!

And remember, keep a watch on eBay for the Kiki tote as well, for raised prices of course.

Via The Runway Scoop, source: Fashion Week Daily.

*Update* There was some confusion when I wrote this, it’s all clear now.

Before I actually go into any designers or styles or photos of fakes again, I thought it was quite necessary to go over the basics of what you need for every bag when bidding on eBay.

Use this as a check list, don’t bid until every aspect is satisfactory. (Do you have any requirements to add?)

This is long, so click for full… Click for more (story, photos, etc.) »

First of all, never trust iOffer in the first place. And even though their fakes are worse than eBay’s, we can still learn things.

Here is a brand new gold metallic Marc Jacobs Cammie from Neiman Marcus (which I really hope stays around for a sale).

Here is a FAKE Marc Jacobs Quilted Leather Cammie in midnight blue.

(Quite clear, right?)

Now I don’t have too much information on Cammies, but I know enough to tell these two points:

• The pockets and quilts are off with the line of the bag. Marc Jacobs has excellent alignment (so too bad the brand doesn’t do signature).
• The chain strap is too long.

Now stay away from iOffer!

I love this style, the Marc Jacobs Quilted Venetia, it is my favorite and my most coveted of Marc Jacobs, although it is too wide for me at 16″, so I will quite contentedly settle for the Blake. I just need to find one. Must be blue!

Anyway, my little tizzying search led me to this bag, and after wanting it, of course I did my research before moving forward.

I learned how to spot a Marc Jacobs fake, and I could tell with the styles at which I looked.

Whether you can see it right away or not, this is a bad, or at least easily-seen fake.

The tell-tale signs: Click for more (story, photos, etc.) »