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.) »

Sometimes one just finds the most unique accessories when searching for the more budget-friendly brand handbags. This opalescent clutch, the Nannette, from Claire Sanchez, features the pop of a little faux fur tuft. The mixture of shine and powderpuff is really interesting, and surprisingly attractive. Plus it makes this bag a fun, refreshing choice for holiday parties.

The bag is sized 10″ x 7″, made from iridescent silk dupioni, and currently going for a holiday sale price of $57.60. Buy it soon for the holidays at www.ebags.com! (affiliate)!

(By the way, it’s also great that it comes in blue; the color of Hanukkah!)

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

We could get soo excited about model Lydia Hearst’s new bag for Puma, a re-do of last year’s now called the Lydia 2 Holiday Bag, a multi-function bag in either black with blue trim or silver. The bags aren’t too expensive at $120, and yet they are for “environmentally-friendly material” or pleather? (Unconfirmed.) Which actually isn’t eco-friendly, due to the manufacturing process of plastic. Hmm.

Right photo from TheRunwayScoop

Let’s get right to it. The bag looks totally cute and fresh with that very Miu Miu/Prada ruching, until one sees it from just the wrong angle (left). The ruching part sticks out in a trés poofy way. It looks weird, but it functions as an outer zipper compartment that even has its own zippered pocket inside.

The generously-sized bag is out today, and available on store.puma.com, just in time for your holiday business/exercise/shopping/gifting.

If you’re not sure, this video interview on FlyPaper with Hearst showing off both colors should answer a lot of wonderings!

Iiiii’m siiiiick! I come home from vacation for this to set in on me. I never get sick, and this is sick like I’ve never been (not the worst though, but certainly different). What a good day to start this feature up again, because I’m not sure how much original brain power I have in me. Oiiii.

Pictured is the “Get Your Own Bag” message canvas tote. It’s simple, filled with attitude and I also see loads of irony in it. A shapeless cartooned tote bag conveying envy and pride over a bag—what bag?—even the mini bag pictured is not “cute”. I believe it must be made with rightful intention, making fun of bag lovers. Still, it’s notable. Find purchase info (for the uncensored version too) at The Purse Blog.

Introduce yourselves to Eco-Bag, an online shop for bags designed by indies that are all recycled materials. The once soda bottle, once seat belt buckle, and once … boat sail? Yep, all hand made and all environmentally friendly. Shop via In My Bag.

Love that luxury trash bag style of the Coco Cabas, but for a well, still more expensive than trash pricetag? The Chapman Large Slouch Hobo by Charles David is a brandy copycat of Chanel’s bag. For less the money, but it’s not like you like the Chanel aside from its logo anyway! Via Se�ora Cartera (Mrs. Handbag).

Model Lily Cole designed a line of bags for Monsoon Accessories, EBelle5 featured a rainbow striped small purse.

Ooh, an umbrella case! What a nice change of pace. In cute rainbowed stars, the umbrella with case from Top Shop costs 12 pounds, and is only available in stores in the UK. Boo hoo, this sick girl is crying! Via The Bag Lady.

And finally, this doesn’t have to do with bags, but when I saw this billboard last week, I thought it would be perfect about for Counterfeit Chic to write. It’s Coke’s new billboards for Coca Cola Zero, like, “tastes so much like Coke, we should sue ourselves”. Funny?

Visit these great blogs, and we’ll see you around.

I was on the hunt for a camera case for … oh probably years. Especially with my camera turning on and wasting battery if I take it anywhere with the batt left in. Ugh. Just recently, I also decided I needed a new digital camera, a small one with a “macro” setting. Now not only does my new camera do away with my cam problems, is on beat with modern technology & fun other settings in addition to macro, and it comes in pink(!) but it doesn’t even turn on randomly due to its optical lens features.

Still, when I found the cam, things just *clicked* into place and I found the perfect little case! It’s pink as well, is small enough to secure the camera, but with extra room to fit small accessories, in genuine leather and its darn cute to bag! Clearly meant for a camera, with padded sides to protect your gadget and a multi-colored dangling fob including a camera charm, it could even be a small clutch with its fashionable look and wristlet strap. The buckle + charms combo remind me of COACH meets Luella. Love it!

The price is darn right a dream, too: $24.99 and your order might come with free standard shipping. Oh yeah, here are the cameras, as well. Aren’t we just the picture of stylish perfection?

The top 3 ugliest bag of the year was one originally blogged about by our Mallory Road: Anthropologie “Romper” Hobo.

Looking like a little kid’s bag, or actually, just a little kid’s jumper (that’s American for overalls dress, you Brits), this is one oddity of a bag. Why was it made, who would buy it? I just know it’s no longer available … for some reason. Oh, and one more thing; it “sold” at $598.

Uummmm? What?

See how it could get any uglier tomorrow and Sunday—Christmas Eve!

Moving on with the holiday spirits of bags gone ugly. Our number 4 ugliest bag is the new Kathy Van Zeeland Catwalk Satchel. Kathy Van Zeeland always makes over-embellished bags, overdone so much that they’re instantly recognizable as by the brand. This particular bag has charms, studs; everything - all on a cheesy leopard-print body. It’s just ug-lay.

This is getting exciting … maybe? Number 2 of our Top 5 Budget bags is

Liz Claiborne Leather Link-Strap Embossed Hobo

Print-embossed leather on sale for … $72.99?? No! Not only does this brand name hobo have richly textured genuine leather, and those nice decorated rings, and is roomy, but it was only $98 to start with!

How do they do it?

Today for budget bags, we have a special purse very similar to ones we mentioned before. It’s close to one of Mallory’s favorite owned bags, which was in her first post.

#3 Elliott Lucca Arianna Satchel

Today it’s the large version, now off to $62, in gold woven leather. Great for holiday shopping (if you order now!), great for Spring, and a great deal. It’s especially such a good deal because of the large size at 15″ wide and its luxe woven genuine leather. This bag won’t last for long, so make up your mind now.

The holiday season is approaching, and so for each full week of December - and the first week of 2007 - I will do a different countdown of bags.

We kick things off with bags for bargain, budget bags might just be what’s on givers minds this week. (And don’t forget our whole series on Gifts the week of giving thanks!)

#4: Gap Foiled suede satchel

This bag is made of genuine suede, but moreover, it has a metallic flower print patterned on that suede. The shape is simple, although a little Spy-esque, so really what won me was the unique and luxe technique for the material. This bag is on sale, too, for $49.99! Great for a surprisingly large bag at 16″ wide.