The collection hit BlueFly yesterday and it’s a rather limited line of skirts, tops, and dresses, some of which include Leanne’s signature wave motif. Prices for the items range from under $100 for t-shirts to almost a thousand for the evening gown that we have pictured here. I don’t mean to be a hater, but for how long it too Leanne to get this stuff released, it’s not all that exciting. Most of the pieces are perfectly serviceable and wearable, which is nice, but the limited range of colors and styles is disappointing, considering Leanne’s considerable talent. One nice aspect of the line, though, is that it’s eco-friendly; it looks like her speech about sustainable design practices on the season finale wasn’t just a lot of hot air. Buy through Bluefly for $98-$990.

But the proportion is the problem. Instinctively, you know it when you look at the bag, because your brain is programmed to pick up on it. It takes a second longer to consciously realize when you’re being apprehensive, but the size and shape of this bag in relation to the size and shape of its handle is just…off. The handle is too narrowly set and would be better if it was a bit longer and attached a bit further toward the edges of the bag (and it also looks like intestines, but that’s a different issue entirely). Or, alternately, if the handle was as it is now and the bag wasn’t quite so wide in relation to its height. I’d opt to change the handle, though, since I don’t like its wrinkly, shrinky-dink current incarnation. Then this bag would be fairly awesome. Buy through Nordstrom for $2150.

Odds are that the gorgeous purple color is making me more enthusiastic than I would be otherwise (it reminds me of my favorite Balenciaga color of all time, 2007 violet), but color is such an important part of a bag’s personality that I’m completely okay with that. Prada always uses excellent leathers and high-quality construction, so I don’t doubt that the bag will last for quite a long time indeed. The only thing left to consider is the structure: it’s boring, I’ll admit, but it’s also highly functional, and the beautiful shade of purple makes up for the simple shape. Considering the price of this bag relative to others in Miuccia’s arsenal, I’m pretty pleased. Buy through Saks for $995.

Our fabulous intern Anna had the chance to meet with Tory Burch last month for an intimate preview and discussion with Tory herself. While Vlad and I could not make the event, Tory Burch sent us some of her favorite bags from her new collection to review. Let me start off by saying that the bags we received were not some of the Tory Burch logo bags I have come to expect. Beyond pleasantly surprised when I opened the box, I found a new appreciation and love for Tory Burch bags.

Each of the three bags we were sent I can easily see myself wearing. While Tory Burch has become known for her signature emblem, it is not my favorite to see on a bag. But Tory has expanded her line and though you can still see that these bags are from Tory Burch, they are not over-logofied.

The Tory Burch Ambroise Hobo is one of a select few canvas bags I could picture myself buying in quite some time. Canvas seems like a simple material to work with, but the problem with canvas for me is that it shows wear and dirt so incredibly easily. The colors on this hobo will not show dirt as quickly and the mirrored appliques are the perfect touch along with the leather trim. The only way to note that this bag is Tory Burch is from the attachment T at the end of the shoulder strap. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $495.

This is my favorite of the three! The Tory Burch Tiled Teardrop Clutch is adorned with metal tile detail. It is an entirely different concept from most clutches out there, and I adore it! The tiles are attached on top of glazed leather. If you saw the review Amanda did on this clutch, you will see the version at Bloomindale’s is different from the version we had to review. Ours had a flap over top with the classic Tory Burch emblem. I loved how it was set up, it broke up the tiles and changed the clutch a bit. But the perk of the version on Bloomingdale’s is there is no signature logo on the bag. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $375.

The combination of ivory python print with contrast leather trim is clean and beautiful on the Tory Burch Matthias Clutch. The perfect amount of gold hardware mixes with the snake textured leather. I do love exotic skins, but sometimes a well-done print is not only more affordable but it is also sturdier. This was one of those bags you had to look closely at to see that it was printed python, not real python skin. That is the mark of a good print. There is a magnetic flap closure, khaki linen lining, and a zipper pocket.

Buy through Tory Burch for $495.

Tory Burch and Palmilla have partnered together to offer an incredible summer giveaway. Enter daily and the prizes include a Tory Burch prize along with the grand prize, a Tory Burch Wardrobe and 4 night getaway at the Palmilla Resort in Cabo. This is a great way to celebrate summer! You can enter everyday to increase your chances of winning.

It’s here, it’s here, IT’S HERE!!!! The Alexander Wang Coco Duffel has decided to finally, FINALLY grace us with its presence in online stores after months of rabid anticipation from handbag enthusiasts. The bag first came to our attention months and months ago when one of its first iterations was worn repeatedly by Mary-Kate Olsen, who had obviously been gifted with a very, very early version of the bag by the designer.

And it was a brilliant move on Alexander Wang’s part - I can’t remember another bag that’s been so desperately hunted since the It-Bag heyday of Fall 2005. It disappears online virtually as soon as it’s posted, so the ShopBop link I’m about to give you may not work when you click on it. If you want the bag, though, bookmark it - that’s where you’ll be able to find it when the store restocks, as they have several times in the past day or two.

As far as the bag’s design goes, I adore it - the leather is plush and soft-looking with a ton of texture and the multitudes of gold studs that cover the bottom are both hilariously irreverent and really cool-looking. It’s not for everyone, by any stretch of the imagination, but bags with a lot of style and personality never are. Plus, for an It-Bag, the price is really reasonable; he could be charging twice as much and a lot of people would still be clamoring for it. Buy through ShopBop for $850.

When I first laid eyes on this new Miu Miu bag I loved it. And then I kept looking at it and thinking to myself, this bag is oddly familiar. There is another brand who designed a handbag before this Miu Miu bag that other than some finishing touches, looks like they are related.

I am talking about the Hayden Harnett Wyeth Tote, which has been one of the best sellers at Hayden Harnett and a bag that has been in their collection for some time. The Wyeth does have some studding and a bit of fringe. The price of the Wyeth Tote is half that of the Miu Miu bag. Buy through Hayden Harnett for $725.

The Miu Miu Soft Leather Shoulder Bag is the bag that got this whole post going. The leather looks extremely soft and supper with a structured top handle and two front pockets. The gold-tone buckle detail fits perfectly with the look of the bag. The overall feeling of the Miu Miu bag does not coincide directly with the Wyeth Tote, it is more subtle and subdued. This bag reminds me of something an Olsen twin would be seen wearing. I adore it. Buy through Net A Porter for $1450.

Big question: Which do you prefer, the Hayden Harnett bag or the Miu Miu bag?

When you’re dealing with quirky, non-symmetrical designs, there’s a really thin line between one that works and one that doesn’t, and I don’t think that the Derek Lam Elsa Python Clutch does. The material and color are both beautiful, and some of the asymmetry is well-done, but beyond that, Lam totally loses me. The half-covered silver ring doesn’t appear to serve any kind of functional purpose at all, and things always go off the rails in handbag design when you start adding elements that would normally be functional that don’t serve any functional value. But I think that the final nail in this little clutch’s coffin is the enormous, luggage-like handle at the top. Not only is the material not the same as the rest of the clutch, but the style is also different. It’s traditional and staid while the clutch is edgy and hip, and on top of that, the proportion of the two doesn’t even work. Buy through Barney’s for $1450.

My favorite from Fall 2009 is Pommier, a beautiful bright green that this photo doesn’t do justice. From what I’ve seen, it’s more of a Kelly shade in real life, and I couldn’t think of anything more beautiful to wear with the blacks and greys of fall. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a green like this from Balenciaga, which is refreshing - they’ve taken to repeating some of their most recent hits in the past few seasons. I’d prefer it with giant silver hardware (since I prefer everything with giant silver hardware), but I’d settle for the regular hardware pictured here if I had to. Maybe if I can save my pennies, I’ll have one of these lovely bags to show you ladies in the future. Buy through Barney’s for $1095.

The man has reportedly not been photographed since the 90s, yet he continues to churn out increasingly popular collections of edgy, current clothing and accessories. Some reports are that he’s no longer involved with the day-to-day operations of his label, but the company that now owns it disputes that claim. Either way, part of his shtick has always been adding in a sly joke here and there, and the Maison Martin Margiela Leather Shoulder Bag fits into that category nicely. It looks as though the bottom of the bag has been folded forward, but really the outside zippered pocket has been stitched and fitted with tiny silver feet in order to give the appearance of the bag’s bottom while still being a functioning element of the bag’s design. And that’s why I’ll let this gimmick go - it doesn’t take away from the bag’s functional purpose, and the joke fits is incorporate in such a way that it enhances the bag instead of detracting from it. The man may be a hermit, but his humor still translates.

Buy through Saks for $1445.

And maybe, just maybe, someone at Versace has been paying attention, because the Versace Croc Embossed Satchel is decidedly unoffensive. It’s not the best bag I’ve ever seen, but it has a structure that subscribes subtly to the recent origami bag trend without being unnecessarily complicated. The structure is classic Versace, but it lacks the obvious, gaudy branding and enormous, shiny gold hardware that have characterized so many of the brand’s less-successful bag ideas. The color is gorgeous, as is the variation of the croc-stamped leather, and it all comes together in a reasonable, tasteful way. The best part, though, is the price. It’s still too high, but compared to some of the brand’s recent price points, it’s fairly unoffensive. Buy through Nordstrom for $1770.

We have teamed up with Lockheart to offer a Facebook Fan page exclusive giveaway, the Lockheart Sky Tote. Perfect for day-to-day use or super chic to carry to the gym, I adore this bag!

All you need to do is become a fan of the Purse Blog and Purse Forum on Facebook and then read how to enter the giveaway. It is simple and the prize is great! Make sure to visit Lockheart.

If you aren’t familiar with Ignes, definitely head over to Ignes and check out everything they have to offer. I am sure you will like what you see. And since Ignes puts together some amazing bespoke bags, we figured, what better way to collaborate on a giveaway than to ask our readers to help design the bags. Now, go have some fun with these options and vote!

Travel Bag

It has a detachable strap, large side pockets with magnetic closure, a detachable front pocket for the passport (or similar) with a hidden pocket underneath, and tons of separations inside (L) 19 in. x (H) 12 in. x (W) 7 in. Handle Drop: 10 in. (shoulder strap). 20 in. (detachable strap)

This isn’t always the case, though. The Salvatore Ferragamo Gancio Intrecc Vitello Shoulder Bag is just…not right. The metallic purple is just not good; making a color that’s not normally metallic into a metallic is almost always a one-way trip to Tacky City, and unless it’s done out of irony or retro reference, it simply doesn’t work (and even then, things are dicey). This purple-grey would have been gorgeous in a matte leather, or maybe even in patent, but as a metallic, the material looks thin and cheap. The odd gathering at the middle, topped by an intricately braided representation of the Ferragamo logo that looks a bit like a Gucci horsebit, doesn’t do anything to help the bag’s case. I think I know where they were trying to go with this, but they certainly didn’t get there. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1290.

Heath Ledger In Denim For Vanity Fair [via Denimology]

From all of us at Purse Blog we wish you a Happy 4th of July! We’re celebrating USA’s birthday in Red, White and Blue with family today, we hope you enjoy your time with family and friends as well.

I was recently introduced to Lockheart by many loyal fans on the Purse Forum. After we covered Lockheart, it was obvious that the love for that brand was huge. Without seeing one of their bags, I was left wondering what the design was like in person, what the leather felt like, and if this brand was as big as the others said. I can now assure you that Lockheart bags are stunning.

I adore this bag. The leather is really smooshy with a slight sheen. The color of this bag reminds me of a true red wine, not too purple, not too red, but a combination of both colors that oozes beauty. What I love the most is the detail on the top of the bag, a cut out design that adds the perfect touch, which is also seen on a middle strap and the handle. Also, the shoulder strap hangs beautifully from my arm, with ample drop. On the inside you will find tons of pockets and pouches for your sorting needs with a satin circle pattern lining. It is true; I am in love. This bag is not available for purchase yet, but I will get more details on it for you all soon! Check Lockheart online for more.

Exciting right? Well, while we love bringing you some amazing giveaways, we also love introducing you to some great brands out there. Several of you are very familiar with Ignes over on the tPF (the Purse Forum). Yet, for those of you who aren’t as familiar, I wanted to tell you a bit about the brand. Ignes was founded by the sister-brother team Maria and Ignacio. Ignes has been put on the map due to the fabulous leathers, customizable options and overall individuality. Maria and Ignacio want to provide gorgeous handbags while remaining socially responsible. In fact, Ignes won the Most Socially Responsible Handbag Award at the Handbag Designer Awards. Amazing, right?

One last thing I can’t help but mention… the winner of this giveaway will win a Travel Set (travel bag, shoulder bag and travel wallet). Stay tuned!!

The Valentino Rosier Tote is a lovely way to express your feminine side. Earlier this year, we covered the Valentino Floral Applique Satchel which reminds me quite a bit of this bag, except for the color. This particular tote is adorned with gorgeous silk taffeta roses. The patent leather trim is actually a perfect contrast against the silk roses. While we are in the midst of the Summer months, I can see this bag getting plenty of use. Whether you carry it to a park, to dinner, even to a BBQ, this bag would be a perfect accent to any outfit. Plus, since the color scheme is on the darker side, you can actually try and pull this look off during the Fall and perhaps even the Winter! Buy through Saks for $1950.

Leather is pushed to the limit as it is folded, stitched and glued into intricate folds. I am fascinated with this trend as I continue to discover more and more handbags with various levels of origami detailing. Above are some of the standout origami handbags spotted recently. Some with more obvious origami details than others.

On the more subtle end of the spectrum I came across the delicate cut and folded corners of the Ferragamo single frame satchel and Nancy Gonzalez tote. The tiny folded and stitched corners add a new dimension and interest upon the already texture laden skins. I love the various tones of cocoa leather/skin. These little cut out shapes and patterns will only continue to look better with age.

Perhaps most obviously inspired by origami is the Bottega Veneta red leather top handle bag. Triangular pleats and contrast snakeskin black trim create a completely unique look reminiscent of the folds used for origami cranes, a symbol of good luck. The buttery soft leather of the BCBGMAXAZRIA Kami clutch is not folded per se but looks more like it is scrunched up then pleated. It makes a sweet little package as a clutch. The yellow Salvatore Ferragamo origami tote’s unique folded down corners are a bit more subtle. It is a pretty and summery bag with plenty of room for toting your daytime essentials. My favorite of the bunch is the Maison Martin Margiela envelope clutch. I love the dramatic singular fold, soft buttery leather and of course black matches almost everything in my closet this season!

Handbags featured from top left, clockwise:

Salvatore Ferragamo Origami Single Frame Satchel, $1060 at Saks
BCBGMAXAZRIA Women’s Kami Origami Clutch, $228 at Bloomingdales
Bottega Veneta red leather snakeskin trim origami detail top handle bag, $3160 at Bluefly
Nancy Gonzalez Matte Croc Origami Tote, $3850 at Neiman Marcus
Salvatore Ferragamo Yellow Origami Tote, $1323 at Saks
Maison Martin Margiela Ruched Leather Clutch, $845 at Saks

via The Find