With the temperatures around the globe beginning the depressing nosedive into winter, the time has come to look for a classy and elegant bag with a hint of the cool and icy about it. This surprisingly spacious cool gray tote from the G by Guess range is just the cool-as-a-cucumber hobo that I was looking for.

In gentle gray tones throughout, this bag is sophisticated and work suitable. The coordinating python skin accents add that extra something special to the design, without turning it into an over-the-top evening purse or a bright casual day bag.

Whilst this Guess hobo is undeniably pretty, I do worry about the length of the matching python skin handles. The drop isn't the biggest, although you should still be able to carry it over your shoulder. To keep the smooth elegant lines of this monogrammed tote, you are best not to overfill it anyway!

Available in purple or altogether sensible black options, this fabric and leather tote can work all the seasons. It will look best, however, with sexy fur collars and sumptuous cashmere. This is a classy bag that begs for elegance.

With attractive python and chunky silver hardware, this bag is unlikely to let you down. Be careful, however as gray stains easily and may get damaged in less time that the boring black option!

More Features of this Royal G Vanessa Hobo

• Dimensions 15" x 11"
• Glossy pleather
• Signature Guess fabric front panel

Get this G by Guess Signature Hold-all:

• Available to buy on Amazon
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Guess handbags on Bagbunch
• The Guess Punk Belle satchel, a great alternative to this classy bag
• Searching for more python leather bags on eBay
• Other Guess bags on eBay:

Fashion Conscience is a socially-aware style site showcasing the handbags of two hot new British designers.

Eel leather is rarely considered as an ethical option, but BoBelle is breaking the mold. The Fair Trade label uses only by-products of the Korean food trade to craft its distinctive eel skin purses. So we get the softness and durability of eel skin without the guilt! BoBelle's handmade and hand-dyed bags have already attracted the attention of style bibles Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and Look. This Hemera shoulder bag is the brand's most expensive option at £162.00, but that deep purple has won me over.

The other new name on the block is NV London Calcutta. The London brand looks to bridge the gap between designer fashion and traditional ethical handbag offerings. All bags are designed in Britain and ethically produced in Calcutta, one of India's poorest cities, using locally sourced materials and suppliers. NV London Calcutta's handbags include the buttery buffalo hide Virginia Handbag and the hand-screened Batik Print Tote.

Fashion Conscience proves ethical handbags don't have to skimp on style or quality, or cost the earth.

[Source: PR Fire]
[Image Source: Fashion Conscience]

Fair Trade Handbags on eBay

Daisy Cook is hitting back against the oversexualized tween marketplace with her cute and wholesome handbag collection. Rebelle Friendship Bags are designed to be split in two and shared with a BFF. It looks to encourage togetherness and generosity in girls aged eight to twelve.

"The whole brand is centered around rebelling against the bimbocracy," Ms Cook explained. "We live in a culture, unfortunately, that is so driven by sexualized images [with which] girls very young are trying to identify themselves. There is just a sort of void in the market for wholesome products."

The positive messages continue on the brand’s interactive website, which features a multiracial cast of characters aspiring to become professional athletes and fashion designers. There are no pole dancers or provocative pop stars amongst this lot!

The Rebelle Friendship Bags are currently available in local stores in the Port Jefferson area, but they're about to reach a much larger audience. QVC will showcase the bags in October, while major department stores in the Midwest hope to have the handbags in stock for Christmas. If you can't wait that long, they're available directly from the Rebelle Friendship Bags website from $35.

[Source: Newsday]
[Image Source: Rebelle Friendship Bags]

If you blink, you just might miss this short-lived giveaway. Fashion website ideeli.com is giving one winner a gorgeous patent leather Roger Vivier clutch bag that any fashionista would envy.

The designer is best known for his creation of the sometimes-painful-yet-ridiculously-chic stiletto heel, and any true lover of fashion recognizes that iconic pilgrim pump seen on Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour.

However, Roger Vivier handbags are just as chic and timeless as the shoes, and this bright yellow patent leather clutch is a great example. The simplicity of the style is contemporary, yet it seems like it could almost be vintage. The signature, logo-engraved buckle feature on the front is a testament to the label's origins.

If you find yourself craving this yummy little clutch, be sure to head over to the giveaway page at ideeli.com to enter. As the website is invitation-only and requires you to sign in before entering, be sure to use this invitation link to set up your log-in information, if you haven't already. You can also sign up to receive e-mails about upcoming sales and giveaways.

This giveaway from ideeli.com won't be up for long, though. You'll have to act fast since entries will only be taken through this evening, but it'll be well worth it if you win the prize.

[Source: ideeli.com]

Roger Vivier Handbags on eBay

When you hear the name Jackie you think of one woman: Jackie Onassis-Kennedy. Naming a purse after this paragon of style gives it a lot to live up to, but this Oroton hobo manages to hold its own.

Hobos aren't the style one thinks of when imagining elegant handbags, but this is a much chicer option than Zaftique's Rhinestone Hobo or even Be & D's Belleville. The top of the bag has a little slouch, but it's much more subtle than a traditional hobo. The dual pockets give the Jackie a more structured look and added storage space.

These handy pouches are complemented by this hobo's generous interior. The soft leather walls mean you can carry more than the Jackie's slim lines may lead you to believe. This purse doesn't have the crescent shape typical of hobos either, and the boxier style also affords a little extra storage space.

This shrunken cow leather purse is available in four classic shades. Black and cedar brown are appealing options, but don't expect the laminated cream purse to look so pristine after daily use. My pick though is this tan variety, a shade light enough for summer, but rich enough for cooler seasons.

More Features of This Oroton Dual Pocket Purse

• Top magnetic closure
• A padded shoulder chain strap
• Measures 13.5 x 10.5 x 4 inches

Get This Oroton Jackie Hobo on eBay

• Click here to see more from the Yummydad store on eBay – An Oroton Handbags Retailer
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The Belleville is Be & D's most popular hobo bag. The leather version is a classic, but to really stand out from the crowd this summer I prefer this fun yellow eelskin variety.

Traditionalists may want to steer clear of this sunny fabric, but I find it irresistible. A more conservative black or chocolate brown would also downplay the smooth texture of the eel skin. Here it shines, with only a smattering of silver studs near the handles to distract us.

The dual straps look short, but the Belleville's scooped top makes them more practical than you might think. With a shoulder drop of 10 inches, you don't have to look like a stick to sling this hobo over your shoulder.

The zip and slip pockets work double time in this oversized interior space. The attached key ring is a handy addition, ensuring you won't need to fumble around when you want to start your car.

Of course this exotic leather purse doesn't come cheap. But with the traditional calfskin version already clocking in over the $1000 mark, the extra couple of hundred seems worth saving for a little originality.

More Features of This Be & D Belleville Purse

• Twill lined interior
• Magnetic closure
• Measures 13 x 14.5 x 6.5 inches
• Made in the United States of America

Be & D Hobo Handbags on eBay

Also See

• Click here to browse this Be & D yellow eelskin hobo at Endless
• All Be & D bags on eBay

It's difficult to believe that it's been five years since Be & D designers Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain arrived on the fashion scene. To celebrate this milestone the punk-styled accessories brand has relaunched one of their most famous purses, the Garbo.

Gone are the outdated buckles of old. The new kid on the block is adorned with edgy spiked studs. Chic whip stitched handles add a little extra flair. Nostalgia buffs will be glad that the signature lambskin finish remains.

The latest Garbo is part of Be & D's capsule collection, which also includes reinventions of the Greta shoulder bag and Belleville hobo. This portfolio shoulder bag retails for $995, while the larger satchel style is available for $1390. I love this vibrant turquoise blue color, but if you prefer to play things a little safer you can pick up the Garbo in black, cream, and a subtle brown metallic shade called quince.

[Source: The Bag Lady]
[Image Source: Be&D]

Be & D Handbags on eBay

The Quinn tote represents so much of what Kate Spade offers to the handbag world, in my opinion. The designer is renowned for her classic styles and functional designs that create the ultimate blend of fashion and practicality. Of course, Kate Spade isn't the only designer to succeed in this feat, but she does have it down to an art.

The design of the Quinn tote is so simple at first glance but reveals some interesting details that set it apart from just any ol' tote. The structured shape is accented by the vertical stripes created by a contrasting color peering through the leather panels surrounding the bag. Bright silver hardware shines from the handle rings and decorative studs.

This Kate Spade handbag seems appropriate for toting things to and from the office. The deep interior compartment is split in half by a zippered divider perfect for storing important paperwork. Even the shape of the Quinn has a boxy feel that reminds me slightly of a work briefcase.

Just because it's shaped similarly to a briefcase doesn't mean it looks like one, though. The Belle Meade Quinn is much more elegant but just as practical. It definitely doesn't lack style. This fashionable tote would look equally fabulous on a shopping trip or out to dinner with friends. Although the Belle Meade version is very appealing, the Quinn also comes in some of Kate Spade's other popular collections like Tarrytown and Highland Park. The Belle Meade Quinn retails for $345.

More Features of the Quinn Tote

• Measures 13 x 9 x 5 inches
• Double handles with 7 inch drop
• Zippered divider

Kate Spade Quinn Bags on eBay

• Get the Tarrytown Quinn on Amazon
• Click here to search all Kate Spade on eBay

Celebrities are starting to take notice of Matt & Nat bags. The brand, which follows an all-vegan materials policy, has captured Ellen DeGeneres as a fan. The comedian and talk show host gave away quite a few of these Fifty-Five purses to a delighted audience at one of her Christmas specials this year.

You don't have to be a PETA supporter to appreciate the funky style of Matt & Nat purses. Their unique look is equally if not more stylish than some other designer handbags that might be a little less friendly to animals. Lucky for us, it seems that being animal conscious is also economical to bag-making. I haven't seen a Matt & Nat bag of any size beyond the $400 mark.

Their signature material is the Japanese Paper. The crinkled vegan leather looks fantastic on the Fifty-Five bag. I love the black option with brass and copper hardware. Similar to many Matt & Nat styles, the subtle details on the Fifty-Five make the material the showcase of the handbag.

There is a definite rocker vibe to this purse without being too obvious. Small accessories like the side panels attached with copper studs and the double zippered pockets on the front just add a touch of edge but don't overwhelm the bag. The Matt & Nat logo is hardly even noticeable on a small copper bar.

There are two short handles for carrying the Fifty-Five in your hands, but the detachable shoulder strap is much more convenient for a bag of this size. This roomy bag is also available in coffee brown, grey, or a bright magenta. Like their other bags, the Fifty-Five is relatively affordable at $250.

More Features of the Fifty-Five

• Measures 15.25 x 16 x 5.75 inches
• Made from all-vegan materials
• Brass and copper hardware
• Detachable, adjustable strap

Matt & Nat Fifty-Five Bags on eBay

• Click here to get the Fifty-Five purse in magenta on Amazon
• Search all Matt & Nat bags on eBay

If you're looking for the perfect holiday bag, you may have just found it. Roger Vivier combines a classic shape and subtle couture styling with just enough holiday sparkle to make the Belle party ready.

The smooth champagne gold leather is softly metallic, which perfectly offsets the oversized gold buckle. There are no oppressively large logos to distract from the simple luxury of the Belle, but the buckle does have the small Vivier tradmark embossed on it, in case anyone asks on your office party's red carpet.

I love the quiet sheen of the leather up against the shiny gold hardware of the buckle and the square rings that connect the strap to the bag. The strap itself is thick, wide, and comfortable. Because a long shoulder strap might detract from your holiday party attire, you might wear it long during the day, and then tuck it in at night, turning the Belle into a clutch.

The 10" x 5" x 2" size will hold a little more than your average evening bag, but a little less than your usual daybag, making it the perfect go-between. For those days when you need to make a quick change, it will definitely accommodate the makeup favorites that will take you from day to night, but might not fit all that loose change and random stuff jangling around the bottom of your usual daybag.

The Belle by Roger Vivier strikes a great balance with its combination of a traditional shape and trendy metallics, and at under $1000, it might be the perfect addition to your holiday wardrobe.

More Features of the Metallic Belle by Roger Vivier

• Fabric-lined interior
• Interior zip pocket

Metallic Gold Shoulder Bags on eBay

Also See

• Click here to see more from the Collectibles-Gifts-More store on eBay
• Click here to search Roger Vivier accessories on eBay