Leading handbag design house Junior Drake will open the doors of its first factory outlet store on Friday November 6. The budget boutique will trade from 9 am at 700 Wilshire Boulevard, in California's Santa Monica.

"Our fans love the soft, well-treated, expensive leathers we use to make our handbags. With Junior Drake, you've always known you're getting quality and style. Now at our new Factory Outlet, you're getting those things for a sweet deal! We're so happy to be in Santa Monica. Outlet shopping is a destination activity, and what more could you want than the beach and 3rd St. Promenade right nearby?" gushed Junior Drake's project manager, Lucy Brown.

Junior Drake offers classic yet contemporary handbags crafted from high-quality Italian leather. The purses are popular amongst women of all ages keen to show off their signature style and make a real fashion statement. And thankfully now with the opening of the factory outlet, bargain hunters can get in on the action!

[Source: PR Web]
[Image Source: Junior Drake]

Junior Drake Handbags on eBay

Junior Drake Purse US $89.99   Auction Ends: 20d 14h 58m Make it yours...

JUNIOR DRAKE SatchelUnderstated NWOT $368 w sleeper US $69.90   1 Bid Auction Ends: 12h 40m Make it yours...

Junior Drake Black Leather Handbag Satchel Authentic US $79.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 13h 56m Make it yours...

Mark your calendars and get your burning questions ready, folks. Bag Snob is bringing in one of the big names for their periodical virtual personal appearance event.

The editors and visitors of the site have chatted with Monica Botkier and Adriana Castro, who provided interesting insights into their backgrounds and design processes. However, readers are likely to be overly ecstatic about the newest scheduled guest.

Legendary fashion designer Oscar de la Renta is planning a virtual appearance on the website on Wednesday, November 4 and will be available to chat online from 10 am to 12 pm (EST). The jet-setting fashion icon is sure to elicit a bevy of interesting questions regarding his rise to the big leagues, his multiple fashion awards, and maybe even a few about his input on son Moises de la Renta's collection of apparel and handbags due out this fall.

Whatever questions you have in mind, be sure to have them prepared ahead of time. I'm guessing that plenty of the beloved designer's fans will be online for the appearance.

[Source: Bag Snob]

Oscar de la Renta Handbags on eBay

Oscar De La Renta Black Handbag Designer Purse Rt $525 US $279.99   Auction Ends: 20d 15h 31m Make it yours...

NEW AUTH OSCAR DE LA RENTA SHEARED MINK CLUTCH $1600 US $394.00   Auction Ends: 1d 16h 2m Make it yours...

O by Oscar de la Renta Alegria Brown Hobo Bag Handbag US $125.00   Auction Ends: 25d 20h 35m Make it yours...

Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg, who plays the scandalous Georgina Sparks on the show, recently collaborated with celebrity favorite Monica Botkier to design a handbag inspired by and named after the actress to benefit Oxfam International. Trachtenberg must be proud of her involvement since she's been spotted carrying the co-designed bag on the set of the television show and will even be sporting it in an upcoming episode.

Well, now you just might be able to snag one of these lambskin satchels for free. While most of us will have to wait several weeks to get our hands on a Michelle bag, StyleList.com is giving one away.

The contest runs through November 4 at 5pm (ET) with the lucky winner being awarded this trendy blue handbag. To enter the contest, visit Style List's giveaway page and leave a comment about the one purse item you can't leave home without. Contestants must be 18 or older and a legal resident of the U.S. or Canada (except Quebec).

[Source: StyleList]

Botkier Handbags on eBay

Botkier Sasha Duffle Purse Handbag Satchel Black Satin US $99.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 9h 32m Make it yours...

BOTKIER BROWN LEATHER TOP ZIP POCKET HOBO PURSE US $64.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 10h 1m Make it yours...

Botkier Authentic Bella Clutch Black US $359.99   Auction Ends: 11h 12m Make it yours...

Ana Claudia Michels is the star of this sexy advertising campaign from Le Silla. The Italian label is attempting to sell its lush chocolate suede tote and sexy black heels, but is anyone really looking at the accessories?

The sight of Ana Claudia lounging around a New York apartment in her underwear, legs in the air, is a little ... well ... distracting. The artistic team of photographer Sebastian Faena, art director David Schnapper, and stylist Nicola Formichetti has created an ad that's head-turning, if nothing else!

Le Silla's creative director Monica Ciabattini is known for her chic and often eccentric interpretations of femininity, so perhaps this ad shouldn't come as any surprise. While at first glance it seems like mere eye candy for men, there's something powerful about Ana Claudia's ability to captivate here.

While all that bare flesh may distract us from the fashion here, they do say that sex sells. If that old adage still holds true, I expect Le Silla's new line to do very well!

[Source: View on Fashion]

Brown Suede Totes on eBay

STUNNING BROWN SUEDE COLE HAAN HOBO handbag purse tote US $41.85   8 Bids Auction Ends: 8h 49m Make it yours...

Vintage Large Brown Suede Leather Hobo Tote Bag Purse US $12.49   1 Bid Auction Ends: 12h 33m Make it yours...

VICTORIA SECRET♥Brown suede Lk tote bag New Really Cute US $25.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 15h 16m Make it yours...

Monica Botkier began designing handbags in 2003 after working in the fashion industry for many years. As a photographer, she was always in need of functional, high-quality bags that wouldn't look out of place in the high fashion world she worked in. And so, Botkier was born, and I couldn't be more thankful.

It isn't that often that I have the opportunity to review a handbag that I own, because truth be told, I just don't own that many. My taste is more expensive than my budget allows, and I am very very picky.

But this mini duffle captured my heart (and my wallet) almost immediately because of its undeniable good looks and high versatility. Held by the dual handles, it looks something like a tiny briefcase, with a classic vintage vibe, but slinging it over your shoulder gives it a slouchy, rocker look. 

The black lambskin is about as soft and supple as you can imagine, but all the buckles and straps give the bag an edgy air. I love the easy access front pocket; the clasp detail hides a magnetic self closure that makes getting to your keys a breeze. 

The two side straps aren't just for show. They tighten or loosen to give the interior more or less room, depending on your needs, and the shoulder strap winds through hidden loops on the bottom to make the bag into a super small satchel perfect for a night out. 

The interior is twill-lined, and contains a zipper pocket and three patch pockets for your cell phone, pens, and whatnot. The combination of organizational options and size variability on the Sasha make it an easy choice to take you from work to where ever in functional style. Priced between $260 and $525, depending on the color, the Sasha is a fabulous investment bag for women who want a lot of bag for their buck.

More Features Of The Botkier Sasha Small Duffle

• 12.5" x 6" x 5" size
• 6" dual handle drop
• Removable shoulder strap

Get This Botkier Sasha Small Duffle

• Available to buy on Amazon
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

Botkier Sasha Duffle Purse Handbag Satchel Black Satin US $99.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 9h 32m Make it yours...

$695 BOTKIER Sasha Large Duffle Shoulder Bag Silver NWT US $455.00   Auction Ends: 10d 14h 48m Make it yours...

• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Botkier bags on BagBunch
• The Botkier Stevie Satchel, a ruffled alternative to the Sasha
• Searching for more Botkier bags on eBay

I happen to be a huge fan of Botkier bags. In my opinion, the brand gets it right with their designs nearly 100% of the time.

The styles are always interesting, unique, and a little edgy. I'm not the only one liking what I see, though. Celebrities fans include the likes of Vanessa Hudgens, Megan Fox, Jessica Alba, and Angelina Jolie.

It's no wonder how imaginative the bags are, though, when you realize the designer has always been in a creative field. Monica Botkier transitioned from photographer to handbag designer and creator of a wildly popular brand.

BagSnob.com is giving fans a chance to get more details of the story plus ask questions at a live chat with Monica. The session will take place on Wednesday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (EST).

Be sure to have your questions ready, whether they be about the designer's journey to entrepreneurship or about her stylish handbag collection. Click here to attend the website's live appearance on Wednesday.

[Source: Bag Snob]

Botkier Handbags on eBay

Botkier Sasha Duffle Purse Handbag Satchel Black Satin US $99.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 9h 32m Make it yours...

BOTKIER BROWN LEATHER TOP ZIP POCKET HOBO PURSE US $64.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 10h 1m Make it yours...

Botkier Authentic Bella Clutch Black US $359.99   Auction Ends: 11h 12m Make it yours...

Marion Cotillard is rumored to be the new face of Christian Dior. The French actress, who won an Academy Award for playing Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, is tipped to star in an advertising campaign for their iconic Lady Dior bag.

If the buzz is true, the stunning Parisian would be in excellent company. Exotic beauties Monica Bellucci, Diane Kruger, and France's First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy have all endorsed the historic handbag in the past.

Marion would be the perfect choice for the next Christian Dior commercials. She's strikingly beautiful, glamorous, and oh so French! Her classic looks would be the perfect complement for the elegant Lady Dior purse. This beautiful bag has maintained the same evergreen appearance since its 1995 release. Now that’s what I call timeless charm!

We shouldn't have to wait too long before the whispers are confirmed. The new Lady Dior campaign will be released later this year.

[Source: FabSugar]
[Image Source: Startinghere71/Flickr]

Christian Dior Lady Dior Handbags on eBay

AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN DIOR LADY DIOR CANNAGE BAG US $182.50   2 Bids Auction Ends: 14h 33m Make it yours...

SALE CHRISTIAN DIOR Lady D leather evening bag w chain US $399.00   Auction Ends: 17d 20h 7m Make it yours...

CHRISTIAN DIOR LADY DIOR BLK CANNAGE E W TOTE PURSE BAG US $575.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 23h 18m Make it yours...

We all love a beaded evening bag or a silky clutch. Yet while these mini purses capture our hearts, they're not setting the fashion world alight. That honor goes to the more practical oversized handbags.

Paris is the fashion capital of the world, so it's little surprise to see the French are leading the way. Think the robust Louis Vuitton Speedy, the generous Yves Saint Laurent Muse, or the spacious Hermes Birkin.

But these modern it bags look tiny next to the new kids on the block. The Dior Soft bag dwarfs Italian actress Monica Bellucci in the designer's recent ad campaign. YSL didn't even release a small Muse Two, skipping straight on to medium and large. More than half of the handbags in Chanel’s winter 2008 collection are oversized shoppers and totes.

So why when cell phones are becoming smaller, when digital readers are replacing bulky books, and when Blackberries are superseding conventional organizers are our bags getting bigger?

"The big bag is sexy and mysterious," said Erotokritos, a Parisian designer embracing the oversized trend. "In an era where everything is getting smaller and more high tech, the big-bag lady looks like an urban gypsy, ready for anything, an extra pair of heels for a night out, ready for the gym or ready to catch a flight for the weekend."

And style icons on the street seem to agree.

Marketing assistant Cordelia Smith carries oversized bags loaded up with girly goodies.

"I think that it is more elegant to carry a large bag," she added, rather than "a small bag crammed with stuff."

Tightening household budgets are also a consideration for many. We all know a smaller handbag doesn’t always mean a smaller price tag!

"Personally, not having a budget that allows me to buy lots of bags, I prefer to spend in one go a large sum and buy a bag that I can carry all the time," said press assistant Emilie Audry. "It's more understandable to spend €1,000 on a bag that you can take everywhere than €600 on a bag that's pretty but into which you can barely fit your cellphone."

[Source: International Herald Tribune]
[Image Source: David Shankbone/Wikipedia Commons]

Oversized Handbags on eBay

Candies Oversized Fleece Trendy Handbag CUTE US $9.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 10h 33m Make it yours...

Black Soft Oversized Zipper Paddy Style Hobo Handbag US $39.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 11h 9m Make it yours...

Handbag tote Patent Black Shoulder Satchel Oversized US $24.99   0 Bid Auction Ends: 14h 14m Make it yours...

This gorgeous Vitalio Vera bag is so unique it's guaranteed to turn heads. I love the soft girly gathering and the bold tie at the front. The silver-tone buckle accents on the straps complete this daring look.

Its spacious interior makes the Monica the perfect everyday accessory. There's plenty of room for all your essentials (and some luxuries too!), and a handy zippered pocket and cell phone pocket to keep you organized. The top closes with a zip to prevent any nasty spills.

This Vitalio Vera handbag comes in black, navy, and brown, three colors I know we all wear plenty of. Of course that means these bags will go with everything in your wardrobe, but it also makes it difficult to choose which one to buy!

Other Features of This Vitalio Vera Hobo Bag

• Pebble-grain faux leather body
• Gray satin fabric lining
• Measures 8.5 x 13.5 x 3 inches

More Info

• Click here to view this Vitalio Vera Monica bag at Amazon
• All Vitalio Vera bags on eBay