When you see a petite quilted flap bag with a chain strap that is intertwined with the same material as the bag itself, it’s difficult not to think only of Chanel. The Prada Printed Chain Shoulder Bag didn’t immediately cause that association in my head, though. Rather, my first thought was, “Ooh, nice print.” Whether or not you like this bag probably hinges largely on whether or not you like Prada’s famous patterns, which are always sharp and interesting, as opposed to girly or traditionally pretty. I love them, no matter how difficult they may make it to fit a bag like this into a wardrobe. During warmer months, I think I could make it happen, though.I can’t decide if this news is counter-intuitive or not, but Forbes is reporting that Hermes will post an increase in sales during the first quarter of 2009, a time when many retailers and brands were feeling a big-time sales crunch. Why is that? Well, the sales increase isn’t worldwide. Sales fell modestly in Europe and experienced a double-digit decline in luxury-goods-obsessed Japan, but the brand saw increases large enough in non-Japanese Asia to more than make up for decreases elsewhere. The increases were seen mostly in South Korea and China, which many industry watchers regard as somewhat of a Last Frontier of luxury retail. So what does this tell us? First of all, we should all remember that signs of strength in the global economy probably mean good things for those of us in America. Our economy is incredibly interconnected with those of other nations, particularly China, and we can’t start to make a significant recovery without signs that are trading partners are also ready to move forward economically. Sales increases of luxury goods mean that consumers in other countries feel confident in the direction in which the economy is headed, and maybe a little bit of that consumer confidence will rub off on other markets. Lastly, it’s a good reminder to all businesses that there are still markets out there that are spending money. Finding them may be a challenge, but it can and will be done. So congratulations, Hermes, on a game well played.

As they say, the devil is in the details. Well, in the world of high-end handbags, sometimes that’s where you can find the design as well. And it’s the details that bring me back to the Gucci Crest Boule Fabric Tote over and over again. We’ve all seen plenty of ho-hum (and some slightly more than ho-hum) canvas totes from this brand over the years; besides their signature horsebit details, it’s probably one of the things for which they’re best known. But none has been so precise and sleek as this beauty right here. It’s possible that the exclusion of the Gucci signature from this tote is what makes it look so clean and sophisticated, but I think it’s more than that. The thick leather trim and handles give the bag a heft and structure that few canvas totes have, and it makes it look a lot more purposeful and expensive-looking than other bags of this variety. The one thing I can’t get behind, though, is the price – even one of the nicest canvases totes I’ve ever seen still isn’t worth almost two grand. For that kind of dosh, I’m going to need leather A designer beauty case is necessary to these fashion ladies whether for daily using or on business. You will have to pack all the cosmetic bottles and jars, bits and ends together conveniently. Nobody would like to have the precious designer bag colored and stained. Such a Gucci Beauty Case would save all your troubles. It is to meet your needs of both functionality and fashion. Tired of seeing too many brown GG fabric bags, I like the light blue beige and ebony GG made Gucci Beauty Case especially. The GG fabric is discreetly stitched with dark brown leather trim, as you can see from the above image. The fabric is timeless and endurable for seasons or years. The Gucci Beauty case is very functional. It has interior elastic holder that can tight at least five bottles and jars; it has an inside ruches pockets at the bag side and a zip pocket on the back of its cover. The case itself measures 31 x 22 x 21 cm, which is a pretty large capacity as cosmetic case is concerned. The designer case features top handle and adjustable detachable shoulder strap. That is to say you can either hold the case individually or slip it inside your luggage. How do you like it? The case is presented in Gucci’s 2010 Cruise Collection.