DKNY stands for Donna Karan New York and it bears the name of Donna Karan, who is also the chief designer for the fashion house. Founded in 1984 by Donna Karan and her husband, DKNY became a publicly-traded company in 1996, then in 2001 was bought by LVMH, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton who owns it to this day. Donna Karan developed a fashion concept for the modern woman, in which a few interchangeable pieces of clothing and accessories can create a wardrobe that fits multiple occasions and moments of the day.

The idea of her fashion collections is that you never know where a day is going to take you, therefore you have to be prepared to take on all opportunities that may arise. Thanks to her creative approach and to her high-quality creations, in 1993 Donna Karan was awarded the Fashion Group International Superstar Award . She was the first American fashion designer to receive that distinction. In 2007, Donna was nominated one of the Women of the Year by Glamour magazine. DKNY is a design driven company, their stated mission being “to represent the international pulse of New York in the design, marketing and delivery of a complete lifestyle system to a global customer”.

DKNY Bags

As our website is about designer handbags we aren’t going to enter into many details about the fashion house itself and its clothing or shoes collections, but we are rather going to focus on the bags. We won’t find at DKNY the diversity and abundance of models which we encounter at Coach bags for instance, but there surely are enough models to cover several styles, thus offering a solution for any occasion or time of the day.

New DKNY Bags for Spring 2010

DNKY enriched its collection of purses with six new models:

• Soft Nappa Rose clutch (color: Ivory; price: $185)
• Large Pleated Nappa Leather shopper (colors: black, ivory; price: $345)
• Croc Leather Large Tote (colors: Stone, Caramel; price: $295)
• Croc Crossbody (color: Caramel; price: $195)
• Town and Country Crossbody (color: black; price: $165)
• Town and Country Satchel (color: black; price: $245)

As you can see, there’s a bag size for everyone and although there’s not a huge variety in colors, the chosen ones are universal, matching basically anything else. This falls within the DKNY concept of creating lifestyle rather than fashion. One can dress herself from DKNY from head to toe, starting with the underwear and finishing with the fragrance.

If spring means romance and romance means flowers, then the new Coach Madison Floral Audrey is a true icon of the spring. The daring combination between the floral pattern fabric having purple as dominant color and the modern metallic gold resulted in one of the most feminine Coach bags collections. As usual for textile Coach purses, Madison Floral features leather trim, fabric lining and multifunctional pockets. The double handles with 5 1/2" drop recommend Audrey as a handbag, but the 13 1/2" drop detachable strap makes it possible to wear it as a shoulder bag, if needed.

Bag size: 11 1/2" x 8 1/4" x 6 1/2"

Bag price: $358

Made of graffiti fabric with metallic leather trim, the new Poppy Graffiti pocket hobo is a bag that can’t pass unnoticed. It’s once more a proof that Coach bags can be appealing also to young generations of girls, and not only to those of us who are already using expressions such as “when I was young…”. Silver makes an excellent background for the vibrant red and orange, giving this bag a fresh look.

The new Poppy Graffiti pocket hobo can be worn as a handbag, thanks to its 16 3/4” handle, but also as a shoulder bag or crossbody, as it comes with a detachable 37 1/2” shoulder strap. The bag features zip-top closure, fabric lining, multifunctional inside pockets and two cute outside pockets with hidden magnetic snap.

Bag size: 13 3/4" x 11” x 4 1/4"

Bag price: $268

Rambler’s Legacy is one of those Coach bags that one could recognize on the street from the first glance. It’s a kind of Coach icon, in the same glove tanned leather that made Coach famous since such a long time ago. In my view, the mahogany color version of Coach Rambler’s Legacy looks much better than the black one. It’s probably the golden hardware which plays a role in my preference for the mahogany, but actually both versions are elegant and perfect to the smallest detail. The turnlock closure is typical for older Coach bags, with its nice, oval shape.

The gusseted pockets are roomy enough to accommodate pretty much everything that a modern girl would love to carry around with her every day. This shoulder bag has a 48” adjustable strap.

Bag size: 9 5/8” x 8 1/4" x 3 3/8”

Bag price: $258

One of the main keywords in defining the Stewardess Coach bag is convenience. That’s because flight attendants need to be able, for instance, to access certain items inside their bag by using only one hand. The open pockets are just perfect for that, as well as the turnlock closure which doesn’t require two hands to open it. But of course you don’t have to be a flight attendant to love this purse. It’s one of the Coach bags classics we love to have in our collection and wear from time to time. I can see myself wearing this bag even in ten years from now, without worrying that I’d look old fashioned.

The glove tanned leather is smooth, yet resistant. Moreover, the brass feet prevent bottom scuffing, in case you have the bad habit of putting your bag on the ground. The stewardess bag is available only in black color and it features an adjustable 26” strap, which can also be detached, if needed.

Bag size: 11” x 10” x 4 1/2" (L x H x W)

Bag price: $298

Coach bags are in the personal top of many women. Although the financial side may have influenced this choice, it’s surely not the only criterion in choosing Coach handbags and purses over other designer bags. Coach takes pride in the quality of their leather and in their exhaustive details which are perfect to the last stitch.

Coach was founded in 1941, in Manhattan and it started as a family business. The quality of their products got into the attention of Sara Lee, who purchased the business in 1985. Coach got listed at the New York Stock Exchange in October 2000. With its headquarters located in Manhattan, at the end of fiscal year 2008 Coach was operating 297 North American stores, their products being available in more than 1000 stores within US and abroad.

Coach Bags Collections

We could write about Coach bags collections for a very long time. Coach purses designers are creative and they come up with great new models and collections for each and every season since so many years ago, that it would be really hard to write a comprehensive review of all these. We are going to give a few details about some of these purses, then we are going to publish separate reviews as we get to take a closer look at those handbags. All prices we quote here are taken from the Coach bags official website. I don’t know whether you’ll find them in stores for such prices, but you can check the online Coach store and get your bags from there if you think you can get the best deal this way.

Coach Originals:

• Stewardess Bag (black; Price: $298)
• Rambler’s Legacy (mahogany, black; Price: $258)
• City Bag (British tan; Price: $278)
• Coach Signature Small Backpack (black, khaki; Price: $258)
• Coach Legacy Zip (mahogany, black; Price: $288)

Coach Handbags: Madison

The Madison collection includes more than 40 bags of various sizes and colors. If you are a classic type of girl, you’ll find your ideal bag in one of the following models:

• Madison Boxed Op Art Carryall (Black and white; Price: $358)
• Madison Opart Chainlink Top Handle Pouch (Black and white; Price: $148)
• Maggie Boxed Op Art (Black and white; Price: $298)
• Madison Op Art Wristlet (Black and light gray; Price: $58)

If you enjoy surprising everybody with your accessories and style, you could try one of these bags:

• Madison Embossed Exotic Maggie (color: Peony; Price: $548)
• Madison Floral Audrey or Carryall (gold and purple; Price: $358)
• Madison Leather Spectator (various colors; Price: $398)
• Madison Chevron Leather Audrey (gold with brass hardware; Price: $598)
• Madison Op Art Sateen Carryall (black; Price: $358)

Coach Handbags: Peyton

Peyton Woven Leather large shoulder bag (various colors; Price: $798)

Peyton Canvas Op Art shoulder bag (black and white; Price: $278)

Peyton Leather Drawstring Shoulder tote (various colors; Price: $498)

Coach Handbags: Kristin

• Kristin Tote (Brown, green or Coral; Price: $598)
• Kristin Metallic Python Drawstring Large Hobo (metallic; Price: $598)
• Kristin Embossed Exotics Zip Top Tote (Ivory – cream combination; Price: $1000)
• Kristin Shoulder Flap (various colors; Price: $448)

Poppy: Bags for the new generation

• Poppy Signature Sateen
• Poppy Canvas Butterfly
• Poppy Graffiti Pocket Hobo
• Poppy Graffiti Applique Large Spotlight
• Poppy Graffiti Applique Glam Tote
• Poppy Metallic Leather

The Logan satchel is so cool that the golden snake lambskin variant is already sold out on Botkier’s website. Actually I’ve just checked and all variants are sold out. There’s no wonder, for such an elegant and high quality purse, roomy enough to serve even a girl that needs lots of stuff with her all the time. The vertical and horizontal zip details and the long tassel pulls give this satchel a distinctive look or luxury. This satchel from Botkier features two handles and an adjustable shoulder strap, 17” drop. The side exterior slip pockets can be useful for keeping some small items at hand, but even if one doesn’t use them at all, they add a touch of elegance to the overall aspect of the bag. Besides, they are expandable, thanks to the surrounding zippers. The interior is lined and it features one single compartment and a multifunctional pocket. The Botkier Logan satchel is available from Endless, the possible colors being black (to see it follow the previous link), chalk, Golden Snake and moss. The suggested retail price is $595.

As a photographer for fashion magazines such as Mademoiselle and Surface, Monika Botkier spotted a niche that was still uncovered in the fashion design world: approachable designer creations. Always in search for the perfect bag, Monika ended up by creating her own line of handbags, which were a happy marriage between style and functionality. Her downtown Manhattan style made this first handbags collection a success, although when she started, she only wanted to make those bags for her personal use. Actually, Monika did create a few purses for her personal use, but many women in her entourage expressed their interest in buying such handbags, so she started considering this more seriously. From here to the international recognition Botkier has managed to acquire in 2007 when she became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, there was only one more step, translated in passion, creativity and hard work. Fashion magazines like Glamour, Vogue, Marie Claire or InStyle published articles about Botkier handbags and shoes collections and even featured them on the front cover.

After seven years of building her reputation in the fashion accessories industry, in January 2010 Monika Botkier opened her first flagship store in New York, in NoLIta district. In designing her boutique, she collaborated with interior designer Valerie Pasquiou for creating a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. Cool and chic, Botkier handbags are luxurious without being expensive, “an independent brand that marries luxury with utility” as Monika herself states on the Botkier website. Indeed the prices are in the $500 range, way less than what we’ve been used to when we talk about designer handbags.

Many celebrities such as Beyonce, Halle Berry or Megan Fox were spotted wearing Botkier creations.

Botkier Bags Collections

Here are the latest creations, covering various bag types such as satchel, hobo, crossbody, shoulder, tote or clutch. Detailed reviews of many bags in these product lines will make subjects for separate articles and will be published as we manage to write them.

Venice: 

Botkier Venice crossbody clutch

Rio:

Botkier Rio Tote Bag

Dion

Harper

Howard:

Botkier Howard Street Satchel Bag

Brooklyn

Logan

Botkier Logan Satchel

Noa

Aiden

Tao

James

Sasha

Trigger

Sydney

Uma

What makes Lena Erziak bags so special? Well, they are modern, colorful, elegant and extremely practical, the perfect choice for the modern New York woman, discerning and confident, who strives for something unique in her looks, because she really wants to make a difference. Lena Erziak handbags offer all these qualities and even more: a timeless elegance which makes them a classic and refined line of fashion and clothing accessories. All Lena Erziak bags are handmade in Florence, Italy, only from carefully selected, finest leather and using high quality accessories. The attention for detail is visible in the impeccable finish of these bags, both at the exterior and at the interior. Florence artisans surely know very well their trade, as well as the Erziak sisters, Leona and Hasna know how to cover the needs of the modern woman who needs to accommodate a lot of items in her bag, from the lipstick and the keys to her Blackberry, digital camera and perhaps a book or two, or even a netbook. Lena Erziak everyday bags are stylish, yet roomy and well-compartmented, therefore perfect. Tiny details like the built-in key chain are inspired from real life, in which we all know how hard it can be in some situations to quickly find an item in your purse.

We are going to take a glimpse into the new 2010 Spring collection of bags, which seems very promising and which is soon going to be available in their Stella Filante downtown New York boutique, as well as in high-end specialty boutiques and department stores all over the US.

Lena Erziak 2010 Spring Collection

For 2010, Leona and Hasna expressed their creativity in a line of 15 styles of bags made of various materials such as suede, leather, python and ostrich, all of finest quality. Taking into consideration the excellent finish and quality of the Lena Erziak spring 2010 handbags, the price range of US $350 – US $980 is not as high as it may appear at first glance. These bags are really competitive at the highest standards, a level at which bag designers launch their creations at prices averaging several thousands dollars. Besides, most of these bags are true keepers, as they fall into the timeless fashion segment, so they would probably become vintage after a number of years. With a sense of fashion trends and a bit of luck, buying future vintage bags can be a good investment. But now let’s stop day dreaming and go back to our spring-summer 2010 collection. Here are a few of the most representative bags:

Alessandro

An eye-catching carryall, Alessandro is a beautiful bag, elegant and still large enough for fitting a lot of items inside. It falls in the $800 - $1000 price range. The two front pockets feature hand sewn stitches and the belted opening creates the illusion of a small bag.

The Alessandro bags are available in a few versions:

• Big size, red python print leather – price $979
• Small size, red python print leather – price $862
• Small size, ostrich leather, blue color – price $5750 (well, ostrich is not such a common bird, so prices are higher for this kind of leather goods)

Davide

Davide is a small shoulder bag featuring a classy stud detailing and adjustable shoulder strap and a signature tassel. It is available in black or purple leather and in saffron suede.

Davide is a cute bag, suitable for a fancy dinner or a cocktail party.

Price: $453

Elio

Elio is an oversized tote bag which looks amazingly good and which can really host a lot of stuff inside. Its handles are a combination of chain and leather, strong enough to resist even when the bag is fully loaded (provided that you don’t carry stones around). Elio is available in gold or fuchsia suede or in black leather and it costs $777.

Other bags in the Lena Erziak 2010 collection:

• Romeo
• Luigi
• Alessio
• Sandro
• Andrea
• Enzo
• Lucca
• Gianni
• Valentino
• Jepetto
• Paolo
• Amadeo