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Oxfords are back in trend. They have been coming and going with the winds of fashion, so if you‘ve been keeping a pair at the back of your closet, by all means drag them out. However, if you crave a nice leather loafer version, less classical and more modern, the Kenneth Cole Reaction Pick Up Note model is just right for you. Also lined in leather with stretch gore construction, the shoes are a nice warm cognac with a few gold accents on the straps. The synthetic sole is not a negative, but a practical feature as are the low stacked heesl. Pair them with any number of neutral colors like beige or white (as well as the ubiquitous denim) and you have a smart, put-together look for any occasion. It sure beats the old black or brown dress shoe—beyond boring! These Kenneth Cole beauties can loosely be called oxfords due to the structured lines of the toe, but are more akin to a loafer that can do double duty for dress or casual wear. It‘s a great hybrid style that Jay Gatsby would be proud to sport with his linen suits and light summer pants. Looking sharp, modern guys go for the any-time-day-or night-jeans vibe that works equally as well. Both choices are terribly chic and urbane. Note: cognac is a rich color that wakens the dullest of male garb.

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PICK UP NOTE LOAFERS GO COGNAC FOR SUMMER Oxfords are back in trend. They have been coming and going with the winds of fashion, so if you‘ve been keeping a pair at the back of your closet, by all means drag them out.

Japan is not exactly noted for top-tier denim. But they should be. Studio d‘Artisan is a pleasant surprise for jean lovers worldwide. They use the best cotton from exotic lands like Zimbabwe coupled with superb local dyes: the result is a resounding recipe for success. Furthermore, the pants are woven in the country (Okayama to be specific) according to strict tradition. Osaka completes the work with the final production design. The product is remakable and impressive, making Japan a welcome (although relative) newcomer on the scene.

The company has actually been around for a few decades, but is just starting to strike a note with fashion mavens craving yet another new type of luxury denim. Think about it. You can brag about the unique logo—the pig or buta—that abounds in the line. It is used and reused creatively. You can boast about the vintage shuttle looms used in the manufacturing process and the superior fine-grade fabrics. Finally, don‘t fail to mention the specialty dyes not found in rival brands. The effort is extensive and shows. Studio d‘Artisan already has many loyal followers to spread the word about the line‘s durable construction and trendy style. With everything it takes to produce these jeans, don‘t be surprised at the hefty price tag. You want the best: you have it. Let them age and do their thing. Copycats are out there but don‘t hold a candle to Japan‘s refinement of process and sense of craftsmanship.

BEST PRICES for D’artisan jeans

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JAPAN‘S IN THE DENIM GAME WITH STUDIO D’ARTISAN JEANS Japan is not exactly noted for top-tier denim. But they should be. Studio d‘Artisan is a pleasant surprise for jean lovers worldwide.

FASHION FAVORITE: THE MEN‘S FRENCH CONNECTION DUNBAR LEATHER JACKET

What is it about a guy in a leather jacket? It‘s pure sex appeal, masculine bravado, and biker chic all rolled into one, with a touch of latent rock and roll. The dunbar leather model is one to take note of if you are in search of the perfect piece to complete your urban warrior look. Some men will find themselves going all out for a military vibe with the right boots and machi distressed denim.…

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If you are a skin snob when it comes to materials, stop reading right now. If you would only wear, not to mention touch, the real thing, cease instantly. However, if you can accept the ersatz and believe in saving money at any cost, continue on. The Neil Barrett embossed croc tote is not the real thing by a long shot. That would run you over a thousand or more. But if you want the look for less, you have a viable option. There is a lot of faux out there in the bag and tote market by necessity, and the clue is to find a pretty good simulacrum. Embossing helps disguise the deception even with alligator and croc patterns. Give the Barrett a gander for a moment and see if it warms the fashion auricles of your heart. What is your first impression? If it seems like there is the right amount of gloss in the finish and enough subtle variation in the surface, then go for it. If the simple shape appeals, venture in. You‘re nobody‘s fool, but can you live with second tier taste? The answer is yes indeed if price is an object. In this case, you get great value for your modest investment.

BEST PRICES for Croc tote bags

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ERSATZ EMBOSSED CROC TOTE: NOT FOR EVERYONE If you are a skin snob when it comes to materials, stop reading right now. If you would only wear, not to mention touch, the real thing, cease instantly.

Can you picture yourself in Florida sporting a new Edie Parker Palms clutch as you sip your mai tai? Think of escaping a colder clime to don some tropical garb as you gaze upon the golden sands and sparkly blue water of the regional coast. You will want to take your bag to be sure in the land of ubiquitous palm trees and perennial sunshine. It will become the emblem of your voyage when you return. The one of particular note for your southern trek is the Flavia Palms pearlesdcent acrylic model. You wouldn‘t expect less from Edie now would you? The finish is the ideal complement for the skimpy and colorful local attire, and the bags are pure kitsch fantasy. You can feel the sway of the palm trees in the wind. They will cheer up the grumpiest of traveler‘s facing the humidity and heat. Wear it with everything from sundresses to short shorts and metalic sandals. Enjoy the multi-cultural vibe, the cool clubs, and the fifties spirit of this enchanting land.

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THE EDIE PARKER PALMS CLUTCH: THE SPIRIT OF FLORIDA Can you picture yourself in Florida sporting a new Edie Parker Palms clutch as you sip your mai tai?

Anyone with a Bottega Veneta bag knows its value and covets the precious treasure. You probably remember when and where the purchase was made, thinking it was the first–and the last. These gorgeous creatures are unsurprassed in quality and style. If you can swing for more than one, by all means do. They will be the queens in a wardrobe of ladies-in-waiting. The leathers are to die for and the woven hallmark design is unmistakably luxe. They remain at the top of the designer bag heap year after year.

Now you have the privilege of seeing snakeskin coupled with yummy soft nappa leather: a mixture made in heaven. It‘s a divine contrast laden with enough chic to bowl over the most resistant spoilsport. You can spend less but you can‘t get close to the rarified atmosphere of a Bottega Veneta bag. This merger works well for a tote or a compact crossbody messenger shoulder bag. Take your pick. You can chose from three color palettes (nero, new red, and trefle) that look amazing in these two contexts. Each has its own vibe with green the most salient of the group.

BEST PRICES for Bottega Veneta bags

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THE BOTTOM LINE ON BOTTEGA VENETA: INTRECCIATO NAPPA AYERS HANDBAGS Anyone with a Bottega Veneta bag knows its value and covets the precious treasure. You probably remember when and where the purchase was made, thinking it was the first--and the last.

TAKE THE LOTUFF LEATHER DUFFEL ALONG THIS SUMMER Summer is already around the corner and travel plans are impending. With the spring thaw comes the welcome beacon of summer sunshine and leisure fun.

BETTY BAG FROM SAINT LAURENT: THE ONE TO WATCH So many of the luxe European brands are going wild and crazy these days to show innovation and a fresh vision.

If you want the lowdown on crazy new looks, go to Chanel for its upcoming fall 2014 offerings. Their bags have always been so traditional, and in a way conservative, that they have been copied and pirated to death. Sometimes you can’t identify a particular season or even decade. Karl Lagerfeld knows not to mess with a good thing. However, there comes a time for change, and the moment is upon us. We can stop marveling at the amazing sets that define Chanel’s shows and look closer at the actual goods. The new, rather outlandish bags command attention on their own. Some will find them in strange colors and themes like the flap bags wrapped on the runway in grocery store paper, looking oddly enough like packaged meat. (What is the message here: something about luxuries as common commodities?) Well, they are thankfully actual leather, although in a weird new guise. Many prefer the shopping baskets concocted out of taut chain straps, whose softer versions are the hallmark of the old classic bags.

The luxury handbag arena has been transformed of late with so many ultra-creative eye-popping accessories. It’s a new turn for the fashion industry and falls in line with trends in popular culture, of which Lagerfeld is a superstar. He is, in himself, an exemplar of excess. He may be having fun, making a larger statement about the consumer patterns of the wealthy, or just trying to shock and startle. It doesn’t matter. Fashion is all about the new, and the more outrageous, the more attention it gets.

BEST PRICES for Chanel’s bags

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CRAZY NEW LOOK AT CHANEL: FALL 2014 BAGS If you want the lowdown on crazy new looks, go to Chanel for its upcoming fall 2014 offerings.

Alexander Wang has a well-known and high-regarded personal aesthetic—whatever he does. In other words, he has a signature style. There are particular details that mark his style, particularly in bags. It is important for a designer to have such a definable identity and he fulfills the bill in this regard. This is certainly true of Chanel and Bottega Veneta. Wang is a current star in the contemporary world of men’s and women’s fashion. The bags are not adjunct accessories but works of art in their own right. You will want to take a gander at the Wallie Washed-leather backpack for men this season. It stands out in the crowd of mundane male offerings with its metal cap corners and black and gray weathered-look design. If you want a downtown cool vibe, you have it with this number. Look inside. It’s the perfect size and is ever so practical and versatile. It can work in so many ways—as a tote, school bag, carry on, low key briefcase, and more. Okay, it costs, but anything this well-made and attractive item is well worth the outlay.

BEST PRICES for leather bagpacks

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WALLIE WASHED-LEATHER BACKPACK: A WINNER FROM ALEXANDER WANG. Alexander Wang has a well-known and high-regarded personal aesthetic—whatever he does. In other words, he has a signature style.

PYTHON BACKPACK BEAUTY Okay. You want and need a new backpack and the Row’s alligator version is way out of range at $34,000.

TAKE THE WORLD’S TINIEST SUITCASE BY CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA ON YOUR TRAVELS A knack for luggage requires a different kind of esthetic than handbags and related accessories. Look around airports and train stations and see what people are lugging around.

Come spring, you will want the Coach Borough bag on your arm. You have your choice of sizes: from super small to a weekender option, and you will be pleased with either one. Why not try both to meet your accessory needs this season. You can count on Coach for stylish practicality. This particular line offers some nice variations including stripes and patchwork. An alternative, the Town Tote, continues the look of the Borough bag handles, but has fewer compartments and less complexity. Meanwhile, the colors are attractive shades of navy and tan, with a lot of white thrown into the pot. A distinct nautical flair gives the bags pizzazz and punch, although it is definitely a sleek modern take on the concept. Enjoy the trend while you can.

BEST PRICES for Coach’s bags

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COACH’S SPRING 2014 NEW BOROUGH BAG Come spring, you will want the Coach Borough bag on your arm. You have your choice of sizes: from super small to a weekender option, and you will be pleased with either one.

Hand painting is ambitious in the accessory industry. It takes skill and artistry to pull it off. Burberry has taken on the challenge in its handbags for fall 2014. Staffers donned their smocks to undertake the project with mixed results. Brand head Christopher Bailey doesn’t defend the often artless effects or acknowledge them. Real artists would have produced a far better outcome. The concept is noble, but the execution pales: more of a do-it-yourself aesthetic than a true art enterprise.

You do get some interesting alternatives. Patterns such as Native American blanket prints are akin to ethnic textiles. They are successful and sophisticated compared to the “art project” offerings. Additionally, you will find velvet adornment on rather elongated dome shapes. Burberry fans make elect to go this route and pass on the amateurish flowers and leaves done in an oversized manner on the painted bags.

BEST PRICES for Burberry bags

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BURBERRY FALL 2014 RUNWAY BAGS ARE PAINTED TREASURES Hand painting is ambitious in the accessory industry. It takes skill and artistry to pull it off.

Is there a Gucci woman? It seems to change from time to time while the venerable Italian house reigns supreme for decades and decades. For fall 2014 credit goes to Frida Giannini for her take on the concept which includes a hefty dose of luxury packaged in new shapes and sizes. There is plenty o new styles in the line and some old familiar faces. A certain something prevails that glorifies softness and muted elegance. The look is minimalist, sparing, and oh so cool.

Take the pared-down New Jackie hobo. Details are suppressed in this more casual approach to accessories. There are structured bags and oversized totes, shoulder styles, long straps, and more—all in gorgeous sumptuous leather of course. Who can pass up these dandies. Gucci knows no bounds in terms of quality and consistency of design. They are pros poised at the top of the fashion ladder ready for eager fans to pounce.

BEST PRICES for Gucci’s bags

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BASICS ABOUND FOR FALL 2014 WITH GUCCI HANDBAGS Is there a Gucci woman? It seems to change from time to time while the venerable Italian house reigns supreme for decades and decades.

If you haven’t seen them, you are in for a surprise. You will need a sense of humor, however, to get the vibe of this tongue-in-cheek trippy trend. Karl Lagerfeld’s reputation behind the Fendi bag bugs should make them memorable, but they are odd enough to warrant a bit of skepticism at first glance. So far so good. They seem to be popular since their appearance on the fall 2014 runways. The brand has a loyal following no matter what they do. If you really want to be different, they are your current craze. They are sure to liven up those boring outfits in blacks and neutrals that beg for a pop of color and design.

What is Lagerfeld thinking? He seems to understand how to create powerful moments in fashion and with the bag bug he has hit the mark. The odd little furry miniaturizes of himself were everywhere on social media following the Milan show and now grace blogs worldwide. Like them or not, they are whimsical and different, which means fashion news. That’s what it is all about in this season of novelty and fantasy. Fur and feathers are in, weirdness abounds. Shock value prevails. When world famous model Cara Delevingne carried the bag, the world took notice. It was carefully planned and executed: the best PR stunt around. You can get in on the action with pre-sales going on now.

BEST PRICES for Karl Lagerfeld’s bags

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FENDI KARL LAGERFELD BAG BUG BECKONS If you haven’t seen them, you are in for a surprise. You will need a sense of humor, however, to get the vibe of this tongue-in-cheek trippy trend.

Snakeskin was hot last season and continues its upward rise to top trend in handbags. Bottega Veneta has joined in with snakeskin in its elegant luxury line for fall 2014. Previous offerings were typical of the Italian design house making the appearance of the rich new leather choice a welcome respite from tradition. The Milan runway was replete with numerous versions and neutral variations. Traditional shapes enhance the skins and speak of ladylike effortless ease. Some are even business-like in feeling. In every case, however, the quality is there, the cachet, and couture classiness. If you like short-strapped shoulder bags, you have them. If your taste goes toward gusseted handheld satchel that functions like a briefcase, they shine among the other gems. You can get on board the trend with Bottega Veneta signature style come fall.

BEST PRICES for Bottega Veneta bags

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BOTTEGA VENETA SHOUTS SNAKESKIN FOR FALL 2014 Snakeskin was hot last season and continues its upward rise to top trend in handbags. Bottega Veneta has joined in with snakeskin in its elegant luxury line for fall 2014.

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