The London Handbag Shopping Centre

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Back in September when the first sighting of Alexa Chung with her namesake bag, the Mulberry Alexa, surfaced, Purse Forum members began discussing the similarity between it and the Proenza Schouler PS1. It makes sense that they did, because there are definite similarities in the design. In fact, once the Mulberry Alexa started to show up online, the main buzz surrounded the likeness between the two.

Let’s take a closer look to see what the two bags have in common and what is different, shall we?

The Proenza Schouler PS1 hit the scene in the fall of 2008. Known for their clothing line, Proenza Schouler bags were an unexpected but widely well-received venture. The bag that continues to garner attention to Schouler is the PS1. The bag was quickly seen on the likes of Mary Kate Olsen and Leighton Meester.

The PS1 integrats a casual chic vibe into a messenger bag, transforming the way many of us view messenger bags today. I, for one, fell head over heels for the PS1 when it came onto the scene. The bag is made to be utilized, with a zip fastening pocket across the back, two pockets on the front, and a zipper pocket for storage. The overall aesthetic is somewhat rugged yet refined, which has made this bag a hit. It is the strap detailing at the front with top flap that is what composes the different eye-catching design.

Interested? Buy the PS1 in brown via Net-A-Porter for $1,595.

Now let’s get to the Mulberry Alexa. Amanda covered the Alexa the other day and also commented that the front straps shared traits with the PS1. Sure, the bag is of similar shape, similar concept, and messenger style, but I would not call it a copy.

Mulberry is a British luxury leather goods company founded in 1971. They have been in the handbag business for almost forty years and in that time have secured a steady place in the handbag market. One of their most iconic bags, the Bayswater, is also one of the most recognized bags to handbag enthusiasts. The Alexa Satchel may have been named after British rising star Alexa Chung, but its design is clearly a young and hip take on the Bayswater. No copycat here, chaps.

The Alexa also has a top handle, detachable shoulder strap, a fold-over flap, and press stud fastening buckled tabs. Similar enough to the PS1, but for me, still entirely different. Like other Mulberry bags, the Alexa also features ample pockets, with internal pouch and zipper pockets. The bag is slouchier than most PS1 bags, gives a more vintage vibe, but does use thicker and heartier leather than the PS1.

Overall, there are certainly similarities, but I can point out many essential differences as well. Buy the Mulberry Alexa in blue via Luisa via Roma for $1,731 and yellow at NAP for $1,150.

Ultimately the decision is yours, as it comes down to personal preference.

Which bag do you like best and why?

Yes seriously. Our very generous friends over at Gorjana are fully donating 100% of all sales from their retail site gorjana.com to help those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti.

The proceeds from all the sales will be donated equally between Unicef, American Red Cross, and Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

This is only happening today, Wednesday the 27th, so don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity.

We are self-proclaimed Alexander McQueen fans here at PurseBlog. And this bag is no different.

The Alexander McQueen Leather Biker Satchel infuses a design that I wasn’t completely in love with to make a bag that is speaking to me. With all of the pockets and zippers from the Alexander McQueen Leather Biker Tote and the laid-back satchel style, I am loving this bag from Alexander McQueen. Confession: Amanda wrote about a grey version of this bag before and thought it was a misstep from McQueen. I too felt like that bag was lacking something. Actually, in grey it is completely blah for me.

Not only is this bag killer in both black and electric blue, but it gives the bag an entire new appeal and look. In fact, I can’t believe the grey version is the exact same bag as this one. I would have bet it was not. In black/blue I am sold. I need more satchels in my life and this is the perfect example. The bag has a long shoulder strap, with a 14″ drop, for you to sling the bag over your arm. There are top handles as well, but like I said before, I am all about the long shoulder strap. The body shows of multiple pockets and silvertone snaps, bringing that edgy look McQueen is known for. On the outside there is two zipper pockets and one snap pocket while the inside boasts a zipper pocket and open pocket.

The grey just looks way to safe and lame, but the black leather brings back the edge and the blue is that pop of rocker color that McQueen wearers can rock. Buy via Saks for $1450.

First, I’d like to say that I’m so incredibly happy that Chanel Haute Couture chose to do something more interesting for their show this season than they did for their show last season. Although, if you find silver and white boring, this may be another loser for you.

It was a winner for me, however. For the first time in his lengthy career, Karl Lagerfeld created a collection that completely eschewed black and navy – in fact, it eschewed color of any sort, save for a few traditional Chanel suits with a culotte twist (I just dry heaved a little bit there), which were rendered in various pastels. The collection was beautifully draped, beaded and rendered in the most unforgiving color palette you can imagine for the construction of clothing, but it all worked exactly as it should have. Of course it did; it’s couture.

Lagerfeld has said that the collection came to him in a 5 a.m. dream-like flash, and he referred to it as “neon rococo.” It wasn’t exactly neon, but it did have a great deal of glitzy intricacy, which more or less fulfills the “rococo” part of that proclamation. While the beading motifs may have reflected an old-world sensibility and craftsmanship, some of the elements – foiled stripes on a white dress, the high-gloss silver booties that every model wore, Baptiste Giabiconi’s metallic suit as he escorted the traditional end-of-collection couture bride – were at least a bit reminiscent of the most fashionable sci-fi movie you’ve never seen. If the people that made those movies dressed their actors in Chanel couture, I might reconsider my hatred of the genre.

                        

Photos via Fashionologie.com

Time for your daily dose of sample sale addiction. Here’s what we have for today, Wednesday the 27th.

Remember to visit as soon as possible, supplies are limited.

HauteLook (8 am PST / 11: am EST)
GUCCI Handbags and Accessories
MattyM
Mor
BCBG Maxazria
Dittos
nashelle
Cia.Marítima
ClassicCoffee&Tea

RueLaLa (8 am PST / 11: am EST)
French Connection
Kick Up Your Heels
Sea+Sun in the Caribbean: Windstar Cruises

Ideeli (8 am PST / 11: am EST)
belargo
ben sherman
identify
designer sunglasses – a massive event
kensie

Gilt Groupe (9 am PST / noon EST)
Thread Social
Bill Blass
Ella Moss
Sweet Dreams
Kevia Jewelry
Calvin Klein
Donna Karan

also over at Gilt Fuse(9 am PST / noon EST)
Kelsi Dagger
Vitamin A
Nooka Watches

and of course for him, GiltMan (9 am PST / noon EST)
Dunhill
Ted Baker Footwear
Jack Spade
Trovata
Nooka Watches

There’s a reason I was never the fan of the massively studded bag trend. Those stylish, seemingly innocent studs can be sharp. Sharp in the way that makes you wince a little bit if you have to grab on to a heavy clutch covered with the things. I’m speaking from experience, folks.

But that same reason is why I absolutely adore, not abhor, little clutches covered with conical studs, like this Be&D Studded Zip Around Clutch Wallet. I know, I know, the studs are still like pyramids, but they aren’t sharp. The dull end, my friends, is what matters to the hand.

Better yet, the clutch in question is also a sleek wallet, so stuffing it until it weighs more than three potatoes is, well, unrealistic. And because it has a removable wrist strap, that clutch can also be a wristlet. For me, that’s all the more reason to keep it light. Now, just look at the side for a moment. How edgy do all those signature Be&D studs look? And for me, they look even more wonderful now that I know I won’t have red marks all over my palms. Buy through Nordstrom for $395.

Of the few shows that we’ve seen so far Givenchy Haute Couture felt the most like couture to me. As the line between a normal runway show and a couture show continues to blur and fewer brands present the highest of high fashion as time goes on and the customer base dwindles, I still thoroughly enjoy seeing a full-on, beads-and-feathers-and-funny-hats shindig.

Thankfully, that’s exactly what Givenchy gave us. Modernist lampshade-esque hats topped looks from ballgowns to jumpsuits, rendered in lace, beading, feathers and ruffles and then dipped in pure, unadulterated fabulousness.

The styling was a bit gothic – models wore ultra-pale makeup accented with blood-red lips and eyes so smokey that some of the models looked a bit like they’d taken a punch. The goth look was bolstered by a largely black palette, but there were enough shots of vibrant purple, blue and green that no one would mistake the mood for dour. It was dark but glamorous, and that’s exactly what I prefer in my couture. Or, you know, what I would prefer if I had any couture.

           

Photos via Fashionologie.com.