Handbags To Look Forward To: Spring 2008
Written By: Lisa L. Genese

Recently we had the opportunity to visit three handbag showrooms: Dooney and Bourke, Clara Kasavina and Helen L. Barr. This season color is big! Big, bright prints, embellishments, and solids are this season’s best friends. Patent leather is still going strong while metallics have still managed their stronghold. This season you can still find understated, classic bags with all three designers.

Dooney and Bourke has mastered embossed animal skin bags. For example, Dooney’s ostrich bag is stunning and at the price point well worth it!

Details continue to amaze from the patent leather trim on the canvas bags to the metallic bags that are not only stylish, but have now become functional.

Dooney and Bourke has come a long way. Dooney now offers a little of everything from various piece luggage sets to shawls with matching cardigans. Dooney even has a collection of watches that are accented with bright colored bands which coordinate with the entire collection.

Dooney and Bourke: not just handbags anymore!

For more of Dooney’s exciting offering, visit: www.dooney.com

Clara Kasavina designs versatile handbags which glow on the runway just as much as they do in your closet. Clara Kasavina personally walked FashionLedge.com around the expansive showroom, explaining in detail about each design - - from all beaded bags to skin bags with rhinestones and those ultra sexy hand crocheted bags.

“[Spring ‘08] is inspired by nature. Women relate to beauty, it is not trends that inspire [me], and it is [based on my] intuition on how women can feel beautiful,” says Clara Kasavina.

It is important to Clara “that when a woman wears her bags either to a black tie affair or with jeans, [that they] feel beautiful!”

Kasavina's bags speak to everyone and it is truly beauty, luxury and the uniqueness that they possess.

See more at www.Clarakasavina.com

Helen L. Barr has a higher end unique collection that is designed in Florence with beautiful leather. The construction of the bags screams Audrey Hepburn all the way.

These handbags ooze posh glamour with a subtle hint of vintage glam…

How about a cheaper price point? Barr has created an inexpensive line that is made of tweed and calf trim, all with a tote feel, for those that want a stylish bag, but one that actually fits more than a cell phone. Kudos!