Monday 23 February 2009

Celebrities and their Balenciaga handbags

It is no secret that Balenciaga handbags are loved by celebrities across the globe. From the Hollywood pack of Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad, Lindsay Lohan et al to the likes of Sienna Miller in Britain, Balenciaga handbags are to be found on the arms of most.

The Balenciaga Motorcycle handbag is probably one of the most commonly worn by celebrities, and while Balenciaga handbags come in many other styles, the motorcycle handbag is the one most associated with celebrities.

Nicole Richie is more often that not photographed with one of her Balenciaga handbags on her arm, and even more so since she had her daughter. Her black motorcycle handbag goes everywhere with her, most likely due to its versatility and space to hold baby accessories while still remaining stylish. Christina Aguilera is another celebrity who can’t seem to part herself from her wardrobe of Balenciaga handbags. And having also just had a baby, it seems that Balenciaga handbags are a popular choice for new mums. After all, Balenciaga handbags are known for being not only a gorgeous fashion statement but also being very practical and versatile.

Another pair of fans of Balenciaga Motorcycle bags are Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. They obviously have between them a wide range of Balenciaga Handbags in different colours, as the twins are often spotted with a variety of different sized and coloured motorcycle bags. The oversized “weekender” bag for example is the perfect one of the Balenciaga Handbags to fit in with Mary-Kate’s signature “hobo” look. Ashley on the other hand is often spotted with a small Balenciaga clutch bag.

It is not just the Balenciaga Motorcycle handbags that are hot with celebrities – the “Lariat” bag for example was given to 30 often-snapped stars when it was first launched, which helped make Balenciaga Handbags become the sought after fashion pieces that they are today.

Another emerging “it” bag in the range of Balenciaga handbags is the “Lune” bag. Spotted on the arms of Emma Bunton and Gwyneth Paltrow, it is a slightly less obvious choice compared to other Balenciaga handbags, but is a gorgeous bag and seems to be catching on in the celebrity world. Other popular Balenciaga handbags amongst celebrities are the Whistle Satchel bag, seen being used as a diaper bag by Katie Holmes.

While we may not all be able to afford a wardrobe full of Balenciaga handbags, at least there is a never ending supply of celebrities who love their Balenciaga handbags and will always be photographed for the rest of the world to drool at!

Tuesday 10 February 2009

How to avoid a fake Balenciaga Handbag (or any fake designer bag)

As with all designer handbags, there are an awful lot of fake Balenciaga handbags floating around. To avoid getting caught out and paying for a cheap knock-off, you need to be savvy and have a bit of handbag background knowledge.

Firstly, it is vital that you know the product you want to buy. There are many types of Balenciaga handbags so you don’t want to end up with a bag that just looks a bit like a Balenciaga bag. Do your research – look at the range of handbags available at Balenciaga.com and familiarise yourself with the styles available, and any distinguishing features that make Balenciaga handbags unique. It is worth bearing in mind that the website probably only displays the current collection and you may have to do a bit more digging to find the back catalogue. Balenciaga handbags are only released in certain colours each season, so you may want to check which colours have been released, and which are obviously fake. If possible, visit a Balenciaga boutique and get a feel for the handbag in real life. This may be a bit intimidating but if you find a helpful Sales Assistant and explain to them what you are doing they may be able to help give you some pointers on how to tell a real Balenciaga handbag from a fake. Some designers offer an authenticity check in store, but due to the high number of fake designer handbags produced a lot of brands have stopped doing this.

If you are looking on eBay for your Balenciaga handbag, there are some signs to watch out for. Firstly and most importantly the price. If the handbag has a starting price of 99p, you can almost guarantee it is a fake. The price of a Balenciaga handbag brand new in a shop would start at around £500, so it is extremely unlikely that anyone is going to sell their £500+ bag for 99p. You should expect to pay around 60-70% of the original price for a second hand Balenciaga handbag on eBay – if it is much less than this and the seller does not give a valid reason in the description, you should assume it is a fake. Check the seller’s history – if they have sold a lot of designer handbags in the past, or have a lot listed currently, chances are they are not genuine designer handbags. If they are a genuine seller, more often than not they will write a bit in the description about where the bag came from, why they are selling it etc. But this is not proof that they are genuine – a lot of dodgy sellers will be able to produce fake receipts and all sorts to try and prove that it is a genuine Balenciaga handbag.

On your hunt for a genuine Balenciaga handbag, just remember to keep your wits about you and don’t get swayed by cheap prices – if it sounds too good to be true it most likely is. A Balenciaga handbag is an investment and it is definitely worth doing that extra bit of research beforehand, as with all designer handbags, to make sure you are getting the real deal.

Monday 9 February 2009

Balenciaga Motorcycle Handbag

The most widely recognised and sought after range of Balenciaga handbags has got to be the Motorcycle bags. They are seen on the arms of numerous stars in Hollywood, such as Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Christina Aguilera. The Balenciaga Motorcycle handbag has become something of a status symbol in recent years, and is most definitely an object of envy amongst women. The Balenciaga Motorcycle bag is one of the few designer handbags that is truly versatile and goes with many different styles. Different celebrities with different styles can all carry the same bag, and it fits in perfectly every time. Yes, pretty much anyone who is anyone in Hollywood has a Balenciaga Motorcycle handbag on their arm.

The Balenciaga Motorcycle handbag comes in a range of sizes. With names such as City, Weekender and Work to suggest what the bag may be useful for, there really is a Balenciaga handbag for every occasion. In fact there are far too many variations to mention them all, but those three are probably the most popular Balenciaga handbags in the range. There is also a mini version and a purse version.

The Balenciaga Motorcycle handbag is recognisable by several features. It has two handles at the top as well as a shoulder strap. It has a main zip fastening, and a zipped front pocket often with a string attached to the zippers. In traditional Balenciaga Motorcycle handbags, the gold hardware is uncovered, but there is also a covered hardware version. There are rivets where the handles attach to the handbag, and on the front of the outside pocket. There are two buckles near the bottom of the bag.

Balenciaga Motorcycle handbags come in a wide range of colours. A limited range of colours are released each season, which keeps them more exclusive. There are also Limited Edition handbags released, such as a Japanese inspired print, and a black/white striped print.

In contrast to most designer handbags, Balenciaga Motorcycle handbags are not made form cowhide but from goat leather. This gives it a worn-in, distressed look, and a soft buttery feel to the handbag.

Sunday 8 February 2009

Balenciaga Handbags

Balenciaga handbags have got to be one of the most sought after brands of bags in recent years. Favoured by a wide range of celebrities, and also loved by magazine editors and fashion lovers, a Balenciaga handbag is on the wish list of many fashionable women.

A bit about Balenciaga - Christobal Balenciaga opened his first boutique in 1914 in Spain. This expanded to cover more of Spain, and finally Balenciaga moved to Paris. In 2001 Balenciaga became part of The Gucci Group. Nicholas Ghesquiere was appointed Chief designer of womenswear and menswear. This was seen as slightly controversial and Ghesquiere was given a chance to prove himself with a popular line in order to keep the role. He did, and his F/W 2005 collection was widely acclaimed, acquiring the brand celebrity fans and huge publicity.

Ghesquiere came up with a cunning marketing plan for the launch of his Balenciaga handbag - the "Lariat". He gave away the first 30 odd handbags to often-photographed celebrities such as Kate Moss, Chloe Sevigny and Charlotte Gainsburg, and these trendsetters spread the word for him and suddenly everyone wanted a Balenciaga handbag.

The motorcycle inspired range has fast become the “It” bag of the 21st Century. Celebrities such as Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen are often seen sporting a Balenciaga handbag from the motorcycle range in the latest colours. Some prefer the smaller “City” and “Work“ styles, but in keeping with the big bag trend of the past few years, the huge “Weekender” is probably the most trendy of all. Each season a limited number of bags are released, in several colours at a time. This makes these handbags even more exclusive, and the waiting list even longer!

Prices for Balenciaga handbags start from £800. They are sold online at Balenciaga.com (US only), and a few selected online retailers. Occasionally you will find a Balenciaga handbag on eBay, but they are normally snapped up pretty quickly and will fetch fairly high price (although probably still a lot cheaper than a new one). It is also important to be aware of fakes on sites such as eBay, any that has a cheap price tag is most likely not genuine!