Isn’t it great, when what is currently in fashion is also comfortable and practical? Totes and hobo purses are this year’s favorites. Find out how to select the best one for you.

A tote is an open-top bag that has straps or handles; you can wear it over your shoulder or carry in your hand. A hobo bag is a crescent-shaped bag that hangs from your shoulder. Both are large, so you can fit a lot of stuff in them.

You can get totes and hobo bags in just about any color. Bright-colored handbags are hot this year, but bear in mind that, if you have a large, brightly colored bag, it will attract attention. What I mean is that you don’t want your bag to overpower your outfit or face. However, if you wear a plain outfit in a classic color, like black, grey or white, you can brighten it up with a green or orange purse.

The most popular materials are luxurious leather, leatherette, canvas, linen, tapestry and straw. Combinations of leather and fabric also look very stylish, but are more affordable than leather.

Hobo bags and totes also come with beautiful prints on them; totes that feature celebrities are particularly popular, just now. Animal lovers can get totes that have adorable pictures of pups or kittens on them. You can even order a custom made tote with a photo of your own pet - all you need is to provide a photo of reasonable quality.

Most of us think of a tote as a casual bag for shopping, but you can also get elegant, stylish varieties. If it is leather, suede, or a leather-fabric combination, a tote can be a good companion for a work outfit.

Most hobo bags are not expensive. If you do a little bit of comparison shopping online, you will find fabric and leather-like bags for under 50 dollars, and quality leather for under a hundred. That is, of course, for non-designer bags - but they are of good quality, all the same. If you are after Gucci, Fendi or Prada totes and hobo purses, though, expect to pay a few hundred dollars.

Tanya Turner is a fashion expert and a founder of

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Without a doubt, eBay was one of the cleverest on-line ideas that anyone has had so far. The idea of creating a site where you can bid on and buy items ranging from an eggcup through to a disused Boeing 747 or a Nuclear Missile Silo was pure genius.

Sadly though, whenever a good idea comes along, the seedier side of humanity is sure to be not that far behind, sliding along in it’s wake leaving a gooey trail behind themselves.

So it is on Ebay. Current estimation holds that nigh on 37% of the worlds counterfeit and fake goods are sold daily on Ebay.

Having seen some of the listings I can fully believe it.

Especially where designer label goods are concerned.

Take a look at just about any page of Louis Vuitton items listed on Ebay and on average you’ll find 95% of them on each page are fake.

So how can you avoid the easy to make mistake of buying a cheap quality fake LV?

Learn.

Learn as much as you can about the specific item you’re interested in.

Don’t go trawling ebay for ideas on what to buy and expect to be able to find a prize, hidden away deep in the listings. There are LV addicts who spend the best part of the day doing just that, trawling the auctions, checking and rechecking, looking for the bags that are being sold by owners with little knowledge, owners who are selling at a price away below what it should be. Then they’ll “snipe” the auction in the last few seconds - right out from under your nose!

If you really want to buy a pre owned LV then your best bet would be to go to a consignment store and see if they can get hold of one for you. They’ll have a constantly changing stock of second hand authentic items for you to choose from and you’re fairly assured of it being genuine.

But if you really must buy your LV off eBay then try to use one of the approved LV sellers.

Who or what is an approved LV seller, you may well ask?

Well, there are two sets of LV sellers and buyers who have proven themselves, over a period of time as well as a set number of successful sales of authentic goods, and who have a distinction awarded by one of two “bodies”.

The two bodies are MyPoupette and ALVA (Authentic Louis Vuitton Addicts).

A MyPoupette recommended seller is known as an MPRS (My Poupette Recommended Seller) and an ALVA recommended seller is known as an ALVA SS (ALVA Seller Select).

Both of these lists have a criteria that any seller MUST meet before being granted the “badge”. That criteria requires a certain number of authentic only items to have been sold with supporting feedback and good trading practice before they can qualify.

Once they are awarded this distinction they are then allowed to use that title and badge in their auctions.

Now, although nothing in life is guaranteed, you can be much more assured and comfortable buying your used LV through one of these sellers.

Why?

Well, two reasons really.

Firstly, many of the resellers who have earned this level treat their selling and buying as a business. To sell a fake would result in their being stripped of their titles which could seriously affect their turnover! They only deal in authentic items and HATE fakes.

Secondly, both of the bodies who issue these distinctions have an interest and a duty in ensuring that their members behave and sell properly.

Should a buyer have an issue with one of these sellers they can take their complaint to either MyPoupette or ALVA and ask that they intervene. Although neither of these bodies are legally responsible for your sales and purchases with their listed resellers, they do take any complaint seriously and will investigate and assist where possible.

On past record, when you deal with a seller with either of these titles you are going to have a good time!

And that means you avoid buying a fake LV on Ebay!

Copyright:: Rufus Steele 2005

Rufus Steele is the author and creator of the Louis Vuitton website, a site dedicated to all things Louis Vuitton

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Whether your designer handbag is a Louis Vuitton, a Gucci, or any other designer, it is important to take proper care of it. Proper care will give you many years of beauty and use in return.

Most leather designer bags are not treated. This allows the bags to age gracefully and with the character expected from a designer bag, making them distinct and unique. Keep your bag away from makeup, food, or any other oil based product which can stain. When you are not using your bag, store it in a protective cloth container.

The very first thing you should do is treat your handbag with a leather protector to prevent stains from setting in. No matter how careful you are, at some point your likely to leave a mark on it and the leather protection will not allow it to soak in so you’ll be able to more easily remove it.

What to do if you get a stain. Here’s some helpful tips worth trying.

Cleaning leather can be a bit difficult. Leather is rugged and lasts a long time but it does stain quite easily. Depending on the type of leather and the finish, will depend on the cleaning method used.

If a handbag is tanned, and pigmented you can try to wipe the stain with a soft damp clothe. If this doesn’t work, try a leather cleaner specifically made for the type of leather you have. Follow the directions carefully. Once the spot has been removed it is a good idea to re-condition the leather to restore the natural luster. Always test a leather product in inconspicuous spot before applying to your entire handbag.

If the leather has become discolored there are leather products on the market that can help restore color. Try to match the product as close as possible to the natural color of your handbag.

If your not sure, we would recommend you take it to a professional leather cleaner who will have the expertise to remove the stain.

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

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