People are flying, driving and bussing all over the place – getting home for the holidays, taking a much-needed vacation and of course, there’s always business travel!

If you need some new luggage for your next trip, you might want to check out Halsea.  They make stylish, modern travel accessories for both women and men.  Their luggage, bags and totes are made from canvas or water-resistant laminated canvas, trimmed with leather accents.

Here are a few picks from their different collections:

Large roller duffle from the “Little Harbor” collection.  The duffle is made from laminated canvas with leather trim and is available in your choice of “kelp” (shown here) or coffee colors.

Large splash-proof laminated canvas tote from the “China Cove” collection, shown in salt water blue print.

Printed canvas sunglasses case from the “Crescent Bay” collection, sand with pink and marigold seahorses shown.

images: Halsea

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Stylish Travel Accessories from Halsea

Like all of their sales, the Kate Spade sale has deep discounts on guaranteed-authentic designer products, but in very limited amounts.  Which means if you want to score your own lovely Kate Spade tote, you’d better hurry up!  Their last Kate Spade sale sold out in just a few hours…

Here are a few sneak peeks from the sale:

The two-tone leather tote “Bryant Park Nyssa” has engraved metal accents and is a roomy size at 14.5″H x 19″W x 5″D, Handle length: 8″ drop.

How about a bright pop of color to brighten your fall and winter wardrobe?

The crocodile-textured “Wallingford Jordan” leather tote is available in five colors, including this great red, 11.1″H x 12.9″W x 4.3″D.

Of course, Kate Spade also makes canvas totes as well:

The pretty-in-pink “Union Square Opus” is an easy to carry 9.5″H x 13″W x 6.5″D, drop handle 13.5″ canvas tote with an adjustable shoulder strap and carry handles.

ideeli is an invitation-only shopping community, but if you’re not a member, just use the code “gleam” to join

images: ideeli

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Kate Spade on Sale at ideeli

For the next day and a half (or until it sells out) ideeli is selling a limited selection of Bill Blass handbags, with some of the bags deeply discounted by more that 50% percent.

ideeli is an invitation-only site, so if you’re not a member, just use the code “gleam” and you’re in

So what kind of luscious bags do they have on sale?  Well, take a peek…

The “Landon” bucket bag is a funky mix of soft glazed calfskin leather and printed hair-on calf hide (the animal print).  It’s finished with a tassel, braided handles and signature Bill Blass hardware:

The “Henry” tote comes in four colors of lambskin, including this rich teal:

It’s finished with a unique ruffle detail, brushed gold hardware and piping accents.

The “Jonathan” hobo comes in two unique variations – this one, with a ruffle detail:

Or with a woven top and no ruffles.  They both have signature hardware and a tassel accent.

images: ideeli

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Bill Blass Handbags On Sale at Ideeli

You might want to check out these bold and funky totes and purses from Tokyo Made!

They’re made in Tokyo, by designers MACBAG and Colorcult – with an interesting twist.  The body of the purses are made from handmade African fabric.  You can’t get much more multi-cultural than that…

This is the “Lattice Tote” by Colorcult.  It’s made using handmade Nigerian wax printed fabric (the design is made by layering different colors of dye over top of the fabric – the dye can’t penetrate the wax, which allows for intricate designs to be created).  It’s finished with riveted leather handles.

The “Pink Ornate Tote” is also by Colorcult.  The body of the bag is a Nigerian wax print cloth with quilted pink leather handles.

This cute little purse is the “Pink Orchid Party Bag” by MACBAG.  The body of the bag is an African print, topped with leather.  There is also a detachable leather shoulder strap.

images: Tokyo Made

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African Fabric + Japanese Style

Of course – they’re used in lots of different kinds of handbag lines these days.

There’s a new kind of purse embellishment that’s been popping up lately though…

Animals have been showing up as decorative accents in a few brands of handbags.  Of course, Marc Jacobs created the adorable mouse shoes, but dogs and lambs have been making their presence known as well.

Marc Jacobs had to follow the mouse shoes with a cat of course!  This cotton tote from Marc by Marc Jacobs features a charming cat on the side.

Chloe has released a shopper for the dog fans.  This cotton tote has a screen printed dog with a chain accent and tag stitched on to it.

Let’s not forget the cute and cuddly lamb – especially when it shows up on a shopper by L.A.M.B.!  The PVC tote features a signature name plate as well.

images: Nordstrom

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What’s That On Your Bag?

Pleats are showing up as an interesting detail in quite a few different accessory collections.  They can be formed by sewing them into the leather or fabric, or just when the bag straps are adjusted a certain way.  Some designers are putting little pleats all over the purse, or just a couple of big ones to make a statement.

And some purses have pleats that really, seriously should have been reconsidered (link may be somewhat NSFW).

Luckily, the good pleats outway the bad – and if you want to try some pleated purses on for size, here are some lovely ones:

The “Garnet” pleated purse by Coach, made with purple leather and silver hardware.

The pleated & studded hobo by Treesje in either black or grey, with removable handles.

Go for elegant simplicity with Nordstrom’s house brand glazed leather pleated hobo, available in black, purple and teal.

images: Nordstrom

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Pretty Pleated Purses

Gucci has been making some lovely purses with oilslick patent lately, of course – featuring their signature horse bit:

The medium shoulder bag features a permanent handle and removable & adjustable shoulder strap.

The medium tote is perfect if you want a simpler bag, but don’t need a shoulder strap.

images: Neiman Marcus

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Oilslick Purses from Gucci

These totes are made using recycled pop bottles and grain sacks – and you’d never guess their origins from their funky style!  As well, Blue Q donates 1% of their profits from these bags to the Nature Conservancy.

It’s a win-win situation – you can support a good cause, keep plastic out the landfills and carry a stylish shopper.

“Miso Pretty“

“Happy Camper“

“Crazy Collage“

images: Blue Q

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Funky Totes from Blue Q

Bloomingdale's

This tote measures 16 inches wide by 5 inches deep and 10 inches high. It also includes an interior zipper and a spot for your cell phone. The Sequins are to die for, but be careful with them. They could come off. So, this isn’t one to throw around too much.

You can find the bag in Purple and Black at Zappos.com for $185. If you’re more of a metallic fan, then hop on over to Bloomie’s to pick up the Gold for $185 as well.  So many places!

Oh! And did you know Betsey Johnson is also on Twitter? She, like so many other great designers have jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. She has even hosted a two hour “blog question and answer period.” To follow Betsey click here.

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Betsey’s Showgirl Tote

I thought it would be fun to share some red and white (the colors on the Canadian flag) accessory picks.  After all, there are lots of ways to be patriotic – you don’t need to wear a pair of flag shoes

image: Zappos

Red & white striped bangle bracelet by Betsey Johnson.

image: Zappos

Patent leather “Naomi” low heel peep-toes by RSVP.

image: Etsy

Striped cotton tote by Sinem Inugur.

image: Etsy

“Coco” necklace, made with a red lucite heart and white faceted opalite beads by Cloverbelle.

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Red & White Fun for Canada Day