Win a handbag

Time is running out to enter The Bag Boutique's handbag competition.

In order to enter our competition simply register with The Bag Boutique and sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter - it's really as easy as that!

You will then be entered into our prize draw to win the Luna blue handbag designed by Jan Milne - worth £45.00.

Competition closes on 30th September so hurry for your chance to win....!

Handbag Designer Profile Seven - Lucy J

Lucy J is a new designer added to The Bag Boutique only this week and we have already received loads of great comments about her designs.

Lucy J has been working for over 10 years in the field of textile design since graduating from Leeds College of Art and Design in 1994. This season she promotes a new venture, with a range of functional fashion accessories, which fuse her distinctive patterns with fine craftsmanship.

Through extensive travel Lucy J is familiar with the demand for practical yet appealing accessories, by combining durable fabrics and enticing prints.

One of our favourites is the 80's shoulder bag with a matching zip purse. The bag retails at £45.00 and the zip purse can be bought for £20.00.

Visit http://www.thebagboutique.co.uk/bag-designers/lucy-j-new/ to view Lucy's collection.

Special Offers - up to 40% off

Why not take advantage of our special offers section which now includes new bags with up to 40% off the original price.

These offers won't last for long, so hurry whilst stocks last and grab a designer bag to update your wardrobe.

Imaginative Accessorizing

Recently I have come across the website Everything Chic which is a great site for fashion tips, website reviews and shopping directory listings. Some of the articles give great ways to spruce up your look for next to nothing, read their article below on imaginative accessorising.

It's not easy to keep up with the cost of fashion. Designer clothes, matching handbags, the shoes needed to go with every outfit. And don't forget the earrings, bracelets, necklaces, sunglasses, hair clips, handbag charms, toe rings.... It all adds up. But you could save yourself some money by being a bit creative.

Bold prints of flowers and sparkly designs are headlining our clothes shops, so why not go a step further and attach a beautiful flower corsage. Or take out your favourite old skirt and give it a new lease on life. Swirling hemline designs simply stitched in place give a fantastic bold statement. An everyday handbag can be glammed up for the summer with a daisy chain of linked flowers round the top, or a big sun flower pinned on the front. You could even go as far as attaching smaller sun flowers to your flip-flops and sandals to brighten them up for an afternoon's BBQ.

Silk flowers are a fantastic way to give your outfit the girly edge without having to spend a fortune. Put a big pink silk rose on a hairband and use it as a bracelet. Tie tiny silk flowers to the belt loops of your three quarters and team it with a camisole top. Or go for the prairie princess look with a garland of yellow flowers for your hair. So don't spend a fortune, use some imagination, and then smile prettily as the compliments start pouring in.

Reprinted courtesy of EverythingChic.com

Handbag Designer Profile Six - Lucy Hayler

This week's profile looks into the designs from Lucy Hayler.

Lucy is one of the UK's up and coming handbag and accessory designers; all of her bags are designed and made using the finest materials without compromising on durability or practicality.

The bowling bags made from Harris Tweed (shown) are gorgeous and they have been featured recently as a must have handbag in the Daily Mail. They cost £89.00 but are well worth the investment.

September Sun

For the past two weeks I have been enjoying a break in the South of France and on the Isle of Arran in Scotland in preparation for the pre-Christmas run up and shopping events, which are planned for The Bag Boutique in the coming months.

Whilst mooching around St Tropez market in the French Riviera, the stalls had a huge variety of bags, which I couldn't help but glance at, it wasn't a buying trip but I am always on the look out for unusual or colourful bags to booster my own collection!

Having been to St Tropez on numerous occasions, I felt I had to tell you about a gorgeous boutique, which sells a range of jewellery, home wares and handbags.
The handbags are fantastic, you choose the bag itself either paper, fabric or leather and then you choose your interchangeable leather straps, which can be bought in almost any colour– a great way to create an individual bag. Next time you visit St Tropez go to Edouard Ramboud on the Place de la Garonne just near the harbour and treat yourself.

August Retail Sales

Total sales in the UK retail market rose 5.5% for the month of August, like for like sales rose by 2.5% against the same month last year. It was reported that the trend for like for like sales fell from 4.1% in July to 2.7% over a three-month period.

Source: Drapers Record 9th September 2006

July a hot month for online sales

It was reported in Drapers today that online sales for July increased by 35.4% thanks to the summer heat wave. Spending online reached £2.33 billion for July compared with £2.2 billion in June.

Spending in high street stores fell by 2.2% for the same month as the heat discouraged shoppers.

Source: Drapers and Internet Monitor IMRG