Dubbed the “It Bag of Spring 2008″ the Burberry Warrior has created quite the hype. Seen on the arms of countless celebrities (and all over the set of the hit show Gossip Girl), this bag has taken the handbag world by storm. The bag started its journey on the Burberry runway in beige. Christopher Bailey, the Creative Director of Burberry, cited the Luxury Warrior as his inspiration for spring and this can be seen with his metal stud design used on this bag. The Burberry Warrior implements dark silver stud details on top of black leather. The top features a wide panel with drawstring pulls that go through eyelets to secure. The bag will fit snug on your shoulder. I saw this bag and loved it. It is so refreshing to see something different and eclectic from a brand that you begin to know what to expect. This bag was a great addition to a brand that at times has been predictable. Buy through Net A Porter for $3,195.

Burberry Check Net Drawstring Bag

We arrived in New York yesterday and were greeted with a cold, wet New York day. Really, I did not bring an umbrella as I assumed The Big Apple would be thrilled we are here and would cease all stormy weather. Today again, more rain. After a great day yesterday (lots of pictures and an interview to follow), today is another day we are looking forward to. I made Vlad go to Duane Reade to grab us some umbrellas, just cheap black ones that keep the rain off. When I look outside our window I see mostly black specs of umbrellas briskly walking the streets of New York, intermittent with some Burberry Check pattern ones. We have not covered Burberry handbags in a while, so I find it fitting to cover one today. I spotted the Burberry Check Net Drawstring Bag which redesigns the classic check into a net drawstring bag. This is a great resort bag, especially with the drawstring top giving it such a beach vibe. The nova net is trimmed with leather and the top handles are also leather (which drop 11.5″ at their longest). One thing I am not keen on is the lack of pockets, but the dimensions are still great for a beach tote, 15″W X 17″H X 6″D. Are you a fan or is this bag a waste? Buy through Saks for $995.

I’ll take bad ideas for $5,000,000,000 please. The thought of Burberry moving to China will face such a negative backlash that the brand will merely attempt to survive. The signature Burberry checkered pattern is “quintessentially British”, and a move to China will leave the company far from the same. Hell, even Prince Charles is rebelling!

PRINCE CHARLES has intervened in a row over plans by Burberry, the upmarket clothing firm, to shut down its Welsh factory with the loss of 300 jobs. He is understood to have contacted government ministers to ask if there is anything he can do.

The move is the latest in a backlash against Burberry, which wants to move production of its “quintessentially British” products to China, where labour costs are lower.

 

Ioan Gruffudd, the Welsh actor and Hollywood star, has also intervened, because the polo-shirt factory in Treorchy, Rhondda, is close to where he grew up.

Gruffudd’s move could prove embarrassing for the firm, which also counts Madonna, David and Victoria Beckham, and supermodel Kate Moss among its fans.

A year ago it recruited the actor to become one of the two global faces of Burberry, along with the
actress Rachel Weisz. Advertising shots of the actors have been the centrepiece of Burberry’s promotion for its London fragrance collection.

This weekend, however, it emerged that Gruffudd has written to Angela Ahrendts, Burberry’s chief executive, asking her to keep the plant going.

Tomorrow Leighton Andrews, a Welsh assembly member for Rhondda, will publish a letter he has received by e-mail from the actor, sent from Canada where he is currently filming.

In it, he says he has written to the Burberry chief executive asking her to look at “an alternative course of action” to closure.

Andrews said: “Burberry advertises itself on its website as ‘a luxury brand with a distinctive British sensibility’. If it wants to be seen as a British brand, it needs to keep manufacturing jobs in Britain.”

Burberry workers from the Rhondda demonstrated with their union the GMB outside Burberry’s two flagship West End stores in New Bond Street and Regent Street last weekend.

Billed as “the authentic British lifestyle brand”, Burberry was founded in 1856 in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The signature check emerged as a brand signature on various products in the 1960s, although now it is only used on 10% of Burberry products.

Burberry’s image is still centred on its Britishness. Behind the scenes, however, the focus of the company has been shifting to Asia, where the label is growing in popularity.

A celeb knows that any time they leave their house, they have the chance to be photographed. Because of this, a early morning run to the grocery store or a trip to the airport means there needs to be ample primping and preparing in order to look decent to the millions of people that will view their pictures. Cameron Diaz is a favorite of the paparazzi, and while she is not in the league of LiLo or TomKat, she is a celeb worth taking shots of. Cameron does not even catch a break in the airport, as the photogs follow her in and continue snapping. What I love to see is that Cameron did not neglect one handbag as a kick around bag, she has three bags which are all high end designer. The handbag that stands out the most that Cameron Diaz totes is the Burberry Knight Studded Bag which is adorned with studs all over the black leather. This handbag is a must have, as it brings forward the rocker chic yet keeps its cool with a toned down outfit. There are double handles, and two separate compartments on the inside. And while this handbag steals the show, her Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Pegase rolling suitcase and Chanel Denim Cabas are the perfect carry on bags for traveling. Cameron manages to stay chic while flying. And while this is a great thing, it would be a pain to always have to attempt to look put together, even when you just want to dress down and run and errand or two. Buy the Burberry Knight Studded Bag for $2,995 at NAP, the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Pegase luggage at eLuxury for $2,740 and inquire at your local Chanel boutique on the Chanel Denim Cabas (approx $1295).

*This bag is currently sold out at NAP, but they are expecting shipment again soon!*

Images via Celeb Utopia.

Does anyone else notice that the shape of this handbag closely resemble the Gucci Indy? It is public knowledge that I am not a fan of the Indy, but the idea behind the shape of the bag is fine. The Burberry Hoxton Quilted Hobo features quilted black leather with a buckle detailed adjustable shoulder strap. There is golden hardware and a zip top closure. The shape would fit perfectly under the arm without rubbing or chaffing. Now I am not jumping to the conclusion that I love the Gucci Indy because I think this bag is cute, but nevertheless the shape of this handbag is catchy. Dimensions are 17″W X 13½”H X 2″D. Buy through Saks for $950.

This summer my job was less than 100 feet from the side entrance of the David Letterman Late Show. What this meant was many visits to that side door to see the celeb of the day. The stars that appear on Letterman are always dressed to impress and the ladies carry the hippest handbags. This week a certain celeb paired her little black dress with a Burberry Handbag. While I can not find an exact match for the handbag, this bag resembles the Burberry Icons Collection Manor Bag. The Manor Bag shows off quilted house check with leather trim, handles and polished brass hardware (available via Burberry for $1295). Do you know the ‘celeb’ (calling her a celeb is really just relative) seen outside of Letterman with this Burberry bag? Find out after the jump.
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I’m in a clutch mood this weekend. The Burberry Trench Check Clutch combines funky brown, tan, and yellow buckle trench print alongside brown leather trim. The clutch has a bit going on but also has a preppy feel that I love. The front of the flap has a circular golden lock closure. While this clutch would not be the clutch that matches most outfits, it is fun and cute for fall. The dimensions are 4 1/2″H x 13 7/10″W x 2/5″D. Buy it via Neiman Marcus for $595.

While so many of the accessories we lust and obsess over are not essential, when you are a new mommy a diaper bag is essential. You have to be prepared at all times with diapers, bottles, food, toys, wipes, pacifiers, and whatever else I am leaving out. For the new mom who does not want to spend too much and wants a stylish yet casual bag the Burberry Denim Messenger Diaper Bag is a bull’s eye. Rather than overpowering the outside, the inside of this diaper bag is lined with the signature Novacheck pattern while the outside shows off practical and casual blue denim. Because this bag is all about practicality, there are two side pockets, a path pocket on the front flap, and a terry cloth changing pad included. The dimensions are 11″H x 5 1/2″W x 11″D. I may not be a mommie but I am half tempted to buy this bag for everyday use. Casual chic Burberry style is available through Neiman Marcus for $229.

I just realized that I actually do not own a Burberry handbag. Gasp! I own some scarves, a coat, and some other little accessories but no bag. Whether or not it makes sense, I would love to own at least one bag from all of the big designers. I just chuckled out loud thinking what my father or any other rational person would say to this. Oh well. If I were going for a Burberry bag, I think I found a very cute one that is a bit different from the rest. The Burberry Plaid Canvas Tote reminds me of spring and picnics. I can just see myself wearing this more vibrant plaid print with its bright leather trim to the park or out in the country with Vlad. Ahh the thoughts of warm weather and butterflies makes me happy. This tote has double top handles, two outside pockets with drawstrings, two inside compartments with dividers along with zip pockets, and measures 12″H X 16″L X 8″W. I can see not everyone liking the crayon colored plaid pattern, but it suits me well enough for my picnic dates in the country Available via Saks for $495.

Let’s talk some Burberry today. For a light start, we got the Burberry Luggage Tags for $130.00. A ridiculous amount of money, considering you can get generic tags for a buck fiddy or the free paper ones at the airline ticket counter. Still, if you don’t know what to do with your money, and you already spend several G’s on a full Louis luggage set, you might as well spend another half a grand on these tags to round off the luxurious bunch. They come in sets of two, in either Jacquard Canvas or Metallic Leather and can be ordered right here.

If you ladies want to treat your man with something that’ll make him stand out at the weekly golf outing with his buddies at the range, get him this Burberry Bag set. For just under $500, you get a carry-all bag for all of his misc golf equipment, along with a useful seperate shoe compartment. The signature black check nylon canvas on lightweight, shower-resistant polyester assure that moisture, dirt and mud stay where they belong. Get ‘em right here through Neiman Marcus.