Burberry Fall 2008 Handbags
Burberry is one of the most recognized labels in the fashion industry. From Los Angeles to Milan, Burberry designs are known around the world as a status symbol of wealth and luxury. Although the Burberry label offers a complete collection of high-end apparel, it has always been the handbags that make the label so popular. Burberry handbags and accessories feature some of the most intricate detailing and creative elements the industry has ever seen.
Burberry Cutout Hobo Bag
Pleated hobo bag with a signature check pattern features small angular cutouts revealing shimmering metallic leather beneath. From the Pre-Fall Collection.
• Top zip closure.
• Calfskin leather/PVC.
• Interior zip, cell phone and PDA pockets.
• Dimensions: 14 1/2″W x 8 1/2″H x 1″D; 9 1/2″ strap drop.
$895
The Burberry Check
The red, white, black, and camel check, the Nova, has come to be synonymous with Burberry, and was first used as a lining for their trenchcoat in 1924. It wasn’t until as late as 1967, that the Burberry Check, by then registered as a trademark, was widely used on its own for items including umbrellas, scarves, and luggage.
Burberry Check Messenger Bag
Constructed bag of signature check canvas is trimmed with topstitched leather detail.
• Golden hardware
• Top center zip compartment
• About 9″H X 11″W X 1½”D
• Drawstring accent at center front
• Cross-body buckle shoulder strap, 22″ drop
• Inside wall zip, PDA and cell phone pocket
• Cotton with calfskin trim; water-repellent cotton lining
$695
Celebrity Supporters
The Burberry label has a long list of celebrity supporters choosing to wear their incredible designs. Burberry designs generally appeal to sophisticated, career women and businessmen looking to enhance their wardrobe. One of Hollywood’s hottest couples, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Philippe are huge supporters of the Burberry label, along with many other Hollywood superstars. Burberry designs are hot and sexy, both on and off the runway.
Burberry Cutout Drawstring Shopper
Drawstring shopper features the classic check pattern, logo detailed and accented with tiny diamond-shaped cutouts through which shimmering calfskin leather shows. From the Spring 2008 Collection.
• Drawstring closure.
• Calfskin leather/PVC.
• Interior zip, cell phone and PDA pockets.
• Dimensions: 15″W x 12 1/2″H x 6 1/2″D; 9″ strap drop.
$1095
The cost of Burberry handbags and accessories is slightly higher than most other labels on the market. Their designs represent wealth and sophistication and as a result, generally cost a significant amount per piece. Most of their handbags are upwards of $1,000 (or more) while their wallets sell for at least $200 apiece.
After the entry of a new management team in 1997, the brand was revitalized, after having been mainly the preserve of upper-middle class older women. Celebrities in the U.K. and the U.S., including David and Victoria Beckham, and hip-hop artists, gave it a wider appeal.
Company History
Burberry clothing was founded in 1856, when 21 year old Thomas Burberry, a former draper’s apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. By 1870, the business had become well established and focused on the development of outdoor attire.
In 1880, Thomas Burberry invented gabardine fabric, which is hardwearing, water-resistant, yet breathable, in which the yarn is waterproofed before weaving. In 1891, Thomas Burberry opened an emporium in the Haymarket, London, which still stands today as the company’s headquarters.
Ten years later, Burberry was commissioned by the War Office to design a new service uniform for British officers. They also became the outfitters for Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole in 1911, then for Ernest Shackleton on his 1914 expedition to cross Antarctica.
When war broke out in Europe that year, the company modified its military designs to suit the conditions of contemporary warfare encountered by British troops, and the trenchcoat was created. After the war, it became popular with civilians, and over the years has been worn by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films, and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
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
