With the upcoming holiday season approaching, we felt it was time to do another guide on shopping for handbags & that elusive IT Bag. As some of you may already know, we offer designer looks at reasonable prices, or at least we try to.  Our current bestseller right now are the Silverado style satchels.  We carry them in Camel, Cocoa Brown & Black.  In my honest opinion, after looking at the $2000.00 Chloe Silverado satchels at Nordstrom at the Grove here in Los Angeles, the bags we are selling are of excellent quality and are a steal of a deal at $89.99.  Well enough about that... I'm getting a little off topic here. I agree that the Internet is a great place to shop for bargains, especially when it comes to purses. This is my list of things to consider when shopping on-line because the only drawback to Internet shopping is that you cannot actually touch or feel the coveted item.

1.Craftsmanship.  Pay attention to detail. Trust me, when it comes to handbags, the little things really do count.  How intricate is the whipstitching?  What kind of leather is it?  What does the leather look like in the photos?  If it looks cheap in the photos then it will probably look even moreso in person.

2.  Measurements.  Pay attention to the dimensions of the bag and also consider your own personal height & weight.  I'll go on the record and say that I am a defenite shorty so I'm able to carry most bags with no problem.  Unless, of course, the shoulder strap is 20 inches. :)  So just take into consideration on where you feel the bag will fall on your own body when looking at the drop length measurements.  When in doubt, ask the Seller about the measurements or their opinion as they are the ones who have the merchandise at hand.

3.  Lifestyle.  What's your daily lifestyle like?  Things are pretty much "anything goes" here in LA, but I know that is not the case in maybe the Midwest.  Is this "It Bag" going to go along with your daily routine or is it a purchase that will only be good for a few weeks? This is most important to think of when we are speaking of more expensive bags, especially in today's economy.

4. Price.  Have you ever heard the saying, "You get what you pay for"?  Those words are so true whe speaking of handbags.  There's just no way around it.  Every now & then, we get E-mails from a proespective buyer who wants an item for next to nothing.  They may have seen a similiar item on the Internet for a lower price & they want to know why ours cost more.  Please remember that quality & craftsmanship do cost more, and it's always best to pay a little more in the beginning for something that can last maybe a few years.

Well, I hope these little tips will be helpful to you this Christmas season.  If you have any further questions about handbags, stop by Beverly Hills Bratz & drop us a line.  We always love to talk purses. :)

Chow,