Designer Handbag Outlet

If you're on the hunt for a fabulous piece of arm candy but don't want to spend your life's savings, pay a visit to a designer handbag outlet. Many of the coveted labels have specialty outlets that offer their stylish designs at reasonable prices. From the popular Coach outlets to fun and stylish Dooney and Bourke outlets, they're practically fashion hideouts for in-the-know women who score their high-end goodies for less than high-end prices!

Who knows what you'll find?

Never has the desire to score a cheap fashion thrill been as great as in recent years. With the advent of mall stores that cater to thrifty crowds, sample sales with lines that wrap around the block and online-only sales, the opportunities to spend less are practically everywhere. Sometimes, though, certain items are seemingly impossible to find for reasonable prices. Maybe you're on the hunt for a gorgeous Gucci bag, but don't want to pay full price, or perhaps you've long had your eye on a Cole Haan purse but just haven't been able to justify the expense. The answer lies not within the chic but costly confines of Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus, but inside an outlet store.

The very existence of outlet stores is great news for bargain hunters and fashion addicts alike. While not all designers have outlets, many mid- to high-end labels do have locations at large outlet malls across the country and, in some cases, outside of the United States, as well. In addition, many high-end goods are now sold online for a fraction of their retail prices at discount boutiques that specialize in bringing affordable luxury to consumers.

Chances are you'll find a designer whose work you admire in the long and ever-growing list of outlet stores. Here are just a few of the stores that now operate at outlet malls across the country:

• Bottega Veneta
• Burberry
• Coach
• Cole Haan
• DKNY
• Dooney & Bourke
• Gucci
• Judith Leiber
• Juicy Couture
• Kate Spade
• Kenneth Cole
• Longchamp
• Michael Kors
• Salvatore Ferragamo
• Versace

With such an impressive list to work through, you'd be hard pressed not to find the designer handbag of your dreams at one of these outlets. As with just about anything, though, there are pros and cons to outlet shopping.

The obvious benefit to shopping at an outlet store is the incredible savings you'll enjoy as opposed to purchasing the same items at a retail store. While brand new items (that is, items that are from current seasons) are usually not immediately available, products from recent seasons are almost always ripe for the picking. For avid collectors, outlet stores offer handbag fanatics a chance to scoop up styles that may not be readily available elsewhere. Coach fans, for example, may find a long discontinued style in an outlet store, often at a fraction of the original retail price!

The downside may well be just another way of looking at just what is so great about a designer handbag outlet. The fact that new, present season items are not normally available can be disappointing for some. It's always wise to head into an outlet store with the understanding that you likely won't be purchasing the season's hottest It Bag for 70 percent off the retail price. Once that's out of the way, you'll enjoy perusing the typically vast selection of bags!

There are a number of handbag outlets located at actual outlet malls and also on the Internet. Find the stores nearest you by visiting these helpful Web sites:

• Chelsea Premium Outlets: Home to some of the world's most upscale stores, Chelsea Premium Outlets are located in various parts of the country. Click the "Centers" tab at the top of the page for information on the location nearest you.

• Outlet Bound: This guide offers a catalog of the country's outlet malls in one convenient location. Search by location, store name, category or brand name. The brand name is particularly helpful if you have your heart set on a particular bag.

Online outlet stores offer quite an impressive selection of handbags, but there is a certain danger involved when shopping for high-end items on the Internet. Imposter handbags are far too common in this day and age, and many of them are sold through so-called "reputable" online retailers. It's wise to do some research on the Web site's integrity and history prior to purchasing anything. You don't want to end up with a replica handbag that's been passed off as the real thing!

These reputable sites don't advertise themselves as "outlets," but do offer designer handbags at prices you'd see at outlet stores. You may find a few more recent styles at these locations, too!

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• Overstock
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