Dooney & Bourke Bags

What Dooney & Bourke Provides

These colorful and classy handbags are seen on the arms of actresses, pop stars, celebrities, and socialites everywhere. Though Dooney & Bourke bags are best recognized for their initial strewn fabric purses, the company manufactures much more than monogram handbags. In fact, Dooney & Bourke is a big name in the industry of high-profile handbags, and because the price of Dooney & Bourke bags is much more affordable than that of Fendi and other top-end designers, it is totally conceivable to have a closet full of these fantastic designs.

The Dooney & Bourke company has been in operation since 1975 when it was founded by H. Peter Dooney and Frederick Bourke. The original handbag line began with the use of a fine leather calfskin that was processed to withstand all forms of weather, making it nearly indestructible. The bags were stitched by hand (as they are still today) and accentuated with solid brass hardware, making Dooney & Bourke bags a shoo-in for the luxury accessory scene.

More importantly, as the company grew over the years, Dooney & Bourke began experimenting with more water-proof and ecologically friendly materials, as well as exotic ostrich-print calfskin. Still, Dooney & Bourke is most popular for the "It" collection which features the multicolored monogram of Dooney & Bourke set against a white or black background -- a style inspired by the Louis Vuitton multicolor monogram line.

Styles of Dooney & Bourke Bags

Dooney & Bourke makes a handbag for everything. In fact, the company has recently been crafting everything from iPod to PDA cases. But a focus on carrier accessories has opened the Dooney & Bourke line up into luggage as well as:

• Barrel Bags
• Totes
• Flap Bags
• Shoulder Bags
• Backpacks
• Handbags

In fact, Dooney & Bourke has pretty much manufactured the whole array of handbag styles. But what makes this company so unique to the handbag industry is its distinct and playfully daring designs. Dooney & Bourke will seasonally come out with some absurdly endearing fashion such as the Spring 2007 Bumble Bee collection that features colorful chubby bumblebees and large block-letter "D"s set against a white or black background. Comical prints such as these are rare in the luxury handbag scene, and these festive seasonal styles are what sets Dooney & Bourke apart from similarly priced designers such as Coach.

Dooney & Bourke just can't let go of multicolor patterns, which is why its Spring Doodle collection boasts a candy-colored string of "Dooneys" and "Bourkes" against the classic white or black backgrounds.

Of course, Dooney & Bourke isn't always playful. The company is rich in classic and refined luxury handbags. The Medium East/West Zip Tote is a standard executive accessory. This uber-serious little number comes in just about every uber-serious color, and it is perfect for the office or those swank business dinners you keep charging to the company account. Don't expect any pink out of this bag; you're all grown up, so you'll be choosing from a span of jewel tones and neutral colors like…taupe. It just doesn't get anymore serious than taupe.

Purchasing Information

Dooney & Bourke bags can frequently be found at fine department stores such as Macy's and Nordstrom, and also at the company's flagship store in Manhattan. All items in the most recent seasonal collection can be purchased directly from the Dooney & Bourke site.

It is recommended that you not purchase Dooney & Bourke bags or merchandise from any unauthorized online vendor as most of these products are replicas.