Hand Embellished Evening Purses

Categorizing the Concept

The concept of "hand embellished" implies that your evening bag has been adorned by hand with beads, gems, embroideries, and ornaments of all sorts. Typically, when you're dealing with hand embellished evening purses and accessories, you are usually purchasing a higher quality item. When an item has been decorated by hand, the job is executed with painstaking care. The ornamental objects will be placed deliberately and more evenly than assembly line items; therefore, the overall appearance of your handbag will be much improved.

The Cost of Hand Embellished Evening Purses

Unfortunately for buyers, because hand embellished goods are usually of better quality than items decorated by a machine, the cost increases. Unless these items are produced under questionable labor circumstances, you will pay more in order to ensure that every worker is compensated. Aside from maintenance costs, machines do not need to be paid.

Hand craftsmanship is one of the reasons why high designer items tend to be far more expensive than low-level or mass-produced goods. If an item is hand embellished it is likely that it was hand stitched as well. Although this sort of labor will ensure you a superior evening bag, it is also going to incur more fees and, therefore, escalate the price considerably. This is one of the major reasons why the cost of a Gucci clutch will greatly exceed that of one from the XOXO Bags collection.

Fine Evening Bags

Handmade Designer Recycled Baguette

However, pricing aside, evening occasions are truly your time to shine. Since most evening bags are intended for formal, cocktail, or party events, the more ornate your handbag is, the more pizazz your outfit will possess. A glittering formal purse is the finishing touch to a long silk gown or even a chic black party dress. The classic Hepburn look has been over done, so unless you're wearing Calvin Klein to the affair, let your handbag be as exciting as your personality hopes to be!

A Glance at Judith Leiber

If you're a Park Avenue gal, then it's more than likely you've heard of Judith Leiber. She is the absolute queen of posh evening bags, and her crystal adorned clutches have been seen in the hands of red-carpet goers since Hollywood immemorial. In fact, these pieces are so cleverly ornate that some are on display in museums worldwide.

Now, the everyday gal will not be able to stomach the price tag of such intense little items. Even the simplest of Leiber’s Austrian crystal adorned bags run well into the thousands. However, the point of mentioning Judith Leiber and her sensational career in the world of bling is to display the absolute pinnacle of hand embellished evening purses. If you manage to happen upon a Leiber clutch in either real-life or just a photo on the web, you can note how impeccably each crystal is laid. The designs are crafted evenly throughout all of her handbags, and in many of the styles they require depth and shading. This flawless placement of gems is essential to produce the desired effect. The Pigtail model, available at Neiman Marcus, is a prime example of the precise crystal placement. It is difficult to conceive how much time must flood into each little clutch, and when this labor is added to the material cost, the hefty price tag seems quite justified.

Designer Styles

Of course, Judith Leiber isn't the only designer to grace the evening bag scene. Big names such as Gucci, Prada, Chloe, and many others have been actively developing haute handbag looks for formal events as well. The Badgley Mischka model is just one of many hand embellished evening purses.

Where to Purchase

Department Stores

Unless you're shopping online for vintage items, a quick romp to your nearest Neiman Marcus or Saks will reveal several designer label evening purses that have been manufactured and adorned by hand. If price is truly a consideration then you may have to look for deals online at auctions such as eBay. Buyers should be wary of all designer items sold by unauthorized online vendors, as it is very common for these products to be replicas.

Individual Artists and Designer Shops

Dhelia Handmade Clutch Purse from Blumera.com

Another method to discover handmade beaded evening bags is by looking for individual handbag designers. Artists may run small shops or businesses to promote their handmade designs, and you can look at current design selections or request custom made evening bags. A big advantage to smaller handbag venue may offer big advantages, such as unique or one-of-a-kind handbags, highly original beads and embellishments, and non-traditional evening bag designs and selections. To get you started on your search for beaded handbag artists, here are a venues to check into:

• Ili Bag offers custom evening and casual handbags, with your choice of embellishments and beads.
• Etsy Marketplace offers designers an great venue for their handmade designs. Search for beaded purses, embellished evening bags or just do a general search for handbags for some breath-taking selections.
• Handkraftz lovely little beaded bags are perfect for nights out and affordable priced as well.
• Megan Noel Purses are beautifully hand-beaded purses that will be the highlight of your ensemble.
• Leigh Anne Kline hand embellished purses offer incredible, unique designs you won't find anywhere else.