DownEast Basics Handbag {Review} + Giveaway

I know I’ve shared with all of you my love of handbags and of course my addiction to shopping. hehee. A girl can never have too many bags, right? Of course not. Now some of you may try to match your bag with an outfit but me, I just like stylish bags period. And it seems like the more trinkets or accessories added to the bags, the more attracted I am to them. I just can’t get enough.

Honestly when I shop a clothing store online and see that they sell handbags and shoes, I quickly navigate to those first. Clothing is important but having the right accessories is just as important in my opinion. You can really change up an outfit and make it something new with the right accessories and so it’s just as important to me to have several different ones to choose from because I can turn one outfit into several just by changes my shoes, handbags and jewelry.

I recently had the pleasure of trying out a new Spring handbag from DownEast Basics – the Vogue bag in black. This one is a bit larger than I’m used to but I love the added space I now have. And the bag itself is very stylish. I love the shape and all of the extra pockets. I not only have an outside pocket for my cell phone but one for my iPod Touch as well, and yet another for my calculator or keys. They are easy to access at any time. There’s also 3 internal pockets for those small items you want stored away. One is zippered and the others are more like pouches. I put my hand sanitizer in one of those because I don’t leave home without it.

I could honestly fit all of my cosmetics, a brush, hair spray, wallet, keys, bottled water, camera, cell phone, and more in this handbag. It has a ton of room. My last purse had a built-in organizer and it was on the small side so I didn’t even have room for my keys. It was so annoying. So I bought a new one and tossed my old one in the trash. I’ll never buy an organizer purse again.

When we’re out in public I’m always the one who’s expected to carrying everything. My hubby hands me his keys at times, a hair brush, my sons phone. Just whatever they don’t wanna carry. With that tiny purse I just couldn’t do it. Although they tried cramming their stuff in it anyway. Geez!

I’m loving my new Vogue handbag. It carries everything just short of the kitchen sink. hahaa. Not that I would even try that. My arm does get tired after a while. And don’t get me wrong. This bag is NOT the size of luggage. Not like my Mom’s bags. Oh my! She carries some giant purses. And if you ever need anything, just ask her. She’s got it in her bag. I guarantee it. hahaa. Sorry Mom! And yes, that’s a tiny bag of cookies in there. hehee. Gotta keep my sugar level up. Although my son eats all my goodies. Brat! hehee

My new bag measures 17-inches x 11-inches with 6-inch drop handles and it’s made of faux patent leather. It’s just the perfect size. Large enough for essentials with a little extra space, but not too large to be mistaken for an overnight bag. And it’s so easy to clean too. If anything is spilled on it, I just grab a wet rag or baby wipe and it comes right off. The finish is better than Stainmaster or Scotch Guard. hahaa

The Vogue has knotted handles on either side, rivets, tassels, a floral accessory smack dab in the front middle of the bag and a zip closure for keeping your personal items safer and more private. Very cute! It’s not your average granny bag. hahaa

~ Spill it… the only con I see with the Vogue bag is that the stitching could be a bit better since one of the side pockets was slightly torn at the seam when I received it, which I fixed myself with no problem. Other than that it’s a great bag for the money.

BUY IT!

The DownEast Basics Vogue handbag retails for just $34.99. Now THAT is very affordable girls!

Check out DownEast Basics’ great selection of women’s apparel, handbags, swim wear and accessories. They also carrying a very adorable yet stylish line of girls clothing.

Guess what… One of you lucky ducks will win an item of your choice from DownEast Basics. Woohoo! Are you reading to go shopping? hehee
Win It!!!
1 Winner will be chosen at random at the end of the entry period 07/21/10. Prize consists of 1 item of choice from the DownEast Basics website. If you have been a winner in any other DownEast Basics giveaway in the last 90 days, you are not eligible to win.
** MANDATORY entry: Visit DownEast Basics and tell me one item from their New Arrivals selection you would choose if you won. AND you must be following my blog via Google Friend Connect, Facebook OR NetworkedBlogs in order to win. **
** (I MUST be able to verify this. Some of you who have entered my other giveaways have still not been verified via Google Friend Connect. In order for it to be legit you need to click the “Join this Site” button located in the left side bar of my blog currently visible using Google Chrome or Safari browsers only. Going through a “back door” or other means does not update my followers list, therefore I can not verify you are following.) **

Extra Entries!
You can do any of these things for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do.
** PLEASE make sure if you are following my blog that you specify by which means and what your username is there so I can verify you are following. If I can’t verify it the entry will not count. ** Please do not tell me you are following if you are not. I do verify the information. Thanks!
1.) Follow me via Twitter @MyBellaMia
2.) Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect. (currently only visible using Google Chrome or Safari browsers) 5 extra entries
3.) Follow my blog via NetworkedBlogs.
4.) Become a friend on  Facebook (please leave me your facebook username in a comment). Make sure you are “friending” via the link here (Bella-Mia, not Bella So Savvy).
5.) Place my button on your blog. Please comment below with your blog URL so I can verify button placement.
6.) Tweet about this giveaway. You can Tweet up to 5 times per day for extra entries but you must copy your status update URL and paste it in a comment below!  Please space out your tweets so that your followers are not spammed. Maximum of 1 tweet per hour! Tweets posted more than once per hour will become invalid. You can copy & paste:
DownEast Basics Handbag {review} + #giveaway ~ @MyBellaMia http://www.bellasavvy.net/archives/5022 Ends 07/21/10
Or post on your Facebook wall & post a link to that post for an extra daily entry.
*The retweet or post can be reworded but must include the ORIGINAL url link to the giveaway & must spell out that the prize is a DownEast Basics item of choice. If space does not allow for the original giveaway url link, please make sure that you add Bella So Savvy to your posts so that your followers know who is hosting the giveaway.
*Entries that do not include at least one verifiable piece of information will be deleted.
7.) Blog about the giveaway and include a link to my giveaway page & DownEastBasics.com. (post a link to the direct page of your blog post) (5 extra entries)
8.) Follow DownEast Basics on Facebook and tell them Bella So Savvy sent you.
9.) Follow DownEast Basics on Twitter and tell them @MyBellaMia sent you.
Contest ends at 9pm. EST on July 21st when I will draw the winner at random. PLEASE leave your email address if it is not visible on your profile. Winner will have 24 hours to respond! If winner does not respond, an alternate winner will be chosen at random out of the remaining entries.
Open to US Only.
The views & opinions expressed in my reviews are simply mine. My views & opinions may differ from other consumers. I did not receive financial compensation for my review but did receive a DownEast Basics handbag to test.

© 2010, Dee @ Bella Savvy. All rights reserved.

One Response to “DownEast Basics Handbag {Review} + Giveaway”

1. Bella So Savvy » Winner ~ July 21st {Downeast Basics} Says:
   September 11th, 2010 at 11:36 pm

   [...] of the DownEast Basics giveaway [...]