Manolo Blahnik Launches First Ever Handbag Collection - Our Shoes Are Getting Very Excited

Manolo Blahnik Launches First Ever Bag Collection To Keep Our Shoes Company

Manolo Blahnik may finally appease the rift between handbag and shoe loyalists (you may love both but you'll always love one slightly more).

The shoe designer is set to launch his first ever bag collection - six different styles for Autumn/Winter.

For those of us whose Manolo fever was sparked by Sex and the City, this is very good news indeed. For those of us who don't have Carrie Bradshaw's style connections or rich arty Russian lovers, it's not so great in that the bags start from a whopping £1300.

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Needless to say, the handbags aren't for every day use. These are Swarovski crystal-encrusted little clutches made from satin and crepe de chine, and can be snaffled at the store on Old Church Street, Liberty and Harrods at the end of July.

According to Blahnik, the inspiration for the embellishments came from Hangisi shoe buckles.

Manolo Blahnik's First Ever Handbag Collection
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He said: "“This collection came up because it is something that I really wanted to do - I had no rush in getting this done.

“I like to make things beautifully and sometimes to get something right it takes time. At the moment I have no plans to make other accessories. For the moment I would like to enjoy the bags, and I am already thinking about more bags for next season!”

Speaking to Vogue.com, he also said: "I love ornaments in my shoes so why not add these to the bags too? These bags are an extension of some of the shoe styles I really like as I wanted to keep the connection between the shoes and bags."

Chief executive officer Kristina Blahnik, who is the designer's niece, said to WWD, "the designs are evening-focused, and future collections will have different colorways and crystals, such as sapphires or rubies." She confirmed the company is also looking at doing day bags as well.

Nice if you can afford it - for most of us, we're sticking to Accessorise.

'Sex And The City': Where Are They Now?
Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw)(01 of20)
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Since rising to prominence with her role as Carrie Bradshaw, SJP has starred in more rom-coms than her character has pairs of Manolos, including 'Failure To Launch', 'Did You Hear About The Morgans' and 'New Year's Eve', to name but three.She also remains a red carpet staple who is still a favourite of designers and fashionistas alike. (credit:Walter McBride via Getty Images)
Kristin Davis (Charlotte York)(02 of20)
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Last year, Kristin made her theatrical debut, playing Beth Gallagher in a West End production of 'Fatal Attraction'.She's also appeared in comedies 'Deck The Halls' and 'Couples Retreat', and has been an ambassador for Oxfam since 2004. (credit:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)
Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes)(03 of20)
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After completing her time as straight-talking Miranda, Cynthia has had other high-profile roles in sitcoms like 'The Big C', 'ER' and 'Alpha House'.She also won an Emmy for her guest stint in 'Law And Order', and a Tony for her performance in 'Rabbit Hole', which was later adapted for the big screen with Nicole Kidman.In her personal life, she married her partner Christine Marinoni in 2012, and has become an activist in fighting breast cancer, after being diagnosed with the illness herself in 2006. (credit:Michael Bezjian via Getty Images)
Kim Cattrall (Samantha Jones)(04 of20)
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Kim is currently the lead actress in the Canadian black comedy 'Sensitive Skin'.Her other credits since 'Sex and the City' ended include a self-produced documentary, 'Kim Cattrall: Sexual Intelligence', and one of the most memorable episodes of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' in the show's history. (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)
Chris Noth (Mr. Big)(05 of20)
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Chris has been critical of 'Sex and the City' a number of times in recent years, having landed some more serious roles since bidding goodbye to Mr. Big (oh, and playing 'Dad' in 'Tooth Fairy', a short film).He was been nominated for both a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for his portrayal of Peter Florrick in 'The Good Wife', and reunited with SJP in 2013 for 'Lovelace', (credit:Noam Galai via Getty Images)
Willie Garson (Stanford Blatch)(06 of20)
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Since his role as Stanford on the small screen came to an end, Willie has appeared opposite Lindsay Lohan in 'Labor Pains', as well as roles in 'Pushing Daisies', 'Hot In Cleveland' and 'Two and a Half Men'.Away from the spotlight, he became a father to an eight-year-old boy, who he adopted in 2009. (credit:Jason Kempin via Getty Images)
David Eigenberg (Steve Brady)(07 of20)
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David is currently starring in 'Chicago Fire' as Christopher Herrmann, having previously starred in 'Law and Order: SVU' and 'Garfield The Movie', where he provided the voice of Nermal the cat.When 'Sex and the City 2' was awarded with Worst Screen Ensemble at the Golden Raspberry Awards, David was keen to collect it, claiming he'd never won an award before, and even made a hilarious acceptance video, which the awards posted on their website. (credit:Timothy Hiatt via Getty Images)
Jason Lewis (Smith Jerrod)(08 of20)
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Best known for playing Samantha's toy-boy in 'SATC', Jason played the lead in 'Textuality' a few years ago, and had a recurring role in 'Brothers & Sisters'.Plus, who could forget that incredible Aero advert, eh...? (credit:Vince Talotta via Getty Images)
Evan Handler (Harry Goldenblatt)(09 of20)
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For the past seven years, Evan has been playing Charlie Runkle in 'Californication', his most famous role after playing Charlotte's husband Harry in 'Sex and the City'.In addition to acting, Evan is a keen writer, who even regularly blogs for The Huffington Post. (credit:Rochelle Brodin via Getty Images)
Mario Cantone (Anthony Marentino)(10 of20)
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A regular guest panelist on 'The View', Mario is best known outside of 'Sex and the City' for his career as a stand-up comedian and TV personality.He received a Tony Award nomination for his one-man show 'Laugh Whore', and contributed to the Comedy Central roast of Joan Rivers.You may also recognise his distinctive tones from the Sunsilk 'Get Some Hairapy' ads. (credit:Walter McBride via Getty Images)
Kyle MacLachlan (Trey MacDougal)(11 of20)
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Kyle famous left 'Sex And The City' and went on to play what was essentially the exact same character in another female-led sitcom, 'Desperate Housewives', a few years later.He's also tipped to reprise his role as Special Agent Dale Cooper in the forthcoming 'Twin Peaks' reboot. (credit:Araya Diaz via Getty Images)
John Corbett (Aidan Shaw)(12 of20)
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Everyone's favourite nice guy, John was the male lead in Toni Collette's short-lived sitcom 'United States of Tara', and had a recurring role in 'Parenthood'. (credit:Taylor Hill via Getty Images)
Ron Livingston (Jack Berger)(13 of20)
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Ron, still very handsome in case you haven't noticed, is one of the few 'Sex and the City' stars who isn't most commonly associated with his character, having landed serious roles in 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Defying Gravity' and 'Standoff'. (credit:MAX NASH via Getty Images)
Ben Weber (Skipper Johnston)(14 of20)
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Skipper was written out of the show fairly on, after his relationship with Miranda faded away to nothing. After that, he starred in 'The West Wing' and 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager', a still from which you can see here. (credit:a. ABC Inc/Everett/Rex)
James Remar (Richard Wright)(15 of20)
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After Richard got his comeuppance and was finally ditched by Samantha, actor James Remar has never been short of work.In the past few years, he's starred in 'Django Unchained', 'Horns' and is currently gearing up for a role in the fourth film of the 'Expendables' franchise. (credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)
Bridget Moynahan (Natasha Naginsky)(16 of20)
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You might not recognise Bridget Moynahan, but she played Natasha, Big's ex-wife and Carrie's most important love rival of the entire series.After famously giving Carrie a piece of her mind, Natasha was never seen nor heard from again, while Bridget has gone on to land a leading role in 'Blue Bloods', opposite Donnie Wahlberg, which has now been airing for over four years. (credit:Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
Blair Underwood (Dr. Robert Leeds)(17 of20)
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Undeniably one of the most gorgeous men ever to grace the 'SATC' screen, Blair played Miranda's ex-boyfriend, Dr. Robert, who was eventually turfed out when she got back together with Steve.In 2008, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in 'In Treatment', and later starred in 'The Event' and will appear as Dr. Andrew Garner in 'The Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' this year. (credit:David Livingston via Getty Images)
Mikhail Baryshnikov (Alexander Petrovsky)(18 of20)
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Of course, Baryshnikov is best known for his ballet dancing, rather than his acting, and continues to be a prominent name on the ballet scene, launching the New York Baryshnikov Arts Centre one year after his final scene in 'Sex and the City' aired. (credit:Neilson Barnard via Getty Images)
Jennifer Hudson (Louise)(19 of20)
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Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson starred as Carrie's assistant, Louise, in the first 'Sex and the City' film, later earning a minor role in TV musical series 'Smash', as well as 'The Secret Life Of Bees'.More recently, she's returned to her first love of singing, and recruited none other than British reality star David McIntosh to appear in her 'Walk It Out' music video last year. (credit:BREUEL-BILD/ABB/DPA)
Frances Sternhagen (Bunny MacDougal)(20 of20)
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Still flawless at 85 years old, Frances's most recent credits from her ever-expanding CV include stints on 'The Simpsons', as well as opposite Meryl Streep in 'Julie & Julia'.It is unconfirmed whether she is still "a firm believer in firm mattresses". (credit:Jim Spellman via Getty Images)