Melbourne accessories designer Elise Caarels is closing down her online store, and all stock is 50% off plus free shipping.

These bags and wallets are not only very stylish, but are also leather - so getting them for half-price is a bit of a steal.

I love, love, love the Felicity tote pictured here - marked down to $210 from $420. The colours and detailing are so unique and offer something different from the usual run-of-the-mill black handbags you see on your average working day.

The sale ends on July 31.

By Caroline Warnes

Nothing brightens up a depressingly rainy Friday like a good sale, and luckily Mimco has stepped up to the plate.

Yes, the latest Mimco sale is online and in-store now, and if you’re in the market for a new bag or wallet, then you should definitely check it out.

Personally, I’m in dire need of a new wallet so am carefully considering the wallets on sale.

I think I’m leaning towards the Mim style pictured here, which is reduced to a very decent $89.95.

By Caroline Warnes

I have written about Maiden Voyage eelskin wallets before but truth be told I haven’t done anything about it since then.

I’ve been hemming and hawing about buying a new wallet for a good 18 months now, and am still using the same old wallet anyway.

I have decided this is it and I am going to bite the bullet and get myself a new wallet next week, and I think it’s going to be one of these Maiden Voyage eelskin wallets, which sell online for $55. And I think I’ll get it in black to complement my sexy new iPhone 3G S.

If my beloved Parramatta Eels win on Sunday, I will take it as a sign that I should buy this wallet. Mind you, if they lose, I’ll also take it as a sign that I should buy it.

By Caroline Warnes

Accessories site Alegorie has just added more items to its sale section, plus you can get 10% off all full-priced items using a special Lasoo discount code.

The code is valid for all of July - just enter LASOO10 at the checkout. Some of the gorgeous stuff on the site includes jewellery from Drink Me, Alice, wallets and clutches from Pratten and bags from Pink Corporation.

My pick of the sale is this beautiful gold wallet from Pratten, which is reduced to $79 from $139 (it also comes in bronze).

By Caroline Warnes

I’ve been conducting a low-key search for a new wallet for some time now and lately the Oroton Lido leather wallet has captured my attention.

(By low-key, I mean I want a new wallet, but it hasn’t been a priority but when I find the right wallet, I’ll pounce.)

The Oroton Lido mini wallet is a nice size and is made of textured goatskin leather (don’t think about that too much or it might make you feel slightly ill).

It will set you back $165, which isn’t bad for an Oroton wallet, and is on a par with Mimco wallets price-wise, however I’ve got to say I think Oroton is a slightly better investment than Mimco - the designs are far more classic.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more then the Lido highfold wallet also looks good, but sells for $205.

I’m planning to wait on the next Oroton sale, which do happen from time to time - sign up for the newsletter to find out about these in advance.

By Caroline Warnes

Mimco is one of those labels with which I have a love/hate relationship.

On one hand, I love a lot of the designs, especially the famous Button Wallets, but on the other hand I do find it slightly overpriced for a mid-range Australian label.

That’s why the news of a Mimco online sale is music to my ears - the label rarely holds sales so this one is really manna from heaven.

It’s only on selected items from the range - which you can view here - but there are still some nice items amongst it all.

I do like the Mod Button Clutch, pictured here, which is on sale for 50% off at $99.95.

By Caroline Warnes

I’ve been on the lookout for a wallet for some time and up until yesterday was coming up empty handed.

I’ve come to the conclusion that most wallets available today are either too expensive (hello Oroton) or too tacky (umm, I won’t name names… but take a guess).

I really do prefer leather wallets as they look better and last longer but there is a dearth of reasonably priced, simple and elegant wallets on the market.

However yesterday I discovered the wallet pictured here from Maiden Voyage and fell in love. It’s exactly what I’m looking for - long envelope-style and simple. The one catch is that it’s made out of eelskin.

I have to admit that the very word “eelskin” sends a shudder down my spine. Not because I am against wearing animal skins (with my collection of leather shoes, that horse has long since bolted). But because eels are one of those animals that have always disgusted me. They’re just so slimy and weird. I think I had a couple of nightmares about eels as a kid. It doesn’t help that the Maiden Voyage site tells me that the eel is “a mysterious fish that has no visible organs except a mouth and several symmetrical arranged secretion holes on both sides”.

Anyway if I can get over the thought of handling eelskin everyday I am definitely buying this wallet, which is available at Designers Online for a very reasonable $55. According to Maiden Voyage, eelskin is softer than other animal hides and leather and becomes softer and shinier with use, rather than looking worn.

The site also says that the skin is 150% stronger than leather, given that eels have to withstand massive amounts of pressure at the bottom of the sea.

That being said. I’m still on the fence about this eelskin wallet.

By Caroline Warnes