It’s Friday and there’s a lot to be excited about, the weekend ahead, no more business calls and this stunning Sofia C. Luxury Italian Leather Satchel Handbag.  Oh, and did we mention that it’s half-off?!

Originally priced at $325 this brand new Sofia C. purse comes to you by way of a current eBay auction by a reputable seller.  Made from luxuriously supple Italian leather, this Sofia C. piece features a new color, bluish gray, that is absolutely perfect for winter, spring, summer AND fall!  Talk about fashion flexibility!

And at just $169 with free shipping, who’s complaining about a few more Friday work hours until the weekend?!

A set of super stylish leather motorcycle / Vespa helmets is the latest luxe offering from Italian label Tod’s, famed for its iconic driving loafers, shoes and chic bags.

Tod's introduces leather motorcycle and scooter helmets.

Featuring a microfiber lining, stainless steel hardware and flip-up plexiglass eye shields, the helmets are priced at about $1,000 and come in glove soft, saddle stitched black, white and vacchetta leather.

The helmets are made by hand entirely in Italy, in a painstaking process ensuring their quality and durability, and adhere to rigorous road-going safety standards in a marriage of timeless style and contemporary luxury.

Tod’s has been expanding its offerings of late and also recently introduced its first line of sunglasses. Meanwhile, the firm’s dapper owner Diego Della Valle just published a book titled Italian Touch extolling the virtues of the stylish lifestyle embodied by the brand.

Ray-Ban has given its ultra-classic aviator shades a luxe new twist for 2010 with its new Craft Genuine Leather collection. The Craft Outdoorsman sunglasses are luxuriously detailed with hand stitched genuine deer leather accents and boast premium craftsmanship.

Ray-Ban Craft genuine leather collection.

Made in Italy they feature Ray-Ban’s trademark Crystal lenses for optimum optical clarity. The leather is designed to improve and beautify with age and use. The Outdoorsman is priced at $216 and a slimmer, more contemporary model, the Caravan, is priced at $171.

Both are now available in either gold with brown leather or silver with black leather combos and matching cases from haute online eyewear boutique Eyegoodies.

Tumi is noted for their stylish luggage and travel accessories.  Now, they’ve done themselves one better by partnering with Hg2 to produce a unique set of guidebooks in a bespoke case.

There are eight customized guides including:

Tumi's custom travel guides.

• Paris
• London
• Milan
• Tokyo
• Berlin
• New York
• Buenos Aires
• Dubai

All come housed in Tumi’s signature ballistic nylon and to evoke the theme of travel, the open case has a handle and luggage tag. Each colourful guide is rich with content and photography and provides the discrening traveling with what is truly the best each city has to offer.  Rest assured that wih sections dedicated to Rest, Play, and Work and a comprehensive address book of key contacts for hair stylists, florists, and more, you will have everything you need at your fingertips.

The guides are valued at $125 and come with a complimentary one-year membership to Hg2.com with updates and extras.

Tis the season for luxury and for luxury headwear, and BubblesAndFrown customs are certainly no exception.

Take a peek at this Etsy-ers Bell of The Ball Huge Peacock Headdress with Flowers, it’s simply stunning!

Using delicate feathers, beading, flowers and embellishments, this designer sure knows how to rock a luxurious cocktail hat!

You’ve got to hand it to Louis Vuitton because they do conjure up some unique concepts for luggage and bags.   As you

Louis Vuitton provides luxury cases for timepieces.

may recall, Vuitton recently entered into the luxury timepiece market — and what better way to carry you stylish accessories than in one of their prestigous cases.

One case is trunk style, and suitable for 8 watches ($4,070). While the other is more like a roll case, and sized for 3-4 watches ($620). Each are made in France, with the brand’s usual style and noticeable exterior.

While we all know that the Louis Vuitton brand is most known for it’s luggage and handbags, they do have a timepiece line as well.

Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Lady watch.

The recently launched Tambour Diver Lady is a lovely line of that comes in 35mm steel or pink gold cases.  If you opt for the pink gold, you will get some bling with the diamond decorations and the dial is available with the classic Louis Vuitton floral pattern or pink mother or pearl.

For those souls that want to take the Tambour Diver Lady on an actual dive, then go for the textured rubber strap in pink or white.   This is definitely one of the most fashonable women’s diving timepieces we’ve seen in a very long time.

Exclusively available in the Louis Vuitton boutiques, it’s priced at around $4,000.

~~Raine Devries

S.T. Dupont is the probably foremost maker of lighters in the world and this time they have outdone themselves with The Place

Limited Edition S.T. Dupon Plance Vendome pen set.

Vendôme.

This limited edition Ligne 2 Prestige rose gold lighter is  embellished with 192 diamonds, which sells for $47,000 and is limited to 35 pieces, is modeled on the architecture of the majestic Parisian square of that name commissioned by King Louis XIV in the 17th century.

In 1810 following his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon enriched the square by erecting the Vendôme Column. A pen matching the lighter modeled on the column is also available. Napoleon’s famous quotation is engraved on the lighter’s roller and on the body of the pen:

S.T. Dupont Place Vendome lighter.

“Impossible n’est pas français” – Nothing is impossible for the French.

~To submit information for possible inclusion on LapOfLuxury.com, please contact Raine Devries.

Master weaver Simón Espinal who was commissioned by Brent Black has come up with one of the best examples of the Montecristi Panama.

Simply called “The Hat”, this $10,000 Panama is finished with every luxury in mind.  Designed with vintage patterns and hand-woven with care, this hat certainly has no equal, especially with that price tag.

I’ve never considered a handbag could double as a self-defense mechanism, unless it had a brick inside or something equally heavy, but Alexander McQueen’s Knuckle Duster Patent Leather Clutch would certainly bring more than a slap to an unwelcome visitor’s body. Accenting the top ridge of this richly covered bag are skull and crystal rings in dark colors adding a subtle bit of glamour. The bag does feature more than protective embellishments such as a clasp closure, metal frame and leather lining.

Have you ever put your thumb through a ring connecting your handbag’s handle to the body of the bag for protection from muggers along a busy street? Well just slip your fingers through these rings atop your clutch and I’d bet you’d deter any interested parties from attempting to swipe your clutch now. Enough violent fun for one day…

(7″ x 41/2″ x 2″ for $1,595 at Saks)