Stylish with Substance

Red. It's the hottest color of the season. And why not? We're living in spicy times, and autumn is aflush with warm hues that fight any bad weather.

I'm scouting red bags around the web - preferrably more affordable ones, since it's trendy, bold and we DO want to collect collect collect! So .. how about COACH?

Hamptons Leather-Signature Hobo - $368

Carly in leather - red - $398 (I personally want this one)

Hamptons Leather-Signature Flap Satchel - $498

Plus there's more! Search Coach bags by color at www.coach.com!

Pictured here is an actual handbag for sale by designer, Marni. It's huge, it's design-less, it's shape-less, it's detail-less. Oh but it has a pricetag! $1230 for a sack of leather is fabbing ridiculous. I would expect to see this at Target for $49. And only that much for the size and being genuine leather. And I would never expect something that looks like this to be actual leather. Or even a handbag, because this obviously is the closest thing we've seen lately (or EVER) to a bag just being a container for old food you don't even want to give the dog. The ginormous size helps this image. There is nothing about this "bag" that warrants a price nearly like that, not even the Marni name (no one buys for the Marni name). I hope the brand sells 0 of this unit and they learn the hard way that the designers need to wake up in the morning and actually work at what they do, not just nap all day and be so proud of themselves that they've almost learned how to sketch a circle (it was a pretty shaky ellipse, the sketches of this style). Seriously, the one lone detail of the hanging plain fob just makes a bigger mockery of this whole charlatan of a purse. F for Effort for Marni on this one. You'd better do make-up work over the Summer, and when I see you again in the fall, try to be most improved.

The handbag above is Louboutin's Metallic Hobo, which sells on Neiman Marcus for $950. There's also the "Gathered Hobo" with metallic brown leather going for somewhat more at $1020. Buying one would be a not-too-too expensive way of grabbing some star style. And a piece of history, as this gathered design is Louboutin's first handbag!

Good choice, Cindy.

Chloé Debbie bags' main feature is a large zipper, much like the Bay, but the actual zipper pull closely resembles that from the Edith (last year's IT bag). An equally large feature, yet less prominently unique, is its clip flap closure. (That's also similar to the Edith's buckle flap closure.) The bags all also boast a contrast-colored stripe on the flaps.

Styles on Neiman Marcus .com consist of (1) a shoulder flap satchel with double front zipper pockets, (2) an east/west shoulder tote sans pockets and (3) a divine looking north south hobo with double front pockets (best of them ALL in cream).

Colors are brown, tan, cream and yellow. Prices from $1,120 to $1,130; not bad.

Shop Chloé Debbies on Neiman Marcus .com.

All photos below:

Burberry has a new & interesting line out called "sliced check", which is basically their plaid pvc interrupted with stripes of silver and silver leather trim. It's a glitzy collection, for sure. You can see the effect best on their classic hobo shape. Sized 16" x 11" x 2.5", The Sliced Check Hobo costs $895, which is totally an already slashed price for such a luxe looking bag. Go Burberry!

Also in the collection are the Manor and the new Beaton.

Gucci art, is this bag, this "Indy" bag with ethnically-flared floral embroidery on white canvas. It's a hobo shape with a single, rigid hand strap (plus detachable shoulder strap) sized quite large indeed, at 19" l x 13" h.

Also adorned in large leather tassels and trimmed in a gorgeous burgundy, this amazing bag costs $3,695. Pre-orders are being taken now for shipment by April 15th.

Even though this is a brand I often find overpriced for its quality and usually find over-rated, I bow down to this beautiful piece. Their Spring collection is striking and different. I just want more!

Going, going, gone. The 85th year of Gucci is now passed, along with their collection. So back into Pursed Lips' archives for this small 85th Gucci Hobo to present our number 3 bag (actually; collection) of 2006.

With an intricate pattern and modern details, 8th Gucci seems to be all about the future. Why not? Gucci is a huge fashion house, and they're pinned to remain that way. They're the bag house for the modern, hip and young (but not so young as to not afford it). So Gucci, 85 never looked so good!

This is getting exciting ... maybe? Number 2 of our Top 5 Budget bags is

Liz Claiborne Leather Link-Strap Embossed Hobo

Print-embossed leather on sale for ... $72.99?? No! Not only does this brand name hobo have richly textured genuine leather, and those nice decorated rings, and is roomy, but it was only $98 to start with!

How do they do it?

*Via* Style Bytes:

Kate Moss has been seen out and about with that famous Chanel garbage bag I posted in September.

This hanging sack does not look chic on her.

Hmm, I wonder if someone could be rich enough to use this as a reusable trash bag holder? That might be chic, insane, but stylish.

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