Stylish with Substance

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?

Think I was excited about viewing the Marc Jacobs show? Well I was. But most Marc Jacobs bags are just a dream to you and me and Spring is far off.

So now with that in perspective you might try to imagine my excitement about the release of Coach's 65th anniversary line.

Oh, yes! (You must already know I love Coach, though.)

The line brings back vintage styles with more modern shapes, it brings back a little of that ol' Bonnie Cashin (designer head) kiss-lock. And it keeps new classics, like many bags in the "Legacy" collection that also resemble bags from last Spring. Coach even is introducing smaller details that instantly click with fans, like the color combo of Khaki (brown-toned) Signature with Ebony (YES, BLACK!) leather trim. Brown and black on one bag, Coach, you've finally taken one of my suggestions from my telepathic love notes!

One other thing that Coach is introducing is something major: a higher price point. Some bags cost the same, but many more rise above $600. And then---get this, there's a limited edition Alligator bag for $10,000. Hello Hermes?! Even a genuine ostrich clutch for over $1,000! Oh, my!

Hopefully that will attract some more "catwalk" cred to the brand. Gucci schmucci?

Stay tuned for more products! Preview and shop the Anniversary Legacy accessories by Coach.

I found this Marc by Marc Jacobs blue leather shoulder bag on Net-a-Porter. It is blue (what I want) and it does have double zippers like some Jacobs, but the zippers aren't the Jacobs style and there is no quilting or other great Marc-y details.

Is this the poor girl's Marc Jacobs? Will this do for a Bag for Bargain? Well, it's still some cash at $298. Is it worth it? It's not my dream bag, therefore not worth any sum of hundreds, especially $300 + shipping!

Still, if you like this basic bag that's certainly nice an not ugly a bit, go for it---it's classic and seemingly quality.

Anyone who puts down Coach should check this bag---and its price---out.

Coach's Chelsea Op Art Satchel has a body of brown suede with rectangular strips of metallic leathers and such. The Coach signature-styled corner stitching even gets a boost of the different style, with multi layers of 90° angles to match on the opposite end.

The body even has a new design, this particular satchel shape is unique to Coach, being---of course---rectangular. To match the newer Chelsea line elements, there's a turnlock closure on the top of the bag: gorgeous, especially in this new satchel shape. To top it off, design-wise, there are round rings and buckles.

Sounds like perfection at 13 ¼" length. But are you ready for the kicker points? Those accessory strips are: suede, dusted suede, metallic calfskin, patent leather, & "lightweight" leather. Add a silk/satin lining and what have we got?

Are you ready?

Another rare expensive designer COACH price of $798!

Well, it is divine!

Want something similar at a more cost-effective pricepoint? There's a matching wristlet for only $198 and several other satchels in this shape of different materials, including basic pebbled leather and Optic Signature, both at $358.

Forzieri.com, an online store of luxury Italian-made goods such as handbags, is holding a Bag Event with $30 off a purchase of $195 or more of handbags or related accessories.

Fun! Shop away the holiday. It's family time for me, but ... I'd rather be shopping.

... Or just not tapping away on a laptop while a fumey grill is being built. (Less family, more time losing.)

I've just been really into bag browsing while shopping on vaca, when not spending quality time. I have stories! Oh yes.

It's IT Bag Monday!

There is a new Fendi B. Shoulder bag for Fall, and this one's a logo bag! Is this the first Logoed B.? I think so.

It's just like the other shoulder B. bag, with auburn-hued trimming, but the ruching on the bottom really comes through better with a fabric (although who wouldn't love that effect more on leather?!). It even has the same charming chain strap. Do I like/want this more than the Leather Shoulder B.? No, with B. buckles, no one needs a signature, and it actually detracts from the buckles being the focus. Although I like Fendi's logo, be it geometrical and "cold," it is clever---so I'd take it in a Chef. (I'm always mentioning that Chef!)

This is indeed a Busy B., but we love it anyway, right? Well, perhaps we can truly know the love, because it only sells for $920. Quel shock, quel shock, quel shock! Hmmm, perhaps there won't be much time to think about it or save a few extra hundred (as opposed to blowing savings on a bunch of extra thousands), because at that price, with this IT, it could really sell fast! (I'm thinking, it is quite like a chef with that ruching! Plus B.!) Hmm. Oh, no, the craziness! Get yours at Saks Fifth Avenue. (Or don't and save it pour moi, perhaps it could go on sale, if you do! ;-))

Well known name brand, schm---ame brand. This Ghibli Reptile Large Satchel is so divine, luxurious, and with just the right touch of two-toned exotic skin. That's genuine python, there, so let's get straight to the dirty truth, this bag costs $1,456! Think of this brand as a no-name? That may be true, which only means this bag is that high quality to merit its pricetag.

(Their other bags made of regular leathers and suedes are more affordably priced, in the hundreds.)

Don't scoff or shrug off, maybe you truly want to pay thousands of dollars for the IT name. Well now you realize, and isn't that silly? For those of you who want to stay away from the bags everyone has, the bags people assume are fake, and paying for name even---yet you still want and can afford luxury, I say this bag moans your name!

This Italian python skin satchel is adorned with brass studs on its handles, sized super large at 18" wide, has just enough pockets and comes with a detachable shoulder strap. Get yours at Forzieri.com, the site for All-Italian Luxury.

Elliott Lucca is the name of woven leather. Such mastery gives the brand a designer status in my eyes, but so do the few-hundred dollars pricetags. But my top favorite bags of theirs are currently on sale, so I had to inform you!

-- The Jussara Large Leather Satchel (pictured) is on sale at Elliot Lucca .com for 50% off at $119.

-- The mini version: the Jussara Small Satchel is 45% off at Zappos for only $61.95!

-- And the Arianna Mini Satchel, which is much more medium than mini, is a grand 54% off at Zappos for $69.95.