Stylish with Substance

This bag looks like it started out with trends from the indie scene. First the designers layered cutout circles atop each other, then added beads. Then the designers moved on from today's looks, with the most popular of ancient handcrafters' marks, the Native Americans' "feathers", embroidery and thick stitches.

Unfortunately instead of hip and/or homey, the bag looks more like a trashy "professional" in a barely-there fringy skirt complete with diseased boils.

Instead of made with love this $2680 monstrosity is made with extra fug.

Source

They're bras with ... breastises inside (check 2nd picture--mature)! This is the most inventive handbag creation since the first person correlated purses with vaginae (probably the first man to see a woman with one, and I vouch for the concept).

These wallets are open inside like pouches, with one zippered pocket, so they could double as small clutches, too. Just be careful who's around when you pull your cash out of the - um - cups. Whoo! Bag flash!

What a riot! This custom Money Bag (different bras/skin tones) is available from Freckleface for only $35. Beyond a steal for a must in any purse collection!!

And for more fun, check out the beyond saucy baldie lady, the Britney - it's the um, other part. ;-)

The IT Chloé Heloise at Net-a-Porter has lowered in price from $1,670 to $1,169. Pretty good difference! I almost want to jump, but I think I'll wait for a bit more of a decline. If you don't want to miss a shot by any chance, it is absolutely at a fine price now!

This post is part of our Early Gift Guide Week.

Is definitely THE Coach bag of the year (chosen upon the merits of my Coach devotion and knowledge): Legacy Signature Satchel (preferrably the 2nd version of this style, available now on www.coach.com). This bag has it all (Classic Signature, famed new Legacy, its black and brown/tan people!, and this Fall's rendition on the style has the added bonus of side buckles, which is my personal favorite touch to a purse) and then some (unfortunately it's heavy). But there's another bonus, the dogleash clip on the front does not flap over the closure, so it's a bit more practical than last year. It's the ultimate, this year (and the entire year!), for the biggest COACH fans (so be sure she doesn't already have one, ha).

Such an important purse does come with a higher-end pricetag; $698, but GOD will she love you! (I would!)

Combining a few of the hottest trend aspects of the season: unique closures, gathered leather and ... maybe a high price point; is the new range by little-known Smythson; the Nancy bags.

In the styles of clutch, small satchel and large, and standard colors of white, tan, black and dark brown; there's almost something for every fashionista this Fall with the Nancy collection ... except that these bags are propelled into the IT race with a price range of $1,032 to $1,981. Somewhat much for a little-recognizable status bag, but the purses really are nice. And did I mention trendy? They have a lot of the appeal of a Stam, plus the more practicalities of a medium size option and no heavy hardware. The gathered leather is done in a sophisticated and unique way; sort of appearing like a diamond quilt pattern but not - and the clasp is not only fresh, but covered in luxurious leather - the same calf skin the entire exteriors are made of.

Besides the major minus of toting your new prize causing some to think you merely have a brandy inspired bag, is the lack of a fun color - which to me is the most important trend of today. A punch, some jazz! Still, these are purses meant to display elegance, maybe they need only be subtly beautiful.

And who knows what we'll see in the future if the Nancy catches fashionistas' fancy!

Actually, there's a new Paddington with lock on a chain, or off the chain, even if in a ghetto-fabulous way.

Other new features of the Paddington Capsule Satchel by Chloé, are a front flap pocket, ID-tag-like zipper pulls, C-shaped rings on adjustable straps, and the design of the smaller padlock and key, themselves.

You know I'm starting to see potential for classin' up the bag when paired with the right ensemble!

So far I see this will be available in "elephant" tan, black (noir), blue nuit (navy), and vanilla.

Owwwwwww, my designer-purse-ban hold over me is weakening a bit for this bag. What can I sell to afford its $1,780 pricetag of the tan or the more beautiful charcoal at -- eek! -- $1,980? Ummm, Gucci... ummm... other Chloés... ummm... ...

See more photos below..

You've got to love that Paris Hilton loves the paparazzi's attention. "Why on Earth must we love that, Elle?" - you ask? Why, because this gives her designer freebies, like Chanel bags. Alright, alright, it's plenty of reason for us bag desirers to hate Paris.

BUT here is Ms. Hilton perfectly posing to show us a great, clear shot of an amazingly gorgeous Chanel bag. And you know what - I believe that's reason to love the egotist in the socialite.

So thanks Paris! Ahh to be born into wealth and fame ... sigh.

As you can see from the mini photo inside the large, the bag's not really a clutch, but a flap with the strap removed. That is a great idea! Imagine, a jumbo sized Chanel flap could be ... a day clutch! Faaabulous! *Dreams off into Elle's happy place*.

Similar Looks:

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:

I always rather liked Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Priv� (pronounced: luh pree-veh) bag, which popped in magazines originally slated to be an IT bag, but hit some real life criticism. It's the ultimate bag with a horizontal belt - it's practically literal, with its loops, rectangular buckle and holes. The belt sits on the bottom of its body, which is new and uinque -- and it has two flaps secured with buttons that remind me of a trench coat (this style has the perfect new colour / fabric for that). I'd argue this bag could appeal to anyone for its mixture of femininity and roughness. With everything it has going for it, some of the most endearing aspects of this bag are its little details -- belts and zippers tucking neatly under loops and its adorable "natural" look buttons - one of them an oversized zipper pull!

Now about this particular bag served up for Spring 2007 --- made of an oatmeal "gabardine" twill fabric with smooth leather trim and sized 16" x 8.5" x 6", the new Priv� runs $1385.

If you love this bag as I do, check out our Bargain Bagistas' sale stalk---in which we keep an eye out for its price to drop!

The Burberry Icons Collection is hit and miss with fashionistas, but different bags are either hit or miss with me. The heavy-hardwared bags I don't so much like, but I love the brown leather Quilted Bag, and I really dig the new creative invention of quilted check/plaid "logo," such as in bags like the Small Quilted Bag or the Hobo, pictured.

This large Quilted Hobo isn't just a plain check hobo, it features a lock/key decorated flap. It's actually made of quilted canvas---plush!---not PVC, and is trimmed in tan leather. The bag runs 16" x 11" x 2 �" and will run you only $625 retail (and the small quilted bag; $450). As for the gorgeous Quilted Leather Bag; a whopping $1,395, but it sure is nice as the gem of the collection.

Check the Icons Collection at Burberry.com (and there are a few different styles at different department stores, so shop around.)