As much as we love the established designers with their signature handbags, we get giddy for new designers offering handbags that we must have. It does not happen often that there is a bag that I see that I absolutely MUST HAVE. I can rave about specific bags and even profess my love, but if I am not out buying them up, they are not on the same level. Recently, I had to have the latest DvF Bag, and I went out and bought it. Of course there are pricing restrictions, but once you catch me raving incessantly, that is most likely a bag that will be added to my collection.

The next designer that will be added to my collection is Proenza Schouler. Their clothing line is established yet their sporty handbag line is new. And I love it! We have covered Proenza Schouler bags quite a bit on Purse Blog (a sign of a must have for us) and now we are thoroughly obsessed. I desperately want to see one of their python PS1 bags in person, to touch and feel the python that they use, but now I want to see the Proenza Schouler PS1 Crocodile Satchel. Of course Net A Porter had to go out and decide that not only is Proenza Schouler producing some lust-worthy bags, but they also decided to tease all of us with a crocodile version that has not been posted online elsewhere. I want to feel this bag, try it on, hold it, see how the skin moves and if it gives a bit. And with a large price tag, this crocodile version is out of reach right now, but it is only furthering my love and want of a Proenza Schoulder bag. Watch out, one will enter my collection soon. Buy the crocodile PS1 via Net A Porter for $14,500.

There are parts of the Sonia Rykiel Emma Crystal-Embellished Tote that I like, and then there are the parts that I don’t. I usually have a bit of both with all the bags that I review, but the dichotomy between what I love and what I hate with this one is so huge that I’ve got to split this one in to two parts. First, the things I like. I like the shape of the bag. An easy-to-carry satchel that’s not too big or too small. It’s got a frame up top to give it some structure, but it still doesn’t look like it would be too heavy. The color is nice - not too light or pink that it looks like a pastel, but still light enough to be an interesting neutral. The leather looks soft. I like the closure.

And now, what I don’t like. Care to guess? All the crap stuck on the front. I can kind of see where they’re going with it, but I don’t think they quite got there. Maybe the crystals and studs vary too greatly in size and shape, I’m not sure, but I don’t like the end result. It looks a little too craft-project for me, and I know Sonia Rykiel likes to do her own thing with the adornment of her bags, but this just isn’t quite right. Also, the handles are too long. But mostly it’s the art store bedazzling on the front. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2450.

Girls, I know I’m not going to be popular for this one. I’m probably not going to gain any respect from any of you for my opinion on the Marc Jacobs Iconic Glitter Robert. Am I ok with that? I think so. And I’m going to have to be ok with it, because I can’t seem to do anything but smile every time I look at this bag.

Is it practical in any way? No, it probably weighs a ton and it’s ginormous. Would I buy it? Highly unlikely, particularly for that price. Do I have anything to wear it with (or to)? No, not that I can think of. So why do I like it so much? That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I have always liked the concept of these bags; purses, in reality, are nothing but big pockets that we carry around with us, and having the front pocket of a bag be another purse is a cute play on the normal construction that we all know so well. I particularly like this version because of the combination of materials - the back bag is leather, the front bag is suede, and it’s then covered in Swarovski crystals. A surprising number of you guys liked the Marc Jacobs Jeweled Stam that we talked about previously, and I like the black version with grey crystals even more. This is probably one of those bags that functions better as a concept than something to actually use, but I continue to applaud Marc Jacobs for doing something innovative with these. Buy through eLuxury for $2650.

Megs with Ferragamo. Stunning couple.

In my opinion, the Burberry Westcott Shoulder Bag is a very clear case of a bag that looks much better in person than it does online. This is the best picture I could find to see the immense detail of the bag’s construction, but it still looks stiff and kind of messy, don’t you think? In reality, it’s anything but. The neat rows of buttery soft leather ruffles are cropped close enough to the bag to not look silly, but still long enough to give the bag tons of texture that makes it much more than just another black leather hobo.

The leather that makes up the base of the bag is just as soft as that that makes up the ruffle decoration, which gives the bag a slouch that would probably break in even more with a bit of use. The strap was plenty long to carry the hobo easily and it also has an extra crossbody strap, if that’s your think. The bag is big but not oversized, and still muted enough, with ruffles and all, to use as an everyday bag that could be carried to work. On the whole, I think Burberry did a beautiful job with this bag, and it’s really too bad that it doesn’t show up well in photos. This is definitely a bag you need to see to appreciate. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2195.

What comes to your mind when you think of LA? Celebs? Hot clubs? Posh restaurants? Fashion? Beach? No matter what you think of, what you should add to your list of LA-isms is emerging designers. As I already mentioned, toward the end of last year I had a chance to meet with some amazing LA based designers. And you know what, each one has their own sense of LA, their own sense of fashion yet all seem very LA to me. I was really looking forward to the interview I had scheduled with CC Skye. I had been following her designs for quite some time and couldn’t wait to meet the designer behind the amazing and cutting edge accessory and handbag brand. I knew the interview would go well because the office was just a 5 minute drive from my hotel in Santa Monica (GORGEOUS!!!). Although navigating through the LA traffic was becoming no big deal, the short drive put my mind at ease.
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We’ve brought you several amazing handbag deals from Ideeli and today we have another. Head over to Ideeli to check out how you can score a new Escada handbag at up to 68% off! Click here to shop and save!

We shot this photo of my beloved Lambertson Truex Sienna Clutch just as the sun was high to the west and we found a spring tree in full bloom. The combination of the supple leather on the clutch, texture of the python skin, rugged tree branches, and the soft yellow flowers combined for a perfect Floral Fusion. Buy Lambertson Truex at Saks and LT online.

Sometimes, bags are functional - they carry all of your stuff to and from work or school, they give you a place to put things so you don’t lose them, and they compliment your outfit. Sometimes, though, bags can be a statement - that you’re a fan of a certain aesthetic, that you are of a certain socioeconomic status, or that you have a particular personality that you’d like to express to others. And then there are those bags that are purely there to show other fashion people just how “in the know” you are. I think that’s the case with the Comme des Garcons Cowhide Tote, which is stamped with the edgy, ultra-cool line’s signature clover pattern. The only people that will know it’s cool are the other extremely fashionable people, and if that’s the image you want to project, then something like this is the bag for you. If that’s not your main concern, then this is just another boring-shaped black leather tote, and you could get some with more of a “design” to it for the same price. Just depends on what part of yourself you’re trying to put out there, I suppose. Buy through Saks for $515.

I wrote about the Rebecca Minkoff Knocked-Up Baby Bag last week for PurseBlog Savvy, and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for some kind of not-awful baby bag to write about for you guys. What I’ve realized in that time is that what might not pass for a cool handbag will often be totally awesome, compared to the other available bags made for the same purpose. That’s kind of how I’m feeling about The Chaiken Diaper Bag. (Side note - has anyone ever seen Chaiken make a handbag? I’ve never seen them for sale anywhere. I checked their brand website, and this bag is literally the only thing they have in their online store. I’m perplexed). If this were just a regular tote bag, I would think that’s it’s decidedly “meh,” despite the fact that it’s made from lambskin. But call it a diaper bag, and it’s suddenly the least offensive diaper bag on the planet (well, nevermind, I still like the less-expensive Minkoff version better). With the addition of a baby bag being possibly the most significant handbag adjustment of a woman’s life, why aren’t there more good options out there? Buy through Saks for $550.