Back in the middle of 2007, I found a couple of Christian Louboutin bags that were ultimately unsightly. At the time I asked Christian Louboutin to stick to what he knows, shoes. Luckily he both listened and did not listen to me: updating his handbag collection to make the beautiful pieces we knew he had in him and make his name a contender in the handbag world.

Now we continue to find Christian Louboutin bags that we adore. The designs are no longer lacking innovation. We are continuously turning to Christian Louboutin for everyday bags, evening bags, and occasional pieces.

My new favorite from CL is the Christian Louboutin Sequined Pouch, which seems perfectly fitting for today as it is New Year’s Eve. There is an option for either red/silver or black/silver sequins all over the pouch shaped clutch which has the iconic red-soled pump kiss lock closure. My choice goes to the red/silver. Amanda will know why, Ohio State colors of course!

New Year’s Eve is all about glitz and glam, it is the perfect night to wear items and accessories that are typically overly ornate. Luckily, this CL clutch is not just one night wearable, but would be a great accessory for many nights out. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $995.

It’s here, it’s here! YAAAAY! The Fendi Peekaboo Bicolor Top Handle is here!

We first saw this bag as a highlight of Fendi’s Spring 2010 runway show in Milan, and now it’s finally available for purchase. The gears of fashion grind slowly at times, but it’s always exciting to see things land at retail that you first noticed during their initial public appearance.

So does the final product lead up to the promise?

My answer, at least, is “yes.” Sometimes bags are altered when they go from the runway to reality, but it looks like the curved wooden handle and reddish-orange leather that made this bag simply attractive back in September are still working in its favor today. I like this iteration of the Peekaboo far more than the previous season, except for the astronomical price – what do you guys think? Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $4686.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Whether you like their bags or not, Valentino does the best detail work in the business. There’s not a major designer that can touch them when it comes to taking regular (albeit extremely supple and wonderful) leather and turning it into something that is far more than the sum of its parts. Behold: the Valentino Fleurs Couture Tote.

That the designers behind the brand managed to create such a beautiful menagerie of flowers from leather is, at the very least, impressive. The color combination my favorite, but that seems like a minor quibble when faced with this kind of leather work. Still, the contrast that the colors create is important to differentiate all of the texture and detail that is contained in the bag; simple building this in black wouldn’t do it justice.

Just like all Valentino bags, this one comes with a hefty price tag. But if it wasn’t justified for something so intricate and made out of such fine materials, then for what exactly would it be justified? Buy through Nordstrom for $2690.

White after labor day is no longer seen as a faux paux. Fact of the matter is many people are no longer putting away their whites after labor day. The key to wearing winter whites is picking a key piece and not overdoing it.

I like to opt for colors that are a shade darker, whether it be ivory or a touch of gray with the white. Don’t overdo stark whites, try to pick softer options. Do choose one piece to focus on rather than the entire outfit. The key is to soften up your dark winter wardrobes with a beautiful winter white.

These are some of my favorite winter white handbags, accessories, and clothing:

Diane von Furstenberg Georgette Ruffle Blouse | $285
A dramatic feminine white blouse, this piece is daytime chic and night-time fancy

Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal-Embellished Earrings | $210
Perfect evening wear, these gold-tone crystal earrings would look great with an updo

Miu Miu Coffer Matelasse Leather Hobo | $1,520
A classic Miu Miu shape in an off-white (stone) leather

Christian Louboutin Studio 120 Peep-Toe Pumps | $1,895
Intricately multi-sized studs adorn this pair of off-white leather peep-toe pumps

Judith Leiber Package Clutch | $3,995
Perfect for holiday parties, New Years Eve, and everything in between

Fendi Silk-Chiffon Tiered Gown | $3,070
A romantic and vintage cream silk-chiffon gown features delicate ruffle detailing

Christian Louboutin Lolita Large Montone Leather Bag | $1,195
Super supple ivory leather with a gold chain

Burberry Fold-Over Leather Wallet | $350
Simplistic and stark white, this wallet will look sleek against dark winter colors

Ladies and gentlemen, we are just days away from 2010. Can you believe it? I remember being younger and never quite understanding adults saying “Where has this year gone?”, yet now that I am, I guess an adult, I get it. It’s as if you blink and half the year is gone. But that’s really neither here nor there. With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, I try to mentally plan what I am going to wear and carry. When it comes to New Year’s Eve, I want a shiny, noticeable and gorgeous handbag in my hand.

Whenever I have a certain look in mind, more often times than not, Marc Jacobs pulls through in the clutch – no pun intended. The Marc Jacobs Night In Rio Swarovski-Studded Clutch is just the kind of handbag I would love to have in my hand once the New Year’s Eve Ball drops. There is a bit of understated elegance about this bag.

Not only does it look gorgeous from afar, but once you hear the details about it, I am sure you could become a fan. This black satin clutch is adorned with Swarovski crystal and gold-tone stud embellishments. I am a huge fan of the way the embellishments come together on this bag: structured yet elegant. While I could do without the gold-tone padlock at the front, it actually adds a bit of dimension and weight to the bag. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $895.

This is not the first time we are seeing Valentino using a bow with their handbag design. In fact, I am not finding fault with the bow design, in fact, I am quite a fan of it. However, I actually didn’t even see the bow at first with this bag. Instead I was a tad overwhelmed with all of the studding. We’ve gone back and forth for months now about the use of studding on handbags. Yet, this is the first one that actually stands up and says, “love me or hate me, you WILL notice me”.

Leave it to Valentino to pull together a handbag with a very noticeable look. The Valenitno Shiny Nappa Studded Tote has a fabulous design which is nothing but lost behind all the studding. I for one am a fan of studding, when done correctly. However, here, it looks as though someone was a bit too stud-gun happy.

I am completely disappointed that such luxurious, creamy and soft leather has been overtaken by mini studs. This handbag would be a knock out if it weren’t for all the studs. Don’t you think? Per usual, Valentino handbags come with a hefty price tag, but the overall design of the bag is timeless and classic. So, if I were looking for an investment piece and was willing to drop big bucks, this bag would be right up my alley if it weren’t for all the studs. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $2695.

Ok Donna Karan, you have our attention. We are starting to find ourselves liking more of your bags and taking a better look at them. We know you are the Queen of clothing already, so you know what you are doing. The handbag world is tricky to enter, but welcome to it.

The last bag I was seriously digging from DK was the Eldridge, an uptown cool everyday bag. Now the bag that I find to be entirely simplistic yet beautiful is the Donna Karan Large Expandable Shoulder Bag. This bag is exclusive to Saks. The body of the bag is soft and slouchy, adding a slightly unexpected yet fun addition with the studded shoulder strap. The creamy leather is perfect for winter whites. The overall vibe is grown up with chic twist.

Other details include an outside zipper which reveals an expandable gusset. There is also an inside zip pocket and three open pockets. Always a major plus for me is a roomy shoulder drop, on this bag it is a comfortable 10 inches. Overall measurements are 16″W X 14″H X 5″D. I give Donna Karan a thumbs up here. Please continue along this path! Buy exclusively via Saks for $1095.

If I had to pick one phrase to describe the Gucci Secret GG Satchel, it would be “exceedingly grown-up.” Make no mistake about it – this bag is for a grown woman and it means business.

It doesn’t appear to be exactly the right size or shape to carry actual paperwork, but it does give the distinct impression of being an all work/no play sort of handbag. Perhaps its the sharp right angles or the rectangular, stiff shape. Perhaps it’s both, plus the dark-chocolate brown leather and crocodile trim that reminds me of the materials that are often used to make fine briefcases.

Whether or not those are negative things probably depend on your own personal style. Even though this bag isn’t exactly in line with mine, I can’t help but admire its elegant lines and the rich-looking materials that comprise it. I’d rather have avoided the logo fabric at the sides, but you can’t win ‘em all. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1950.

Ahh, the eternal handbag questions: how much should we, as consumers, be willing to pay for bags that aren’t made out of leather? How about one made out of canvas? How about a really SIMPLE bag made out of canvas? Should it vary by brand? If it does, does that mean we’ve all fallen victim to someone’s marketing scheme? For me, the Yves Saint Laurent Safety Pins Tote brings up all of those questions and more.

For what it is, I quite like this bag. But is the bag that it is worthy of the price that Yves Saint Laurent is asking? I suppose that depends on who you are and how much extra money is sitting in your bank account.

If I disregard the price tag, I kind of enjoy the form factor of this bag by itself. Sure, it’s just a canvas tote, and it’s probably just like the canvas totes that the natural-foods grocery store I go to gives away. There are precious few ways to make something like this “high quality” – at a certain point, it just is what it is. Taking that into consideration, the graphic safety pins are still not only an appreciated visual departure for this bag line, but they remind me of the pins I used to put in the canvas messenger bag that I carried as a scenester and punk music obsessive in high school. So, it’s possible that I’m a bit biased, since this seems to be a post-modern rendering of the look I spent years of my youth trying to achieve.

But then I have the unfortunate duty of considering the price. If I had a bunch of extra money, I’d probably buy it just because it makes me smile, even though I think that $195 is too much for untreated canvas in such a simple, common tote form. As I stand right now, I’m a fairly recent college graduate that hopes to maybe buy a new car (Audi A3, come to me) in the next couple of years and upgrade my apartment furnishings, and a $200 canvas tote just seems like the last thing I need to be buying. Then again, I guess “need” isn’t really the point here.

So if “need” isn’t what we should be considering here, what about “want?” Do I want to pay $200 for a canvas tote of any kind? No, I want to spend $200 on a dress and sweater at Anthropologie. This tote may not be quite as egregiously priced as some that I’ve seen in the past few years, but I think I’ve answered my own question. Buy through Saks for $195.

From all of us at PurseBlog, we wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that you have a wonderful time with family and friends!

And hopefully there was a bag or two under the tree for you…