For an elegant tote to carry to lunch or an art gallery, look no further than the Pas de Cuir tote by Henry Cuir. This bag has a beautiful profile with its scalloped edges, and reminds me of an origami sculpture. And there are inherent dichotomies: it is delicate, yet enduring in grained leather. What other surprising differences? The interior is unlined, but there is a leather zipped pocket. The dimensions are 14" x 19" x 6", with a 7.5" handle drop. What's pretty about this bag? There is... Read Full Story

Jil Sander (I love the Style perfume -- I bought it in Saks at Fifth Avenue) has a beautiful purse in -- you guessed it -- the hot material of the season, python. This mini clutch bucks the supersize trend, in a petite envelope size (dimensions are 5" x 5.5" x 1"). The u-shape of the gunmetal handle makes it look like a western or rocker style; this is a clutch with an edge. This bag folds over and closes with a magnetic snap -- it holds the bare necessities (credit cards and IDs and a... Read Full Story

R&Y Augousti has another unusual stunner in their inventory. This beautiful python bag combines the colors of bone and lavender, a most uncommon combination, to the tune of a beautiful harmony. The ring clutch has a suede interior in a matching lovely purple with a small zip pocket (to hold the tiny things near). The dimensions are perfect for a clutch -- 10" x 5" -- not monstrous in size as some currently are. Made of python with brass and stone for decoration, this bag is available at... Read Full Story

Here is a bag with a vintage personality -- the laser cut of the leather give a vibe from the 1960s, while the handle gives a modern juxtaposition. Made of calf leather, linen, and shagreen. The dimensions are 16" x 8½" x 10". This bag is $1025 at Vivre. What is shagreen? It is a leather that has been made from horses, sharks or, more commonly today, stingrays. Its use as a luxury material rose to prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries, and was highly prized in the French court of Louis... Read Full Story

Geez. You've been really keeping up with the latest volumes of sterling journalism in People and Us Weekly. Your friends in the scientific circles don't quite appreciate your thirst for pop culture knowledge. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to pick up an enlightening novel. Did you ever want to be perceived as more erudite by your fellow or friend, but didn't know how? Have you been accused of being shallow? Well, you've got to walk before you run (right?), so start here and look no further than... Read Full Story

Many stylish women are raving about Zagliani. As many who know me well, I am a huge proponent of marrying science and art -- they are two sides of the same coin. Well, here is that marriage in the story of a handbag. Do you admire fine craftsmanship, with smooth, supple leather? Look no further than this bag -- the creation of a dermatologist. Dr. Mauro Orietti-Carella has injected this snakeskin with silicone for a buttery soft and supple feel. It's Botox for the bag. Cosmetic intervention... Read Full Story

Intricate beading in a fiery, vibrant pattern. Introducing the Vibrant clutch by Stella McCartney. This bag has excellent craftsmanship, and makes use of excellent the complementary colors of orange and blue (they're face each other on the color wheel for a good reason, as you can see here!). This bag would look gorgeous with a summery top and white pants or jeans in the day, or dressed up for a splash of color in the night. It dresses up or down because the intricacy of the pattern equals... Read Full Story

Hmm, reading the title, it sounds more like an exotic breed of the butterfly. Maybe I've caught yellow fever, as I've succumbed to obsession (I'd like to think of it at appreciation) of the color -- I'm finding a good number of bags in this hue that are quite attractive. Buttery, warm, sunny, uplifting -- these are all traits I associate with this color, and who wouldn't want to carry reminders of these elements on their arms? The jet black gems make this minaudiere a standout. Normally, I... Read Full Story

Renaud Pelligrino has designed these beautiful clutches in candy colored satin with silver studs. I love the yellow and the lavender in particular, because the vibrancy is gorgeous. These have an Asian/Western theme, and are beautifully lined in matching satin with zippered pouches. 10" x 5" and available at Vivre for $995. Read Full Story

Logo: this bag is famous for its lack of a logo anywhere on the bag. Their unofficial company slogan sums it up: "When your own initials are enough." Signature Elements: woven leather in a checker-like pattern. They use a R-T-W color palette. Most Famous Handbag: Any bag from their Intrecciato line, which uses the woven leather and clean lines. Founder: Vittorio and Laura Moltedo in 1966. Originally a family business of luxury leather accessories in Vicenza, near Venice, the brand declined... Read Full Story