Michael Kors is one of those American designers that I often forget about. His flagship line is pretty underwhelming, as far as I'm concerned. His diffusion line, however, is kind of perfect. It's trendy, but a little subdued, and totally affordable. This  School satchel is ...

I'm usually such a champion of the Marc by Marc Jacobs line that it's actually making me feel a bit queasy to give it a bad review. But even the most fashionable of designers has a bad day, and unfortunately, Mr. ...

Europe's financial crisis doesn't seem to have hit Hermes International. The French brand reports its first quarter sales rose by almost 22%, buoyed by strong demand in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Its sales rose to 21.9%, or the equivalent of 776.9 million euros, for the quarter ending March ...

If a retro shoulder bag hooked up with a piece of carry-on luggage they might give birth to something like Hayden-Harnett's Nackie Satchel.

This handbag has a very unusual look. It seems almost as if two bags have simply been sewn together. That quirkiness will never appeal to ...

Echo Designs is expanding the soft handbag collection it launched last year.

The latest handbags will feature heavier fabrics, including a wool blend, appropriate for the fall 2012 season. While the line is evolving, Echo promises more of the patterns its famous for.
"We're playing with the materials ...

In recent years we've seen Harveys evolving from a basic accessories label to one that's a bit more fashion forward. It still plays with seatbelts, but with the Studly it's also added a dose of heavy metal.

While the Studly shows a label attempting to modernize its image, ...

Chloe used to be one of the lines that I most looked forward to. In recent seasons, I've felt a little ambivalent about its designs, as it's gotten a little less experimental and a little more trend-centric. Still, I really respect its clean approach to design, and this Madeline ...

Bottega Veneta has done it again. Combine exquisite materials with classic design, I mean. This eye-catching intrecciato tote is exactly what the line is known for: balancing trends with tradition.

There's really no escaping this gorgeous tomato red hue, and I don't mean that in a bad ...

Gwen Stefani tones down her usually cutesy Harajuku Lovers line for this black Yummier backpack.

I'm not saying this black polyester bag is the perfect backpack. Without the usual prints to distract us we see how cheap the material looks. It's got that tacky gloss that ...

Why cram your evening essentials into a tiny clutch when you can enjoy more space and just as much style carrying this Cleo Sac from Halston Heritage?

The Cleo is styled like a shoulder bag, but finished with much more glitz. Its iridescent metal mesh surface ...

Chanel is encouraging us to splurge on our moms with its new Shell Clutch, which is in stores just in time for Mothers' Day. The shell minaudieres first made their appearance at Chanel's spring 2012 fashion show in Paris, and now they're on sale to cashed ...

A smattering of studs helps this Pama Shoulder Bag from Gustto shine.

I appreciate the restraint Gustto's shown here. It knows the studded trend won't hang around forever, so it doesn't allow the metal to take over. The studs are small and used sparingly. The finish ...

Guess puts its best foot forward with the Alfie Dome Satchel.

I haven't warmed to the label's showier styles, but it gets things right here by looking to classic fashion elements. The Alfie's domed shape has a playful retro feel, while the burnished hardware brings the ...

Gucci delivers a hobo worthy of its name with the Bella.

This hobo truly is a thing of beauty. Gucci's extracted the essence from the familiar handbag style and done away with everything that can be gimmicky about the style. It's more sophisticated than your average boho fare, ...

Neon colors help punch up this simple Mott Wristlet from Gorjana.

I was surprised to see the label creating such a basic wristlet. Its pouch shape is very ordinary, and devoid of the usual charm we see on the label's purses. The material and color palette appeases me ...

Global Elements has created an eco-friendly and affordable alternative to Diane Von Furstenberg's Stephanie bag with this Sarita hobo.

It seems a little unfair to compare a cheap and cheerful purse with a celebrity favorite It bag, but the influence seems undeniable. The chain-like woven finish ...

Furla seems to be serious about stepping up its influence in the travel sector. The label's just expanded its deal with cruise ship operator Harding Brothers. The new agreement will see its fall/winter 2012 collection carried on 16 ships, rather than the 10 it originally ...

Giuseppe Zanotti serves up just what he tells us with this Beaded Bag.

The name is appropriate, because the beading really is the star here. I really like the crackled turquoise stones, but I'm not so sure about the faceted beads Giuseppe Zanotti's paired them with. ...

Giorgio Armani has fun with fashion with this Embellished Tote from his Emporio Armani label.

The playful tabs which decorate this tote feel like a modern alternative to fringing. Each curved flap of leather is studded with a bold silver grommet, which brings a little edge ...

Giani Bernini's rejected the trends to create its classic Harrison shoulder bag.

Admittedly the Harrison is an easy bag to overlook. Its casual slouchy silhouette and deep seams will never inspire handbag envy. And while the leather is plush and buttery soft, in basic black it ...

Hermes has come out in top in a major trademark infringement and counterfeiting case. The verdict has netted the fashion firm a hefty $100 million in damages.

Manhattan federal judge Denise Coat ruled in favour of the esteemed fashion house, which brought charges against 34 websites selling ...

Ghibli gives the classic hobo an unusual makeover with this Jeweled Beige Suede & Reptile Leather Hobo Bag.

Its name is a real mouthful, but it tells us plenty about this striking purse. Breaking it down ensures we don't miss any of this hobo's ...

Furla serves up an exotic looking purse for less than you might expect with this Ardith shoulder bag.

The Ardith's nubbled finish mimics ostrich skin, but it's actually crafted from embossed leather. Embossed leather often looks like the poor cousin of genuine exotic skins, but not ...

Frye's usual Americana style gets a modern city makeover with this Cameron Cross-Body Bag.

I really appreciate that Frye's reined in its signature look here. There are none of those usual country and western accents that often make Frye's purses seem like novelties. This new urban ...

Franchi has reinvented its Princess purse with the Princess II.

The original Princess was a clutch covered in glittering Swarovski crystals. The newest incarnation takes the form of a small hobo bag, which is every bit as elegant as its predecessor but a bit more practical. ...

Francesco Biasia offers a chic woven leather handbag for less with this Ismene hobo.

The label has clearly taken inspiration from Bottega Veneta here. The Ismene's woven leather is delicate and refined, every bit the equal to the tight weaves Bottega Veneta offers. But the bold ...

Fossil always creates solid accessories, but it's done little to truly excite me of late. So I'm thrilled to see the American label shaking things up with this Campbell Hobo.

The gorgeous laser-cut finish really sucked me in. A delicate art deco design is punched into the leather ...

Forzieri offers an unusual take on the classic wicker basket with this Capaf Wicker & Leather tote.

I'm frankly not sure what to make of this bag. I admire Forzieri's daring, but I'm not sure its risks have paid off here. The wicker has an open ...

There's kind of a divide in the fashionista kingdom. There are those who go for status, those who look for quality, and those who look for design. Bottega Veneta is one of the few lines that covers all bases and manages to attract everyone from the ...

Oh, Jimmy Choo, women all over the world sell their souls just to be close to you. Okay, I may not be much of a poet, but the sentiment remains: Jimmy Choo is a design guru. Which I, frankly, have never really understood, because mostly ...

Diane Von Furstenberg's designs have classic American appeal that stays fresh for generations. Her innovative approach to prints makes her accessories eye-catching, but they always retain a crisp, clean look that helps them work with a lot of other styles.

This Adele checked clutch is an enviable summer catch. The all ...

Fine Italian craftsmanship and classic style combine on this elegant Berry Red Woven Handle Satchel from Fontanelli.

This a traditional satchel in many ways, but its striking berry red color and sophisticated woven handles give it some extra personality. These are the details designed to draw ...

Foley + Corinna abandons its usual casual aesthetic for something more dressed up with this Georgina Clutch.

The Georgina's not fussy after five wear, but it has a more sophisticated finish than most of the Foley + Corinna line. While it could dress up a dark ...

Fendi might be a revered fashion house, but even it makes mistakes. The Daisy Clutch is a case in point.

Honestly I'm struggling to find anything to appreciate about this confused purse. I suppose the red fox fur trim is opulent, although it doesn't seem like it belongs ...

Betsey Johnson LLC has filed for bankruptcy. The financial foreclosure will see most of the label's 63 boutiques closing their doors in the coming weeks, putting some 350 employees out of work.

While every effort was made to address the company's cash flow concerns, it seemed seeking protection under ...

Felix Rey ushers in summer with this Sardinia Clutch.

Felix Rey has served up so many whimsical novelties of late that it's strange to spy a purse so traditional from its collection. Personally I think that classic style makes the Sardinia much more wearable than its ...

Enjoy classic style for less with this Purple Patent Clutch Bag from Evans.

This purse's glossy patent finish looks luxe, but it's actually made from synthetic rather than real leather. While the material's a bit thinner than the genuine article, it's hard to spot the difference. Except, that ...

Etienne Aigner gets colorblocking right with its Melinda Satchel.

The trend has prevailed for several seasons, but I'm still wondering when the tide will turn. When it does a subtly colorblocked bag like the Melinda will endure, while ones with wilder color palettes will date quickly.

None ...

FEED and Tory Burch have joined forces with high end Canadian department store Holt Renfrew to create a limited edition tote bag. A portion of sales from the $50 tote, available exclusively through Holt Renfrew stores, will be distributed amongst the FEED and ...

It seems Lulu Guinness isn't the only one fond of a lippy print. Emilio Pucci offers an Egyptian interpretation of this romantic body part with the Luxor Lips print tote.

While Guinness' lip prints are playful novelties, Pucci's pattern is much more abstract. In ...

Emilie Sloane goes pretty in pink with this Diane Cross-Body Bag.

This purse is perfectly pleasant, with a sugary pink base and cute floral print. The lime green trim and strap are an adorable complement to the Diane's feminine finish. It looks pretty, but something tells ...

Elliott Lucca puts an elegant spin on an old favorite with its Cartagena Tote.

The Cartagena tote is a traditional tote in many ways, but the band of woven leather around the base elevates it above the pack. This weave is every bit as beautiful as ...

You don't need to be fluent in Italian to know that bella means beautiful. While this Bella tote from Ellington has some elements that fit that adjective, it seems the label may be too confident in its design abilities.

The glazed blue Italian leather Ellington's used here is ...

Burberry's Prorsum line is the hip little sister of the Burberry flagship collection. Personally, I prefer its innovative use of design and materials to the more staid and tartaned traditional range. This bamboo and leather clutch shows off its sensibility with aplomb.

The materials really make the bag ...

French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel has revealed she's been battling Parkinson's Disease for the past 15 years.

Rykiel opens up about the debilitating disorder in her new book N'Oubliez Pas Que Je Joue, which translates as Don't Forget It's a Game. The book, co-authored by Judith Perrignon, also features the ...

Elie Tahari serves up classic good looks with this Nina shoulder bag.

This purse doesn't make a strong style statement or bow to trends, but that gives it a timeless appeal that shouldn't be overlooked. Covered chain borders its flap and decorates its seams, ...

At their best crocodile prints dress up our favorite fabrics without adding too much to the bottom line. However at their worst they can appear like a desperate attempt to make a fairly pedestrian purse seem more interesting. Sadly the croc print on this Victoria ...

Ed Hardy's created a bag for its smallest fans with the Allison.

While Ed Hardy doesn't say this tote isn't specifically designed for little girls, I can't imagine anyone over the age of 12 warming to it, can you? Its pink hue is exceptionally sugary, especially ...

Nancy Gonzalez continues to innovate with crocodile skins with its new Chain Event collection designed exclusively for Bergdorf Goodman stores.

Each crocodile bag in the line is accented with metal chains carefully covered in more of the same exotic skin. Covering each ...

Echo abandons its usual casual fabrics for something a little more dressed up with this Soft Patent North South Tote.

This tote has all the gloss of a real patent, but its finish is much softer which makes it seem a bit ...