As you may have noticed, we didn’t do any posts about “Coachella style” around here. There are a few reasons for that: First, feathers + fringe + denim cutoffs does not = style. You only have to see so many pictures of Vanessa Hudgens in her day to day life before you realize that those sorts of looks don’t work when you’re not stoned in the middle of the desert, which means that I’m not going to try to force them on you, even if it is an easy post to write. Second, Coachella is an event that only a relative handful of people attend every year; isn’t having good summer style overall a much more worthy topic of conversation?

That’s why we’ve created our ode to the best summer bag option of all: the crossbody. Lightweight, completely hands-free and mostly small enough to carry off a bright color or a zany exotic print, you’ll be attached at the hip with the Best Crossbody Bags of Spring 2012 (almost literally) after all of the gossip chatter about celebrities at Coachella has long faded. Music festivals come and go, but a great bag is forever (or at least for a season for two).

Proenza Schouler Python PS11, $3975 via Proenza Schouler

Diane von Furstenberg Elaine Festival Bag, $475 via Neiman Marcus

Mulberry Travel Day Bag, $1750 via Net-a-Porter

Reed Krakoff Mini Standard Shoulder Bag, $590 via Neiman Marcus

Alexander Wang Rafael Crossbody, $730 via Net-a-Porter

Balenciaga Arena Giant Rose Gold Town, $1795 via Barneys

Gucci Jackie Shoulder Hobo, $1890 via Neiman Marcus

Marc by Marc Jacobs I Work For Tips Crossbody, $358 via Neiman Marcus

Rebecca Minkoff Perf Weave MAC Bag, $395 via ShopBop