There’s a reason I was never the fan of the massively studded bag trend. Those stylish, seemingly innocent studs can be sharp. Sharp in the way that makes you wince a little bit if you have to grab on to a heavy clutch covered with the things. I’m speaking from experience, folks.

But that same reason is why I absolutely adore, not abhor, little clutches covered with conical studs, like this Be&D Studded Zip Around Clutch Wallet.

For the past two weeks, every time I turn on the news the top story is the weather. It was 26 degrees in Miami the other day, which is about 50 degrees below average. There was frost on cars. Do you know how confusing it is to live in South Florida and find frost on your car and frozen leaves on your trees?

Ever see a bag and know immediately that it’s one that you would use constantly and incorporate into your wardrobe effortlessly? Like its existence is just a little bit of handbag kismet that the Powers That Be most surely intended just for you? A match made in proverbial handbag heaven?

That’s exactly what the Be&D Woodstock Shopper Bag is for me.

Tomorrow I have the pleasure of hosting a Be&D Trunk Show and Personal Appearance in South Miami with one of the founders, Steve Dumain. I met Steve previously and have been looking forward to having the chance to see him again. What better way than to spend time together talking about Be and D bags and meeting people.

If you are in South Florida, stop by.

Without knowing for sure, I am guessing the Be&D Bowery Leather Satchel is in fact named after Bowery which is a street and small neighborhood in the southern part of NYC. I am sure Be and or Steve will confirm. The reason I can 100% tell you that this bag is awesome is because of the leather. The leather on Be&D bags is beyond supple.

I have an obsession with soft lambskin leather. Touch is one of our most important senses which comes into play when I shop for handbags. I kid you not, Be&D has some of THE softest leather I have ever felt in my life. I can’t even put into words how soft it truly feels. And then Be&D pairs that leather with rocking studs for a combo that gives you opposite ends of the spectrum which works out magnificently.

Tonight is the season premiere of Gossip Girl. I am attempting to hold back my extreme excitement over one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Gossip Girl not only brings the drama on screen but it also brings some of the most fashionable style on the characters. The prim and propper Blair Waldorf brought back the headband trend along with structured handbags, while Serena van der Woodsen gives us her edgy laid-back looks.

Last fall we had the pleasure to meet with the designers and co-founders behind Be&D, Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain. Be&D reintroduced the Garbo when we were at the press preview and we could not have been more thrilled. In 2004, most handbag designers were sticking to the basics. At this time I was still exploring my love of handbags (this is pre-PurseBlog days).

Another day, another studded bag. If you’re sick of this trend, wait a month – you’ll be more sick of it. I promise. But as it stands now, I still love it, and I’m still happy to write about it. Studs have not jumped the shark just yet.

And despite my lack of love for shiny gold hardware, and in particular shiny gold studs, I can’t help but enjoy the Be & D Garbo Convertible Tote.

What a perfect season for Be&D to make a comeback. They first did multitudinous studs years ago, before it was popular and trendy, and then they mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth for a little while.

Their studded bags really didn’t tickle my fancy back then; they were shiny, smooth, and gold, which is really not my thing. The bags they’ve introduced recently have been much better, though, whether they’re studded or unstudded.