Anyone who watches Project Runway with any regularity knows that Michael Kors is all about classic American sportswear, and his handbags usually reflect that ethos. They’re rarely fashion-forward or challenging, but they’re almost always made in functional shapes and of beautiful leather.

The Michael Kors Hadley Python Clutch is about as edgy as Kors gets, but as the old saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

We usually feature bags from Lockheart over on PurseBlog Savvy because of the brand’s very reasonable price points, but sometimes a mid-range bag impresses us so much that it richly deserves to make the jump to and be considered alongside much more expensive bags. The Lockheart Priscilla Fanfare Shoulder Bag is clearly one such occasion.

Lockheart is a master of intricate texture at a reasonable price, and the Priscilla Fanfare bag fits perfectly into the brand’s aesthetic.

If someone were to tell me that they were going to design a bag based on an oversized jewelry box, that might sound like kind of a bad idea. Surprisingly (or not so surprisingly, depending on how much you follow the brand), Maison Martin Margiela was able to do so with a signature minimalist flair. The Maison Martin Margiela Jewelry Box Clutch might look like it’s supposed to hold a pair of very, very large diamond studs at first, but it’s really meant to hold your night-out necessities.

It’s so rare that Nancy Gonzalez makes a misstep. Her handbags may not be revolutionary, but it’s nearly impossible to go wrong with exotic materials, beautiful colors and simple shapes. It appears as though she has handbag design nearly down to a science.

The Nancy Gonzalez Hand-Held Croc Clutch is merely the most recent in a long line of sartorial successes from the brand, and as always, I’m drooling over it.

We first caught a glimpse of Prada’s knitted leather during the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 runway show in March, and I’ve been hungrily awaiting their arrival at retail ever since. Well, they’re here! Almost. Prada has close-up pictures of a few styles and colors on its website, and these Prada Knitted Leather Clutches in particular do not disappoint.

Sadly, my favorite color combination isn’t pictured, but if you imagine the one on the right with red instead of tan, you get the idea.

I can’t think of many brands with more disparate accessory aesthetics than Louis Vuitton and Lanvin, but that doesn’t mean that the two luxury giants won’t intersect from time to time. While flipping through looks from the recent Resort 2011 presentations in Paris, I was surprised to see that the two brands seem to be on the same page in at least one noticeable way.

Normally when Marc Jacobs makes bags for his eponymous line, they’re a little bit more streamlined and subdued than his efforts on behalf of Louis Vuitton, but the bags that we’ve seen from him recently have been anything but simple. We’ve seen fur, sequins, metallics and exotic leather, all combined in various ways for maximum handbag impact.

Some people may tire of the complication, but I love it when designers mix materials.

I need a new bag. It’s been quite a long time since I bought one – far too long for a person that spends eight hours a day pondering the finer points of various designer purses. I’m moving to Atlanta soon and I think that getting a grown-up clutch would be a great way to mark the transition. You see, I’ve spent the past two years taking something of a post-graduation victory lap around my college town, and when you go to college bars, a fancy clutch is kind of a dangerous thing to have.

Against perhaps my better judgment, I really like the Alexander Wang Jena Laser-Cut Leather Clutch. And I mean, I like, REALLY like it. The shape is a bit odd and I typically stay away from oddly shaped bags. Don’t ask me why, it’s just what I do. Yet, this clutch, this adorable, edgy and versatile clutch has captured my attention and I’ve not been able to get out of its hold since.

Last week OscarPRGirl tweeted “For me a really good day clutch is a precious commodity”. I read the tweet and nodded my head. Then I opened up the photo she included and fell in love. You all know my love of clutches, I gush about them often on PurseBlog. Welcome the Oscar de la Renta Grafton Clutch to your screen.