Another season has come and gone, and before we dive into what the Europeans have to offer in the coming weeks, it’s time to look back at what we learned about Fall 2013 during New York Fashion Week. First and foremost, things aren’t going be be quite as busy and boisterous going forward as they have been over the past few seasons. Most brands showed lots of neutrals (black and white, in combination, in particular) and subdued colors, which is great for people like us. It gives accessories an opportunity to sing.

And sing they did. The bags out of New York this season are exotic, furry, haircalf’d and embellished with textiles and jewels. As fussy as that sounds, though, there’s a sophistication to the best of the group that takes down the volume by an order of magnitude and manages to make those elements look wearable and elegant. Below, the 20 strongest American contenders for your handbag dollars from Fall 2013. Fill us in on your favorite of the bunch in the comments.

[Images via Vogue]