I’ve made my feelings on spendy canvas totes known before – they’re not worth it, almost universally. They’re definitely not worth it when they reach into the four figures, even when the tote in question is as pretty as the Givenchy Birds of Paradise Tote. It sure has a pretty print, though, doesn’t it?

Before glancing down to find the price for this bag, I said a brief, silent prayer that it would be somewhere in the $500-$600 range. That’s still more than I really want to pay for this type of design, but it’s still within the range where I could tell myself that maybe if it went on sale or if I suddenly had an extra $600 sitting around, I’d buy it. Over $1100 for a canvas tote, on the other hand, makes me do some combination of head-shaking and eye-rolling that, were you to see it in person, would certainly signify my displeasure.

And still the pattern, reminiscent of a scarf print, has totally drawn me in. The tote even comes with a matching pouch, but sadly that’s not enough to convince me to buy canvas when the same bag in solid leather only costs $160 more. And here I find myself lamenting the same problem – why can’t a fantastically creative company like Givenchy give us printed leather? Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1120.

As we all know by now, Pantone announced last month that 2012′s Color of the Year would be “Tangerine Tango” – a vibrant, saturated, deep orange that looks almost hot to the touch. With so many blazing bright colors dotting the runways as of late, the declaration seemed like Pantone’s most accurate in a long time. When I clicked over to Bergdorf Goodman today and saw the beautiful, sunny Givenchy Antigona Tote daring me to get out my credit card, I knew in my heart that Pantone was indeed on to something big.

We’ve discussed this topic before, but why can’t stock photos look like this? THESE are the types of pictures that make people open their online banking info in a separate tab and start doing desperate handbag math. In this specific instance, the bag itself is pretty simple – with its east-west shape and slim straps, the Antigona tote looks like an all-leather cousin of the Louis Vuitton Neverfull. I’ll take this variation on the theme any day, though; ditching logo cavas for beautiful brightly colored leather is always an upgrade.

Actually, I take back what I said before. I’m thankful that more handbags aren’t photographed this way for retail sites. If they were, they’d have to reopen debtors’ prison just for me. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1280.

The Givenchy Antigona Satchel is such an under-appreciated handbag. The design is exceptionally crisp and minimal, it comes in a variety of sizes, materials and colors, it’s Givenchy, fer chrissakes. It’s far superior to the Givenchy Nightingale (says me), but yet, it’s not quite as well known. With Givenchy’s killer slate of Antigonas to come, Spring 2012 might change that.

With this lineup, there’s a little something for everyone. Exotics, stitched details, brights-and-neutrals colorblocking, mirrored patent leather. The Antigona takes well to all of them because of its immaculate, well-edited structure; there’s never a metaphorical hair out of place on this bag. Check out the versions to come after the jump or shop Givenchy via Barneys right now.

If you’re a fan of Givenchy mastermind Riccardo Tisci, you know that he’s remade the brand’s image into that of a luxe-goth powerhouse, complete with references to Catholicism and more black leather than you can shake a stick at. (Side note: What does that saying even mean?) It’s easy to look at a garment and tell whether or not it’s Givenchy.

Except, wait…are these pastel Givenchy Pandora Satchels that I see? That appears to be the case, even though they’re some of the prettiest and brightest shades that can really be referred to by that awful word. “Pastel.” Yick. These colors are anything but cringe-worthy, though, even if they’re not immediately recognizable as part of the Givenchy palette.

First, I have to make my gripes with the Pandora design known. Whenever I see this design in public, it always looks to me like one of the top handles has fallen off and made the square-ish body of the bag hang at an angle from the only remaining stap. (If you can’t tell what I’m talking about from these pictures, click through and look at the angle shot that Luisa Via Roma provides.) It really bothers me, even though I love Givenchy and would really like an Antigona satchel. The Pandora, however, inspires less enthusiasm. Perhaps it’s just too advanced for me.

These colors, on the other hand, are an interesting change from the Givenchy bags I’m used to seeing. The purple in particular appeals to me, but as I’ve mentioned before, I actually have bright purple panels in my hair – I’m somewhat attached to the color. Also, it’s the least pastel shade of the bunch, which is another vote in purple’s favor. Any of these colors, textures and sizes would be a winner, though, even if they’re not as gothic as one might expect from the brilliant Mr. Tisci. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $1924 in yellow, $2155 in purple or $1744 in green.

Who is it, exactly, who buys a clutch so small and rigid that it can’t fit a slender smartphone? In a day and age when even veteran socialites are glued to their iPhones (and playing Angry Birds just like the rest of us, I assure you), don’t teeny-tiny handbags become something of a significant logistical issue? Givenchy Fall 2011 didn’t feature many handbags, but the ones that did appear were all so picayune that I couldn’t help but pick up my phone to try and gauge the difference in size between it and what I saw on my screen. I’m not at all convinced that it would fit inside of one of Givenchy’s small evenings bags, and even if it did, it would be the only thing in there. So much for house keys.

I’ve brought up this problem before and never received any sort of satisfactory answer about what you’re supposed to do with one of these tiny clutches. Give your phone to your man? What if you’re going out with your girlfriends, do you give it to one of them? What if you get separated or she leaves early? Why spend so much money on a bag that’s absolutely devoid of practicality? These designs are pretty to look at, but without one very significant alteration, I won’t be buying them.

Photos via Vogue.com.

Thankfully, that’s exactly what Givenchy gave us. Modernist lampshade-esque hats topped looks from ballgowns to jumpsuits, rendered in lace, beading, feathers and ruffles and then dipped in pure, unadulterated fabulousness.

The styling was a bit gothic – models wore ultra-pale makeup accented with blood-red lips and eyes so smokey that some of the models looked a bit like they’d taken a punch. The goth look was bolstered by a largely black palette, but there were enough shots of vibrant purple, blue and green that no one would mistake the mood for dour. It was dark but glamorous, and that’s exactly what I prefer in my couture. Or, you know, what I would prefer if I had any couture.

           

Photos via Fashionologie.com.

Ut-oh. I absolutely positively love this clutch. And when you look at it, it is nothing out of the ordinary. Simple shape and simple design. So simple yet so lovely. The exotic eel skin stands out beautifully in bright fuchsia. I want it. Sometimes what we love and desire does not make sense, even to us, and that is precisely how I feel about the Givenchy Elene Eel Clutch.

I know what you are thinking. Too plain. But there is a picture below that may change your mind.

As I looked at this clutch I realized I saw it somewhere before. I believe this Givenchy bag is the same carried by Amber Rose recently. Isn’t that it? And if so, I love it even more. Amber Rose has a unique sense of style and her hot pink eel skin clutch stood out magnificently.

Eel skin is such a great exotic. It infuses a pattern with the skin and an entirely different look. There is a top zip and wrist strap. The size is ample, 7.5″ x 12″. Only problem is the price. The price will hold me and many of you back. But when my imaginary wallet refills itself with money, I will buy this shocking pink exotic clutch. Buy through Barneys for $1,220.

So what exactly did they do to it? Exactly what it sounds like, actually. But you’ll have to make the jump to see the close-up.

Well, Givenchy cut the leather! More precisely, they put in dozens upon dozens of intersecting laser-precise scores in the top layer of the leather, exposing in small parts the light coloring underneath. It’s a very cool effect, but it leaves me with a few questions.

My first concern is about durability. The distressing appears to cause the leather to pull away where the surface has been cut, and I’ve got to think that that effect is going to become exacerbated over time. Anything like that is going to cause a bag to wear more quickly than its non-distressed counterparts, and when most people consider the purchase of a bag this expensive, durability is a concern.

It may be that Givenchy has done something to address that potential problem, as any high-end brand should, but that’s impossible for me to verify at the moment. If I was functioning under the assumption that they did, I would say that this is a very cool bag indeed. The cutting is so precise and the distressing so perfectly controlled that I’m glad they got creative here and tried something new. I just hope it works out in the long run for whoever buys the bag. Buy through Barneys for $1675.

Hilary Duff, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale have all been spotted with the bag within days of each other, with little fashion fanfare to encourage them to be seen carrying it. So what’s the deal?

I’m starting to get the feeling that Givenchy is only one huge It Bag away from really exploding into the accessories mainstream, and they’d certainly deserve it. This Nightengale bag is gorgeous, of course, as every one of their Nightingales have been. And it’s getting more play with young taste-makers than any of their bags in the past.

I’m not sure what has catapulted it to such popularity, except maybe that these girls that have easy access to so many bags are getting kind of sick of carrying things that are easily found in any high-end department store. Givenchy bags aren’t rare, certainly, but they’re a bit more off-the-beaten-path than this season’s offerings from Louis Vuitton or Gucci. All of these starlets appear to be trying to carve out their own style niche (ok, so Vanessa Hudgens and The Tiz are carving out the same one), and a bag from an ultra-luxe designer with tons of hardcore fashion cred might be just what the doctor ordered. Buy through Barneys for $2175.