I don’t know what a “snaffle” is, but if the Gucci Snaffle Bit Small Leather Shoulder Bag is any indication, I like it. This shoulder bag capitalizes on the tropical embellishments from Gucci’s Spring 2011 runway show and adds a shot of bright color to create one of the season’s best casual bags yet

It’s still early, of course, so that designation may change, but somehow I doubt it.

What I would take at the bottom of my stocking this year in place of an organic orange is this Gucci Mouse Purse because it is all kinds of awesome.

Starting today BlueFly has a Gucci Sale. For all who love Gucci, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

In fashion, sometimes the worst thing you can say about a design is that it’s…fine. At least when a bag is cosmically awful, the designers tried a little bit of something. A chance was taken, a personality was exposed, and even if those kinds of adventures don’t always work out, it’s always encouraging to see a design who’s willing to gamble.

If Gucci‘s accessories designers have anything to say about it, the trend toward handbag minimalism is over, starting with Gucci Spring 2011.

Considering last season’s retro-leaning accessories collection and the current trend climate, I expected another line of referential, staid handbags from the Italian brand during its recent presentation in Milan; I was dead wrong. Not only were the clothes bright, bold and more than a tad tropical, but the bags were sexy statement-makers in exotics, metallics and intricate woven leather.

After a successful first round in July, the good folks at RueLaLa are staging another irresistible Madison Avenue Couture event. The big sale launches tomorrow, September 9th and the selection of designer bags, shoes and accessories include brands like Gucci, Prada, Armani, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and many more. We can expect a vast variety of styles, with prices ranging from $200 to $2,000.

It takes a lot for me to like a suede bag, but Gucci has gone and done just that. I’m already on the record as being a fan of their “1973″ line for fall, but I was a little bit dubious of the Gucci 1973 Medium Satchel until I saw the red suede version.

Because of the tactile nature of suede, colors usually end up looking muted when the finished product arrives.

No one knows exactly how long the mini crossbody trend will last, but put me on the record as hoping that this shape stays around as a wardrobe staple for years to come. Not only are minibags delightfully functional, but they’re easily modified to embody nearly any style from hippie to industrial. In this case, the mood of the Gucci 1973 Small Shoulder Bag is clear – it’s all about the retro throwback.

It seems as though I should have waited another week to write about leopard print as a bag trend – since that post was published, several more enormous brands have made their entrance into the fad, most notable among them Gucci. I was surprised to see the Gucci Heritage Pony Hair Boston Bag at first, but once I had a chance to think about it, the print totally makes sense with the retro feel of their most recent collection.

The introduction of the Apple iPad meant one thing for fashionistas worldwide: designer iPad cases. We already saw the Louis Vuitton iPad cases and now Gucci is offering a few iPad Case options as well.

Gucci plans to release multiple versions of their iPad cases, including options for Valentine’s Day and the Holidays. Right now versions include black rubberized Guccissima leather and GG neoprene.