There is this corset yet Western feel with the weaving detail with large rivets on the sides. I must admit I have never remembered myself liking a weaving through rivets on a bag, especially when it looks as if this weaving is holding every side together. Then there are studs, lots of them. And this amount of studs and the joining of silver and gold different shaped embellishments I really liked on the simple black Miu Miu clutch. But on the tan leather larger Miu Miu Studded Shoulder Bag I can not see the studs as anything other than too much.

Amanda was kind of liking the Miu Miu Tote and I was liking the Studded Clutch, but when these two handbags combined it gave us a sensory overhaul. Pick what it is you like and stay with it. Buy through Net A Porter for $1,495.

Ombré is, admittedly, a really difficult thing to pull off. It has to be the correct color transition, done in the correct shades, and with the correct depth of color. I’m not sure why the good people at Miu Miu thought that this would be a good thing to try and do with giant sequins on a tiny bag, then, but I can tell you that the Miu Miu Ombré Paillette-Embellished Clutch does not work out as well as they probably intended.

It’s not that I don’t see what they were trying to do here – I do. But on a super squat bag, three colors of sequins does not ombré make. It just makes six rows (two of each) of similarly colored paillettes. The effect is completely lost because there’s no slow and gradual transition, and the paillettes themselves are all solid-colored. If they had had an ombré effect as well, things might have gone more smoothly.

Not only that, but the paillettes look rather sloppily attached and arranged. Forming a larger overall pattern with movable objects relies pretty heavily on the ability of the designer to keep them looking neat and organized, and that doesn’t really happen here. Plus, when a sequin moves out of turn, it reflects light different than the rest and further hinders the ability of this clutch to look ombré in the least. Overall, this is not an evening bag I would actually pay money to own. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $950.

The leather on this handbag looks very similar to another bag we covered this week. Ah yes, the Bottega Veneta Boudoir Knot Clutch, with its chunky visible woven leather. Some of you did not like it on the BV clutch, but I am digging it on this Miu Miu bag.

There are a few reasons why the Miu Miu Plisse Leather Clutch works out so well. First off, the Indigo leather is offset with contrasting plisse detailing. The color pops beautifully. Next this clutch has a wristlet zip pull, which makes the bag handbag holder friendly. Also, the clutch will transition from casual day wear to after-hours style.

The only con to this clutch for me is the price. I always relied on Miu Miu to bring us fresh ideas for a better price than Prada. A clutch for $850 from Miu Miu, even with its large dimensions, is far too pricey for me. What do you think? Buy through Net A Porter for $850.

Net A Porter brings us some of their favorite handbags of the season. This group of three is a fashionable trio showing Miu Miu, Fendi and Lanvin. Our personal favorite is the Lanvin bag, with perfect gold stamped-python metallic leather.

Miu Miu Vitello Vintage Leather Clutch | $750

Fendi Fly Leather Shoulder Bag | $1,460

I have always had a thing for Miu Miu. Call it a crush or maybe something stronger. To this day I do not own a Miu Miu bag, but I always seem to find one that I like. As much as I want to like the Miu Miu Large Woven Leather Tote, I simply find it to be more of an odd pairing of imitations of other bags. The woven leather channels Bottega Veneta and the buckle at the top to adjust models a horrid Hermes knockoff. I am not attempting to say that Miu Miu is knocking off Bottega Veneta or Hermes, I am simply pointing out the similarities.

This bag just underwhelms me. It is lacking creativity and lacking a new touch. It is not that Bottega Veneta should be the only brand that weaves leather or that Hermes should be the only brand that places a buckle at the top of their bags, but they just do it better than this bag. I kept expecting more from Miu Miu, as time and time again it surpassed what I saw from Prada. But today, this tote is just meh. Buy through Net A Porter for $1,295.

Particularly in a bag with as much hardware as the Miu Miu Black Lambskin Tote. I love the style of it all – the laced-together eyelets remind me of corsetry, and that seems like such a cool reference to make since both corsets and bags use some of the same parts to do their jobs. The rivets and straps are big enough to not get lost in the bag’s details, but something is slightly off for me. I really, really want this bag to have silver hardware. Somehow, it just seems more appropriate for both the reference and for this season’s trends. Other than that, it’s basically perfect. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1350.

When I first laid eyes on this new Miu Miu bag I loved it. And then I kept looking at it and thinking to myself, this bag is oddly familiar. There is another brand who designed a handbag before this Miu Miu bag that other than some finishing touches, looks like they are related.

I am talking about the Hayden Harnett Wyeth Tote, which has been one of the best sellers at Hayden Harnett and a bag that has been in their collection for some time. The Wyeth does have some studding and a bit of fringe. The price of the Wyeth Tote is half that of the Miu Miu bag. Buy through Hayden Harnett for $725.

The Miu Miu Soft Leather Shoulder Bag is the bag that got this whole post going. The leather looks extremely soft and supper with a structured top handle and two front pockets. The gold-tone buckle detail fits perfectly with the look of the bag. The overall feeling of the Miu Miu bag does not coincide directly with the Wyeth Tote, it is more subtle and subdued. This bag reminds me of something an Olsen twin would be seen wearing. I adore it. Buy through Net A Porter for $1450.

Big question: Which do you prefer, the Hayden Harnett bag or the Miu Miu bag?

I love that studs will be seen on many handbags for fall and winter. This is a trend that when done right gives that perfect touch, a bit of a rocker edge. I have been attempting to figure out my studded bag purchase for fall, not even sure where I am leaning right now. But for those of you that are not feeling a large studded bag, a studded clutch will bring the punch. Silver and gold stud embellishments adorn the Miu Miu Studded Leather Clutch. One of my pet peeves is when a designer only puts studs on one side of a clutch, leaving the backside bear and lonely. This clutch does not leave you stud-less on either side. It is simple yet fun and has an internal pocket. I am digging it! Buy through Net A Porter for $750.

Buy through Net A Porter for $695.

Yesterday temperatures reached a balmy 100 degrees here with humidity that made stepping outside feel like stepping into a sauna. Then from the wee hours of the morning until a few hours ago I was reminded that Hurricane season has begun as the storm that hit knocked out power for hours and took down internet. Nevertheless we are back up!

I was having a Déjà vu this morning when I popped onto Net A Porter. There sat a cute oversized clutch, which showed a bit of gathering in an otherwise simple yet likable design. And then it occurred to me that while this clutch said it was made by Miu Miu I have seen a nearly identical design from Prada. It should be no major surprise, as Miu Miu and Prada are sister brands. But why pay a bit more for Prada when you can have Miu Miu? I suppose it all comes down to the name.

The Miu Miu Oversized Satin Clutch is the clutch I am referring to that has reminded me much of the Prada Raso Silver Clutch, not an exact copy but very similar. It is not shocking that this would happen, but why pay for Prada when a very similar Miu Miu is nearly $250 less. There are slight differences, as the Miu Miu clutch gathers at the top center of the clutch, giving a slight bow effect to the shape of the bag. Satin is not an ideal material for a handbag, but in a clutch which is not meant to be worn daily, it gives off a beautiful sheen of elegance. The violet satin is a great color choice, as it easily will give a slight hue of color without being hard to match. I adore this clutch. I don’t have use for it, nor did I for its Prada counterpart, but it is a great evening bag option when you want to dress it up a bit. Buy through Net A Porter for $450.

I think the uses for this bag, as it is, are fairly low. It would be an awfully chic grocery tote, should you need to run around the corner to grab a few things to make dinner. It might also make a decent pool tote, if you folded up your towel in the bottom to prevent your iPod headphones from dangling out. Miu Miu usually errs on the safe side with their bags so its nice to see them do something a bit different, but they fall short on practicality here. This bag would have been both innovative and functional if they had included some sort of soft leather lining inside – maybe in a cream or light grey, for maximum contrast. I would have left the lining loose instead of sticking it to the frame throughout the bag, which would leave the cage effect intact. That way, not only is the idea intact, but the bag is highly usable too. Miu Miu is halfway there, and I kind of like the idea so far. Buy through Bluefly for $660.

There is a similar phenomenon with Miu Miu handbags and Marc by Marc Jacobs bags. Bigger brother/sister of both brands seems less impressive than the younger sibling at times. Prada is great, but many times Miu Miu is better. Same with Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc. One of my favorite bags from Miu Miu reappeared on NAP and I was crushing on it hard. Today I wanted to look at the bag again and it is sold out, go figure. The bag I am speaking of is the Miu Miu Fuchsia Matellase Tote which is a perfect bold yet feminine accessory. The gold tone hardware accents the pleated leather beautifully. This bag is roomy and has tons of pockets; one padlock pocket, one press stud pocket on the outside, and an inside pocket. This bag is a spin-off of the Miu Miu Coffer, which was a huge hit, and I love this more East/West take on the bag. Maybe it will be back on NAP soon. Buy through Net A Porter for $1,495

Why in the world do designers EVER do this? It’s somewhere in Leather Effect Purgatory between regular and patent, and it doesn’t do a bag any favors. It mostly has one of the following effects: it makes the leather look like it’s not actually leather, it makes the leather look thin, or it makes the leather look stiff. What it almost ALWAYS does is make the bag look cheap – I see a lot of PVC bags at Target with identical finishes, and whenever I see something like this, that’s always what it brings to mind. A finish like this is also pretty much a guarantee that the bag won’t be soft to the touch. There are few things that you can do to a bag that I like less than what they’ve done to this one, and it’s a really shame – it could have been a winner. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1050.

Before writing this I realize that I may give you all the impression that Vlad and I are nothing other than bumps on logs. Not the case, but I am well aware that it may come off that way. Upon first glance this clutch screams ‘take me with you on new Year’s Eve!!’. And then I thought to myself, what is it that we will be doing on New Year’s Eve this year? And then I thought about what we have done years prior, which has been truly mellow and involves a very small group at home. And then I felt lame. But I must say that for the past two years we have had horrible jet lag each time. Either way, that is neither here nor there, as this year we are going out with close friends of ours! And what will I wear?!

My bag must be a statement handbag. Nothing simple, nothing obscure, and surely nothing safe. New Year’s Eve is not about the safe bet, it is about the fun outfit. The outfit that typically can not be worn many other times of year, but will work perfectly for that one night. Jazzy, boisterous, ornate, even bordering on tacky. And the best way to really snazz up your outfit is with your accessories. This Miu Miu bag is even walking the safe line, but it still offers the perfect amount of glitz and glam. This gold leather Miu Miu Oversized Metallic Clutch has pleat detailing and gone tone hardware. It is jazzy and perfect to lift your look. And now I need to go plan a great outfit for New Year’s! Buy through Net A Porter for $850.

Miu Miu Wooden Handle Tote

I am constantly drawn to cream colored leathers. Browns and whites can be harsh at times, so adding a bit of cream to tone it down is the perfect option. And whites do not have to stop being worn after Labor Day, in fact winter whites are perfectly luxe for the season. But I typically opt for a white that is creamier. And the soya cream leather on the Miu Miu Wooden Handle Tote offers a feeling of winter resort. The wooden handle does give the bag a very resort feel, but would look perfect in a more tropical area (like South Florida). The wooden handle may not fit on your shoulder well, and even if it did it may grind into your shoulder a bit. Of course Miu Miu added in an optional detachable shoulder strap. I adore this bag, adore the color of the leather, and adore the wooden accent. Buy through Net A Porter for $1350.

There are certain colors I just can’t get enough of. Gray is one of them. With so many different shades to choose from, gray is a color that can add anything from sophistication to edginess to your outfit. When I first came across the Miu Miu Diamond Leather Bag I didn’t think I saw anything too noteworthy. At first glance, I actually thought I was looking at a clutch. Yet, as I looked a little more, I noticed a few things. First of all, this is a handbag that can be carried as a shoulder bag which comes with an adjustable shoulder strap, or used as an oversized clutch. Then I found myself pleasantly surprised with the textured leather diamond patchwork and bows on each side. Doesn’t the handbag just look so soft? I have to say, I am definitely a huge fan of the external patchwork texture and internal satin lining combination. With many gray winter days approaching, this is definitely the kind of gray I wouldn’t mind holding on to. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1,295.

Miu Miu Shine Colour Bowler Bag

While getting my hair done yesterday (I’m now a brunette once again!), I found myself thumbing through a slightly out-of-date British Vogue, and I learned two things: First, that I like foreign Vogues more than I like American Vogue (please don’t smite me, Anna Wintour! But seriously, check out French and British Vogue. And maybe even Italian, Russian, and Indian), and second, multi-color handbags are supposed to be big for fall and winter. After careful contemplation while my hair color was processing, I’m just not sure this trend is for me. Take the Miu Miu Shine Colour Bowler Bag, for instance. I can see why people would really like it – it’s understated, beautifully finished, and for some reason reminds me of equestrian activities (maybe it’s the color combination?). But it’s just not doing it for me, and neither are most of the bags like it. Perhaps it’s because most of them contain some sort of brown (and my distaste for brown is well-documented), or maybe it’s because matching one color to an outfit is hard enough, but finding an outfit that matches two or more colors is probably too much work for me in the morning. Or maybe it’s something else – I’m not exactly sure. Whatever it might be, though, I’ll leave these bags for girls with a different sense of style. Buy through Saks for $1240.