This time of year was made for Moda Operandi. In case you’re unfamiliar with the site about which we’ve posted several times recently, it’s an online trunk sale operation that posts pre-orders for stuff that’s just graced the runway. Because Spring 2012 shows just ended, Moda Operandi posts another amazing sale almost every day, and it’s hard not to shirk my other duties and write only about them.

The thing about MO, though, is that the site is notoriously stingy with granting membership, and if you don’t have an account, you can’t look or buy. That’s where I come in – even if you can’t pre-order now, you can still check out what’s going to show up in stores over the next few months in the photos that I’ve assembled after the jump. Today’s loot? Nancy Gonzalez Spring 2012.

What if I told you that on Saturday, all you have to do is show up at a Neiman Marcus store with your smartphone for a chance to walk out with a free crocodile clutch from the crocmaster herself, Nancy Gonzalez? Believe it or not, that’s what’s going to be happening at an NM near you this weekend, according to Mashable.

If you don’t have a FourSquare account, you might want to get one, because that’s how you’ll enter the Neiman Marcus Nancy Gonzalez Scavenger Hunt at one of 15 Neiman Marcus locations this weekend. We’ve got the details, plus some info about the other 41 Nancy Gonzalez clutches that Neiman Marcus will be giving away during the event, after the jump!

So here’s the deal: Neiman Marcus isn’t saying which 15 of its 41 US locations will have the hidden clutches; you have to show up and check in to find out if your store is one of the lucky few. If it is, the store’s FourSquare page will let you know if you’re near the hidden clutch and will give you some clues about where to look. The event will run between noon and 4 p.m. local time on Saturday, and the first person to find the clutch gets to keep it!

If you show up and your store isn’t one of the ones with a hidden clutch, don’t fret! All 41 stores will also have another Nancy Gonzalez clutch to give away, and you enter to win that one via FourSquare on the same day. Plus, who doesn’t love a trip to Neiman Marcus on a fall Saturday afternoon? I’d show up even if there weren’t a free Nancy Gonzalez clutch to be had.

You can check out all the fine print on the event on Neiman Marcus’s official Facebook page, or shop Nancy Gonzalez via NeimanMarcus.com.

As you guys are often quick to note, I’m usually the last person to say, “Hey, doesn’t this bag look like the design was lifted entirely from that bag?” Let’s face it, there are only so many shapes, sizes, leathers, handles and pocket configurations out there, and it’s boring to make de facto rules about who can and cannot use quilted leather and chain straps.

That being said, I took one look at the Nancy Gonzalez Metallic Crocodile Tote, and all I could think was “Celine Luggage Tote.” I even set aside the product page for a few days so that I could think about it, and the must-have Celine bag is still all I see when I look at this tote. Nancy Gonzalez normally does a great job of doing her own thing with little regard for passing trends or ideas, but this bag seems like a rather egregious example of the exact opposite.

There are a couple key pieces of the Celine bag that make it so recognizable: The north-south proportion, the jutting gussets, the front pocket and the bordered front panel. Thankfully, this bag doesn’t reproduce the thick, curvy piping that you find on the most sought-after luggage totes, but some models lack that in favor of straight border panels, which is what you have here. You also have all of the other recognizable feature, even though the pocket has a flap instead of a zipper and the handles are flat instead of rolled. What this bag does lack, though, is Celine’s casual, new-modern French elegance. That’s much harder to reproduce, unfortunately. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $4000.

Nancy Gonzalez usually wows the fashion crowd with her simple, wearable, exotic bags. But even the best fall down sometimes, and I’m afraid this is one of those times for the queen of exotics.

How is this bag on back order? BACK ORDER. That means people already paid $3,950 for this crocodile and fox fur tote and are anxiously awaiting its arrival. I’m trying not to knock it, but I simply cannot get on board with this design. Brown crocodile skin peeks out from behind the Pomeranian-esque fox fur. What better way to describe this bag then to turn to you and ask you to fill in the blank for us. Order via Neiman Marcus for $3,950.

Fill in the blank: The Nancy Gonzalez Croc & Fox Tote is ___________.

You know how much we love to play fill in the blank with you! I saw this Nancy Gonzalez bag and felt stumped. With a great shape and of course gorgeous exotic skin, it is hard for me to decide what I think about the translucent blue Caiman fuscus crocodile skin.

I immediately started thinking mermaid and have a hard time thinking anything else. I’m interested to hear what you fill in the blank with. Buy via Neiman Marcus for $3,350.

Fill in the Blank: The Translucent Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Satchel is _______.

As I sit on my couch and look out the window, a bright blue sunny sky is all I see over NYC right now. Only problem is that it is still cold. I am sure for many of you these temperatures are not that bad, but I’m a Florida transplant and my fingers are almost too cold to type. You think I’m kidding? I’m not – take a peek at what I look like as I try to work today.

Anyhow, back to the bags. I may still be bundling up with a warm winter coat but I have spring on my mind. And for spring one of the major trends is having a bright bold ladylike bag adorning your arm. I would love to infuse color and an exotic skin into my collection with the Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Chain-Strap Shoulder Bag.

Nancy Gonzalez is the Queen of color and exotic skins for that matter. I love the playful chain shoulder strap being used on this design. Of course the skin speaks for itself, as it does on every Nancy Gonzalez bag. Both of the color options, fuchsia or yellow, are entirely eye-catching and will work perfectly with spring’s huge color-blocking trend.

I’m loving the visual I am getting when picturing this bag with just about any outfit, from a little black dress to casual chic, you can do not wrong with this bag. There are plenty of pockets for your convenience. Overall dimensions are 7″H x 10″W x 3 1/2″D while the shoulder strap drop is 8.75″. Buy via Neiman Marcus for $2,950.

Nancy Gonzalez is queen of exotic skin bags. We turn to her for every option under the sun when it comes to an exotic handbag. Gone are logos and over-designed elements, since Nancy Gonzalez implements a sleek and understated-designer vibe. Even with the similarities, I really like the Nancy Gonzalez Crocodile Bowling Bag. In fact, I probably like it because I like RM’s Morning After Bag so much.

I was drawn to the MAB because of its no-hassle design and laid-back vibe. This Nancy Gonzalez bag possess just that as well. Only difference is we are given it in a crocodile denim wash finish. Rather than a single hue, this finish truly gives a nice touch. Many exotic skin bags look a dressed up and stiff, but I don’t see that when I look at this bag. I see everyday wearable, transitioning from day to night seamlessly. Buy via Net-A-Porter for $3,250.

As if traveling wasn’t fun enough to begin with, fashion has gone and found a way to make it even better: Nancy Gonzalez luggage.

Launching yesterday exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, Gonzalez now makes a line of suitcases and small travel accessories in her company’s signature crocodile skins. Manufactured to be excellent lightweight luggage in addition to being utterly luxurious, the collection includes items all the way from passport holders to iPad cases to rolling suitcases, priced between $400 and $8000. We have a preview of some of the collection’s pieces, after the jump.

Photos courtesy of Nancy Gonzalez.

At this point, it might be entirely useless to try to review Nancy Gonzalez’s Spring 2011 handbags, or any set of handbags from the Colombian accessories maven. She does one thing (exotics), and does it extremely well. You’ll find no trend-chasing or gimmicks within this line, just piece after piece of luxurious exotic leather formed into handbags of every size, shape and color imaginable.

Spring 2011′s pieces run the gamut from staid, perfect neutrals to bold brights to glam metallics and everything in between, including latice work and weaving on some of the collection’s more casual pieces. All of this stuff is vintage Nancy Gonzalez, and although her collections may not change a great deal from season to season, there’s something almost comforting about her consistency. And if you’ve never inspected one of Gonzalez’s bags in person, I highly recommend it; they’re among the best-planned designs on the market, which is just another reason to love what she does.

Photos via Style.com.

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. Bicolor bag design is difficult to do well (as we’re also discussing over at PurseBlog Savvy currently), but I have absolutely no complaints about this clutch. Well, other than the fact that it isn’t in my closet, of course.

The slouchy finish of the blue croc attracts me to this clutch more than anything else. Crocodile is usually a material reserved for structured, rigid bags, and I always enjoy seeing it used in a soft and touchable way. And if you purchased this clutch, you’d be touching it a lot – not only is it beautiful, but at 16 inches wide, day-to-night transitions would be effortless. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $3200.