I’m not really one to sit and ruminate on a bag. When I see a new one, I either have something to say about it or I don’t, and if I do, it normally gets written about it shortly thereafter. Forming an opinion has never been difficult for me.

But when I saw the Michael Kors Roslyn Leather Shoulder Bag, I found myself experiencing a confusing, unfamiliar mix of feelings – I like the bag, but there’s something not quite right, and I’m having a difficult time putting my finger on it. Let’s discuss this bag’s details, shall we? After all, that’s usually where the devil is.

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In the spirit of today’s Ohio State versus Michigan football game, we indulge in this Scarlet and Grey medley. Composed of the Grey Glossy Ostrich Westbourne bag by Notting Hill Design and an artsy red chair in downtown Fort Lauderdale, this Shutterbag edition prepares us mentally for the classic showdown between the two rivaling teams.

Beat Michigan.

What would be more becoming at a holiday party than a decadent gold metallic clutch paired with these dramatic DKNY “Dotty” snake print metallic gold sandals and your favorite little black dress? The accessories can make or break your look.

An eye catching evening clutch for a holiday party will definitely put you in a party mood. Add some sparkle, just a touch. Moderation is the key to not looking like you are trying too hard. Pair the gold accessories with solid colors such as black, charcoal gray or perhaps even fuchsia if you dare. But most of all, have fun with it and rotate your gold toned accessories with various outfits, perhaps add some classics to your handbag collection in shades that are hot right now, including a shiny metallic gold, an antiqued gold and even a bronze finish. This would make a great statement piece though!

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Where were the fireworks last night? Where was the drama? Was it hiding in new housewife Alexis’s cleavage? Was her creepy, weak-chinned husband keeping it from the watchful eyes of the Real Housewives of Orange County viewership?

Wherever it is, we didn’t see much of it. Tamra copped to having jealousy issues, all of the housewives tried on lingerie without punching each other in the face, Gretchen got up on a pole but managed to stay clothed, and Jeana exited the show with little fanfare and a dinner where both of her sons managed to not be total douchebags.

Where was the wig-pulling? The bad, auto-tuned dance songs? The glasses of white wine with straws in them? Oh yeah, wrong housewives. Darn. I kind of miss those other ones.

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Back when I wrote about the fantastical, confusing, reptilian shoes that Alexander McQueen showed for his brilliant Spring 2010 runway show, I remember thinking that the only person that I could see actually trying to wear the shoes in any serious way was Lady Gaga. Apparently I can predict the future, so if any of you would like to know if you should dump your current boyfriend, you know who to ask.

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I’m usually a bit dubious when Bottega Veneta decides to layer a pattern on top of their signature intrecciato woven leather. The material itself is so beautiful and luxurious that it seem a waste to mask it, and often the extra patterns compete with the weave’s natural lines.

This time, though, I think they got it right – the argyle pattern of the Bottega Veneta Argyle Veneta Intrec Argyle Boston Bag works on its own and with the weaving.

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I’ve always been critical of Christian Louboutin handbags in the past, but I’ve seen a few that I don’t hate in the past season. With all the design genius in that company, I knew they would pull together their handbag line sooner or later, and they appear to be slowly but surely turning out some purses that do justice to their drool-worthy shoes. The Christian Louboutin Lolita Montone Bag is surely a step in the right direction.

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ShopBop continues to bring us a small, eclectic group of vintage handbags. What are we digging the most? The Chanel bags. Chanel vintage handbags show us that the brand is not only timeless but also that their designs continue to be relevant. The newest addition to the vintage collection at ShopBop is a Chanel Vinyl Bag which features signature chain straps with a clear vinyl body and interlocking black letter Cs at the front and back.

The reason this bag doesn’t do much for me is because I have never loved vinyl bags. If I wanted to own a vinyl bag, this could be it. I can picture pairing this bag with large oversized sunglasses and a casual outfit of jeans and a tee. In my mind it looks good. The other thing about a clear bag is to make sure whatever is showing through is not entirely awful. I would opt for oversized colorful pouches to be the innards which will show through with a little pop of color. Dimensions are 12.5″H x 16.5″L x 4.5″D. Buy through ShopBop for $2,860.

Some of my personal favorite handbags are ones that so accurately capture a bygone era that they could probably be passed off as really fantastic vintage finds. So much in fashion is predicated on what has been done in the past that a designer deftly recreating the mood of a time period can show a great deal of skill, if done correctly.

And with all the glitz and glitter that’s popular for winter, I can’t help but think that the Judith Leiber Sunburst Clutch is totally disco-tastic.

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One of the most amazing aspects of my job is the opportunity to look at handbags in showrooms. It is triple the delight when the bags we are looking at are months away from being available to the general public. If you asked me five years ago what I would be doing today, this would not be on my list. But I am beyond thrilled it is.

Visiting the Bottega Veneta showroom was a highlight of our NYC trip. Just as we arrived in the showroom, we were greeted by a fresh set of Spring 2010 handbags. The bags had only been seen previously on the runway in Milan a week prior. Now it was our turn to examine them closely in all of their glory.

When you look at a Bottega Veneta bag, one of the main aspects that intrigues me (and should be taken into consideration by any buyer) is how exactly the bag was made. Tomas Maier and the Bottega Veneta team continue to go above and beyond when creating their pieces. There is a story behind every item, every color, every technique, and every material. Now if we could have the pleasure of sitting down with Tomas Maier to see into his vision our lives would be complete. We can dream, right?

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