A few evenings ago, I found myself in an interesting discussion on PurseForum started by a person wondering how often others are complimented by strangers. The incidence at which one is approached probably varies widely depending on the city you live in, lifestyle you have and general vibe that you give off, but I can’t help but assume that most people have at least one or two items in their closets that are sure to get a response.

Lately, it’s my Miu Miu studded loafers, as pictured at left. No matter where I’m going or what I’m doing, someone always asks about them, which is a pleasant surprise since I bought them assuming that half the people I encountered would think I was crazy. Last summer, it was my bright yellow Botkier Trigger Bag that made everyone ask where they could find one of their own. I’ve always been that person who strangers love to talk to (I must have one of those faces or something), but a good handbag or piece of jewelry can turn anyone into That Girl. So what in your wardrobe turns others’ heads and compels them to break all sorts of social norms by randomly approaching you? Let us know in the comments.

I often wish that more of my favorite contemporary labels would launch handbag lines, particularly those like Milly that have a very strong stylistic point of view. Luckily, Milly has done just that for Spring 2011 with a collection of reasonably priced bags that reflect its refined-but-beachy look for spring.

Among my favorites so far is the Milly Perforated Patent Satchel, which fit’s the brand’s image to a tee. Milly tends to skew less urban than other contemporary labels, and this structured but still fun bag strikes the right note for the brand. When launching a new handbag line, getting the tone right is often the most difficult part, and I think that the company has done well getting the bags in line with its aesthetic.

We normally wouldn’t publish photos of this quality, but Celine bags are so hard to get a handle on that any photographic evidence of what’s to come is welcome, no matter the spotty photographic skills of the camera phone-wielding person who likely took these shots. They apparently first appeared on the blog of European retailer Nathalie Schuterman and were then identified by sharp-eyed PurseForum members as a preview of Celine Pre-Fall 2011 handbags.

Because these photos appear to include several versions of the Celine Phantom Luggage Tote that’s being introduced for Pre-Fall 2011, we’re inclined to agree with that assessment of these shots, although they probably shouldn’t be considered comprehensive. Take a look at the larger shots after the jump and let us know which bags will be on your wishlist.

I believe in handbag love at first sight and here it is. I have nothing extraordinary to say about this bag other than how absolutely amazing it is. The color, the design, and the croc skin, all come together for a symphony of perfection.

We will be seeing much more of the Proenza Schouler Keep All bags for both spring and fall 2011. But once you show me this croc version, plain leather seems too bland. Proenza Schouler has done it again and continues to do it. We thank the duo behind the brand for keeping all handbag lovers loving their designs. Price is $9,575. Buy via Barneys NY.

This bag was included in my Shop-A-Matic picks for NYMag.com, check the rest out here!

Everyone has seasonal colors that they tend to favor, and to me, nothing goes better with summer than lime green. If you’ve taken a look through Bottega Veneta’s Spring 2011 collection, you know that Tomas Maier has set the brand up to be one of the season’s best sources for lime, chartreuse and all shades in between. So far, my favorite of the options available is the Bottega Veneta Vernicetta Pitone Tote. For this design, the famous Bottega leather is woven in a rustic, basket-style way, but what you see here is far more luxurious than anything made out of straw ever could be.

Normally I enjoy a good novelty bag a lot more in theory than I do in my closet, but the Kate Spade The Journal Newspaper Clutch is poking at a special place in my heart.

I spent a lot of time in college learning how to write hard news in an inverted pyramid and listening to professors pontificate on the unending importance of objectivity and the AP Style Book. I was taught to lay out a newspaper page and copy edit nearly anything. As it turns out, those skills aren’t all necessary in order for me to do my current job, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still feel a special fondness for newspapers. Combining a paper with a handbag gives me warm fuzzies like you wouldn’t believe.

The start out Couture Week signals the end of men’s Fall 2011 presentations, and since we are nowhere near as obsessed with manbags as we are with those carried by women, we thought it best to defer to the experts at GQ France to pick the best men’s accessories of the just-finished runway shows.

Some of these offerings, like crocodile from Burberry Prorsum and the fantastically structured Prada creation you see at left (not to mention Hermes, because Hermes never does anything wrong), are indeed worthy of superlatives. Others…not so much. Let us know which bags are your most and least favorites in the comments.