Images via Fashionista.com

We love a good ad campaign around these parts. Because most brands rely on accessories (as well as cosmetics and fragrance) to make ends meet, ads often put the bags and leather goods that we’re most interested in seeing front and center in a way that the runway never does. Prada’s ads are always reliably lovely, and the campaign for Prada Spring 2012 features my favorite of the collection’s runway bags – the framed satchel!

You have two eyes, so I’m sure you can tell that these photos were shot at a service station as an homage to the 1950s greasers and car culture that inspired the clothes. Fashionista.com tells us that Steven Meisel shot five models for the campaign, most notably Natasha Poly, and the results are good, clean Americana fun. Check out two more shots after the jump.

3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Hour Tote, $750 via Barneys in white or orange

When I posted about 3.1 Phillip Lim’s stellar Spring 2012 collection a few weeks ago, your reactions were just as enthusiastic as mine – the bags are minimal, modern perfection. Recently, a little bit more information has surfaced about the concept behind the collection’s most anticipated designs, including a Style.com video to show them in action.

The 3.1 Phillip Lim 31 Hour Bags are meant for a woman who needs functional choices above and beyond a normal lifestyle – someone sophisticated, urban, blah blah blah. It’s the kind of lip service that every brand pays to its customers while trying to sell them expensive handbags, but Lim’s designs might actually fit their lofty descriptors. Plus, with price tags for $295 for a small clutch to $895 for the much-anticipated bicolor north-south tote, this might be the most affordable It Bag we’ll see for years to come. Check out the video after the jump or shop the first arrivals of the design via Barneys in orange, white or black. The bag above is priced at $750.

Well then. Last night’s episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was another one that wasn’t so much funny as it was kind of alarming and anxious-making, this time on both the Kim and Taylor fronts. If those two were to collide in their current states, I shudder to think of the carnage that would ensue.

Last night, though, it was mostly Kim vs. Brandi and Taylor vs. the rest of the cast, and perhaps predictably, neither Kim nor Taylor came away victorious. Both interactions were a little disturbing in different ways, but let’s just say that I’m glad Kim has checked herself into rehab. I feel like we should at least have a moment of positivity before we dive into the rest of this episode.

You’ve made your list, you’ve checked it twice and…you’ve found some gaps. Although everyone is covered, technically, there might be some people on your list who you feel deserve a little bit more, or maybe a few people who you’d like to give a token of your appreciation. Naturally, though, you don’t want to go overboard; not only do we all have budgets, but buying something too lavish for a casual friend or colleague can be a faux pas.

That’s where this last-minute installment of our Holiday Gift Guide 2011 comes in: Stocking Stuffers!. From $15 to $98, we have plenty of suggestions to soothe your gifting panic. Hurry up and order, though – shipping takes time, which is something you’re running out of quickly.

Last week, I went with a few friends to see the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor at Christie’s in NYC. From extravagant evening gowns to Chanel bags galore, there was a wide array of items to see. But the driving force behind this viewing for the majority of people there was Liz Taylor’s jewels, and boy did they sparkle! I found plenty of items that were gorgeous (but not quite my taste) that I will forever dream about owning. The overall theme was diamonds, as they were found on nearly every single piece of jewelry she owned.

And just as the saying goes, “diamonds are a girls best friend”, I was completely enamored with all of the bling. So I have been in a diamond state of mind for over a week and recently the Lanvin Diamond-Print Canvas Tote popped up on Net-A-Porter.

Despite the fact that I missed the surprise mid-week episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta, I was able to get all caught up for last night’s new show. And despite the fact that it was one of those extended episodes that usually drag on and make me want to scream, a lot of interesting stuff actually happened.

Not only did we get a new maybe-Housewife, Marlo, but she has a huge arrest record and Kandi thinks she might charge for her, uh, affection. Cynthia launched her modeling agency, Kim moved into a new house with a tiny newborn, Phaedra and Sheree rehashed their previous appearance in court. That’s kind of a lot, right? Also, please excuse the lame title quote. Everything else that was said during this episode was too profane for a family blog.