Marni Tote, $645 via Net-a-Porter

A couple of days ago, the fashion Internet exploded with news of H&M’s next collaborative partner – quirky Italian label Marni. Forget Versace – this is something I might actually consider standing in line for, particularly because a full menagerie of accessories will also be available, right along with the retro-modern prints and oddball color combinations for which Marni is known.

Because of the nature of high-low collaborations (read: because of PVC ickiness), I never have much hope for the handbags and “leather” goods that will come out of these kinds of partnerships. Versace x H&M included some real leather, though, so who knows what the future (and Marni x H&M) might hold. It will hold some less-expensive takes on Marni’s much-sought-after costume jewelry, and that’s enough for me to be feeling the slight burn of excitement in the back of my brain. Sadly, We’ll have to wait until March 2012 to see this stuff in person. Are you sick of designer collaborations yet?

When it became clear that ivory and pastels were going to be one of the biggest trends of 2012, I felt a bit disheartened at first. Very light colors can be a bit challenging to most skin tones, much more so than brights or jewel tones. Since we’re all basically self-interested people, I feel as though I should admit that they look particularly bad on me, which makes it especially hard to embrace even a subtle and ladylike trend like the largely cool-toned (it makes them less retro!) pastels of the Spring 2012 runways.

That’s the beauty of handbags, though. If you want to embrace a color trend without having to wear it next to your face for an entire day, accessories are the perfect way to do it; when a piece is viewed mostly against the colors of the rest of your outfit, whether or not it looks good on your particular skin tone becomes something of a non-issue. After the jump, we have six of our pastel picks so that you can start wearing the trend before spring’s bags even hit stores.

Our sister site, BagThatStyle, dishes on celebrity style daily. While the majority of that type of content can be found on BtS, we still like to add a little celebrity style in the mix on PurseBlog too.

On Tuesday night, I plopped down on my couch and put on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, like many of you probably did as well. First off, can I ask why we all subject ourselves to this amazing misery? While their bodies are still out of this world beautiful, the Angels are curvier compared to runway models (though a slim Karlie Kloss made her debut this year). So, there I was on my couch in my unflattering PJ’s next to my husband watching nearly nude models on TV for one hour. I did this while eating a bag of M&M’s. Clearly, I felt awesome afterwards.

Kate Spade Little Anastasia Clutch, $345 via Neiman Marcus

I’m not sure exactly who it is that has righted the Kate Spade ship – creative director Deborah Lloyd? The designers she brought into the company? The marketing department? – but whoever it is, I sure hope that she is being paid handsomely. With every season, the brand once known for simple nylon bags with a signature black logo patch is getting better and better. The rate at which Kate Spade has come into its own is almost alarming.

Take, for example, the Kate Spade Little Anastasia Clutch. You can look at this little evening bag and automatically know what the brand’s about, even if you aren’t familiar with its new image. Fun femininity, bright colors, urbane whimsy – it’s all there, even when the package is so little.

Picking out a designer handbag for someone else is hard. Unless you know that person’s style in and out or she’s given you a specific bag to look for, choosing an expensive gift out of thin air can be a daunting task. We’re here to make it just a little bit easier for you with our Holiday Gift Guide 2011, and today’s installment will focus on the safest kind of accessory gift: The Classic Bag.

These are not your grandma’s classics, though, even if grandma would probably be delighted to receive a few of them. After the jump, we have our picks for nine modern-but-timeless bags that will dazzle the lucky ladies on your giving list. Or, you know, your favorite blogger. My birthday is Christmas Eve. Just saying.

It’s hard to find a perfect fur clutch, and we know that because so many well-known designers attempt to tackle fur and have absolutely no luck. This is where designer extraordinaire Oscar de la Renta comes in to soothe our eyes with a clutch that is both oh-so-Oscar and entirely magnificent.

Exclusive for his online store, the Oscar de la Renta Dyed Rabbit Fur Clutch doubles as a muff to keep your hands fashionably warm and your belongings meticulously stored. The crystal front embellishment in available in a wide variety of color-ways, but my favorite is the amethyst.

Neiman Marcus‘s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales weren’t all that exciting, and now we know why: The company was holding back for its big Women’s Designer Sale, which launched online this morning! It includes literally hundreds of bags, some at very notable discounts, so we’d highly recommend jumping on this sale while it’s hot.

Shop the Neiman Marcus Women’s Designer Sale!