If I had a nickel for every post I’ve written about mixing colors and textures over the past year…well, I guess I actually do have a nickel, since I get paid for this. The point is, I’d have a lot of nickels. Not enough to retire, but enough to pay my rent, even though they give me a really hard time when I try to pay it in nickels.

One of the major problems I seem to run into when creating our Gift Guides is that my list of wants grows exponentially as I hunt down the best handbag finds on the web. The focus of this guide are trendy bags. There are two types of trendy: wear-once pieces, and fun, yet wearable pieces.

I focused on the latter. These nine bags have all the right touches of current trends while still being great wardrobe staples.

Images via Vogue.com

The Givenchy Antigona Satchel is such an under-appreciated handbag. The design is exceptionally crisp and minimal, it comes in a variety of sizes, materials and colors, it’s Givenchy, fer chrissakes. It’s far superior to the Givenchy Nightingale (says me), but yet, it’s not quite as well known. With Givenchy’s killer slate of Antigonas to come, Spring 2012 might change that.

Cambridge Satchel Co. Fluoro Satchels, $155 via ShopBop

Both Megs and I have long been a fan of the timeless Cambridge Satchel Company, which started making its ultra-traditional school bags in 2008 as a way for the founders to pay school fees. Since then, the brand has become a cult favorite in the fashion industry, and its highly sought-after Fluoro Collection has been on my radar since its debut months ago.

To me, the combination of Marc by Marc Jacobs and the brights trend always seemed like a complete no-brainer. In fact, I expected to see an MbMJ collection chock full of neon a full year ago, when the look was just getting started. It’s the kind of thing that appeals so obviously to the Marc demographic that the marrying of the two was only a matter of time.

Yesterday, Vlad, Amanda and I headed west to what seemed like the end of the world, aka the Hudson River. (Geography for anyone living in Manhattan is utterly skewed.) I would gladly walk 6 avenues any day for the chance to preview Coach‘s upcoming collection of bags and accessories, especially when hosted in the Archive at the Coach Carriage House.

Marc Jacobs Python Contrast Tote, $3795 via Bergdorf Goodman

Although I wasn’t a huge fan of Marc Jacobs’ Spring 2012 runway bags, his Resort 2012 collection has been on my radar for months. The mid-season line has some of Jacobs’ chicest designs in quite a while, mostly because the bags are without gimmicks. Instead, what you’ll find is clean lines and supple leather in the kinds of color combinations that feel very current.

Congrats to our winner, Shana Levin!!

When Vlad and I visited the Botkier showroom last week, the bag that neither of us could take our eyes off of was the new Small Eden Satchel valued at $495. Monica sent me home with one myself and I can not stop singing its praises. The supple lambskin is absolutely luscious and the colorblocking adds a current spin on a classic shape.

I love colorblocking. I love the way the seemingly simple trend took over the fashion world quickly and had everyone feeling like some novel idea was introduced in a ground-breaking manner. Yet the trend works so well on everyone, showcasing solid colors paired together to give a sleek yet bold look. The handbag world has taken to the trend as well, with many designers releasing versions of the trend that they believe will get people buzzing.

Pierre Hardy Leather Clutch, $700. Pierre Hardy Suede and Patent Shoulder Bag, $1350. Both via Net-a-Porter.

For most of you, Pierre Hardy isn’t a new name by a long shot. The French designer is largely famous for his footwear, and his gloriously modern wedges in particular are what garner most of the (well-deserved) attention that comes his way. But what about Hardy’s handbags?