Just the other day, Megs and I were having kind of an odd discussion. I don’t know how we ultimately landed on the topic, but somehow, the subject of pig leather came about. We both figured that it existed, since the nickname of “pigskin” for old-fashioned footballs certainly came from their porcine origins (although they were made from a pig’s bladder, not its skin, but that’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.) She and I spend exponentially more time than the average purse-lover studying the details of the world’s finest handbags, and neither of us could ever remember coming across a bag made primarily of pigskin.

Mere days later, and I come across the Rochas Pigskin Tote, from the first look at the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 accessories collection. With a little research, I’ve found that Prada appears to have made a travel bag out of pigskin in 2007 and that there are many suppliers overseas offering the leather to manufacturers. Pigskin appears to be durable and at least reasonably attractive – why don’t we see it more often?

I love it when I can buy a cute handbag and support a good cause in one fell swoop, and I love it even more when that handbag comes from a charity that supports women in particular. It just seems so appropriate – a product made by women, for the enjoyment of women, that not only benefits those that use it, but also those made it.

Like the Feed 2 Kenya Bag that we talked about not too long ago, the Kate Spade Hand in Hand Raffia Tote is also the work product of women in disadvantaged parts of the world – in this case, it’s women from the war-torn locales of Bosnia and Kosovo in conjunction with the Hand in Hand organization. I would think the bag was cute even if it didn’t represent a good deed, but knowing that it does makes it that much more satisfying. Buy through Kate Spade for $175.

Heading to Coachella this weekend? No? Me neither. But maybe one or two of you are lucky enough to make the hipster pilgrimage out to Indio, California for the annual indie music festival that keeps getting less indie by the year. Or maybe you’re saving your airline miles for a future summer festival – maybe Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee or Lollapalooza in Chicago? (The latter would be my pick since Lady Gaga is headlining.)

No matter what kind of outdoor events you’re attending this summer, from music festivals to baseball games, you’re going to need to bring a handbag of some sort. Crossbody bags are undoubtedly your best bet because they’re hands-free and convenient, but choosing one to use at an all-day event can be tricky. Too small, and you’re trying to stuff way too many things in to it; too big, and it’s a burden to carry around for an extended period of time, particularly in summer heat. Luckily, we’ve done all the legwork for you and found three perfect crossbodies that will satisfy any (ok, almost any) budget.

Is there anything that says “summer” more than a Lilly Pulitzer print and a weekend trip to a sandy locale? I can’t think of anything. I suspect that Pulitzer’s sunny, girly patterns may be more popular in my native Southeast than in some parts of the country, and even in my black-loving, pastel-hating mind, they represent posh pool parties and days spent on the deck of a large boat.

That might not be how I spend most of my summer days (although a girl can wish, right?), but that doesn’t mean that I can’t still own the Lilly Pilitzer for Le Sportsac Large Weekender. Pink-and-green prints are something of a Lilly signature, and the floral couldn’t get any more Southern sorority-girl appropriate. It’s out of character for me, but I think I might love it.

When I was a little girl, I always loved going to visit my grandma and grandpa. Their house was always filled with wonderful smells, lots of love and plenty of fun things for little girls to play with. My grandma held onto several handbags she and her girls owned and there was one I’ve never forgotten about. It was a straw bag with really exquisite detailing. In fact, this bag very much reminds me of the bag I just described. So, I am not sure if that is why I like it or if there is something else about this Anya Hindmarch creation that intrigues me.

It seems as though our readers’ interest in and opinions of Louis Vuitton handbags are nearly unending, so when I saw a pictures of a select few of the brand’s Fall 2010 handbags, I couldn’t wait to share my favorite with you: the Louis Vuitton Cuir Grainé Doctor’s Bag.

It was clear as soon as the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 show hit the runway that the collection’s tone was to be much more subdued and mature than the neon foxtail charms and graffiti-layered monogram that has characterized the Vuitton aesthetic as of late, but seeing one of the show’s key bags in such stark relief hammers the point home. These are not your grandmother’s Louis Vuitton bags, but the two eras might have a few things in common.