Sometimes I forget how beautiful Gucci’s leather bags are. I spoke last week about how much I normally love their python creations (except for one recent exception), but it took seeing one of their bags on a fellow shopper’s arm while buying a Halloween costume yesterday to remind me that they usually do an obnoxiously good job with leather as well.

The Gucci Pelham Medium Hobo is an excellent example of Gucci’s signature style – textured, supple, and with a bit of color variation that makes all the difference.

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The entire Purse Blog team was thrilled to find out that our friends over at Ideeli wanted us to help them pick out a fabulous handbag for a giveaway. From the get-go we had a few gorgeous bags in mind, yet there were a couple that kept calling out to us.

We suggested the Mulberry Mitzy Hobo and our Ideeli friends loved it. Not only do they love it, but there is also a pretty good chance you will love it too. This exclusive giveaway begins today, October 27th at 2pm EST and lasts for only 7 hours, ending at 9pm EST. So, make sure to CLICK HERE so you can enter to win!

Alright, I am trying to contain myself, but it is a bit tricky. See, Bottega Veneta is having one of their amazing trunk shows tomorrow and it is in San Francisco. It’s only a 7 hour drive from San Diego, so I am half tempted to get in my car and head north, like, now! Well, truth be told, I probably can’t attend, but for those of you lucky ones in the San Francisco area, you have got to check out the BV trunk show tomorrow! Here’s everything you need to know:

What: Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2010 Trunk Show

Where: 108 Geary St. San Francisco, CA 94108

When: Saturday, October 24th, 2009 from 11am – 5pm

PS – Are you seeing the bag above?!?!?! GORGEOUS beyond belief! Bring on the new Bottega Veneta bags!

Once again, our friends over at Linea Pelle have put something special together for all of you Purse Blog readers out there! For a limited time only, spend $110 or more and receive $25 off your purchase! That’s right, head over to Linea Pelle and get shopping because this is good starting today, October 23rd and will end October 31st.

Click here to shop and all you need to do is enter promo code LPLOVESPURSEBLOG at check out to receive your discount!

Folks, this is the big one. Supposedly, anyway.

One of the big centerpieces of the season finale of Real Housewives of Atlanta was a fight we didn’t actually get to see, which is a problem. Another big event was a come-to-Jesus moment between a fiance and a future mother-in-law when we know that the wedding never happens, which is also a problem. And then there was Sheree’s fashion show, which I assumed would be a problem, but was actually fairly benign. But I guess two out of three is still pretty bad.

As producers rushed to wrap up a zillion different inane story lines which they had constructed for these women over the past several months, I felt as though something was lost in translation. And that something was: WHERE WAS THE FOOTAGE OF NENE CHOKING OUT KIM??? I’M NOT WATCHING THIS FOR MY HEALTH, BRAVO.

Excuse me, I need a moment.

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Halloween is approaching quickly. It is one of my favorite holidays. I love seeing people en route to a costume party or just running an errand dressed in full Halloween attire. The creativity of the costumes seen on San Francisco streets is an inspiration to behold. Many of the costumes seen on Halloween are extremely ornate and beautiful or shockingly frightening. I may not be dressing up in my traditional costume ball attire this year, but I do have my eye on some spooky clothing and skull inspired handbags to join in the frightening fun on October 31st.

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We had a fairly lively debate a few months ago when the Jimmy Choo for H&M collaboration was announced, and now we’ve finally got a comprehensive look at what the partnership will yield when it hits store shelves November 14.

The collection includes shoes, boots, handbags, jewelry, and a few items of clothing, all done in the slightly 80s glam-punk look that Jimmy Choo has been fond of lately. There are only a few bags, but they’re certainly worth a look. Most of the bags and shoes are real leather, so this is not nearly as bargain basement as a lot of low-end collaborations are. I wouldn’t call myself overly impressed, but rather pleasantly surprised. Most of the collection is genuinely attractive, although the bags are not the high point.

More photos after the jump.

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There was a hope that Megs’ Blue Jean Birkin was going to get a sibling during this NYC trip. I didn’t know she was going to turn out so beautifully photogenic. More info and pictures later this week.

We may be in the midst of Fall and Winter right now, but all I can think about are spring bags. We are finishing up our week in NYC and have been previewing some of the most amazing spring collections I have seen in a long long time. Two trends we are seeing that I am loving are a tye-dye-like effect (Bottega Veneta and Rebecca Minkoff) and perforation (YSL and Rebecca Minkoff again).

Perforated leather. We saw Louis Vuitton do this a few seasons back and there seem to be a resurgence. I have to admit I was unsure of perforated leather, but then I saw it in person. When perforated leather is added to a handbag it gives a subtly athletic vibe, adding a slight dimension and effect that helps the leather stand out.

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Giddy up, cowgirl. The Jimmy Choo Isola Shopper is ready for a rootin’ tootin’ good time. And I hope you don’t expect me to continue writing like that for the rest of the post, because I think it would make my head explode.

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