Yesterday, Amanda and I popped into the Tod’s showroom to preview the Spring 2012 collection. Seriously you guys and gals, this collection is so absolutely fantastic that I can barely contain my joy – even at this moment. Last month when Amanda posted a sneak peek of what Tod’s had in store for us for the upcoming season, I already started to feel a bit of handbag-yearning. But upon seeing this bags up close and personal, my yearning has turned to a full-on obsession.

Tod’s has never let me down when it comes to quality products and classic designs, but in the past few years, Tod’s has lacked that certain “oomph”. Sure, the bags are gorgeous and well-made, but they were almost too demure and too classic to grab my attention. All of these problems have been fixed in the Tod’s Spring 2012 Collection, where bright colors, unique combinations and wearable designs reign supreme.

Alexander Wang Devere Shoulder Bag, $855 via Net-a-Porter

Obviously, we believe in the power of pictures. Our entire business model is based on them, and the right photo actually is worth a thousand words – or, in the case of a high-end handbag, a thousand dollars. Sometimes, though, with some bags, a picture doesn’t tell the entire story. When I finally saw the Alexander Wang Devere Shoulder Bag in person, I realized that perhaps I had judged it too harshly. When looking at it face-to-face, it turns out that I totally love it.

Images via Moda Operandi

Very few people will ever own a one-of-a-kind bag from their favorite designer. Under normal circumstances, you’d have to be a longtime client of the company with a history of lavish purchases to even have the chance of being given such an opportunity, and even then, one-off creations are usually rare and reserved for the Daphne Guinnesses of the world.

What if all of the proceeds from that bag were then to go to charity? Almost unheard of. But that’s exactly the opportunity that Moda Operandi’s Lauren Santo Domingo and the BeLive Wayuu Mochila Project have teamed up to do – Santo Domingo tapped eleven designers from Valentino to Maison Martin Margiela to design traditional woven mochila bags to benefit over 30 Colombian charity organizations.

After I wrote the title for this post, I realized that I am an over-user of the word chic. Still, though, many times it seems like a fitting word for many different items, and the Mulberry Evelina deserves to be called chic. In the past, I’ve found many Mulberry bags to be a tad masculine, and the Evelina’s name matches the silhouette. A touch of femininity with a ton of usability makes me love this Mulberry bag.

I’ve been a big fan of the vibrantly colorblocked Botkier Eden Satchel ever since I got a tour of the brand’s Resort 2012 collection from Monica months ago, and Megs’ recent acquisition of the bag has only given me even more massive bag envy. Based on the enthusiastic response to our Eden giveaway, I bet a few of you have been waiting inpatiently for this bag to surface as well.

That’s why I’m so excited to announce that the Botkier Eden Satchel is now available to anyone who loves ShopBop, which is everyone, duh. Winter is about to real dreary, real quick, so if you do yourself one favor before that happens, it should be to buy a bag that well serve as a bright, cheery pick-me-up all the way through next spring and summer. Treat yourself.

Gucci Oliver Pug Dog Key Chain, $185 via Net-a-Porter

Have any of you ladies ever seen Life with Father? It’s a 1947 movie starring Irene Dunne and a 15-year-old Elizabeth Taylor, and it is absolutely hysterical. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a great movie to watch with your mom while visiting over the holidays, if you can get your hands on a DVD copy. I can personally promise that you’ll laugh more than you ever have at a classic movie.

The reason that Life with Father is relevant to a post about the Gucci Oliver Pug Dog Key Chain should be obvious to anyone familiar with the movie – in it, Irene Dunne has an unbelievably funny argument with her long-suffering husband over how she intends to get their son a suit of clothes for free from a department store by returning a ceramic statuette of a pug (which she calls a “pug dog” each time she refers to it), and the idea of returning one item to justify the purchase of another and convincing yourself that you’re getting the second for “free” should sound familiar to most shopping addicts. I’d never return this cute little pup, though. Not a chance.

Alexander McQueen Punk Skull Box Clutch, $2720 via Net-a-Porter

We’re readying a much more extensive guide to sparkly little bags for the holiday season, but while that’s in the pipeline, I couldn’t help but post about the Alexander McQueen Punk Skull Box Clutch – after all, it really deserves to stand on its own. Feathers and rhinestones and beads, oh my!

With the bag, McQueen manages again to do what it always does so well – successfully combine multiple heavy design elements in a way that doesn’t feel overwrought or silly. The company makes that kind of light touch look easy, but it’s not – just as whoever’s behind Christian Louboutin’s handbags. A clutch like this one is to be celebrated as something of an accomplishment.