Lest we all had forgetten after seeing one too many soft, wonderful Valentino bags, Dolce & Gabbana has a stark reminder for us: ruffles aren’t easy, man. Not when leather is involved.

The key to successful leather ruffles is to make them so light and airy that you forget that what you’re looking at is a thick, hardy material out of which they also make car interiors. The illusion is what’s important, and if the designer can’t take the materials and make something greater than the sum of its parts, then the whole design doesn’t work. Sadly, that’s the situation we find ourselves in with the Dolce & Gabbana Miss Heather Shopper.

There’s nothing that makes me think of summer quite like a cool white bag. Warm whites (with ivory undertones) always make me think of ski slopes and winter, but cool white (with blue undertones) makes me want to sip a Corona with lime someplace warm, sandy, and virtually deserted.

Since the weather in Georgia this past weekend was roughly the same as the weather in New York City (I didn’t sign up for this!), I’ve got to thank the Rebecca Minkoff Fringe Darling in Marshmallow for reminding me that soon enough, I’ll be wearing sundresses and complaining about the heat.

There is no better way to start off the new year than to bring you an exclusive interview and information on a fantastic collaboration. We are talking about the well-known artist Danny Roberts and his partnership with Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers.

Danny Roberts has gained worldwide exposure for his artistic drawings. In fact, his work is now so easily-recognizable that you could pick a Danny Roberts drawing out without batting an eye. Roberts showcases his work on his blog, Igor and Andre, which includes blogger portraits, ad campaigns, and personal works among others.

Danny Roberts was approached for the opportunity of a lifetime. Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku Lovers approached Roberts to ask him to team up to create a mini Limited Edition line. The collaboration was released late July and consisted of four unique handbags, six shirts, and one sweatshirt.

Only problem for all of you is that many of the items are extremely hard to find and/or not available. I was hunting down the Mad for Plaid Precious Tote, which I have yet to find. Here is the good news though, there are three items that Danny Roberts helped me track down.

Mad for Plaid Satchel | $187 via Asos
The Tall Music Tee | $40 via KarmaLoop
Tall Girls Flash Drive Hoodie | $72 via KarmaLoop

To all of our wonderful PurseBlog readers, we wish you a very Happy New Year 2010. May the new decade bring you health and all that you wish for!

Meaghan, Shannon, Amanda & Vlad

Back in the middle of 2007, I found a couple of Christian Louboutin bags that were ultimately unsightly. At the time I asked Christian Louboutin to stick to what he knows, shoes. Luckily he both listened and did not listen to me: updating his handbag collection to make the beautiful pieces we knew he had in him and make his name a contender in the handbag world.

Now we continue to find Christian Louboutin bags that we adore. The designs are no longer lacking innovation. We are continuously turning to Christian Louboutin for everyday bags, evening bags, and occasional pieces.

I am not a party girl. Far from it, in fact. I’d much rather stay in, and if I must go to a fiesta, I prefer it to be of the fancy, not-many-people-type. Why? So I can dress up, of course. At my core, I love a good party dress, especially those with flouncy skirts. So while I may not be the girl Mr. Jacobs had in mind for this Marc by Marc Jacobs Party Girl Heart Appliqué Clutch, I can appreciate it’s appealing kitsch.

Furthermore, the bag is in my favorite color, purple, making my eye run straight to it with only the slightest of reservations. That appealing kitsch is exactly what makes me slightly apprehensive of the clutch. You see, I’m not the biggest proponent of hearts. Smiley faces, small animals, and peace signs I like (especially on Marc by Marc Jacobs pieces), but hearts I barely tolerate on my own clothing. But as I said before, I still appreciate the bag, I’m just not sure if I’d wear it.

It’s here, it’s here! YAAAAY! The Fendi Peekaboo Bicolor Top Handle is here!

We first saw this bag as a highlight of Fendi’s Spring 2010 runway show in Milan, and now it’s finally available for purchase. The gears of fashion grind slowly at times, but it’s always exciting to see things land at retail that you first noticed during their initial public appearance.

So does the final product lead up to the promise?