Here at PurseBlog, we have a favorite game that we play from time to time. Everyone gets in on it and sometimes it goes on for days. What’s the name of this game, you ask? Why, it’s “Guess who’s ripping off Chanel now!” I’m usually on the side of the non-Chanel designer because I don’t want elements like quilting and chain handles to be off limits from everyone else until the end of time, but when I saw the Dior Quilted Cannage Bag, I knew I’d never be able to muster any sympathy when the Chanel comparisons began.

This is a clear case of one designer ripping off another one if ever I’ve seen it, and in my mind, that’s way worse than a cheap chain store making ‘inspired’ bags. Dior is a brand with innumerable design and financial resources (they’re owned by LVMH, one of the companies that’s weathering the recession the best), yet for some reason, they’ve chosen to make something that’s little more than derivative of an iconic style. It’s a flap bag, it’s made of quilted black lambskin, and it has a handle that’s mostly chain. It even has a closure in the exact same place as a Chanel would. The quilting pattern is slightly different, as is the handle construction, but that’s not enough difference for me, particularly considering the close-to-Chanel price point. Buy through Saks for $1750.

The Jalda Gold Mirror Audrey Convertible Clutch is no wallflower. The shiny mirrored gold clutch would make even Midas blush. In the style of Jalda clutch handbags, this sleek clutch is the classic Audrey convertible. Pair this mirrored leather clutch with a white and navy ensemble for a classic polished summer look. The dual use bag converts from a compact clutch into a tall tote with cut out handles for added carrying room. The interior turquoise grosgrain lining adds a delightful splash of color.

Jalda Gold Mirror Leather ‘Audrey’ Convertible Clutch, $282.00 at Bluefly
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via The Find

Chloe always sticks out in my mind as a brand that takes a hit handbag and makes as many variations to cash in as humanly possible. Not that I blame them – if you’ve created something good, you have every right to reap the benefits of that. Let the haters hate – It Bags don’t design themselves, after all.

Another reason that I sometimes like when Chloe does this is that occasionally I like the derivative bags better than I like the original. I think that’s the case with the Chloe Heloise Hobo. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original Heloise satchel, but this? This I kinda like. I’m partial to hobos in the first place, the the knotted strap and pieced body give it just enough visual interest to not be boring, and it seems more functional in this configuration than as a satchel. I’m a little meh on the color, but we all know how I feel about neutrals. This is a fairly interesting shade for a beige, though – it’s a little grey, a little cream, it’s kinda nice. Look at me, liking neutrals. I guess there’s a first time for everything. Buy through Saks for $1595.

Starting Monday we will be teaming up with our friends at Luxaholics along with one of our favorite designers Adriana Castro to bring you all a week of exotic handbag giveaways!

The giveaway kicks off Monday at 9 AM EST/6 AM PST. Each day, one winner will be selected, so get to clicking early! Each bag will only be up for grabs for 24 hours. Check back daily to see if your name is announced as a winner!

Also, tune into Extra! today to see the plug for our giveaway! We are sending Mario Lopez a big hug, maybe he will give us a wink back

There are many reasons that I am thrilled to be writing this post. First off, I absolutely adore this Kooba bag, as many of the newer Kooba bags are amazing. Second of all, Lindsay Price is one of my favorite actresses. From her stint on Lipstick Jungle, a show that is no longer running but I loved, I fell in love with Lindsay Price. She is beautiful in a cute way, you know what I mean? And now she is dating Josh Radnor, one of the stars of How I Met Your Mother, one of the best shows that has ever aired on TV. Vlad and I are obsessed. That show is beyond words of amazement. Really, you should pick it up. Lindsay guest starred on one episode as Ted’s (Josh Radnor’s) girlfriend. She was perfectly annoying on the show but it seems the duo hit it off.

So let me bring this all back together. I love Kooba and I love Lindsay Price. When paired together, it is the perfect combination. Lindsay Price continues to be spotted around NYC with her Kooba Dale bag in both python and black leather. The shape of this bag is very similar to the Kooba Blake, which has been a huge success for the brand. The Dale implements cool buckled straps on the hobo shape which is available in leather or a python stamped leather. Lindsay Price loves both as do we. I would love to see the python version in person, but the black is amazing and there are other great color options. This bag officially is on our radar. Buy the Kooba Dale in python for $895 at Singer22 and the Kooba Dale in Black leather for $645 via Bloomingdales.

Make sure to check Bag That Style for much more celebrity style!

I’m not sure about the Chloe Heloise Small Hobo. Like, I’m just really, really not sure. Let’s hash it out: the braiding on the handle is, in my opinion, genius. The thick braiding gives the bag heft while still retaining a sort of girlishness, like a thick elementary-school plait. I also can’t get enough of the tiny, tiny pocket on the front of the hobo. What is it for? A penny, à la penny loafers? I don’t know, but the fact is, it is there. And some haters will say it serves no purpose and therefore it’s stupid to have there, but I think it’s cute.

Now, on the bad side: there’s something off about the flaps (pleats?) on the front of the hobo, and the bottom of the bag also has flaps that make it look too heavy. Also, the cream and blue color options are just not quite right- it’s like Chloe was a shade off. Even though I like a few details, the fact that the color and overall shape are wrong just makes the whole bag seem icky. Next time, Chloe, keep the good deets but get your colors right. Buy through Saks for $995.

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Forget everything I said recently about how bad things come in threes and that means that there would soon be another bad Valentino bag for me to snark on soon. I have never been more utterly and profoundly wrong on this blog before, at least not that I can remember, because I can’t help but drool all over the Valentino Kaleidscope Stone Tote. Who needs a man – I love this bag so much that I would gladly cuddle with it at night instead.

I fully realize that some of you may look at this thing and think that this is indeed the completion of the trio of bad Valentino purses that I had foretold, but hear me out on this. If all of the sewn-on rhinestones were the same color or the same shape, then I’d be ready to dismiss it a tacky and cheap-looking. But the subtlety of the ombre color change and the seemingly random variance in stone shape (but not size, so that they look somewhat uniform) gives this bag a level of sophistication that perfectly balances its over-the-top shine. I love a statement bag more than anything else in fashion, and this one might rank as one of my all-time favorites. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $2995.

We’ve seen a lot of the small crossbody trend in the mid-price bags that we feature on PurseBlog Savvy, but higher-priced designers haven’t seemed as eager to latch on to the fad. At first I was a little confused as to why, but I think it makes sense – the shape and size of those bags tend to skew younger, and younger buyers tend to both spend less money and be more open-minded to new names in the design world. It’s natural that brands that cater to a slightly older demographic would be a bit slower to adopt youth-based trends, so I’ve been waiting to see which of the Purse Blog designers would be the first to successfully create a mature version of these bags.

And my vote for the winner goes to the Salvatore Ferragamo Edda Chain Shoulder Bag. The first way that they keep this bag from looking too trendy is using the ultra-luxe chocolate brown python skin with little else in the way of exterior decoration. The skin is genuinely beautiful on it’s own, and realizing that it doesn’t need anything to help it along is the mark of an experienced designer. The second thing I like is the gathering of thin, delicate chains that form the bag’s strap. Instead of being chunky and attention-getting, they’re sophisticated and understated, which gives a polished finish to the design’ overall feel. I’d call this bag nothing less than a success. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for €1840.

I really wish that I liked Christian Louboutin bags. I really WANT to like them. I like the brand’s shoes quite a bit, probably more so than any other well-known brand. But more often than not, whenever I see one of their bags, my gut reaction is decidedly “meh.” And that’s exactly what I think about the Christian Louboutin Marianna Hobo.

The bag isn’t BAD, per se, unless you count blandness among the cardinal design sins. It’s just boring, and I’d almost rather see an ugly bag with a lot of personality than a middling bag with very little. This bag does have one positive design aspect, however – the handle. Instead of being a single chain that must support the weight of an entire shoulder bag, Louboutin attached multiple chains side-by-side to retain the industrial look without making the bag painful to carry. It’s a great solution to the irritation of a single chain strap digging into your shoulder under the weight of a full bag, but it doesn’t sacrifice fashion in order to gain function. Now if only I could say such nice things about the rest of the purse. Buy through Saks for $1595.