The Gucci New Bamboo Crocodile Shoulder Bag, $14,200 via Net-a-Porter

It’s easy to become price-blind when you spend your days hunting down and discussing designer accessories, but sometimes life has a way of reminding you just how much a dollar is actually worth. I experienced that recently when trying to buy my first set of post-college, post-Ikea Big Girl furniture and found that I could decorate my bedroom rather elaborately for the same amount of money that I’ve been contemplating spending on a crocodile-embossed Celine Phantom Luggage Tote this fall.

Miu Miu Leather-Trimmed Raffia Satchel, $1450 via NAP

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As regular PurseBlog readers know, I’m not what you would call a “fan” of perforated leather. Or perforated suede, as in the case of Ash Cami Crossbody Bag. But since the trend started to emerge a year ago, my feelings have softened a bit. They’ve gone from, say, “vehement loathing” to “passive disdain,” and perforated material is no longer a reason for me to dismiss an entire design.

If you followed along with our coverage of Fall 2011′s runway handbags, you might have noticed the same thing that I did – even more so than most years, designers had models clutching their purses in any manor of non-intuitive ways. The incomparable Lynn Yaeger also took note of the styling trend, but she took her curiosity one step further – Yaeger spoke to body language expert Dr.

The Chloe Emma Alligator Shoulder Bag shows sleek and sophisticated dark brown alligator skin and golden hardware.

In order to be a consumer of luxury goods, or even to be seriously interested in them, one has to be a tad permissive on pricing. We tell ourselves a lot of little fibs about why a particular bag is worth a particular amount of money when, in reality, accessories are a realm in which prices often have little to do with the cost of a bag’s manufacturing and materials.

A few evenings ago, I found myself in an interesting discussion on PurseForum started by a person wondering how often others are complimented by strangers. The incidence at which one is approached probably varies widely depending on the city you live in, lifestyle you have and general vibe that you give off, but I can’t help but assume that most people have at least one or two items in their closets that are sure to get a response.