Sometimes it takes a handbag outsider to remind us how it’s done. All of us bag people can get a little caught up in logos, leather types, and the traditional bag powerhouses at times, but sometimes it’s nice to peer outside that, to people that make clothes first, and then bags, and see what they come up with.

Jil Sander is one of those designers.

Shoe designers cross over and become bag designers with varying amounts of success. The recent example that most of us know best is Jimmy Choo: the long-time shoe brand added a bag line a few years ago and hasn’t looked back. They have a dedicated following and have used bags as a way to introduce a new group of women to the brand that may not have previously thought they needed $800 stilettos in their lives.

As much as we love the established designers with their signature handbags, we get giddy for new designers offering handbags that we must have. It does not happen often that there is a bag that I see that I absolutely MUST HAVE. I can rave about specific bags and even profess my love, but if I am not out buying them up, they are not on the same level.

A lot of you liked the Proenza Schouler PS1 Leather Pouchette I wrote about last week, but expressed some concern at being able to coordinate the color and finding enough uses for a clutch. Well, since I like to be service-y, I thought I’d show you guys something that would satisfy both of those concerns: the Proenza Schouler Medium Suede PS1 Bag.

I full admit that my taste level can be, at times, a little loose. I like shiny things. I like brightly colored things. And I really, really like animal-print things. As a result, I also really like the Roberta di Camerino Zebra Bag. It’s ittby bitty, but I can’t help but think that that means it’s just the right dose of a sometimes-tacky fabric to spice up an outfit that would otherwise be kind of average.

After Mulberry rep Jackie contacted us a few days ago and asked us to take a look at their bags on their own website instead of other retailer’s, not only did I update my opinion of the Mulberry Creased Patent Mitzy Hobo, but I spent some time looking around their website at the huge number of bags that they have in their line.

My first reaction when I looked at the Dolce & Gabanna Miss Sicily Snakeskin Handbag was that it didn’t look anything like a Dolce & Gabbana handbag. At least not the ones that have come out most recently – they’ve all looked like ruffly garbage bags or been in various color of lamé. I won’t say that’s a bad thing – I kind of like the ruffly garbage bags – but it’s certainly different than what we see here.

This bag is not playing around.

The Salvatore Ferragamo Top Handle Satchel means business, and it’s not going to put up with any of your flack. It’s an office bag if I’ve ever seen one, and although it evokes thoughts of the Hermes Kelly, it’s not iconic in a way that would tell all of your coworkers exactly how much you spend on your accessories.

When I think of Ferragamo I think of the absolutely drool-worthy Salvatore Ferragamo Oversized Carlotta Alligator Tote. I dream about that bag. I yearn for that bag. I feel as if I absolutely need that bag. But there is a tiny thing called reality, that sets in and tells me, YOU ARE NUTS! The $35,000 price tag really is out of my league and if I thought buying a Birkin was nerve-wrecking, this would most likely end with my passing out.

Just this morning I was talking to my grandma and she mentioned how she noticed some dresses Megs and I used to play dress up in as kids are now back in style. As kids, Megs and I would put on dresses our mom and aunts wore to homecoming or prom. We loved the dresses back then because although they didn’t fit, we felt like we were more grown up and pretty.