Watch out, I’m about to commit fashion blasphemy: I find Isabel Marant a bit tedious. I like her clothing on an aesthetic level, of course. There’s a reason that every supermodel and editor this side of Berlin is photographed wearing Marant almost constantly; her work is impeccable. But between her revulsion over women with breasts and her tone-deaf appropriation of the prints of native cultures that the Western world has almost entirely obliterated, she seems hell-bent on inhabiting every negative French stereotype that comes to mind.

That being said, I would wear the beads off of that burgundy bag up there. The Isabel Marant Malou Embellished Suede Clutch. Yep, and I’d hate myself a little bit for it. Why do people who annoy me have to make such pretty things sometimes?

It still strikes me as odd that a designer known for her enduring French-ness decided to take her Fall 2011 work in a direction that’s clearly based on Native America, but hey, maybe she watched Dances with Wolves and got all inspired or something. From my tone by itself, I think you guys can pretty clearly read my internal confusion on these bags. On the one hand, I’ve grown tired of fashion fawning over someone who comes across as at least a little bit vapid. On the other hand, I really dig these bags and they’re not terribly priced, another thing for which Marant is known.

I’m so conflicted, you guys. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1235 and $1080, respectively.

For most of you, Pierre Hardy isn’t a new name by a long shot. The French designer is largely famous for his footwear, and his gloriously modern wedges in particular are what garner most of the (well-deserved) attention that comes his way. But what about Hardy’s handbags?

His bags have been a cult favorite for years, but more and more retailers seem to be amenable to the charms of Hardy’s bold, graphic designs. Particularly in the face of colorblocking and New Minimalism, the collection’s omnipresent thick, contrasting leather trim and limited hardware fit right in with what’s going on in the industry now. Several Pierre Hardy bags just popped up on Net-a-Porter for fall; you can check out larger pictures of my favorites after the jump.

Pierre Hard Leather Clutch, $700 via Net-a-Porter

Pierre Hardy Suede and Patent Shoulder Bag, $1350 via Net-a-Porter

Jil Sander is one such brand, and I feel as though I’ve been waiting to see the Jil Sander Lady Crossbody for at least two seasons. It’s here! It’s finally here! And it’s very good.

Like Celine, Jil Sander has been one of the leaders in the revival of minimalism in fashion, so it only makes sense that the company would have a box bag in its accessories line up. This one is just as sleek and modern as you’d expect from Sander, and the lime green color is well within the palette that Raf Simmons has established during his tenure at Jil Sander’s helm. Count me as a fan. Buy through Saks for $1280.

Designers seem to be trying to make velvet happen once again for fall, and despite being a child of the 90s and an unashamed fan of the era’s grungy, highly questionable fashion, I’ve been slow to warm to the almost-trend. I remember having velvet T-shirts and dresses too vividly in elementary school for velvet to be an automatic winner in my mind as an adult.

But I’m a McQueen fangirl of the highest order, which means that I’m willing to consider basically anything the brand designs with an open mind. As a result, I might kind of totally love the Alexander McQueen Wicca Velvet-Covered Leather Shoulder Bag. If only I understood exactly what “velvet-covered leather” means.

I’ve been at the whole handbag thing for a few years now, and in that time, I’ve seen almost every leather fabrication that you can think of. I’ve never heard leather be described as velvet-covered, though, and I have a few follow-up questions. Is the velvet somehow applied to the leather, or is it just a leather bag with a panels of velvet over it? Based on the pictures, it seems to be the latter, but I’d love it if someone could figure out how to make the former happen.

Either way, this bag appeals to me a great deal. The velvet is matte and lush, and thankfully it’s not the tacky crushed velvet that some brands have used (hopefully ironically). And you really can’t argue with this explosive shade of pink – heavily textured materials like velvet and suede tend to take rich color better than leather, and the end result is eye-popping. You win again, McQueen. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1365.

If you’ve never seen a Loewe (pronounced Low-AY-vay) bag in person and they brand is available in your area, I’d encourage you to seek them out for a test drive around the department store or boutique of your choice. I still can’t understand why so many starlets choose to carry the canvas version of the company’s Amazona bag; leather is where the bags shine most brightly. And as with all brands that put an emphasis on materials, an in-person viewing is necessary to get the full effect.

Take the Loewe Flamenco Bag, for instance. It looks perfectly lovely in these photos, but a jaunt to Bergdorfs to visit one of its close cousins yesterday afternoon (and to buy the new Chanel Fall 2011 nail polishes) fully fleshed out my sense of the bag. You see that leather? It’s amazing. The colors are vibrant. And this design, unlike the tote that I saw from the same line, can be used as either a shoulder bag or a crossbody.

This design also comes in an all-purple iteration, but the bicolor models above feel much more current. And even if you’re not the kind of person who would leave the house in a cobalt blue top and kelly green jeans, the way that Loewe incorporated the trend into this bag is significantly more subtle and wearable than the idea of colorblocking sounds like it would be.

Choosing to pair colors that are already in the same family and fairly close in shade reduces some of the visual shock of wearing more than one bright at a time, but the effect is still strong and modern. Stuart Vevers, Loewe’s new creative director and the man that brought Mulberry to the masses, continues to impress. Buy in green or orange through Matches for $1726 each.

For better or for worse, “contemporary” bags often have a particular type of look to them. They’re often slouchy and supple to appeal to a younger customer who wants a more casual look for a less painful price tag, which results in some great bags that have a look I’m proud to support. But it also means that for a clean, tailored look, we have to look for more expensive bags that use more costly materials and appeal to a customer who’s a bit older. Until the Milly Leather Shoulder Bag came along, that is.

Spring 2011 marks Milly’s advent to the handbag world, and the brand’s extremely well-priced line has showed a great deal of finesse for an initial outing. This bag in particular looks much more expensive than its modest $395 would suggest, and the glossy sheen to the fine-grained black leather is something you’d expect from a bag that costs well into the four figure range. The sleek oversized hardware is also another very high-end touch, and this sort of seasonless, office-appropriate shoulder bag is the type of accessory that a wide variety of women would find useful. For less than $400, Milly’s ideas are certainly a welcome addition to the accessories landscape. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $395.

Predictably, my initial reaction when I heard that Rodarte x Opening Ceremony’s accessory collection would include belt bags was somewhere along the lines of, “OH GOD NOT ANOTHER FANNY PACK.” Fanny packs should be banished forever to the furthest reaches of hell. You hear me, fashion industry? No more fanny packs. Do we understand each other?

Obviously, though, the Rodarte x Opening Ceremony Cylinder Belt Bag and Rodarte x Opening Ceremony Square Belt Bag aren’t fanny packs – they’re literally bags made of belts. Vintage belts, to be exact, and they come in all textures and shades of brown, no two exactly alike. And, well, they’re…interesting. But at least they’re not fanny packs.

I’m a fan of both Rodarte’s Californian quirk and Opening Ceremony’s New York edginess, but somehow, they came together and made a bag that I must have seen in vintage stores a hundred times over in my life. And if I couldn’t be bothered to buy it for $20 (and the all-important right to say, “It’s vintage,” when asked about it), then I’m certainly not going to buy it for nearly $800. If neo-vintage quirk is your thing, it can be found at far lower price and in far chicer forms. Which is a pity, because I usually expect great things from both companies involved in this collaboration. Buy the Cylinder Belt Bag or Square Belt Bag via ShopBop for $785.

When I think of Ralph Lauren, there are some automatic associations I have that the brand has spent decades making sure I think of: Polo shirts, horses, women with carefully tousled blonde hair, people who have more money than Oprah. The reality of the brand’s average customer may be a little less glamorous, but based on the women who I normally encounter inside of Ralph Lauren Collection boutiques, those brand images do come from somewhere. What I can’t figure out is how that ties in with the Ralph Lauren Collection Fringe Embellished Shoulder Bag and the Ralph Lauren Collection Bull Head Embellished Leather Shoulder Bag.

Lauren’s Spring 2011 runway collection had a clear 1970s Western bent, and that’s clear in both of these bags. The metallic fringe bag looks like it’s covered in miniaturized belt buckles, and I guess you can’t get a whole lot more stereotypically Western than a bull skull rendered in silver, stuck to a weathered tan bag. That’s the problem, though – the references on these two pieces are too heavy-handed, the theme too obvious.

Perhaps my feelings would be more circumspect if the theme were one that appealed to me as a whole, so if you like Americana, these may be the sort of bags that appeal to a soft spot in your personal style. For me, though, they’re both a definite pass. I’d rather save my money for one of Lauren’s gorgeous Ricky bags.

Buy through Net-a-Porter for $3995.

Buy through Net-a-Porter for $995.

The Kate Spade Jardin Tweed Robin Shoulder Bag skews a little too girly to fit into my wardrobe, but for someone with a very feminine style that tends toward vintage, this could be an absolutely perfect spring bag. With the notes of lime, coral and lavender running through it, I’m sure you can find a bright dress to pair with this bag.

And let’s be real here: This is the kind of bag that just screams to be worn with a dress. And if you’re not going to oblige it, you must at least wear some wide-leg linen pants in a light color with a bright silk. Nothing less will do. Kate Spade has a very clear vision of its customer and goes after her whole-heartedly, and when I look at the company’s products, I have no problem seeing the Kate Spade woman in my head; even though I may not be her, sometimes I like to dress up as her on the weekends. I can’t help but think that such a focused vision is a big part of the company’s newfound aesthetic success. Buy through Nordstrom for $245.

You know what I hate about Gerard Darel? The difficulty in finding its bags online for purchase and having to track them down in select stores. Otherwise, I am a massive Gerard Darel fan. And many of our readers and PurseForum members are as well. I own the Midday Midnight Hobo and I can do nothing other than sing praises of the bag. The leather is thick and smooshy, the design characteristics are both simple yet chic, and the overall appeal is evident. We all need more Gerard Darel in our lives – so please listen to us online retailers, carry the brand!!

While I am not drawn to shopping bags typically, I will make an exception for the Gerard Darel Leather Shopping Bag in cobra print. There are four vivacious colors to choose from (purple, yellow, green, orange). A flat large shoulder bag is not always as usable as other designs, but it comes in handy. The long body leaves room for plenty of items, but the bag is never intended to be filled up until it appears overly bulky. I just adore the color options and can envision this bag being the perfect outfit-finishing-accessory come Spring. The bags retail for $599.00 at Bloomingdale’s (212.705.2691).