I know that Valextra is much-lauded as a brand of staid and classic bags that are extremely well-made out of the finest leathers, but…I just don’t get it. I can’t wrap my head around it.

It seems like I’ve seen the Valextra Babila Top Handle everywhere – on celebrities, as one of Barneys.com’s much-lauded “obsessions,” at the finest stores. But I can’t help but find them unbearably plain and dull – the emperor appears to have no clothes.

We’ve had some harsh words to say over the past month or so about Prada‘s fall handbag collection. Some of them are covered in fur, some of them are unfortunate combinations of velvet and nylon, and a lot of them look a little “grandma.”

As a result, I’m not sure if I’m being more charitable to the Prada Craquele Tote than I would be otherwise.

Once upon a time, in the 1980s, MCM was, like, a thing. Or at least that’s what I gather – I was still wearing diapers for much of that time period. They seemed to be fond of making logo-covered fabric bags, which were so obviously recognizable that they became easily dated when they went out of style.

Well, MCM is back with a new look, and it has nothing to do with their 80s logo’d messes.

First and foremost, I want to say that I totally respect the reasoning behind why Stella McCartney does not use leather in her bags. It’s hard to find people that walk the walk as much as they talk the talk, particularly when it could have a significant impact on their business, and she does. Of course, when your dad is a Beatle, I’m not sure that you’re as concerned about things that might affect your bottom line as much as the average person might be.

Another day, another studded bag. If you’re sick of this trend, wait a month – you’ll be more sick of it. I promise. But as it stands now, I still love it, and I’m still happy to write about it. Studs have not jumped the shark just yet.

And despite my lack of love for shiny gold hardware, and in particular shiny gold studs, I can’t help but enjoy the Be & D Garbo Convertible Tote.

We’re talking more than we normally do about Alexander McQueen, and that’s not just because he’s one of my favorite designers. Well, that’s part of the reason, since I’m the one picking the bags, but it’s not the entire thing!

Mostly it’s because, more than anyone else, McQueen’s luxe-punk aesthetic embodies so many of the trends for fall that other designers are scrambling to ape.

Sometimes, a little bit of bad taste is the best thing that you can add to an outfit. There’s nothing worse than looking too perfect, too precious, and like you’re trying way too hard. Personality is to be embraced and celebrated in personal style, not avoided.

Admittedly, the Valentino Paillette-Embellished Tote is what you might consider a heaping helping of bad taste.

Can we talk about the Givenchy Maxi Nightingale Tote for a second? We get the chance to look through dozens of pictures of celebrities every day in order to create BagThatStyle, and in the last two weeks, this lovely bag has shown up more with more celebs than any other bag that I can recall since we started the site.

Alright, who skinned Snuffaluffagus? And who told Prada that it was ok to make a bag out of a beloved Sesame Street character? Have they no shame?

Ok, so I doubt any childhood icons had to die to make the Prada Visone Tote , but that doesn’t make it any less unattractive.

Talk about a departure from the expected. When I think of Marni, I think of clean lines and geometric shapes, but this Marni bag is entirely different. Fur. Yes, an entire bag covered in alpaca fur from the designer who typically brings us the cleanest colors, lines, and looks.