But the Valentino Petal Leather Hobo Bag is hands down stunning. We saw Hilary Duff with this bag on Gossip Girl and it caught my attention. Nice, comfortable hobo shape, romantic ruffles: all the makings of a great handbag.

Now I found this bag in crimson leather. Crimson, even the color rolls off your tongue beautifully. The leather on Valentino bags is sumptuous and while the ruffles form a rosette design. Could this bag be anymore romantic? It has all the makings of a timeless ladylike piece. I could imagine passing this bag down for generations and it would ignite a spark in each new owner. There is something about this bag that speaks to me. I can’t say that it is not worth the price, but I would have loved to see this bag cost about $1k less. Buy through Net A Porter for $2,395.

The Valentino Leopard Print Goat Hair Bag brings together a leather bow detail at the front of the bag with a leopard-print goat hair body. Leopard print is a popular animal print that when put on a handbag usually skates a fine line between fabulous and trashy.

So where does this bag fall? Let’s go over the details. I really am liking that the bow detail is incorporated on this bag, bringing back the signature feminine touch that I crave from Valentino. The shape of the bag has a nice slouch, but I do not like the way it fits on the model. And if I don’t like how it fits on the model, I am not sure I will like it on me. I like a handbag with ample shoulder drop, and this bag does not seem to have it. Then we have the leopard-print goat-hair. The print itself looks good for a leopard print. The finished product however is not cutting it for me. I must admit, for a leopard print bag this is a very nice one though. Buy through Net A Porter for $2,695.

Are you a fan of animal print bags: What do you think of this one?

I am not ashamed to admit that when I was first becoming enthralled with the fashion world I had the hardest time remembering if it was Valentino bags or Versace bags that I adored/despised. There is a clear difference between the two brands and their styles. To be honest, it saddens me that I have not seen a decent Versace bag in the longest time. But Valentino captivates me. Valentino bags continue to play on femininity and elegance.

Bows and roses have become ubiquitous with Valentino. Both bring forward a delightful touch and Valentino rarely gets it wrong.

Clearly an evening piece, the Valentino Satin Bow Front Clutch brings a bright splash of emerald satin to a stunning bow front clutch. The bow on this bag is different as it shows structure and form. The clutch therefor appears more compact and clean. Simple, clean, girly, and sophisticated. Buy through Net A Porter for $895.

Admittedly, the Valentino Paillette-Embellished Tote is what you might consider a heaping helping of bad taste. And you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. In fact, I can’t think of one compelling reason that you would be. But it makes me smile anyway, and sometimes, isn’t that what’s important?

Liberace must be resting happily in his grave, knowing full well that his fashion legacy is being realized through the house of Valentino. I’ve never held this bag myself, but its surface is so thick with sequins and rhinestones that I’m sure it must weigh a ton and a half. A ton and a half of purse fabulous, that is.

I don’t know where, how, or why you would ever wear this bag, but it’s obnoxiously shiny and unfortunate in a way that makes me kind of giggle at its very existence. At the same time, this bag must require quite a few man hours to assemble, and obviously someone thought that it was a fantastic idea. And really, I like that kind of chutzpah. Even if it is FAHbulously misplaced. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $4695.

Of all the bags on display to molest at fine department stores, Valentino bags are my favorite to pick up and feel. The quality of materials used in their bags continues to surprise and delight me, even after eight solid months of writing about handbags for 40 hours per week. And when you combine their obscenely soft leathers with a design so deconstructed, so slouchy, so irresistibly French-looking (despite the fact that the brand itself is Italian), you come up with a bag like this: gorgeous, casually elegant, and not trying too hard in the least. The amount of style contained in this simple hobo clearly adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Buy through Saks for $1895.

The Valentino Small Loop Hobo Shoulder Bag boasts gorgeous color as well as leather that I can’t help but wanting to touch! First of all, I love the lack of structure here. There is a fine line between lack of structure and sloppy and this bag hits the nail on the head. This bag says no nonsense and fashionable all in one swoop. Pair the bag with your newly purchased boyfriend jeans and a t-shirt or a more form fitting outfit and the bag will still stand out. Without much effort, this Valentino bag just made itself onto my “bags worth saving up for” list. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $1385.01.

What I want to talk about it the clasp (is it a clasp? Actually I don’t think it is) on the front. It’s a crystal-encrusted Valentino logo, and the part of me that has somewhat questionable (ok, tacky) taste absolutely loves it. And then I wonder – why don’t more designers do hardware like this? It gives the front of the bag a shimmer that normal, shiny silver hardware could never replicate, and it’s delightfully whimsical and silly-feeling (and I mean silly in a good way, I assure you). So maybe they should try again with the bag, and leave the super sparkly stuff on the front like it is. Even if it’s questionably tasteful. Buy through Nordstrom for $1895.

There are few more joyous occasions in fashion than Paris Couture Week, although this year’s flamboyant celebration of clothing and artistry has been somewhat hampered by the depressed economy and the impending departure of one of the genre’s greatest voices, Christian Lacroix. The fact that he was able to put on a show at all is the big story of the week; suppliers and industry friends helped the designer piece together a last-minute collection and presentation for what could be his last couture show if his brand doesn’t find a backer quickly. It demonstrates an odd sort of collegiality among fashion industry workers that many on the outside looking in might overlook in the midst of so much glitz and fabulousness – it takes an army of people to make this happen for us a few times a year, and they work extremely long hours for really modest pay. That so many of them donated their time, skills and goods to Lacroix to put together what may be his final show is kind of touching, particularly in an industry known for ego and elitism. He’s not the only one to put on a show for fashion editors and couture customers this week, though – we’ve got a rundown of the best looks from the best shows, after the jump.

Christian Lacroix

Since this may be Lacroix’s last appearance, I thought it was only fitting that he went first. His collection was based mostly on fabrics and other materials that he already had in his atelier, which mostly resulted in looks far more restrained and widely understandable than average for the haute couture master. Perhaps the more accessible looks will help Lacroix’s label find investors; one can only hope. The bright spot of hope was the small collection’s final look – an intricate wedding dress worthy of the Virgin Mary rendered in stained glass. It was so thoroughly and classically Lacroix that it almost reasserted that the man intended to soldier on and make beautiful clothing.

Chanel

I suspect that I may have been the only one that felt this way, but I just wasn’t feeling the majority of Chanel’s collection. Sure, the 60+ look presentation was chock full of beautiful clothes; some of them were even breathtaking. And I know it’s a Chanel staple and part of the brand’s history, but I just don’t care to see more than a dozen versions of a wool skirt suit when I tune in to see Haute Couture. I want drama, I want a challenge, I want something I can’t wear to the office. As the presentation went on, things picked up nicely, but front-loading the suits made me feel like I had to wait quite a while before anything dramatic came along. And when it did, it was standard Chanel couture – lots of white, ivory, black and silver in looks that were thoroughly French and thoroughly intricate. Lace and beading abounded; I only wish that we could have skipped the suits and gone straight from the fabulous.

Valentino

I don’t associate Valentino with haute couture in the same way that I do Lacroix or Gaultier, but I was immensely impressed by their collection. It was full of enough black lace, darkly beautiful silk roses, and jet beading to choke a goth, but despite the somber palette, the mood of the show was surprisingly youthful. Lace mini dresses and black rose-themed cocktail attire are on my fantasy list of night-out options, and Valentino’s stable of master couturiers realizes those options masterfully, in a way that is both young and extravagant. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s really pretty.

Christian Dior

Another couturier choosing to not reinvent the wheel for this season was John Galliano at Christian Dior. Which is not to say that it wasn’t totally sublime – oh, it definitely was. The collection was a throwback to New Look Dior, simultaneously intricate and deconstructed in its use of corsetry and underpinnings as important elements of each ensemble. The colors were vibrant and cheerful, contrasting beautifully with the ivory and black base garments. This collection was a reminder of what couture is all about – extravagance, intricacy of construction, and clothing that can legitimately considered an art form. From the brilliantly enormous hats to the masterfully tailored coats and corsets, no collection reminded me more that couture is a single piece of clothing made for a single customer.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Ahh, I saved the best for last. From Brigitte Bardot to Barbarella, Jean Paul Gaultier gave us a collection loosely based on the screen sirens of yesterday and today. And the clothes were full of film fantasy – alligator overalls, floor-length fur, mini dresses that appear to be made of liquid metal. Gaultier is a master of the outrageous and fantastic, and he makes the clothes that I wish I could wear, if I had an endless budget and the self-confidence necessary to pull off something like a sequin-covered sailor shirt. Anyone that can conceive of such amazing garments not only wins at couture week, but wins at life.

The Valentino Rosier Tote is a lovely way to express your feminine side. Earlier this year, we covered the Valentino Floral Applique Satchel which reminds me quite a bit of this bag, except for the color. This particular tote is adorned with gorgeous silk taffeta roses. The patent leather trim is actually a perfect contrast against the silk roses. While we are in the midst of the Summer months, I can see this bag getting plenty of use. Whether you carry it to a park, to dinner, even to a BBQ, this bag would be a perfect accent to any outfit. Plus, since the color scheme is on the darker side, you can actually try and pull this look off during the Fall and perhaps even the Winter! Buy through Saks for $1950.

We don’t normally revisit bags, but this bag demonstrates better than any other bag I can think of how the change of a color can change a bag’s entire look. In hot pink, the bag was like something Elle Woods would wear in Legally Blonde – flamboyant, over-the-top, and ultra girly. When you take the exact same bag with the same sumptuous leather and change it to a medium grey, though, the bag’s mood changes completely. It’s still utterly fabulous, but the effect is very different. Instead of being girly and glam, the bag is edgy and hip, which would appeal to an entirely different consumer. Plus, the wonderful grey would look amazing with jeans and a sleek sweater when cold weather arrives since the color gives the bag a more casual profile. How the bag differs from one color to the next is a reminder to us all how much just one thing can change a bag’s entire appeal. Buy through Nordstrom for $2395.

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.

I think I understand what they were trying to accomplish here (theoretically, that would be a bag that Charlotte from Sex and the City would wear with some pearls), but the combination of the tightly wound patent leather flowers and the woven nylon houndstooth (I died a little bit typing that) fabric is not luxurious in the least. In fact, it strikes me as almost costume-y, although I’m not sure what costume it would go with…maybe if you’re going as a WASP this Halloween. Buy through Nordstrom for $1395.

This huge bow is unlike cute bows on purses- it is wrapped around the front of the tote in such a way that it looks like a wrapped-up present. The gathering, the red, the bow, the patent- it’s like Valentino was trying to enter the bag in a pageant. Now, this is all assuming the bag is red, but notice that is also comes in black. It’s decidedly less ridiculous, but I still can’t see this bag hanging casually off someone’s shoulder. At least it solves the perpetual problem of what to wear on a rainy day- the glossy coated canvas does look as though it could repel water. Buy through Saks for $895.

A lot of their bags are ruffly and fluffy and plush in a way that few other designers are able to execute with any level of skill at all, but this one is just sort of flat. And I mean that both literally and figuratively. In the physical sense, it looks like this bag was shipped in a box stuffed with a few too many of its brothers and sisters. Instead of big and fabulous, the flowered front looks squashed and flat. And it’s not just the picture – the bag looks like that in person too, or maybe like someone cut off the big petals at the base, and this is all that’s left. As a result, the bag doesn’t have the personality that most of the similarly themed Valentino bags have, and I’ll have to take a pass on this one. Buy through Saks for $2495.

In real life, for the average woman, spending thousands of dollars on a bag covered in thousands of cream-colored petals is not a practical thing to do, but this bag lives firmly in the realm of fantasy. I saw it in person not too long ago, and the Glamorous Tote is just that – glamorous, and a creamy confection of a bag that is girly to the nth degree. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I have no idea where one would carry this bag, but I think you have to agree that it’s way more interesting and innovative than another black leather tote. Someone must have some kind of idea about how to carry it, though – Bergdorf Goodman is backordered. Buy through Bergdorf for $2995.

But I found a perfect wedding day cosmetic case, literal perfection! The Valentino Bow Flat Cosmetic Bag fits every category; buttery soft, feminine front bow, and light petal color which will coordinate with wedding day garb. And while a light colored cosmetic case with cotton lining is not the most easy to keep clean therefor not the most practical purchase, it will simply go along with my exorbitant wedding day purchases. I am not buying this cosmetic bag, but I saw it and immediately thought of my wedding day. What will I spend my day pondering once the wedding is over? Buy through Saks for $445.

The Valentino Floral Applique Satchel is more than just a theme-y bag, however, and it may be pure coincidence that it should come on the market right now (although, probably not. Marketing people know better than to not exploit the holiday opportunity with a design like this). Entirely covered in tightly-packed silk roses, the construction of the tote’s exterior is amazing, and the finishing is ever so slightly rough, lending a fashionable edge to something that could very easily become a bit twee. Or really twee. The ombre finish of the silk roses gives a depth of color that also help avoid the kitsch and make the tote wearable more than just 1 day per year. Handbags of this type are where fashion teeters between function and art, and I’m more than comfortable toeing the line. Be one of the first people to own this handbag, pre-order through Nordstrom!