I’ve already got Fashion Week on my mind and one of my favorite things about Fashion Week is bag stalking. Come February, editors, buyers, and miscellaneous cool people alike will be hitting Lincoln Center both wearing and carrying their finest.

I have plenty of handbags in my arsenal, but sometimes an oddly different bag stands out and grabs my attention. This is precisely what this Valentino bag has done to me, lured me in and left me wanting more.

However, I realize not everyone loves the urban jungle feel of this panther-print calf hair tote with serious stud embellishments. Help us out and tell us what you think! Buy via Net-A-Porter for $2,995.

Fill in the Blank: The Valentino Rockstud Panther Print Calf Hair Tote is _______.

The similar aesthetics of the Valentino and RED Valentino handbag lines have always surprised me. Sure, a main line and its little sister should have some things in common, but sharing signatures – like Valentino’s bows, for example – always runs one of two risks. First, the less-expensive bags are too similar to the originals, which could mean that the “affordable” line cannibalizes some of the main line’s sales. Second, the comparison of the two might make the diffusion bags look incredibly cheap or childish, which could hurt sales and undermine the purpose of a diffusion line (to capitalize on the cache of the originals to provide an influx of easy cash.)

In the case of the Valentin Bow Flap Bag and the less expensive RED Valentino Leather Bow Shoulder Bag, we’re dealing with the latter issue. Sit them next to each other, and suddenly one has to wonder why anyone would pay $500 for the less expensive option.

Not that I would pay $1700 for the more expensive bag; they both look like they’re attempting to outkick their coverage (to use a football saying), if you ask me. Drop the regular Valentino bag to $1200 and the RED bag to $249, and we might have a conversation about it. As it is, they’re both a little steep, but particularly the diffusion bag. Some of the RED Valentino styles are beautiful and look much more expensive than they really are, but this is not one of those bags. Buy the Valentino for $1695 via Neiman Marcus or the RED Valentino for $495 via Saks.

Vintage handbags still don’t have much of a draw for me because utilitarian leather items tend to degrade a great deal over time, which is where items with a heavy retro influence like the Valentino Laser Cut Patent Evening Bag come in. It’s the kind of thing I’d find in a second-hand shop and dearly love, except his one is brand new and totally pristine.

Sometimes, a traditional box or envelope clutch feels too obvious for a special night out, as does basic black. This little bag is still neutral, which means it can go into your regular rotation for evening looks, but it’s special and details in a way that little leather pouches usually aren’t. The tiny laser-cut flowers are beautiful, and the delicate gold chain strap is the perfect accent, not to mention convenient if you need the use of both your hands. Not only that, but for Valentino, the price is downright reasonable. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $595.

Now that shows have officially closed for the season and all the bags have been seen (by us, anyway – we’ve still got some more posts for you guys!), I feel comfortable saying that Spring 2012 is probably going to be a bit of a boring season for accessories, at least compared to what we’ve grown used to recently. That being said, a few major designers who have been struggling to find their voices have stepped it up this season, at least when handbags are concerned.

Valentino Spring 2012 is one such collection; I did a lot of complaining about the brand’s Fall 2011 runway bags, but this group is altogether more refined and well-conceived than previous lines have felt. Some of last season’s elements, including studded hand straps, can be found in these designs, but they’re used in ways that feel more natural and functional. This is the collection that Valentino should have showed last season, but I’m glad they decided to show it at all.

Much has been made by me (not to mention the fashion press at large) over Valentino trying to find its path after the retirement of its namesake and longtime leader. The design team put in place since the transition has made some wonderful pieces, but is also responsible for its share of missteps, many of which we’ve discussed in this space.

But Valentino’s recent couture show, one space where the new designers have struggled mightily, received roundly positive reviews and there are some indications that the brand has righted itself and regained what seemed to have been a lost plot. The Valentino One-of-a-Kind Satchel is one of the best bags I’ve seen from the brand in several seasons.

This design has the precision and maturity that you’d expect from a brand with a venerable history like Valentino, which is significant because many of the brand’s less successful moments have come out of the its recent attempts to appeal to a younger audience. Valentino is never going to be “hip” in the way that The Row is hip, and it would be best for everyone involve if it stopped trying and went back to doing what it does best: Making dramatic, glamourous garments and accessories for women with impeccable taste and considerable budgets. These bags work because that’s exactly what they are, with no shred of doubt or self-consciousness as far as the eye can see.

Valentino One-of-a-Kind Snakeskin Satchel, $2895 via Neiman Marcus

Valentino One-of-a-Kind Leather Satchel, $1995 via Neiman Marcus

But every now and then, the brand still shows that it knows how to get things done. The Valentino Aphrodite Python Bag is all that it should be – ladylike, luxurious, on-trend and extremely elegant.

This bag builds on the Aphrodite shape that Valentino introduced last season, but with a slightly smaller size and more right angles. The buttery, perfectly beige leather is still there, but this time it’s used to accent navy and beige python that is some of the best of the season’s trend toward snakeskin. Possibly related: I didn’t like very many of Fall 2011′s snakeskin bags, so this is possibly a big compliment, if you put any stock in my personal taste. And if you don’t, it probably doesn’t say much. Either way, this is still a very pretty handbag. Buy through Saks for $2895.

If fashion seasons were like the Olympics, you could call Fall 2011 the Exotic Games – everywhere you look, brands are coming out with crocodile and snakeskin bags, seemingly each a little more drool-worthy than the last. Because trends are rarely penned in to a single cycle, though, plenty of reptilian delights have turned up in spring’s collections as well, including from brands that aren’t necessarily known for their work with exotics. That would be the case with the Valentino Va Va Voom Crocodile Shoulder Bag; Valentino produces exotic bags here and there but hasn’t made it a brand trademark, although that hasn’t stopped the company’s designers from getting in on the fun.

I’ve been a bit suspicious of this bag since the Valentino Spring 2011 runway show back in September of last year, and I still don’t entirely understand the little studded hand slot, what purpose it serves on a shoulder bag or why, exactly, anyone would ever be compelled to stick her hand in it. Aside from that, though, this simple, straightforward design is pretty nicer, particularly in dark-chocolate crocodile. The non-exotic details are nice on this bag as well, particularly the delicate metal handle attachments that adorn the top. But for five figures, the bag should be perfect, and this one isn’t quite there. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $11,275.

The urge to break out the linen pants and tank tops is very strong at the moment, which makes this tote look all the more appropriate. By the time that the truly hot and sticky weather of summer rolls around, I’m sure I’ll be sick of flowers and girlishness in their entireties and just want someone to turn on the air conditioner and leave me alone. For now, though, I’d love to take a stroll through a park with this tote on my arm.

This bag requires the sort of full-skirted dress and delicately heeled shoes that I don’t really have in my closet, but that doesn’t stop me from imagining myself as an Upper East Side lady who lunches in an Oscar de la Renta frock and a pair of Vivier sandals, carrying this bag gingerly in the crook of my arm. In real life, I have black and purple hair and wear a lot of animal print, so this is a bag that I’d skip, but it’s fun imagining myself as one of those women nonetheless. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $2795.

Valentino often goes maximal with its accessories, so the subtle charms of this little clutch are even more welcome. From the perfect shade of blush to the expertly obscured slot for hand-carry, this is an evening bag that doesn’t try to overshadow whatever beautiful dress with which you’ve surely paired it.

I’m one of those people who can’t tie a pretty, symmetrical bow to save her life, so the precision of the one that accents this clutch is all the more appealing to me. With the color, material and sleek feel, I can’t help but think that this would be the perfect evening bag to take to the ballet. Just make sure that your ensemble lives up to this bag’s quiet glamour. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $845.

One of the hottest handbag trends right now is studded detailing. I know that this is nothing new to the fashion world, rather it is a trend that tends to go in and out of style often. The studs we are seeing as of late are a bit different, more refined and subdued, and often being used as shoulder strap accents. This is precisely the look for less I am bringing to you today: the accented shoulder strap bag.

While the Tory Burch Louisa Shoulder Bag does not technically have a studded accents on the shoulder strap, it does have a deco chain and leather strap. On the other hand, the Valentino Rock Stud Shoulder Bag is all about the studs on the shoulder strap. I know so many of you were sick of the over-studding, but both of these bags offer a touch of tough with a glam overall appearance.

The major difference between the two bags is evident however. The Valentino bag features a much more structured shape with a very demure appearance. When I look at the Valentino bag, I can easily see a business woman use this accessory to amp up her wardrobe. The Tory Burch bag is much more casual. The shoulder strap is not studded, rather features a chain/leather combination. The body of the bag has a flap top closure versus the open top Valentino showcases. When it comes down to it, these two bags have some similarities but I believe they bring two very different feels and would be worn by two very different people. Which accented shoulder strap bag do you prefer?

Buy the Tory Burch Louisa Shoulder Bag via Neiman Marcus for $425 and buy the Valentino Rock Stud Shoulder Bag via Neiman Marcus for $1,595.