Even though spring’s technical start is in late March, old-fashioned sartorial rules often dictate that no one should wear truly spring-like things until after Easter. White, raffia, pale flowers – all verboten until after some arbitrary holiday. The PurseBlog team does not advocate listening to those kinds of silly rules, of course, but if you’ve grown up with them, the idea can be hard to shake.

Easter was yesterday, though, so that means we’re all free to celebrate the lushly feminine bounty that comes with the season. We’ve already highlighted some of the best beach bags and pastel bags of the year, but if you’re looking for something with a more generalized spring-like feeling, this week’s installment of Save, Spend, Splurge has some suggestions for a variety of budgets. (more…)

Lanvin Gypsie Straw and Snakeskin Tote, $2190 via Bergdorf Goodman

When a bag is as popular as the Celine Luggage Tote, it’s only logical that other brands will try to stand in the reflected glow of the design’s success by debuting bags that share certain characteristics with the one that everyone wants. This practice is as old as time, and it’s how trends in size, shape and color start. As long as the reinterpretation is reasonably original, it generally doesn’t bother me as a consumer.

Even with that in mind, though, I was surprised to see the Lanvin Gypsie Straw and Snakeskin Tote in the Resort 2012 pre-orders at Bergdorf Goodman. Lanvin tends to be a brand that shirks most trends in favor of its own brand of Parisian chic, so even though I don’t have a philosophical problem with the existence of this bag, I didn’t think I’d ever see it. (more…)

I’ll admit to having been a tad skeptical of Milly’s handbags at first. When the line launched its first collection for Spring 2011, the first bags to hit stores were mostly a bit preppy for my taste, with boat and rope motifs abounding in coral and navy. But now that I’ve had a chance to see the full line, bags like the Milly Straw Frame Bag have wowed me. I’m a believer. (more…)

From left: Mary Y Sol Panama Striped Tote, $100. Club Monaco Tall Straw Tote, $49.50. Elliot Mann 24/7 Tote, $242. All via ShopBop.

In the US, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and all the beachside fun that comes with the season. The PurseBlog team is going to take most of today to relax and enjoy the advent of season vacation season, but if you’re stuck indoors and want some bags to consider, take a look at these three reasonably priced, sun-ready straw totes: The Mar Y Sol Panama Striped Tote, Club Monaco Tall Straw Tote and Elliot Man 24/7 Tote. (Ok, that last one is macrame and not straw. Just go with it.) (more…)

Gucci Hand-Painted Woven Leather Tote, $5900 via Net-a-Porter.

I bet you thought it was, didn’t you? I did. But as the name would indicate, the Gucci Hand-Painted Woven Leather Tote is made entirely of intricately laced and painstakingly painted leather to give the bag the summery look and subtle variation of your favorite well-worn leather tote. This bag follows in the estimable footsteps of Bottega Veneta, who first fooled us with its leather-as-straw bags last year. Unfortunately for those of you who might be looking for a deal, the Gucci version is also in the exact same mid-four-figures price range. (more…)

When I think of summer and straw clutches, greige is not exactly the first color to spring to mind. Although it’s my favorite neutral (besides leopard print, which is a neutral too, I swear), there comes a time when winter has lasted far too long and the last thing you want to see is another sullen, pallid handbag. For me, that time came this past weekend when it felt like November during my trip up North.

If that time has yet to arrive for you, perhaps you’d like to bring greige into the new season with the Matthew Williamson Raffia Leather Clutch. Although this bag has all the island-themed elements of a prototypical straw clutch, they’re rendered in a shade that still screams fall. Well, as much as greige can scream anything, anyway. (more…)

I don’t know how the weather is where you are, but as I write this, Atlanta is experiencing its first springlike day since the actual advent of the season, and I couldn’t be happier. (For the record, I also couldn’t be happier that I’m moving to New York right around the time that Atlanta’s beautiful spring weather will to change to sticky, stultifying summer heat.) Weather-wise, spring got off to a belated start this year on much of the East Coast, but I think that this time, the sunshine is here to stay.

Or maybe it’s just the Kate Spade With a Twist Orange Slice Satchel that’s making me so optimistic. After a change in creative staff several seasons ago, Spade has become fashion’s go-to brand for whimsical, witty accessories at a price point that makes its pieces seem like a reasonable splurge from time to time. This bag and its lemon counterpart perfectly demonstrate the band’s cleverness. (more…)

Is it really almost April? You could have fooled me. There was a time earlier this month when it felt like spring was a foregone conclusion and the last gasp of winter chill had passed, but that feeling was wrong. Much of the East Coast has been unseasonably cold for the past few days, and the reality of the weather just doesn’t match with the bright, optimistic colors contained in the packages of spring clothing that have been arriving at my doorstep for the past week. Surely this cold snap will pass, and when it does, I want to be ready with a bag like the Felix Rey Sardinia Basket Tote.

I’ve mentioned my personal rule that prevents me from buying a straw bag that costs more than $200 before, but this bag comes so close to the cutoff line that I think I’ll give it a pass. Unless, of course, you guys want to be so kind as to help me hunt down a less expensive version with the same kind of tight, nubby weaving. (more…)