There are only three good things about this bag, and they are as follows:

1. It’s black and black is fairly unoffensive.
2. The leather is probably nice.
3. It probably won’t give you VD.

Other than that, it’s all kinds of fail. Not only is fringe basically over, but Prada chose to implement it in what appears to be the messiest, least aesthetically appealing way possible. If they want some advice on how to update this tired trend, they should go talk to Nanette Lepore before doing something like this again. And now, for the final assault on good taste: this thing costs $2750 via Saks.

With cold weather approaching (it’ll get here eventually, I know it will, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now), most of us have started planning our winter wardrobes and maybe even amassing our favorite fall pieces to make sure we get our hands on them before they sell out. Almost all of the stuff I’ve acquired is black or dark grey, which reminds me: I need some winter white.

Winter white (which is just a warm tone of ivory, but we’ll go with the season-appropriate name) came around as a trend a couple of years ago and never really went away, and it’s a nice alternative to not only the dark colors of fall dressing, but also the outdated rule that one shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day. If any of the people who still subscribe to that notion can look at the Burberry Quilted Patent Tote and tell me truthfully that it wouldn’t be beautiful with a charcoal sweater and dark denim, I’ll be very surprised.

I might normally regard this bag as too simple for me, but the shiny gunmetal hardware has totally won me over. Instead of skewing traditional, as most people probably expect of Burberry, the clean-lined buckle takes on a modern military look that’s as cool as it is unexpected. The bag’s shape is classic, the color is lush and the details are trendy, which is a formula that almost always equals a great bag. Buy through Nordstrom for $1395.

One of our favorite clutch designers is Lauren Merkin. Her designs are unmistakable and completely chic. The most recognizable Lauren Merkin Clutch is the Louise. Good news for all of you is that we are giving three away Lauren Merkin Louise Clutches!

How to enter:

1) Follow Lauren Merkin on Twitter and PurseBlog on Twitter. Also, tweet this:

RT & Follow @PurseBlog and @LaurenMerkin to win one of 3 Lauren Merkin Clutches! Info how to enter: http://bit.ly/bihm6f

2) Like Lauren Merkin on Facebook and PurseBlog on Facebook.

3) Comment on this post telling us why you want to win a Lauren Merkin clutch!

What you can win: 1 Louise Natural Patent Embossed Python, 1 Louise Gunmetal Metallic or 1 Louise Black Honeycomb Suede.

More information: There will be three separate winners. One will be a Twitter follower, one will be a Facebook fan, and one will be from the comment section below. Contest ends September 13th at 10 pm EST. Good luck and thank you to Lauren Merkin!

Related Articles »

1. Lauren Merkin Eve Clutch
2. Lauren Merkin Lucy Textured Clutch
3. Lauren Merkin Sequined Clutch
4. Lauren Merkin Sadie Clutch
5. Lauren Merkin Plaid Silk Louise Clutch
6. Lauren Merkin Charlotte Embossed Suede Clutch

The Bag

Alexander Wang Tai Dopp Kitt Bag – It comes in both embossed natural python and black leather, but since mixing patterns is also a fall trend, this seems like a perfect time to wade into those waters a bit and see how things go. The black version, of course, could be mixed into a wardrobe in a similar way to a large black clutch.

The closure and structure of this bag make it easily more interesting than any clutch in my closet, though, and I’m betting the same is true for you. That the short handle must be held by hand will make it unwieldy in some daytime situations, but it’s such a cool, different bag that it would be worth the tradeoff. Buy through ShopBop for $795.

Daytime – Edgy

Helmut Lang Raven Top – This silk and jersey asymmetrical top is full of color inspiration for any number of different outfits, but pairing it with neutrals in different textures allows the subtle pattern and draping to shine. The traces of cream and beige tie in with the bag, and combining the two gives you a relatively safe way to mix prints without looking like a crazy person. Buy through ShopBop for $320.

Vince Oversized Pocket Sweater – In a temperate climate or during the part of winter before it’s gotten truly cold up north, a sweater like this is absolutely key. It can go with boyfriend jeans and casual shoes or be sexed up a bit with silk and leggings, and the charcoal grey color gives the knit a bit more dimension and versatility than black would. Buy through ShopBop for $345.

Plush Liquid Faux Leather Leggings – I’m not much of a fan of fake leather in general, but in some situations, it just makes sense. Leather leggings cost hundreds of dollars and don’t have much season-to-season staying power, and this faux version is priced perfectly and isn’t too shiny to be worn during the day with a casual outfit as an interesting, textured alternative to basic black leggings. Buy through ShopBop for $70.

Elizabeth and James Coli Suede Flats – Winter is all about mixing textures, and choosing suede flats for daytime is just another way to do it. The medium grey color pulls from the greys in both the bag and shirt, and it provides some softness at the end of the leather leggings. Buy through ShopBop for $285.

Dannijo Coco Ring – For an ensemble with this many textures, jewelry can be kept to a piece or two. When wearing sweaters, I stay away from bracelets because of snagging, and earrings would compete with the huge collar. A statement ring is therefore the perfect option, and this one adds just the right amount of shine while still keeping with the mood of the clothes. Buy through ShopBop for $216.

Nighttime – Feminine

Foley + Corinna Asymmetrical Party Dress – Nude and cream tones dotted the runways for the past two seasons, and this frilly dress gives a girly look to a trend that can become boring quickly. I’d be a bit afraid to crush the frills if I sat for too long, but this is the ideal dress for standing at a bar or dancing at a club while still looking flirty and pretty. Buy through ShopBop for $390.

Anna Sui Faux Fur Cropped Jacket – Fur is noticeably huge for fall, and the always-reliable Anna Sui has created the perfect (faux!) night-out topper. It’s cropped to show off as much of your dress as possible, and the plush, glossy black fur will keep you warm and dressy-looking simultaneously. To go tough instead of glam, layer a cropped, draped leather jacket over your party frock instead of fur. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $350.

Jeffrey Campbell Clara Mesh Platform Pumps – These shoes ride the fence between pump and booty admirably, and the black suede with mesh insets will mirror the dress well once a foot is inside. The design anchors a floaty ensemble without being too heavy, and they would be a versatile nighttime option to have in your closet in case of random fabulous parties. Buy through ShopBop for $136.

Rachel Leigh Zelda Cluster Drop Earrings – Nothing accents an asymmetrical neckline like a pair of good dangly earrings, and since most necklaces don’t work with this type of dress, go for big and sparkly. This pair provides a little color variation for a very neutral outfit. Buy through ShopBop for $188.

That’s not true for everyone, though, and if you’re one of those weird people that prefers to keep the black to a minimum (seriously, you’re weird), then the Botkier Prince Crossbody Bag is a perfect option if you’re looking for a dark neutral for fall.

Even as a black devotee, I can’t help but love this little bag. Colored suede is important for fall, and the way that navy and black look together is a bit of an obsession of mine. Even though I don’t wear a lot of navy, this bag could still fit easily into my wardrobe. If you gravitate more toward grey, cream or brown as your main neutral, even better – navy looks perfect against all three. Buy through ShopBop for $295.

Louis Vuitton’s Fall Winter 2010/2011 collection was beyond words in its glamor, elegance, and beauty. In fact, there is no way to properly give justice to the ladylike functionality implemented into each design. Marc Jacobs is pure genius.

Louis Vuitton Advertising campaigns never let me down either. The creative vision of the Louis Vuitton Fall Winter 2010/2011 campaign feels like a fairytale world of luxurious perfection. I am entirely envious of the women in these photos, they appear as if they have fascinating stories to tell. How could I leave out the ladylike Cuir Cinema bag that immediately catches one’s attention? The soft rose color on the structured calf leather bag flows seamlessly in the photo [$4450 via Louis Vuitton September 1st].

Talented artist Kathryn Elyse of PaperFashion illustrated this campaign photo in two different finishes. Both are simply stunning and match perfectly with the feminine timeless appeal of the collection.

The Tory Burch Leather and Chains Satchel, on the other hand, I did get to see. I had dinner at an Atlanta restaurant known for it’s people-watching on Friday night, and a woman carrying this bag walked by our table several times. I don’t know why she was up and milling about the restaurant, but I got an eyeful of her bag and I liked what I saw.

Tory Burch bags almost always live up to or exceed my expectations in person, and this one was no exception. The chain detailing is done in a way that looks high-end and intricate, but it’s simple enough to not overwhelm the satchel’s ability to be a go-to bag for a variety of outfits and purposes. The slightly punk touch provides just enough personality, but since the chain is woven into the leather and not just glued on top, it doesn’t have the cheap feel that a lot of similarly adorned designs might. Buy through Saks for $595.

The Valentino Day Lace Medium Duffle features a familiar shape (Louis Vuitton Speedy anyone?) with a black floral vine lace over.

I have absolutely no doubt that this Valentino bag, like all others, is of premium quality. But I always always find lace over leather to look a bit cheap. Like vinyl. I know part of that is personal preference and part comes from seeing many designers do this in vinyl, it just never strikes a chord with me. The tubular leather top handles have a 5″ drop, so the bag will be hand-held. Dimensions are 10 1/2″H x 12 1/2″W x 7″D. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $935.

Are you feeling this lace trend on handbags

Things from Jimmy Choo have been a bit “blah” lately. They’ve continued to make a lot of popular styles from previous seasons in new materials and finishes, which should make the brand’s devotees happy, but I always prefer to see something new alongside old favorites.

The Jimmy Choo Rosa Satchel maybe not seem all that striking or innovative to the casual observer, but for Choo, it’s something a bit different. Many of the brand’s bags have been a bit over-designed in recent seasons, and with that in mind, the restraint and editing that went into this design are admirable, not to mention very attractive.

Many brands have been looking to pare down their offerings into sleeker, more subdued shapes that will appeal to today’s recession-addled consumers, and this is the right way to do it. This bag doesn’t lack in glamour or sophistication, but its lines are a bit less aggressive than what we might have seen in 2006, for example. The embossed lizard gives the bag texture on top of the already shiny leather, and the way the light hits the finish of the bag creates a sophisticated shine that you just can’t get by dunking a bag in a vat of sequins or glitter. Well played, Tamara Mellon. Buy through Nordstrom for $1750.

Instead of the over-the-top, mismatched styling that we’ve seen from the brand in the past, this bag’s design has been edited down to just the parts necessary to keep some of the Versace attitude. Most of that comes by way of the round hardware motif that dots the front of the bag, but it doesn’t distract at all from the beautifully textured and glazed purple leather underneath. Instead of having multiple colors, patterns and types of hardware compete with each other, this bag’s elements all work work together.

It’s not often that I see a Versace bag and think, wow, I would totally be able to work that in to my wardrobe, but that’s exactly the reaction I had to this bag. Medium-to-dark purple is a rich color that looks great against black and grey for winter, and it provides a bit of color to an outfit without looking season-inappropriate during colder weather. The abundance of hardware is typical of the Versace aesthetic, but in this iteration it doesn’t take away from the beauty of the leather or compete with the overall design. It fits.

The bag also seems to be at least reasonably functional. I wish it was a tad deeper, but as it is the design should still offer plenty of interior room for your everyday stuff without getting too bulky or heavy. The only problem, of course, is the price. If Versace wants to spark renewed interest from skeptical bag buyers, they need to consider a significantly different price point. There’s no way that this bag costs over a thousand dollars more to manufacture or market than your average Chloé bag, and most buyers know it. Buy through Nordstrom for $3250.