I begin a new year of content, coming back from technical and then personal problems, with a reflection upon the greatest hand styles from the last. Without further ado…

#10: Red Jersey Roxanne Bag by Mulberry for Gap

When an IT bag goes discount and it’s legit, there must be huge hype. Not only is that true for this Roxanne bag by Mulberry and Gap, but 50% of the proceeds go to a charity fighting AIDs. What could be hotter than this product Red bag, then? Made out of jersey fabric, it still looks just as haute. Watch out though, it’s only available in one store (a Gap flagship) in London. Burned?

I’ve thought up a feature for the blog of posting videos of blogistas inspecting authentic and fake bags to educate fellow shoppers.

The first video is not by me, but you will see me do some (thanks in part to me just joining Bag Borrow or Steal, so even though my budget restricts me from buying many bags even at the COACH level, I might be renting some occasionally!), although I have limited access to counterfeit purses to vid. This really is a practice all designer lovers should try to follow, if you can take a vid that is - post it on YouTube - just like those bad products videos that caused such a stir!

Today’s video features a fake Prada, a replica of a gorgeous Prada indeed. I hope you learn something, although it’s hard not being able to touch it (it always is), but I figure that seeing it in video-dimension will add something to the education process! (Let me know if you agree, and contact me if you make a video like this!)

There will be more to come, and if you’d like to see similar videos or send me one of yours, check out my new YouTube account: LippedMedia (I still need to flesh my page out [and of course make some vids!] - any tips on using YouTube? - I’m a little behind in the whole thing!). Also, we could connect as friends on there! (I didn’t know YouTube was social - geez I AM behind!)

Anyway, the real point to these posts are to help you shop smarter on places like eBay; so best of luck!

Made of soft metallic calfskin, this teenybopper-golden shiny bag by Miu Miu may come in ritzy leather, but the clutch says all daytime … and then some at — over 17″ wide! This clutch is for the big bag lugging girl who needs something extra for her evenings out. That may just even be me; and even with my ban, because this treasure only costs 715 American smackeroos! Hey, when I pay my Neiman’s credit bill, I’ll even have enough of a line to charge it! Oh joy.

This bag is me, but even I have my doubts. It’s certainly not for everyone, but it does make a big statement, no?

Some of you may be glad to know that there is a choice of the smaller impact colour choice: black. (Same size though.)

Spring Break is here, with sandy beaches calling to us and actual sightings of green grass. A great travel handbag for your later winter getaway is this Prada Frame Bag. Natural straw with green leather trim, it’s just enough Summer sand with greens of Spring for the upcoming weeks. Featuring a removable green leather luggage tag, it’s good to go as your carry-on purse, as well!

13″ x 9″ x 5″ this cute satchel costs $1,350. That’s probably less than a trip to Disney World! So if you cut back on the fabulousness of your March break trip, perhaps you can afford this purse. Hey it will last a lot longer than a mere 7 days! (Two seasons, year after year!) Putting it that way, it almost seems like you need a new bag!

I love the look (and feel) of python. I love it for Spring and I love it on a classy satchel. So naturally I love this python frame bag by Prada. (Pitone is Italian for python, natch.)

In tan tonal python with braided handles and a framed top, this piece of high luxury is sized 17″ l x 13″ h and more than squeezes past my budget at $2,620. This fine bag is available for pre-order now through Neiman Marcus, though not in California.

Don’t hiss and moan about the price, you have plenty of time to save up. And Californians, think about moving to Florida now - where python is plentiful and you don’t have to smuggle the goods.

An IT bag from Miu Miu offers more of the ruching that Miuccia Prada likes to do, but is otherwise completely new and different. The Miu Miu Coffer’s front flap with lock tab and flap pockets give it a unique look, sitting on a round body a single short, braided handle and detachable long strap.

Like it, hate it? I can’t quite decide, but the general bag-loving public has spoken about this IT bag. Have to have it? This Italian-made piece of camel nappa leather costs $1,445 and sells at Neiman Marcus.

Hmm, do I like this leather hobo? Yes, I think I do! Interesting textures grab my attention and the quilted nappa leather on this Miu Miu Quilted Leather Hobo (15″ l x 11.75″ h x 2.25″ d) is quite beautiful—it’s different and more unique than the purses I see every day. The top flap, which is smooth, provides a nice contrast to the body of the bag—otherwise, it might be too much. The braided handle is a nice touch!

Besides the braided handle, this bag also features a detachable body strap, two front pockets and is available in brown or classic black. Of course, lovely textured leathers cost money, which is why this purse is $1,445.

It’s cute and sweet. It’s classic, yet bold, fresh and young. It’s all about the flower-&-stem charm on this Miu Miu Floral Appliqué Shoulder Bag, with stud and gem stones. But there’s even more: its yellow hue is lovely for Spring & Summer and strikingly different. It’s not even a very large bag, standing nicely against a woman’s frame, although at $840, I might like it larger.

Available now at Net-a-Porter.com

Details are extremely important in design; the smallest addition can often ruin an entire concept, which we’ve all seen happen. On the bright side, details can also turn an ordinary, ho-hum purse into one with much more style, which is the case with the Miu Miu Crochet Bag (14.25″ l x 9.5″ h x 3.25″ d), available for $850.

The stitching on the front of this purse, along with the leather trim, makes it stand out among the tons of other crocheted handbags I’ve seen. The detailed stitching, at least from a distance, reminds me a bit of ruching on a top, plus the color is perfect for the spring palette. You know, I know a lot of people who crochet, and I never see them making anything like this—I wish they would!

Once again, I was reminded that your handbag makes a big impression on how others view you. My brother, who’s in college, recently remarked that a girl in one of his classes had a Prada bag and he automatically assumed she was rich. (Side note: Points to my brother for noticing the bag and knowing Prada bags are expensive! Obviously, he’s spent some time around me.) But, on with my story, it got me to thinking that handbags truly are just as important as your shoes and clothing in defining how people perceive you.

Sometimes, people put a lot of effort into their outfit, only to pull out a handbag that’s been torn and beat up from use, which in turn ruins the outfit. It’s just like with shoes—a great pair of shoes will turn a regular outfit into an amazing one and an ugly pair of shoes will destroy a wonderful outfit. You wouldn’t want to enter a corporate job interview dressed in a classy suit, only to be carrying a bright neon pink cotton tote with worn patches—would you? Okay, that might be a big exaggeration, but you get the picture. The point is that just as carefully as you decide what shoes you’ll wear with an outfit, just as carefully decide what handbag you’ll carry.