Oscar de la Renta’s bags at Fall 2008’s fashion show were all about animal skins. The rulers of this purse kingdom were:

Dutchess:

A taupe patent gathered tote

Princess:

a variegated grey patent round-top handle clutch - divine!!

And, the Queen:

Lizard skin clutch with front poofy pocket - to die!

Don’t have a reason to party? You might if you had this clutch by Zagliani (at Browns). Taking python to a new elegant level is this skin’s ruching. How do they do it? It’s clear there’s some major craftsmanship behind this purse, so you shouldn’t feel too sad to read its price: $1165. Not convinced it’s faaab enough to merit the UK Pound exchange rate (nothing is worse paying more than double, to moi!)? Well how about its truly innovative closure: not only does this purse have a toggle in the center, but each side features zippers, so one may optionally undo the bag further. Fun! At least, in the mind.

Still, we Amercian chicks will mostly just enjoy the photos on this blog, while the UK bagistas can snatch this clutch for a mere 565, their currency.

Bullocks! Party on, you lucky, fabulous ladies, you’ve won again. (But don’t forget to check out those pictures!)

Click for more (photos: angles, colors, etc.) »

A handbag worth its price in gold. Well, an Oscar de la Renta bag over 3x many of our rent bills done in genuine metallic python, lizard and golden hardware. The Metallic Python Doctor Bag is gaudy, sure, but it’s fabulous and come on! — doesn’t it look worthier of its smaller-than-Birkin pricetag ($3,895) than well, THE Birkin (~$12,000 + waitlist)???!

Got ya there, didn’t I? True, true, this purse is not practical (and the Birkin is the ultimate in class), but at least this satchel has a convenient closure. A ha! I got you again!

I’m good.

So’s the bag.

It looks like Marc Jacobs took a trip to Vegas when inspired by new Spring 2007 Python Patchwork Stams, and unfortunately what happened in Marc’s imagination there, did not stay in Vegas. No the Python Patchwork Stam is now available for purchase via Saks Fifth Avenue (in blue, the tamest colour).

I should have warned you, this post’s images are not for the faint of heart. The bags themselves are not for the faint of loyal Marc Jacobs heart, either—for this burst of tie-dyed snake skin costs $4,000.

More colours below, if you dare click on what look more like digital art images than photographs of real objects.

Coach has actually made an accessory line printed with a red/pink fragrance theme in celebration of their new perfume. They’ve also made up a limited edition compilation of the LE Jasmine XL Straw “Basket” bag filled with pieces from the line, plus a pair of shades and the exclusive to the “gift basket”, bronzer compact (which I think is a pretty awesome little beauty case).

The main feature of this LE gift set is the Jasmine XL Straw Basket ($998 separately, limited on its own as well) which features a rounded body of straw, orange leather and snake skin trim, brass hardware with ringed full-height straps and fragrance-print lining with 5 interior pockets. It’s sized 24″ x 13.5″ x 10.5″!
The official list of items included is: Fragrance-print crusher hat, beach towel, Framed coin purse, Patti sunglasses, and an exclusive Bronzer Set in the Fragrance Print Case.

The cost of the package is $1600 (eek) too steep for me even though I’d love to own this, but instead I can pick up a little piece of the “fragrance” line separately. My choice is the unique “Brush case” which can be used as a beauty case or even a clutch! Love it. If you can’t get the package, which is in limited quantities, perhaps look on eBay for that exclusive bronzer, as I will. (No low price guarantee, though.)

If you have the cash/budgeting and love for Coach or just plain cute accessories, go for it, it’s sold online at coach.com or in select boutiques, but you can always have it shipped free by calling your favorite store location/favorite SA.

Below are photos of what’s included in the Limited Edition Fragrance Straw Gift Basket:

And here are photos of separate items from Coach’s Fragrance-Print collection:

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.

I’m way too excited to see the Marc Jacobs show pictures, I cannot contain myself. I also need to split this up into different posts, but I don’t think I can take more than one entry over a little bit of time. I’m crazy, huh?

I have something to show you that will also make you just die! (So there.) Marc Jacobs’ new Stams for Spring 2007!

First we have an extra-large Stam with a push-lock instead of a zippered pocket. The straps are also very different—much less detailed, and I don’t like them nearly as much.

Here you can plainly see the new quilting style for Spring 2007, and I love it! I really love the classic quilting, but this is unique; it sets the season and MJ name apart, at least for now. It’s really updated and modern, but I don’t want to say forever good-bye to classic quilts, of course!

Now here’s the Stam in metallic and some sort of skin! This season will bring a lot of skins to Marc Jacobs, but we’ll see more of that later!

Well known name brand, schm—ame brand. This Ghibli Reptile Large Satchel is so divine, luxurious, and with just the right touch of two-toned exotic skin. That’s genuine python, there, so let’s get straight to the dirty truth, this bag costs $1,456! Think of this brand as a no-name? That may be true, which only means this bag is that high quality to merit its pricetag.

(Their other bags made of regular leathers and suedes are more affordably priced, in the hundreds.)

Don’t scoff or shrug off, maybe you truly want to pay thousands of dollars for the IT name. Well now you realize, and isn’t that silly? For those of you who want to stay away from the bags everyone has, the bags people assume are fake, and paying for name even—yet you still want and can afford luxury, I say this bag moans your name!

This Italian python skin satchel is adorned with brass studs on its handles, sized super large at 18″ wide, has just enough pockets and comes with a detachable shoulder strap. Get yours at Forzieri.com, the site for All-Italian Luxury.

Mallory: After Ella posted about the longevity of straw purses, I came across this Mirrored Python Straw Tote by Nancy Gonzalez. An interesting take on the traditional straw purse, I think, with sparkling mirror accents, python trim and a burst of lime green fabric underlay. But, yes, along with those twinkling details comes an increased price—$2,915!

Ella: The price is definitely raised by python, just like the new Fendi B. bag (although B.Fendi’s don’t need extras to set a price). Although, this python is done wonderfully and quite differently, the green fabric and straw mixture is lovely, so this bag has serious longevity (in warmer months or climates)—the problem becomes being when and where to carry such a special purse? Oh, my, I still wish I could have it! What’s better this season than green, straw and luxe python? I’ve quite talked myself into desiring this tote!

There’s a new Fendi B. bag, and it’s quite pretty; the B. Fendi Python Woven Large Bag, made of natural woven wicker with embroidery, beading and snakeskin trim.

It looks like a stroll through a blooming, green park, em-bag-bodied, but I don’t think it’s worth the pricey detail of python, when the skin used doesn’t have that python look, just general snake. (The handles) in the other hand, the wicker material looks soft and the embroidery makes me think of a Grecian garden. It’s lovely …

But I’m still waiting for the next B. Fendi to arrive on e-shelves, I recently caught a peek at a decidedly different clutch!