Look at what I found today! If it weren’t for the title letting you know that this piece is by Gucci, I bet you would have never guessed it yourself. Hmm… a nylon tote sporting colorful kiddy designs and leather trimming, does Dooney & Bourke ring a bell? Among the clutter you will find stars, fish, florals, mermaids, waves, shells, birds, butterflies, BEACH, and this list can keep on going… Umm… I don’t know what to say to this. This is upsetting coming from the House of Gucci. With designs like these, I can’t help but wonder if Gucci recruited some Dooney & Bourke “geniuses” to work for them. This is tacky, juvenile, and definitely something I would not want to carry this fall/winter season. One simple leather shoulder strap and logoed identification tags can be found on this tote as well. A $795 price tag for a brand new Gucci sounds fantastic, but in reference to this silly piece, $795 is extremely over exaggerating when Dooney & Bourke offers similar pieces for more than half of Gucci’s asking price. What do you Bagista’s have to say over this tote, and most importantly, would you wear this?

Recently I posted about the Botkier Metallic Large Jackie Hobo, which comes in Pewter Snake. To be honest, I love the metallic and I love the snakeskin print. Yes, I know. Snakeskin creeps people out. Well I came across this handbag pictured above today, and I can safely say that this one DOES creep me out. Introducing the Gucci Sukey Large -Python- Tote. This bag is constructed of genuine -python- leather and it is brand new for this upcoming season. I love the shape of this bag. I also love the pleats and the contrasting leather handles and trim. But for some reason, that -python- leather just sends chills down my spine. The strange thing is, I really like the look of snakeskin. But for some reason, I just do not find this bag appealing. Perhaps it is the color. Or it’s the snake’s natural pattern showing though. Or, it’s that jaw-dropping price tag (hey, it is real -python-). Or maybe I just have a soft spot for our scaly friends. I’m really not sure what it is. But for now, this bagista is going to be sticking with her snakeskin print leather bags for awhile. Sorry Gucci! So, ladies, how do you feel about the Gucci Sukey Large -Python- Tote?

The Gucci Sukey Large -Python- Tote measures 16.5″ x 13″ x 6″ and comes complete with a Gucci Logo key chain.

  I was not feeling Gucci handbags for quite some time, then came the Gucci Hysteria Bag. The luscious leather is as sumptuous as anything I have felt, in fact so soft that I would give anything to turn it into a pillow (or even better a blanket). And while leather versions have my attention, my undivided attention was long ago lost to the Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag that Vlad and I saw in NYC. But since the $37,500 price tag is much more wisely saved going towards a down payment on a house, I am left loving the Gucci Small Hysteria Bag is sultry magenta. The leather is slightly gathered at the top but the overall shape is slouchy. The double handles feature the metal Gucci crest detailing, which does stand out but is alluring in its own right. There is a detachable shoulder strap, but when worn the top of the bag folds over and gives a more casual look. The inside features a zip, cell phone, and PDA pocket, all necessities for 2008. If the colorful option, which will be perfect for fall and winter, is not working for you, there is also black available.

Fringe, fringe, fringe galore! I don’t usually have a problem with fringe, but I can’t decide if this bag has too much of it. Gucci is a brand I love. I have a pair of Gucci sunglasses I wear all the time and I am definitely on the hunt for a Gucci handbag I can tote around all the time as well. But, I don’t think this bag is it. The Gucci Large Babouska Hobo looks unique and perfect for the fall season. I think the stud accents and brass hardware compliment the fringe extremely well. In fact, as I sit here typing, the bag is starting to grow on me more and more. There is a double strap option (one detachable shoulder strap) which provides a nice option. If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know I am a self-proclaimed clutz. Nothing crazy, but I have been know to trip, drop my bag, and have the entire contents spilled out on the sidewalk. So, obviously, I love not only the snap and push-lcok closuer but also the inside zip and cell phone pocket. I am also drawn to how soft the leather looks. Who doesn’t love soft leather? But, I am still stuck on the fringe.

I feel like I’ve been kind of a Negative Nancy lately, so I hopped on Saks.com hoping to write about something I really like for you guys.

Unfortunately, instead of doing that, I have to be negative again. And it’s all Gucci’s fault.

The Gucci Tribeca Medium Shoulder Bag is a disaster. Of epic proportions. And that’s coming from someone that normally really likes Gucci, even when they get a bit wacky with their designs. I usually understand what they’re up to, but here…there just are no words. It’s a big bag with a skinny, tiny strap - bad proportions! It’s got a textured heart inset placed randomly on the front - icky! And it’s got a big ol’ tattoo design in the tradition of the geniuses (and I say that facetiously) over at Ed Hardy right smack dab in the middle. Eww. I’ve heard rumblings of unhappiness with the Cruise collection over in our Gucci section on the forum, but I figured it would still have some redeeming qualities to most of the bags. Some of them aren’t so bad, but this? This is bad. I say this out of love, Gucci. I want you to make beautiful things. So please, for Spring, try harder.

   It is back! Remember the infamous Gucci Baby Carrier that covered last year? And if you do not remember, it is most likely because you had no idea this site existed, and that makes perfect sense since our traffic was minuscule compared to what it is now. For some reason this Designer Baby Carrier caused quite the ruckus! Some loved it, some hated it, some hated those that loved it and vice versa. In fact, I was baffled at the comments that post received. And then I revived it showing Gwen Stefani carry baby Kingston in her Gucci Baby Carrier. Gwen pulls off the Gucci baby carrier magnificently, she looks so effortlessly chic, per usual. But should we trust the Gucci Baby Carrier to be the safest mode of transport for our young ones? That question is ultimately up to you, but I do question if this carrier puts style in front of safety. Dimensions are 16″W X 18 ”H X 7 ”D

For all of you out there who are considered to be the handbag expert within your circle of friends, how often do you hear, “what would you say is the ‘IT’ bag of the moment”? When Megs first really started to follow fashion and handbags I would *always* go to her for advice. Now that I work with her, I find people asking me the same kind of questions I used to ask her. Personally, I don’t think there is ever just one “IT” bag at a given time. However, it is undeniable that right now, top handle bags are making a run for that coveted title.

As always, as I looked around there were top handle bags I despised and others I found myself instantly drawn to. Well, the Gucci Small Hysteria Top Handle Bag is without a doubt, a handbag I was drawn to. As you might remember, we’ve posted about Gucci Hysteria bags before, in particular you might recall the ginormous price tag associated to the the Gucci Crocodile Hysteria Bag. Luckily, the Small Hysteria Top Handle Bag has a much smaller price tag. Although saving money, I love how the lightly gathered lamé patent leather, with side tie accents and a metal Gucci crest show off the bag’s elegance. There is a zip-top closure, inside zip, cell phone and PDA pockets, not to mention plenty of storage space! And of course, double top handles. So, does this bag make your “IT” bag list?

  Ciao bella, come stai? So, I may have not retained a great deal of the Italian that I took in college, and I certainly didn’t learn anymore last week since I, sadly, I did not go to Milan fashion week. I do, however, have the Internet, which means that my lack of Italian (and lack of Italian vacation) is NOT going to stop me from telling you guys about Milan Fashion Week, starting with Gucci.

I know that many have criticized the post-Tom Ford era at the brand as less exciting and less innovative, but I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Frida Giannini’s (pictured left) reign - I think her subdued sex appeal and color choice is often brilliant, even if it’s not as aggressive. The clothes aren’t overly high-concept, but they are exceedingly wearable and have a great deal of influence on what ends up in the stores that you and I frequent. So what did Frida give us?

   Sometimes I wonder if designers smoke a bit too much of the funny stuff and then take a great idea and try to make it look as awful as possible.  In fact, the designers at Gucci took this medium hobo a few steps to far and literally give it a crazy name, Hysteria Medium Hobo.   And the purse just happens to be priced in an odd retail amount of $1360.00.  It all adds up to a strange bag experience.  Gucci’s team must have thought this bag, in tortoise print patent leather, was absolutely the funniest handbag they have ever made.  They hope customers might just be too overwhelmed to see that this bag was made as a joke and buy it anyway.   Well, I can not wait to see this bag on the street, it sure will stand out.  And if you hear someone cackling in the background it is most likely a member of the Gucci team.

  Doing some holiday traveling this year? Unfortunately, traveling over the holidays is not in the cards for me this year. But for some reason, I never seem to pass up the opportunity to look at new suitcases. I like the idea of having a suitcase that is stylish, yet not overwhelmingly feminine. The reason for this, do you ask? As childish as this may seem, it is mostly because of my husband. If I don’t want to get stuck lugging around all the bags, then they better not be covered it a cute little print! Granted, I can understand him being embarrassed if a suitcase he is holding was covered in, say, a Hello Kitty print. But anything even remotely feminine seems to send him running for the hills… or at least our gate at the airport.

So I spotted this suitcase over at Bluefly and I think it has many of the qualities I am looking for in a unisex carry-on. Meet the Gucci GG Plus Rolling Suitcase. It is sleek, stylish, and in a neutral color (dark gray). Plus is has some great features such as a file pocket, retractable handle, and wheels. Unfortunately, this suitcase is not perfect. What I dislike most about it is its price tag. Even on sale, the Gucci GG Plus Rolling Suitcase costs about as much as the slightly larger Louis Vuitton Pegase 50. And if given the choice, I would pick a Louis Vuitton over a Gucci any day. Sorry Gucci!

The Gucci GG Plus Rolling Suitcase measures 13″ x 15″ x 6″ and has a 16″ retractable handle.