Ask V. Bruce Hoeksema if a bag can be at once devilishly sexy and alluringly sweet, and he’ll answer you with a confident yes. And then he would show you the Ballerina, VBH’s latest incarnation of the eternally seductive python clutch (now if only they could ship it to us Californians!).

Think hourglass-inducing corsets and spine-tingling bondage. At least, that’s what lacing like this brings to mind. But then you consider the clutch’s name, and point-shoe connotation invites an innocent new context. Whether you have a dirty mind or you’re as pure as the driven snow, this shapely little bag has oodles of appeal. The silhouette itself looks alert, curvy, and cinched, and in that shade of petal-pink, complemented by taupe, it’s as if the clutch is blushing just a bit. At Bergdorf Goodman for $1,900.

Pair with: Don’t go for a literal ballerina slipper but a strong mixed-material pump from Jil Sander. This wedge blends linen, wood, and leather, and the wrap-around ankle-strap gives a nod to toe shoes. At Barneys New York for $550.

Go right ahead and cuff me! Normally when I utter those words, I’m hoping to get my wrist buckled in with something along the lines of Hermès or Givenchy, but who needs a cuff bracelet when your seductive clutch comes complete with one of its own?
I have been eagerly awaiting Lanvin’s Partition clutches to hit stores, and now here they are, right in time for my inevitable late-spring shopping bonanza. Sharp and edited, the rectangular lines of this confident pochette make the ideal complement to a curving wristlet. I’m rarely one to resist pale-pink python ($3,145), this one the shade of a delectable summertime rosé, but there’s something uncompromisingly chic about ivory leather ($2,150), set off by rose gold and a contrasting strap. It’s neutral yet as powerful as a bright hue. Black ($2,290) or chestnut brown ($2,290) will prove tempting for those who like their bags to tread easily into fall, and no matter which texture and color you pick, it’s a win-win situation. For your wrist and your wardrobe.
Available at Barneys New York for $2,150-$3,145.

I guess popping a pillbox over your shoulder is better than popping pills all day, but is it really much chicer? Parisian designer Olympia Le Tan hit the big time by converting classic novels, like On the Road, Lolita, and The Catcher in the Rye, into kitsch clutches. Now she’s turned her attention from the bookshelf to the medicine cabinet.

Brozac, anyone? It “helps your friends put up with you”! Indeed, her wordplays invite loads of conversational fodder. While the “Wiagra” variation (it literally says: “will give your man a massive hard-on,” which, even as a snob, I have to admit is pretty hilarious) is sold out at Colette, and the “Eveprofen” box flew off the shelves on Net-a-Porter, I can’t say I’m taken with handmade jokester bags. Felt appliqués and embroidered twill will never do much for me, even if it’s a clear novelty purchase. There’s a difference between cheeky fun and overdosing on a gimick. Which side do you think this controversial prescription leans towards? On Net-a-Porter for $450.

The Parton sandal may have a lot of elements going on – snakeskin-texture, a variety of straps, a stacked-wood platform – but it’s as smooth as can be. So smooth, I can see this sandal going anywhere you want it to and blending right in. Think of the Parton as the laidback version of the Bonnie – a chunkier heel means more opportunity for wear, especially in the daytime.
It also means a higher level of comfort. I love a heel you can actually wear without your soles aching after ten minutes, and even though this heel will give you nearly 6” of added height, the layered platform means you certainly won’t feel it. And in graduated shades of brown, it’s as neutral as they come. Brown is the black of summer shoes, and this could easily be your ultimate summer sandal.

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The versatile Parton makes a great day-to-night shoe. I would wear them out to a festive lunch with friends, with a brightly print sundress and chain-strapped clutch. Then I’d segue them into evening cocktail hour, ideally at a casual-cool outdoor patio on a hot summer night. The winning snob will be selected at random. Good luck!

The Parton is available at Neiman Marcus for $325.

Rarely is a bag so suited to its name. No, it doesn’t get any more “fierce” than a flashy power clutch topped with the head of a threateningly sleek panther. The cylindrical shape keeps the look from going to hardcore – it’s fierce, but not entirely unapproachable.
This is not your average evening bag. The Stark line, which is founded upon ultra-sparkly, leopard-print boxes and sexed-up cuff straps, reeks of confidence. And I do love a clutch with some conviction. British designer Petra Stunt was inspired to make bags by her favorite artist, the edgy and controversial Tracey Emin (one installation, called My Bed, featured dirty sheets, among other unmentionables). Petra has taken that sense of rebellion and added her own searing vision of glamour, designing for the young fashionista who demands to be noticed. The Fierce clutch is like a golden bullet of chic-ness. In delicious shades of python, crystal, and alligator, from the glittering Beverley Drive variation to the white-snake Lynx, this could be the beginning of a dangerous new bag addiction.
Available for $3,447 – $4,789 at Stark.

It’s official: Marni is good again. Which is great news for me, not so great for the old pocketbook. Time for a budget adjustment! Their specialty (when they’re on a roll) is super-fun bags I love at first sight – and then forget about not terribly long after purchasing. But just as it goes with men, you know it’s the fast-burning flames that are the most exciting.

Like this net-effect top-handle. Despite the manic desire I’m experiencing right now, yes, I would recommend to wait for the sale. Too bad by then, the lust will have surely faded. Luckily, I have reason to believe this one might be playing for keeps. After all, it is black. It’s just the perforation that’s making me feel like it’s trendy – although, this is of-the-moment in a good way. Plus, this vintage shape probably has some staying power. I’m going to trust my heart, and jump on it. Let’s hope this Marni piece makes it the long haul. At Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,365.

Pair with: This will look daytime-deluxe with summer’s newly sleekified flatforms. Like Stuart Weitzman’s wicker sandal ($385), Lanvin’s python-print leather ($855), or Pour la Victoire’s bright-green sole ($250).