By Bag Snob Tina on January 31, 2012 9:00 am Tina Craig

After my trip to Florence last month, I am experiencing a serious love affair with all things Italian. And what feels more iconic Italian than Gucci?! The brand has always been about living la dolce vita, and now they’re undergoing a bit of a renaissance. For me, at least.

Not only have I pulled out several ageless Gucci bags I’ve had since the nineties, I’m craving a slew of new ones, too. The Emily shoulder bag is at the top of the snob list (it comes in five alluring colors, but I’ll take lilac leather, please!). It incorporates all those classic Gucci details I know and love: hand-stitching, horse-bit hardware and tassels. Yet it feels utterly fresh, feminine, and modern.

The petite size certainly has something to do with it; at 9” by 5.3” (with a width of 2”), it’s cute, not ostentatious. I’ve been all about smaller bags lately – they just feel more “now” than anything heavy and clunky. With a 17” chain, I can swing it messenger style or from my shoulders. (Tip: pull the chain from the inside and tie into a knot to adjust it for a shorter shoulder length.) At Gucci for $1,090.

Pair with: I’ll keep it Italian with Sergio Rossi’s wrap-around platform wedge. Cork and caramel leather is a classic combo that feels so current this spring. At Barneys New York for $450.