The most exciting bag off the Hermes Fall runway is the Jypsière bag. A perfect balance of the timeless design of the birkin combined with an ultra modern messenger style, I have a feeling it will make a major splash with sporty fashionistas worldwide (I know Kelly is going to flip for it!). It is fashioned after a hunting satchel in which Jean Paul Gaultier describes as "a functional, nonchalant bag slung across the shoulder, combined with the iconic details of the Hermes bags"* As with the birkin and kelly, the straps are best left open so you can lift the flap easily. The strap is adjustable and removeable though this is not something you would want to clutch. It will be available in multiple colors but I love the Graphite and Olive clemence versions best. Both colors are rich and deep, perfect for Fall! The sueded crocodile is also a texture that I am dying to experience, it is so lush! Jypsière in leather 34cm is $6,800 at Hermes boutiques. Call Craig at 214-528-0197 to order. There is also a 37cm for our manbag snobs!

*JPG Quote Source Bazaar

Leave it to the genius behind Lanvin, Alber Elbaz, to make a traditional chain bag look fresh and new again! Julie Gilhart of Barneys New York told me that Alber is obsessed with embellishment, he wants to wrap us all up in pearls, chains and ribbons-- and who am I to refuse? I love love love this Rodeo bag from Lanvin this season! It's the ultimate feminine and sexy bag. A grosgrain ribbon is interwoven into half of the chain so he could tie it in a pretty bow which is sweet as can be but lest we feel too girly, he toughened it up with black patent-- so sexy! Dual turnlock closures and strap details are also different from his past chain flap bags. My chief complaint of the Hero bag is it's flatness, but he solved that by making the Rodeo nice and wide so it's actually functional, not just pretty to look at. $1,835 at Barneys New York. Or call Pam and Cory at 469-221-4807 (By the way, Barneys just went 75% off starting today-- so call them to get your hands on some serious discounted goodies!)

I just had to share this with everyone. How fun is it to do a craft project that will actually produce something you want? Now everyone can have their very own little Kelly that they've made themselves, out of paper! Or you can be really crafty and involve some leather! On the Hermes website, you can download the template of 7 different designs, or you can get the blank one and create your own masterpiece (when you get to the site, you must click on the picture of the Kelly cutout to get to the the exact page, it is just right of center). I am not good with stuff like this (it involves glue and cutting within the lines) but I did download it and plan on seeing if I might have a career in handmade bags. I am pretty sure that I will discover that I am better suited at the buying of handmade bags instead =) I am surprised Hermes would do this but I guess they are taking a page from the marketing books of Phillip Morris, train them young so they can grow up to be addicts!

There is nothing more effortless than an Hermes scarf worn every which way. French women have it down. They toss it, knot it, twist it, and voila -- instant "Je ne sais quoi chic-ness." But don't fret! You, too, can achieve this look easily! Just follow these simple instructions for my favorite styles. I wear my scarves all summer long; on my bags, as belts, halter tops, tank tops, head wraps, skirts, you name it! They are so light and easy to travel with, so I never leave home without them. Jump to see five easy summer looks! Scarves at Hermes.com $355 for 36"x36"

The Lindy in 30cm. Call Craig at Hermes, 214-528-0197.

Bag Snob exclusive photo courtesy of Splash news.
Kelly insists that it does not matter what you wear as long as you carry a great bag. I've always maintained that it does matter; being appropriately dressed and groomed should matter more than a designer bag, no matter how expensive. Pamela proves my point in this photo. One should never be seen with 3-inch black roots on hair that has not been washed in weeks, while wearing a see-through wife beater tank top, especially when one is leaving a nasty joint with food stuck to the door frame that even gutter rats won't touch. The skinny jeans are cute if a bit too long and her legs are to die but the shoes are inappropriate, and no bag, not even the dreamy white birkin, will save her outfit. Just because she is carrying Hermes, it doesn't mean she has any style. Good thing she is shielding her chest with her arm, or this would be classified as adult content and Perez would be posting it, not us.

What do you guys think? Can an $8,000 designer bag save this mess of an outfit? Pamela Anderson: SNOB or SLOB?

I went to the Bottega Veneta trunk show to preview their Fall 2008 bags, but it was this spring/summer crocodile frame bag that had my full attention. This picture is criminal in its injustice; the actual bag is so spectacular that it really puts everything else to shame. The shape is lady-like and a total classic that will outlive anything, but it is also very updated and modern. It is wide at the bottom and has one big loose gather on each side. This is a frame bag, but not any typical frame. It has 6 hinges, so the bag opens up entirely (the opening becomes a big hexagon that allows you to access the whole interior). It is really easy to open and close and has a beautiful fold-over clasp closure. I am not crazy about this ash color shown here. The one I am eyeing is white with charcoal grey shadow, like the bag on the left (that bag is also great, but it is a messenger so too casual for a croc). This bag will be used year round. The white, of course, is the most amazing thing you can imagine for summer, but how fabulous would it be with a grey sweater and black pants for fall? Oh dear god, I really want this bag really, really badly. The catch, of course, is the price. It is $16,800, which is decent for a croc of this caliber, but I need a plan!! Call Katherine at Bottega Veneta in Beverly Hills at (310) 858-6533 to inquire. $16,800.

UPDATE: 12 Pink alligator Ricky bags were made. 6 have sold, 6 on hold. Call Dana if you want to get on the list! 214-522-5270

Call Mindy at 214-346-0400 to inquire about the Alden in Alligator. They were made in limited edition so get your hands on one quickly! The bag is around 14" wide on bottom and again, the blue alligator is spectacular!

I am always on the hunt for the perfect wallet because my wallet is the most important item in my bag (sometimes more than the bag itself)! I actually spend more time choosing my wallets than my handbags because there are so many conditions to be met, but today, the hunt for THE wallet is finally over. The latest style from Hermes, the Kelly Long Money Holder or Ligne Kelly (I prefer to call it the Kelly Wallet/Clutch) is the answer to my dreams! It is 7 inches wide (18cm, half the length of a 35cm birkin) and may also be used as a clutch, nothing like a two for one to get me excited! (More after the jump!)

The dashing Cameron Silver called me today about a gorgeous white birkin he has for sale at Decades, his vintage boutique on Melrose. He knew I would want to know and I know you would want to know about this very rare 30cm Taurillon Clemence birkin from Hermes! As some of you know, Hermes stopped production on white bags for a few years and just recently resumed (don't ask me why they do that- to drive us crazy?) so even if you have your name on a list for one, it will be 3-5 years before you get it. Seeing how summer is just around the corner, wouldn't you like to have one, like today? Email Decades or call for further details. 323-655-0223

In response to our story about Cameron Silver's Hermes bag, a reader sent us a picture of bags Pharrell had made. Look at the monster of a HAC (the original birkin) and in purple croc no less!! How over the top fabulous is that? And so fitting for the new hip hop mogul. My only question is, what is he going to do with it? I am guessing this is a travel bag but still, it must be quite weighty. He is seen here in the Paris workshop where he went to pick up the bag.

Bag Snob Tina note: Gross, I am forever turned off to purple crocodile because of this garish and giant bag with a keychain by Jacob the jeweler (is he still in jail?). Hermes or not, it's tacky! And if this was not taken at the Paris workshop I would have thought it was fake.

For $11,000 (and up), you too can have an Hermes bag custom made and named after you! Cameron Silver, owner of Decades, did just that recently and created what he calls the perfect portable office and ideal carry on bag in grained calfskin aptly named... The Cameron! It took 3 trips to Paris and four months of waiting but he finally has the Hermes bag of his dreams. The genius design allows the bag to be popped up as a tote bag or folded down as a messenger bag with removeable shoulder strap. Inside the iconic orange lining of goat skin there are: a laptop pocket, a removable zippered pochette, and slots for business cards and keys. There are also side pockets that will fit an umbrella or small water bottle.

Left: Crocodile Birkin in 35cm/ Center: HAC in 32cm/ Right: Indigo ostrich HAC in 28cm

Check out the crocodile birkins and HAC bags on the Hermes Spring 2008 runway, can you tell which is which? For those of you who are not Hermes aficionados, HAC (Haut a Courrois) was the original "birkin" before Jane Birkin complained it was too tall to fit under her airplane seat and the handles too small to properly tote on her arm. They shortened and elongated the bag, made the handles longer and called it a Birkin et voila, an instant icon. Here is how you can tell the difference, the HAC handles are tiny and the body is long as opposed to wide, all very subtle differences but a trained eye can spot them a mile a way. They also cost less than the birkin and are much easier to come by.

I just came home from shopping at Hermes at the South Coast Plaza. I was looking at this black croc diamond wallet and the SA told me that they have an orange diamond croc Birkin. What else could I say but, "Can I look at it, please?" Hello!!! It was quite a production, she had to get it out of the safe and we had to look at it in the back of the store and of course did the whole white glove thing they do when showing all bags. The lock was in a case that she couldn't open but it was all pave diamond encrusted as with all the hardware. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen!! While I was drooling over it a lady came by and freaked out over it. She said she saw one recently but the orange was not as divine, this one was such a nice bright orange, sunshiny but not tacky. I mean, a black diamond croc birkin would get plenty notice, this was a stand up and shout, "LOOK AT ME!!" bag. Next thing I know, this lady was talking about how many credit cards she needed to take this bag home with her. She turned to me and asked if I was going to get it, so polite of her. Unfortunately, I do not have $148,000 (over $160,000 with tax) liquid at this exact moment to buy a bag with. I congratulated her as she celebrated with her friend as they planned how she was going to pay for it (they discussed going to the bank to get cash but it's the weekend so it complicated things. Uh, I'm not even sure how that would work.)

Photo: Vanity Fair
This article is a must read all you Hermes aficionados (especially those who have contributed to the staggering 1.9 billion dollars in sales last year)!
From Vanity Fair by Laura Jacobs, an in depth look at the 200 year history of the House of Hermes.

From Hermès to Eternity
Almost two centuries ago, a royal coronation might be delayed until the arrival of its exquisitely stitched Hermès carriage fittings, just as today even the richest women must wait for an exquisitely stitched Hermès Birkin bag. With the family-run French company passing to a sixth generation, the author chronicles its rise to global pre-eminence, where a modern aesthetic meets the humble tools—awls, mallets, needles, knives, and stones—of unsurpassed tradition.

COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

Thank you Daisy for bringing this article to our attention!

Look what the Hermes stork (actually, the Hermes stork is a pony named "Hermie") brought me this week, a birkin in Chocolate Lizard! Now you know I love all my birkins equally and try not to favor any of them but let me just tell you, it is hard not to favor this scrumptious darling! Hermes Lizard skin is smooth as silk and it has a gorgeous glossy sheen unlike any other exotic skin. I even think the Chocolate Lizard is prettier than the Chocolate Crocodile, it is that exquisite and elegant! I feel like I have been neglecting my birkins lately with so many other bags I have to carry but nothing beats the feeling of putting one of my yummy birkins on my arm. I am so excited about my excitement over my new birkin, it's really amazing how each birkin makes me feel like it's my first birkin. That, my friends, is the power of Hermes.

Hermie the Hermes pony wanted me to tell you that he's also got a gorgeous 50cm travel birkin in Olive with chartreuse straps. (which would make a fantastic manbag!) And yes, the photo below was taken at the Hermes boutique, who else but the Bag Snob would be allowed to take photos at Hermes? Call Hermes only if you are a serious buyer of this fab 50cm travel birkin!

More photos of celebs and their birkins after the jump!

So you saw the dark blue Valextra Crocodile that Kelly talked me out of because she said it was too much to spend our hard earned Bag Snob money on. Well, I walked in to the Bottega Veneta boutique right after only to be tempted by this beauty (I really should just stay home as my husband often suggests, but since I buy bags with money I earn from Bag Snob, he really has no say does he?). I was hypnotized not only by the unique gray/taupe color but the gorgeous Anaconda skin. This is one of those times when I just did not care how much it was going to cost, I had to get it. (Of course any bag would seem like a bargain after seeing the crocodile price!)

The minute I put the bag on my shoulders, I knew it would be mine because the design is beyond brilliant. The straps are adjustable by 5 inches so you can either carry it as a top handle bag for luncheons and dinners or lengthen it to a slouchy shoulder bag for days of running around! It doesn't stop there, it is actually a structured frame bag with a soft body so it will never, ever, lose it's shape! Now we all love a good frame bag but it can seem kind of stuffy for certain occasions but the unstructured body of the Lucida bag makes it more casual for daily wear. I can not tell you how perfect this bag is. I really think I have found THE BAG OF THE YEAR. The color, named Limo, changes depending where you are, in the store it had an elegant dark gray sheen but in the sun, it was light and taupe-y. It absolutely will go with everything I own! The interior is lavender suede, can you say delish?

When Jasenka, the Supervisor at BV Dallas told me it was a special edition and not available in large quantities, I wanted it even more. I called Kelly again and persuaded her to buy a BV bag as well so I would not feel guilty (we share our Bag Snob money equally :). So our day of extravagance left us both with brand new bags from our favorite designer du jour. You'll have to wait a while before she can share hers with you as she is officially on maternity leave. Bottega Veneta Anaconda Lucida Lux bag in Limo available at select Bottega Boutiques. Email Jasenka for pricing and details or call her at 214-265-0136 .

Valextra Crocodile Boston Bags $10,160 at Barneys New York

It's officially gator day at Bag Snob since it is all I can think about today (that and Kelly giving birth in the hospital right now as I write!). Though I've amassed several Valextra bags this past year, I held off on the fabulous taupe crocodile Boston as I kept thinking I'd buy it in the Fall with Bag Snob income but now that it has been increased from $8,600 to $10,160 I am kicking myself! I know I know, I should practice what I preach; I predicted six months ago that Valextra bags would see an increase as they were a bit underpriced for the luxury bag market and I urged a few friends to buy them before the price hike and those who didn't listen are now whimpering (including me). I still think Valextra bags are very well priced and predict that they will continue price increases every season until it is at par with Chanel and Hermes prices. I don't blame them really, they were selling meticulously handmade bags for just over $1,000 while Louis Vuitton was selling random plastic bags for $4,000. Where is the justice in that? So I am not upset over the price increase, I am just upset I did not grab a crocodile Boston while I could!

So do not keep waiting, go treat yourself to your favorite color Boston bag before they increase prices again! (there are so many to choose from this Fall! I suggest the Melanzana, a deep purple that is actually quite neutral and will work with winter whites and browns.) For Fall they also added a scrumptious dark blue crocodile that almost tempted me to hand over my Bag Snob Amex without thought when I saw it yesterday at Barneys even with the price hike (but sensible Snob Kelly talked me out of it, had she gone into labor yesterday instead of today, that gorgeous blue croc would be sitting in my closet right now!). The color is the exact shade of the blueberries I picked with my son last month which brings such sweet memories; it is also incredibly chic yet understated and yes, ultra luxurious. This is one of those colors that will look amazing with anything, including your daily uniform of jeans and t-shirts! $10,160 at Barneys New York. Call or email Christy. 469-221-4725

So here is Posh with one of my dream bags, the Hermes birkin in pink ostrich. Can you say jealous? I ordered the moon dress from RM by Roland Mouret in dove gray last week which I think is much more chic than her pink version so I don't envy her for that. However, the pink ostrich birkin is just what I need to go with my gray dress (I would never match it the way she did- pink on pink is no good unless you are a Barbie twin on a Playboy photo shoot). Ok ok, I am being bitchy because I REALLY.WANT.THAT.BAG but come on now, being so matchy matchy just lacks style and taste. Alright, fine, I'll be nice. Her sunglasse look very nice on her. There, my weekend random thoughts as I wait for my son to wake from his nap. Have a good one! (Kamo has a good point, Posh is known for her cheeky humour, this could be her "Hello America- I am your new Barbie statement.)
photo source: CU

The ultimate status bag, the Hermes birkin, is at the top of every girl's wish list. But to truly appreciate the birkin in all its beauty and to be worthy of its fabulousness is to be knowledgeable on everything about it. We all know Hermes bags are crafted by hand with the most amazing skins in the world. And by now even my housekeeper is aware of the secret blindstamp and craftsman id on the strap. But it is not just the Hermes stamp and logo that makes one a "Bag Snob"! There is so much about Hermes bags that make them the finest in the world. First, the tissue paper. I have had many conversations with various Hermes Managing Directors and they all love talking about the tissue paper. Apparently there are special tissue paper craftsman who spend their entire lives folding tissue paper for Hermes bags! They make little pillows for the birkin to rest upon and layers of "blankets" to protect it. It is suggested that you keep the bag exactly as the day you opened it, sleeping on the little pillow will allow it to keep its shape for life!