Recently in The Holy Grail of Bags Category

As Kelly said, I am in LA having loads of fun. We took a meeting yesterday at the Sunset Marquis (it was trés LA) and then headed to Neiman Marcus after (but of course). I was really good, I only bought make up because I splurged on the crocodile birkin and ricky wallet so I told myself no more shopping for at least a month. I did, however, get my shopping thrill by convincing Kelly to buy the super cool Marni Balloon bag in purple, it had her name all over it so she had to have it! Plus she'll need it for Fashion Week in September :) I thought we were done and were about to leave when I saw this beauty from Chanel. OH.MY.GOD! Sueded Alligator in a gorgeous finish, silver with golden sheen on top-- to die! If you have never stroked sueded Alligator skin, you are missing out my friends. Of course it is off limits to me (I will have to commit myself to the insane asylum if I buy another bag this month) but it doesn't mean I can't dream! There is only one in US and it's priced at a mere $35,695 (so if you don't really need a new car, you can go for this totally frivolous but oh so fabulous bag instead!) Call Gary Disney at NM Beverly Hills 310-550-5900 EXT 2042 or his cell 818-284-8862 and tell him Bag Snob sent you.

I apologize for waiting so long to share my new purchases, but I have been trying to regroup after my Europe trip and now preparing for my upcoming LA-Philadelphia-New York trips starting today so this just completely slipped my mind! So (drumroll....), my latest croc obsessions are items that I think all of you will agree are timeless "Must haves". The Hermes Crocodile Birkin in Havane with Palladium Hardware and the Ralph Lauren Ricky clutch/wallet in hot pink crocodile-- both are out of this world fabulous! Without saying, the Hermes birkin made of ten year old niloticus crocodile from Africa is just divine. I have never felt croc skin that was more buttery or smooth in my entire life! This bag is the ultimate birthday gift not to mention a serious investment (I can sell it right now for double its retail price-- that's what I tell my hubby anyway so don't you tell him otherwise!). But the Ralph Lauren Ricky clutch/wallet in sophisticated true pink crocodile comes a very close second! (Jump for more photos!)

Ricky Wallet At Ralph Lauren (also in white croc). Call Dana 214-522-5270.

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!

I meant to post this last week but with our server down for two days, I completely forgot! So here it is, my favorite ways to tie and knot scarves on bags. The blue jean birkin above is tied with a limited edition cotton Hermes scarf. I found that the cotton ones were easiest to work with but I like the way the silk scarves hang better. The style above may be done by folding your scarf diagonally (2 inch thickness), then tie a knot on the handle-- keeping one side four inches longer than the other, pull through a single bow instead of two and voila, instant chic-ness. See more styles after the jump!

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.

I have admired the Lindy bag from Hermes since it burst on the bag scene in the fall of 2006. I ordered one in pale pink last year but changed my mind and decided to wait for a brighter color, and what could be more bright and bold than the Vert Anis? A cheeky sour apple hue, it is such a wonderful shade of green! I got it in Veau Swift, which is soft, but sturdy, and the shape is so fun and youthful. I love the birkins and kellys, but have to admit they're a bit mature (not that I'll ever give them up!). The Lindy is fun and casual and not on every fashionista's radar, which is a plus for me. I am totally greedy and don't want anyone else to have my bags! Now that birkins are on the arm of every actress in town, I am moving on to the Lindy! I love that there is a shoulder strap option; many designers have convertible bags, but Hermes is the only one to get it perfectly right. When not in use, the strap hangs out of the way in the back, but is easily slipped on the shoulder within seconds! There are two outer pockets and two in the interior; no more digging in the kelly bag for keys or valet tickets! My dear friend, Florence, the Shoe Goddess apparently has the same taste as me. She got a tan one on the same day! Hopefully we're not starting a trend. It is also undervalued, compared to the birkin or kelly, but I expect that to change soon. At Hermes. (Jump to see more photos of the lovely Lindy!)

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.