So, tell me, am I the only one who really doesn’t like the shape of this bag?

Anthropologie carries some adorable and nice-looking bags, in fact I wrote about one yesterday, but this Red Romper Hobo just doesn’t cut it for me.

If I spend $598 on a bag, I sure do not want it to resemble a child-size romper. Plus it looks quite large, and at 17″ l x 16″ h x 10″ d, it is. According to Anthropologie’s web site, it can even double its length by unsnapping and unfolding.

Regardless of size, if a bag comes in this shape, I’ll pass on it.

Popularity: 3% [?]

It’s been unseasonably cool here in the midwest, but that hasn’t persuaded my employers to turn off the central air-conditioning, making the office building I work in feel like a freezer. I figure they assume that it will get warmer in the next couple weeks again, so why bother turning off the air, right? Those freezing temps at work may explain the reason why the Sweater Girl Tote ($528) by Rafe, available from Anthropologie, caught my attention.

While the thought of dipping temperatures isn’t too exciting for me, I do like the look of sophisticated warm cuddly sweaters, which is what I think of when I look at the popcorn-knit wool on this tote. The wool/leather combination provides handbag-loving girls an adorable fall/winter bag with lots of texture and movement (check out the side tassels). Plus, I like the buckle flap on the front. By the way, it measures 13″ l x 9″ h x 6″ d.

Popularity: 28% [?]

I just received the new fall catalog from J. Crew—you know, even though I’m not in school any longer, there’s still something about fall and all the new clothes and accessories that come out. I get such enjoyment from looking through the fall catalogs and picking out all the things I want and then trying to figure out how much I can purchase within my budget, which in my opinion, never seems large enough.

After looking through their catalog, I visited J. Crew’s site. They always have a few items each season that only be ordered through their web site or catalog, but the Anya Bag (15″ l x 11″ h x 4.375″ d) looks like it can be purchased in their stores also. Selling for $375, it’s made from tumbled leather and has custom Italian hardware. It has a top snap closure, suede lining and metal feet—love the metal feet.

It comes in a choice of Mountain Pine (dark turquoise) or Pony Brown, each which has contrast stitching along edges. If I were picking, which it would make a good work bag for me, I would choose the Mountain Pine.

Popularity: 3% [?]

While I have already posted about the Sandhurst Wristlet, I had not yet had a chance to look at all the purses in Banana Republic’s most recent Premium Handbag collections, the Sandhurst and Chatham lines. After receiving an e-mail yesterday morning, I decided to take a look at the new fall arrivals.

Just as I expected, some of the bags in each collection caught my eye, while others didn’t do anything for me. Each collection has its fine points: the Sandhurst has more of a casual feel, with soft leathers and relaxed shapes, while the Chatham is more traditional with equestrian details.

My favorite piece is probably the Chatham Satchel ($298). I like its shape and the way it sits on the shoulder, plus the fact I could carry it to work and on the weekend—a multitasking bag!

Popularity: 4% [?]

One of the trademarks of Elliott Lucca handbags is their beautiful detailed use of leathers—their new Amelie handbags are no exception. In this line, gorgeous large-grain leather is quilted and accented with jeweled rivets, which I think somewhat have the look of sophisticated polka dots from a distance.

Currently, the Amelie Dr. Satchel and the Amelie Flap Clutch are available on their web site. I love the clutch! Available in black, chocolate, curry or stone, it measures 7.5″ l x 4″ h x 1″ d, has a classy turnlock closure and a multitude of compartments inside.

But, my favorite thing, well, besides how it looks, about the clutch is its price—only $88! The satchel is only $168! That’s another one of Elliott Lucca’s trademarks—they make nice-looking purses for reasonable prices, which is something everyone can be happy about!

Popularity: 3% [?]

With a bit of a rugged vintage look, the Sandhurst Wristlet by Banana Republic is calling my name as a possible bag for fall. It has a simple, classic silhouette, it’s made from creamy 100% Italian leather and it measures 7.5″ l x 4.5″ h x 1″ d. The focal point of the design is the brass buckle, which is the perfect accent to the leather.

The strap, which has a 6-inch drop, is adjustable, allowing you to carry the bag more like a traditional purse or as a wristlet.

When you don’t need to carry a lot of necessities, this would be a great grab-and-run bag, perfect for running errands on the weekends and for $78, it’s a nice break on the budget!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Anthropologie has started highlighting some of their upcoming bags available for the fall, including the Alistair Hobo by Rafe, selling for $448. Measuring 16″ l x 10″ h x 3.5″ d, it’s made from plaid wool with leather trim and has a jacquard lining with three pockets.

I really like the look of this bag with the plaid, brass rings and the fold-over top strap—it definitely looks like it’s made for autumn.

The interesting thing about this bag is it’s expandable—if you’re running out of room, simply unzip the wraparound zipper and the bag expands. Of course, unfortunately, there’s no measurement for the expanded width mentioned in the description.

Popularity: 27% [?]

A few months ago, I spotted a magazine spread featuring instructions to make handbags from vintage silk scarves and bangle bracelets. I liked the concept of using chic scarves and bangles, but didn’t know how much I would actually like the bag once it was made. It didn’t seem like it would be able to hold much weight.

This Silk Mini Bag by J. Crew reminds me of those bags, but it looks sturdier, and it’s only $68. Made from Italian tie-silk and trimmed with Italian pebbled leather, it has a chain/leather handle, front flap with a magnetic closure and an interior zip pocket. Plus, the more I look at this, the more I like it—it would look so cute on the weekends with jeans.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Elliott Lucca is the name of woven leather. Such mastery gives the brand a designer status in my eyes, but so do the few-hundred dollars pricetags. But my top favorite bags of theirs are currently on sale, so I had to inform you!

– The Jussara Large Leather Satchel (pictured) is on sale at Elliot Lucca .com for 50% off at $119.

– The mini version: the Jussara Small Satchel is 45% off at Zappos for only $61.95!

– And the Arianna Mini Satchel, which is much more medium than mini, is a grand 54% off at Zappos for $69.95.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Glam.com is holding a contest to win an “Ultra-Luxe” reversible beach bag from Le Sport Sac. All one has to do to enter is take their “What Kind of a Beach Babe are You?” quiz and fill out the follow-up form.

So why do you want to win this? All the goodies inside!

Some of the freebies include,

• 7 for All Mankind denim skirt
• Flip-flops from FlipFlop Trunkshow
• Decleor SPF 20 spray
• Frédéric Fekkai “Beach Waves” haircare
• J.Lo aviator sunglasses
• Dashing Diva nail kit
• The latest beach reads from Melissa de la Cruz
• Eau d’Italie signature fragrance

Popularity: 4% [?]