The new bags from COACH make me envious for sure. It may be a new year, but the economy is still pulling us down. Now it seems even more bags by COACH are calling to me, teasing me. Each bag is a mixture of classic and detail, just what I love. My top picks are from the brand spank-me new “Penelope” collection.

Many will be great for the upcoming Spring with bright colors and fabric bodies, but the black and white bags are always super cool for Winter.

From $298 to $698 at www.coach.com and in stores.

New W09 COACH by DesignerElla

What’s a bagista (a designer handbag lover) to do to mix her man (or woman) and her fabulous bags that, let’s face it, may not be so male-friendly?

Follow this series starting soon here on Bag Dream! Upcoming topics:

• Size Matters : of your bag (what size purse to carry on early dates and when it’s OK to let loose).
• Commitment: Dating and Variety of Purses : will a large rotation of bags / a new purse each date freak out your mate? Proceed with caution and gauge his comfort level.
• IT Intimi-date-tion : will expensive bags freak out your mate? Gauge your brand level introduction-timing by his purseonality type.
• Mr. Big (Bag) : Find comfort in finding who actually carries a bag larger than any of yours? (AND it’s a manly-man bag at that!) Find out what activity this guy does that forces this!
• Meet the Purses (more important than meeting the parents) : When it’s OK to introduce your fave IT bag (the one that surely just looks craziest to the male of our species).
• Lesbian Dates : How to feel out her purse-type-comfort.
• Explain Your Other Love According to his Purseonality : How to explain your purses to your guy (depending on his personality type).
• For the guys: poll(s?)!
• From the guys: opinions straight from their mouths (or typing hands).

And more? Feel free to suggest topics or ask advice for mixing dates with bags!

P(urse).Script. As the series concludes, we should lead right into Valentine’s Day, which will come after some V-Day bag suggestions!

Post.Purse.Script : Yes, the Designer Ella has found someone and is not at all jealous when discussing the big L! (No, not just Louis Vuitton anymore!) (Btw, yes, he’s My Mr. Big Bag, lol. A purse-fect match!)

If you want to catch this series, then you may want to subscribe to our feed or bookmark/blogroll the site.

I’m not in a place to be giving away many things (I fear the site’s not in a place to be giving the chance to many people) - but I know many of us are also not in the place to be giving ourselves lovely bags - or perhaps much of anything.

So in a generous giving of hits, at least in spirit, I will be highlighting fabulous handbag giveaways from other websites!

There is no way we could yet offer the fabulosity and lavishness of what the Purse Blog can, and so I really must inform you of their 12 Days of Giveaways, already on 3.

Today is this fantastic stitched skin clutch, the Corset Clutch by Bird Handbags.

To make sure you head over daily to the Purse Blog / Luxeaholics, just feast your appetite on the first two days of giveaways!

Louis Vuitton art from eLUXURY

I absolutely get giddy when Louis Vuitton and eLUXURY create art for/from their most classic bag(s). The “cool” thing is this sculpture looks even more do-able than a simple ball-y snow man! So brighten yourselves up, those in the cold - when the flurries have fallen, make yourself something better than an angel!

Besides, a bag made of snow is not just priceless, it’s free!

This question is double-layered; first, do you blog on a luxury topic? Second, if so, do you loathe researching products or posting at all? Even with more posts often meaning more income from even a hobby blog that’s monetized, certain posts or whole blogs (this one) can sometimes be just too depressing to post to.

Yesterday I plainly glimpsed a pretty COACH bag and felt hunger pangs so painful I had to stop any thought about blogging about designer bags.

How things are for me right now are such: Not only is my Blockbuster Online account on hold for 3 months, but I canceled my cable. No luxuries. See, I watch most of my TV online these days anyway, and I like it that way.

This has gotten so strange I log into my handbag-shopping Facebook application every chance I get just to rack up the free fake $100s. Easiest money ever, although fake. And then I don’t spend it.

My whole shopaholicism has been cured this year, it went from downgrading what I spent my “extra” money on. From designer bags to cheap-thrill bags to bag-making supplies, to simply $2 online movies, to pretty much nothing pure entertainment anymore. This will be my stingiest gift giving season in my entire life, to boot. What am I requestiing, by the way? Gift cards to stores where I can replenish my wardrobe because I’ve lost a lot of weight and am swimming in pajamas, and just dealing. (People, pajamas are like my office attire, ok. Haha.) Pure necessity that I’ve put off myself.

Still the purses make me crave. They lure me like sirens until I’m trapped in despair. I’ll never stop wanting those pretty, pretty purses. Sometimes, you know, it’s worse to blog about what you love. This is kind of like focusing on an unrequited love for a living, without the catharsis of say lyricism. Ouch, indeed.

Le Sigh.

It’s a genuine alligator’s foot’s skin, made into a coin pouch. Yowza!

You like?

This is a new feature on the blog, dealing with the actual designing (like on an indie/handmade scale) of handbags. Hope you enjoy!

Reader, Ellen Hart recently commented about a Versace bag’s strap on the blog,

I love the handle on the purple bag…

(Original post)

Which got me to think more about how such a look could be constructed in a fun way. It’s simply, basically about:

Purse Rings!

One could attach them onto a flat leather strap, or connect them with pieces of leather … think of your own creative methods! If the result doesn’t require the comfort of a hand or shoulder strap, like is say decorative, one could even use “gate” rings (right) that open/close to make a more chain-like - well - chain, on a bag — perhaps like with the Paddington Capsule style.

Flat O-Ring Source | Gate O-Ring Source

If this has inspired you, or you’d like to review this topic idea, or for any reason - feel free to leave a comment!

And if we do inspire you, remember to be a designer, not just a designer-inspired.

There are some bags that just mustn’t be shown the normal web page size.

This Marc Jacobs Snakeskin-stamped purse is one.

Marc Jacobs Collection Cecilia Embossed Snakeskin Satchel

“Quilt” Jacquard and croc-stamped leather, all on this sophisticated shape.

Lovely … But why is their logo letter “E”?

I’m all over this shape! (And pink!)

In fact, there are no tacky bags in their current collection!

Juicy Couture Distressed Leather Fluffy, Winter White