All right, I admit it. I am an overzealous fan of the crossbody bag. I literally use one around the clock, unless if I’ve got my laptop with me. I can’t help it if I like to have my hands free! The Coach Bonnie Mini Crossbody is a great semi-alternative to the normal cross-body bag. I say “semi-alternative” because while it is, at heart, a cross-body, it is more and less than that. More, because it’s also a convertible bag- remove the straps and you’ve got a cute little leather box clutch. Less, because though it does have a boxy shape, it’s smaller than a run-of-the-mill crossbody bag and the thin strap gives it a touch of delicacy.

The delicacy is grounded, though, compensated for by the tough metal turnlock closure and boxy shape. Not to mention the wonderful summery color blend of non-neon lime and light seafoam, or magenta and coral if pink is more your calling. Ah, balance. Isn’t it great when a bag finds it? Buy through Nordstrom for $98.

We’re all pretty familiar with Lauren Merkin’s little pleated clutches. They’re adorable. But this one, this Lauren Merkin Ostrich Lotte Clutch- it really takes the cake, in my opinion. It’s the epitome of cutesy sophistication, of dainty tea party style combined with a sly innocence. It would look at home held a white-gloved hand, or by one with nails painted a slick black.

I think it’s the ostrich that takes the cream color to another level. By itself, a cream clutch might be a bit… ordinary. But the ostrich, it makes it so versatile. At once, I can imagine it with a Rihanna-esque rocker ensemble (and I do think this would look amazing), a 50’s wasp-waisted dress with a tiny hat, and of course, with the timeless LBD. This clutch is really all about the texture: the soft bumps of the ostrich skin mesh seamlessly with the pleats and the rounded shape. And that, I believe, is what can take this clutch right from rocker to the Ritz. Buy through Shopbop for $250.

Admittedly, this little tote isn’t anything special. It’s a cream-colored canvas bag with a kitschy little message on it, and that’s about it. But I like the Michael Kors NYC Anniversary Tote anyway.

It probably stems from my love for Kors and his appearances on Project Runway – he’s an affable, fake-tanned, fabulous geigh that loves sportswear and his mommy and likes to snark on people, so of course I love him. And sometimes it’s okay to love a bag as much for the personality behind it as for the bag itself, and there’s nothing wrong with supporting someone you like. Also, I had no idea that this year was New York’s 400th anniversary, so this bag taught me some history as well! History that isn’t corroborated by Wikipedia (which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not true, it just means I’m done looking), but whatever. If Michael Kors says that New York was founded in 1609, that’s when it was founded! Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $98.

We’ve been seeing a lot of studs and as Shopbop puts it, “rocker details” on the site lately. And I have to admit, I’ve been a little iffy on the whole concept. I mean, huge studs on bags? For me, I think of the extra weight I’d have to carry, not to mention that it might look a little ridiculous for a petite person like me to carry a big bag with big studs in broad daylight, no less. But the Kettle Black Big Stud Clutch has changed me. Well, slightly.

Its studs are smaller, daintier, and though it is clearly a nighttime clutch, the effect is airy and sophisticated. I do think you could pull it off with some light-wash or ripped jeans in they daytime for a more punk look, however. The only Kettle Black clutch we’ve reviewed on Purse Blog Savvy is the New Clutch with White Studs, which, though it does sport some studs, is pretty much the opposite from this raven beauty. White, black, clutch, wristlet… It just goes to show that Kettle Black has some versatility within their affinity for studs. Buy through ShopBop for $306.60 on sale.

Kooba is a favorite of everyone on the PurseBlog team, no question about it. I’ve owned three of their bags in the past several years, and I know that Shannon and Megs have a couple between them. They’re durable, functional, made of great materials and reasonably priced. Yep, I’m a bit of a fangirl. And the Kooba Summer Tote makes me like them even more.

It would be great if more designers would recognize this simple fact: an expensive handbag is not necessary or appropriate in every occasion. Sometimes you need something that water will bead off of, sometimes you need something stain-resistant, and sometimes you need something you can sit down in the sand or grass without worrying. Summer is full of events that could potentially destroy a nice leather bag, and this is a stylish, functional alternative to carry in those situations. The design may be a bit predictable, but it has a few unexpected design flourishes (like the handle attachment at the top) and looks totally functional, plus the purple color is absolutely gorgeous and versatile and the price is right. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $150.

Botkier has done it again. Last season’s collection marked a return to form for the young brand, and it looks like more good things are in store, for them and for us, in Fall 2009. We’ve already covered a few of their new bags, but today is the first time I’ve gotten to see detailed pictures of the Botkier Logan Satchel. I really, really like what I see.

Monica Botkier has a history of using zippers and tassels to adorn her bags, and this one fits in perfectly with the look with which the brand is known. I prefer the bag carried as a satchel, but it also has a crossbody option and its sophisticated burgundy color gives the bag a chic look no matter how it’s carried. Despite the fact that the bag is glazed, it’s still made of lambskin (another Botkier favorite), which means it will probably still retain the soft, sumptuous feel even though the leather has been glazed. All in all, we’ve got a winner here. Buy through Luna Boston for $595.

The folks over at Juicy were thinking on the save wavelength as some of us when they created this Juicy Couture Yearbook Tote. Case in point: yesterday I saw a woman on the subway with a plain canvas tote covered in colored sayings. “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers,” and “Anything is possible” are just a few of many. When I asked the woman if it was her creation, she said that she had gotten together with a bunch of her friends and they had all created tote bags.

I think it’s a great concept. How often do we need a canvas bag to carry groceries, pens, magazines, and end up carrying one of those Whole Foods reusable grocery bags? Yeah. Sometimes you just don’t want to use those for everything, right? And what better way to express yourself than by making your own tote? This tote even comes with markers so you can get started right away. Buy through Nordstrom for $88.

Most of the Isabella Fiore Scrolling Along Netta Tote is made of woven chenille, which makes me wonder if it’s soft and wonderful like the blankets they sell at Target (I’m sure they sell these blankets at places besides Target, but I always go to the housewares section to pet them when I’m there, so it’s sort of an association for me).

Because of the material, I can see two problems with this bag: it may wear quickly as a result of friction against clothing or other rough surfaces, and it may not sit as smoothly against clothing as a leather bag would. Think about sliding into a leather car seat versus a cloth one – this might have the same clothes-bunching effect when you try to put it on, particularly with bulky winter clothing. If those two things are disregarded, I’m still not sure how much I like it. On some level, I find it quite interesting because it looks different than most other things on the high-end market. I fear that it may come too close to being like an old lady’s carpet bag, however – something about the combination of the colors and the type of pattern it uses. I really want to like it, though. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $495.

I’ve seen peacock feathers slowly emerge as a small trend over the past few months, and I totally and completely support the idea. They’re exotic without being too loud, give things lots of texture and visual interest, and work really well as a pattern or as color inspiration for clothing and accessories. I also love the feathers themselves attached to bands and worn as retro hairpieces – the headband trend is kind of old, but the feathers make it new and fun.

The fact that I love the trend so much makes me all the more disappointed in the Lauren Merkin Silk Feathers Lotte Clutch. This bag COULD have been so cool, but it misses the mark, mainly because of the colors chosen for the feather pattern. Peacock feathers are full of teals, bright blues, rich greens, and deep golds and browns and have some of the most beautiful color combinations that I can think of. Why, then, did they choose olive green and aqua as the principle colors on this bag? Not only do they not go together, but they’re not the nearly the first colors that come to mind when someone mentions peacocks. Overall, this clutch seems like an opportunity wasted. Buy through ShopBop for $200.

We’ve been covering a few LAI handbags recently. Personally, I tend to link most of them. This particular clutch is no exception. In all honesty, the first thing I said when I saw this handbag was “oh-la-la”. Both the color and the shape of the LAI Trudy Clutch lured me in. Genuine python skin fits this clutch perfectly. Of course, the color is to die for. I love the pastel-y color; it’s not too dark or too light. But even beyond that, there is something about the shape that I adore. Yes, I’ve seen this shape before, but at the same time, there is something about the way the color and material combination that make this clutch one of a kind.

Now the real question comes up… what will I wear this with? Well, the answer my friends… just about anything! This is a clutch that will work throughout several seasons (especially Spring and Summer) and with so many outfits. This is also the kind of clutch that I might break out during the winter, to add a splash of color. Anyone else with me on this? Buy through Bluefly for $525.