I’ve been really on the fence when it comes to L.A.M.B. handbags. I find myself either loving something or totally hating it. Maybe it is the pattern or perhaps the color, but for the most part I can’t decide how I feel about the brand as a whole. However, the L.A.M.B. Signature Carlisle Clutch I definitely like. I love how the bag can be held using the double handles, or how the handles can be folded down and the clutch carried just as that, a clutch. The print on this great. The earth-toned colors are soft yet rich. I like the leather trim at the edges; the color of the leather goes really well with the print. More than anything, this is just one of those handbags that simply “works”. It is functional, fashionable and fun. Buy through Shop Bop for $425.

Personally, I am a fan of metallic handbags. There is something edgy, chic and downright eye catching about metallic handbags. The Kooba Gemma Tote is no exception. I’ve had my eye on this handbag for a little while now and I thought it was high time to write about it. The rose gold metallic leather tote has the right combination of girlie and edgy. Hinge detailing and the buckle strap work well together. Kooba puts together some really great totes. There is always plenty of room to store what you need to without the bag seeming too bulky or awkward. I am all for large totes, but not when they are so large they become a burden to carry. I hate walking around and having my bag bump into my surroundings. This tote is a great size. I think the only thing I worry about is if the color will become outdated too quickly. What do you think? Buy through Bluefly for $328.95.

Oh, and speaking of Kooba, make sure you check out the Kooba Blake handbag today over at Purse Blog. It is day 5 of our 12 Days of Handbag Giveaways and you can enter to win!

I am a total sucker for soft, supple leather. To me, I really have to stop and take a second, third or forth look at any handbag that boasts touchable leather. The Mayle Agnes Bag is one I just want to hold. Don’t you think the leather looks gorgeous? Smooth grained leather with zigzag topstitching work together for a nice balance of soft and texture. I love the braided shoulder strap which is combined with woven link chain detailing. Although I am not usually a huge fan of handbags that have all sorts of details hanging off of them, I really like the leather ties and link chains which hang from one side. For some reason this works really well with the topstitching. I’m going to have to keep an eye out for Mayle handbags. What do you think? Buy through eLuxury for $595.

Have your holiday parties started yet? I have noticed that despite issues with the economy, holiday parties are still something many look forward to. I have friends who’ve mentioned that their office parties are going to scale back a bit, but regardless, office parties will still be held. After a long year, there is something special about celebrating the holidays and the end of the year with people in your lives. And, hey, you want to look good too, right? The BCBGMAXAZRIA Mini Satin Bow Wristlet is a fun and stylish way to tote around your essentials to a variety of holiday parties. The banded handbag with ruffled sides can spice up your favorite little black dress or accompany a bold outfit. I like the gold chain that fits perfectly on your wrist which does nothing but make carrying the handbag absolutely simple. Buy through Saks for $108.

Alexis Hudson continues to put out great handbags. We’ve covered Alexis Hudson before and if you are keeping up with the 12 Days of Handbag Giveaway we are doing over at Purse Blog, you know that yesterday there was an Alexis Hudson bag up for grabs. Yet, if you didn’t win, no worries, there are plenty of bags to choose from and several of them can be found over at stefaniBags. The Alexis Hudson Grand Bastille bag is one that isn’t just practical, but it is a little different. If you are anything like me, you enjoy carrying a handbag that offers a different look than most bags you see day to day. The great thing about this black leather bag is that it can be carried in hand or on your shoulder, all depending on your mood. Just as you might like to tote it around during the day, it would also be a great addition to your outfit for a night out. Well, it might be a tad too big for a night out at a crowded bar, but it is all about your comfort. Buy through stefaniBags for $495.

So, how do you guys feel about blue and black? Like, as a color combination? Because I used to hate it, but now I kind of dig it. Kind of really dig it, actually. For some reason, I feel like it’s a bit more intellectual and sophisticated than merely pairing red and black or brown and blue. The slight but noticeable difference in the shades can be very attention-getting, and when done correctly, no one ever wonders whether or not you meant to do it or just got dressed in the dark and mistook the blue for its darker counterpart. A good example of the correct way to combine the colors is the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini Combo Tote in the Navy Luxe/Black Quilted Patent combination. Not only do the leathers differ in color, but they differ widely in texture, forcing whoever sees your handbag to notice and think about the nontraditional combination you chose. Plus, although the leather is navy, it’s just light enough to not make anyone wonder whether it just faded differently than the patent. I’m not a huge fan of bicolor bags, but this one hits the perfect, modern note. Buy through Shop Bop for $595.

Oh dear. This will never do. I cannot support this at all. The folks at Bulga somehow managed to tie-dye their De Beber Tote. I’m not sure how someone would do that to leather…or why they’d do it, really. I remember tie-dying t-shirts at summer camp when I was a kid, and it involved lots of little rubber bands, buckets of dye, and some serious abuse of those old undershirts that we were dying. I don’t know how you do that to a leather handbag, but based on the results, I don’t recommend that you try.

The Bulga De Beber Tote suffers from a serious bout of over-complication - not only does the bag have a lot going on by itself (front pockets, top handles, zippers, hardware, adornments), but the addition of the dye pattern makes it kind of hard to look at. To make the design, the leather is in all kinds of different pieces, completely breaking up any pattern the dye may have had at the beginning, and kind of missing the point of tie-dye to begin with. If the bag had been a simple, uncomplicated tote with no front pockets or zippers, they very well may have gotten away with it, in kind of a hippie chic way. As it is? Not so much. This bag, sadly, is a victim of overdesign. However, if you disagree, you can buy through Shop Bop for $720.

So, it appears that ShopBop carries Mulberry now. Huzzah! Not only is ShopBop a great store, but Mulberry is one of the better, if under-appreciated, brands out there at the moment. They use awesome materials, make really functional bags, and their designs are often timeless. So it’s great to see this brand gain a wider following, particularly at someplace that we love to browse so much. In celebration of their arrival, I bring you the Mulberry Ava Clutch. This adorable little handbag is a bit of a departure for them - instead of their signature thick, rich leather, this clutch is made of a beautiful, almost brocaded fabric with an abstract, unexpected finish. A little bit metallic, a little bit demure, it’s a great combination and a truly unique bag. Because of the non-pattern pattern and the color combination, this clutch would be idea for a variety of basic outfits and looks big enough to hold all of the essentials for a night out. Perfect! Buy through Shop Bop for $525.

Over the weekend we had the chance to meet Tory Burch while she made an appearance at her Bal Harbour store in Miami. It is always great to meet the designer behind the brand. At the same time we were lucky enough to meet one of the creative designers behind the handbag line. Of course we talked shop a bit and I bet this is one of the reasons why the Tory Burch Kerry Resin Clutch popped out when I came across it. Tory Burch handbags always seem to look sleek to me. This handbag is no exception. The resin clutch comes in tile blue and poppy coral. Both of these colors pop and would add a nice splash of color to your outfit. I do like how the clutch looks textured. I can see myself practically strumming it as I carry it. And of course, the clutch is topped off with the ever so recognizable logo medallion. Buy through Shop Bop for $335.

Every now and then, I see a great, functional tote bag and think, “That would be great to take to class! My laptop would fit!” And I get all excited, and then I realize that I’m not in college anymore. And I haven’t been for, like, 6 months. And I don’t really miss college (I still live in my college town, which afford me a lot of the perks of college without actually going to class), but I do miss having a reason to buy a cute tote bag every now and then. And today, if I was still in college, I’d want to order the LeSportsac Peacock Travel Tote. I love the brown and teal color combination, I love the modernized paisley pattern, and I love that such a bold print would likely disguise a lot of the obvious wear-and-tear that happens to a bag that gets thrown on the floor of my car and shoved under seats in crowded lecture auditoriums. Also, dare I say it…might it be water-proof??? On a campus as big as the one at the University of Georgia (my alma mater), bad weather is a major concern since there’s not always a place to duck and hide from the rain. Alas, my needs now require a demure work bag, but a cute, inexpensive tote like this one makes me miss college. Does this tote look familiar? Shannon covered the Peacock Cosmetic Bag a little while back which boasts the same pattern and some similar pros. Buy through Shop Bop for a super reasonable $88.