Some people may tire of the complication, but I love it when designers mix materials. That also means that I love the Marc Jacobs 2010 Rockstar Clutch – it has all of the necessary elements to be a great statement bag that everyone will notice. Plus, this bag is a little bit more subdued than some of the fur-and-sequins bags we’ve seen from Jacobs lately, so it’s a good way to buy in to the look without committing to something slightly ridiculous.

Not only did Jacobs manage to mix a bunch of materials, colors and textures in this bag, but he managed to do it in a way that’s really visually appealing. The sapphire blue haircalf would have been beautiful on its own, but its juxtaposition with the grey and gold houndstooth leather only makes it more appealing. All three colors work together seamlessly, which is something that rarely happens when a bag mixes several shades and textures. Marc’s still got it, without a doubt.Buy through Net-a-Porter for $850.designer Handbags

When I first saw this look on the much-larger Stam, I was totally disappointed. I love the combination of red and black for a lot of reasons, not least of which because it’s the color scheme of my alma mater (Go Dawgs!), and I’d love to have a football-appropriate bag from one of my favorite designers. On the Stam, however, the combination of stamped python, multiple colors, quilting and studs was way too much.

On the Single, all the the fussy elements are distilled down into a portion that’s just the right size for occasional consumption. I’ve always thought that this smaller version of the Single was the perfect size for a night out – it’ll hold my keys and phone without bulging, but it’s not big enough to look like I forgot to switch my bag before I left the house. When you combine that with all of the intricate elements and a color scheme that would be easy to wear with a lot of evening outfits, you’ve got a very special little bag indeed. The best part, though, is the same as with all the other Single bags – the somewhat reasonable price. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $595.louis vuitton bag

Fresh off the metallic parachute bags and foot-long fringe from last season, Jacobs has decided to make a 180-degree turn and go for something entirely different: retro, ladylike handbags. TheMarc Jacobs Gene Satchel in particular is strongly reminiscent of the accessories from the Louis Vuitton fall line, which is also under Jacobs’s stewardship. Is that a good thing? In this case, absolutely.

At one point in the not-so-distant past, I wasn’t a big believer in bicolor bags, but this one in particular is a great example of why my feelings have changed. The cream and greige colors compliment each other beautifully and the juxtaposition of the two shades helps bring out the richness in both, as do the differences in texture. Because of the relative neutrality of both shades, there are few outfits that would clash with the bag purely as a result of the use of more than one color, which is usually a concern that I have with bicolored bags. As it is, I have no concerns at all, only lust. Buy through Saks for $1195.replica handbags