A lovely, winter-toned neutral that will bring a dose of comfy (but slightly icy) gray to your wardrobe. The Café Racer Leather Shoulder Bag by Donna Karan is made of wrinkled leather and has a few strategically placed stud and stitch details, double shoulder straps, a cut-out panel, a large silvertone zipper pull, exterior pockets all over the place that overlap each other plus one large one on the front that zips. Pockets galore on the inside too, along with a hidden magnetic closure and a full lining. $1,295

Also called the 'Venice Evening Bag' this is a pretty, classic little clutch in neutral colors and a unique but amazingly simple shape. Mirroring the beauty and elegance of the city after which it's named, this Fossati creation has a magnetic snap closure, interior pockets for your cell phone and credit cards, and is lined in luxe lambskin. Measures a tiny 9" x 5" x 1 1/2" and comes with a card of authenticity. A clutch in the truest form, and one you can wear with almost anything at almost any time of year. $750

This one is for indulging your inner biker girl. Black leather and silvertone stud details get feminine in several starburst patterns and random other accents placed on everything from the shoulder strap to the buckles. It's the Electric Handheld Studded Leather Bag by Temperley London and it has more going on than first meets the eye. There's a pouch pocket with magnetic closure on the front, a welt pocket with zip closure on the back, both pouch and welt pockets on the inside, tassel details on all the zippers, and a bold black and white zebra-print lining. $1,180

It's bright, it's bold, it's Jimmy Choo's Candy Acrylic Shoulder Clutch. It's made of hard acrylic in bright yellow (although it also comes in pink) and features a silvertone shoulder strap that can be hidden inside the bag if you prefer to go with true clutch styling. A definite contemporary look, this bag will modernize your favorite LBD or brighten up an otherwise drab ensemble. An asymmetrical fold-over front, ridge details, and a logo embossed prominently on the front round out the exterior features while the interior boasts a tonal leather and gold satin lining, and one patch pocket. $495

It looks a little '70s disco to me, which isn't a bad thing as it evokes vibes of fun parties and lots of laughter. The Lizard Daisy Clutch by Adriana Castro combines natural lizard leather with a metallic floral pattern that will catch the light and attract attention wherever you go. It closes with a hidden magnet and has a suede lining (I wonder if it's bright flourescent pink?), one interior pocket, and it's smaller than I thought it was at just 6 3/4" x 9 1/2" x 1 1/4". $895

The Juicy Couture Leather Lock-It Worth-It Crossbody Hobo Bag is an unusual bag for Juicy. Not only do their items typically come in candy colors, but this bag has a utilitarian, grungy, urban look we're not used to seeing from the young (13-year-old), typically girly brand.

We're not sure we love it, but we're highlighting it today because well, it's interesting. The pieced-together leather, the rough-looking logo plate, the long, braided leather toggle ... what does it all mean? Is Juicy trying to be less cute?

The Bloomingdale's description says, "Juicy Couture's studded, distressed leather crossbody hobo adds a casual influence to your fall look." Hmm. Perhaps this is intended for the college freshman who want to serious-up (seriousize?) their style for that Women's Lib class ... but really, it's perhaps not all that well-executed. It's large enough for books and all (13"W x 15"H x 5"D), but is it kind of ugly?

Also, the name -- "The Juicy Couture Leather Lock-It Worth-It Crossbody Hobo Bag" is unconscionably long. It's like they couldn't quite decide what it was themselves. The whole thing kind of reeks of "trying too hard."

Vote, and tell us what you think in the comments.
The Juicy Couture Leather Lock-It Worth-It Crossbody Hobo Bag is available from Bloomingdale's for $398.00.

A girl can't have enough hobo bags, if you ask me, since they're so comfy and useful and can make such a fashion statement even in the winter months when you're not all that dressed up. This Python Ruffle Hobo by Uzca takes the standard brown leather hobo and gives it a subtle but solid upgrade in femininity with a series of over-sized leather ruffles, which manage to bring the whole thing up a notch while maintaining the traditional hobo bag's versatility and comfort. $2,250

Zara Terez is a young and fabulous handbag designer who we recently met at a Bagtrends event in New York City. She's shown here at right wearing one of her most exciting new items: the 14th Precinct Holster, which is part of her Fall 2009 collection (available here). We chatted with Zara about her fresh and fiesty line of handbags, including this gun holster she just couldn't resist.

Luxist: Tell us about the gun holster.

Zara Terez: Well, I actually saw a gun holster, and I thought it would be a really cool idea to make it into a handbag. It's good to go out with, and for mommies who have little kids, they can carry around their diaper bag and have their cell phone and their credit cards [in the holster]. And actually, my sister said that it's really good for exercising, like, you need a bag you can run around with.

L: So you are manufacturing them?

ZT: I am, everything's made here in New York City.

L: Is that suede?

ZT: This is suede, and we also have it in pebbled leather. All the leather comes from Italy; I bring it in.

L: Excellent, and how much does one cost?

ZT: $125. It's really, really fun, we have it in multiple colors, and you can use it day or night -- it's perfect for everything.

L: Tell us a little bit about these other materials you're using,

ZT: Everything is leather. Embossed snake, embossed croc, and what I love to do is, I make sure that there's always a ...

L (discovering the inside of a feathered bag): There are sequins in here!

ZT: Yeah! There's always a splash of surprise in each one. There's a surprise in every bag. It's really all about you, and what represents you as a person.

L: So, where do you get your inspiration?

ZT: My friends, my family, New York City as a whole. [The bags] are all named for different places in New York City. My holster's actually called 14th Precinct, which is the precinct in the garment district.

Check out more of Zara Terez's badass girly designs below:

The Aurora Clutch with Labradorite by Raven Kauffman is one that you might not want to stash in the closet with all your other handbags between uses -- it's so pretty it could pull off a place on your dresser or vanity top like a piece of art. The clutch features a flying swallow pattern handcut into a grille of 18k gold-plated brass and labradorite. The grille is then set over a layer of Green Lady Amherst feathers for a wonderful contrast of textures. It has a detachable chain and flap closure, and measures 6 3/4" x 3 1/2" x 1 1/2". $2,290

I had never heard of Clara Kasavina when I met Clara herself (right) at a recent event for BagTrends in New York City. Now, I'm a little obsessed. It wasn't just the fabulous handbags which caught my attention, it was the amazing work they do with crystals. I can't wait for you to look through the gallery and see the lavishly encrusted minaudieres and accessories, but first, here's a bit more information.

Clara and her husband Misha have been making handbags for 15 years. Clara designs the bags -- with resplendent taste -- and Misha is the model maker, whose superb craftsmanship is evident in each of their stunning final products.

The bags are made in a variety of jewel tones with different shapes and materials. "Usually we choose to match our python, so we have it in the python, we have it in satin," said Clara. Their other unmistakable feature is their dynamic and opulent use of Swarovski crystals, packed tightly but unevenly, like a mosaic. "They are like a skin almost," explained Clara, quite rightly. The result is bags and accessories with an extremely opulent vintage feel -- your bag may be new, but it looks like a hand-me-down from Princess Grace.

We see a lot of handbags, but we rarely see old-school glamour like this, and with the season's return to flashy, speakeasy styles, you'd be smart to pick up a Clara Kasavina for the holidays.

The Black Shagreen Clutch by Genevieve Jones is a little tame, a little understated, but a lot classy and a lot timeless (yes, I know that's not the best grammar). Designed during her travels to Thailand, stingray leather makes for the unique texture and the envelope styling is accentuated by the large whip-stitched leather medallion (with her unique logo design) that dangles off the point followed by a decorative leather tassel. The interior is surprisingly versatile divided into three separate compartments plus a small pocket. Lined in leather, $875.

Whew! You could get dizzy looking at this bag too long -- it almost looks like something that might be used by a hypnotist to help people go under. It's the Popeye Miniaudiere by Sylvia Toledano and it's part of her collaborative set (with DJ duo Mesomenos) called "Third Eye." Available in limited edition only this glitzy little beauty could be paired with almost any dress or color scheme and will certainly steal the spotlight from any other accessory you might be wearing. Hardbox clutch style features a detachable chain and comes with a matching pen (presumably for taking down the names of all your new admirers). $1,950
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I like anything earthy and organic, and rattan with turtle fits that bill. Tightly woven rattan makes up the entirety of this small handbag save for one adornment: a little turtle featuring bright pink galuchat for character. Evoking vibes of the sandy seashore, this Rattan Turtle Handbag by Lotus Arts de Vivre is both perfect for carrying a few necessary essentials on a weekend day or for holding your mirror and money at an evening beach party. No word from the Vivre page on whether it's lined or has a wristlet or shoulder strap attached, but I think I like it best without anyway. $850

It's always fun to have a bag or two that stand out from the rest not because they're over-the-top or obnoxious but because they're different. Simple and different. This Tania Dark Wood Clutch by Glorinha Paranagua is just that. It's straight forward, organic, but also very stylish and modern. Made of dark toned wood it has a contrastingly sleek over-sized black silk tassel and a brightly colored purple cotton lining. Other basics include a hidden magnetic closure, gold hardware, and no shoulder strap to speak of (I only mention it because most 'clutches' these days have them in some form or another). $365

This Ale Feather Bracelete Pochette by Raven Kauffman runs on the idea that your handbag can be an accessory in more ways than one -- doing double duty as both bag and jewelry. It starts with an 18k gold plated bracelet (2 3/4" opening) and finishes with a dangling calf pochette decorated with hummingbird green emu and coque feathers as well as a few laser-etched leather feathers as well, for added texture and interest. It has a zip closure (hope it's easy to find under all those layers!) and measures 12" x 5" x 1 1/2". $2,195