Samsara Rocks!

Vegan, cruelty-free and brilliant design: what girl could ask for more?

Miracle Purse

I am so seduced by the organisational potential of this purse, it is all I can do not to pick up the phone when I hear this commercial. It's hideous but look at all the stuff you can fit inside! I mean, like, two water bottles. It's crazy. The problem with owning one, of course, is that it would make all your other handbags obsolete. Or it would just be a tremendous hassle to keep moving your stuff between bags. The purseket promised a solution to that particular problem, but ultimately it just didn't work out.

Pauls Boutique Stripe Clutch

This feels very Edie to me. Speaking of Miss Sedgwick, I am looking forward to seeing the new biopic. There is no trailer for Factory Girl yet, but I'll be keeping my eyes open. If you haven't read the oral history by Jean Stein, get it now! It's a fascinating account of life in and around the Factory. I read it as a teenager, and it changed my life. Hear all about Andy Warhol and his cast of superstars. Contributors include Paul Morissey, Chuck Wein, Norman Mailer and family members.

Chloe Paddington

So yummy in red! My bff has one of these, and I love it. She's promised it to me in her will! I know the days of the status bag are over, but I still love to look at the leather. Am feeling very bored despite the photos from the Paris shows. Nothing is really grabbing me this season. And If I see another pair of leggings on the high street, I'm going to scream.

Cole Haan Fall Collection

This is a large convertible tote from the Paige collection by Cole Haan. I like the look of this one. Bigger is better! It's a nice style with room for everything: outside zip pockets, inside zip with pockets for cell and PDA. According to the website, a laptop will also fit. The handles look a little fragile, but otherwise, this looks like a great bag. Edgy yet suitable for the office.

Coach for Fall

Chelsea collection for fall is out. I am loving the brown, I mean mahogany, this season. Want, want, want a large leather Chelsea Hobo in Mahogany or perhaps a small one in Nubuc. Camel, of course. I'd buy them both if I could, unfortunately the Coach is without a UK distributor at the moment. Much sadness. Must assuage longings. Will it help if I print out picture to carry around in my wallet?

Marc Jacobs

I love the fall bags from Marc Jacob. This one is my favourite. The colour's fresh and the shape is very retro. It looks slouchy in a Halston kind of way. The zips are fun and fuctional. Just checked out the product listing on Net a Porter, and it looks like there's room for everything, which means it's massive!

The Danielle is also attractive except the tonal monogram markings. It looks like brown is the new blog.

Knomo

Knomo rocks! I bought a red Cholet earlier this year, and I love it. The details are amazing: I love the hot pink interior. It's a stylish functional bag, even if it does weigh a ton. Not to worry! It's a walking workout that saves me going to the gym. The quilted laptop protector is very handy. I use it all the time.

The Knomo brand have been described as the Louis Vuitton of laptop bags, but I think that's unfair. Unlike members of the LVMH tribe, Knomo is a stealth brand. You have to know it to recognize it.

Mulberry

One day last summer while walking down Oxford Street, I saw a beautiful girl moving past me, wearing fitted jeans and light blazer, with a Baywater (Oak Darwin) slung over her shoulder. It looked perfect and made me wish I had one too. But I decided to spend my money on a new MacBook rather than another handbag!

The Tyler bag looks cute, and I love the ruggedness of the Elgin, pictured. Wouldn't it make the best bookbag ever?

Other than that, my reactions to the brand are pretty mixed. The girl-name bags leave me cold, and my tastes are too conservative to opt for tooling or two-tone. What's up with the Picadilly? That thing is massive!

Coach

Reed Krakoff has infused new life into the brand, but I think the signature stuff is nasty! Even if it's genuine, it looks like a knockoff. I'm a big fan of vintage Coach--late 80's to mid 90's--lots of heavy leather, great stitching and intelligent design. I have a Legacy Business Tote, pictured, that I love. The Soho line has some cute stuff. Sadly, the Chelsea collection seems to have been discontinued. I wish I'd been able to snag a turn-lock hobo in brown before they all sold out.