Simply gorgeous. Polished and perfect. Dainty and ladylike. Giuseppe Zanotti champagne sandals, a pair that can glide miraculously from bridal wear to normal wear at Shoe Snob.

Shopping and Info loves the fuzzy eco friendly Mongolia Prada garden tote for summer parties.

It looks like the “Project Runway” co-hosts share a taste for sleek style, on and off the show. Heidi Klum carried Michael Kors‘ “Gia” bag, a black python version from Pre-Fall 2011, in New York two days in a row last week (you know a celeb really loves a bag when it gets multiple outings!). It just reinforced the fact that his clean and structured tote is all the rage.

This is the day bag you carry if you want to look instantly sharp and polished – it dresses up both Heidi’s flowing maxi and cotton sheath without looking out of place or overdone. Python (or crocodile-embossed leather, which is also available for more pleasant price) is timeless and so is the shape – hard but not stiff and ready to hold all your gear for a day’s worth of errands. It is also the ultimate bag for the modern lady: all-American and all-fabulous.

Anthracite Python. At Neiman Marcus for $2,195.

Crocodile-Embossed Plum. At Neiman Marcus for $895.

Python-Embossed Desert. At Michael Kors for $2,195.

Just when I thought I had seen everything when it comes to clutches (glow-in-the-dark! handcuffs!), leave it to wildly creative kook Christopher Kane to throw us for a real loop. The self-proclaimed neon-lover has just taken things to a new liquid level. That’s right. These clear PVC clutches are filled with colorful gel, for a super-squishy effect that begs to be squeezed. Which kind of scares me – if this bag turns on you, you’ve got neon liquid all over your ensemble.

In pale green (it almost looks like slime a comic book villain might ooze out) or bright red (I’m seeing Snow Cones and slushies) tinged with blue, these look more like items you might find in my son’s playroom rather than couture clutches. But there’s a fine line between frivolity and fashion, and there’s always a place for novelty! I just don’t know if that place is my hands. What do you think: children’s toy or irreverent conversation piece? On Net-a-Porter for $720.

I love to adorn myself in chic stones – so why shouldn’t I expect my clutches to feel the same way? Sometimes we’re in minimal moods (I’m more of a sleek and simple kind of girl at the end of the day), but every once in awhile there is no denying more is more – precious stones and crystals and beads galore. Here’s a roundup of the top five be-stoned, bejeweled, and bedecked bags of the moment.

1) Fendi Jeweled Stingray Clutch:

Deliciously textured stingray is the skin of the moment. When Fendi does it, by setting it in an angular Art Deco shape with inverted sides, and best of all, nine semi-precious cabochons of different hues, it’s thoroughly lust-worthy. At Neiman Marcus for $4,260.

2) Judith Leiber Python and Pave Crystal Clutch:

Snakeskin looks like a work of art when it’s framed by lustrous ridged silver and a multitude of pave white Austrian crystals. This is strong glamour and potent, not prissy, sparkle. At Neiman Marcus for $1,695.

3) Gucci “Broadway” Jeweled Clutch:

Black satin clutches often have a way of feeling so antiquated (and not in a good way), but the massive, lightning bolt-like cluster of jewels embroidered on this Gucci fold-over clutch packs a razor-sharp punch. At Saks Fifth Avenue for $2,190.

4) Alexander McQueen Feather-Fringe Skull Box Clutch:

Calling all drama queens. Shagreen-embossed nappa leather has been decked out in all kinds of crystal stones, not to mention a theatrical dusting of feathers. A decadent gypsy of a bag. At Neiman Marcus for $2,720.

5) Valentino Embellished Satin Shoulder Bag:

This chain-strap clutch is as delicate as the dainty rose who will likely carry it. Covered in Strass crystals and pearls (my current jewel of choice), with intricate floral and butterfly embellishments along the frame, it ensures that your bag is more bedizened than most women. On Net-a-Porter for $4,195.

Pearls are back at Jewel Snob, in a big way! Not that they ever went away, if we’re talking about that certain Barbara Bush crowd, but now they are genuinely hip!

How to Dress Up Your Shorts at FabSugar!

Coquette loves Coach’s classic leather handbags that are now available in a new range of colors for a limited time.

Amazing beyond words, in breathtakingly delicate patterns with motifs like “Deer and Butterfly,” “Peacock,” and “Under the Sea,” paper eyelashes at Beauty Snob put Shu Uemura to shame!

Fashion Pulse Daily conducts an exclusive interview with handbag designers Lisa Goldstein and Romy Jagid of ROMYGOLD.

Hartstrings’ fleece jacket for toddlers and little boys at Tot Snob, with its daring navy and mustard stripes against a baby blue background, is fetching and eye-catching.

A boned bodice with sheer insets lays the foundation for wafts of pleated fabric, but it’s the hypnotizing patterns of this dress at Couture Snob, that steal the show.

Shopping and Info needs this amazing Ralph Lauren Collection Cashmere Sweater Coat for Fall 2011.

Just imagine these Alexander McQueen’s boots at Shoe Snob peeking out from your pant legs; it would be a sight as exhilarating as flashing forbidden skin!

StyleBakery says cobalt is the color of the moment. Check out their bright blue picks.

After twenty years in the business, veteran of downtown cool Daryl Kerrigan has finally branched out into bags. Her Fall 2011 collection – a streetwise mix of leather leggings, leafy branch prints, and military-inspired layers – celebrated her anniversary as a fashion designer and introduced her as a new kind of designer: accessories. Cowgirl ankle boots completed the looks, but it’s her “Shackleton” bag that has stolen the show.

A cross-body messenger that’s designed to be unisex (only Daryl K. could get away with a concept like that and make it actually work), it was inspired by Sir Ernest Shackleton, who was an Irish explorer of the Antartic. With an adjustable shoulder strap that matches the front flap’s elongated double straps, this is serious utilitarian style. In cognac and black, it also comes with its own accessory: a detachable sunglass case that can be used as a wristlet. While I prefer the “Shackleton” sleek and unencumbered, I do love the idea of having no excuse to lose another pair of sunglasses. Because if there is any other armor an urban explorer needs aside from a trustworthy bag, it’s a good pair of shades. Available August 1st at Daryl K. and Barneys New York for $895.

Reed Krakoff’s bags have become unmistakable. With a decidedly clean palette and a love of a sophisticated buckles (and even though he’s low on the logos – no complaints here!), there’s never a question of whether it’s Krakoff or not. The new kit bags cement his high standing in the snob-approved arena. They also show off what has become his signature: closures that look complicated but are in fact, literally a snap to open and close. The leather tab and hardware are just for looks; here we have a simple flap with magnetic closure.

In alligator and shearling (offbeat luxury), Appaloosa printed haircalf and cream leather (my pick of the bunch), and tumbled leather (subtle texture), the kit bags are as unique as their respective prices. But they do all have what’s now my favorite feature: a pocket under the flap. The backs also have a pair of double-open pockets; the small cardholder sits atop the larger for a nice detail, instead of a plain backside – I can’t get enough of these great, functional details.

I’ll admit there is a lot going on with the straps, but this kind of clutter is complex, not complicated. It gives the bags heft and personality. Besides, unlike most double-handled bags, both the shoulder strap and the top handle are removable. You get the option to choose one or the other. Um, why don’t all bags come with a detachable top handle when using the shoulder strap option? That seals the deal – Krakoff’s kit is a super-easy bag that is versatile and über-chic.

Alligator-Skin and Shearling Kit Bag at Saks Fifth Avenue for $4,490.

Haircalf and Leather Kit Bag at Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,390.

Tumbled Leather Kit Bag at Saks Fifth Avenue for $990.

Bucket bags are like the hobo satchel’s rebellious cousin. Utilitarian, roomy, and daytime-oriented, but the offbeat structure throws them off for a youthful casualness. Here’s a pick of some bucket bags worth tossing around.

Alexander Wang has updated his enduring “Diego” bag, now set in a luxer-than-leather calf-hair. Jet-black calf hair looks slick and slippery, giving the overtly edgy downtown style a sheen-filled twist that’s more sophisticated – and somehow, simultaneously more gothic. My only gripes? The soft calf-hair only covers the front of the bucket bag and the inner side is back to pebbled leather (although it will wear better as it rubs against your clothing, so it’s probably for the best). And by now you probably are familiar with the substantial weight of the heavily studded “Diego.”

Patchwork so doesn’t look like Grandma’s quilt when it’s in serpent and python skin! Chloé’s “Gabby” bag contains a full autumnal palette in one big bucket. Shiny panels of skin (like Wang’s it’s only one-sided, with a brown calfskin panel at the back) give it an eighties feel – one that’s not overtly retro. A scooped-out zipper, opposed to a traditional drawstring, is more hobo-like, and it means it’ll sit comfortable under the arm.

New York designer Wendy Nichol plays with rustic fabrics, earthy prints, and rough-edged leather. The outcome is surprisingly fresh. Her “Bullet” collaboration with Vanderhurd, using the India-based studio’s vintage handwover dhurrie textiles out of their archives, has braided straps and tassels so sleek they bring flow, not chub.

Alexander Wang “Diego” Rhodium-Studded Leather and Calf-Hair Bucket Bag on Net-a-Porter for $975.

Chloé “Gabby” Patchwork Python Shoulder Bag on Luisa Via Roma for $3,633.

Wendy Nichol x Vanderhurd “Bullet” Bag on La Garçonne for $885.

Bags of dainty sizes are making a strong comeback, and luckily, lightweight and less space fits into my lifestyle. I have been so spoiled by easy, feathery bags that the thought of dragging a hefty satchel around seems out of the question. Anyway, when bags like Jimmy Choo’s “Ruby” are cropping up to entice me, why would I even want to go big?

Stamped lizard glistens like granite; the cracks and ridges give it organic appeal. Lizard is just the kind of skin you hope to see on a small bag like this (10” by 8”), substantial so the purse has purpose. A 25” drop shoulder strap means it should work as a crossbody for most – amazing. Super-flat so it will streamline any outfit, slightly expandable once you open the flap so you can actually fit what you need inside, and so ladylike I see a plethora of possibilities. Exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue for $775.

Pair with: Do a coy play on monochrome with pale gray pants a few shades lighter than the lizard. Slouchy skinnies in rich suede by Donna Karan Casual Luxe are as fabulously versatile as Jimmy Choo’s bag. On Net-a-Porter for $1,895.

All great bag lines have a few things in common. They blend modern and classic with seamless grace and bring eclecticism to silhouettes, materials, and skins. With her new “Isabel” collection, Chinese-American designer Katherine Kwei has produced this in spades. Combining Asian artisan techniques (her signature “Eternity” weave is a constant) with modern Western sensibilities (sleek lines, hot colors), these water snake clutches are packed with personality. Fluid shapes in vibrant aqua, soft charcoal, and endlessly neutral nude make perfect palettes for the voluminous centerpiece of these textural knots. It’s no surprise that Kwei is inspired by childhood afternoons spent with her grandmother, knotting necklace cords and folding wonton dumplings. Rough-edge knots have never looked so chic. The result? A quirky yet wearable collection of envelopes and box clutches for the confidently stylish.