Here’s what a lot of people seem to be looking for in a bag:

1. Amazing, and yet no-name, or at least a name that’s too small for the person across the subway platform to read without binoculars

2. A great quality, preferably handmade, and hopefully not constructed in a sweatshop

3. And if it’s expensive, the guarantee that it’ll last longer than at least a decade

So we propose a solution in case you haven’t heard of it: Check out Il Bisonte on Sullivan Street (or on Camden Drive in Beverly Hills) for incredibly supple leather bags, all handmade in Florence, that, yes, cost quite a bit, but should last long enough for you to one day say, “You know when I got this tote? 2009!” The only down side? Every single item has the Il Bisonte logo stamped front and center - but at least you can’t read it more than a few feet away.

PS Is anyone else feeling the mini-backpack right around the corner for S/S?

1. Jimmy Choo and Hunter teamed up to make a pair of faux crocodile Wellies (at left), which will be featured on the last page of April Vogue for Last Look.

2. The Clue (at right) is far and away Jimmy Choo’s best selling shoe. “They are the most popular shoe for us globally. They sell 10 to 1 compared to the other shoes, if not more,” said Jimmy Choo USA President, Brian Henke. We asked what made the $700ish slingbacks so irresistible: “It’s the comfort,” said Brian, “the pitch allows you to walk in them all day.”

3. Tamara Mellon’s designed a line of makeup bags for Fall, which perfectly match the regular bags, possibly resulting in the cheapest clutches Jimmy Choo never intended to make.

4. It is illegal to import python commercially in the state of California.

5. It is totally appropriate to squeal “CHOOS!” in the midst of champagne, mini pieces of toast and the open invitation to try on anything in the store.

And now, we’ll just wonder why we never learned so much in a single day of school.

Those of you still worried over the Mike & Chris-going-out-of-business rumors from late last year can finally rest easy.

Not only does WWD have the scoop on the husband-and-wife designer label’s new line of shoes for Spring (Shopbop, soon), but the LA-based brand is set to debut their first full line of bags for Fall 09, too.

And now, leather lovers everywhere, exhale.

Happy Monday….

To: Tips@ Fashionista.com

From: TheCats@Meow.com

Hey Fashionista!

This bag by Jessica Simpson looks a whole lot like the bags Miu Miu did in Spring 2006.

I know her career is in total shreds but did she really think no one would notice?

Pop quiz:

If you’ve been to a Target since yesterday, did you see any of the Hayden-Harnett bags?

Because some people are reporting the bags aren’t out in Target stores yet, which is especially weird since it’s now the 29th, and the bags should have been out for grabbing starting yesterday.

So if you have any idea as to what’s going on, you know what to do.

In the meantime, the whole line’s on Target.com.

One for the stealth shoppers, especially those that prefer to do their damage at home:

We finally just heard about JemznJewels.com, which means we’ve found yet another site to troll between work-related clicks and e-mails. It’s an online consignment site, which just got a makeover after ten years in existence (that’s right, online shopping in ‘98, who knew?).

Available: Kelly bags - like the barely-used red leather one at left - gently used YSL, the Fendi Selleria on sale, etc.

Best part? The random (sometimes Victorian) jewelry thrown in as an extra bit of fun. Because you really have to dream to get through a Tuesday, no?

For those of you wondering when Proenza’s line of bags will be available to more people than their socialite friends, here’s your answer:

The line - dubbed PS 1 after the New York City public school system and not the boys’ initials, as previously thought - debuts at Harvey Nichols next month, and on Net-a-Porter (for the rest of us) in March.

Start saving now. Otherwise, you could always try DIY-ing the bag at left by covering a stiff clutch with a vintage safari jacket, no?

Update: Ah, yes, they’re on barneys.com.

WWD just announced that Temperley has designed a little apple purse made of napa leather and metallic python, of which only 25 were produced. They’re hoping it creates a bit of buzz for holiday.

But earlier this year, Hermes came out with their own apple purse, this time a candy apple green color on lambskin replete with a little knife, for kicks.

Coincidence? Or does Temperley think their customers don’t shop at Hermes, therefore will never know their $1,000 purse is actually somebody else’s cute idea?

You decide.

Editor’s Note: Brett just pointed out that Missoni also did an apple purse for Spring 05 as part of a fruit scheme.

Everybody’s trying to break into accessories these days.

First, the news was that See by Chloe, Proenza, Hussein Chayalan and Ohne Titel would all be breaking into shoes (and since then, Proenza’s quietly started giving out bags to their friends, which everyone hopes will actually make it to stores.)

Then, Marc announced he’d be expanding into a full line of swimwear for Marc by Marc, while Brian Reyes announced he’d be launching a line of lingerie (ok - swimwear and lingerie are not exactly accessories, but they do fall into that small things/cheaper things category).

Not too long after, Prada announced plans to design costume jewelry, and Yigal said he’d make the shoes from his Spring 09 runway for the stores.

And now? 7 For All Mankind is launching their own shoe range for Spring, retailing between $150 to $350, which may seem too close to their denim price range, but is probably a bit less than most 7 customers usually spend on their shoes.

Clearly, companies are hoping their shoppers will still be out there looking for cute things to acquire, but they know it’ll be with a much smaller budget, so they’re trying to make more things at lower price points so everybody can still get their buzz. Because as Elle MacPherson put it today, her lingerie line is doing better than ever because “when a woman can’t afford a dress in the luxury echelons, she may opt instead to part with £20 on underwear that makes her feel good.”

But the question for all these other high-end brands persists -

Reader Claire, from Sydney, drew our attention to this Slow & Steady Wins the Race bag, at right.

Though it could never pass as one of the actual 2.55’s hanging at the Zaha Hadid exhibit in Central Park right now, we all know the association this bag is trying to ride on.

Even though $100 seems like a lot for a canvas bag, we can’t help but think this could be a hilarious purchase, especially if you attached a little lego man where the double C clasp would go (like in the earlier versions of the bag, anyway) - we suggest Band of Outsiders’ (or, Toys”R”Us).

But anyway, Claire wonders: “Somehow I feel this is more an attempt at irony rather than a lame ploy to rip off luxury labels.” (We’re guessing it’s the canvas for her, too.)

And so she asks, “What do you think?”

Last week, we told you that Anya Hindmarch would be trumping Target by making the full collection of her bags for the super store available on her site starting tomorrow, a full four days before the line was supposed to hit Target stores, up until Sunday.

But now, we’ve found out that the whole line is already on the Target site, ready for pre-order, today.

Guess they heard the news loud and clear.

Happy clicking.

This week, we took a field trip around the corner to the Young & the Banging gallery.

TYATB is a book showcasing 200 faces of “who’s next” on the creative circuit, curated by Heron Preston - and if you haven’t heard of him, you will. Purple calls it “the fascinating new generation born into the realms of fashion, art and success,” and though It may look like a grip of NYLON interns at first (well, some of them are), it really is a solid collection of some great new talent.

We set up shop on “School Photo Day” where anyone can come in and get their picture snapped yearbook-style and tour the exhibit (highly recommended). So after I got my pic snapped (after the jump!), I met up with Mary-Kate’s stunt double, a mother-son duo, and the cutest intern we’ve ever seen.

The Young & the Banging is at 255 Elizabeth Street, and you’re all invited to the final School Photo Day and closing party this Saturday, Sep. 27th from 8-11pm.

— JAZZI McGILBERT

PS - Yes, we too, have switched to Vimeo.

As suggested, for this week’s bag-seeking adventures, we hopped the L train to Williamsburg, Brooklyn: Home of the Hip(sters). There’s a not-so-scientific theory that “all the cute boys live in Brooklyn,” (Britt will concur) and while they were definitely out in full-force, they weren’t carrying any manbags, so I didn’t have a proper excuse to stop them (sad face).

But we did get a cute girl who’s playing a boy in an all-female cast of Julius Caesar, along with Zina Star - a rising star (that’s not just a pun, I really mean it) - and yes, that’s her birth name.

And just a side note: We did spot one PVC bag, but oddly enough… the owner wouldn’t let us go through it… even though we could see everything inside.

Irony at its best?

—JAZZI McGILBERT

This week was particularly sweltering in New York City.

But what the street lacks in AC, it makes up for in cute, friendly people who are surprisingly willing to entertain us by letting us search their bags.

No puppies this time - instead, we stopped a Melbourne visitor with a Chloé wallet and a model with some serious Sudoku skills.

Enjoy!

— JAZZI McGILBERT

Just after the weekend took off, Louis Vuitton and Comme des Garçons announced that they will open a joint store in Tokyo on September 4th, the day before New York Fashion Week kicks off, that will exist for just three months, similar to Comme’s past guerilla store openings, except… as a collaboration with a huge luxury company that seems like the antithesis to Rei’s designs.

The store, which will be in the Aoyama shopping district, will be “half luxury, half raw”, with a section designated for Rei’s Comme for H&M designs (which will be pie-shaped and red, H&M’s unofficial color) come November.

In celebration of the collaboration, Rei’s designed six one-off bags which she describes as “party bags”, incorporating the LV monogram pattern with serious handles, meant to evoke the style of LV’s bags three decades ago when they opened their first store in Tokyo.

So, just to keep this straight: First, Rei’s designing a bunch of LV-ish bags that’ll be sold in a store that LV will sponsor, from which LVMH will take half the profits. Then, Rei will sell her H&M designs in the space, from which LVMH will take half the profits.

Congratulations… LVMH?

Hey Fashionista,

Here’s a pic of one of the upcoming Gossip Girl episodes.

Blair looks adorable in a floral dress and is carrying (as you predicted) a woven Kate Spade bag.

Just thought I’d let you know -

Can’t wait til the new episodes!!

xo

Madison

Update: GG’s filming in an H-formation on Lafayette, Crosby and Jersey. So far, we’ve spotted just Blake and Penn, but there are a lot of trailers, one of which is marked “Chuck”…

I’ve been carrying around a zippered Y-3 wallet under my arm for a week, and suddenly, life is easier. I grab everything I need, all at once on my way out the door, which is too much to fit into a pocket-sized wallet.

So I’m particularly delighted with the newest unexpected twist from this season’s menswear runways - the introduction of clutches to men’s wardrobes.

If you think about it, it’s really not far-fetched. Men carry briefcases and portfolios, which are just as hard to carry as a clutch. So why not switch out an attaché case for a sleek Marni envelope? Plus, these days, we’re carrying cell phones, wallets, Blackberries, keys and a bajillion other things. A giant messenger bag isn’t always a convenient, or appropriate, accessory for a night out.

Dries Van Noten’s zippered patent leather option is pretty basic without adding too many buckles or other distractions we’re sure most guys wouldn’t approve of. We love the blood red Ferragamo, left - it’s big but not annoying.

We bet Marc will be next in line with some playful clutches, since he’s obviously a fan of them himself.

The only problem? Keeping your girlfriend’s hands off them.

—KYLE HAYES

When we first saw the Pretty Nylon Tate Tote from Marc by Marc, at right, it never occurred to us that it could be copied.

It’s pretty plain, basically a basket of dark gray, quilted nylon with knotted handles - kind of like those black nylon Prada bags we used to see around that were so ugly and yet sold like crazy, so people could say they owned a bit of Prada.

So we were a little surprised when reader Lisbeth turned our attention to this Nylon Quilt Tote from Forever 21, at left. The shape’s wider, but the boxy-gray-nylon-with-tied-handles-and-side-pockets-look is still intact.

The only thing more surprising than someone bothering to copy this bag? The fact that the original retailed for $188…