TheClick: Bags are blooming: Old bags and new bags

We’ve seen it all when it comes to bags in the last few years. Remember when a bag style actually lasted longer than a few weeks? Those were the days, right? There’ve been chain handle bags, metallic bags, giant Mary Poppins kitchen-sink style bags that weigh more than Kate Bosworth, tiny femmy bags you can’t get a blackberry in, beaded bags, feather bags, suede bags, croc bags, snake bags – but right now, as we kick off 08, there are really only two sorts of bags to be eyeballing as you read this:

Colored Bags: I just scoured the entire Spring Collections from Europe and New York – hard work, I know, but somebody’s gotta do it. Here’s what I saw: color, color, color. I know it seems a little – well – loud – right now, as all we’re seeing is highly exciting black, brown and the occasional burst of grey. But there are Louis Vuitton bags coming that look like ice cream sundaes with three different scoops – and they’re all fruit flavored. There are Marc Jacobs bags coming in turquoise and poppy and dark red with chain handles. There are mustard colored Marni bags that will make you say, “Hot DOG!” Michael Kors has chartreuse alligator and Ralph Lauren has purple snake. Prada has floral bags, and Missoni has striped ones. Now, you won’t find many of these in the stores till February or March – but if you’re bored with the winter doldrums - meaning, dull dishrag colors and all that black – you can actually crayola up those grey skies right now. Because there are plenty of bags from fall 07 that actually meet the criteria of spring’s next big bag thing, meaning they are RED, PINK, OR PALE.

Which brings us to point Number Two:

Bags on Sale: Only a masochist would pay full price at this time of year. But I saw that some of Fall’s on sale goods are short shoulder bags – THE shape for spring 08 – or longer totes, also still in. You can buy fall bags that look like spring – and no one will be the wiser but the greenbacks in your wallet.

I took several different spins on TheFind.com to see what’s out there. My first entry was “Handbag” on sale (with the sale filter checked). This produced a variety of wonders: a Prada caramel colored calf leather hobo for 339.99 from Fashionboutique.com – pale soft leathers being a key spring trend. Whiting and Davis has a stud metal mesh handbag in oyster tones for 199.99 from ShopNBC.com. And then there are insane deals: a pale Puma sportif bag for $14.99 at SportsChalet; a Puma pale celadon bowling style bag for $29.99 at Modell’s, and a pink “lizard grain” chain small evening purse for $9.97 at LillianVernon. Trust me, if you buy any one of these, in April you will be loving me. In July, you will be loving me even more.

If you edit your search and hit the box for “Fifth and Madison,” staying with the “handbags on sale” theme, some beauties come up: a linen and calfskin satchel in vanilla tones from BrooksBrothers for $199 with the all important darker trim on a pale color; a white Fendi canvas tote with leather trim is $469 at Barneys – and white is whiter than ever for spring, Bergdorf’s has a Crosby pale peach satchel with a shorter shoulder strap (also a trend) for $445; and Bergdorf’s has a blue raffia ‘chef” bag for $590. There will be a battleship load of blue bags for spring, if you’re a blue person. And even if you’re not.

Refine your search to hitting the “Rodeo” box, and a gorgeous lipstick red Banana Republic bag for only $129.99 comes up from Banana Republic. Or try “red handbags" on sale (set the sale filter) and you get – well, red hot. Like scalding. How bout a Gucci red patent for $160 from smokershop.com? Or a pink Prada nylon camera bag in canvas – Michael Kors is doing camera bag styles for spring, so this is HOT – and it’s only $388 at efashionhouse. There is also a brand new Christian Dior red leather satchel for $1296 – yes, that’s a sale price, at designerexposure.com.