BALLY Alunina-N-76 Tote

Holy crap, it’s cold! What. The. Hell?! I know it’s winter and all, but jeez. Places that haven’t had snow in a decade are getting snow. Cities are getting record low temperatures. It’s cold. So you know what we need? Well, other than a nice, warm puffy coat? We need spring already! Watching the Grammy Awards last night, I was jealous of all those women walking the red carpet in off-the-shoulder gowns with no wraps or coats, and sandals everywhere. Obviously, California is hogging all the warm weather. Bastards. Warm weather aside, some of those women should have covered up those dresses anyway. Yeesh. Did you see what Snooki was wearing? Someone needs to introduce her to Spanx. The heavy duty variety. That’s how pregnancy rumors get started. And Britney Spears didn’t disappoint, wearing a mosquito net over a 1940s full body girdle. Oh, that was a dress? My mistake. Actually, her stylist’s mistake. If all it takes to be a celebrity stylist is to call yourself a stylist, I could go be one right now. Let’s just rip your grandma’s curtains down and make a dress out of them! Why not? Scarlett O’Hara did it. And so did Shaila Durcal. That image is burned onto my retinas for at least a week. As hideous as that dress is, it got me thinking about spring, and the colors just waiting to burst free from all this ice and snow. Until it actually gets here, we can take a little comfort in beautifully colored handbags, like this Bally Alunina-N-76 Tote.

That has to be the dumbest name for a handbag I’ve seen yet. Way to get people talking about your handbag—make them sound like robots. Marketing FAIL. Aside from that, it’s gorgeous. You know how I love pink, and this is a hot shade of fuchsia that will melt the ice right off your shingles, if you know what I mean. Heh. Have you noticed you can make almost anything sound dirty if you follow it with “if you know what I mean” in the right tone of voice? It’s true. Try it. But first, check out this glossy patent leather quilted bag. It’s lined with a nice jacquard fabric, and boasts a center divider, a back wall zip pocket, and a slip pocket that’s just the right size for a cell phone. It doesn’t have a closure, but it does come with a detachable strap to turn it into a shoulder bag, and a dust bag to keep it looking great while it’s in storage. Spring doesn’t come cheap, though. It’s $795 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

No, spring doesn’t come cheap, but it can come less expensively. The Latico Mimi Pleated Tote is a burst of sunshine on a drab gray and white landscape. Just looking at this bag cheers me up, even if it doesn’t quite warm me up. The leather is glazed to beautifully reflect light, as does the gold tone hardware. I think I may even love the interior of this bag even more than the outside. It’s lined with a gorgeous floral print fabric, with colors reminiscent of a Klimt painting. Also inside are a back wall zip pocket, and a slip pocket. It also comes with a detachable strap, and is available in five other colors: black, metallic brown, eggplant, burgundy, and forest green. Check it out for $189 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

Also from Latico is this perfectly shaped Bettina Grande Square Tote. I love it in this kelly green. It reminds me of the grass that I hope will soon be sprouting up again. I miss the smell of freshly mowed grass. I mean, I don’t mow it myself—I’m not into yard work. That’s what landscaping companies are for. But that smell is one of the first signs that spring is here again, so I look forward to it. This bag will get you through spring, and all through summer. It’s made from soft, supple leather, with a cute floral fabric lining, which features a back wall zip pocket. The top of the bag zips closed, and like the other two, the Bettina includes a detachable shoulder strap for versatility. It also comes with a dust bag, and in two other colors—yellow and rosebud. Get all three for a spring/summer triumvirate! Especially since it’s on sale. Normally $189, it’s now just $132.07 at Endless.com.