She’s unique, colorful, pretty and will hold all your “baggage”. The Stephanie Medium Hobo by Diane von Furstenberg could be your new best friend. I first spotted her poolside in Miami on the arm of a very fashionable South American and popped up from my lounge chair to find out where this beauty had gotten her beauty. Rarely do I stare but the metallic, knitted leather was so shiny and different that I became transfixed. So when my fellow sunbather told me the bag was DVF, I was a little shocked I hadn’t come across it yet.

My research started via iPhone at the pool that Memorial Day weekend where I learned Stephanie was  a relatively new style, having debuted as part of DVF’s 2010 resort collection. New summer colors had already been released and were selling at the big online retailers. Hmmm, I thought, I must not have been checking out bags enough lately or I would have noticed them. Then I realized that Stephanie didn’t look so hot on-screen. So if you are thinking the same thing now, I challenge you to go out and find one in person so you can see what all my hype is about. Because after seeing Stephanie at The Raleigh Hotel pool, I was sold and purchased one of my very own the next day. I have been wearing it all summer and getting tons of compliments. From the sales girl at Intermix to the lady shopping next to me at Whole Foods, everyone stops, stares and proclaims to love it.

The fall colors (featured above) have arrived and while I am very tempted to buy a new version for the cooler weather I am going to try and abstain. Instead, I’d rather share it with all of you…

You can buy your own Stephanie at dvf.com, shopbop.com, and neimanmarcus.com.

xoxo Melina

Every season I try very hard to invest in just one new handbag. The effort is not in the picking of the bag, it’s in picking only one from the many I tend to covet. But as they say, more is not always better. Of the new bags I bought this spring (yes, I was a total glutton and bought several) I am, hands-down, getting the most use out of my BOYY Slash bag.

First of all, it’s just a great looking bag. Let me be clear, this is definitely more of a cool-girl bag than a statement bag. There are no logos, just a fabulous shape, a super-chic chain shoulder strap, and lots of functionality. Because the top, python-embossed flap is reversible, it can be worn all black (or brown) or with the contrasting detail showing. A great bag to travel with, it lays completely flat and does not weigh a ton. It also goes from day to night easily because it is neither too big to be just a “day bag” nor too small to relegate it to the evening-only options. And thanks to the smart, detachable shoulder strap, it transforms into a clutch, giving you FOUR completely different looks. It’s no wonder why this is the most used bag in my collection right now.

BOYY makes only bags (well, one wallet) in several styles and shapes. All of which are unique, wearable and thoughtful. I bought my Slash bag at Scoop, which does not have an e-commerce site yet, but you can buy the whole line on BOYY’s website. The Slash bag retails for $595 and is definitely worthy of that price tag because it will be on permanent rotation in my closet!

xoxo Melina

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of anything and everything sparkly. So it makes perfect sense that I was stopped in my shopping tracks when I saw Tracey Tanner’s collection at ABC Carpet & Home.

If you’ve ever been to ABC here in NYC, you know there is a lot to look at. Every inch of their 5-story space is filled with amazingly fabulous home furnishings and accessories. But for me, Tracey Tanner’s pieces stood out among the crowd. Her little pouches and makeup cases are made with extremely soft leather and are adorned with a hint of glittery sparkles and distressed metallic patterns. After a little at-home research, we learned that the Brooklyn-based designer has a vast collection of leather goods with unique, on-trend details in classic shapes and colors.

I bought the small makeup case in “Sparkling Frost” to hold credit cards and cash because my wallet is always too large for my evening bags. I may also use it as a change purse. When I found Tanner’s website, I fell in love with her handbags, jewelry and small accessories.

The Brooke and Casey bags come in a lovely neutral palette and versatile shapes. Her rugged, rocker-inspired wristbands are also a cool find at an affordable price. The MKIAs really like the “Distressed,” Triple Wrap band as well as the “Bar,” 4 Row cuff.

With edgy details, girlie sparkles, and sophisticated designs, Tracey Tanner makes leather goods really good.

High-end, gently used handbags, guaranteed authentic and available in an online storefront that makes buying consignment feel like a privilege? We didn’t think it existed either. Hello Fashionphile.com! This unique site offers designer handbags (from Gucci to Balenciaga and back) with a guarantee of authenticity as well as the condition of the merchandise. The bags (wallets, scarfs and sunglasses are also offered) are generally all new or gently used.

This is a great site to find that bag that you wanted but is now out of production (be prepared to pay a little above retail in this case). It also makes some brands more affordable (you can find gently used Chanel for under $1ooo). The photos and descriptions are professional as is the service. I recently found this Gucci bag (left) that I have been coveting for over a year and my experience was seamless. My purchase arrived in two days and its everything I hoped it would be!

Need a little cash for that new bag? Let them sell a gently used Louis you are no longer using. They do all the work and take a small commission. Now you can update your collection without breaking the bank!

Do you ever feel like you are not in control of the contents of your own handbag? It’s exacerbating to always feel as though you’ve left something behind. For me, it can be one or any combination of the following: keys, wallet, makeup bag, one of my two blackberries or my indispensable Ipod.

This scenario happens as often as it does because I own (and like to utilize) my rather large collection of totes, hobos, shoulder bags, satchels and clutches. And like most women with a lot of handbags, I usually want to wear a different one each day (or at the very least every other day). Unfortunately this involves the frustrating task of shuffling the contents from one bag into another.

Let’s be honest ladies, with all the crap we carry around this can be a very time consuming process. Such an effort can be a major deterrent for the bag-switcher and prevent us from showing off all the sacks in our arsenal.

Enter the VIP (Very Intelligent Pocket)Bag.

This efficient little wonder will make the bag-switching process effortless. It neatly compartmentalizes all your daily necessities into one, pretty little pouch with pockets galore so that when you switch you don’t sweat. With the VIP Bag we can finally carry around “everything but the kitchen sink” and still be organized.