When it comes to the winter 2008-2009 handbag collections, most designers have toned it down.  Say goodbye the silver clip on charms, brazen buckles, flashy bling, and loud brand stamps that ensured everyone for miles knew who designed your bag.  Say hello to muted earthy and jeweled hues, tone on tone embellishments, and an emphasis on quality rather than flash.  And those brand stamps?  They are still there, but instead of blazing across your bag and yelling their name, you must lean close to hear them whisper those words every woman loves to hear: “Prada, Coach, Guess…”

While the hobo has not gone out of style, most designers are showing their interpretations of the bowler bag.  The bowler bag is more structured than the hobo and, in my opinion, more efficient.  The shape is practical for after hours dressing, ensuring you can take your bag from the office to a dinner date without having to change it in between.  Those that did include a hobo or two created them out of buttery soft leathers in toned down yellows, subtle greens, chocolate browns, and matte black. 

As beautiful as the 2008-2009 bowlers and hobos are, a couple designers, to the delight of the handbag aficionado, managed to sneak in some surprises.

The first to knock it out of the ball park is Valentino with his Petale collection.  It is one thing to put a flower on a purse.  It is another to make a purse out of a flower.  The word that best sums up the Petale Bag and Flower Tote is simply “beautiful”.  Another winner from Valentino’s 2008 winter collection is the Leather Bow Clutch.  As soon as I saw it, I thought of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  While Audrey did not carry this exact clutch in the movie, it certainly seems to be inspired by her.  The fashions she sported became timeless classics for every woman’s wardrobe and this clutch is no exception.  Years from now, it will still be a functional staple for an elegant evening out. 

Coach made it impossible to choose just one bag from their collection by offering the Sabrina and the Julianne in both patent and metallic.  The Julianne is a no nonsense roomy tote and the Sabrina is a classy, fun, urban bag.  Both have the practical sensibility that Coach is known for, but when you take the bag from patent to metallic, you add a fun factor that appeals to a broader audience.  Coach also took a rare departure from their signature style with the Woven Zoe.  The brown hobo bag with its woven pattern and brass hardware is more casual than the rest of the collection.  Woven Zoe will be fully appreciated by those seeking a high quality bag with a laid back look and feel.

Whether you choose a hobo or a bowler or a bag that shakes up this season’s rules, you can’t go wrong if you choose that has a shorter strap and an earth tone.  The great thing about this season’s bag is the stability factor.  The lack of excessive hardware makes them wearable long after this winter has come and gone.  So go ahead and invest in with confidence in a quality bag this season.