Chic and Untroubled

Who knew Miss Marc had a green thumb?

The otherwise mopey illustration is resplendent and practically glowing on the front of a new Marc by Marc eco-friendly tote.

The hemp tote features Miss Marc standing in front of mother earth wearing a tee that boldly states: “One Earth One Change.”

Cute, I know. But the price tag? Not so much.

Unlike Anya’s Whole Foods status bag, you’ll have to peruse Shopbop for Marc’s take on conscious fashion. And if you choose to throw your credit card into the green ring, (and you very well may) it’s going to cost you $128.

Honestly, though, I really don’t mind the price tag.

It’s just that I know Claire’s sells hemp necklaces for $2. And this bag looks a lot like it was made from the same material that stayed glued to my neck in elementary.

But, I’m just saying…

Calling all budding accessories designers:

Coach is looking for a few good men and women to work their magic on one of its tote handbags. The graphic that you submit for the tote challenge can be either an original doodle or you can incorporate some of “Coach’s iconic design elements.”

I’d would suggest the former option considering the competition is looking pretty stiff right about now and originality maybe key to taking home this victory.

The winner will receive a $2500 shopping spree, a party thrown in their honor at a local Coach store, and more importantly, their design will be incorporated into a limited-edition handbag that will be sold at select Coach accounts.

Also, one contestant with the most viral entries and one contestant with the highest scoring entry will win some pretty amazing goodies as well. Good luck. And make it work, people.

Now if only Coach could recruit somebody like a Fafi or Claw Money to bless a few handbags with their sketches.

Handbag designer Joy Gryson may not have walked away with a CFDA award a couple of weeks ago, but she did show up to the event wearing one of the most drool-worthy handbags.

Named Baby Beca, the one-of-a-kind electric blue eel skin handbag that Gryson toted around that very special night is being auctioned off to benefit Family Focus Adoption Services, a non-profit organization which has placed almost 1,000 babies and children since its inception 20 years ago.

Valued at $3255, the handbag will be auctioned off exclusively through Mick Margo, and will on display at their New York City store through June 26th. The starting bidding is $500 and will end on June 26th.

So, if you ever needed an excuse to indulge in a super-amazing but expensive handbag, you’ve just got one! Bid smart.

When you have tastes for Chanel 2.55 handbags and Rick Owens asymmetrical denim zipped vests, but live on a college student’s pitiful budget, then you have to make luxury purchases very, very wisely.

This means you usually choose quality over trends. Basic designer pieces that can easily be incorporated with the rest of the items in your wardrobe.

This is where Rebecca Minkoff comes in.

Known for her downtown chic line of handbags with cheeky names (”The Morning After”), Rebecca’s well-crafted supple leather totes, satchels, hobos, and clutches are perfect for the PYT who longs for a cool accessory without the thousand dollar price tag.

For fall, all of the line’s classic have been reworked with a new color palette that is complimentary to the season: green, purple, and warm neutrals like almond brown and chocolate. The “Steady” is by far my favorite. Click here, to check out the rest of the styles.

Urban Outfitters may have Anna Sheffield’s Bing Bang line, but Target is still one to be reckoned with when it comes to the art of mastering high/low one-off accessories collections.

Yesterday, Target announced that its next diffusion lines will be created by Anya Hindmarch and Kari Sigerson and Miranda Morrison of Sigerson Morrison.

As if anyone could forget, Anya is the evil genius behind the I’m not a plastic bag reusable shopping tote — which made women lose their minds in Whole Foods stores across America last summer — and will take over Target’s handbag department once Monica Botkier’s pieces make their exit off of the stores shelves.

And, of course, Sigerson Morrison will do the shoes.

Meanwhile, both collections will be available starting October 12th to December 26, 2008. Funny, Topshop’s doors will open for the first time in New York this October.

Could someone be feeling the heat from its competition? I think so.

Despite the fact that white handbags usually dominate must-have lists every year at about this time, my latest accessory crush is actually quite dark and mysterious.

Currently, Lux Couture is offering an amazing summer sale on all of their swoon-worthy handbags.

And while all of the beautiful Sang A totes have soled out (Ugh), there was one other exotic bag that quickly caught my attention.

The LAI python tote is everything one could expect from a luxurious handbag and then some: Sleek, understated, well-crafted, and made from the finest skins.

Not to mention the fact that its been reduced from $3100 to $1860. So you can eat, pay your bills, and buy your bag. Okay, you might have to choose between either eating or skipping rent payments, but you get the point.

The prices for exotic handbags are always increasing, so if you can make this Christmas in June I would suggest you go for it.