What makes a good handbag?

The material? Meh.
The number of pockets? Not really.
The strap? Sort of.
The number of outfits it matches with? I guess.

As much as we all want to believe it’s the sensibility of the bag that matters, the one feature that makes us swoon and drain our savings accounts is the designer label. Regardless of the color, design, or cliche monogram, the second we hear it’s D&G, Fendi, Prada- whatever you prefer- we’re instantly won over.

The only problem with designer bags? The hefty price tag. While we all may dream of the day we can visit the 5th Avenue Louis Vuitton store and pay for a complete luggage set in cash, most of us are currently stuck with knock-offs, affordable department store brands, or lucky TJ Maxx finds. But just in case you were lacking some inspiration after midterm season, feel free to ooh and ahh at these bags that make the standard $20K Hermes Birkin look like a discounted Liz Claiborne.

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When Heidi’s not writing ridiculous articles for CC, she enjoys watching “Lizzie McGuire” reruns, raiding store clearance sections (and ONLY the clearance sections), and pretending her south-of-Boston suburb is the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Follow her rants and adventures on Twitter!

Looking for something new? Not in the mood to sniff 100+ bottles of perfume at your neighborhood Sephora? I’ve got a ton of delicious recommendations that will compliment that summer dress perfectly! Sure, you can go with your standard floral/fruity perfumes, but I dare you to be a little more bold this summer. You never know what that hottie at the beach will be into…

So it’s a new season and that means new trends on all fronts, including one of my personal faves: handbags!

This season keep your eyes open for some of the usual suspects (oversized bags, clutches and pops of color), some rollover from the fall (fringe) and some new looks (well, not necessarily new, but trends we haven’t seen in a while).

Here are some of the biggest bag trends of spring/summer 2009…

Workin’ on the Chain Gang:
Chain bags are a classic look that are making a huge comeback this season.  From Chanel’s classic chain bag to Prada’s modernized chunky plastic chains, chain bags are all over the place this season.  But, for all you recessionistas out there, it’s not necessary to spend exorbitant amounts of cash to have one of these babies.  There are plenty of reasonably priced options out there if you look in the right places: there are great looks (inspired by designer bags) at  fashionjunkee.com and, as always, Target never fails to offer cute and trendy looks at extremely low prices.

Simply Black & White:
We’re going back to basics this season with simple black & white and it never looked so good.  You can go with any number of styles and prints, but two tone is a fun and simple way to add spunk to your look. You can also brighten it up a bit by having a black & white bag that has a pop of color thrown in.

The Bold and the Beautiful:
As we saw in clothes and shoes this season, brights are all the rage, and bold, bright colors in bags are a great way to add some zazoom to any ensemble. But you don’t want to over-do it; these bags work best when paired with a neutral outfit, not one that is chock full of equally bold and bright elements. Yellows, oranges and blues are best when it comes to bold color palettes for this spring/summer.

They Might Be Giants:
As has been the case for several seasons, oversized bags are super popular.  If you want a great way to carry more than just your lipstick, ID and credit cards when you go out at night, try an oversized clutch.

Shagadelic:
Following in fall’s footsteps, the popular fringe bag is still around. Being that this is a very obvious statement, remember to choose neutrals as they’re bound to last longer and be more versatile.

Dream Weaver:
Spring and summer have a light-hearted and breezy feel and what better way to get that feeling than by carrying a woven bag.  Straw always gives a beachy feel to things, but you can also get a spring look with woven leather in a bright color.

No matter which trend you choose to go with this spring or summer, don’t forget to have fun and keep it LIGHT!

The old rule of wearing only one print at a time is boring and, thankfully, no longer applies. Mixing different patterns has become an art in fashion and is taking over the runways. It can be tricky to pair pieces with different prints together without looking mismatched or crazy like that old lady in the grocery store, but the designers who put together the clothes above (left to right: Dolce & Gabbana, Pollini, Dries Van Noten, and Prada) got it right.

Here are some easy and fun ideas for translating this trend into something you can wear every day:

• Mix prints that are two different sizes. For example, pick a top with a large print and pair it with a smaller print piece on the bottom. This keeps you from looking way over-the-top and gives the eyes somewhere to “rest.”

• Subtly match colors. You don’t want to look like you tried to match the prints’ colors and failed. Instead, pick one color that will be represented in both pieces. For example, in the Pollini dress above both prints contain the color brown. However, the blue in the top section makes the outfit pop because it contrasts so much with the leopard, so it all goes without looking matchy-matchy.

• Use accessories to pull the look together. A crazy print looks more subdued underneath a blazer, making it easier to match with a print on your bottom half. Or you can wear one print piece and carry a different print bag, or throw on a contrasting (yet complementary) leopard spotted bangle. If you choose to go with one print on top and another on the bottom, you can pull the look together with a belt, which will separate the prints so they don’t look like they are running into each other and clashing.

Here’s an example of something that works:

The bag and dress are different enough that no one is going to think you tried to match them, but both have bits of yellow and pink in them, which tie it all together.

If you want to try to master this look, be sure to follow some of these fashion experts’ tips:

“This season will feature animal prints, plaid, tiny polka-dots, layers and ruffles combined in one outfit. It’s ok to mix these all together as long as all of your pieces have a complementary color scheme. So if you’re wearing a yellow polka-dot dress, your belt can be plaid with yellow, red and black stripes. Think 80’s chic!” – Lien Ta, fashion and celebrity editor for Hollywood.com.

“The trick to bringing this runway trend to your everyday style is keeping the patterns in the same or complementary color families and mixing subtle patterns with one bold pattern. If you have a large floral dress you can incorporate a smaller, more subtle floral pattern undershirt or cardigan. For a plaid skirt, try a similar colored plaid purse, but keep the shirt and shoes a simple black.” – Summer Bellessa, editor in chief of Eliza Magazine.

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So whenever a new season comes around, I know I look forward to seeing what the bag trends for that season are gonna be. While there is always a seasonal “it” bag (or 2 or 3) that generally costs more than your monthly rent, you don’t have to break the bank each season to have a trendy bag on your arm. It may be hard to believe, but there are plenty of budget options out there!

As is true with most seasons, this season brings us some new shapes, styles and textures, but there is also a lot of recycling going on. A key with bags is that you don’t need to go matchy matchy, so don’t be afraid to add a pop of color, or if you go with a neutral like grey or brown, you needn’t match all your accessories.

Bags are meant to be a statement piece, so don’t fear going bold and adding some zest to your look with your handbag – be it a clutch, tote, or, this season’s most popular shape, the satchel.

Satchel It To Me

As I said, the most popular shape for this season is the satchel. While totes and hobos are still popular shapes, the satchel has been seen on the arms of celebrities and trend-setters everywhere. The beauty of this shape is that you can incorporate any number of the trends listed below into the satchel, so pick your favorite and go with it.

What A Croc!

This season is all about different materials: reptile skins, lace, patent leather, or, the material du jour for the season, crocodile skin (or for those of us who are environmentally friendly, budget-conscious or both, faux croc). You can find croc in all the different shapes, sizes and colors of the season, from Prada bags down to Target clutches. Croc rocks because it adds a classic and classy touch to any ensemble.

Fringe Benefits

The hottest trend for this season is the bohemian-inspired fringe bag. Again, many designers are going with this trend, but you can find some great fringe bags on a budget at places like Nine West and Forever 21. My personal favorite is this bag from Melie Bianco, which is only $80 and can be found in some of this season’s hottest colors: taupe/grey, brown, burgundy and, of course, black.

Top of the World

A new and popular shape this season is the top-handle bag, which, again, can be found on many of the different shapes, sizes and trends of the season. Yes, all bags have handles on the top, but this trend focuses on a more structurd look and shorter handles. Definitely an updated look on your typical bag.

Treasure Hunt

As we have mentioned a million times before, jewel tones are huge this season, and this trend extends from clothes all the way to bags. Greens, pinks and teals are making an appearance, but the real winners this season are blues and berries. Everyone from Coach to Old Navy is making bags in these luscious colors and they’re a great way to give the neutral colors of fall/winter (black, greys, etc.) a festive pop.

Gift Wrapped Elegance

Giving way to a nostalgic and classic look, clutches with bows are a flirty and feminine touch to an evening look, especially in satin or patent leather. For inexpensive versions of this look, try Target and Payless; they’ve got adorable ones for under $40.

Brown Baggin’ It

As is always the case with fall, brown bags are all the rage; whether a deep chocolate color or a lighter tan, you can’t go wrong with pairing a brown bag with a hot pair of boots and skinny jeans.

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If there’s one thing I already knew, it’s that when you’re the poor, unpopular kid on the Upper East Side, your life will be a continuous cycle of being walked over, speaking your mind, putting your foot in your mouth, and then being magically forgiven and allowed to advance to the next round.

Did you miss last night’s episode? Let me fill you in.

Within the first minute of GG, Nate mentions the inevitable party that will tangle everyone up in some drama that will continue to be played out next week.

Other expected GG staples: Catherine and Nate talk money; Serena and Dan are together but have issues (did I miss them deciding to be a “secret” couple?); and Jenny has some great ideas for her fashion internship, but she’s a lowly intern and isn’t allowed to have opinions.

The best thing about the first half? The mini gossip girls who approach Dan and throw in their two cents. If you missed it, two tweeny-bopping brunettes are on Dan’s side, and one tweeny-bopping blond is on team S. The blond asks Serena how she can kiss Dan, knowing his tongue has been in Georgina’s mouth, which seems a bit much when you consider the girs were, what, 11? The tweensters were obviously comic relief, but for some reason their opinions caused an awkward rift between S and Lonely Boy…which I was over by the next commercial.

The real hotness revolves around Chuck and Blair for the third consecutive week. Chuck, like most high school boys, has a string of call girls filing in and out of his room, but can’t seem to perform. Dr. Ruth–I mean, Serena–suggests it’s because all he really cares about is B., which prompts Chuck to seek out a tryst with Blair so he can use her as “sexual Drain-o” to unclog his pipes.

At the party, Chuck and Blair have their weekly sexual-tension infused interaction, which started out pretty hot, but then got a little creepy…but still pretty hot. (Editor’s Note: SO hot.) Here’s another question: why can’t Blair, last season’s token virgin, suddenly go without sex? I mean, she was with Nate since freaking kindergarten and kept her chastity belt on, but now she’s like a dog in heat around Marcus. Which, of course, our favorite Duchess, Catherine, can smell immediately.

Now, it’s time to learn our life lessons from the crew. Nate really likes Vanessa, but Vanessa discovers his affair with Catherine. Dear Nate, when someone you like asks you if you are sleeping with a cougar, don’t justify it with, “She’s giving me money.” Horny Blair invites Marcus upstairs, only to finally lock lips with Chuck. Dear Blair, when your boyfriend walks in on you making out with someone else, the excuse, “I thought he was you,” won’t fly.

Of course, this is Gossip Girl world, so Vanessa likes Nate even more, and Marcus is finally ready to nail Blair.

Oh, in the meantime, Jenny got fired by Mrs. Waldorf, then rehired. Because that’s what Jenny does. And Serena and Dan broke up, but they really still love each other. Because that’s what Serena and Dan do. And Catherine “doesn’t like to share her toys. Especially when she’s paid for them.” So she blackmails Vanessa to leave Nate alone. Because that’s what rich, horny cougars who get to ride Chace Crawford do.

Gossip Girl. Everything you missed in high school, wrapped into 42 minutes of Monday night television. I love it.

Mmmmm.

But this is GG, people. Chace Crawford sexcapades can hardly satisfy our thirst for smut clothed in Prada. Cut to Chuck, chardonnay in hand, on a beach with one…two…three insanely hot girls. Oh, Chuck Bass. You are what every sixteen-year-old boy should aspire to be before graduating high school.

First shocker of the episode: GG informs us that “Lonely Boy” Dan isn’t so lonely after all. It seems he has a new chick — wait, maybe two new girls? Can you spell R-E-B-O-U-N-D?

Of course, before our first commercial break, we need a love triangle, and some legit dramz. Send Chuck to meet Blair, looking sweet and dapper with roses in hand. Insert random new man (James), let Blair make steamy eye contact with Chuck and then shove her tongue down new guy’s throat. This is how it goes down for high schoolers in the Hamptons.

It’s game, set, match for Blair when she enjoys dinner with both James and Chuck, yet she still feels the need to run after Chuck when he storms away from the table with his tail between his legs. WTF Blair? We know you don’t feel the same way for James as you did for Nate. Otherwise you wouldn’t be chasing Chuck. Alas, poor Chuck, who used to be made of steel, turns on the waterworks again, just in time for another gratuitous Chace Crawford shot — hottie Nate running down the street in his underwear after his new lover’s husband comes home early from work.

The GG writers get to show off their wit as Blair vents to Serena. Line of the night: “Damn that mother-Chuck-er!.” No wait, Blair can top herself: “All I could see is that Chuck Bass-tard.” Oh, B. You’re killing me. Just hop in a limo and ride the boy for heaven’s sake. Or is that, like a pair of leggings, too last season?

Just before commercial break number three, everyone gets set up with their dates for this episode’s party, a shameless product placement in the form of the “Vitamin Water White Party.” The party scenes, of course, begin with a montage of beautiful people in white bikinis (drinking Vitamin Water), and an array of awkward looks (and Vitamin Water) as tension brews between Jenny and her bitch of a boss and Nate and his married mistress (who all drink Vitamin Water). Of course, if looks could kill, the death row sentence would be awarded to Chuck for his staredown of Blair and James.

But is Gossip Girl really becoming the Waldorf Show? In order to save the best juice for the last few minutes, it’s time to bring Dan back into the picture.

Until he showed up at S’s granny’s doorstep, I’d somewhat forgotten that Grandma Van der Woodsen used to have it out for Lonely Boy. Did anyone else’s jaw drop when Granny invited Dan to the party as her date? It’s too bad that Blake Lively looks absolutely gorgeous in her party ensemble, and that she and Chace Crawford would make the most beautiful babies, because I was rooting for some Serena/Nate action… until I remembered Dan, who happened to arrive just in time to see Serena fake-make-out with Nate. Dammit, Dan.

Typical Dan calls Serena out for her drama, only to have his two ladies from the opening credits show up and throw colorful martinis on his white suit. Could’ve seen that one coming. Yet, finding out that Dan is both hypocritical and some kind of playboy makes Serena want to rekindle the old flame. As Gossip Girl says, “When words get in the way, there’s only one thing to do…”

“MAKE OUT!” screamed my roommates and me, in unison. This late in the episode, and the only non-GG watcher in the room has to ask, “Are these people supposed to be in high school?” Um, yeah, don’t all high schoolers drink their faces off, have affairs with married women, and hump like gorillas on Versace sheets?

But back to the main event: Blair and Chucky. Obviously, Blair’s game of chess has to explode in her face, as James realizes he’s her pawn. But he can’t just leave after one episode! James makes his “big confession,” the one Chuck needed a PI to uncover. Drum roll, please….

He’s really Marcus Beaton, he’s British, and a lord. And he likes that Blair dissed him and called him boring. I could see a little S and M working it’s way into this relationship.

Well, if Chuck thought he’d uncover some dirt on James/Marcus, he was wrong. And he knows now that he doesn’t have sh*t on a British Lord. So he gives in, but not before he begs Blair not to leave with him. Blair makes the final offer: give her three words and eight letters (“I love you,” for those of you that missed it). And Chuck drops the ball.

What the Chuck?

Chuck and Blair have totally stolen the spotlight for this whole episode, and it seems the writers had a couple of minutes to spare at the end, so they give us Serena and Dan. On a beach. With a bonfire. And freaking fireworks start going off. Barf.

A lot of recapping of last season tonight, a few twists and turns, and a lot of potential drama set-ups for the rest of the season. But with the Chace Crawford hot-bod-shot count already climbing, I can tell that it’s going to be a great season.

I’m writing this letter with sadness in my heart and hot fudge in my hair. I’ve spent the last two months scooping your ice cream and ringing up orders and now its time for me to go home. But even though I must leave, I wanted to spend a few final moments reflecting on our time together.

Like remember all those times when you came in with your Blackberry in one hand, your Bugaboo stroller in the other, and you didn’t even look up from your phone to place your order? I always respected you for your determination to complete your conversation, even if it sometimes meant you couldn’t make eye contact with me.

Or haha, I’m cracking up about that time I gave you two cents in change and you held your hand out waiting for it so you could put it back in your Prada wallet, which you shoved into your Fendi bag instead of the tip jar. That was a great time.

Oh wait, an even better memory is the time you got your toddler an ice cream cone and the precocious little thing dumped it all on the floor and, instead of offering to help pick it up, you demanded a a new ice cream at no extra charge. And even though there was a line in front of you, I admired you for teaching your child resilience by cutting the entire line so your baby could have their second ice cream immediately.

I know this letter is supposed to be full of good times and laughs but I really need to take this moment to apologize for asking you to repeat your order twice. It was completely my fault that after working an eight-hour shift; I couldn’t remember exactly which yogurt you wanted in which size after you rattled them off to me. So I totally appreciate that after I asked you to repeat the order, you spoke incredibly slowly as if I had the IQ of a sugar cone.

But back to the good times. Like remember that one time you had a last-minute impromptu birthday party in the store and you totally forget to tell anyone that worked there? That was a great surprise and it was even more fun when you spent the entire time complaining because we couldn’t give you personal attention. Our ice-cream-scooper-party-

planner-waitress-nanny was out that day and I have to thank for your understanding.

And it was totally reasonable that you didn’t leave any kind of tip. The eye contact we made when I was on my hands and knees wiping slices of melting ice cream cake off the floor was tip enough.

I really hope your son had a wonderful birthday because the celebration continued long after you left. We got to get the broom, the mop, and every other cleaning product out in order to clean up after your party. I wish more parents had your appreciation of suspense and gratitude. I knew that when you said, “your store is completely disorganized and unable to put on a party,” you really meant thank you.

Even though I’m having a wonderful time writing this letter, I really must get back to my internship. Internship? you might say. Yes, the days when I wasn’t scooping ice cream and pouring skim milk into your coffee, I was interning. I know, its crazy to think that underneath that ice-cream stained shirt, was a college student who was just working in the store for a little extra money.

You are probably wondering how I could be a college student and still have messed up your change that one time. But don’t feel bad. After all, once I put on that highly attractive ice cream uniform I only existed to listen to you complain about your frozen yogurt melting too fast. Ice cream melting when its hot out. It’s completely my fault and I take full responsibility. I only hope that one day, twenty years from now, when those precious little babies you brought into the store are working their summer jobs, wherever that might be, someone treats them with the same respect you gave me.

P.S. I might have underestimated the calories in the frozen yogurt. Whoops.