Fresh from an “event” held by COACH (anyone got the scoop on that?), here is Mandy Moore, with new guy pal, and a fab Coach bag. Forget the guy, it’s the bag that’s interesting! I’ve never seen this exact style before, but I know what it is. It’s the Coach Soho Large Satchel in alligator and it must be super, super limited edition and expensive. No, Coach just does not do croc-embossed!

Here is a close-up of Mandy’s satchel next to a regular-leather version available now for $458 at www.coach.com.

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What a nice way to come back to blogging - go over what I’ve missed while holed up in bed! Here is my fave from the bag blogs over the past week.

$100,000 Diamond Alligator Clutch
With genuine 18 carat white gold hardware, 1500 white and black genuine diamonds and metallic alligator skin - this clutch is extreme. And only 1 is made every year. I’ve got to thank Bag Snob Kelly, because during the truly awful Friday afternoon I had, this cheered me up a bit.

ASOS added 10 actual designer bags to their store inventory, and we think that’s noteworthy. Shop via The Bag Lady.

The Valentino bags are coming! They’re so posh and feminine, all the bloggers love them! The Sweetheart bag has Betty-esque chain straps, but with a softer body and the Rosette Hobo has flowers made out of leather! Via Purseuing and the Purse Page, respectively, click on purse titles.

Can you name Lindsay Lohan’s croc purse? Well, is it the Lanvin Hero or what? Via the Purse Blog.

More original posts this week!

That. My dear friends is the new Limited Edition Louis Vuitton tote. Made up of actual pieces of bags from current styles and maybe a few classic IT LVs, this Tribute Patchwork shoulder bag is available this month. Another picture to follow.

Its two sides feature different iconic pieces from yesterday and today, complete with straps, buckles, flaps, locks, hooks and plaques - even fur. Each bag its made up of is practically complete. (Oh, this is nearly enough to make me vomit as well.)

Loved by crazed fans, hated by most, the worst part - possibly - is its price: $42,000.

I’d rather have just three or so of the styles, plus other Vuittons for just a few thousand, and save the rest. Well, save most of the rest … some will be for Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Balenciaga … ooh, and to pay off my AMEX.

Photo credit: Nitro:licious

When I posted about a similar Gucci Scarf “Positano” Tote, I was told by a commenter that another was much more expensive. The first was straw, the second—crocodile. The price of the crocodile tote? $19,800.

Nearly $20,000! Actually it’s nearly $21,000 with tax!!!

Oiiiiiiiiiiiii.

It’s lovely, but I don’t need it. I do, however, need a new car. A nice hybrid would be an option with that amount of money. Oi.

Bringing back so much of a more recently blooming brand, is the Legacy Ali bag by Coach. The style shape is very vintage right from Coach’s archives, and it’s lined in a fabric inspired by their vintage stripe from the Bonnie Cashin days. Add in the modern details that make today’s legacy, and we have an iconic piece from Coach. It’s great in aged whiskey leather, but nothing makes an IT bag or a bag of the year like a true reptile skin leather.

Available only in select upscale stores or by catalog, and not even online, was the Ali in Alligator. Is it long sold out? Probably, but the $12,000 pricetag could be a clue either way. Did the rich buy into this bag? Hmm.. For sure though, Coach fans can only admire this bag of art, but how much they have makes it worthwhile.

For Coach’s 65th anniversary, their entry into our top bags of 2006 is the Ali in Alligator. Certainly worthy of being a bag of the year, from such an upgrade from a favorite brand of so many. Here’s a New Years toast to Coach, may you only grow stronger in your next 65!

The #1 ugly bag in our Top 5 Ugly Bags list is … Louis Vuitton Monogram Mink “Bum” Bag.

It’s not just ugly for bright colored monogram on the wrong “canvas”, it’s not just ugly being “immoral” for using fur, but no, it’s both: it’s also ugly for defacing beautiful mink with large, colorful monogram.

I thought fur was to be appreciated as beautiful and natural from the animal? I mean this is coming from an anti-fur person, but I thought that fur-lovers liked the look of real animal fur (and feel, but it’s “just a bag”).

I wish this were fake fur, but it wouldn’t be Vuitton, it wouldn’t be luxury, and then the other half of fashionistas would think it were ugly. Le sigh!

Besides, it’s also ugly because one way to wear it is around the waist - agh!

Think I was excited about viewing the Marc Jacobs show? Well I was. But most Marc Jacobs bags are just a dream to you and me and Spring is far off.

So now with that in perspective you might try to imagine my excitement about the release of Coach’s 65th anniversary line.

Oh, yes! (You must already know I love Coach, though.)

The line brings back vintage styles with more modern shapes, it brings back a little of that ol’ Bonnie Cashin (designer head) kiss-lock. And it keeps new classics, like many bags in the “Legacy” collection that also resemble bags from last Spring. Coach even is introducing smaller details that instantly click with fans, like the color combo of Khaki (brown-toned) Signature with Ebony (YES, BLACK!) leather trim. Brown and black on one bag, Coach, you’ve finally taken one of my suggestions from my telepathic love notes!

One other thing that Coach is introducing is something major: a higher price point. Some bags cost the same, but many more rise above $600. And then—get this, there’s a limited edition Alligator bag for $10,000. Hello Hermes?! Even a genuine ostrich clutch for over $1,000! Oh, my!

Hopefully that will attract some more “catwalk” cred to the brand. Gucci schmucci?

Stay tuned for more products! Preview and shop the Anniversary Legacy accessories by Coach.