carry on

$190, topshop

While buying a hostess gift for a friend at Neiman Marcus last week, I spent an inordinate amount of time ogling the designer handbags, from Celine to Tom Ford to Saint Laurent, marveling first at their iconic details and then the price tags. As my kindergartner would say: W....O....W. This leather and suede tote may not be glass vitrine-worthy but there's no denying its fetching characteristics, from its (Tom Ford-ish) over sized zippers to its basic-black goodness. Plus, there's something invaluably cool about its stealth factor--i.e, you don't know its price tag upon sight or just where it came from. And there's no touching that!

1. Madewell blouse, $108, madewell.com

2. MSGM Aztec embroidered biker jacket, $591, matchesfashion.com

3. Topshop leather and suede tote bag, $190, topshop.com

4. Ann Taylor bracelet, $39, anntaylor.com

5. J.Crew ankle-strap pumps, $275, jcrew.com

6. Citizens of Humanity jeans, $242, netaporter.com