A recent web blast from barneys.com announced that a $2500 Rochas bag is not an "It Bag" and that the idea of  "It" in general is "corny' and so "last century". So true and merci, Simon Doonan. But here's the catch. The new "It' in town - she's quiet. La Rochas is sans logos, hardware or any other details like fur, fringe, biker studs and chains that adorn many styes this Fall. She's subtle. Just a passementerie detail on the front. So it's the same old game enticing us to spend far too much to belong to a new club of bag mavens - The Stealth On The Down-Low Luxury Club. Makes the LVMH logo mania of the past decade seem quaint. Other members of the club? As noted by fashiontribes.com the new shadow Birken is a leader in the quiet luxe pack. No hardware- just thousands of dollars of gorgeous leather. Even Balanciaga has forsaken the usual hardware for its new and gorgeous suede mailbag. 

The prices are insanity. The looks are great. So steal good ideas from the top.  When you shop for a new bag in your price range look for the following details for a bag that won't look 'so last season' in 4 months.

Little hardware if any ( sorry Jimmy Choo but 8 buckles on a bag are 8 buckles too many)

Color blocked leathers ( clean and simple combinations of color and textures replace logos and 'stuff')

Snakeskin -a great neutral especially in gray tones or subtle metallic

Soft grays in leather or suede ( neutral but not just another black or brown bag)

Or buck the trends all together and go for a bag that is both groovy and green like the Fleabags tote at fleabg.com. Friends and inveterate flea market shoppers Shira Entis and Alex Bell designed their roomy tote as the solution to carrying dozens of ratty plastic bags filled with their market finds. The result is a bag that is a timeless, ageless and very fashion savvy mix of style and responsibility. The totes are produced in New York of eco-friendly hemp, vegetable tanned leather and are handmade in limited editions.