When you're young, broke and fabulous, you don't need an authentic designer purse. Boys don't care what you carry. Neither do true friends. Your goal is looking cute, having fun and experimenting with new styles. You don't have the money, but then again, you don't really need it. See, you're livin' in the now. The here and now. You're not waiting until you turn old and gray and can actually afford some overpriced leather sac. It's not about instant gratification, it's about embracing who and where and what you are in life, right now, in this very moment. It's about playing dress-up, not climbing the social ladder.

So who are you? You're young, broke and fabulous. You're totin' your designer-inspired bag to the mall to meet friends. To the coffee shop to meet a cute boy. To the club where you just might spill a drink or two on it, or leave it in a cab later that night. In short, you're enjoying life. Because life is short, and at the end of the day, a purse is just an accessory, it neither defines nor delivers true happiness. So don't judge the girl with the knockoff.

Left: Marc Jacobs Striped Hudson Bag, $1,275.00
Right: Kenzington Satchel at Forever21.com, $29.80

Dorothy had her ruby reds, Cinderella had her glass slippers, and now today's budget babe can have her glitzy glitter pumps.

Can you guess which pair above costs less?

The Prada Ombre Patent Leather Tote on the left is sooo last season, but ombre (or color gradations) is still very hot for SS08. If you're fond of the fade, the ombre tote on the right by Guess just might be your perfect purse for Spring. It's modern, structured and highly polished - but with an edge. Suitable for work or the weekend, it's a practical investment for $125. (Hey, cut me some slack - the Prada bag costs $2,270.00!)

>> Guess Shadow Large Tote at Guess.com, $125

Pierre Hardy is a name worth knowing (he's a highly acclaimed French accessories designer with his own eponymous line of highly coveted shoes and bags). But his collection for the Gap, which hit select stores and Gap.com today, is regrettably forgettable. The capsule consists of a dated pointy toe flat, a drab three-strap platform and an uninspired flat sandal. With prices ranging from $78 to $98, these shoes are still too expensive - and they're not even stamped with Hardy's name (all the shoes are just labeled "Gap Design Editions"). The verdict: Next!

I love Vera's play on proportions and smart color choices in this latest crop of looks from her Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection for Kohl's. She mixes various volumes and lengths, adds a touch of brights tempered by subdued hues, and incorporates some of the whimsical watercolor, painterly prints that are so popular this season. When you add it all up, everything about her collection suggests she takes women seriously. Comfortable, dare I say, practical looking shoes suggest she respects the fact that women actually have places to walk to without pain or breaking an ankle. She's also succeeded in convincing me that an anorak can be both functional and cute. Even the way the lovely models are styled says, "We can think, too." It's just refreshing, that's all. Bravo.





Related post:

• Simply Vera Vera Wang Brushstroke-Print Dress