Unleash your inner artist

What’s not to love about World According to Jess? Especially her bags from the Arthack collection. Jessica Alpert-Goldman consistently designs wonderfully wacky bags, and these two in my opinion are the chicest. The Arthack bags are a throwback to the paint–by–number books from childhood, except a lot more fashionable. And they’re affordable: $120 for the Clutch, $190 for the Everyday.

Rock on

Why didn’t anyone think of this before? Instructions: take an alligator skin, wrap it around itself a few times, let the tail hang over the front, and voila! You’ve got yourself a clutch! This bag is amazing-so simple yet so chic. The price is a bit steep, but there has been a shortage of alligators. $1695-$2495, B. Romanek.

Fashion Ransom

Dooney & Bourke is regressing in maturity. In an attempt to reach a younger audience, they have alienated long-time fans of the pebbled leather, duck-embossed handbags. This bag looks like a ransom note made up of letters cut-out of magazines. Should we alert the fashion police?