Bags and shoes are the high-ticket luxury items that ladies are supposed to crave. Shopping magazines have pages of both, and everyone goes on about the "It" bag and the Shoe of the Season and I have always understood the appeal of a $500 pair of stilettos (I'm assuming they are exactly as comfortable as a pair of tennis shoes, because where else is the money going, am I right?), but the incredibly expensive bag has always left me very cold. Where's the extra 950 bucks going, on that thousand dollar bag? Right into the designer's gold-lined pockets, I scoffed. And also, if have a bag to match every outfit you are crazy and have too much free time.

But recently, I have grown to understand the bag, to love the bag, to understand its place in our wardrobe and its importance in finishing an outfit. I am not advocating the million-dollar Sworovski crystal-studded bag lined with virgin flesh, but having a small variety of bag styles in your wardrobe to swap out when the occasion requires it--because you cannot be dancing circles around your giant ratty gymbag in the middle of a club, please, okay?--is a pretty good idea.

This time around, let's talk about clutches: they don't hold a whole lot, but they do whole exactly enough. You're forced to pare down to the die-without essentials, and isn't it nice to lighten up for an entire evening? A clutch is so often gorgeously sculptural that it becomes an important element of your entire ensemble, and with clutches, you can have a little more fun than you would with an everyday bag you carry, well, every day. Following are a few of my favorites at a ton of price points, and for everything from an evening rocking out to an afternoon of running errands.

The pleated clutch from crystalynakae is luxurious-looking and lined with vintage fabric, cute enough for everyday and gorgeous for the evening.

An amazing, industrial-looking, adorable bag made from soda tabs? Too cool.

There is something sexy about snakeskin--it makes me think of miniskirts and stilettos and french kissing. This snakeskin clutch in red or black is for having a smashing night out.

Could this be more whimsical and awesome? A bright yellow clutch covered in a fantastic architectural pattern, and lined with silk.

It's summery straw, would look adorable under your arm with you in a sundress, and it's on sale! Yay!
 
Are you a dangerous, mean, rock and roll machine? You are. You're also fabulous, and so is this tough little bag.

It looks like a little yellow barrel! It is luxe-looking, bright and beautiful and I would almost give up being able to tote around a hardcover if I could carry this bag every day. 

Vivid colors, in a sassy, glossy patent. Oh, how I would love to match my shoes to these bags.

Made of candy wrappers, for serious, and it is brilliant and shiny. Love.

Could this be any more funky? Anime-inspired, and cool enough for every day.