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New York // It’s 6 a.m. on a Monday and Emily Levitas, owner of Gotta Have Bags in Hampden, is on a bus, headed for the accessories trade show in New York. There, she will scout out the designs of hundreds of handbag manufacturers and artisans and decide which will and which won’t make the cut.

She has armed herself with only a few tools: a map of the booths in the mammoth exhibition site, a pen, comfortable shoes and a keen eye for beauty, usefulness and style.

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Like hundreds of others who will descend on the trade show on this day, Levitas is a hunter of sorts, on the prowl for the must-have of the season - handbags.

“It’s a big category right now,” Lincoln Moore, vice president and divisional merchandise manager at Saks Fifth Avenue, says of handbags. “It’s kind of the customers’ signposts.”

Handbags are so important these days that it makes Levitas’ job that much more important. But her work is often unrecognized by most everyday shoppers.

Buyers do the preliminary shopping, picking the items that you one day will pick and choose from.

At two of the more popular fairs, attended by hundreds of exhibitors, Levitas spots a few unusual pieces to put in her shop window, to draw in customers, such as an across-the-body pouch, from new designer Sobella, with a detachable strap that can be made into a necklace. But she also sees style in basics: black satchels, brown hobos, clutches, dainty evening bags.

For Levitas, that style-spotting talent is part experience - from nearly 40 years in the handbag business - and part gut feeling.

“I am very opinionated about what I like and don’t like,” says Levitas, who had a partner, Linda Segal, to bounce ideas off of, but is now sole buyer since Segal’s death last fall. “If I don’t see anything by just scanning, I won’t go in [to a booth].”

And in six hours, Levitas does pass up many a booth, for various reasons: too expensive, too dowdy, too cheap-looking, too glitzy.

Multiple times a year, she does this, spending hours on her feet, scouring exhibition booths for new inventory to fill her small boutique. Through the day, she breaks only once for a half-hour lunch.

“I have to see everything there is to see,” says Levitas. “I can’t miss anything. And I don’t have a lot of time.”

At the trade shows, buyers converge on each small booth and instantly go to work.

Levitas is astoundingly decisive, despite salespeople’s sugary spiels. And she has no poker face.

She turns up her nose. Frowns her face. If she loves something, she coos.

Hour after hour. Handbag after handbag. Walking, peering, weighing, feeling.

At the Tocca booth, many bags were about $220 wholesale - the price buyers pay for merchandise - which means they’d cost her customers twice that or more.

Levitas liked the bags, but bit her bottom lip at the price, and left the booth without buying.

At Y&S, she picks up a hobo bag and puts it back.

“Everybody’s got a hobo,” she says.

Police are appealing for information after a woman had her handbag stolen from a supermarket car park in Burnham-On-Sea.

At about 2.30pm on Friday (May 5th) the elderly lady was unloading her trolley in Somerfield car par on the South Esplanade, pictured.

A dark blue car drove past her slowly and the driver grabbed her handbag which was on her shopping trolley.

The suspect is described as a skinny white man, aged 20-30 with short dark hair. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.

They are particularly keen to trace the occupants of a old dirty white camper van which was following the suspect’s vehicle.

Real or fake? This question is asked of a lot of things: paintings, jewelry, bosoms and yes, handbags. Whether your Louis Vuitton is real or fake is your business, isn’t it?

Well, yes and no. Obviously, if your LV is real, you will probably eagerly correct anyone that hints that it is not. After all, you paid good money for the bag, and might even be appalled that someone would assume it is a replica.

On the other hand, if your bag were a replica, would you really tell people that it is a fake? Would you tell them by purchasing a replica, instead of the real thing, that you knowingly took money away from the designers that created the real bag? Would you mention that the money you spent for the bag possibly went to terrorist organizations. Or that the manufactures of your fake bag could have used their handbag business to transport thousands of dollars worth of cocaine into the country? I doubt you would mention any of these things to an inquisitive acquaintance.

I know it sounds harsh, but knowingly buying a replica bag is wrong. (Note: buying replica handbags is not illegal but selling them is.)

Designers like Gucci, Kate Spade, Chanel and Hermes charge so much for their product because they are highly sought after and they are made from quality materials. Many bags by these designers are made by hand. Also, these designers spend millions on advertising, customer care, quality assurance and customs. By buying a replica, you are taking directly from these designers.

Buying replicas also takes from the US economy. Companies that sell replica handbags often do so as cash based, tax free business. If you have bought a replica handbag before, think back, did you pay tax for on the purchase. Probably not.

We all know that authentic designer handbags are pricey, but that doesn’t mean you should buy a knock-off. Just because something is out of your price range is no reason to rip off the company that manufactures the product.

Real or replica…which is right for you? I don’t really see you have a choice. Always buy real.

I was flipping through this months Elle. There’s some terrific style information in it! Looks like we’ve made it full circle to the 1970s. For some of us we’ll get to relive some of our favourite fashions but there may be some ‘yuck’ in the group too.

Flirty cuts in pretty colors with ruffles and frills are in. Remember the vibrant balloon tops - they are back. As are the wool wrap tops and wool jackets. Super high heels have also made their way back into the picture. Your jewelry selections are wide open for mixing and matching. Big and bold will certainly fit the current trends.

Elle says that these items are runway hits: croppped sweaters in acrylic, cotton, or wool. Satin wrap tops ranging from long sleeves to no sleeves, and asymmetrical skirts.

The skirts are definately fun and sexy - black is the hotest color, sequens are very popular, and beaded silk is definately in. Add some sexy earrings or a sparkly necklace and your ready for a night on the town.

Straight leg wool pants are also in, as well as wool jackets with faux fur collars. Chiffon and satin are big and sleeveless cotton knit turtlenecks are ever so in style.

Accessories are bright and bold - hot pink clutches, chintz hand bags, satin and metalic pumps, ballerina flats. Your jewelry can be a mix of bright and bold, and more muted tones. With this years fashions almost anything goes.

Check out the Spring 2005 Elle Runway

Some of Ralph Loren’s Spring Fashions are just terrific and they are fitting for almost everyone. Watch the Ralph Loren Show

Alberta Ferretti has some outlandish and fun pieces this season Alberta Ferretti Show

Alice Roe has some very sexy looks Alice Roe Show And check out Balenciaga formal or evening fashions - they are to die for! Balenciaga Show

Its a great year to set your own limits and make your own fashion style.

There is certainly something for everyone! You may also want to check out some of the other designers such as Blugirl, Calvin Klein, and Prada.

Always remember to complete your look with your jewelry!

Fashion Fall/Winter 05/06

In the latest fashions shows all the models wore large necklaces and wrists-full of bracelets made of wood or shells and had their hair done in loose, gentle upsweeps. The black-and-white Beatnik style is back, aimed at the 16-25 age group, severe and pared down, a complete about-turn…gone is casual, throw-it-all-together, ethnic school of style, with last season’s Bohemian look making but a brief showing. We saw sequined dresses, halters and shrugs in purple, green and gold; swimwear followed the metallic theme: women wore tiny silver and gold bikinis, while men wore shorts or swimsuits in colorful prints. Last season’s Bohemian look made a brief showing.

Many of the formal dresses were updated versions of more classic styles. A simple off-white knee-length strapless gown was accented with a skirt of tulle ruffles around the waist. A long purple evening gown was slit up the front with a cloud of feathers beginning at the knee.

Steer clear of flat black - the key element is the combination of black and white, such as a crisp, white shirt with a pair of well-cut black trousers, and look for rich fabrics such as satin, silk and velvet; black and white-striped mohair sweater-dresses, worn over tights or very fitted jeans, worn with black ballet slippers, patent slippers or with knee-high black boots; black wool cropped jackets and pea coats; Beatnik-style black caps; black eyeliner and mascara; sunglasses and straight hair. The hourglass silhouette is already a key look for this winter but if you don’t have a tiny, well-toned frame, choose less fitted silhouettes, and add narrow, leather belts, retro-style shoes, vintage handbags and opulent fur, a striped Pompom scarf.

Pompom decoration is a designer look and very easy to make yourself. Back in style is the Sixties-inspired wool shift, with a Chanel touch and in solid colors such as a white shirt and oversized black blazer, and rather than a revival of androgyny it is simply a question of comfort and ease; black mini-skirt with over-the-knee boots; or a striped top or sweater [with a pair of skinny black pants.

Dresses have been the featured item in the latest fashion shows; ‘The Wrap’ dress is making a comeback, and is not in a boudoir-inspired style, but a dress with a waist, a neckline, a skirt and - most importantly - sleeves. The new autumn collections are full of dresses with sleeves of every shape and size - three-quarter length, cuffed, long and tight, full and belled, raglan and puffed, many in a print pattern such as paisley print, on a long-sleeved dress. Prints in shades of green, orange, pink and purple dominated the beginning of the show. Shorts and skirts came in bright patterns that echoed back to the 1950s and 1960s. Modern technology, with improvements in jersey fabrics and stretch, makes a dress really comfortable to wear. Many younger women want an all-in-one solution for work and business travel, rather than a skirt and top or a suit.

Fall/Winter 05/06 has accents of color combined with regal fabrics. Black is not minimalist black as in the 1990s; rich deep plush velvet, black satin, black lace and black just accented with white or red is the look for 2005. Black silk, black gauze, Persian lamb, black taffeta, penne velvet black denim, black cashmere, black jet, corduroy, black suede and Shear ling add touches of sophistication and glamour to new trends. Main colors are deep rich violet purples, wine reds, burnt ginger tones, moss greens, mustard, and teal. The basic solid black and white can be very sharp and smart, plus grays and oyster shell tones.

British country style tweeds have been out in force, but this year tweed is less textured. It looks more like Harris Tweed, flat plaids or old familiar checks such as black and white hound’s tooth checks. This is a look that can continue into night with sequins used to create the contrast; boldly vibrant colored checks, colorful tartans and tweeds are all used in coats, dresses and skirts that are loose-fitting with flowing folds of fabric, or with a Roman touch with lines of gold appliqué. Ironically, these heritage fabrics and shapes should be worn in a quirky way, jumbled up, mixing Argyle knits with tartans, plaids and stripes. Or you could borrow from the men, Ralph Lauren-style, and wear slouchy tweed trousers with brogues and oversized knits; and boucle tweed suits in the 50s style.

Intarsia in knitwear is back again, such as Fair Isle, ikat, bold abstract and paisley arrangements. Long cardigan jackets cardigan and asymmetric cardigan wraps and coats often have fur collars or a narrow fur edge; Aran knits, not usually in the traditional cream but in richer deep shades of creams, teal and rust feature in many collections. Luxurious rich fabrics and antique brocade fabrics, often interpreted with Ombre dyed materials like velvets that move through related colors such as burnt orange merging with reds through to claret in Ombre dyed velvet. Such velvet is then over printed in toning colors or textured with embroidery. Velvet can also have texture and appliqué and is generally gorgeous this winter with an antique vintage feel. Metallic luster and rich satins and the plushest of velvets bring a new opulence to winter. In addition to rich plush velvet there will be penne velvet, corduroy, suede, Shear ling, leather reptilian skins, boiled wool, suiting. Designer shoes frequently have lace and beading and if they are not velvet, they may just as easily be made of suede another luxury material.

The best styles to look for are wide-leg cuffed trousers, short, swingy jackets and slim skirts, totes and bucket bags, flat lace-up brogues, flora and fauna prints. The ‘in’ colors are black and white, beige, orange, gorgeous greens and often have crochet motifs added - also a lot of purple tones in tartan skirts, fur coats. Just remember that black in 2005 is no longer the only look to wear. The fabrics in rich deep berry and gem jewel colours may do far more for your coloring than black ever might. Berry colors and purples will be a wonderful choice instead of black or as an accent color. Cubist paint techniques as prints will lead us into Spring 2006 and stencil print effects will be popular.