i know, we don’t often do the celeb-stalking thing here on SMC, but i couldn’t resist today. gerard darel has been a superstar in europe for years, and he’s finally catching on stateside. i got a little sneak preview of his latest collections in my in-box this morning, and couldn’t resist sharing this mega-size hobo that all of the starlets are carrying around lately.

and it’s no wonder: if you’re still insisting on toting a bag that will actually carry everything you need all day (instead of sacrificing preparedness for the beauty of that cute little clutch), darel’s midday midnight hobo is just about perfect. i love the rich, saturated colors, and the leather is so wonderfully slouchy that it just melts into your torso when you wear it. a nice feature on a huge bag, as it allows you to carry it without looking ridiculous, no matter how stuffed or empty it is.

to snag the bag that katherine heigl, jessica alba, cameron diaz and the like are loving this spring, head to shoprumor.com with your $895 in tow. they’ll have to special order it for you, but having tried last year to obtain a darel bag in the US, i can tell you it’s all but impossible. i love that gorgeous orange-red that cameron’s carrying (duh), but the purple is definitely of-the-moment, and that green is absolutely stunning too. you just can’t go wrong.

not much to say about this darling except: perfect. spring. coat.

love the ruffle, the bright orange-red color, the 3/4 sleeve, and the flattering, fitted silhouette. i even love the price, which is much more reasonable than i was expecting.

nab it for $198 at jcrew.

and, in the category of “things we covet from afar” is this stunning pale-rose satchel by barbara bui. one of the ultimate under-the-radar designers, barbara bui is notorious in europe for her stunning, timeless and elegant pieces. this bag definitely qualifies.

i adore the color - this is probably the only shade of pink i’d dare attempt in a handbag. it’s the ultimate secret neutral - it would really be stunning with just about any neutral shade (black, grey, brown, camel, white), and perfect for the warmer months ahead.

the structure and quality of this bag are just so understated and elegant, it has that amazing ability to look expensive but unplaceable. in fact, the leather is so thick and luxurious, it reminds me of styles from a much pricier french design house.

at just over $1,800, this is definitely an investment piece, but a very worthy investment, if you ask me. i’ll be looking for any excuse to splurge on this beauty in the coming months.

hard to believe, but i’m already getting reader questions about summer wedding attire. is it really that time already?

no matter - i have a fantastic solution to this annual dilemma. this darling dress by theory just screams spring to me. i love the ruched bodice, love the length, love the pockets - i would wear this beauty to every wedding, baby shower, and bar mitzvah between now and september.

the color is fantastic, flattering on pretty much any skin tone, and perfect for warm weather. the silhouette is forgiving enough to allow for that second piece of wedding cake. and the style is simple enough to allow for multiple wears without anyone pointing at you and screaming “hey, you wore that to nancy’s wedding last month!” after one too many trips to the open bar.

to restyle this piece and really make it your own, try adding a huge, chunky necklace in cobalt blue one day, and a dainty strand of pearls another. cardigans, blazers, sure…but i’d even consider layering a white button-down over it, and using the belt to tie the whole thing together (no pun intended). or, scrap the belt entirely, and substitute a gorgeous scarf.

that’s a lot of mileage to get out of a dress for $250. oh, and free two-day shipping (hurray for avoiding their notoriously slow-boat shipping) with code NMFAST.

i’ve been wanting an anya hindmarch bag for years. there’s something about her style that i just love. but i was never really “in love” with any of her designs…until now. her new ’spider’ clutch is just about as perfect as perfect gets, i think. that rich tan leather keeps it casual enough for day, but the metallic gold bottom and hardware make it perfect for a night on the town. plus, i love that the size (10×5) is just large enough for it to work as a day clutch, without being so huge that it joins the “mega clutch” trend, which will be out in mere months. and the price ($485) is actually reasonable among her high-end counterparts.

when it rains, it pours. this cooper tote is so lovely, i hardly know where to start. again, i love that metallic bottom, but the shape and color are just so perfect for spring. it’s striking without being too “in your face” - really just fantastic. the chloet bag is the same idea, but she’s added on those fabulous studs i couldn’t get enough of from her aretha bag, but made the style a little more casual. plus, that grey color is so very fantastic. sigh.

you can check out everything for spring at shopbop.com or net-a-porter. i honestly don’t know whether i should just snag that stunning clutch now, or save my pennies and hope the chloet bag isn’t gone by the time i can actually afford it.

decisions, decisions.

i can’t think of the last time i really “wanted” something from the gap…usually, it’s more along the lines of “i need a cheap cotton tee, and american apparel is too far away”. but for spring, it’s either a combination of my deciding i need some more basics in my closet, or of their actually improving their design - either way, i’m happy.

loving this ruffle cardigan, though i’ll be ordering it in a tall size to avoid that cropped look that really only flatters 14-year-old bodies.

this yellow-and-grey rugby-striped cardigan would be just perfect on my dear friend A, who is hereby commanded to order it, stat.

i realize this probably means i’m spending too much time at home in sweats, but this 3/4 sleeve raglan sweatshirt actually looks like it might be a presentable way to wear my ratty PJs outside the house.

you know, i’ve been trying for weeks to decide on the perfect summer bag, and i almost think this one might be it. orange is so hot right now, i love the contrast trim, and i’m always lugging around magazines and books everywhere i go in the summer, so maybe a simple tote is just the thing.

best of all, with every single one of these items in my shopping cart, i’m barely topping $150. nothing wrong with that.

and no, i’m not going to drool all over the pierre hardy collection for gap, which was overpriced, largely unexciting, and sold out in about 30 seconds.

i am so very, very pleased with the marc by marc jacobs spring ‘08 line, i had to share. it seems like he’s finally shaken the “despondent teenage grunge” vibe, in favor of something a little more retro, a little more colorful, and definitely a little more fun.

take this silk “scarf stripe” dress ($458) for example. an updated but classic silhouette, a fabulously retro print, but the details are still signature marc. this is a look that would be perfect for the office, but you could so easily dress this down with a long cardigan and colorful flats.

this darling silk tank dress is another great example of the new-and-improved marc. the shape is much more tailored than i’m used to seeing from him, and i love the ’60s vibe, but those bright enamel buttons make it clear he’s sticking to some of his signature style.

i hate shopbop’s styling on this piece (i am so not wearing a sweater vest with short shorts), but i love this cropped knit vest ($228). check out the close-up pics for better detail - it’s the perfect way to add personality and style to just about any ensemble. this is one of those pieces that you’re not sure about, until you get it home, and then you suddenly find you’re wearing it with everything. ditto for this gorgeous crocheted cardigan ($348), which i’m pining for in a very serious way.

and once spring officially hits, i’ll be dying for this gorgeous silk striped cami ($188). the violet/navy combo is so striking, yet i know it’ll be incredibly versatile in my closet.

even this simple silk jersey tee ($158) has me swooning. the color is the ultimate neutral, and the sailor-style tie is so of-the-moment. this would be gorgeous as a layer, or solo when the weather warms up.

i even love his new take on old marc classics. this turnlock teri tote ($428) has become notorious in seasons past for its sinfully soft leather, but this new grass green shade makes it completely irresistible to me.

check out all of the gorgeous options at shopbop.com or net-a-porter.

i am positively head over heels for this stunning tote by badgley mischka. i love the slightly greyish tint to the white color, and i love the contrast black stitching and gold hardware, which make this a white bag you’ll definitely turn to year-round.

best of all is the price - it’s so reasonable, i almost think saks may have messed something up in their system. the site says the bag is ostrich skin, and it looks to be - but the bag is only $475. i’m honestly not sure if it’s just embossed ostrich and they’ve made an error in the listing, but either way, it’s a gorgeous bag that looks twice as pricey as it is. don’t miss this one!

you all know i’m loving that long cardigans are so in right now - they’re just about all i’m wearing these days. but since it was 74 degrees at my house today, i’m dangerously close to having to put all of my yummy sweaters into storage.

for spring, i’m absolutely coveting this beautiful pritzker cardigan by lutz & patmos. the luxe gold knit is beautifully offset by its casual styling, making this a fantastically versatile piece.

i love it as pictured with jeans and a simple black tee, but it could so easily dress up a casual black jersey dress, be used as a light jacket for an evening out, or in place of a suit jacket with your favorite trouser and cashmere shell. truly a unique, classic piece that you’ll wear for years to come.

you can find this beauty at shopjake.com for $495.

ooh, and while you’re there, you can use code extra10 to take an additional 10% off everything on the shopjake sale rack (through friday 2/29), which is well worth a cruise.

everywhere i turn this month, it’s all about mod print dresses. cute little minis with gorgeous retro-inspired prints, and oh-so-wearable silhouettes. a few of my faves:

the print on this gorgeous badgley mischka shift dress ($398) is so stunning, i hardly know where to start. it has all the vintage charm you could ask for, which tells me this beauty will be staying in your closet for decades to come. the price is a little steep, but it’s actually reasonable for the brand - a great opportunity to score a high fashion piece without a second mortgage. if i splurge on one great piece this spring, i think this dress will be it.

this marc by marc jacobs colorblock dress ($298) just screams retro, but he’s done a beautiful job of updating the styling for modern wear. plus, the silhouette is ultra-flattering for just about anyone.

on the more affordable end of the scale, i love this shirt dress by maggy london ($158). i’m not normally terribly impressed by her construction, i’ll warn you. but i love the print, and i love the ruffle collar - this dress would be absolutely perfect for work, and i think undoing a few buttons at the top would even make this happy-hour appropriate.

from our friends over at tobi, this soda blu flutter dress ($93) is a great way to try out the trend without breaking the bank. love the color combo, which is striking, but neutral enough that you can really use accessories to change the look.

finally, this version by ziji is really gorgeous - i love the print, but i love the silhouette even more. the drop waist, the asymmetrical neckline, the draped sleeves…it’s just fantastic. and, it’s marked down to $60. so, if you happen to be a size 8, you shouldn’t even have to think about this one!